One of my favorite things to write about are different blogging tips and tricks to help other bloggers grow. Today, I’m sharing another post on some more important tips that newbie bloggers need to know.
A few months back, I wrote about why you can’t start a blog in “just minutes” like many other blog posts on Pinterest say you can. Even if you’re starting a blog as a hobby with no dreams to monetize it in the future, you should still want to set yourself up for success. Blogging takes so much work and vision, and you never fully understand that until you become a serious blogger for yourself.
Related reading: What To Do Before You Start A Blog
In my previous post about starting a blog, I shared all about how you have many things to decide on (hosting, domain name, blog name, etc.) all the way to preparing your content and blog’s mission.
Today, I’m going to hone in on 5 things that new bloggers need to focus on after they’ve got their blog up and running. The great thing is that these tips are even important for seasoned bloggers, as well. So, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned blogger, these tips will be of great use to you.
5 THINGS NEW BLOGGERS NEED TO FOCUS ON:
1. Networking // One of the huge things new bloggers struggle with is networking. In the blogging community, networking is everything! Bloggers need other bloggers because bloggers support other bloggers. Something not many new bloggers know is that there are tons and tons of blogging communities through Facebook groups. When I started Coffee With Summer back in 2014, I was so glad that I was able to get connected in some blogging groups on Facebook. It really helped me when it came to asking questions and advice, as well as simply learning from others around me.
Some of my favorite blogging groups on Facebook…
- Blog Passion Project (I’m one of the founding admins)
- Show Your Blog Love
- I’m So Blogging This
- Growing Social Media For Bloggers
- Blog Beautiful
[bctt tweet=”5 Things New Bloggers Need To Focus On” username=”SummerTelban”]
2. A Post Schedule // It’s not unusual for someone just starting out with their blog to not have a consistent posting schedule, but it’s something that you should try to implement early on. If you’re a niche blogger, focus more on what days of the week you’d like to publish new content on and how often you want to post. If you’re a lifestyle blogger, your job is a little bit harder than figuring out just what days to post and how often you’re going to post.
If you’re a lifestyle blogger, you have more freedom to write about what you want. Though, I’d encourage you to narrow down your topics to 3 main categories that you cover. For example: I cover self-care, style, and social (blogging), and then there’s the general lifestyle category. The majority of my content is in those main three categories, though.
[bctt tweet=”Consistency doesn’t just benefit you – it benefits your readers.” username=”SummerTelban”]
If you’re covering multiple categories on your blog, it’s important that you post with a balance. You don’t want to publish a week’s worth of fashion content or beauty content all at once. What I recommend is trying to hit each category once a week. This is more than manageable and believe it or not, it’ll take the pressure off of you. How will it take the pressure off your shoulders? When you only hit each category once a week, you’ll create a routine for yourself… consistency! Consistency doesn’t just benefit you – it benefits your readers.
Related reading: 7 Investments Worth Making For Your Blog
3. Don’t Ignore SEO (Search Engine Optimization) // I’m getting real with you all… I had NO idea what SEO even was when I first started blogging. So if you’re a newbie and you’re reading this, you are lucky! Search engine optimization is basically a way to lead search engines to your blog and blog posts. The better your SEO is, the easier your blog will be found and the higher your page views will be. SEO is something that you always need to be tapping into and learning how to better your site. If you’re wanting to improve your blog from every angle, it’s SEO that you need to hone in on.
[bctt tweet=”If you’re wanting to improve your blog from every angle, it’s SEO that you need to hone in on.” username=”SummerTelban”]
4. Growing An Email List // An email list is hands down one of the top things I wish I started right when I started Coffee With Summer. Being honest, I never really thought it was necessary to have an email list, but gosh, I was so wrong. You may have many readers, but the people you really want to rope in and harness relationships with are those who want to be your core crew. The people who sign-up to be on your email list are people who believe in you and who really care about what you have to offer them.
[bctt tweet=”Don’t underestimate the power of growing an email list. They’re important!” username=”SummerTelban”]
My recommendation for just starting your email newsletter is to simply recap your blog posts for the week and add some “life stories” into them. Remember that it’s okay to start small. Start to learn about your dedicated crew through surveys and other feedback forms. Then go from there. My main caution for you is that you don’t still to just recapping your posts for too long, because you may start to lose some subscribers’ interest. I’m definitely not an email list expert by any means – I’m still working on growing mine to where it should’ve been a long time ago. For email list expertise, head over to Sheila’s blog, In Search Of Sheila. She’s got all the tools you need to launch and grow your email list.
5. Get Social On Social Media // Whether you’re a new blogger or not, it’s definitely not a secret that blogging and social media go hand-in-hand. If you want your blog to get out there, you need to get out there on social media. Follow and engage with other bloggers who share a similar focus as you. Retweet and share their content. Cheer them on. Ask for advice if you need it. The blogging community extends out into social media. You can’t neglect the social media side of blogging if you want your blog to grow.
Now, I’m not saying all of your energy and focus should be on social media. After all, you only own your blog (if you’re self-hosted). Let me explain further… Instagram (and any other social media platform) could shut down tomorrow. Let that sink in. Do you feel me? While it’s important to grow your presence on social media, don’t let that be all you do. It’s a balancing act. At the end of the day, your blog should be your main focus.
[bctt tweet=”5 Things You Can’t Afford To Neglect As A Blogger” username=”SummerTelban”]
Are you a new blogger? What are some things you’re having a tough time with? If you’re a seasoned blogger, what else would you add to this list of importance? Let’s chat, friends!
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This post has been sponsored by NJ SEO. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands & companies that keep CWS running.
