Blogging 101 {Pt. 3}
We are now onto Blogging 101 Pt. 3! It’s been great to get feedback from you and hear what tips you have enjoyed, how you plan on using the information I’ve provided and topics you hope I cover down the road. This series has really made me think about the things I’ve learned these past few years of blogging and I’m hoping it’ll help get you as you either start your blog, or revamp it.
Miss the earlier posts?
Today’s post is the one I hold dearest so far from this series. I’m talking about quality content, getting personal while blogging and being approachable.
This may seem like a ridiculous point to make, but it’s an important one. QUALITY content is vital to the growth of your blog. Not only will it get people TO your blog, it’s also what will KEEP them as readers. You know how there are some musicians that are one hit wonders? You don’t want to be that as a blogger. Strive to provide quality posts that will have your readers coming back often. Does this mean that sometimes you don’t post because you aren’t inspired? Absolutely. It’s better to scale back on posts than to post everyday and only provide mediocre/ fluff posts that will help you check off your to-do box. I will readily admit that I have stopped following many blogs because the posts and content declined in quality. Be the blog that stands out and CONSISTENTLY posts interesting, inspiring and/or thought provoking pieces.
Now you may ask how one knows what posts are considered quality posts. I personally come at this from a few different angles. Here’s my breakdown:
- Have people engaged in the post either in comments, email, tweets, FB messages, or shares? You can’t always judge a post by the amount of comments one gets on a post. There have been MANY of my posts where I may have gotten few to no comments, but will have gotten emails from readers instead. Sometimes they would rather not open themselves for all to see, but would rather have a one-on-one “conversation”.
- While I don’t encourage you to just go by what the numbers say, this fact SHOULD help you look at things objectively. If you are doing a series of posts that aren’t interesting, most likely the numbers will reflect that. When you plan out future posts with that subject, take this information into consideration.
- Are you able to provide insight, or inspiration, that is not readily available in the blog circles you are a part of? This should also weigh in on your decision. While a post like yours may have been written in the past {seriously, we all know that blogging tips have been down before}, you also have to consider what information YOU bring to the table.
There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this question. Honestly, it’s a personal choice and preference for each blogger. Recently, I opened my blog up to share more of my personal life- something I battled with for quite a while. Did I want to open myself up for critique, vulnerability or rejection? No. A little while back I learned that some bloggers had bashed my site and also me personally. The words cut like a knife and hurt so terribly, I almost stopped blogging because of it. A change of heart, life circumstances and a strong desire to help others, and here I am laying it out more than I ever would have thought I would.
This next bit of info is extremely important in blogging and any sort of social media you do. You HAVE to remember that once you post something, it’s out there. All too often I see people posting rants, woah is me/depressing tweets, Facebook statuses and blog posts. Is this bad? In my opinion it is. If you want to be considered for collaborations, design work, sponsorships, etc., you have to remember that these impressions DO make an impression. Now I’ve been known to post an occasional rant, but I try hard to make them few and far between. I don’t want this to be the only thing I’m know for and seriously, who just wants to see negative things from the same person over and over again?
One of the things I find most unattractive in a blogger is when they carry a persona that they are better than you. If a reader has a question or sends an email about a post and receives a snark, abrupt response, I guarantee you that reader won’t think of that blogger the same, no matter how amazing their site is. Now if a readers stumbles across a blogger that is genuine, sweet and makes an effort to be approachable and also provides great content, you can count on them continuing to visit the blog and perhaps even stalk follow their other social media sites.
I must disclose that there WILL be bloggers who are bombarded with comments, emails and other commitments, so they may not be able to respond to all forms of communication. However, there are others who purposely disregard, ignore or respond in a fashion that is rude and condescending. In the event that you become a famous/ popular blogger, don’t be the latter.
That’s a wrap for this Blogging 101 feature. I hope that you got some food for thought. If there’s a specific topic you hope I address in a future installment, feel free to leave a comment with your request. Thanks for stopping by!
Very good tips, Paulina! :)
I’d like to add as well that you have to be realistic about how big you want your blog to grow because it is an increased responsibility to engage in other blogs ~ it can’t be a one way street. And it also takes so little effort to follow a follower’s blog ~ it’s like a “hey, yo, you don’t suck” or “that makes my day” act of kindness. I also just read a post five minutes ago about how this blogger is receiving more email regarding her blog than she can possibly keep up with and she spent hours trying to respond to it but then she never saw her kids. I’d never want my blog to get that big. In fact, my blog isn’t very “big” and there are times I can’t comment or reply to an email as quickly as I’d like. As a mom, I am not going to pressure myself to do it because my number one priority are my children. It isn’t really a snob factor in play. I think people get a bit carried away with their blogs and forget that there is a real life out there to live. But I find time to comment when I don’t want to watch one of their little kid shows. It eventually works itself out time wise.
This was a good series. I think you are a great blogger, Paulina!
Well said – as a full time mum myself, it’s hard when you want some time for yourself and do something you enjoy, but it’s easy to get sucked in and forget what my real life is like! Thank you.
Excellent advice, Paulina! Those bloggers who are real, approachable, and personable make such a difference! I try to be one of those bloggers (although sometimes I can’t keep up due to my other commitments – work, family, etc). I also try to post quality content, and add myself in there a bit (telling snippets from my life, or my opinions/thoughts). Sometimes I will post a card that is not perfect, because it keeps it real (and some people like those ones too). I’m loving your more personal posts. When I read them, I am nodding along and agreeing with you totally. I didn’t comment on your “Beautiful” post yet, but I totally loved it – beauty IS on the inside and it DOES shine out. Physical beauty counts for nothing if the inside is ugly. Thank-you for your wonderful blogging, I’m enjoying it all!
Great advice for the blogger and social networker! This one kind of hit home for me as I recently had complimented someone on their work, and had a few previous times as well and NEVER received a simply “ty” or anything. Just rude. Thank you so much for all these tips!
Thank you for the “blogging 101” posts. I’ve been procrastinating to set up a blog because I didn’t know how to and because I feared that I wouldn’t be a good blogger. But after reading your posts, and some nudging from my brother, I finally set a blog up today. Not sure how it’ll go but THANK YOU for the inspiration!
http://gilujdesigns.blogspot.co.il/2013/04/first-time-blogger.html
Thanks so much! I’m loving this series so far! And I will point out that I almost always make sure that I read and comment on the blogs of those who have been thoughtful enough to take the time to personally respond to my comments. It really is such a simple things, but it means so much! Great advice! Thanks so much for taking the time to put this series together!
I agree with everything you’ve said here. I really do try and comment on blogs that I follow and inspire me in my crafting, cooking, walk with the Lord, etc. I appreciate the time you put into this series and you’re inspiring me to rethink about how to use my blog.
It hurts my heart to think people would bash your site or someone as sweet as you. Very scary to put yourself out there, and you do it with honesty and grace. Thanks for rising above the negative and continuing to share as you do. Love your blog (and all of your products!).
Really great tips, Paulina! Thanks so much! I have recently “stepped up” my blogging game and can certainly agree that once you start visiting and commenting on a variety of different blogs, people are much more interested in you and in coming back to see what you’re doing as well. Plus, I am learning so many new and wonderful things every day just from visiting favorite and new blogs.
As someone who visits a lot of blogs, I can say that your tip about a clean and easy to read blog is right on the money! I have seen blogs that are black with bright yellow or white type–VERY hard to read! I have seen blogs where the author uses a whole collection of fonts, colors, smiley face emoticons, excessive underlining and bolding, or fonts that are in ALL CAPS or very flowery cursive writing, and those are very hard to read also. If a blog has a lot of typos, bad spelling, bad punctuation, I feel its a bit of a distraction because people want to feel that you’ve taken the time and effort to proofread what you’re writing and not just rambling. People may not want to stop following the blog, but they may only then be interested in just seeing the photos and ignore what you have to say.
This was a great series! Thanks SO MUCH for sharing these great tips!