Blogging Tips
I’ve put off this post in the past because there are blogs way more successful than mine and I’m embarrassed to even pretend to be in the same league.
However, a common email I receive asks for tips on how write a successful blog. And since I’ve been able to turn my blog from just a hobby into my dream job, I guess I do have some qualifications to write such a post.
There’s no way I can sum up all my blogging tips in a single post; I’ve been blogging a long time! So how about a series on blogging tips? Obviously I’m not an expert in technology (Far from it!), but I can offer tips learned from experience. In many cases, they’ll be tips of things not to do, based on mistakes I’ve made. Hopefully if I offer up my own mistakes, I can spare y’all the frustration of repeating them.
Part One: What makes a successful blog?
Truthfully, there is only ONE criterion for determining whether a blog is successful or not: Do you enjoy blogging? Are you excited to create new posts, to connect with others, to publish for the world to see?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then (in my opinion, at least) your blog is a success! It doesn’t matter if you only have five readers or if you publish ten posts in a row about nothing but your love for Boston terriers. If your blog makes you happy, it is successful. Period.
On the other hand, if you have a huge readership and yet blogging feels like a chore, I’d argue your blog is not successful. What good is having a popular blog if you don’t even enjoy writing it? That’s like those poor, rich businesspeople who hate their jobs… yes they make a lot of money, and yes they’re successful by society’s standards. But are they having fun in life?
Blogging should be Fun
Based on the above criterion, my own blog is wildly successful. I have fun with it every day. Dreaming up recipes, experimenting in the kitchen, photographing my creations, writing blog posts, and connecting with readers…
I cannot imagine anything that could be more fun, especially when so many of the aforementioned kitchen experiments involve chocolate!
Such as my peanut butter stuffed brownies.
When I started my blog, it was a lot of fun.
I had about three daily readers and barely received any comments. Yet, I loved my baby blog because it was mine. I imagined it being an online scrapbook, where I could write whatever I wanted (no one was reading anyway!). With no readers, there’s no pressure. You can blog when you want and about what you want.
How to make your blog successful:
First, ask yourself if you’re having fun with your blog. If the answer is yes, you really don’t need to change a thing! If the answer is no, here are some ideas that might be helpful:
- Look over your old posts. Was there a time when you did have fun with your blog? Are there any particular posts you were especially excited to publish?
- Look at the blogs you love most. What about these blogs makes you smile?
- Are there any aspects of the blogging process you enjoy more than others? And any aspects of blogging you hate? For example, maybe you really like the writing process but hate taking photos. Or maybe photography is your thing, but you’re not one for words.
- Change your blogging style so that it suits YOU. If you love pictures but hate writing, who says you can’t do photo-only posts? Or, on the other hand, who says a good post needs a photo? What’s awesome about blogging is that you are your own boss ;).
(It might be helpful for you to make an actual list on paper, jotting down notes on what you like and dislike about your blog, about other blogs, and about the blogging process.)
Questions of the Day:
Do you enjoy blogging?
And what are your favorite aspects of blogging (or reading blogs)?
Connecting with people who are like you? Learning about new foods and trying out recipes? Taking photos? Looking back on your old posts?
By the way, if you want a laugh, check out my very first post.
🙂
Tonette (@SmileNglow) says
I’m so glad I read this post… I feel exactly how you felt when you said you almost thought of giving up your blog… God bless your soul. 🙂 Sooooo looking forward to reading more of your posts and trying your recipes!!! So happy right now. Thank you!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Erica @ Cult of Kale says
I think I do love blogging. Some posts just come out so naturally, and others feel a little more like work.
I think my biggest problem is I don’t know how to categorize my blog and I feel so compelled to do so even though I’m such a young blog. Part of me just wants to go with it for awhile until I find my niche, the other part of me wants to focus now.
And then there is my husband who is pushing me to do more networking and SEO because he thinks that’s important. I guess it is important, although right now I kind of like being a small blog just figuring things out.
tara3598 says
Hi Katie! Your blog inspired me to make my own. I was about to delete my blog, because i had no visitors and no readers, then I realized how happy it made me! So I must thank you tons!
p.s if you have the time, do you think you could maybe check out my blog? It is really new: TeenageBakingBeauty.wordpress.com
THANKS!
tara3598 says
Hi Katie! Your tips helped me a ton! I am new to blogging and was really disappointed about having zero visitors/readers. I was about ready to delete it! But then I realized how happy it made me and I decided not to delete it!
if you could/have the time, could you check out my blog? it is: TeenageBakingBeauty.wordpress.com
THANK YOU!
Sarah says
Thank you for your tips on how to blog! I have just started a blog, and I really appreciate articles like this! Thanks! 🙂
Elise J. says
Thank you so much for writing this! Recently I decided to change a few things about my blog and grow my audience, etc. but then the changes to my site and the pressure of having an audience and needing to keep these strangers entertained, totally discouraged me and made me not want to blog or hesitant to post things that no one would care about. You so encouraged me to not be anything that I’m not and that my blog is already a success. I’ve already felt the weight lifted and my love for my blog come back to me. Thanks so much! P.s. I love your recipes.
Ella says
Thanks so much Katie! I ADORE you blog, in fact I recommended your site on my own blog (http://meetoprahwheatfree.blogspot.co.uk/p/more.html) . I am very new to both blogging and a whole new way of eating (I was diagnozed wheat allergic) and have also had to drastically reduced my sugar intake- your site has been a life saver!
Look forward to many more tips and, of course, recipes!
Ella x
Dawn says
Hi Katie! I’m doing a blog piece on technical food blogging tips – like what other websites do you use (ex. picmonkey, foodgawker, tastespotting), any products you use, SEO, best ways to gain leverage in social media etc. I will include a back link if you choose to share a great technical tip!
Thanks,
Dawn Hutchins of http://www.floridacoastalcooking.com
Sophia @ Pray. Work. Eat. says
This is a great post! I love blogging! 🙂 Thanks for the tips Katie. 🙂
Nicole says
I can see that you are very passionate about your blog! 🙂 I really want to start my own raw-food and healthy dessert blog 🙂 :)!!! How do you come up with your amazingly tasty recipes?
Quick feedback, you make ALL your blogs personal but you do not give out a lot of personal feedback, that takes a lot of skill and passion 🙂
Colleen says
I am too much of an introvert to ever consider blogging, so I am glad to have found this blog and only one other healthy recipes blog. I have not one single friend (besides my cats) so Katie you are as close to a friend as I’m going to get! Also my opinions have changed so radically from 10 years ago, that I am glad my old stupid naive self never got into social media or blogging. I am bitter and meaner now than in my care-free trusting 20s, wish I knew then what I know now. Thanks for the recipes and time you put into this, and I do consider blogging a real job.