Today’s post comes from a blogger who has successfully started and ran a meme for nearly two years. Shell’s Pour Your Heart Outmeme on her blog Things I Can’t Say let’s readers connect & share each week. Here, she shares why to participate in such memes.
As you are reading blogs, you probably notice that there are often link ups on different posts: where you can write about given topic and then link up your post. The idea is that you then hop around and visit the other linkers and they visit you.
It’s a good idea to participate in these link-ups, also called memes. Here’s why:
1. Memes help with blogger’s block. If you aren’t sure what to write, you can easily find inspiration. You can find everything from themed photo link ups to creative lists to writer’s workshops. Get inspired by these ideas and write your own take on them.
2. You will find a new audience. By reading the other linked posts and having the participants read yours, you will meet new bloggers. This is an easy way to find new bloggers to read and to read you. Find a link up that gets many participants or who has a different readership than you do to help grow your blog.
3. Memes give you an excuse to try something new. Maybe you never tried writing fiction, but want to: link up to a fiction prompt. If you don’t usually blog about food but are dying to share a recipe, link up to a menu-planning meme.
4. Old content gets new life in a meme. You might read a prompt and realize that you have already written a post that fits perfectly with that link up. Go back to your post, add a note that you are participating in the meme, and link up.
Do you participate in memes? Which ones are your favorites?
About Ashley
I’ve been trying to do more memes myself.
I love participating in memes, although I am not very consistent. I’m really glad to hear you say that linking an old (relevant) post is okay. For some reason that seemed like cheating, but doing that would really shine up some of my oldie-but-goodie posts that didn’t get many comments the first time around.
I love memes
I participate in the Write on Edge ones, and I try to participate in PYHO, Shell 
I like that PYHO actually “works” with the overall feel of my blog but let’s me go a little deeper into things that are on my mind.
I try to link up to memes as often as possible (which has been not often enough lately!) The meme I most often link up with is Shell’s PYHO
I used to link up with the VlogTalk vlogging meme, and All Things Fadra’s “Stream of Consciousness Sunday” all the time too, but slacking got in my way. Others I’ve linked up with (not very recently, or often I’m sorry to say) are Mommy’s Little Monster Blake’s “Sunday Funday” – Bees with Honey’s “Let’s Bee Friends” Friday memes, MamaKat’s Writer’s Workshop and The Red Dress Club/Write on Edge “remembeRED” meme. Oh – and my own S.H.I.T. (SoHappyIt’sThursday) meme… which has also taken a hit lately… hoping to get blogging more regularly again as things slow down, although with another baby on the way, that might not happen any time soon!! 
As someone who participates in memes and linkups regularly, I totally agree with Shell. They’re a great way to meet new bloggers, those who you may never have known about otherwise. Some of my closest bloggy friends were found via memes.
Yes, I participate in memes. I used to try to participate in memes just because they were on a popular blogger’s website. Well, I realized that wasn’t working for me. For instance, there was one about the outfit you wore. I don’t consider myself that fashionable so it wasn’t right for me.
Instead I now participate in memes that are more “me” and focus on writing and “pouring my heart out” (hehe) which is what I love to do on my blog. It is working much better for me.
I’m not big enough to start my own meme. I tried but it didn’t take off. So I’m going to participate in other memes that suit me.
I agree with every word!! Shell, you are so smart.
I don’t participate every week, but some of my favorite memes are Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop and Writer’s Edge/Red Dress Club because they force me to dig deep inside and write from the heart and Vlog Talk because it’s challenging but so cool to “see” bloggers in action and Listicles, Wordless Wednesdays, Project Smile, etc. because they’re fun and the one offs (Rockin’ the Baby, Rockin’ the Bump, Halloween photos, Santa photos, etc. are easy and nostalgic and I love seeing what everyone comes up with.
If it weren’t for memes, I don’t think I’d have a single follower or know about half the blogs I love to follow.
I love memes that challenge me to write creative and timely material. I like Write on Edge, Trifecta, Story Dam, Lightning and the Lightning Bug, Mama Kat, and Pour Your Heart Out, among others. I don’t always do any of them, especially when a prompt doesn’t strike me right, but often, I find I have something to say in these conversations.
As a newbie on the blogging scene I am quickly learning the importance of participating in memes. One of the things I love the most if finding more blogs I love to read. I am so glad to know that it is acceptable to link up an old post. Many a time I have passed on linking up b/c I didn’t have time to write a new post that would fit the meme.
I love participating in memes for all the reasons you mentioned. It is a great to find new blogs and meet new bloggers.
Sometimes I feel like I’m doing TOO many link-ups! But there are so many good ones, I can’t help myself. I actually like the ones that are a little bit smaller. If there are a ton of participants, I kind of start to feel swallowed up in the crowd. But if I can go visit most of the blogs that have linked up, I feel like a lot of them come visit my post as well. They have definitely helped grow my network!
I absolutely love this, Shell! Memes are definitely the way I find blogs to fall in love with!
{Thank you for Memories Captured shout out! That means the world to me!}
It’s very true! I’ve been blogging for 6 months now, and it was through memes that I was able to grow my list of followers. I’m on my second week of running my own linky and it has been great! It forces me to take the time to read other blog posts, and allows me to share their stories, as well as my own! It’s a great networking opportunity for bloggers looking for new followers or writing ideas. Great post!
My linky “Quotable Bits” can be found here: http://bitsofbee.blogspot.com/2012/01/quotable-bits-2.html
I have started to participate more in memes, but I find that I don’t get to read enough of everyone’s posts. I need to find more time to really connect and read others. Great words of wisdom.
Great advice and perspective on memes. I was just wondering myself if I was participating in too many these days, and not publishing enough of my own content. Then I though, it is still my own content…..I am just using their prompt, or suggestion as a focus. Focus for busy mom bloggers = good thing!
….. than via a regular post. I do try to mix it up a bit so that they are not exactly the same. I love the Poetry Workshop that Mommy’s Lounge has because I don’t find a lot of bloggers who write poetry, so that is a great way to work my prose muscles.
Plus, I am not seeking riches and fame, but rather connection. Participating in these memes allows me to connect with other bloggers. I find I discover more about them sometimes via their lists, pictures, or pouring their heart out
Great list! And yes Shell does have a great weekly meme.
I like to participate in memes, but there aren’t any that I end up doing every week. I like some photography ones: Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Oh Snap!shots of the Week, Look Who’s Snapping; Happiness Is…; Weekend Rewind at And then there were four; Midnight Maniac Meatless Monday; Gallery of Favorites at the 21st Century Housewife; and some others.
I have tried to start a new one called “Three Lies” that I think could be really fun if it caught on. I ask bloggers to link up a post of 25 things about themselves, three of which are lies, and their readers have to try to guess the lies. I also post a memoir writing one twice a month.
There are times when your blog might be going through a slump and memes are what keeps it current. I don’t like when that’s all people do, but I understand it.
I like memes and agree with your thoughts – it’s a GREAT way to meet new people or expand your audience. I try to be careful not to do TOO many TOO much, though, you know?
Pardon the ignorant question: So how do we search for memes? Do we just Google it?
Linkups/ memes are GREAT. It’s especially useful for new bloggers, looking to find new blogs to read/ follow, gather an audience for themselves and to challenge their writing and creative juices.
Thank you for the Memories Captured shoutout!
I personally love the bloggy link ups. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, it’s a great way to connect to the blogging community, and it also introduces you to other blogs, and the content they choose to share with others.
One of the reasons I love blogging so much are definitely the people you meet along the way!
I wish I would have read something like this when I first started blogging. I didn’t do any memes for a long time, but it would have been a great way to get writing ideas and start getting to know people.
I AGREE…whenever I just can’t find any inspriration I remember can make a list, Pour My Heart Out (xox) or take a picture and get it ready to share. Plus when i link up (or use ONE post for more than one meme) I get lots of visitors..which is always nice.
What a great post!!!
Yes, I participate in memes. I have enjoyed trying out Mama Kat’s Writer’s workshop. I Like Pour Your Heart Out. They really do kick me out of a rut and help me get out of my same round of blogs I read, too.