I was chatting with some blog friends recently, virtually of course 🙂 , and we brought up how often we get emails from readers asking for tips on starting a blog. I wrote this post years ago about my work flow process, but I’ve never written anything about blogging itself. Here are a few tips gathered from nearly 8 years of blogging everyday as well as some of the best tips other bloggers have written all together in one spot!
–Blog how you want to blog. You have to write about what you want to write about in the voice and tone inspires you to write. If you don’t, blogging will feel like a chore and you’ll burn out fast. Blogging should be fun, so you have to do it on your own terms, at a pace that works for your lifestyle and write about topics that you find inspiring.
–You must keep organized. This is less important if you’re keeping a photo journal of your baby’s first year, but if your blog makes money, an editorial calendar, spreadsheets of payments and invoices and a smart email system are so important. One of my best tips for the self employed is to pre-write all of your estimated tax checks and envelopes at once in April. Then when June, Sept and January come around you just have to pop it in the mail instead of having to look up amounts and addresses. Some people think writing a blog is just about uploading some photos, but if you work with brands on any level, there is a lot more behind the scenes work that takes place. The more organized you are, the less time you’ll spend/waste on the business side.
–Your blog can change. I can think of at least five bloggers whose archives look nothing like their blogs do today and that’s totally cool. KERF has gone through similar changes. We all have to start somewhere and let readers grow with us. If you start off writing about food and then morph into a baby blog (or the reverse), that’s ok. It’s YOUR BLOG! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
–Never stop learning. I have learned so many new things this year. Check out Canva for graphics design, Fiverr for music, Etsy for all kinds of pre-designed graphics, CoSchedule for a neat content planner, and PicMonkey for a really simple photo editor. The Blog Genie’s site is a great way to keep up with new blogging tools. From reading books on photography to attending blog conferences, learning new information and networking with other bloggers has only helped me grow.
–A photo is worth more than a million words. We all know the internet is more visual than ever and attention spans aren’t what they used to be. With Instagram and Pinterest ruling, people are used to being hooked with a photo before they care about what you have to say in words. However, you don’t need a DSLR to write a good blog. Find a camera that you know how to use and use it well. If your blog will be phone-based, you probably won’t be focusing on reviewing dimly lit restaurants. But some of the best photos I’ve seen on the web are simple, so learn the basics (good lighting!) and hook people with photos.
–Stay true to you. This is the blog rule to them all and one you’ll probably find in all of the bloggers’ links below too. From years of experience I have learned that you just can’t please everyone. People will complain about one posting style and others will beg you to keep doing it. If you don’t stay true to yourself, your brain will implode. Remember at the end of the day if you inspire just one person, your blog is worth it.
The following bloggers’ posts are packed with good information – take it away bloggers!
Gina | The Fitnessista
Reader’s Request: Blogging Tips
Gina also created the ebook “Build Up Your Blog”
Brittany | Eating Bird Food
Tips For New (Healthy Living) BloggersÂ
Julie | PB Fingers
Deryn | Running On Real FoodÂ
Caitlin | Healthy Tipping Point
Lindsay | Cotter Crunch
14 Tips To Stay Sane, Organized, + Inspired as a Blogger
Kristin | Iowa Girl Eats
How To Start and Maintain a Blog
Anne | FANNEtastic Food
Nicole | Prevention RD
Joy | Joy the Baker
10 Real-Talk Blog Tips Part I and Part II
Lindsay | The Lean Green Bean
Sagan says
Great tips, Kath! I’d also add to know what you want from your blog. Again, that might change over time, but it’s important to know WHY we have a blog, how it’s benefiting the Internet, and where we want to take it.
Off to check out those tips from the rest of the bloggers listed here! Thanks for doing this round-up.
Katie @ Operation Happier says
So fun to wake up and see several of my favorite bloggers in one photo!
This is a great post, Kath. Thank you for pulling these together. I will have to check out all of their hard-earned advice, and I’m excited to see some new-to-me blogs here too! I know what I’ll be doing during breaks today ????
Happy Friday! I just hit 32 weeks in my first pregnancy so I am kind of freaking out! It’s getting real!!
KathEats says
Getting close for sure! Good luck!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Great tips! Amen to being true to you!
Jade says
This is one of my all time favorite posts kath! Thanks so much for an insightful post!
Amanda says
Thank you Kath! As a new blogger, this is really helpful!
Linda @ Thefitty says
I love that you mentioned that it’s OKAY to change your blogging style…the people who stick with you should be people that you will enjoy interacting with so you have a faithful audience. 🙂
Lou says
Thoughtful post, Kath! I tried blogging in the past, but lacked the time to make a real commitment. What a dream to make money from it.
Off-topic, but, have you been following the news about the study released saying that consuming your placenta has no positive effects? Would you do anything different for your next baby or do you think consuming your placenta was worth it?
thanks!
KathEats says
I haven’t read that – do you have a link? But I also did it because there was nothing to lose and placebo effect to gain. I have a lot of pills left, so I’m just planning to take them the next time around.
Lou says
Oh, that hadn’t occurred to me that you would have leftovers. I thought you would have to go through the process again. Here’s a link to a pretty simplistic article about it: http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/theres-probably-no-health-benefit-eating-your-placenta
KathEats says
I hadn’t ever considered that there could be toxins in it – interesting read.
Lindsey Lou says
I guess I am confused as to how you didn’t consider the possibility of toxins since one of the placenta’s main jobs is to filter out toxins? That seems odd. I’ve found it so interesting how many of the women who are consuming their placenta are very particular about their food intake but are willing to ingest something with literally no science or research behind it.
Amanda @ Slimplify Life says
Love all of these!!!
Jacklyn @ Jack's Balancing Act says
This came at such a good time for me as I foster my brand new little blog – especially coming from someone whose blogging I respect so much. Can’t wait to delve into everyone’s insight (I have all eleven tabs open haha!)
KathEats says
Haha! Thanks!
Alison says
These are great tips!
I would also add that content needs value. Knowing who you are, and what your audience will ensure that you’re giving readers what they want and need 🙂
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
It’s great to share the wealth of blogger knowledge from those who are super successful. I tend to enjoy reading blogs from people who seem to really love what they are writing about. So yes, I’d agree, blog about what you want to blog about — and that will help you develop an authentic voice. Organization, follow-through and networking are also of key importance. TGIF!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
thanks for including me! what a great resource!
Melissa says
These are really great tips and definitely provides me with a new perspective. Thank you for sharing!
Christine Allen says
Great tips, thanks! And perfect timing after just going to a blogging conference. 🙂
Tracy @ dirtyeating.com says
Thank you so much for this post! I’m new to blogging (besides the embarrassing LiveJournal I had as a teenager) and it’s great to have all these tips in one place.
Kori says
I love this post! Incredibly informative and empowering to those of us just starting a blog. 🙂 Thank you to all the bloggers for their tips!
lindsay says
thanks for round up Kath, and for including me. Blogging has really changed over the years and it’s so important to have these tips to stay sane, organized, and to help each other. Cheers to that! xxoo
Cassie says
And, you HAVE to be yourself. Fraudulence can bite you back in the behind!
Emily says
I needed this. I have shied away from taking a lot of pictures, but the encouragement here seems to be for taking pictures, so I just need to step out, learn how to take better pictures, and be brave!
Brittany says
Such a great round-up and so many good tips! Thank you for including me. 🙂
lisa @bitesforbabies says
These are some really good tips! I love the special comaraderie that bloggers share! I’ve yet to meet a blogger who wasn’t open and honest about what they do (and not to mention willing to share tips and info in order to inspire others!) I’m going to check out all these great Blogs!
Libby @ Hazel and Everett says
Great tips and perfect timing for me. Thanks!
Kayla says
Thank you for this! Super helpful and stuff I’m constantly thinking about/ worrying about!
Emily says
Thanks for the tips! After being KERF obsessed for years (I’ve seriously dreamt about you… sorry if that’s creepy), someone asked me what my dream job would be if money didn’t matter. I’m a CPA, but my answer was easily food blogger. It then became apparent that it was so silly that I wasn’t doing something to work toward that when it’s 100% in my control! I just started www.eatcleanandjerk.com (two posts are published), and while I may never make it my full time job, I’m having a lot of fun! Thanks for the daily inspiration over the years!
KathEats says
Awww congrats!!!