I work with an agency called The Remarkables who deal with the commercial aspects of this blog. There are a dozen or so Australian Bloggers within that group who are all very generous with their time and knowledge. I am the small fry there, the personal blogger with the (relatively) low stats compared to that lot. So, I asked them for some tips about blogging, starting a blog, growing a blog and all that stuff. And here is what they said.
- Just do it.
- Buy Louisa-Claire's E-Book. Best $8 investment you will ever make.
Click here for more info - Be crystal clear on what your vision is.
- Be prepared to work hard. There are no overnight success stories.
- Be clear on your goals and know exactly why you want to blog.
- Write what you love.
- Know your audience and write like you would talk to them over a coffee.
- Get a comfy chair.
- Drink red wine.
- Work out why you want to blog. Is it for income or for personal record keeping?
- Don't take it all too seriously.
- I still don't know what I am doing.
- No one is reading at the start so don't over think it.*
- Use this time that no-one is reading to write and write and write and develop your voice.
- Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Take regular breaks.
- Balance your real life and your blog life.
And a few from me!
- Get on board with ProBlogger for inspiration and know-how. The man is one of the most generous beings in the business.
- Don't be afraid to make a complete dick of yourself. I still cringe at some of my early posts... like this one...
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| *What DaFUQ! |
- Read and comment on other blogs that you love.
- If you are a personal/parenting blogger, join Digital Parents, a forum that is really supportive and can answer any questions you have.
- Grow a thick skin and cover it in oil. Not everyone is going to like you, and be cool with that.
- There are some VERY fancy blog hosting options, but there is nothing wrong with a good old fashioned Blogger Blog. I SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. Plus technology scares me...
- Set up a blog roll where you can pop your favourite reads. Link to other bloggers and be generous within the community.
- Set up a comment policy and stick to it. I have no haters on my site.
- Everything has a story attached to it. Find the story. Tell it.
- Are you an expert in the mating habits of turtles? Start a blog about it. People out there who are also interested in the mating habits of turtles will appreciate you.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different text types. Recounts, descriptive, narrative, expository and argumentative. They will help you develop your writing.
- Don't try to be like another blogger. You are all you need.
- The internet is never-ending and there is space for you.
- Content is king. Build it and they will come. Or not. Set it to private if you want. It is your space and you can decide/change your mind as you see fit.
- Celebrate other bloggers success and achievements.
- Do not to compare yourself to others.....
And remember why you started blogging in the first place.
Right-o! I hope that has answered some of your questions. I would LOVE to hear your tips about blogging, where you are with your blog, why you blog and anything else I may have missed.
Please feel free to leave a link in the comments with your blog url and what you write about.
And any other questions you have?
FIRE AWAY BABY.
