I feel a bit like a fraud, giving tips, I’m not exactly a big or successful blogger. But I was kind of lonely and worried and scared when I started blogging and I would have liked someone to tell me it will all be okay, and this is my way of doing it for any newbie bloggers out there who are unsure of exactly what they’re doing!
It’s okay if you don’t really know what you want from your blog
When I started blogging, I just wanted to blog because I liked the idea of it. I didn’t know what to expect from blogging, what would happen from it, or anything. I just started, and those things started to come to me. I still don’t know where I’m going sometimes! I just blog because I like it. Just see where blogging takes you, everyone’s journey and experience s different so no need for plans or worrying.
Don’t be put off by statistics
It can be disheartening to see only two people have viewed your new post that you spent hours on, especially when other blogs get so much interaction. It’s a huge cliche but everyone starts somewhere. It’s only within the past two months or so that I’ve felt people actually enjoy my blog enough to come back and read my new posts and leave me comments. I used to get frustrated that I was putting in all this time and energy into writing and no one cared, but you build a relationship with your readers that you don’t even know about! I’ve had people tweet me saying they love my blog, and I never even realised they’d been on it.
Get your blog name out there
You could have the best blog in the world, but if you don’t shout about it no one will know! Twitter is a great way to promote your posts, although don’t do it so frequently you spam people’s feeds. Interacting with other bloggers is also great; reading and commenting on blogs (genuine comments, not follow 4 follow!) really helps to put your blog out there. I always check out every link that’s been left on my blog and leave a comment, and I’ve found some lovely ones to follow that way. Not everyone does the same, but getting out there and commenting on posts or even tweeting posts you like really helps to build relationships. Taking part in Twitter chats are another way of getting your name out there, and making new friends. Blogging isn’t just about your blog, it’s about you as a person and how you relate to other people.
Use blogs for inspiration
Whenever I see a blog that I love, I’ll work out why I love it. Is it the content, the photography, the layout? Pinpointing what I love about blogs helps me realise where I could improve on my own. For ages, all I noticed on blogs was how good their photography was and it was because I was embarrassed about my own. Mine’s not perfect but it’s a far cry from when I first started! Obviously never steal content or ideas from another blog, but let other blogs guide you with your own.
Listen to your instincts
There are so many strong opinions around during the Twitter chats, it’s easy to worry that you’re not blogging right because you don’t have a blogging schedule or a niche or whatever crap bloggers come out with that you need to be a good blogger. Your blog is a reflection of you, a person. Not a robot where you can input desirable qualities and output a blog. Screw everyone else! I know when you’re new, it can feel like you have to conform to get noticed but that’s so not the case. I’ve written about all sorts of stuff that you wouldn’t see on a ‘normal’ blog and it’s never adversely affected me. See judging crap bloggers say.
If you’re not sure about something or need some advice, whether it be a layout problem, an opinion on something, or whatever, ask. Whenever I see a tweet asking about something I know about or can help, I’ll always respond. Once, my boyfriend and I helped someone with the code for her layout as she couldn’t get it right. Although my boyfriend was not impressed! Most people will always try and help, because they’d like to be helped in the same situation. Even if noone has the answer, a sympathetic ear can do worlds of good.
I think the main advice I would give is don’t be disheartened when you start, just carry on doing what you love and it will work out.
Have you just started blogging? Let me know how you found these tips and leave me your links in the comment, I’ll be sure to check you out!
