Blogging Tips: What You Need to Know to Get Started Without Stress
My knowledge has grown dramatically since I began taking my blog more seriously just a few months ago, and I attribute this to my increased blogging frequency. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was a newbie trying to figure out what all the fuss was about with blogging. Don’t get me wrong: I’m still learning, and I believe that will be the case for the rest of my life.
I used to blog in the early 2000s, before anyone did it as a job and the media still needed to explain what it was when they wrote about it in articles. Blogging was still in its infancy at the time. My blog was uninteresting and difficult to read when I was younger. My closest friends were the only ones who read it (but only the ones who had blogs on the same platform). Because it was merely a vanity project, there is no trace of it on the internet these days (thank God).
I started reading blogs again shortly after having my second child (around the end of 2014), and I started this one in January 2015, but I haven’t updated it nearly as much as I should have.
I found solace in reading parenting blogs written by other parents who were also sleep deprived. When I didn’t have enough time to take care of my appearance, I relied on quick and easy beauty fixes to keep me looking presentable. I was even able to charge the battery in my car on my own thanks to a very informative blog written by fathers. After that, I decided I wanted to participate, but I also wanted to do it correctly, so I bought my domain and began putting in the work.
Now, without further ado, I’ll share what I’ve learned in the hopes of making at least one blogger’s first few months a little less difficult. Now, without further ado, I’ll share what I’ve learned so far.
1. Start with what you already know
It may appear to be common sense, but writing about topics in which you have no expertise is pointless. Not only are you adding to your workload, but the quality of your writing may suffer as well, driving away readers. Focusing on topics that you are familiar with and that interest you will not only help your writing flow more smoothly, but will also keep your audience interested in what you have to say.
2. Avoid excessive elaboration and wordiness
It’s admirable to be able to communicate fluently with a variety of words, but don’t exhaust your thesaurus by trying to find a replacement for every word that comes to mind. Simplify your sentences by removing unnecessary words; this will make them more powerful. Before submitting your work, proofread it thoroughly to eliminate any unintentional repetition.
3. Don’t waste your time writing about your life if it’s uninteresting!
Everyone has a story to tell; the only difference is that some people’s stories aren’t particularly compelling. This may come across as harsh, but your audience will appreciate it. If you didn’t do anything productive, don’t bother telling us how you spent your day. Discuss something else that you find interesting and that others will find interesting as well. Have you noticed anything in the news that has piqued your interest? Do you have a wish list of clothing items? We’d like to learn more about it and observe it.
If nothing noteworthy is happening and you can’t make it humorous (or, at the very least, post a photo of how you did your hair or what your kids wore that day), you need to divert our attention away from the mundane. I enjoy reading people’s blog entries (mainly because I’m nosy and people fascinate me, especially the slightly eccentric), but if nothing noteworthy is happening and you can’t make something humorous out of it, you should divert our attention elsewhere.
You must keep in mind your blog’s objectives. If you’re doing it for the therapeutic benefits and don’t care who reads it, go ahead and do whatever you want (though I’m not sure why you’re reading this), but if you want to entertain people, you have to be entertaining. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you should be parachuting out of planes on a daily basis; rather, you should learn how to edit.
4. Employ SEO Techniques
SEO, which stands for search engine optimization, can be an incredible tool for attracting people to your website; however, it is not an easy process, and many professional businesses, bloggers, and influencers will spend a significant amount of money working with local SEO experts to dominate the search results. Even in that case, success is not guaranteed. If you’re just blogging for fun, you probably don’t want to spend money on SEO because it’s such a difficult topic to grasp; however, if you search online, you’ll find a plethora of beginner guides.
5. Make use of relevant tags and classifications
This is the most effective way to reach a larger audience, and not just any audience; rather, it is the best way to reach the right audience, which is one that is interested in what you are writing and will interact with you. People who find your blog while searching for tags are likely to share your interests (and who knows, you might even make a lifelong blogging pal).
6. Twitter is your best online friend
Twitter is an excellent platform for interacting with other users. Sign up for Twitter and connect it to your blog as soon as possible if you don’t already have one. You will not only find a large number of people who share your interests, but you will also find a lot of inspiration and guidance. If you follow the right people on Twitter, you’ll notice that it can be quite hilarious, if not completely scandalous, at times.
7. Check your spelling and grammar for accuracy
If you want your blog to be successful, you should make it look as professional as possible. This will necessitate a substantial amount of editing. You should not rush through your first draft and then upload it without first checking it for errors. Because mistakes are unavoidable, you should read and reread your work several times before posting it online. Some people find grammatical errors offensive, and they have the potential to cause you to lose a significant number of readers over time. Make sure you understand how to use the possessive apostrophe, and avoid using ellipses where they are unnecessary; this is very annoying.
8. Include images in your post to break up the text
A large block of text can be intimidating, especially for new readers who have just discovered your website. They have no way of knowing if you are worth sticking around for, and if the quality of your writing appears intimidating to them, they will not bother to investigate.
Your use of images not only keeps the reader’s attention but also breaks up the monotony of the text. If you do not have access to your original photographs, there are numerous websites on the internet that allow users to download free stock photographs; however, you must ensure that you are not infringing on any copyright laws by doing so.
If you’ve made it this far, I’d like to thank you for being here with me. These helpful hints will have a significant impact on your statistics as well as your readers’ engagement. It is critical to remember that your audience will be built methodically over the first few months. Allow yourself to be discouraged if the results do not meet your expectations; instead, persevere in your efforts. Examine the blogs you enjoy reading and make a list of the things they do that differ from what you do. It is acceptable to model your writing after the style of another person as long as the content is uniquely yours.
