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Day #1: Step Aboard My Elevator.

Posted in Blogging on Monday July 19, 2010 | 49 comments

07-10-10 - Step on My Elevator

For weeks I’ve been searching for an elevator to photograph specifically for this entry!

On Day #1 of 31 Days to a Better Blog, Darren of ProBlogger.net asks us to write an elevator pitch: a short introduction that explains who you are and your goal in blogging. I’ve done this in my professional life as it was needed to explain a job title that was exclusive to our company. It would have been a short and awkward conversation when someone asked me what I did for a living if I answered only giving my title.

The title of your blog can be seen the same way. Some blog titles are very descriptive and you can tell what they’re about without follow-up. Most of the time our blog titles are personal to us and are not enough alone to make people interested in visiting your site.

A tagline is a very short elevator pitch. This should be succinct, general and interesting. Currently, my tagline is, “A photographic record of my ordinary life.” I think it’s fine. It kind of describes what I’m doing here, but it practically screams, “I’m boring!” It doesn’t offer anything to the reader whatsoever except the promise of mundane pictures. And I kind of hope I offer just a tad bit more than that.

After reading through today’s task, I’ve decided that starting tomorrow I will implement a new tagline: “The chronicles of a not-so-secret love affair between a girl and her camera.”

The camera is my mistress, it’s totally true. Aside from my husband and children, I spend most of time with my camera, editing photographs and writing about it all. Sometimes I think I spend too much time on these things and I feel guilty.

I’m getting ahead of myself though since my task today is to create an elevator pitch, not just a tag-line. This is the elevator pitch I’ve been using everywhere, including my own site:

OLD:
Lynda Giddens is a 31 year old work-at-home wife and mother of two young boys. She recently moved to her husband’s home state of Texas. In 2010, she is participating in Project 365 where her goal is to take and post a photograph daily.

This website chronicles her life and her journey in learning more about photography and photo editing.

I like the first sentence and the fact that it calls out I’m participating in Project 365. The rest of it? Not so much after reading today’s task. I want my elevator pitch to introduce me for sure, but it should also indicate what my blog is offering. What is it offering? I hope it offers tips and advice, both on phtoography and photoshop. As I learn how to create them and figure out what works, I would love to offer textures and overlays to be used in photo editing.

Darren gives a lot of tips in the workbook about composing a great elevator pitch. I tried to incorporate most of his advice into my new tag line and pitch, but it’s hard to pack so much into such a little introduction! Here’s my newly constructed about blurb:

NEW:
Lynda Giddens is an amateur writer and photographer living in Fort Worth, TX with her husband and two young sons. In 2010 she is participating in Project 365 while chronicling her adventures learning photography and photo-editing.

Her website is a personal photographic scrapbook which also features a variety of photography tips along with easy to follow editing tutorials.

Learn along with her and be inspired to start or continue your own creative path.

Likewise, tomorrow I will be implementing the new blurb on my index page and change it over on any social media sites it might be added to.

Even though I already had a tagline and elevator pitch for my blog, the first of 31 Days to Build a Better blog definitely helped me make improvements and get even more excited for the next few weeks to come.

One of the most exciting aspects of going through Darren’s workbook is doing it in this group setting. You can still purchase the workbook OR just follow along with all the SITS Problogger Challenge participants and be inspired to improve your blog. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun! I plan to visit as many participants as possible and comment. Please leave me a note if you want to nudge me to get to you first. :)

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49 Responses to “Day #1: Step Aboard My Elevator.”

  1. Amy Amy says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:34 am

    Great changes that you made. The new one definitely makes me want to come back to your blog more than the first one did. I also loved your title of your post :)
    Amy´s last blog ..ProBlogger’s 31 days to Build a Better Blog Challenge – is underwayMy ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
    • Lynda Lynda says:
      Monday July 19, 2010 at 9:47 am

      Thanks so much Amy! Off to read your post now! (It’s the first one I’m checking today!)

      I’m so excited to dig into others’ pitches! (And apparently I cannot stop using exclamation marks!)

      Twitter: @

      Reply
  2. Rachael Rachael says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:35 am

    I love the new tagline! It’s fun and interesting.
    Rachael´s last blog ..A Better Blog Coming Right Up!My ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  3. Serene Serene says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:36 am

    I like the new pitch 100% more than the old one, which was fine. Good going!
    Serene´s last blog ..Not Mom Food- unless new traditions countMy ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  4. Vrinda Vrinda says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 3:27 am

    Oh good work! I very much like your new pitch, and most especially your tagline! It’s definitely something that would catch my attention if I was browsing, and something I think any photographer can relate to.
    Vrinda´s last blog ..All together now… awww!My ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  5. Maureen Maureen says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Lynda, I think your new elevator pitch fits you perfectly as you do share tips on photography stuffs too :D So glad I have ‘found’ you through SITS!

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  6. Tina @ Life Without Pink Tina @ Life Without Pink says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 7:44 am

    You have a great blog and I love the new tagline. I found you through SITS!

    Twitter: @

    Reply
    • Lynda Lynda says:
      Monday July 19, 2010 at 11:07 am

      Thank you Tina! Your blog is great too! Are you participating in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge at SITS? (If not, it’s not too late to start!) Not sure if you found me through the SITS website or the SITS BlogFrog forum.

      I love your Friday Favorites link-up and think you should create a thread over at BlogFrog for next week’s link-up for sure!

      Twitter: @

      Reply
  7. Calie @ Broccoli Cupcake Calie @ Broccoli Cupcake says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 8:31 am

    Thanks for sharing your original and your new taglines and elevator pitches. I already have both, but I’m now reworking them to see if I can come up with something more effective. Current tagline…”Finding the place where happy meets healthy.”

    Reply
  8. Lauren Lauren says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 9:48 am

    I like your new pitch much better. You keep enough of the old one that we get a sense of who ‘you’ are, but then you also tell us why we should be visiting your site! I’m not in love with the last sentence, but I’m unsure how I would change it. ;p
    Is there a recommended guideline of how many sentences to make this elevator pitch? 3-4 maybe? Or should it be a bit longer or shorter?

    Reply
  9. Heather (SITSgirlH) Heather (SITSgirlH) says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 10:16 am

    First of all…GREAT elevator shot! And fantastic pitch! This exercise has really changed the way I look at my personal blog. I kinda like that alot.

    Reply
    • Lynda Lynda says:
      Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks Heather! This is a fantastic exercise to start with. I love helping others for this specific challenge too! I love language and grammar and this challenge utilizes that to the nth degree!

      Twitter: @

      Reply
  10. Melissa Melissa says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Great post! I am finding the challenge to be quite fun. :)
    Melissa´s last blog ..Free Sample Pack from Kotex!My ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  11. Caroline @SmartyPantsMama Caroline @SmartyPantsMama says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Great new pitch!
    It’s concise and to the point. From the pitch I know who you are (30 something mom) and your interest (photography). I am also very much drawn in to your project and now want to come back and see tomorrow’s photo!
    Job well done!
    Caroline
    #31DBBB
    Caroline @SmartyPantsMama´s last blog ..31DBBB – Day 1My ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Jennifer says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    I really like it. Especially the middle part. When I read your old tagline my first thought was that it should be “Extraordinary photos of an ordinary life.” I like how really good photographs can take things that we see every day, like an elevator, and make them beautiful.

    My pitch is linked up in comluv.
    Jennifer´s last blog ..The elevator pitchMy ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  13. Jen Jen says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    I love the fact that you have jumped in and have already started to implement changes. The new elevator pitch is fantastic. It really captures the imagination. Keep up with the tasks and checking in on Blog Frog!

    Reply
  14. Nirvana Mamma Nirvana Mamma says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    OK…BOTH your pitches are friggin’ awesome! Seriously! You make me want to add you to my reader which is the point, right? Good job!

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  15. Dawn Dawn says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    I like the new tagline, it’s very “eye-catching”! I also like your new elevator pitch, it draws you in. Now you have me re-thinking mine, lol!

    Reply
  16. Rachel_AFWife Rachel_AFWife says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    @lynda love your pitch! great job! #31DBBB
    via Twitoaster

    Reply
  17. mommyk8 mommyk8 says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    Lynda, your site is great! You really captured the essence of what you’re doing with your new taglines. I’m adding this to my list of must read blogs, I’m a terrible photographer so I’m hoping to learn some tips from your site! Your photos are fantastic.

    Reply
  18. vanita vanita says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Now that’s a pitch. Love the post title too. But the tag line takes the cake!
    vanita´s last blog ..Screwed from Day 1My ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  19. Michelle Michelle says:
    Monday July 19, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Love what you’ve done with your pitch. You’re blog is so beautiful too by the way! Peace. ;)
    Michelle´s last blog ..31 DBBB SITS ChallengeMy ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  20. Adrienne Adrienne says:
    Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 8:30 am

    Great post! I love all your pics and your blog design! :)

    I liked day one. It gave me some focus. It looks like it did the same for you.
    Adrienne´s last blog ..10 Reasons why it stinks to be a woman!My ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  21. Di@Legacy4Life Di@Legacy4Life says:
    Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 9:11 am

    Hi Lynda

    Saw your very kind message to Joan and had to come and visit your blog. Love your elevator pitch.
    Di@Legacy4Life´s last blog ..How to stop your digital product explodingMy ComLuv Profile

    Reply
  22. Anna Anna says:
    Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 10:51 am

    I really love the new blurb – i really like the way you’ve taken it from a different angle! do you have a new five or six word tag line – or did i miss that?

    Glad to have met you – looking forward to the rest of the 31DBB

    Reply
  23. Judy N. Judy N. says:
    Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    I’m here from the 31 day challenge. I love both your new tagline and long pitch. Your entire blog is beautiful…I can see how creative you are! Keep it up!
    Judy N.´s last blog ..31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge 31DBBB-Day 1My ComLuv Profile

    Twitter: @

    Reply
  24. Jessica Jessica says:
    Tuesday July 20, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    New tagline certainly improved :) Thanks for stopping by today. Excited to browse through your stuff. I am a photographer wanna-be. I love having other people figure out how to do cool things and then explain them to me in simple terms so I don’t have to read the book :)

    Have a great day – see you for Day #3!

    Reply

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