Monday, May 4, 2015

Sixth Annual Diabetes Blog Week

Can you believe it’s time for Diabetes Blog Week number SIX!  I remember that first year when I wasn’t even sure anyone would be interested in participating.  I was so thrilled that so many bloggers were game, and then wanted to do it again.  During the second year  DBlog Week grew, and it continued to grow over the third year and fourth year and fifth year.  And now here we are at six!  I'm so grateful for all of the enthusiasm and support Diabetes Blog Week has received year after year from the D.O.C.  I’m thrilled to do this each year and thankful for all the help I’ve received to make Diabetes Blog Week happen again and again.  So, are you ready?  Here we go!


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What inspired Diabetes Blog Week?  For those of you who haven’t participated before, Diabetes Blog Week was originally inspired by a fiber-blogger event called Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.  When I participated that first year on my knitting blog I loved the way it united the community, and I knew I wanted to try to do the same for the DOC.

How does Diabetes Blog Week work?  The main idea for Diabetes Blog Week  is that bloggers sign up to post about a set topic each day for a week.  This way, readers can jump around the DBlog Community and get a big variety of different perspectives on a single topic.  The hope is that new DOC connections are made, and that our voices are raised to spread a little more diabetes awareness.

When is Diabetes Blog Week?  The sixth annual Diabetes Blog Week  will take place next week, from May 11th through May 17th.  

Where can I find the Diabetes Blog Week topics?  You can find the topics for next week on the Topics and Posts page.  They’ve been posted in advance, just in case you want to start drafting your posts this week.  (Remember not to publish your post until that specific day though!)   Use the topics as a starting point for your post each day and see where it takes you.  Write as much or as little as you like.  There are no right or wrong answers - just read over the topic and start blogging!  I've also included two wild card topics to choose from.  If one day’s topic doesn’t inspire you, feel free to post about one of the wild card topics instead!  

250x2505Who can participate in Diabetes Blog Week?  DBlog Week is open to anyone who blogs about diabetes - be it Type 1, Type 2, LADA, gestational, etc, and it’s also for parents, spouses and caregivers to someone else with diabetes.  If you blog about diabetes in any capacity, please join us!  The more perspectives that are shared the more connections we can make and understanding we can foster.  If you don’t have a blog but have thought about starting one, now is the perfect time.  There are free blogging sites (such as Blogger or Wordpress) that you can use to get started.  

Can blogs done by groups, organizations and companies join?  I like to make Diabetes Blog Week as inclusive as possible, so yes, group blogs and professional blogs are welcome to join.  However, the posts must be written by a blogger with a diabetes connection.  Also product plugs / advertising will not be allowed.  Posts that do no adhere to this policy will be removed from the master link lists.  (More about those lists below.)  

What if I can’t write posts for all seven days?  The idea for Diabetes Blog Week is that everyone who signs up to participate will post on all seven days.  Although that is the goal, I absolutely understand that life sometimes gets in the way, so if you end up falling short of seven posts that’s okay.  Diabetes can be stressful enough, so let’s keep DBlog Week fun and stress free!  

How do I sign up?  Once again, I’ve created a form to submit your information.  Fill it out and you will be signed up and added to the Participant List within 24 hours.  There is a space on the form for you to let me know if you have any questions, and you can also email me at any time at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.

Fill out my online form.

Will there be a master list of posts for each day?  There sure will!  I’ve included daily Link Lists on the Diabetes Blog Week topics page.  Once you’ve published your post each day, be sure to add it to the that day’s list by entering your blog name and the url of that day's post.  This way we’ll have all posts linked in one central location, which makes it easier for people to hop around and read all of the posts.  Please do not “pre-post” your links - links may only be added on the day that we’re blogging about that topic and your post must be live on your blog when you link it.  (Early posts will be deleted from the list.)  

How about a button or banner for my blog?  I’m so grateful to Mike Lawson (@MrMikeLawson) for donating his talent and time to the cause again this year and providing fantastic DBlogWeek graphics.  If you’d like to display the button or banner on your blog you’ll find the HTML Codes below - just to make things a little bit easier.  Highlight the code in the box, then copy and paste it into the HTML section of your blog’s sidebar or post or where ever you want to display the graphic.

Grab the Button
Diabetes Blog Week
 
Grab the Banner
Diabetes Blog Week

What if I want to tweet or Facebook about Diabetes Blog Week?  That would be awesome, you can use the hashtag #DBlogWeek.  

What else do I  need to know?  Great question.  I’ve tried to cover everything, but I’m sure I missed something.  So please leave any questions in the comments section below or email them to me at  DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.  I'll be sure to answer you as soon as I can.

Thank you all again for the overwhelming support during the last five Diabetes Blog Weeks, and I’m thrilled to be doing it a sixth time!

16 comments:

  1. I just realized, if I get my posts in this year it means I will have participated in four out of the six #DBlogWeek weeks!

    I know this is a ton of work on your part, and I am so grateful that you're doing it again this year. Thanks!

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  2. Karen!!! It's all too much... School is ending, teachers (and nurses) must be appreciated, summer sports are starting. Now D-blog week! I think I say the same thing every year and still manage to participate anyway. Thanks for doing this and I'm looking forward to getting my D-Blog week on!

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  3. Thanks Karen for continuing to her the #DOC bloggers. ;-)

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  4. Does anyone plan to video blog next week?

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    1. Yes!!! I'm very excited that there are several vloggers joining in this year. I think that's awesome!

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    2. Likewise, I think there will be ore next year!!!

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  5. Yay! So exciting :) so i totally didnt even realize there was a registration in the past but registered now for this year!

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    1. No problem, Maria!! I think I went ahead and added you to last year's participant's list when I saw that you were participating. Thanks so much for signing up this year and for the topic suggestion.

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  6. I think I've registered...! Not sure though I'm not to technical when it comes to blogs x

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    1. Hi Heather! Yes, you're all signed up and your blog has been added to the Participant's List. Thanks for joining in!

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  7. Hi Karen I just registered today I hope its no too late...

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    1. Definitely not too late!! Thanks for joining in!

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  8. Hey Karen! I just posted the link to my vlog for the day

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  9. Hi Karen, I like your DBlogWeekproject. I cannot sign up because my blogsite "Richard's Rambling Review" on blogspot.com is at a standstill. I can blog there, but my viewers cannot see my new blogs. I asked for help there and was given the procedure for correcting the problem, nut it did not work.. I have 150+ blogs, but have stopped blogging there. My blogs are on my Facebook page, and I have many followers there. Is it possible for me to sign up with my Facebook page?

    P.S. My wife and I will attend the FFL this year. Will you be there?

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    1. Hi Richard, So sorry to hear of the problems with your blog. Sure, you are welcome to participate on your Facebook page in the meantime.

      Sorry to say Pete and I won't be at FFL this year. We are taking a year off to do a vacation without diabetes as the focus. I'll miss everyone, but sometimes a little d-break is needed.

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  10. Hi Karen this is my first time joining in and I'm loving it so far. Thank you

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Thanks for your comment!