The Mademoiselle Robot ball answers!

Victoire asked the Mademoiselle Robot ball:

"What's the best way to quote an article from another blog and to let the author know? How to ask to be added to someone's blogroll? Are there strategies to get more readers? I have a strict plan for my blog, to avoid lacking inspiration, what is your strategy?"

SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE!

Generally, if you are going to quote another blogger, link to the post in question. To let the other blogger know about it, you can either send him/her an email (most bloggers give an email address in their profile) or leave a comment letting them know.
A lot of bloggers pay attention to their stats & will quickly notice if a lot of new readers arrive through your site.

Some bloggers also set up google alerts, so if someone mentions their blog, an alert lets them know. Technorati is also a good tool for this.

About the links exchange and being added to people's blogroll, I am not sure there is a definite answer. I, for one, never do links exchange. I add blogs I read everyday or love particularly. And people can add me if they want. I think the best way to be added to someone's blogroll is to consistently provide great content and let the magic happen.

There is no magical way to increase your readership. My guess is you are already doing your best to provide high quality content on your blog, so you could also try to be active in the blogging community, subscribe to your favourite blogs, leave comments, sign up to blogging repertories & join Independent Fashion Bloggers to get even more advice!

Last but not least, I don't have a strategy to keep my blog. For a while, I had a strict "blog plan" with recurring features, but I found it was boring for me to keep it this way. I kept the features, but I try to go with my guts a bit more now and to write what I want, when I want. The only thing I try to stick to is posting everyday.

Do you have a question for the Mademoiselle Robot ball?
Email me mellerobot AT gmail DOT com.