On my runs, I often come up with ideas about things to write about. Sometimes I forget and then times like today I remember. What can I say, I can be a hot mess. On my latest run. the one thing that kept popping up in my head was all the advice that is out there about, how to blog. Yes, I am a small blogger in this great big blogging world but I have been at it for a while. Long enough that I can share my best blogging tips out of my blogger diaries.
I have been interacting with strangers on the internet through various message boards/groups since 2000. I even was a moderator of a few groups. I had my own Geocities page that I updated mainly for my family and my internet friends. This could be even perceived as the early beginnings of social media. When Myspace came out I joined and can remember talking to my friends on messenger as we put together our pages. Myspace is where I first blogged. I just wrote about what was going on, sometimes with a bit of a sarcastic and funny twist. I later took things to the next and started a “real” blog, first on Blogger and later moving to WordPress. Then I started another blog for my business, Country Girl Gourmet. As it grew, I was writing about more than just food so I rebranded into this blog here today. It has taken a few years but I think I’ve finally settled into my groove. Going through all of this has led me to my best, common sense bits of advice that I can give. I may not be an “expert” but, in my opinion, when it comes to blogging these are the most important things you can do.
BE AUTHENTIC
Just be you. The best you that you can possibly be. Stick to what you know and love. When you love something it shows, just as when you don’t. What do you want out there? I choose the things that I love. The products my family will actually use, recipes we actually eat, things that matter to me. When I stop doing this I stop being me, you have to stay true to yourself.
KNOW YOUR WORTH
Everyone wants money. We need it for our needs and wants in life. Yes, you can make money by blogging, even as a small blogger in a variety of ways. There are plenty of companies out there that will pay you, appropriately. There are also companies that try to get away with the exposure line. Every word you write is worth something. Every picture you take. The time it takes you to edit, create graphics for a post for someone. It is all worth something. Know this and don’t be afraid to say no and tell people what you want in return for your work.
FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU
There are tons of blogs out there about how to write blogs and what you should do but the crazy thing about this blog life, there is no one right way. You can be doing all the “right” things but that doesn’t mean your blog is going to be successful. What may work for one blogger may not work for the next. It can be a bunch of trial and error finding what works for you but it will be worth it in the long run.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
There is a constant learning curve with blogging. There is always something new which means there is always something new to learn. Social media networks change all the time, the algorithms change, they roll out new features, new networks emerge. You have to stay up to date on changes. You have to keep ahead of trends. Just when you think you have it figured out, things change again.
I know these are only four things and there is so much more to know and learn about blogging out there but I can tell you, these four things are key to running a good blog. I just wanted to bring some light on them and hopefully help a new blogger out.
WHAT ARE YOUR BEST BLOGGING TIPS?