I receive a lot of emails enquiring about blogging tips and advice, so I thought I'd compile another post around some of the most frequently asked questions and topics. Blogging is super relative and it means different things to different people. The approach and execution of two blogs are rarely ever the same (at least they shouldn't be since it's an endeavor unique to each person).
1. Unique, original content. This one is hard to do because the internet is so big! Regardless of what idea or topic you come up with, chances are it's been discussed 500 times before. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't write about it! Every person has a unique perspective. Even if there's a DIY out there you've dreamt up but then realize so-and-so did it six months ago, don't let that dissuade you from doing your version! No single person owns every piece of content on the internet, so put your spin on an article or project and share it with your readers. If you're directly influenced by someone then be sure to give credit where credit is due! But otherwise, don't cloud your creativity with everyone else's version. Of course if you want to ensure that you're not subconsciously recalling another blogger's idea/words then give it a Google or try using Grammarly. (Not only can you check the grammar in your blog posts, but you can also use their plagiarism checker because no one wants to be a second-rate version of someone else!) If you want to check out the other versions of your idea, wait to look them up until after you've written your own! That way your content won't be influenced by someone else's. You could always link to your favorites at the end of your post.
2. Promoting your posts. There are a million different ways to go about promoting your own posts in order to get more eyes and ears on your content. There are so many social media platforms today that it's a bit overwhelming when you try to think of them all. Don't feel like you need to flood the internet with your "New post!" announcements. Rather than half-heartedly hit every social media platform, choose your favorites (based on your personal preference or the ones that perform the best) and really push them there. No one likes to 15 tweets in one day letting them know about your new post, so keep it simple. One at the time of publishing, and then one maybe 12 hours later. I think 2 pushes on Twitter are acceptable due to time zones and work schedules, but I wouldn't push a post more than once on Facebook, Tumblr, or Instagram honestly. But that's just my personal opinion! Some people like to utilize hashtags on Instagram, but they're not my favorite. I use them on our Him + Honey work just to connect with similar photographers, but otherwise I usually steer clear of them. Tumblr can be a great place to build a second following especially if you're a fashion/style related blog. Facebook has always been the trusty go-to but due to their change in algorithms, now only 10-15% of your "fans" are seeing your posts. I still utilize Facebook but I don't have a whole lot of personality over there (I reserve that for IG, Twitter and Tumblr!)
The best way to handle your promotions is to test the waters and different times of the day, and use different wordings to see what sticks. I only promote original content on Instagram and Tumblr, but all posts get published to Twitter and Facebook. This works for me since IG and Tumblr rely heavily on visual aides. There's no promotional plan that is "one size fits all." It takes effort to find what works for you and your blog. Ninety percent of the time I like to post at 7am CST. That way people can catch up on my blog while they drink their morning coffee or when they settle into work. On days that I don't pre-schedule my posts, I try to have them up by 9 or 10am CST. Then there are days like today where I let life's other responsibilities get in the way and I don't publish until mid-day. Usually I don't post anything if I can't post it by 10am, but sometimes I make exceptions. Find what time(s) work best for you and your readers.
3. Bringing in new features. Regular features are a great way to grow a loyal audience. I was far from the first person to do Things I Love Thursday posts, but over time and through a lot of "dedicated" to the feature, I've garnered a lovely group of readers who come by every Thursday just for that feature. If you want to start a feature, even if it's not super innovative or new, give it your own spin. Try to make it as unique as you can to you. Also try to make sure that your features are relevant to your readers in some way. Chances are if you're reading a blog about "blogging tips" then you want to grow your blog and it's not necessarily a place just for you. This means you need to pay attention to the types of readers you attract. Even though I've only done one installation of Rad Gal, Rad Gig so far, I'm so stoked at the response and I'm so inspired to keep meeting neat girls! That feature really fits with my demographic because I have an almost exclusively female readership, and if I'm being honest, my readers are pretty rad... so, naturally I want to showcase their awesome hobbies and talents. I'm inspired by them and it goes full circle!
You can try to dedicate a specific day each week or month to your feature, or you can do it when the mood strikes. I think it's great to have a set day when you can, that way your readers will learn to expect it and they can always drop in when it's time for that feature.
4. Nixing features that aren't exactly home runs. I've had a few questions about this specifically: What do I do when I'm so excited about a new feature, but no one else is? Man, that's the worst! I hate when you get all hyped up about something and you spend a ton of time on it, thinking "They'll love this!" and then it seems to fall on deaf ears. It can be super heartbreaking and it can bruise your ego a little bit... but you have two choices: Keep it going because you love it, or let it go. It can be tough to say goodbye to something that really inspired you, so if it's worth the time and energy for you to do it personally, keep on keepin' on! You may not get the pageviews and comments you were hoping for that day, but you'll feel awesome for having done it. If you're not a fan of feeling like no one cares, think about why your readers didn't jump on it the way you did. Different strokes for different folks, seriously. You can try to think of ways to tweak it, or you can move on to the next great idea.
Believe me, if I didn't care who read my blog, my blog would be ALL SHARKS, ALL THE TIME! But I also realize that most people don't care about sharks the way I do. Sure, I'd feel totally inspired by the content, but I don't think everyone else would haha
5. Think about aesthetics! Whew! This one is a big one for me. I've made all of these mistakes, so please don't think I'm on a high horse here! In fact, I still make a huge cardinal sin daily on this blog and I just like the way it looks so I don't care. (I justify all of my blog posts... despite knowing it's not the best way to set text. I know, I know! But I really like it so I do it anyway!) A few things you should keep in mind when you format your blog posts: Centered text is almost impossible to read if it's longer than one line length. Centered text is fine for photo captions or calls to action, but please don't center your entire blog post! Our eyes aren't meant to read type that way. It makes us lose our place and gives us a headache! If I see a blog post in centered type, I never ever read it. It just takes too long and too much effort. Make sure and post your photos to the FULL SIZE of the blog post! I didn't do this one for a long time (go back in my archives... anything without a "//" in the title means that the images are smaller than the body!) You'll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes in the look and quality of your blog. When things are aligned on the sides, it becomes so much easier for the human eye to follow. It gives a nice consistency to your blog! Here's a pretty outdated blog post about making your photos the full width of the body on your blog. Also avoid cluttering up your sidebars or putting them too close to your body content. Don't be afraid to leave some white space so your blog can "breathe". Your readers will thank you!
That's it for today! 5 blogging tips to help you get your blog in tip-top shape! I have loads more to share over the coming weeks, but if you have any specific questions you'd like addressed, feel free to give me a shout! You can leave them in the comments, @reply me on Twitter (@kaelahbee) or get in touch via email! I'm happy to try and help shed some light on anything you might want to know!
You can try to dedicate a specific day each week or month to your feature, or you can do it when the mood strikes. I think it's great to have a set day when you can, that way your readers will learn to expect it and they can always drop in when it's time for that feature.
4. Nixing features that aren't exactly home runs. I've had a few questions about this specifically: What do I do when I'm so excited about a new feature, but no one else is? Man, that's the worst! I hate when you get all hyped up about something and you spend a ton of time on it, thinking "They'll love this!" and then it seems to fall on deaf ears. It can be super heartbreaking and it can bruise your ego a little bit... but you have two choices: Keep it going because you love it, or let it go. It can be tough to say goodbye to something that really inspired you, so if it's worth the time and energy for you to do it personally, keep on keepin' on! You may not get the pageviews and comments you were hoping for that day, but you'll feel awesome for having done it. If you're not a fan of feeling like no one cares, think about why your readers didn't jump on it the way you did. Different strokes for different folks, seriously. You can try to think of ways to tweak it, or you can move on to the next great idea.
Believe me, if I didn't care who read my blog, my blog would be ALL SHARKS, ALL THE TIME! But I also realize that most people don't care about sharks the way I do. Sure, I'd feel totally inspired by the content, but I don't think everyone else would haha
5. Think about aesthetics! Whew! This one is a big one for me. I've made all of these mistakes, so please don't think I'm on a high horse here! In fact, I still make a huge cardinal sin daily on this blog and I just like the way it looks so I don't care. (I justify all of my blog posts... despite knowing it's not the best way to set text. I know, I know! But I really like it so I do it anyway!) A few things you should keep in mind when you format your blog posts: Centered text is almost impossible to read if it's longer than one line length. Centered text is fine for photo captions or calls to action, but please don't center your entire blog post! Our eyes aren't meant to read type that way. It makes us lose our place and gives us a headache! If I see a blog post in centered type, I never ever read it. It just takes too long and too much effort. Make sure and post your photos to the FULL SIZE of the blog post! I didn't do this one for a long time (go back in my archives... anything without a "//" in the title means that the images are smaller than the body!) You'll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes in the look and quality of your blog. When things are aligned on the sides, it becomes so much easier for the human eye to follow. It gives a nice consistency to your blog! Here's a pretty outdated blog post about making your photos the full width of the body on your blog. Also avoid cluttering up your sidebars or putting them too close to your body content. Don't be afraid to leave some white space so your blog can "breathe". Your readers will thank you!
That's it for today! 5 blogging tips to help you get your blog in tip-top shape! I have loads more to share over the coming weeks, but if you have any specific questions you'd like addressed, feel free to give me a shout! You can leave them in the comments, @reply me on Twitter (@kaelahbee) or get in touch via email! I'm happy to try and help shed some light on anything you might want to know!
This post was in partnership with Grammarly. All opinions are my own
(and I actually have a Grammarly account!)
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