Blogging This 'n That: All about Food Blog Events

With many new bloggers creating their own food blogs every single day I thought of writing few posts on “Blogging This 'n That” which will help any newbie or fresher food blogger. The response I got for my post on “Don't Learn Safety by Accident!” was amazing and I received few e-mails from my dear fellow bloggers to write similar posts. So here I am with my next post of Blogging This 'n That which is All about Food Blog Events.

Remember this and this which I had posted some months ago (or is it a year ago? Well, never mind!). It was about the conversation between me and my much better half when I started participating in food blog events. Like many new blogger I had no idea about food blog events when I started my own food blog. I learnt about food blog events after many months of blogging and slowly started taking part in them. Unlike today, there were very few food blog events hosted by few bloggers who according to me were senior bloggers. I came to know about these blogging events while browsing different blogs as there were no blog aggregators. Thanks to people like Mathy & Indira, Sailu and Red Chilli, who created these wonderful food blog aggregators giving more exposure to food bloggers and food blog events and made our lives easier.

Today we have many food blog events being organised by bloggers around the world. JFI, MBP, MEC, A-Z, WTSIM, WBB…AWED, AFAM, RCI… these are just few to name from one long list of blog events!!! What makes them so special that people from all over the virtual world take part in them? Well, for one thing these events give us the feeling of being a part of one large and ever-growing community, here its Food Blog Community. Food blog community is a place where people are passionate about food they cook, something that you too are passionate about. Thus the bonding is stronger as there are many people like you for whom food and cooking is not just a chore. Participating in such food blog events gives you the feeling of belongingness as it is a great opportunity to meet new people who have similar love and passion and make new friends on a way. And there is also a benefit of Link Love which will drive more traffic to your blog (I will discuss about link love in another post).

Cartoon by Dave Walker.

While it is great to participate in these food blog events, there are some rules or guidelines to follow. Food blog events too have some Do's and some Dont's which every blogger need to remember. Food blog events involve two kinds of people, Event Host/Hostess and Participants. Let me first start with few guidelines for Participants then proceed to guidelines for Event Host/Hostess.

Guidelines for Participants:

1. First and foremost rule for any participant is to go through the rules or guidelines very carefully. Sounds simple and straight forward but most of the bloggers fail to do it (I am talking this from my own experience and also from my other blogger friends who have hosted the events). Most of the food blog events have similar rules/guidelines but don’t be under the impression that you don’t have to go through them by assuming they might be the same. Even if you have participated in some hundreds of events and you are one hot shot blogger (is there someone like that? LOL;) it is still required you to go through the rules as they might be slightly different from the other events. Trust me, you will be making it much easier for the host/hostess by reading all the rules they posted and host/hostess will be able to do the round-up dot on time. So always remember to follow the instruction and send all the details the host asked you. If they ask for Perm Link/Post URL then send the same, not some link. Always link back to the announcement page while posting your entry in your blog and sometimes you may be asked to link back to the blog who initiated the event. Use the event logo when asked. There are few events which let you to send same entry for other blog events but there are also few which want you to post the recipe exclusively for their events. If they have asked you to send particular sized image then do so. These small details are what make host/hostess’s life easier. If there are any doubts or queries regarding the rules or guidelines posted, e-mail or leave a comment to the host. Usually most the hosts respond to your e-mails promptly. If you think some details might be missing or wrong information is given, don’t hesitate to contact the host. Usually hosts greatly appreciate your feedback.
2. Always remember to send the entries before deadline. Don’t assume your entries will be included if you forget to send your entries or send it quite after the deadline. Don't expect the host to come and pick your entries when you fail to mail them and don't assume such entries will be included in the round-up. Most of the new bloggers and even some not-so-new bloggers may find it difficult to understand how difficult it is to host any event and then post the round-up right on time. If you are unable to send the entries before deadline you can always contact the host through e-mail or by leaving a comment as why you were not able to do so. Most of the hosts will are really sweet and kind enough to include even the late entries and include it in the round-up but don’t be offended if they don’t agree to do that. Each host have their own set of rules and bear in mind it is nothing personal. Be polite and kind when ever you send you entries.
3. Many hosts will respond to your e-mails within 3 days, though e-mail or by leaving comment in your blog. Remember that hosts have many other important things to do other than hosting food blog events. So be patient and don’t keep sending e-mails now and then. If they still not have responded to your e-mails in 3-4 days then you can send an e-mail or leave a comment, asking them politely if they have received your entry or not. Hosts usually notify the participants if they are out of the town and will not be able to respond to your e-mails. So it is always good to check their blog for any notification before mailing.
4. If you are sending the same recipe for more than one event, it is always better to send it in separate e-mails with event name in subject line. Main reason to do is one event guideline may be different from other and it is quite annoying when a host receives a e-mail with some 3-6 blog event names and it is more annoying when the participant has not included the details asked or has sent unnecessary information which was asked for other events.
   
5. Believe me when I say food blog event, like any event you might host in real world, takes host’s good amount of time and commitment. So be patient and don’t pressurise the hosts by asking them when they are going to post the round-up. If the host fails to do the round-up they have their own reason to do so. So don’t get annoyed. or angry Same thing applies when it comes to hosting the blog events. I have seen people asking questions around why particular blog event announcement has not been made by the bloggers who were supposed to guest host that month’s blog event. Remember there is more to life than food blogging.
6. Your responsibility doesn’t end after sending the entry. Check the round-up when it is posted and leave a ‘thank you’ note. Many a times there will be more than 60 bloggers participating in a blog event and not more than handful of comments thanking the host for their hard work. Always leave a note of thank you saying how much you appreciate the host for doing such a splendid job. It is a small courtesy to the host who has spent hours and sometimes even days to compile all the entries and post the round-up.
7. The number of entries and participants may vary from one event to other. Some events might have few handfuls of entries and some might cross two-digits. There is a possibility of your entry missing from the round-up. That time contact the host through e-mail or by leaving a comment gently reminding them of the mistake or any correction needed. Don’t be rude to them. To err is human and with so many entries to put together there is a chance of missing your entry from the round-up.
8. Last but not the least, never ever be under pressure to participate in blog events. Participating in food blog events should be fun and not because you are asked to do so. You are under no obligation to participate in any food blog events if you wish so even if the person asks you to send him/her entries. Always remember, your personal life comes first and rest all comes later.

Cartoon by Dave Walker.

Guidelines for the Event Host/Hostess:

1. First thing to remember is hosting a food blog event will not make you a famous/popular blogger . Your blog is popular because of the contents posted in your blog. So please don’t be under the impression by guest hosting any popular food blog events or starting your own blog is your way to blog stardom ;) I hope every one of you take this in right spirit and not be offended. Hosting an event does increase traffic to your blog but it will be for just certain time period.
   
2. Few questions to ask yourself before you commit yourself into hosting the event. Do you have enough time to host the event and post the round-up on time? Do you have enough time to visit all the bloggers who have sent you their entries and check if they have followed your instructions? Do you commit yourself to respond back to their queries and drop a line when you received their entries?
3. Next thing to remember is give clear cut instructions/rules/guidelines to the participants and don’t confuse them. If you do not wish to get non-vegetarian entries then make sure that you post it clearly under the guidelines. Many a times participants will prepare a non-vegetarian entry thinking the event in mind and are disappointed when they end up getting a response from the event host saying they accept only vegetarian entries who thought the participant will understand because theirs is a vegetarian blog and they need not write it under the guidelines (I am writing this from experience of one of my blog friends). So think before you write the guidelines and post them. Remember to give your proper e-mail id where you want the participants to e-mail you their entries. If you want a photo to be of particular size and type, then make a note of it.
4. If you are guest hosting the blog event started by other blogger, it’s always nice to thank them for giving you the opportunity to host it. If you have any doubts or queries about rules, then ask them in advance before you post the event announcement.
5. It is always nice to respond back to the queries from fellow bloggers. Do it as soon as possible. Same applies when you get an entry. It’s always a great feeling when you know that the host/hostess has taken time to go through the entries. Let them know that you have received their entry either by replying back to their e-mail or by leaving a comment in their blog. Thank them for taking time to participate in the event hosted by you. Even the simple ‘Thanks’ is enough to let the participant know that you have received their entries.
6. If the participant doesn’t send you all the details you asked, mail them back gently reminding them about the missing details. Always be polite.
7. Never pressurise the bloggers to send you entries. You can always drop a line asking them to send the entry, if they wish, when the recipe posted on their blog fits the event theme.
   
8. If someone sends a late entry and want to be included in the final round-up, it is upto you to decide if you want to include the late entries or not. If you are fine with receiving a late entry then go ahead and post it. If not, reply to their mail saying you can’t include it in the round-up. Never be partial by including few late entries and leaving other.
9. Post the round-up on promised date. Make sure you have double checked all the entries you received and have included them in the round-up. Include the entry in the round-up as soon as possible when a participant mails you pointing the omission or make correction as required.
10. If due to any reason you are unable to post the round-up on time, please make sure that you let the bloggers know. It can be just a simple post apologising for the delay in posting the round-up. You don’t need to give lengthy explanations. And again, if you are not able to post the round-up at all, don’t end up feeling guilty. As I said earlier, you and your family and personal life comes first. I have seen some of the best bloggers who have stopped posting because they are unable to host the event or the round-up which they were supposed to. Common friends, be realistic. This is just a virtual world and the happenings at real world is what important.
    

Well, that’s it folks. Please note that I am not pointing my fingers at anyone or my intention is to hurt you. My experience of participating in more than dozens of blog events and hosting few blog events has helped me while composing this post. It soon will be two years since I created my blog. All this time I too have made few mistakes, both as a participant and a hostess, and I hope this article of mine helps any newbie while participating or hosting their own food blog events. Food blog events are real fun to host and participate but there is a limit to everything in life. We do get carried away and endup completely getting addicted to blogging. Understanding where to draw line one’s responsibility. Let us all be a part of this ever growing, wonderful food blog world and not spoil it by playing politics. I hope everyone take this in good spirits and not be offended.

So folks, happy cooking and happy blogging and also happy hosting and participating in blog events ;)

Cheers
Sia

PS: I have posted the cartoons so that you don't get bored and fall asleep although it is not exactly related to the article ;) Cartoon credits to Dave Walker.

Enough is Enough!

I am afraid to leave my yard; I will never feel the same. I will never be the same"
-Kathy Sierra, a victim of cyber stalking and cyber bullying

Now it’s a fellow food blogger who has become another victim of Cyber Stalking and Bullying. It is Inji Pennu of Ginger & Mango and what she had to go through for raising her voice against plagiarism is nothing less than a horror movie story! I was shell shocked when I read her post. To steal content from a blogger is one thing and then threaten them bodily harm is really creepy!

First these people steal vast majority of posts from Malayalam blogs and bloggers and publish them in their revenue generating ‘respected’ website. When Inji informed them of their misdoing what you get from them? No apology but harassment and stalking through hard-to-believe e-mails. And they even went to the extent of ‘teaching her a lesson’ by creating her fake id at some x-rated websites. Whole thing gets worst when they threaten to ‘track her down’ and ‘fine and prosecute her’ for putting down their so-called ‘respected’ website.

(Image Source: Media Watch Blog)

Unbelievable? But this is a true story and what Inji has to go through is a complete nightmare for many of us. If you think Protest against Yahoo was worst then this is one pure hell what Inji is enduring.

If you want to do something about it, do not tolerate the kind of abuse that includes threats or even suggestions of violence (especially sexual violence). Do not put these people on a pedestal. Do not let them get away with calling this "social commentary", "protected speech", or simply "criticism"
-Kathy Sierra

Bloggers like Inji deserve all the support because she dared to fight and least we can do is write about it in our blogs and spread news. Today its Inji who has become a target for cyber stalking and bullying and tomorrow it can be anyone of us. I believe in raising my voice against such deceitful acts than acting as if it’s none of my business. I take it as my business to because I value my freedom of speech. I raise my voice by joining the protest against plagiarism, cyber bullying and cyber stalking by websites, news papers and magazines that lifts the content from bloggers without their permission and then bully them for speaking up.

Check these two blogs dedicated to fighting copyright violations for more information. Read updates at Inji's blog.

Don't Learn Safety by Accident!

Imagine you logging into your blog one day and find your blog has vanished without any trace. Horrifying isn’t it? It is worst nightmare any passionate blogger can have. When I saw Sunita’s post in DH, I realised how important my blog is to me. I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing it due to unforeseen error. I am the one who is used to backing up each and every file and project I am working on as I learnt it hard way as how important it is back up. Since the day I lost all my project work on the day of its submission during my semester exams I make it a point that each and every file is securely backed up. I can’t see any reason as why I should leave my blog vulnerable to all unforeseen accidents. Forgetting to backup your blog or website is not a big deal until you realise that you have lost all your posts, comments, pictures and there is no way you can restore them to their formal glory!!!

Picture from Here

Backing up your blog is very important for any blogger and there are few simple ways to keep your blog safe. I follow two methods to back up my blog.

First one is to simply backup my blog using online blog backup service via Blog Backup Online. This according to me is the best backup service available and that too FREE!!! You don’t need any software or coding/programming knowledge to back up your blog. All you need to do is sign-up and register your blog you want to backup and it will backup your blog daily! How cool is that :) One thing is to remember is it is free as long as long as you use 50 MB of storage space.

Pros:

• You don’t need to download any software and also you don’t need to be technical savvy.

• Your blog will be automatically backed up everyday. Initially when you register your blog it does Full Back up where all data to date will be backed up. Once the Full Backup is finished, it does daily Incremental Backup meaning it will look up for new posts you add and will back it up.

Cons:

• It can backup upto 50 MBs of data which is not that bad. But if your blog size exceeds that limit you may have to take professional service to back up your blog.

Second thing I do is export my blog contents to wordpress account. Here you will need to create a wordpress account. Once you have created an account with wordpress go to Manage->Import and click on Blogger. It will display all your blogger accounts and all you have to do is press magic button Import to import all your blogger posts & comments with pictures. By Importing your blog posts and comments from your Blogger account to Wordpress doesn't mean that you will lose all the data from Blogger account. If I have to say in simple words, it is same as you copying the data from your PC harddisk to external drive/storage or CD and having 2 copies of same data. Which in turn means you have two copies of all your posts both in Blogger and Wordpress account and whenever it's needed you simply have to export all the posts from Wordpress to Blogger account intact with all the comments and pictures. But remember you need to Import data on regular basis from Blogger account to wordpress in order to have an up-to-date copies.

Pros:

• You will have backup of all your posts, comments along with pictures which you just need to export to your blog when needed.

Cons:

• Unlike Blog Backup Online, wordpress account will not import the data automatically and you need to do it manually. It is not exactly a method for backing up your blog but it’s always better to have another set of your blog backup.

Also Read few other ways to backup your blog.
1. Blogger Backup from Blogger Help.
2. How to backup a Blogger blog by Alex.
3. Wordpress Backup by Mr.Byte.
4. Blogger Backup for Dummies by Peter Chen.


Image taken from Here

In case you don’t backup your blog and by mistake have deleted or lost your blog there are few basic thing I would suggest you do.

1. Don’t panic. Easier said than done, hun? I know I am being philosophical here but you won’t get your blog back by cursing yourself or banging your head to the wall. You need to take control of the situation and not the other way round. Be calm and do the following.
2. Before anyone takes your blog URL go and get it. It is possible that someone might take your blog URL (high chances if you are on top Technorati chart) and use it. It is difficult to retrieve your old URL and you may need to start from scratch. So don’t leave any chance. Re-register your blog URL as soon as possible.
3. Contact Blogger Support Team through here. There are high chances of them missing your mail. Keep mailing them till you get some human response instead of automated reply. Blogger will eventually restore all your blog posts along with pictures and comments but can’t say really when. For some it took few hours, for other some days and even month. So don’t lose your heart. You just need to be persistent and keep mailing Blogger Help till you get response from them.
4. You will probably have almost all your blog posts stored in your or your friend’s Google reader or in their Feedburner. And also major search engines like Google will have your most of your posts locally which are known as ‘Cached Copy’. Just clicking on Cached link you will be able to see your individual posts and retrieve them. So there is high chance of retrieving all your posts although it is little time consuming.
5. If you have set your blogger account to send you an e-mail when someone leaves a comment on your blog you can retrieve all your comments too. To set this option go to your blogger Setting->Comments. Type in your e-mail address on box which says ‘Comment Notification Email’. This enables you to collect all your comments as individual emails to your mailbox.
6. Same thing applies if you are moderating your comments.

As my Grandma always said “Precaution is better than cure”, why take chance and repent later? Make blog backups a habit and ‘Prepare and prevent, don't repair and repent’ :)

Happy Blogging and Backing up ;)

Cheers
Sia