1. Carry a notebook with you.Â
Or carry whatever you use to jot down ideas. I get my best ideas for writing when I’m driving, about to go to bed or in the shower. I’m also a sucker for a new notebook & pen, so it’s definitely something I keep around. I do not like it when I had a brilliant idea & lost it because I didn’t take 3 seconds to write it down.
For example, today I was driving to pick Lboy up from preschool. As soon as I was able to park at the school, I jotted down 3 ideas. Will they become blog posts? Maybe. But I’m glad I took the time to jot down my ideas!
2. Read blogs out there that help your grow your blog online.Â
There are a few that I look to when trying to keep up with the constantly evolving internet.
EliRose Social Media was started by a couple of bloggers who are helping small businesses, bloggers & handmade shops grow their online presence. They are remarkable women who really know what they are doing! Which is obvious because business is booming for them! They have a plethora of resources to help you, I read every time they post!
Blog Clarity (formerly known as MomComm)Â is run by Melissa. She has written several different e-books on improving your blog, she offers courses on Media Kits, hosts twitter chats, does blog reviews & even has a page dedicated to finding the perfect designer.
The Sits Girls is a site that has blown up since hitting the market. A place where they offer paid blogging opportunities, branding & blog building information, conferences for bloggers to attend, online forums for meeting new people & a featured blogger program. They are a group of over 75,000 women bloggers & they are definitely worth a visit!
3. Write Consistently.Â
Consistent writing is crucial to growing a blog, if you aren’t writing, there isn’t a reason for people to stop by! Trust me, I know! Blogging has been an on again, off again activity for me, but when I write, people do come back! I built Mommy Monologues by having at least 3 posts a week. Use that notepad to write down your ideas & you will have more posts than you know what to do with on weekly basis!
4. VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!
People stop by your blog because they want to get to know you. You really need to go visit people, get to know what they are writing at their space. Not only does this grow your blog, but it also allows you to utilize what blogging does: CONNECTS PEOPLE! I promise you that your comment on someone’s blog will make their day. So repay the favor!
Go to the Sits Girls community forums & find new people who have never visited your blog & introduce yourself. Visit blogs. Leave comments. Follow them on social media. Most people will follow back & take the time to get to know you. It’s a lot of fun!
5. Enjoy the process!
Blogging is work. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It takes a lot of time & attention to detail to grow your blog. But my advice is to not get caught up on where you want your blog to be, but to get caught up on WHERE YOUR BLOG IS! Enjoy your blog for being small when it small, enjoy watching it grow & enjoy the process it takes to get there. Look forward to writing new posts, meeting new people, getting involved on social media. If you get so run down with where your blog isn’t & compare your blog to others, you are going to be miserable. Trust me, I’ve made this mistake & taken everything for granted. It’s not a fun feeling.
6. Be yourself.Â
This is totally cliche, but so totally necessary. If you aren’t going to be yourself, then you aren’t going to have any fun. I know what this feels like, you get caught up on not wanting to make anyone angry or insulting anyone who thinks differently than you. But guess what? It’s your blog. So be who you are. Write what you want. And besides that, you are going to receive criticism. We are a crazy world with a lack of “agreeing to disagree” mentality plus we have the ability to hide behind our computers & act uncivil. I once heard a blogger say that if you hadn’t gotten a negative comment on your blog then you weren’t a real blogger yet. It happens. Don’t let it stop you from being YOU.
7. Use images.
People are visual & they are drawn to posts with images. If you don’t have personal photos to use, there are plenty of websites that have stock images with standard licensing that will allow you to use them on your blog. Never, ever use images on your blog that you do NOT have permission to use. Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it belongs to you.
I don’t want to reinvent the wheel, so read this EliRose article: 5 Online Photo Use Questions Answered
8. Simplicity.Â
I’m all about simple designs, simple layouts & easy on the eyes. Most people are too. Typically, blogs posts should be written on white space. Keep a lot of junk out of your sidebar because it can be really over stimulating. You can read more simplicity tips here on improving your blog: 5 Basics Every Blogger Should Know.
9. Share.
Your blog is there, but you need to SHARE it with everyone! Get on Twitter. Get on Facebook. Instagram. Google +. I’ll be honest, learning to use Google + is my 2014 blogging goal.
Great posts to read on how to use Google + here: Learning How to Use Google Plus & How to Use Google Plus Ripples. I’ll grow my Google Plus numbers if you will.
10. HAVE FUN!Â
Oh my gosh, blogging is so much fun! You get to meet people, travel the world, have new friends, learn new ideas & ways of thinking, see different perspectives all from the comfort of your home. It’s so worth giving it a shot!
Want to meet some fun bloggers???
Check out these lovely ladies:
- Phoebe at Herding Cats
- Kat at Mama Kat’s Losin It
- Mandi at Girl in Beta
- Jessica at One Time Martini
- Jill at Good Life for Less
- Jacey at Damsel in Dior
- Penny Pincher Fashion
HAVE FUN & ENJOY!!
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST BLOGGING TIPS YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED???Â
These are great trips, thanks! Number 3 is so true, I’m in an off again period now, can’t seem to get back into it, but when I was writing consistently at least twice a week it definitely showed in my readership! The only thing I’d add is proofread, proofread, proofread, there’s nothing that turns readers off more than an entertaining piece that is badly written or full of spelling or idiomatic errors!
BonnyBard Most Recent Post…Happy Birthday Darling Boy
Sometimes you need a break, mine comes in waves. I’m getting back into & having a lot of fun. If I need to take a break again, I will. Totally get it!
Oh yes! Proofreading! So essential to your blog! I covered that in a past post & didn’t want to be redundant.
Thank you so much for stopping by!