Blogging Advice: 5 Tips for New Bloggers

Blogging Advice: 5 Tips for New Bloggers

I started blogged back in 2006.

I actually remember that when I started blogging, I actually didn’t call it a blog. I kept calling it a “journal online.” The word BLOG was out there at that point, but I just wasn’t calling myself or my writing a “blog” or “blogger” or “blogging” yet! 🙂

As time passed by, I embraced the BLOG term – web log, meaning BLOG.

I have loved blogging throughout the last 6 1/2 years. It is my passion. It is my job. It is my dream profession! I get to express my thoughts and opinions and feelings on subjects and products and views every single day. I have been able to carve out my own little space online that is just mine and literally create anything I desire. It’s an incredible thing to be able to do.

Blogging Advice: 5 Tips for New Bloggers

One thing that I have loved about being a blogger is that I get to share and talk with other women and men who would love to become bloggers or bring their blog to the next level. For me, I LOVE this. Nothing excites me more than sharing advice and tips on blogging with others. When I first started, there were bloggers that helped me and gave me great advice and tips… I love being able to do the same.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve gotten a lot of emails asking about blogging.

“How can I get started?”
“How can I make money?”
“How can I make this my full time job?”
“How can I get people to find me online?”

I love questions like this!

I think every blogger out there that has turned this digital world into a full-time job will give you the same kind of advice when it comes to blogging. It’s something that you have to foster and grow and really put a lot of time and effort into, that’s if you want to push it to the next level.

Blogging Advice: 5 Tips for New Bloggers

For those just starting out, here are 5 Tips for New Bloggers:

1. CONSISTENCY – My advice is to blog (at least) 5 times a week. I know… I know… that seems like a lot, but in reality, it isn’t. You’re creating content and a reason for people to come back every day to check in. If you blog once a week, people may forget to check back in and don’t feel as invested in continuing with your continued content. I like to think of it as a reality show, people are tuning in for your content, for your story. You don’t want to give them irregular content when they visit. Make a commitment to blogging 5 times a week. If you are worried about coming up with that amount of content, make 2 or 3 of those days visually heavy by adding photos or videos. Make it YOU. Create fun content that will make people want to come back and visit.

2. SEO. The dreaded words – Search Engine Optimization. It’s important to make sure your posts are SEO’d properly. This is something I still work on and still try to get better at. The better you are at SEO’ing your postings, the better you will be in searches. It’s something that you can have other people help you with, which is very good to do.

3. Make sure you’re in other spots… Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, etc. Blogging has evolved since I began. When I first started, it was just blogging. I would spend HOURS on blogs and leaving comments and searching blog rolls. Those days have kind of phased out, it’s all about popping up in other social media outlets. My advice is to choose one outlet and go CRAZY with it. You want to be present in as many as possible, but when you really hone yourself in one, it will help. I started in 2008 wanting to grow my Twitter. Then I moved to Facebook. It’s something that you can do at different times. The reality is, you need to be in other places, so you might as well be in them.

4. Stay away from doing ALL sponsored postings. It’s tempting, believe me… I know because it’s easy, fast money, but you do not want your whole blog to be sponsored content. People start to get tired of visiting someone who is just constantly blogging about a product they’ve been paid to promote.  It gets old and the believability just isn’t there. There’s nothing unique or organic about that. You have to think long term, not short term… brands and companies are always looking for new bloggers to work with, many of them stay away if they see your blog is a walking advertisement, so be careful and beware. Just watch out that your sponsored content is balanced with non-sponsored content… my advice, 1 sponsored post per week.

5. Sharing really helps. The best blogs out there are the ones where the blogger shares a lot of herself or himself. I don’t mean you need to be a complete open book, but it is important to be open. Let your reader get to know you. Let your reader know why they’re at your blog. If you’re a foodie… maybe because you’ve always been obsessed with cooking/baking, share that story. If you’re a couponer… maybe it’s because you have a story as to why you needed to start couponing. Everyone has a story as to why they started blogging, make sure it’s shared.

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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7 Comments

  1. 2.12.13

    great advice! Can you believe we are coming up on 7 years with this blogging gig!? crazy, right? xo

  2. 2.12.13

    This is a nice reminder for people who’ve blogged for a while, too. I’ve only been in it two years, but a huge difference was making my writing more personal. Readers want to know you.

    Great stuff!

  3. 2.12.13

    Audrey you are such a great example of not only being open but truly leading by example ~ sharing what you’ve learned, encouraging others, promoting good things when you find them, and staying true to who you are no matter what you are working on. Love learning from you and even more am so grateful to know you too! Wishing you so much continued success! =)

  4. 2.12.13
    Dani said:

    Thanks for this–great reading for those just starting out like myself.

  5. 2.13.13

    Great advice. It’s the consistency thing that I struggle with. Life just gets in the way sometimes! I’m working on that though.

  6. 2.14.13
    Lena said:

    I have a one interesting question. What if I want to blog and stayed anonymous? What if I won’t share pictures of myself and my family? Will people still come to read my blog or the chances are basically that they won’t be interested? Thank you, Audrey!

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