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Like anything in life, it’s exactly the same with blogging. But make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and not because you want to get numbers, comments or products to review. If I didn’t love blogging as much as I do, I probably wouldn’t have had 10+ years of archives under my belt. Clearly, blogging is a very passionate hobby of mine and I find inspiration everywhere and anywhere I go in the run of a week. Sure there are times where I find it difficult to come up with topics to talk about five days a week, but I’m here to help you understand where I’m coming from.
Write for your own reasons
If you start writing what you think people want to read, then you’re not being true to yourself. Don’t blog with the intention of making it a job or getting paid. You need to stay real, stay transparent and your readers will stick around for who you are.
Stay organized
If I’m not organized, my blog is going to be empty. Hence why there was a 2 week break in the blog while I was in Newfoundland for over 4 weeks. Currently I have over 90 drafts in my wordpress, each and every one of them with different ideas, topics and things to talk about. Slowly I pick away at them and turn them into blog posts. Like this one!
Be true to yourself
Write about the things that interest you and the topics you want to read. If your intention is to simply get paid, your writing will show that. Don’t be transparent because you will lose your loyal readers quickly.
Don’t get too hyped up abut the numbers
Each month your numbers are going to be different, it’s bound to happen. It can be frustrating to see those dips in page views especially if you’re not sure what you did differently, or wrong so to speak. Try doing something different the next month. Re-evaluate what you did the previous month and perhaps tweak it a bit differently the next, for instance, add more (or less!) images in a blog post, ask questions at the end of the posts.
Collaborate with friends
One of my favourite things to do is collaborate with another blog friend. It keeps things genuinely interesting, and taking photos together for the post, bouncing each other’s ideas off one another is so fun!
32 Comments
These are all such great tips. Blogging for you is such an important point and one I try to stick to all the time :)
I can relate with most of this post! Thanks for the encouragement to keep going. :)
Melissa recently posted..One Car Family
These are great tips. I do mostly recipes and every once in a while I do a recipe thinking “people are going to love this!”. Almost always, that ends up being my least popular posts. However, the recipes I post that I’m truly in love with and enjoy making are the ones that other people like too. I definitely agree that blogging has to be done out of passion!
brita recently posted..Edit Beautiful Photos with Greater than Gatsby
I wondered where you had gone, but saw a few good pictures from your trip. It’s so important to step away from the computer every once in a while and enjoy real life. I’ve never done a blog collaboration and would see that as very fun. We should get something together with the Bay Area Blogging Peeps group!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted..Friday Favorites: Dining, the city and gift ideas
I love blog collaborations! Great post!
My blog is quickly growing and I find myself stressing out about it! Thanks so much for this post, it came at a great time! :)
Erica recently posted..Lessons
Yes to everything on this list! For me, it’s SO important to write for myself. Many bloggers make the mistake of writing for who they think wants to read their blog! It’s also important not to dwell on the numbers. Things will happen when they happen <3
Great tips. I love that you encourage balance and looking for the joy in blogging.
Lavende & Lemonade recently posted..Vegan Walnut Banana Bread
Yes, yes, yes, and yes! I totally agree with all of these. I got organized by putting together a binder and keeping an editorial calendar. It really made a huge difference! I’m a huge fan of the community that is available to bloggers. I have collaborated with my blogging friends on a number of projects and it is so much fun!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast recently posted..Stuffed Potato Bites with Not Ketchup {Football Foods Friday}
I agree with these. One week I love blogging; the next I’m over it. I just don’t take on as much when I feel that way.
Alisha H. recently posted..Zevia Zero Calorie Soda: The Magical Nectar of Mermaids
@Ashley @ A Lady Goes West: That would be awesome, hey? I need to e-mail you about another blog-thing in our area… :) I’ll e-mail this weekend.
Nancy recently posted..How to stay motivated as a blogger
This post is awesome. Thanks for all the tips and ideas.
Anne
http://www.underthebrella.com
I’d really like to blog more but can’t seem to find the topic(s) since I wrote the series about the drive home from Florida. That was months ago now so I really have writer’s block!
@Lynn: You can always do “Day in the life” posts, or your workouts that you do! I’ve never heard of some of them (like that 52 card thing you were describing to me earlier).
Nancy recently posted..How to stay motivated as a blogger
After a few rough blogging weeks, I needed this post. Thank you!
These are all great ideas. The one thing I need to do more is collaborating with friends!
Stefany recently posted..Why we love the soft, huggable Mooshka dolls
I LOVE BLOGGING! I love meeting new people, starting conversations and connecting with current blogger friends every week! :) I love blogging so much too because I have found some of my best friends, in fact, one came to visit me this week!
GiGi Eats recently posted..Tara Reid Eats Too Many Creamsicles
How can I NOT worry about numbers? LOL. All great advice though!
Christen recently posted..This Week’s Spotlight: Crowe About Farm With a Linky Party!
Thanks for the great pointers…I love my friends I’ve met though my blogging groups – over time, it’s amazing how real friendship blossom.
Tanya Coffman recently posted..Gear Shopping!
Oh my goodness- such great tips!
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Brenda recently posted..Weekend Wear
I struggle with this sometimes that for sure. It’s hard for me to not focus on numbers. I want for it to grow so that I can get good advertising but its hard not to get consumed by it at times. You have good advice.
Deanna Ritz recently posted..Pretty Pintastic Party #20
Great tips! I really hate it when a good blogger turns into one who only writes for money, without concern for what they or their readers want. You can spot that a mile away!
Trish recently posted..Peanut Butter Cup and Oreo Dirt Cake
Great tips. Thank you for sharing. :-)
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes recently posted..Mad Hatters, Massages and Marinas
Love this and agree with every single thing! I love blogging, heck I’ve done it off and on for 12+ years BUT – it’s the off time that really messed me up. Now it’s finding the time, that can be tricky for me but I will have had STM up for 1 year in November and am so glad I’ve stuck with it. I truly love it and miss it.
I will always admire you, not only as a person but blogger. You’ve got talent girl and I love reading your blogs!
These are some great tips! Thanks for sharing :)
Brooke @ You’re In Brookelynn recently posted..Friday Finds!
These are all great tips! I especially love the collaborate with a friend. :P Bahaha. Also though, staying true to yourself is super important. I went through a phase where I was all cutesy and it just wasn’t me. After a few months I was able to recognize it and brought myself back to center. :)
Jessica Doll recently posted..Reader Survey + Giveaway
This is exactly how I try to lead my blogging life! Thank you for encouraging me and showing me that what I’m doing is right!
This is such a great reminder! I think we all get caught up in the number hype every now and then. Love you blog and your style!
Susan @ 2 cats & chloe recently posted..Friday Randoms: Hair help and a Hodge Podge…
Awesome tips Nancy! Thank you for sharing. I am starting to find bloggers in my area, which is really great because as a teacher (now a SAHM), I love to collaborate and bounce ideas off other people, especially being new to the blogging world (which I absolutely love).
Charlene recently posted..20 Day Challenge – OVERVIEW
Great post Nancy! I’m still so happy I decided to join the blogging world. It’s something I just do for me, and I’m having so much fun. Even if nobody reads it!
Ashley recently posted..DIY Mason Jar Christmas Decor
Nice one, Nancy! Great tips :)
Amanda @ A.Co est. 1984 recently posted..Crochet Shorts & Nude Neutrals