Helpful Tips For New Bloggers

I don’t think anyone really knows how much work is involved in blogging until they start a blog themselves.

You might think it’s just a case of writing a post and pressing publish, but there’s so much more to it than that! From taking photos, sourcing images, reviewing products, making social media graphics, scheduling & promoting your posts, interacting with other bloggers and growing your following, the list is endless…

It gets a bit easier the longer you keep at it, and you’ll learn a lot about writing, SEO, social media and much more.

With the help of some fellow bloggers, we have come up with some fantastic tips for new bloggers. So if you’ve recently started a blog, or are thinking of setting one up, read on for some great advice…

Choosing a name

Thinking of a blog name is the hard bit, you can spend weeks thinking of names before you come up with something you like.

• Brainstorm by writing down words or phrases that relate to you and what you want your blog to be about. This will help you come up with some name ideas.
• Take your time thinking of a blog name, you don’t want to just pick something and regret it later. Changing your blog name is tricky with having to update domain names, social media accounts, logos and more so make sure you get it right first time.
• Research your name ideas to see if anyone else is using them. Check if a name has been copyrighted or trademarked – I had to change my first blog name as the phrase had been trademarked!
• Check if the domain name (web address) is being used by someone else. You need to have a web address that matches your blog name. You can go onto any domain name registration site to search for available domains.
• Choose a name that won’t date – I had to change mine after 6 months as the name wasn’t going to be relevant as my daughter got older. Jenni @ Odd Socks and Lollipops
• Secure your blog name across social media so you can easily be found on all channels. Nadia @ Scandi Mummy

The Competition

It can be very daunting for a new blogger when you see more established bloggers talking about the number of page views they get or the number of social media followers they have. 18 months on and I still get jealous of other blogger’s stats! Don’t let it put you off though, everyone has to start somewhere.

• You’re not going to get the same page views straight away as an established blogger with 20k Twitter followers. Try to remember this if you get worried about your stats being lower than theirs.
• Remember that the “professional” bloggers are few and far between. For every pro-blogger, there are thousands of smaller bloggers.
• Don’t compare yourself to the “established” bloggers around. Building up your creation takes time, patience and a lot of hard work. Don’t get too disheartened and keep at it!  Amy @ Mighty Duxburys
• Don’t get totally obsessed with stats and comparing your blog to others constantly. Think about why you are blogging and stay true to that. If you think it’s all about ‘free stuff’ you are going to be very disappointed. A blog requires lots of hard work and nothing in life is free. Mary @ Over 40 And Mum To One
• Be realistic – you aren’t going to be making money, have thousands of readers or be sent ‘free stuff’ instantly. It all takes time & hard work! Charlotte @ The Home That Made Me

Write for you

Before you set up your blog you’ll probably have an idea of what topics you want to write about, and the direction you’d like your blog to go in. If you don’t, have a think about what you want to blog about before you get going.

• Start off by writing about what you know. These posts will be the easiest to write as you have all the information already in your head.
• Write in the hopes of others enjoying what you have to share, but ultimately write for you. Don’t be afraid to post something. Share what you feel comfortable sharing and make your blog YOUR space. Sophia @ Tattooed Tea Lady
• Find your voice and write honestly. The best content comes from the heart, and your passion shines through. Maddy @ The Speed Bump
• Stay true to who you are and what you want to write about. It is easy to compare yourself to others and perhaps change your writing to match theirs but readers want to hear your own voice. If you have a story to tell, a new angle and are passionate about it, you will create your own audience. Enjoy what you do and that will shine through. Emma @ Emma Reed
• Don’t be worried if not everyone you know is behind you and supports you by liking your page. You can be a success and enjoy blogging without everyone’s support. Not everyone will love your blog but as long as you do that will show! Jen @ Just Average Jen

Planning & Scheduling

Some bloggers post every day – I still don’t know how they have time to do it! Don’t feel like you have to start off by blogging every day, or even every other day.

• Start off small. Write one post per week and gradually increase it to more as you get the hang of blogging and have more ideas.
• Try and plan ahead by writing a week in advance, that way you won’t get stressed the night before trying to think of what to write about.
• Don’t post for the sake of it. Quality always wins over quantity.  Louise @ A Strong Coffee
• Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say – sometimes the scariest thing can be hitting the publish button but we have the amazing power to tell the real story how it is and so should honour that incredible asset we have at our disposal. Talya @ Motherhood The Real Deal
• Write useful content amongst your passions or connected to them. Read read read info and tips posts. Don’t pay out for expensive courses or equipment straight away. Jenny @ Midwife and Life

Hosting

When you first start it can be confusing learning about whether to go with a free WordPress or Blogger account or hosting your blog yourself.

• Don’t worry if you start with a free blog and decide later that you want to self-host, you can always move your blog later.
• Fully research your hosting options – it’ll save you lots of time. I went from WordPress.com to Blogger to WordPress self-hosted. Each time was a lot of time and effort that I could have saved if I’d just researched the benefits of each first off. Terri @ Tea Terri And Two
• Blogging doesn’t have to be expensive, and it’s possible to monetise your blog without paying to host your blog. Use Google to research the different options and take the time you need to decide the best option for you. Mo @ Adventures Of A Novice Mum

Use Social Media

It’s not enough just to write a post, hit publish and hope that lots of people read it. Unless you tell people that your blog is there how will they know where to find it? Social media is perfect for promoting your blog.

• Set up social media accounts for your blog and follow other bloggers and people who you think will be interested in your posts
• Never underestimate the importance of interaction with other bloggers. Share the love and comment, reply, like and share their posts and links too, over time you’ll build up online relationships with like-minded people who will return the favour and promote your content too. Charlotte @ twentysomethingxo
• Interaction is key! Do not play the unfollow game! Amy @ The Smallest Of Things
• Share all your blog posts on social media. You don’t just have to post the link once, you can do it multiple times.

That’s a lot of advice! We could go on all day but I’m sure that’s plenty to get you started with.

If you’re a new blogger don’t be afraid to ask advice, we have all been where you are and are all still learning! I’m happy to talk to any newbie bloggers if you want to chat, you can find me on Twitter here