I have a bad habit of writing little notes down on everything; books, loose paper, napkins, etc. I literally have a pile of ripped pieces of paper and post-its on my desk filled with notes that I go through at the end of each week. My notes usually include any ideas that pop into my head throughout the day, reminders of things that I need to do and also notes on how I can improve this blog and any of the other projects that I’m working on at the time.
Over the past few years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and have learned a lot through trial and error. The tips below are some of the lessons I learned about blogging (and life) along the way.
1. Action Creates Inspiration
When I first started blogging, I would not write unless I was overflowing with inspiration, which means I wasn’t writing often enough. Over the last year, I’ve learned that building momentum means taking one step or typing one word at a time. And then typing another. Sometimes you just have to sit down and write; regardless of the mood you’re in. Once you get started, the inspiration will come.
2. If Content is King Then Consistency is Queen
Make a commitment to post new content on your blog regularly. Setting posting goals can help you find your rhythm and figure out whether or not you can post daily or just a few times per week. Whatever you decide to do, be consistent. Consistency will help you build an audience and attract the attention of brands and influencers.
3. Focus On Your Audience, Not Your Stats
New bloggers tend to use traffic statistics to measure success, which is probably the most common culprit behind abandoned blogs. If you build it, they will come…eventually. Instead of focusing on your numbers, take the time to attract, grow and learn more about your audience. Ask them which types of posts they prefer, and write more of those. The key is figuring out how you can add value to your readers’ lives.
4. It’s Good to Know How to Do Basic Code
I have had many a sleepless night trying to figure out how to find a color code or how to modify a sidebar. Seems like simple stuff, but once you start staring at lines of code that resemble hieroglyphics you might have a change of heart.
Luckily, there are a bunch of great educational platforms like Codecademy that exist that can help you learn basic HTML and web design. Take advantage of these resources because you never know when these skills will come in handy.
5. You Are Not Alone: Find Your Tribe
Every industry and niche has a tribe. Even if you are blogging about personal issues, there is a group of people out there with the same problem. You are not alone. Find a tribe that is relevant to your content and start connecting with those people. Or, create your own. But remember, we’re all in this together.