It’s always exciting when you start a new venture and when it comes to starting a blog, it’s just as exciting (if not more, in my opinion)! If you’re thinking of starting a blog or if you’re still a new blogger, today’s post is for you!
There’s a ton of info out there on starting a blog and what to do as a new blogger, and it can all be very overwhelming. My encouragement to you? Take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. 🙂 Starting a blog is TOUGH STUFF. It’s not all bliss and iced coffee, haha. Blogging is hard work – never think otherwise.
Today, I want to explore some things that you should AVOID as a new blogger. If you’re new around here, I don’t typically ever approach posts like this because sometimes, they can have a negative tone to them. Please understand that I am not saying any of this in a negative way! 🙂 I’m just wanting to steer you away from some common mistakes that new bloggers (and even some seasoned bloggers) can make sometimes. So, let’s gear up and jump in.
[bctt tweet=”Are you a new blogger? Here are 5 things you should AVOID!” username=”SummerTelban”]
5 THINGS TO AVOID AS A NEW BLOGGER
1. Not Networking With Other Bloggers // If you don’t get plugged in with other bloggers from the start, you’re missing out on many things from growing friendships in the blogging community all of the way to getting your content seen.
One of the reasons why I think that I started to blog seriously when I launched CWS was because I started networking with other bloggers right away. I’m a member of several Facebook groups for bloggers and they’re all great groups to network, share content, and find others in your niche to collaborate with. When you start networking, that’s just one small part of starting to grow your presence as a new blogger in the blogging community.
I’m an admin at Blog Passion Project and we’re always happy to welcome new bloggers to the group. Join HERE! *Make sure you answer the questions so we can let ya in! 😉
2. Starting A Blog For The Sole Purpose Of Making Money // One sec before ya freak out! Let me explain. If the main reason you’re starting a blog is so you can make money with it, you’ve got to hold your horses there. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to have that as a goal for your blog, but you can’t jump in and expect to get sponsorships right away. That will not happen. Blogging is NOT a “get rich quick” scheme.
If your sole intention for starting a blog is to make money, then you’re doing it for the wrong reason. Again, it’s awesome to set monetizing as a long-term goal for the future but if you go in with the mindset that you should be making money from day 1, you’re going to be extremely disappointed. You may even give up blogging because you never had a firm foundation or purpose for your blog in mind other than the money. I know that’s some #realtalk for ya, but it’s the truth.
[bctt tweet=”If you start a blog and go in with the mindset that you should be making money from day 1, you’re going to be extremely disappointed. Here’s why.” username=”SummerTelban”]
My friend, Whitney, does an amazing job at explaining this in-depth. You can read her blog post here.
3. Getting Caught Up In The Number Game // As soon as you become a blogger, you’ll want to focus on growing your audience, your page views, and your following on social media. All of those are healthy wants and it’s important to set goals for them all so you can work towards them at a realistic pace. Though, I’m going to be real with you here… the “numbers game” is so real and it can be one of the most distracting things when you’re a blogger. It can be easy to look at the numbers of the bloggers you look up to and want to have those numbers right away. It can be so discouraging. Even when you become a seasoned blogger, the numbers game will always be a distraction that is trying to push through to you. Don’t give into the numbers game! The numbers game is 100% unhealthy.
Here are some tips to help you NOT focus on the numbers or comparison:
- Remember that everyone starts at the beginning. Those who have larger numbers than you have probably been blogging for A LOT longer than you have. It takes time to grow authentically. So, ground yourself in the fact that everyone starts at the beginning.
- Everyone’s journey is different. There is so much can play into how you grow – the time you have to put in, your niche, your target audience, content, and so much more. Your path is never going to be the same as someone else’s path. Celebrate this! Your journey is your own, so rock it out and do your thing.
- Stay in YOUR lane! I can’t say this enough. Keep your blinders on. Don’t fall into the comparison trap. Focus on what’s best for you, your blog, and your target audience. Take pride in your originality and uniqueness!
[bctt tweet=”3 Tips To Help You Stray Away From The Numbers Game” username=”SummerTelban”]
PIN ME FOR LATER!
4. Not Financially Investing In Your Blog Properly // Whether you’re starting your blog as a hobby or with the goals to have it become a rockin’ side hustle one day, you want to be smart in how you invest in your blog. There are TWO extremes to this… 1. Investing TOO much. 2. Investing TOO little. You have to find the sweet spot that works for you. You don’t want to go broke… but you also need to remember that in order to grow (and make money one day), you need to first invest your time and money in some capacity.
The excitement of starting a blog can sometimes drive you to spend TOO much on your blog up front. especially if you’re wanting to grow it into a business one day. This is where you really need to think smart about how much you’re investing in your blog and where you’re spending.
[bctt tweet=”You need to be smart about how you invest in your blog. Here are some great tips for new bloggers!” username=”SummerTelban”]
Some things to consider financially investing in from the start:
- Going self-hosted – You want to OWN your blog and have your own domain name.
- A clean & user-friendly theme – You don’t need to hire a site designer but definitely consider purchasing a theme instead of using a free one. There are some great ones out there on Etsy and Creative Market that are affordable.
- Tailwind – This is the Pinterest scheduler you need. I swear by it. If you want to get your traffic growing from day one, this is a must. Get a month free with my link!
- A blog coach – If you’re really serious about putting in the time to grow your blog and you need someone to teach you the ropes so that you can grow faster, consider hiring a coach. I am a blog coach for new bloggers. 🙂 I am currently in the process of revamping my coaching services but if interested, email me for more information.
I know many bloggers will encourage you to invest in tons of blogging e-books and courses but you NEED to be careful about all of that. There are so many expensive e-books and courses out there that really only include basic info that you’ll find anywhere online for free. Before investing in a course or e-book, do your research and ask other bloggers for their opinions. (Another reason why having a community is important!)
Related Reading: 7 Investments Worth Making For Your Blog
5. Not Creating A Content Calendar // If you don’t have a content calendar, you’re not going to find a schedule that works for you and therefore, you’ll have no consistency to your blog. When you’re not consistent, you’re not going to grow. Learn from my mistake… I didn’t incorporate a content calendar into my blogging career for over a year in. After I finally incorporated it into my blogging career, I regretted not doing so sooner.
Having an editorial content calendar isn’t just key for coming up with a blog post schedule, it’s also key to growing a cohesive brand, it saves you time, and so much more.
Further Reading Here: 6 Reasons You Need A Content Calendar For Your Blog
[bctt tweet=”5 Things New Bloggers Should Avoid” username=”SummerTelban”]
If you’re a new blogger or thinking about starting a blog, I am so excited for you! Blogging is an amazing outlet to let your creativity and passion flow. I hope this was helpful to you. Is there anything you’re struggling with right now? Let’s chat!
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