When you first start blogging you think the world is your bivalve, that you are going to conquer the bloggerverse and make your fortune. Hell, it works for Darren Rowse, David Risley and all those other A listers you have been reading so why not you? Sooner or later the reality of blogging hits you – it’s damned hard work – and you hit that bleak place, a sort of limbo inhabited by blogging zombies and there’s that brick wall you just cannot break through.
I have been there and so, I suspect, has every one who has ever taken up blogging and if people tell you otherwise they are either very, very lucky or telling lies. The mindset that you need when starting blogging is pragmatism, a realistic view on how you are going to progress from raw beginner to taking the L Plates off as you grow in confidence and stature. You will find when you start blogging that there is a wealth of advice out there, much of it totally irrelevant but you have to sort out the wheat from the chaff, and take on board what feels right to you. Here is my two cent’s worth, three blogging tips that I wish I’d known about when I started.
3 Blogging Tips
1: Pace yourself.
When I began my blog I wanted to get a post up every day and I was trying so hard that I tripped over my own feet. Having a day job and a family life it became obvious that I could not research and write the 750 words a post that I was averaging, but I still wanted something up there every day.
What I did was dedicate three days to what I call heavyweight articles, that sorted out Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I then decided that the four remaining days would be catered for by short but interesting topics that wouldn’t take too long to create. On Tuesdays I run a Tuesday Tip post which is generally something very short about a cloud based service or social media package. Thursday’s are filled up with the Thursday Thought spot, again something quick and easy to knock together. Saturday I dedicate to a chill out and learn video tutorials which I get from trawling YouTube for cloud computing or social media services. Sunday rounds the week off with the Deva Vu and More post which takes a blog from the very early days of the site which newer visitors may not have seen.
This works for me, but you can adapt and adjust to suit your own business and personal life. Remember that if you force yourself to blog you run the risk of publishing some sub standard crap just to hit that post a day target. It might well be that your readers don’t expect a post every day – ask them and adjust your schedule accordingly.
It’s also worth reading this post by my friend Robert Bravery who discovered that posting fewer blogs did not affect traffic to his site.
2: Seek help with your blogging
No, I don’t mean getting therapy to cure you of your blogging addiction but seek out like minded people in some of the blogger collaboration sites such a Blog Interact, Blog Engage or Blogger Den where if you sit quietly and listen you will pick up some great tips and then you can start to interact, ask questions and before you know if you will be answering questions from other bloggers.
Don’t be afraid at thinking you might look like a total idiot because if something is puzzling you it’s a sure bet that it has or will puzzle someone else and answers need to be forthcoming. One important factor is be a giver rather than a taker. Communicate and participate without expecting too much for yourself and you will find your online presence takes one heck of a boost. I now it all sounds very mystical and Kung Fu-ish but believe me, Grasshopper, it really works!
3: Ignore the A Listers.
I have a lot of admiration for some A List bloggers like Darren Rowse and David Risley but signing up to them is a double edged sword. There is a breed of A Lister – and I don’t include Darren or David here – who sells their “secrets” for a small fortune on a site that shows him making money while swimming with whales in some exotic location and there’s this hidden agenda, that little barb that pricks the skin and says “this could be you.”
Well, it might be but I’d probably make more money betting it won’t than I would by signing up.
This is not about sour grapes, jealousy nor the blogging equivalent of penis envy but I believe that a lot of these deals are just there to reel in the wannabes. If you have the talent, determination and drive you will make it. Maybe a little slower but you will get there. If someone doesn’t have those three attitudes above no matter how much money they throw at A Lister courses they are flushing money down the toilet.
I’m old school enough to believe that you will learn more by making mistakes than by following someone else's “magic formula” by rote, but hey that could be my big mistake as I still need the day job and I’m not sitting on a sun kissed tropical isle sipping a chilled beer!
What are your blogging tips?
But, more importantly, what do you think? Let me know what you think about these blogging tips and if you have found this helpful you can buy me a virtual beer in a virtual bar and that will do for me!
Excellent tips you got there Kevin. The first tip was very well said. It becomes really risky to force yourself to write posts to your site everyday when you are faced with a lot of distractions. Chances are that your post would be a trash that’s pointless and no direction. It’s also good to know and recognize your weakness as a blogger so seeking help is just important. I always believe that experience is the best teacher. Relying too much on what others would say can never make us a good blogger. As I always believe, there is not short route to success because it must come with experience, patience, and effort.
Thanks for the heads up. I don’t think any of the tips are unique in themselves but different aspects hit people in different ways and change the emphasis. Pace would never have occurred to me when I started out but I now believe it to be probably the most important thing I have learnt.
I am with you Kevin when you say “ignore A-Listers”. I will add “their income reports” too. They are some time so misleading that every newbie blogger is given a dream (most of the times exaggerated). Well, I don’t include the A-listers whom I admire and who plainly tell the truth. For instance Darren openly tells his story of how hard and long it took Problogger to take of.
Sometimes it is just the readers who take it all too plainly.
Hi Jane,
I’m with you – I hate those “Income Reports”! I think the only one I can tolerate is Patt Flynn over at Smart Passive Income, but that’s it! 🙂
Jane, good to know I am not alone with an A List phobia. I thought that might be contentious, but obviously not. We must stand up for Z Listers 🙂
Hi Kevin,
You had me at “Blogging Zombies”! The brick wall – I have definitely been there and I revisit it periodically. I think that’s a part of the process. But the most important part is figuring out how you’re going to continue – I think that’s that pragmatism you’re talking about.
I think you’re advice about getting help is the most valuable. It’s too easy to feel like you’re isolated and all alone, but really there’s a whole world full of people who are actually willing and waiting to help. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without the help of awesome friends like Ileane and others who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Thanks for an engaging and insightful read!
Keisha, thanks for taking the time to comment, it is appreciated. I think at times social media can be seen as anti social media with an us and them divide, something we must work hard at counteracting.
Nothing wrong with being a neophyte, in fact it’s an exciting place to be. I’m thinking of starting a second blog just to get that adrenalin rush again 🙂
Kevin,
Here are my blogging tips:
– Be honest.
– Write for your audience.
– Write consistently.
– Interact with your readers.
Nail
Nail, solid, good advice which should serve every blogger well. I particularly like the emphasis on consistency, so very important
I personally decided a couple months ago to do a themed post everyday that’s a regular feature. Then, I try do more videos and screencaptures to free up time I write. It works like a charm. Trick is to get people to watch the video.
My Saturday chill out and learn video is so simple to research and set up I almost feel guilty,but it has had a good response.
Hi Kevin, your post on blogging tips enriched me. How about company blogs? Any tips for that? There is an adage which says to do without thinking of the outcome or what I am getting financially. I feel the same applies to blogging as well in the initial phase. What you say? Thanks.
If I read a company blog firstly I want to be informed and educated, not sold to. I think if you draw your customers in and make them feel good about the company and its products then a soft sell rather than a hard sell is easier and more community minded.
Got it! I would definitely remember your point on the “soft sell” while posting for our company blog. Seems much practical. Thanks!
Wonderful Work Kevin.
I can relate to this too and love the way you’ve talked about your experience and the solutions you’ve shared.
Networking and getting your feet wet by jumping into the thick if it is really the only way to grow, though I would say that the a-list ‘gurus’ usually do have the odd trick worth snaffling, if not practical ones then their mindset is usually worth considering. Will their product see us to the beach in 30 days? Probably not.
Liking your schedule ideas too, I’m ‘in transition’ with my blog at the moment so it’s down to 2 posts per week but I’m thinking the 3 pillars of Monday, Wednesday and Friday makes a lot of sense. How much do think it makes a difference including the shorter ‘filler’ posts on the other days?
Thanks mate, enjoyed this post.
Jym
I think the short filler pieces maintain consistency and helps with Google page rank – but there are people who blog less and have a higher page rank. I guess their seo skills are far better than mine. As I say, this works for me and you can find a pattern that works for you.
Hi, Kevin.
Thanks for these excellent blogging tips. I have learned early on that pacing ourselves in blogging and not taking on more than we can handle is the best way to go. As a newbie, I found that I really didn’t have to compete with those who are already popular or those who post everyday. I just have to be myself and do what I can, with a little help from my blogging friends. 🙂
I hope you don’t mind if I share a blogging tip of my own that I learned from Bill Dorman and that is build your community. In blogging, being social and making new friends is worth their weight in gold.
Cheers!
Kim
Kim, I ignored community when I started out and that was a big mistake. I wasn’t writing for myself, but I didn’t create a space where people felt they belonged. I won’t make that mistake again in a hurry!
If we do our job with interest in week, I think we will deliver best of our knowledge and this will be more valuable.
Zain, can’t argue with that. Short, simple, to the point and valid.
Hi Kevin,
These are some excellent blogging tips. I liked the first two tips specially. Thanks for sharing the tips with us. Seeking the help of other bloggers can really guide newbies to write good blogs.
Shree, I’ve only been doing this two years but I am still learning and I learn from beginners because they see things in a fresh light.
Excellent tips. Well i always believe in myself and always do what i like.
Vivek, well as long as you don’t trample over others!
hey kevin you got the right one,the first day i start my work there is so much question why can’t post?who’s gonna reply me oh well now i am glad some one answering my post…thanks for sharing this rips.
Cherry, just go as fast as you feel comfortable. I went too fast at first and missed out on some early learning curve that I eventually had to revisit.
Hi Kevin,
I enjoyed your tips and see if I already applied them all, one point I have not done it well, which is interact with other bloggers or blogging community.
I realize this is a very important aspect to grow our blogs, may require some of my times, but I have to do it.
Thanks.
Kimi, you’re in good/bad company, this is something I had ignored for too long. I’ve been blogging two years sand it’s really only in the last six months that I have been reaching out and engaging with others and I enjoy it.
Hey Kevin,
I’ve started a really small niche blog recently but I think I’m taking it in strides. Not trying to take things too quick though. I do have a regular posting frequency but I don’t try to make things too fast and only write when I feel like it. I’m not pressured to be like one of the A listers out there that everyone talks about. But I do strive to make a mark in what I write about 🙂
Wow Kevin this is brilliantly written and something I’m sure thousands of bloggers can relate to. I particularly agree with ignoring A-listers or at least taking some of their advice with a few handfuls of salt. It’s posts like these that we should really pay interest in 🙂
Will, flattery will get you everywhere 🙂 Glad you found the post useful. The trouble with writing something like this is wondering if I am teaching granny to suck eggs (ie, telling people what they already know)( or worrying if I am treating people like idiots. Hopefully I have hit that middle ground where everyone gains something.
Ummm,,, Um still confused :/ Well i need to work a lot … I need to pace myself now… Happy Blogging 😀
Working hard doesn’t equate burning yourself out 🙂 Working hard on three quality posts a week is better than burning out trying to achieve seven posts a week and turning out sub standard material.
My greatest tips in blogging would be – persistence and consistency. You should have a pocket full of those. Because it’s gonna be hard but achievable.
Louie, good tips and you’ve thrown a hard one in there with consistency, so very important but difficult to achieve.
Thanks Kevin!
Everything is blogging is hard, and only those who strive to be strong on their goals remains.
Nice tips! but there are so many other strategies are also present to get better blogging events. Anyhow nice and informative post. thanks!!!!
Lauren, the joy about blogging and multiple strategies is that there is always something to learn and keep out of mischief!
Building relationship with readers is an achievement. It means
your blogs is mutually beneficial to your readers…
Thanks for this tutorial, i appreciate.
Great post! First time visiting this site trying to find my way as I begin to take blogging more seriously. I am totally that guy under item number 1. Mostly because I had a previous blog I ended up updating every few months so I thought having an aggressive posting schedule would be the way to go. Now that I’ve realized I’m about to kill myself before my blog even lifts off, I’ve started slowing the pace a little. I’m switching to daily news round ups with features/reviews coming more 3 times weekly. So far I’ve found my best traffic days are actually some of the ones where I don’t have a major article posted at all. It’s all very odd, but it helps knowing I don’t have to kill myself cranking out features every single day.
Nice basic post. Even I have scheduled myself according to niche. I spend 2 hours of commenting everyday. 2 Hours writing posts. and so on..
If you want to start a new blog, it’s not a bad idea to first build a small buffer of posts.
Just write some posts before you launch your blog but don’t publish them.
Then you can post them when you are working on a post that you feel needs more work/research.
About those “how to make money” schemes. I always wonder: Don’t people ask themselves “If he/she found such an easy way to make heaps of money, then why are they working so hard to let me know of it?” or just think “If I was making that kind of money, would I think about teaching other people this or would I think about where I will spend my next holiday?”
Sometimes when we hit walls, this may fill us with many doubts over our original goals and purpose with our Blogs and websites causing us to sometimes make changes that are not at all helpful. This could result in the lose of our original ( clear) direction we had aspired to.