Wednesday 14 January 2015

BEGINNERS MUST READ: WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT BLOGGING WHEN YOU FIRST START

 
Hey! I hope you are enjoying your week so far!
As far as I know , there is no official guide that tells you what you should do when you first begin blogging. I remember it like it was yesterday ( it practically was , it has barely been two months) After my first post, I felt so lost: I asked myself so many questions , Where are the followers? will I ever get followers? Is anyone actually reading this? I didn't even know what to expect. Recently, I have been getting some comments in relation on what to do with blogging and how to gain followers, So I put together this small beginners guide.To be honest I myself am a beginner , so I am still learning and I myself need to follow my own guidance. I just thought it would be nice, one blogger to another, to share tips and tricks to make blogging the most enjoyable experience possible.

 
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Decide what kind of content you want to show
This may change over time, it did for me, I ended up branching out to other areas and I am glad I did. But try to get an idea of what you want your blog to be about. If your confused then imagine how confused your readers will be!
Create a banner
The banner is what everyone first sees when they visit. I doesn't have to be fancy just make sure it represents you and what your blog is about
Gain followers
I make it sound so easy, there is no point posting twice a day every single day of the week without a single person listening. Please, read other blogs, leave a nice comment, make sure you mean what you say and always leave your link behind so they can visit you. If they like what they see, they WILL come back
Start posting
Once you have a simple layout, you have a few followers,you have a banner and your already have a few posts, you can really get down to business. Post to your hearts content, anything you want, it is YOUR blog and YOU decide what to show.
Be consistent
Don't post every day one week and then never again for a month. This is how you gain follwers. If readers see that you are consistent and have put time and care into your blog they also take the time to read your blog and this , ladies and gentlemen, is when your readership begins to grow

BE AWARE
If you read anything but one thing in this post I want you to read this. There are some things that we bloggers need to be aware of when we first begin that I think are not made clear at the beginning.
1. you are blogging for an audience, although you must enjoy writing your post , make sure they enjoy reading it!
2.try to plan your posts or at least know what you are blogging about, If your post seems disorganised eventually people will give up reading and move on
3.Its supposed to be fun! If we constantly go around fretting about stats or the number of follwers you have, you stop really enjoying it
4. There are thousands if not millions of blogs out there, make yours different
5. This one will sound brutal, but I am only saying it because I love you, you are not going to become an overnight sensation. These things take time, if you take the time to delevelop your blog , ultimately the time and care will show and you will get the recognition you deserve
6.Don't be upset if not everyone likes your blog, some people like fashion others will like travel, everyone likes different things!
7.blog frequently to get noticed
8.be prepared to share : (this I need to do more) make you readers feel like they know you
9. Your readers and other bloggers can become your friends! I have already made friends with some people on here and I would love to make more
10.Social media - Firstly, I would advice that you all join Bloglovin' because from experience, it largely increases your audience. I would also advice that you create other social media accounts such as twitter.
11.And lastly, blog for you, don't try to copy popular bloggers like Zoella or Sprinkle of glitter. By all means take inspiration from them, but don't try to mirror everything they do. If you want to improve your blog, Blog to be a better version of you, not anyone else.

I purely wrote this post to help others, but to be honest, I think I also helped myself. Please let me know if you found any of the advice useful or if you would like to see more stuff like this. I apologize if I sounded like a nagging old lady throughout this post! Also, not everyone who readers your blog will follow so don't base your blogging success on that alone!
Have a beautiful week!


53 comments:

  1. Nice post dear, really useful :)

    xoxo,
    http://confessionsofamake-upshopaholic.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello:) Thanks so much , I am so glad you liked it !

      Delete
  2. Oh yeah twitter is real fun..I have some blogger friends added there and it is just so much fun interacting with them there..we recently had a wizarding duel lol XD
    You're a pro I'm still figuring out stuff for my blog :P
    Yes we write to be read but that shouldn't be the only purpose of writing..sometimes knowing that we wrote it and it is out there even if no one reads it also gives satisfaction (that make sense?)
    It took me months to figure out what to do with my blog and the design but you are doing extremely well I'm glad hope the stats of your blog always go up :)
    That's what I aim at making mine different..there are a lot of blogs..books..writing..comics..fashion etc I try to keep it casual with my comic books and stuff..sharing is the most important part..you unless someone know a little about the blogger he/she can never be comfortable sharing with him/her.it happens more often than not.
    I'm pretty sure I won't like Zoella or Sprinkle of glitter even if I check them out XD
    I like the nerdy ones with whom I have something in common :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wizarding duel? Sounds exciting! Thanks so much for all lovely comments:) I get what you are trying to say you are supposed to write for yourself. I like your blog it is definitely different and that's what makes it special!

      Delete
    2. Yup exactly what I'm saying write for yourself what you want to write because we can read what we want to read by simply writing anything on a paper :P
      Yeah we sent our spells via tweets XD :P

      Delete
  3. It took me so long to realise how easy it is to personalise your blog by making your own banner! Also that I wouldn't be an overnight sensation.

    Good luck with your blog, it seems like you've got off to a great start!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha! My first banner was ALOT worse than this one! tank you so much for your kind words!

      Delete
  4. Your blog is great !
    I have nominated you for the Liebster Award.You can check out my post on BubblyBeauty and remember to have a look at the rules :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thankyou (x1000) I am so thrilled and filled with happiness that you like my blog , but I have just recently done a liebster award but i will be sure to mention you in a post:)

      Delete
  5. Great tips! But I reckon starting a blog is different for everyone. But maybe that just depends on their reasons for starting a blog and how much they're invested in it. Consistency is always important though ;) xx

    -M
    The Life of Little Me

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aww this is so helpful for any beginner bloggers! I agree with all the points you presented dear! thumbs up for this post!

    love lots,
    Tin

    mypoeticisolation.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh Tin , your comments make me smile! I am so glad you liked them:)

      Delete
  7. This is a neat guide you came up with. I'm still a beginner at blogging too. :) I have to work on being consistent but I like posting when I feel I'm in the mood. I think the main thing for blogging is having fun with it and having your own space on the Internet and not getting to caught up in followers. xx

    NIKIMINT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. definitely,we must never forget why we originally started blogging! thanks for visitingx

      Delete
  8. I have nominated you for the Liebster Award!

    http://emmalcx.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/liebster-award.html

    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks so so much Emma but I just recently did a liebster award post but I will mention you in an upcoming post!

      Delete
  9. Thank you for sharing these tips. I'm sure it'll be helpful to a lot of people. You're right about being patient as well, building a following takes time but it'll be worth the wait. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi dear, I like your blog very much. I am just starting to following you, can you follow me to, pls. See you on blog. Kiss

    http://mylovelyfashionbih.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Thanks so much ,I will be following back!

      Delete
  11. A lovely blog you have <3
    It would be a honor to me, if you liked to follow each other.
    Xx
    http://www.vonsnef.com/

    ReplyDelete
  12. NICE BLOG , WOULD YOU LIKE FOLLOW EACH OTHER, PLS LET ME KNOW :*
    http://zielonoma.blogspot.it/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love this scribbles so much!!

    Want to follow each other on GFC & bloglovin etc.?
    Let me know!

    Greets from the EDELFABRIK
    Chrissie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks so much! Of course, will be visiting your blog soonx

      Delete
  14. Great post! :)
    xoxo
    Following back.

    esfashionup.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I found this very helpful and I appreciate that you took the time to help your readers. I have a question about the consistent thing, do you think that posting twice a week is good enough? :)

    www.pinkdemure.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so glad that you found this post useful! I personally think that posting twice a week is enough as that is how often I am posting right now. I think it is better if you space them out though rather than two days in a row and none for the rest of the week! Hope I have been helpful! Stay in touchxx

      Delete
  16. Great Post Dear! I am following you and following back if you like my blog :))) Kisses...
    http://tasarimkaravani.blogspot.com.tr/

    ReplyDelete
  17. So nice from you to help your readers :) I agree with all the tips you shared. Especially with personalizing the blog with a banner.

    I am following you, it would be really nice if you followed me back so we could support each other :)

    http://thisblogbelongstosabi.blogspot.com.ar/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so happy that it has helped others! a personalised banner is so important! Will definitely be checking out your blog:)

      Delete
  18. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and following! I’m now following you back on GFC. If you’d also like to follow each other on Bloglovin, follow me and I’ll follow right back :)
    <3
    katsfashionfix.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is such an amazing guide, I wish I had something like this to read when I first started blogging!

    The Velvet Black // UK Style, Beauty Blog

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi dear,
    Your blog is so pretty. Now, I'm your new follower. I would be glad if you could follow me back.
    Btw, great post.
    Have a beautiful Sunday.
    Kisses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Thanks for your lovely comment, will definitely be checking out your bog! Have a great day!

      Delete
  21. Enjoy what you do is sooo important! There are sooo many things I didn't think about before start blogging! I can agree with all of yours!!!

    What about follow4follow? Would be sooo happy if we would stay in touch!
    xoxo Colli // my blog - tobeyoutiful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ! Will be checking out your blog soon and would love to stay in touch!

      Delete
  22. I really wished I learned these when I first started blogging... I never actually looked into these sorts of tips until a year after I started blogging,and once I did my blog exploded. :)

    xoxo Morning

    ReplyDelete
  23. These were such useful tips! Thanks for sharing! :)

    Laura // Blonde and Cupcakes

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for writing this. I need some tips on my blog. I have been posting for awhile but I have not done much to get followers;)
    Great tips!

    ~Ali

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is so insightful! So happy I found your blog, such great content and very genuine. Keep it up!!

    -Emily Kate xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your wonderful comment Emily! I definitely made me smile :)

      Delete
  26. Thanks for these tips, I will bear them in mind! x

    www.amandasays.org.uk

    ReplyDelete

Search