I always loved to write, but I never knew how much I really loved it until I started blogging. It's now been over a year since I started blogging. In that first year, I learned so many things. In fact, I'm constantly learning new things. That's something I love about blogging. There's always more to learn and a new challenge to be better. Looking back, I wish I had more information at my fingertips when I started. Last year would've been easier. Today I want to share with you my biggest lessons in my 1st year of blogging because there have been so many. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Blogging is Work
Blogging is work. Really hard work. On the outside, it may look easy but there's much more that goes into it behind the scenes. If you're thinking about blogging, make sure you know what you're getting into. Reach out to other bloggers and ask them the pro's and con's of blogging. Chances are if you're considering blogging, you have the tenacity to do it and be good at it too. What You Need to Know Before Starting a Blog is helpful resource for you to read so you know what you're getting into.
Read Other Blogs
I never read any blogs before I started blogging. I'm probably the only person that's ever started a blog & never read or followed one before that. Once I began blogging, I realized other blogs were excellent resources for baselining myself against. They're great for blogging how to's, ideas for formatting posts & website layouts. They're also great for generating content inspiration and finding out what's popular in your niche. When I started blogging, I googled best "health & fitness blog. That's how I discovered many of my favorite blogs. My advice is find other blogs similar to the topics you blog about and start reading them on a regular basis.
Schedule Posts
Schedule posts to publish in advance including social media. I truly don't know how people can write posts the day of. I have a full-time job and I like the peace of mind of getting up, working out then going to the office without having to worry about my blog. It's on autopilot. Doing it beforehand, removes the stress of getting it published and seen. Remember prime time for posts to be read is early morning. Mine are usually scheduled to publish between 3-4:00am. I also use Hootsuite for scheduling social media and Latergramme for Instagram to promote posts in advance. Read up on How to Blog & Work 9 to 5 for more tips on balancing it all.
Deliver Quality & Consistency
Consistency is key to getting your blog noticed & bringing readers back, but never sacrifice content over quality. When it comes to writing, quality is king. I realized a few months in that my writing wasn't as good as I thought. It took practice to get better and I'm still practicing. Sometimes posting less often can help you focus on quality. At the end of the day, your readers will have more respect for you for posting interesting and useful content than posting just to post.
Setup Google Analytics
Create a google analytics account from day 1 of birthing your blog. Google analytics gives you in-depth view of your readers, where they're coming from, what they're interested in, demographics, popular posts, etc. It's a wealth of information that helps you strategize. I didn't do this right away and I really regretted it. Also most brands will request screen shots of your google analytics. I had to piece mine together last year and it was a lot of work. Blog Genie's Cheat Sheet is a great resource to get you started.
Install Ads
Install ads on your website as soon as you buy the domain. I waited months before setting mine up because honestly I didn't know I could put ads on it and make money. Ads won't generate much revenue, but it is free money. Consider if one of your posts went viral all the money you could've made with ads. To give you an idea, I make ~$50 or less a month on ads. That could really "add" up if one post went viral. The ads on my sites are Google Adsense, Amazon Affiliate and Blog Her.
Stay A Week Ahead
Always have week 1 posts drafted and scheduled a week ahead so your focus can be on creating content for week 2. Things come up unexpectedly in life. You can't plan everything and in those moments this strategy will save you. This is also helpful if you go on vacation and want to avoid pre-vacation stress. For me, this was a lifesaver because I work full time. When I started blogging, I had no content in draft to pull from. I wrote all my posts on the weekend and writing 6 posts in two days was too much work. Over time I build up my content and eventually got me in the stay ahead a week routine. Now I have enough content drafted (~10 posts at any one time) that my focus can be on week 2 or 3 posts. Writing 2-3 posts is a much better balance than 6 and has allowed me to do more freelance work too.
Manage A Blog Calendar
Get a notebook with a calendar and pencil in posts for the month. Yes, I said month. 't helps to look at the big picture and strategize what content to publish and when for the month. It helps you visualize your content and move similar topics to the same week, see holidays coming up and avoid posting like recipes in a given week. I found a calendar particularly valuable when I began doing sponsored posts and freelance projects. It really helps having deadlines on the calendar so you can balance the work and plan for it appropriately. You don't have to get a fancy calendar. A simple one will do the job.
Focus On 1 Thing
Stay focused on the task at hand (as best you can) and get it done before moving onto the next thing. It's easy to get distracted as a blogger - reading other blogs, receiving comments/emails, getting social media pings, etc. The world wide web is a deep dark place with a vast amount of content. When I started blogging, it overwhelmed me. I would click one place and suddenly 3 clicks later I was somewhere else, two hours had gone by and I hadn't finished what I set out to do. I call it blogger ADD. Now I remind myself to focus on getting one task done before going back to whatever caught my eye. Focusing will forever be a challenge. We all have our own challenges.
Join Communities
As soon as you can, register your blog in communities like Healthy Living Blogs, Blog Her and apply for ambassadorships such as Sweatpink, Girls Gone Sporty and Fitfluential. Theses help to promote your blog and the ambassadorships open up sponsorship and project opportunities.
Set Virtual Boundaries
Schedule time for blogging and set time constraints. This is the key to getting things done and having a life. The world wide web is a pool you can easily drown in. Suddenly it's Saturday night 7pm and you haven't dressed or eaten all day because you've been writing or cruising other blogs. True story! I was injured for many months and had this luxury. Now I set times for getting virtual & real life things done. The real challenge is convincing yourself there will always be more to do to be a better blogger, but those things will still be there tomorrow. Remember you're still a person and need to experience life outside the computer. Those experiences will make you a better blogger.
Be Social
Connect and network with other bloggers. Comment on their posts regularly and go to blogging conferences. When I began blogging, I was amazed what a powerful ally other bloggers can be. They defend you, recommend you and support you. Other bloggers are good resources to build you up or even ask questions. Not to mention they can become some of your best friends. Of all the opportunities my blog has opened to me, the one I'm most grateful for are the friendships. That was not something I expected when I began blogging yet it has become the one thing I value most.
More Blogging Resources
How to Accept Your Friends Not Reading Your Blog
Should You Promote a Product You Don’t Like? 4 Things to Consider
Why Blogging Isn’t a Fish Bowl
Why You May Need to Trademark Your Blog
What are your biggest lessons from blogging?
Linking up today with Amanada @ Running with Spoons
Lots of Health, Food & Love,
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! Week 1 of blogging and I am so glad I came across your website and information!!
Super helpful and greatly appreciatted!!
You're welcome 😉
I read this and totally forgot to comment. This post is awesome. I am trying to get more organized but you know life gets in the way sometimes. I try to blog at least day in advance but lately I haven't even been able to do that. My first year is coming up in July so hopefully I get my stuff together by then. One thing I do always regret is not starting in WordPress. There are just so many more options with it instead of Blogger. You know of anyone that could transfer material over? I've tried to research it myself but I just don't have the time or patience. 🙂
I don't know of anyone who does that. My website design may though. I suggest you email her and ask if she can recommend someone. She may even do it. She's amazing! Her email is julie@deluxe-designs.net
Fantastic list you have here. I agree with them all 100%. Now if I can just take that dive into getting my own domain and switching all of my blog over to my own website....Ugh, I just dread it. I'm scared. I don't want things to go wrong and not get things switched over correctly!
I especially agree about the support of bloggers. We are a very motivating and helpful community! Yay!
I've never done a domain switch. I have had to re-brand though and it was a lot of work. Best of luck!
I love all these tips. Like you, I started blogging more or less a year ago, but some of these things you mentionned, I haven't gotten around to doing yet. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!
Of course! I'm so glad you found them helpful. 🙂
YES to scheduled posts! Some I do write the day of but most are pre-scheduled. It just makes it SO much easier. And I use only Google Ads. BH keeps turning me down, LOL. I must be doing something wrong!
What? I can't believe that about BH. Who do I need to call?
Thank you so much for sharing your tips! I have been blogging for three months, and have learned SO much. I found a template for a calendar that I use in Google Sheets, so I can access my Blog Plan from anywhere. Planning my posts a month to 2-months in advance has saved my life - I work on them in any spare time I have, because sometimes I can end up working 65 hour weeks at my day job. If I can do that and still blog, anyone can! It's 100% about being organized =) and DETERMINED!!
You are so right! It's about organization, even more so when you work full time like us. It's a juggling act some days. Good for you getting your organization on upfront. I would have thought you had been blogging longer than 3 months based on your content. Keep up the good work & organization!
I love that you have written this out. I have been blogging for 18 months or so and I still fail to be organized (which is probably why I'm NOT where I want to be with it!) You've got some awesome insights and tips here, I am definitely taking notes! 🙂
You will get there! I felt I was never going to get to where I wanted so many times & still do. Never be scared to reach ask others for help too. The blogging community is very helpful that way.
Blogging is an amazing thing, but you're so right --- it's work. I am of the mindset that people should write LESS frequently to create more quality posts. And you see a lot of terrible stuff out there. I LOVE reading your blog and love how much time you take to put together inspired posts. However, I can't believe you have them ready or planned a week in advance. I have some regular weekly features, but don't have an official editorial calendar going. Other things I would add? In-person events in your region are also great ways to meet real-life bloggers and grow your network. I've met a few blogging friends, who I now see in real life, which is pretty cool! I love what you share here, Megan. So thanks for doing it! 🙂
You couldn't be more right about writing less frequently to produce quality content. That was something I wish I'd done in the beginning. I cringe when I look at those early posts. As with everything, practice is how you improve. You have to start somewhere. Big THANK YOU for your awesome compliment. That means a lot to me coming from you!
These are some great lessons and you are definitely teaching me some stuff I didn't know yet. The biggest lesson I learnt so far is that blogging is hard work. I never expected it to take up as much of my time as it does. But I also never expected to be as passionate about it as I am.
I'm so happy you mentioned passion. I didn't expect the amount of passion I'd feel doing this either. It was something for fun & to help others. Although those things are still my focus, it has lit a spark in me to go after much bigger things.
So many good suggestions! I realized a lot of these things myself and am stil getting better at planning ahead of time and leveraging networks that I have joined. Thanks for the tips!
This is great! I need to get better at the ads and Google Analytics. I have both but hardly use them to my advantage!
I didn't either until I put more focus on it recently. It's been a huge eye opener. Let me know if you have questions.
Great post! When I started blogging (less than a year ago) I to never knew how hard it would be! I have a crazy busy schedule right now so it has been a challenge to keep up with, but I hope in the next year I can really focus on my blog.
I'm glad you know your limits. I can't say that's one of my strengths yet, but I'm working on it.
So true on all of it. I started my blog last April and I've realized pretty much all of the same stuff! It's more work than I ever imagined, but it's rewarding to connect with so many people. I'm still making mistakes and figuring things out (when I have time!) slowly but I agree there's so much you learn just in the first year of doing it.
The friends & connection I've made have made the work so worth it & you're one of them!