I’m a brand spanking new blogger. Though I started my blog at the beginning of this year the first few months I posted only once or twice every couple of months. And those posts were a little crude so my blog officially started October 2013.
That’s right. I’ve been blogging a little over one month.
The first week I read everything I could about blogging. (I still do)
I transferred my blog to it’s own domain and from Blogger to WordPress, which is easy when you only have a handful of posts. I started reading more blogs and commenting–but the more blogs I read the more discouraged I got.
These bloggers had thousands of followers. I had 2 Twitter followers. TWO. And nobody read my blog.
They posted yummy looking recipes with amazing photos. I don’t.
They had long informative tutorials and vlogs. I don’t.
Then I found The SITS girls.
If you are a new blogger then you should go to meet them now. (then come back)
I started seeing a phrase popping up in many of the new blogger articles. I saw the phrase so many times, I finally began to really comprehend it. So I am going to say it again so maybe someone else will comprehend it.
Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
Remember, I’ve been blogging for a month and many of the bloggers I admire have been at it for over a year or more.
I’m a full time working-away-from-home quasi-single mom at the moment so I don’t have the same amount of time to devote to my blog. For some (many maybe) bloggers, it is their full time job and they just have more time to work on it. It doesn’t make me any less of a blogger. It just means that I can’t expect to have the same results as someone that devotes more time.
Be realistic about your own successes. I had two Twitter followers because I started an account a few years ago and didn’t really like it. It felt far more isolating than Facebook. I started it back up and started posting and following. In a little over two weeks, I now have 300 followers. I put in time working on my Facebook fan page so I now have almost 300 fans. When I have the time, I will move to cleaning up my Pinterest boards. (I just transitioned my Pinterest account to a business account.)
Blogging is an heady mix of solitary and social. The community can help you, and you can help the community. It’s hard being the new girl at school but eventually you won’t be new anymore. (Thanks, US Air Force for helping my parents teach me how to be the new girl in school so many times when I was growing up!)
Keep writing. As you continue to write and think about your blog, your voice and your style will evolve. That’s what makes your blog different.
You.
You will figure out why you blog and what you want from blogging as you write. You may have just started to earn income or as a way to capture memories. Most likely, it is both. Without writing, you won’t have any content to draw readers in or any memories captured.
Find others like you. Once you’ve found your voice and style then spend your time commenting and reading the blogs like yours. Chances are those bloggers will follow you back and see what you’ve got to say, especially if you use CommentLuv. “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Learn how to take blog-worthy pictures. I am still struggling on this one. I can point and shoot like anyone else but there’s much more to having a pinnable picture than pointing and shooting!
It’s difficult to keep things in perspective, especially when it is something you are passionate about. Discouragement is always hiding behind the corner ready to jump at you. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it was the tortoise who won the race.
What are some things you learned after your first month of blogging?
Read Let’s collab! for free with Kindle Unlimited or buy it for only $3.99.
m88 says
Hi there, yes this paragraph is actually pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging.
thanks.
m88 recently posted…m88
Heather says
These are great tips for beginners! I would say one thing I learned is don’t get caught up in trying to find a niche! Sometimes you just don’t have one…and that’s okay. Great post. Thanks for sharing and thanks for linking up at the Monthly Review Linkup!
Heather recently posted…Christmas Tour of Homes Blog Hop
Mo at Mocadeaux says
TheSITS Girls have made all the difference for me, too. I probably shouldn’t admit this but I find the Blogher site to be confusing and difficult to navigate. SITS is just the opposite: so user friendly and inclusive. In my early months (spring of this year) I took a six week online course which was an incredible help. Unfortunately the class is not going to be offered again but I’m sure there are lots of others. I learned some technical things but also was able to create a community with my virtual classmates. That has been priceless!
Mo at Mocadeaux recently posted…The Thanksgiving Dinner When I Almost Poisoned Mom
Herchel says
I agree! There is a lot going on Blogher. I get distracted.
Michelle @ Life on the Horizon says
I, too, work full time away from home. The one piece of advice I can give you is, “be yourself!” Don’t worry about the numbers and readers and so on – they will come. I guess that is two pieces of advice! LOL
Michelle @ Life on the Horizon recently posted…Last Week at Life on the Horizon {Blog Post}
Herchel says
I have to keep reminding myself to stop worrying about numbers. I just try to do what I can without adding more stress to my life. Blogging is an outlet for me so I don’t want it to become another worry.
Gracielle says
You’re only a month in? No way! I’m about a year in, but I didn’t find the SITS community until half-way into it. So up until that point, I was blogging to myself. LOL I think you’re doing a great job so far connecting with other bloggers! I’m always learning something new – my own writing style, social media, SEO, design, photography, and a little bit of coding…It’s really FUN!
I’m glad we met via SITS! Looking forward to seeing all your blogging success!
Gracielle recently posted…Chicago Typhoon Haiyan Relief Efforts
Herchel says
It was blind luck that I found Sits so early. I love the community aspect of blogging. I am still working on finding my voice and the photography. I haven’t had a chance to dive into the coding yet 🙂
Kita says
I agree with this. I started blogging in 2010 and no one told me anything I learned as I grew and I have met so many wonderful people who gave me tips and ideas. The most important tip is to be yourself and do what you are comfortable with don’t try to follow anyone else. So far that one tip has made my blog what it is today. Good luck to you stopping over from SITS
Kita recently posted…New graduate or expert
Dee Williamson says
Your post is spot on with everything I have learned since I really kicked my blog into gear. I’ve been blogging since 2011 but knew nothing until a two months ago. Took me a while, but I’m getting there!
I couldn’t agree with you more on comparing my blog to other blogs. And I am also really happy that I found the SITS girls.
Dee Williamson recently posted…TGIF & NaBloPoMo #15: “Quiet!!!”
trininista says
I went to an event recently and 4 different people, after learning I was the author of the blog they read every day, went “I love your blog”. I often did not have comments but people were really reading this thing. Like you, my demanding real life often compromises my ability to blog and do blog worthy things but that is my reality and I write when I can, and about what I want. If you look at my “about me” page, I plainly state what I am and what I am not. I am okay with not having millions of followers, once my blog is true to who I am. You stick to your guns, missy and write what moves you, and do what you had in mind when you started your blog in the first place!!! #SITSSharefest
trininista recently posted…“There is just too much sexiness in ‘Thor 2′” and other Randoms
Kim says
These are all great tips and good advice!
Technically, I’ve been blogging for three years but my current blog is still less than a year old. It’s still working out kinks and trying to find the right groove. Traffic and comments aren’t what I’d like them to be at this stage (9 months) but I think it’s getting better, albeit slowly.
It’s hard at times to not be discouraged or frustrated, especially when you are eager to see your traffic grow. When it’s very slow and things just aren’t happening it can be a wee bit upsetting. Just gotta keep moving forward and trying.
Best of luck to you with your blog!
Kim recently posted…A Golden Sunset in the Desert
Herchel says
Same to you, Kim. I manage a chat group for a major company, so my day job is all about views, visitors and traffic. It’s hard not to analyze my own blog against it.
But…the company spends thousands or more on advertising. At any given moment during peak hours, my work website has as many visitors as I get in a month!
Teresa says
Comparing yourself to other bloggers is a hard thing Not to Do. You always want to be like your big sister or brother right? That’s what I tell myself but it’s wrong. Being unique, Loving what you’re writing about and Connecting with other bloggers is what makes this a joy.
You’ve learned some great lessons and made some awesome connections in such a short period of time. Great job!
Teresa recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Walnut Streusel Topping
Alecia says
Great article. My blog has been up since April but I really started working hard on it in August and the last two months have been crazy busy for me with it and working on starting a second blog. It is my full time job at the moment and it’s a lot of work. I don’t think people realize how much work goes in to it other than just writing great content or taking great pictures. I have reminders set for myself to do all the things other than writing that I need to do each day like follow new people, pin, comment, read other’s blogs, read new information for me to learn, etc.
Alecia recently posted…Five Minute Friday – Tree
Herchel says
I started two other blogs at the same time and just couldn’t handle then all so I just made this one a catch all.
katie says
Great advice! I’ve been blogging consistently since July – and I did it more faithfully a few years ago when I got married. But it is ebb and flow. I def. think blogging has to be about what feels authentic and true to yourself. Those are the blogs I love reading and come back to. Comparison is also a huge buzz-kill to blogging. One thing I read that has helped me is ‘Be careful of peaking too early.’ I love that. Just encouraged me to take my time in growing the blog. With persistence, we’ll get there! Great start! Stopping by from SITS!
Herchel says
Thanks Katie! I tend to peak and lose interest so I am working to avoid that. I am learning and it is a lot of work.
Jen says
What a great post! I am also a full time working mom with a part-time freelance business I tend to when I get home….getting in bed before 11PM is rare! Blogging can be so much fun, but with all the other talented, beautiful blogs out there, it is easy to get caught up in the “I’m not worthy!” mindset. Keep on trucking and believing in yourself! It’s my mantra 🙂
Another follower on your social media platforms 🙂
Jen recently posted…Stressgiving to Thanksgiving Week 3: No More Surprises
Herchel says
Thanks Jen! I love your blog name. I really try to let my flaws and insecurities “go” and forgive them. The hard part of being a Mom is that there is never enough time to do everything you want to do, while still giving your very best to your kids.
NIcki Lewis says
Glad to know not just me. Some make it seem so easy. I have tried to start writing down when I have an idea. Just hard to know when it is a good idea lol
NIcki Lewis recently posted…Throwback Thursday
NIcki Lewis says
You are so right. Funny I think I have done the exact same things you have done. I started my blog back in May as a final project for my web design class, so wasn’t really focusing on posting more on the look. Made a few post here and there. Then I started getting discouraged I was not getting any followers. Had been following a girl I went to high school with who has a real good blog and made it look so easy. Then I started looking more into it. Found this SITS girls. As of Nov 1 I have just started positing on a more regular basis trying to see if I could keep it up. Hoping that now I will be able to start getting more followers. Do you find it hard finding topics to post on?
NIcki Lewis recently posted…Throwback Thursday
Herchel says
Definitely. I struggle the most with the advice of “post great content.” How do I judge what content is “great” and what isn’t? There are days that I think something I wrote was Ah-Mazing then on a different day I think “what the heck was I thinking?”
Adrienne says
Pictures are a real kicker. I still need to work on that! Love your list, especially the first one! That comparison monster gets me into trouble every time.
Adrienne recently posted…10 Things That Bring Me Comfort
Herchel says
Thank you 🙂 I wrote to remind myself to stop comparing myself to everyone. Then I decided that NaBLoPoMo was too much for me right now.
Amber says
I agree with this! I try not to compare my blog with others. I am my own person. And I also keep writing. Sometimes two people comment, but hey, it’s okay!
Amber recently posted…Happy Veterans Day
Herchel says
The posts I have with the most views each have no comments 🙂 It is hard to compare yourself to others. I just try to remind myself that I just started so I can only get better as time goes by.
Kim Miller says
That happens to me too! Or the same post will do VERY well on a crosspost platform (like BlogHer) but fall flat on my own site. I just keep plugging along. Thanks for giving us your list- I am still a fairly “new” blogger, publicly only since July, and before that sporadically as an invite only family/friends thing. Now that the book is out, the kids are less “private” about their JA, so we kind of put ourselves out there, but doing it for friends/family is a totally different ballgame, and I am trying hard to learn everything as I go!
Kim Miller recently posted…Chopped!