After this post last week, I received an email from a new blogger asking my advice on how to get through the first awkward stages of blogging — you know, that time when no one knows who you are and no one comments and you don’t really know what direction you’re going. I’m a small fish in the big Sea of Blogs, and there are so many things that I don’t know, but I’ve learned some things along the way. So, I came up with this list and it’s pretty much everything I’ve learned in the last 4 years. To Ricci, this one’s for you:
Dear New Blogger,
Lesson #1:
Blog about the things that excite you—the things that you can’t stop thinking about. Blog about the things you think of before you fall asleep at night, the things you think of when you first wake up in the morning. Blog about the things that you work on until 3AM for the fun of it. Blog about your passions.
Lesson #2:
Blog to your strengths, the things you do effortlessly and with energy–the things that seem so ordinary to you but extraordinary to others.
Lesson #3:
Blog about the things you’re eager to learn about (these are your new enthusiasms). Share your discoveries. Share the wealth.
Lesson #4:
Write the blog that you want to read. Refrain from asking your readers what they want to hear. Don’t be an echo. That means no polls, no surveys. Blog from within, not from without. Surprise your readers.
Lesson #5:
I read somewhere that the #1 reason people stop blogging is that they don’t get enough comments — that is to say, they quit blogging when they feel that no one is listening to them. If you measure your posts’ success by the number of comments they receive (validation), you’ll be tempted to start entertaining (pleasing your audience for applause) rather than expressing yourself. This is a perfectly valid way to blog, if that’s what you want. But, if you want blogging to be enjoyable for a long time, expression is the real reward.
Lesson #6:
Slow growth is perfectly fine. There’s always some blogger who starts later than you, and becomes bigger faster. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Lesson #7:
Some people generate a lot of hype to market their blogs. In my opinion hype damages credibility.
Lesson #8:
Beware of best practices and the advice of others (ie. seo optimization, what to tweet, how often to tweet, how often to comment, etc.). That means beware of this list, too. The only voice worth listening to is the one that feels right with you.
Lesson #9:
But then again, what do I know. If your goal is to make real money blogging or get traffic for traffic’s sake, you should probably do just the opposite of a lot of the things in this list.
Above all else, remember: Pugs Not Drugs.
Katrina :)
{ 63 comments }
This is the best blogging advice ever! So much heart and tons of soul! I’ll be linking to you!
I am so inlove with your blog, Katrina. It’s not every time I find blog with so much creativity and wonderful things like this. I love your posts and love this entry, those pointers will definitely come in handy. I am planning to remake my old blog after a long time of hiatus. Thank you so much for your wonderful and inspirational blog entries. Love, Ann from Philippines
Excellent post, K. #1 and #3 resonate the most for me.
Awesome! I’ve been in that awkward blogger phase for years now. ;-)
Hi Katrina,
This list is also helpful to “old” bloggers, who feel a bit lost ;-)
It sums up what blogging was/is all about to me. I needed that!
Thank you!
Marianne.
I have to agree with everything Katrina! ;) Happy Sunday Funday!
xxx
http://gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com/
katrina, such an interesting post. my favourite blogs are those that do just that, blog for themselves. i hate nothing more than when a blog becomes all about self promotion/comments/followers etc. i would much rather read one of the ‘smaller’ blogs that has the things in it i am most interested about.
Great list, thank you.
A “trend” that really annoys me is #7. So many (German fashion) blogs tend to start giveaways to gain followers than to stand out from the crowd. I’m bored of bloggers who give away two drugstore-quality eyeshadows every other week just to get promoted. I’d rather like to read something interesting and unique.
Hello Katrina! All these lessons are simple but so true and wise!
I totally agree with the way you see things.
Have a great day!
#5 is so true.
Pugs, not drugs.
That is just the BEST advise really!!!! Not to worry about comments but to stay true to what really excites you!!! Really great post Katrina♥ Hugs
Love this, Katrina! And you know what I’ve learned? Blogging success means different things to different people. For example, some people blog as a way to make money and to them, success means a lot of followers, traffic and comment. For others (like me), my success is having a space that I love coming to every day and to build friendships with people from all walks of life. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, but I think knowing why you started blogging in the first place will help you decide what your next course of action will be.
Another helpful thing I’ve learned along the way is to be genuine. Don’t comment on someone’s page because you’re looking to get them to comment back on yours or say something generic that has nothing to do with the post. I rather receive one genuine comment than a 100 “Great Post!” any day :)
Katrina, I recently discovered your blog and I have to say it’s become one of my favorite reads…Loved this post! Especially lesson #4…
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for sharing! ‘tho I’m not a brandnew blogger I was really excited to read all these lessons!! :)
Happy Sunday ♥♥♥
i loved this! and am taking everything to heart.
xo
This is such a great post! I good reminder that I blog for myself. You always have so much to share and share so freely. Thank you!
I love this!! I wrote some tips ages ago but I might read through them again and see how I feel about them now…
Great advice, much of it I try to keep at the forefront of my brain when I either don’t know what to write about or feel lost. This was a good reminder to basically stay true to yourself! It’s the best way to go. :)
Thank you, Katrina. I’ve been blogging for 6 years, but this advice is exactly what I needed to hear right now.
i love this! even though my blog is years old – such a good reminder to remember to blog – for me.
love, lindsay
Thank you Katrina,
I needed this. Especially #5.
You are so wise :)!
Love,
Nikki
Great post Katrina! xx
Thanks for this. It’s a reminder for me of what my blogging priorities really are, and I think it’s easy to get so caught in the rush of “popular blogs” that you forget what you’re blogging.
awesome lessons. Thanks Katrina.
These are good reminders for those who have been blogging for a while. It can be so easy to try and keep up with the Jones’.
this is a beautiful post and oh so true. i think it takes a while sometimes for the blogging to flow easily, but when you just let go, and write/share what you are passionate about it seems to write itself. xoxo
Great advice for a newbie! i am i love with your blog and can’t stop reading! thank you!
I am commenting because that’s how I feel right now. I want to thank you for coming up with such list. It reminds me of why I started blogging. I am just recovering fr a long absence and the reasons I stopped were not serving me any good. And thank you for validating that. Happy blogging!
i think this is just as helpful for new bloggers as “seasoned” bloggers as even the more popular blogs can loose focus. great tips!
Great advice, thanks for taking the time to help us! So helpful!
So True! I have two followers-my daughter and one of her friends.
I get so much enjoyment when I post a picture, change my blog
header or share some of what’s going on in my life, what I’m
passionate about. I post when I want and never feel compelled to
post when I don’t.
When it stops being fun I’ll quit.
Some good advice. :)
Katrina, this is such a great post!
Sometimes I worry that my blog isn’t focused or targeted enough — I usually blog about crafty things, but then sometimes I do a post that’s totally unrelated. I worry that I shouldn’t because I might turn readers off, and then I think — well, this blog is about my passions. And they are all related — sometimes in weird twisted ways, but it’s always there — so then I just go for it and post it anyhow. And I think that’s what makes it fun! :)
What a great letter. I have been blogging for a few years and this is a good refresher for making sure I’m having fun blogging because the authenticity will show.
Thanks for the great starter letter.
Much Love,
Crystal
YES! So inspiring! I just saw your youtube video – I love it.
I loved everything about this post. Thank you, Katrina! :)
She’s a wise one, this one! Thanks, Katrina – you give really nice encouragement, especially for those of us whose blog posts range from wordy and serious to brief and frivolous, with no apparent rhyme or reason… <3
What a great post Katrina! I knew I was going to start a blog before I moved to Taipei, so I let my friends know I’d be sharing my various adventures there. As soon as I had my first post up, I could visualize the friends and family I was writing it for. Participating in forums related to your blog’s topic is also helpful… even if they seem a random. For example, I posted in groups about expat life and Taiwan on Ravelry, the knitting Web site, and me a lot of great people (and readers) there. As I got more familiar with life in Taiwan, I started keeping track of search keywords on my Sitemeter to get a sense of what people are searching for. I also try to be as specific as possible in posts… for example, if I am writing about a place, I’ll include the Chinese name as well as the most frequently used variations of its English name. That covers my bases in search results. Also, engaging with commenters by responding to them brings readers back. Hope this hints help!
Another thing I wanted to add re: getting discouraged by lack of comments. I often post things that I am proud of but get no comments… but when I actually meet one of my readers or “chat” with them via e-mail, they bring up those posts as examples of things that keep them reading. If you focus on writing about things you feel passionate about, it is bound to strike a chord with someone.
That is very sound advice.
This is a wonderful post… loved your pearls of wisdom!
blogger of the year award Katrina! seriously!!!
you are the place my compass points to when wondering about certain struggles, concerns, issues and more importantly advice or design insp/design goodies!!!! great post, i especially admire and needed to hear the “don’t be an echo” part today. your space is always a delightful surprise that i so enjoy reading and learning from. many blessings.
Dear Katrina,
I could not believe you really made this in relation to my email. I was honestly…. well… moved! And it is a really wonderful post. Thank you so much because this was something I wanted to hear. Being true to yourself and not posting what you think what others want to read but just being yourself. Thank you so much. I have been inspired by PuglyPixel for a long time now and being mentioned on your page was really touching for me. But even more important that you took the time to read my mail. That makes you even more adorable and inspiring.
Thank you!
this is FABULOUS! a great reminder to do what’s in your heart…such a wonderful post, thanks for sharing! :)
Your advice comes at just the right time for me :) I’m coming up on one year of blogging and sometimes I need to be reminded that I started a blog to have fun and journal my pleasures, not chase numbers. Thanks a million for your wisdom.
This post is extremely useful to me. I just started blogging last month! I was feeling a bit intimidated by ” succesfull” bloggers out there with thousands of followers and comments. Now after reading this post I feel okay, so what if I only have one follower!? hahahaha!
this is such a great list. i think it’s easy to forget that blogging is very personal and that you should just do what makes you happy, whether it’s making money or just expressing yourself. thanks!
Thank you for this! At least when a new blogger isn’t getting any comments they have the satisfaction of how their blog LOOKS thanks to all the great stuff + tips you provide.
great advice katrina ~ thankyou! :)
As a fairly new blogger myself I can totally relate to this list. Thanks so much for putting it down.
I don’t have much readers at all yet and I already started myself why I actually am blogging, as I have refrained from doing so for a long time. But as my life took a serious turn at the beginning of this year I need a new target in life and created my blog to express my thoughts and passions.
Greetings!
Thank you for this letter and the fantastic advice! You always seem so wise beyond your years in your posts. Really inspiring.
I loved reading this – I’ve been blogging for just over a year, and this rings so true to me.
xo
love this!!!! and you continue to be a blogger that i have always admired and will continue to admire. this was like an extra cherry on top. :)
Fantastic sentiments. I agree with you a hundred percent. It’s a fine balance in regards to comments. Yes I agree a hundred one sentence comments isn’t indicative of the quality of the blog. On the other side, to me, blogging is about community and engagement and without at least a few people talking back to you, it can become disheartening.
Well I think I have been doing the exact as above with no results I gathered people like someone who inquisitive and shares their passions but no results no interest in my blog I am almost giving up, I enjoy it it though.
http://prettybabyplease.blogspot.com/
Fab post! Well put!!
Cheers!!
Very nice for a new blogger like myself to read this kind of post. I recently started a blog (setting up using one of Katrina’s Blogger templates, thanks!) and I strive to focus on putting out content that I am interested in, tutorials of what I make, etc. While I do try to stay true to myself, part of the reason I do it is to share my techniques and experience with others. Full disclosure, I’m idealistic… my blog is so new, I am not disheartened yet.
Thank you for you beautiful post. You have put the correct words and sentences about begining a new blogger!! It’s really perfect!!!
You are absolutely superb
Wow… I just found your website… Again wow. So pleasing to look at, great copy, interesting posts. I am going to spend more time on it. I am really intrigued by the post-a-note desktop wallpaper. I am going to do a post on you probably next week…
Greetings from Portugal. I have been following your blog for a while now and i must say that this post was very helpful. I have had my blog for about two years or so and it feels like i never know what to write about. I rarely go there to blog but am a very avid reader of other blogs. I wish i could know what to write about everyday.
Cheers to this post. Very inspirational. :)
As a new awkward blogger who’s not really sure of her voice yet, I couldn’t agree more with all of your advice. I think the same goes for other social media, too. It’s so easy for it all to be a popularity contest. You have to find which ones work for you and not get focused on how many likes and followers you have.