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Blogging isn’t easy! In fact, it’s one of the most complicated, yet rewarding things that I’ve ever done. And since Truly Madly Sassy turned 1 on December 30th (and since I was on a much needed holiday break when it happened), I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned during this first year. So, if you’re a new blogger, listen up!
Content, content, content.
Content is important. Way important. Like WAY! If it resonates, people will read it! Quality content is always better than mediocre content, so keep that in mind. You readers can always tell when you’ve fudged your way through a blog, so make sure what you have to offer them is something worth reading.
Just be YOU.
Being open and honest about your experiences is what your readers are looking for. Give them that. I can’t tell you how many women have contacted me over the last year to say, “Hey, that blog–I could totally relate!” You don’t have to tell every little secret you have, you just have to be YOU! It’s that whole ‘build it and they will come’ thing.
Writer’s block is real.
Sometimes, as bloggers, we have nothing to write about, so guest posts come in super handy! Utilize that whenever you can. Luckily, I have a lot of close friends who are writers that never mind to fill in for me. Not to mention, sometimes our readers like something fresh and different.
Hobby? Did you say HOBBY?!
It’s not a hobby, it’s a full-time job. As a writer, you are our own editor, your own photographer, your own web designer, your own social media manager, and your own graphic artist. Not only that, I’m pretty sure I left something out! Maybe even ten somethings! A blog is a LOT of work! Be ready to put the time into it.
Networking is vital.
Building relationships with other bloggers is an amazing thing and there’s an opportunity to learn a lot from them. Embrace that and ask questions! I’ve made some really awesome connections just by networking with other writers. I even found my social media manager through another blogger that I follow. (Suzanne, you’ve made my life so much easier, thank you!).
Interaction matters.
Interact with your readers! They took the time to read your post and respond to it, so answer every comment with a thoughtful response. I typically don’t approve comments until I know I can respond to each one. Occasionally, I might have to put it off for a few hours, but I don’t like to! My readers were interested in what I had to say, so I want to make sure that I’m always coming from a place of gratefulness and let them know that I appreciate them.
Be transparent.
Give your readers a glimpse into your everyday life. It’s what helps them see your humanness and it shows them who you are. They love that, and they want to be able to connect and relate to you. Your story doesn’t just heal you–it also has the capacity to heal others as well.
Time…there’s never enough of it!
Writing takes a lot of time. Every blogger spends at least 3-5 hours on each piece they publish. It takes an enormous amount of effort to find just the right stock photo, resize it, proofread the post, and get everything just right. There is a lot of dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’ going on behind the scenes.
Rambling. Rambling is not allowed.
Sometimes, less is more. I know this from my own long-windedness! If your post is particularly long, it’s a good idea to break up the text with photos or quotes just to give the reader a reprieve from all the wordiness. I totally feel like I should shut up now…ha!
Social media counts.
Honestly, social media is your very best friend when it comes to promoting yourself. Join blogging groups. Pin your latest post to a group board on Pinterest. Tweet your little heart out! Look into platforms you don’t know much about and see if they will work for the kind of material you publish: Flipboard, Medium, Tumblr, Stumble Upon…Just. Do. It.
Those ideas…they come out of nowhere!
Keep a notebook handy so that you can write down ideas for future blogs. As my friend Misty says, be a gypsy with it! This particularly comes in handy when you don’t have the motivation to write. I have a running list of ideas on my phone as well as small notepad in my purse.
What’s in a title? EVERYTHING!
Catchy titles are the key to pulling your readers in. Use analogies, keywords, whatever it takes. The whole idea is to draw people into your post. Mind you, it’s difficult to come up with something fun and off the cuff sometimes, but allow yourself to just be creative with it and see where it goes.
Not everything you write will make the cut.
You’ll write blogs you will never publish because sometimes, things just don’t fit. It’s fine. Let it go. For instance, I have at least 5 in my drafts folder that will never see the light of day. It is what it is. Sometimes those ideas just don’t come to fruition. Save it for another day.
Grammar.
Pay attention to your grammar! If words are misspelled, your blog isn’t going to look nearly as good as it could look. Grammarly is a fantastic app that I use to double check everything and there’s a free version if you don’t want to buy the premium subscription. I recently switched to the premium package because I’ve found that it catches a lot more grammatical mistakes than the free one, but any version is better than none!
Be consistent!
Finally, make sure you publish at the same time every week. Your readers have come to expect your predictability. If there’s going to be a change in when you publish a post, or if you’re taking a break for an extended period of time, make sure your readers know so they don’t think you’ve dropped off into never-never-blog-again-land.
This first year has been nothing short of oh-mazing. Never, ever did I think Truly Madly Sassy would be as successful as it is and I know that it’s a team effort because the blog wouldn’t exist without all of you! Thank you for making it so easy to write for you. It is not lost on me that we’ve done it together. Here’s to a productive second year! I can’t wait to see what we do next!
I’d love to hear what you have learned during your own blogging journey!
Please feel free to comment below!
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These are all great tips! Blogging is a lot of work and there’s so much more to it than people think. I love the writing quotes you placed throughout this post, too.
Hi Crystal! Yes, it’s a whole lot of work! I think that unless people aren’t behind the scenes like we are, they just don’t know. As far as the quotes, I thought they added a lot to the post. Thanks for commenting!
Blogging definitely takes a lot of work. I have a draft in my posts of blog ideas in each category. Whenever I think of an idea or I am inspired by something, I write it down in that post. I can do it on my computer or phone. I can look through the list to decide what to write next.
That’s a great idea, actually…putting ideas in categories! Thanks for commenting.
Oh wow! I can sooo relate! I never understood how much work blogging is! You are so right, there is never enough time! When I first started, I wondered if I should sound mostly professional since I am a registered dietitian who writes a nutrition blog, but then I realized that I wanted my blog to be in my voice. I am so happy with speaking in my “real” voice.
I think you made the right choice! I also write the way I talk and people seem to be able to relate so much better to what I have to say. Thanks so much for commenting!
These are such useful tips, Kristi. One thing I’m not great at is posting consistently so getting a content schedule sorted out is definitely something I need to work on! I also really love Grammarly for spell checking and grammar and I don’t know where I’d be without it!
I think all of us struggle with a content schedule, Grace, and it’s hard to keep it going! Once you get started though, it snowballs. Utilizing the auto-post feature on WordPress has been a huge help to me! Grammarly. Yes! Best money I’ve ever spent! 🙂 Thanks for commenting on Truly Madly Sassy!
It’s so hard to explaining to people and companies that blogging isn’t just a hobby – it’s a full-time thing. They don’t realize how much work goes into composing one blog post. It’s not just sitting down and writing something. You have to edit, take photos, edit photos, market the post on several channels, engage with people, and the list goes on. These are all so, so important points. Happy late blogiversary!
You are so right on, Tiffany. Only people who aren’t bloggers think of it as a hobby! And thank you so much! It’s been a great year!
I agree with absolutely everything you wrote!! The worst is when people say that blogging is such a nice hobby…NO!
xo
Sami
The Classic Brunette
Like I was just saying to Tiffany, the only people who think it’s a hobby are the ones not doing it! HA! Thanks so much for commenting, Sami!
Yes to all of this! I started blogging years ago as a hobby and it’s now my full time job. Everything that goes into blogging is far from hobby status!
Super, super far from hobby status! Congrats on making it your full-time job! Thanks for commenting. Come back anytime!
For me content is King! I think brands reach out to you more when your content is of good quality as opposed to just having large numbers. I make sure to remember that in my quest.
You are 1000% correct in that assessment! Thanks for commenting!
I resonate with this post sosososososo much! After a couple of years blogging, I didn’t really get writer’s block up until the end of last year and I feel like I’m still in that slump now – ugh! It happens to everyone, I just need to re-inspire myself. 🙂 Also, GRAMMAR! YES! I cringe so hard when I read a blog post and it’s full of errors. It’s not the end of the world, of course but it doesn’t look the best, I agree *checks this comment 10 times for spelling mistakes in order to not look foolish* haha. x
That’s too funny, Christie! I am the same way–always checking over things–and sometimes, I still miss it, but Grammarly has become my saving grace! As for writer’s block, I’m in a slump too and need to find some inspiration! Thanks so much for commenting! Stop in anytime!
Writer’s block is the WORST! We’re all guilty of it. I try to keep a list of all my blog post ideas which I add to on a daily basis. It helps a ton when I’m sitting down to write because I already have all those ideas stored away.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who suffers with it lol! Thanks for commenting!
These are all so great! I have been blogging for about 1 year now and learn something new almost everyday.
Me too! Always something new to learn! Congrats on your first year!
These are all great and spot on! I’ve been blogging for 7 years and I swear, I learn something new every year! But these are all essential to having and growing a blog! Congrats on a year!
Thank you so much, Samantha! It’s been a journey when it comes to learning the ins-and-outs of the blogging world, but I’ve enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting!!
Ughhh writer’s block can be the worst! I swear I get it once a year! It sucks when it happens!
It is the absolute worst and I get so frustrated when it happens! I’m so thankful for my friends who are writers because they’re always willing to step up to the plate and rescue me! Thanks for commenting!
I really loved everything you wrote. It’s not just about what you’ve learned it’s also a whole post on great information when it comes to blogging! On days I’m feeling good with my writing, I’ll knock off a blog or two in one night! Helps on the days I have writer’s block or a busy week.
I’m known to do that too, Shernette! Thanks for commenting!
You are spot on! Two/three months in and I’ve already experienced that writer’s block but thank God it didn’t last. I think transparency is something I’m going to have to work on, I want things to be so perfect and appealing I forget about me. This was a great read!
Thank you so much, Nadine! Stop in anytime!
Kristi, I resonate with everything you have shared. In fact, blogging kinda feels like you are sitting amid a Benihana table as you watch yourself, the chef, do all sorts of things you couldn’t have imagine before the blogging journey. (Benihana reference: Japanese restaurant where they cook the food and provide entertainment at your table :-D). Blessings, Evelyn, PathofPresence.com
That is so true, Evelyn! I wouldn’t have ever compared it to that, but you are so right! Thanks for commenting!
Wonderful post, it is true about writer’s block, in fact it happened to me yesterday. Some days, I write way more content than I actually need.
I’m the same. Sometimes, I have nothing to say, and others, I write 3 weeks of content in one day! I love it when that happens actually! Thanks for stopping in!
There could never be a list long enough to include all the things one can learn through blogging. It’s a hugely underrated job. But it’s also so enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your awesome list
It’s very underrated, no doubt about that! Thanks for commenting on Truly Madly Sassy, Ola!
You are so right about everything. I realized myself how hard yet fulfilling blogging can be.
https://thevagabondwayfarer.com/
We are definitely fortunate to have this medium as a way to reach out to people. Thank you for commenting!
I agree with you on most if not all of these! It’s been a struggle to keep it at a hobby pace and not let it take over my whole life, lol!
Ha! Mine started as a hobby, took over my whole life, and turned into a business that is a work in progress. It truly does become a job, but as long as you’re doing what you love, I say go for it! Thanks for commenting!
Content is key indeed! That’s what we have to offer as bloggers! As for being you, I could not agree more! That’s the only way to have an honest conection with your readers!
Completely agree! Thanks for commenting!
It looks like you learned a lot within your first year of blogging. Thanks for sharing, these are some great tips.
I learn something new everyday! Thanks for stopping in!
I was just telling my husband how you and I connected. You were redesigning the website and I went on to go look at it out of curiosity. I loved your website design and told you that. We’ve been friends since! I love what you write and I can tell it’s from the heart as I am sure everyone else does!
Thank you so much, Kari! I think we cross paths with others for a reason and I truly believe we were meant to be friends! I think so highly of you, just so you know!