Who has the best blog friends in all of the blogosphere? I do! I do! I cannot express enough how much I enjoy and appreciate the connections we build here. You all have provided some rocking discussion in my last two posts – “Barbie: Yes or No” and my post on developing a blog’s readership – and I love reading it all. So, thanks!!

I think my lack of workout motivation earlier in the week ended up being a blessing in disguise. I have had two superfantastic workouts in a row now.

Yesterday, I finally got myself to spin class again. Since I had run on Tuesday afternoon, I didn’t want to run again so soon on Wednesday morning. I decided to go to spin instead and it was a fabulous decision!

I think I have been too caught up in trying to work my schedule to attend spin when one of my all-time favorite instructors teaches. That always left me with the option of going Monday night when my motivation drops drastically or on Tuesday mornings when it’s not the best time with Braedon’s napping schedule. Then, I gave in to a different instructor yesterday morning and ended up loving her!

She had just the right attitude I look for – upbeat and supportive, but still knows how to push and motivate the fire out of you. Plus, she chose really great and challenging tracks. I have a feeling I will be running Tuesday afternoons and taking spin class Wednesday mornings more often now. I actually loved the set-up. Yay!

Then, today. Oh, today! This morning I hit up the gym to get my run on before having to head in to my co-hosting duties. (Did you catch that I joined the Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy radio show for the day? Recap coming later!)

You know my typical relationship with the treadmill. We can act genial with each other but it takes a lot of effort. He’s a “frenemy” to the max. We don’t get along like he and Makenzie.

Mr. Treadmill decided to play nice today, though. I opted for an interval-style workout and loved every sweaty minute of it. It made the time fly and gave me a fun new challenge.

Whew. That will get you where it hurts…but I promise you will feel so good once you finish. I could start singing a different tune about Mr. Treadmill if he continues to treat me this well!

• What is the last GREAT workout you had?
• Don’t forget that the Champion Giveaway ends tonight! Last call to enter!

It’s that time again. Time for more blogging talk – all things numbers, page views, and money. If you missed the first two chats, feel free to catch up:

• How I Approach and View Blogging Numbers
• Blogging Money Talk: From How Much I Make to Opportunities via Blogging

Now comes the time to discuss what I actually feel least comfortable discussing: increasing blog readership. My stomach was actually in knots on this one. I feel so far from someone reputable enough to share this information, but you know me – ask and I will tell.

I hope I have made it very clear that I never view you all as page impressions or subscribers, but as genuine relationships of mutual support and encouragement. I know you add to my life and I hope I can add to yours even the smallest bit. However, with all that being said, I do keep track of blogging related numbers. These numbers help me:

• know what works and what doesn’t in my blog’s layout
• understand the content you all value the most
• have accurate information to give companies who request the information
• see what ventures outside of writing my own posts most effectively use my time

I love blogging and always approach my blogging habits in a way that fulfills me, but it still helps me to know the numbers behind the scenes. I put a lot of time and energy into blogging because I love it so much. However, I also want that time and energy to help develop my site as I keep in mind the goals I have for my blog as my passion and a way to work alongside the priority of my family.

My experiences over time have fortunately, God willing, brought some growth to this little space of mine. I have seen it grow from feeling thrilled to see a few hundred page views in a day to the incredibly humbling feeling of multiple thousands in a day. I am far far far far from an expert in blogging, but if you ask, I will tell. Or at least to the best of my abilities.

My Experience Growing Faith Fitness Fun

Write Quality Content
Okay, I know this isn’t anything new and you have certainly heard it before…but it’s the honest to goodness truth and the BEST thing you can do. When your heart isn’t into your writing, it shows. You don’t have to fit into a blogging mold – write what YOU want to write. I also believe in sharing myself openly and everything that I desire to help reach as many as possible. Share what ignites your passions so the words will captivate readers. And keep in mind some ways to make your posts more appealing and easy to read.

PS – This section of the post has inspired a spin off on blog topics, keeping things interesting, and more. So, stay tuned!

Have A Welcoming Site
When people come to your blog, you want them to feel comfortable there, so they want to come back again. I constantly consider the way my site works and strive to make it as user friendly as possible. I truly believe some of the mechanical and behind-the-scenes work on my site has helped.

When I had my blog designed with a new header and layout, it helped my blog tremendously. When people visited FFF, it now had a more “legit” feel with it’s cleaner,  original look rather than the stock images and blocky design of my original header. Plus, it “matched” my site with my tagline prominently displayed. People could automatically know what I’m about.

I also took the time to update the navigation of my site and make it as user friendly as possible. Things like drop-down menus, popular post updates in the sidebar, social media buttons, comment–reply plug-ins, and easy to follow subscription options help make things quick, straight-forward, and simple for you to interact with FFF. So I can then more easily hear from and interact with you as well.

Be An Active Participant
So many people will tell you to comment on blogs to get your name out there. Well, I don’t really believe in commenting your days away. However, I do think it is vital to become a part of the community.

The more relationships I naturally developed through blogging, the more I would naturally get “face time” in the blogging world. I would comment on blogs, allowing my face to be seen with my Gravatar (get one!). I would hang out on Twitter - because in all honesty if you hope to increase blog connections, you need to be there. I would link to blogging material I enjoyed from other bloggers, my blog buddies.

With time, people get to know you and recognize you. People begin to share your material, because you’re focusing on putting out quality material. The more you “pop up” places, the more people want to see what you’re all about. Have good content and a welcoming site and people checking you out from the community will want to stick around a bit. Then you make more connections with the new blog friends, and the cycle continues…growing bigger and wider in the process.

Seek New Audiences
I believe the key element in blogging is to keep people coming back for more. However, to get people coming back for more….I realized I had to get them to my blog in the first place. And I couldn’t just sit around waiting for my name to get out there solely based on others’ actions. Yes, the blogging community is awesome and we can greatly support each other, but I also recognized the need to take the bull by the horns sometimes in reaching new readers.

I have done this in one main way – writing for other places. I love helping out other blog friends in need of guest posts. It gives a friend a break she needs and allows me the chance to make new connections. I will also contact various websites I have developed relationships with to work together. It goes back to what I mentioned in the last post – believe in your worth and be willing to take the occasional risk to broaden your horizons.

While there are other ways to increase readership – like SEO – I have found that these four focuses have had the biggest impact on me personally. It really all boils down to having diligence, caring about your “brand” (aka what you stand for as a blogger), and then trusting the process.

Thanks for reading all my ramblings. If you made it through all that, you deserve a cookie! And after all that I have a big announcement!

Catch me today at 11:30 am EST on the Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy radio show. Feel free to listen live! I’m super stoked…and nervous.

• Any other reader requests out there? On anything! Doesn’t have to be blogging related. I’m here to please!
• What keeps you coming back to a blog?