(AFF) This post contains affiliate links
Starting a blog is one of the best things I’ve ever done. I adore having this outlet to write about what I want and engaging with the community is what I love. However, there are some things that people don’t tell you about starting a blog. It is hard work, time-consuming and there’s always something you could be working on. Having said all that, I wouldn’t stop blogging as it’s something I enjoy doing so much. I thought I’d share some tips for new bloggers and a few things I wish I’d known when I first started blogging.
IT’S NOT INSTANT
I think most people tend to have this pre-conception when they start blogging. It’s unlikely you’re going to be the next Zoella and end up making millions. Not impossible but unlikely. What is pretty much impossible is that you will create your blog and the next day wake up with millions of views. This just doesn’t happen and it takes a lot of time to start gaining traffic and building views (I’m still working on it now)! Blogging is both rewarding and challenging in that sense but don’t be disheartened if things aren’t instant.
YOU CAN NEVER PROMOTE ENOUGH
This is most definitely true and probably the best tips for new bloggers! I read somewhere that Tweets have a shelf life of about 20 minutes or something so you can really never put your content out there too much. Similar to the previous point, you’re not going to gain traffic if you’re not putting your blog out there. I used to be really ashamed of sharing my blog too much but now I don’t care. I’ve worked hard on my blog and it deserves to be seen! Promoting on various social media platforms really helps to boost your traffic and improve your readership so promote as often as you can.
BE CONSISTENT
This is something I always used to fail at but since May 2020 I have managed to post once a week consistently. You want people to come back to your blog which they’re not going to do if you post once every six months. To keep your blog interesting your readers want fresh content to read. I’m not saying you need to post everyday (my hat goes off to those that do as I could never find the time) but trying to stick to a schedule will make a big improvement.
INVESTING CAN BE WORTHWHILE
You don’t need to spend any money to start a blog. However, if you do decide to take things more seriously then it can be worth investing a small bit of money to help. I recently switched to self-hosted so I now have that expense and I also purchased a theme to make my blog more professional. These are, in my opinion, worthwhile investments that can make a big difference. Numerous bloggers create their own resources that are fab if you start branching off into different directions or want to make money. Visit my resources page to find out what I recommend as worthwhile investments!
BEHIND THE SCENES IS ALWAYS BUSY
There is always something I could be doing related to my blog. Whether that’s writing a new post, updating an old one, scheduling social media content or making design tweaks. Blogging can very easily become a full-time occupation and it takes time to adopt a rhythm. Another tips for new bloggers I would say is not to exert yourself. It can be overwhelming at first but take your time and take things at your own pace. Don’t do everything at once and it’s more than okay to step away or take a break! Your blog will always be there.
ENGAGE, ENGAGE, ENGAGE
This is something I never used to do when I first started blogging but it makes such a difference. There are comment threads on Twitter most days which really help to up your engagement. Taking the time to visit other blogs and leave comments, chatting to bloggers on Twitter and Instagram makes blogging so much more fun. There are so many incredible blogs and bloggers out there that are so lovely that it makes all the difference when starting a blog. I wish I’d learnt about the community before I started blogging as it’s one of my absolute favourite things about having a blog.
RESEARCH SEO
The dreaded SEO. It’s something that back in the day I had no idea about but now it’s a major consideration when blogging. SEO doesn’t have to be scary and one of the best things you can do as a new blogger is optimise your posts right from the start. SEO essentially helps you rank organically on Google and gain more traffic in it’s most basic sense. Chloe has such an amazing post to help you get started with SEO and if you’re looking for even more in-depth help than this guide will be your best friend!
I think that’s everything I wish I’d known before starting my blog! Like I’ve said before I absolutely love having my blog and it’s something I enjoy so much. However, there are a fair amount of things that I’ve learnt along the way that would’ve been helpful to know beforehand. I hope I’ve managed to share some useful tips for any new bloggers too! Remember to have fun with your blog too! It’s such a great hobby to have and I cannot recommend starting a blog enough as it’s such a fun and worthwhile pastime!
What do you wish you’d known before starting a blog? Do you have tips for new bloggers?
These are some really great tips! I have been blogging for around 3 years now and I’m still learning all the time. I still don’t really understand SEO! X
Haha me neither!
It’s not instant, and being consistent are both brilliant pieces of advice! I find it hard sometimes when things aren’t going as well as I would like, but blogging is a long-term type of activity- and I love all these tips 🙂
Thank you for reading!
Yes to all of these points! Being consistents is so important and also realising how much hard work blogging actually is – but it’s worth it x
I love the points and advice you share here; I cannot think of anything I would add! Being consistent and engaging are both helpful and fun ways to grow the community you are seeking to find.
Love the SEO guide you share too; I have been touching up on my SEO skills lately and will happily devour anything well-written on the topic. 🙂
Thank you for reading!
So many useful tips in this post! I love how you put the ‘not instant’ near the top. I think those starting out, can have a disillusioned view of blogging until they start out, and become disheartened when the success isn’t instant. Consistency and engagement are so important!
Fab post!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Yes I agree. Thank you for reading!
Really good tips! When I started, I had no idea the amount of work that happened behind the scenes. I thought you just typed it up and that was it 🙈
Haha, me too!
These are all great tips! Being consistent and knowing the amount of work behind blogging should be known before starting. In the beginning, I had no idea about engaging and sharing posts, so it can be overwhelming. Researching too is the best you can do! Thanks for sharing x
Yes I agree! Thank you for reading!
Useful tips for newbie bloggers and even season ones like me. Posts like this, refreshes my knowledge on content marketing. Thanks.
These are great tips, especially for those just starting out! Thanks so much for sharing!
I wish I knew more about SEO when I first started blogging! Some great tips here!
Katy | http://www.katystephenson.com | http://www.thegrownupsclub.com
Thanks for the tips! The be consistent tip I think it’s too right. And it costs me a lot to go back writing after a post. I m exhausted! Now I rescheduled to 1 post every 15 days,let’s see if I can accomplish it. Do you think is that consistent enough?
Yes, I think that’s consistent enough! Thank you for reading.
This is a brilliant post! Even 3 years down the line and I need reminding of some of these points.
Investing in your blog if you’re serious about it is one of the best things you can do for yourself. I waited almost 2 years and I am still paying for that now!
Great tips x
Thank you for reading!
Great tips, and so true.
I have been struggling so much with consistency this year so far, as I’m just so covid lockdown tired. And its so visible in my views that I’ve slagged on it.
These are incredible new tips for any blogger who is just starting out! I wish I had seen posts like this when I first started out over four years ago! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
What a helpful post. I started my blog in December and you’re right it is so not instant. I think we all get stuck in this fantasy where we think we can just become an overnight success and it’s so far from reality! My blog is still pretty low in the views/ratings area but we all have to start somewhere. Your post has given me some really useful tips for this so thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I’m glad it was helpful, thank you for reading!
Really useful tips here! It took me a long time to make the switch to self-hosted and I wish I had done it earlier because of how much it opened up my possibilities. It also took me a while to accept that it’s okay to spend money on your blog even if it is just a hobby as well. Great post.
Yes, I agree! Switching to self-hosted has been a game-changer
All of these tips and points shared are so true. I wish I read this post earlier most of my misconceptions would be cleared. But yes, I also feel that starting a blog is one of the best things I have done.
I agree!
These are great tips! I’ve really struggled with promoting my blog on social media recently as I’ve just started a new job and getting the blog/work balance right has been hard. I’ll be making a more conscious effort to promote across socials for sure! x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
I need to do the same! I hope the new job is going well!
These are great tips! Thank you! I only really started blogging this year, but I’m loving it so much! I’m still learning about SEO, and also trying to remove the fear of posting about my blog on my personal socials… I’ll get there eventually haha! Milli x – http://millidavison.co.uk/