DEAR HARRIETTE: After being told to start a blog by multiple friends and family members, I took the plunge. Although I felt like I had a lot of support, nobody is reading or commenting on my posts. I thought I could’ve turned myself into a brand, and now I’m flopping. Should I continue striving for this dream or cut the cord five months in? -- Blogging Is Hard, Milwaukee

DEAR BLOGGING IS HARD: It is time for you to regroup and think about what you really want. If you feel that the content of your blog is important to you and might be interesting to others, devote more time to developing it.

There are two elements needed to make your blog successful: consistently compelling content and expansive marketing. Your blog will never be successful simply because of support from your friends and family. You have to reach out to other communities of people online and push it to them. Learn about how to market to others, how to use key words effectively and how to develop an overall strategy for success. Don’t give up yet, though. You have only just begun.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend "Michael" plays in a band on the weekends. He plays mainly at small bars around town, and it seems to make him happy. I love that he has kept his skills and passion for music; however, he has put me in an awkward situation more than once at my home. He will bring over his guitar unannounced and insist on playing something new for everyone. I understand that this is nice around a campfire, or once in a while (when planned), but Michael needs to start leaving his guitar at home. How do I tell Michael that he is always welcome, but his instrument is not? -- DON’T Play That Funky Music, Seattle

DEAR DON’T PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC: You have to set ground rules with your friend. Invite him to come to your home, and sit down to talk with him. Tell him how proud you are that he has kept up his interest in music. Then, tell him that you need him to understand that it is not OK for him to bring his guitar every time he pops by, or to start an impromptu concert without your blessing. Be direct with him. Let him know that when he comes over unplanned and starts playing, it sometimes disrupts the flow of whatever was previously occurring in your home. Make it clear that he has to stop hijacking your living room.

Know that this may hurt his feelings. You can address that pre-emptively. Tell him your intention is not to hurt him or to shut him out. Point out that he can play for you sometimes -- when planned -- but that it has to happen on your terms, not his.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a sophomore in college, and I feel like I’m still getting tested by my peers. This past April Fools' Day, my friends dragged my mattress out onto the street, filled my blow-dryer with baby powder and put mayonnaise in my shoes. I enjoy a good prank, but I seriously believe this went too far. My shoes are ruined, my blow-dryer is not back to normal and I had to haul my mattress back upstairs all alone. Do I have the right to be upset, or should I ease up in the spirit of the holiday? -- Too Much, Atlanta

DEAR TOO MUCH: You have every right to be upset by your friends’ behavior. Indeed, these are not the kind of friends you really want -- meaning people who would go to such lengths to embarrass you and damage your property. You should absolutely speak up and let them know, in no equivocal terms, that you think they went too far and that you do not appreciate it.

Further, you have to think about how they behave normally. College is the time when you must make choices about how you spend your time, and with whom. I recommend that you reconsider these friends to determine how much positive engagement you have with them and whether you honestly think they are worth your time.

Extricating yourself from friendships isn’t easy, no matter how old you are. Evaluate your own behavior and that of your friends and peers. What do you value, and who shares your values? Based upon your answers, edit your friend group to those who would most likely choose to treat you with respect, even when they are teasing you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my biggest pet peeves is when somebody plays their music out loud instead of using headphones. When you are on the bus or subway, this is outrageous. I feel like a hostage having to listen to people blasting their music, making a tinny loud sound that nobody wants to hear, even if I happen to like the song. I believe it is rude to assume everyone around you wants to listen to your music or video selection. Is it rude to play your music out loud, or is this just my belief? I have always found it incredibly annoying. -- Bad DJ, New York City

DEAR BAD DJ: Preach! Seriously, it is invasive for someone to play music in public contained spaces without using earphones. I will take this one step further, too: Depending upon your earphones, even when you are wearing them, if they are not soundproof, people around you can still hear whatever you are playing -- and you may very well not realize it.

To all of you who are reading who listen to music in public, pay close attention to figure out if others can hear you. Obviously, you should wear headphones or ear buds, but beyond that, do a sound check to determine if your sound system is doing its job.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My birthday just passed, and my husband got me a “pricey” perfume that I wanted. I use quotations because upon opening it, I saw that it was a knockoff brand. I don’t think he knows this perfume is not the one I wanted at all because the outside packaging was nearly identical. Should I tell him or just throw the fake perfume out, hoping he won’t notice? -- Fake Gift, Real Sentiment, Detroit

DEAR FAKE GIFT, REAL SENTIMENT: Happy belated birthday! Thank goodness you asked before acting! In this case, it really is the thought that counts. Your husband went out of his way to buy you want you wanted. He may have gone to a place where many fragrances are sold -- at a discount. It is unlikely that he knew he was buying a phony fragrance. I suggest that you suck it up and just keep the fragrance without pointing out the mistake.

If, however, he pays attention to see if you use the fragrance -- and you don’t like its aroma -- you will have to come clean and let him know how much you appreciate his intention, but he got duped. If he buys you fragrance again and it’s a knockoff, you definitely have to tell him.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I accidentally emailed a client from my personal email, which sports a pretty embarrassing nickname as the username. I know this was a rookie mistake, and I plan to screen all of my emails before doing that again; however, I don’t know if I should apologize for how unprofessional it was for me to email the client from this email.

Should I apologize or ignore this mistake? I thought I should just move on, but my wife thinks I should apologize. -- You’ve Got Mail, Portland, Oregon

DEAR YOU’VE GOT MAIL: I’m with your wife on this one. If your client received the email, he definitely saw the email address. If he kept the email, that address will show up time and again whenever he goes back to see that communication.

Get in front of this by telling him that you are terribly sorry that you sent a communication to him via this email. Admit that you pushed “send” too quickly, and it attached to an old personal email account. You should be the first one to laugh at yourself and your silly nickname. Drawing your client on board in a way that bonds the two of you is a good idea. Just do not belabor the point. Address it and move on.

By the way, say this to your client in person or via phone call. Do not create an email trail by writing it down. Just tell him that you are sorry for the misfire, and it won’t happen again. The end.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)