How To Set Up A Blog Hop

Blog Hop Getting Started and What Is A Blog Hop

A blog hop is a link up list that invites bloggers to introduce  themselves and broaden their online community simply by adding the url of one of their posts to the link list created for the blog hop. By adding your blog post to the blog hop list it introduces blog readers and blog writers to your selected blog post while providing a link up list for other blogs to join .

When joining a hop hosted by someone else please  pay attention to what you are allowed to link. Some have themes, such as recipe posts, or craft posts only. Link up your blog post ( unless otherwise noted)

Hosting You must create the blog hop link list first using link creators like FreshInlinkz works well, and its free! You will crete your list and then add the html code provided by your blog hop service, in your hop post. That is how other bloggers can add their post links. Please see example below.

Visit click on other blog names or pictures on the list and hop around and visit/ meet as many new friends as possible! Encourage your hop participants to leave a comment .

Remember to leave a comment when you hop over also. Let the blog you visit know that you have hopped over from “ the blog hop name” to visit them.

Promote your hop with partners ( if you have partners posting the hop on their blogs be sure to ask your participants to follow them also) and online social media.

Decide if you will be hopping on a specific day of the week, on the weekend, or once a month, etc. So your participants will know to keep coming back.

It’s nice to decide on a hop theme. Will you be sharing crafts, recipes, giveaways, or just blog hopping for new friends? Any theme is great and helps to identify your specific hop from others.

Create a hop button with an html code for copying;  I can help with that!

Select a “linky” provider ( the form that creates your blog hop link up list). That is the host site where you will create your list for people to participate. The most commonly used are www.linkytools.com, www.inlinkz.com and www.blenza.com/linkies. You will need to set up an account to use these services. There may be a small fee, some charge for their service and some don’t.

Establish your rules. You do not need to have a bunch of rules but you should have at least one-participants who link up must follow the hop host/hostess blog.

It’s up to you if you want any other rules. Like no advertising, or blogs that link up must fit the theme, must follow on twitter, etc. Encourage your hop participants to post your hop button ( they will copy it from the html code (I personally do not feel this should be mandatory but it is a nice option.)

Some blog hop host/hostesses even pick a random blog from the hop link up list and award a giveaway prize through a random drawing. The prize can be a post about the blog selected, or something tangible. You decide if you want to offer a giveaway, this may be something to consider after you have a few hops under your belt.

There are some wonderful hops out there. Mine is one of them 🙂 Every Thursday join us for Thursday Favorite Things!  I have a blog hop list here too to get you hopping.

More tips!!!

How To Set Up Giveaways Click HERE

How To Set Up A Blog Hop Click HERE

The Technical Stuff Explained Click HERE

The Business Of Blogging Click HERE

Selling Ad Space On Your Blog Click HERE

Blogging Etiquette Click HERE

Pinterest and Your Blog Click Here