To say I’m new to blogging is a lie. I’ve actually been blogging since 2006 but always for other sites. It wasn’t until the end of 2018 that I decided to put my newly acquired WordPress skills to use and start my own blog. The goal was to create a portfolio of new and old work that I could display when seeking out writing gigs and submitting my latest book manuscript for publication or representation. As a result, blogging itself kind of took over my life. But it also led to many writing opportunities and gave me a ton of new connections in the writing world. Here are 10 things I’ve learned after one year of blogging.
1. Spending do’s and don’ts
Bluehost
I started my blog determined to do it right. That meant investing some money into my site. Since I was newly familiar with WordPress through some internships I had completed in the fall of 2018, I knew that I was going to go with them. Then, I saw a special for BlueHost and decided that they would be my web host company. I still don’t know what it all means, and I still struggle to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing to optimize my site and troubleshoot issues, but I always figure it out with help from Google and just taking the time to maneuver through all of the features on BlueHost and WordPress. So, in the end, it was a good investment.
Ads
Next, I experimented with ads. I tried Facebook and Twitter ads to promote my latest posts and reach my target audience.
Did I get some additional views? Yeah.
Was it worth what I spent on it? No.
Should I have tried to spend more? Maybe.
But I didn’t know if it was worth the risk. Some Pinterest ads may be in my future since that is universally regarded as the platform to focus on to gain traffic. But in order to find out if something works, you have to try it. So, no regrets there.
Giveaways
I also hosted a gift card giveaway to increase my newsletter subscribers. It resulted in a few dozen subscribers. But again, it wasn’t worth the cost that I put into earning those subscriptions. There was also no loyalty to stay subscribed after the promotion had ended. So, a few names dropped off after the promotion. Luckily, growth has been slow and steady without any additional spending since then. This was a good lesson in not bribing disinterested subscribers but to focus on catching the attention of loyal ones.
Buying a theme
Once I started to get more confident with WordPress, I decided that I needed to buy a new theme. Word in the blogging community was that a paid theme gave you more credibility. Always the bargain hunter, though, I went looking for a deal and found one on Mojo Marketplace.
After a ton of searching, I found a theme that I liked, purchased it (having sworn that there was a 30 day return policy on the purchase), and after much difficulty, applied it to my blog. The theme was a disaster from the start. It was limiting, awkward, and it even added posts to my blog that I hadn’t written.
Next, came an even more disastrous undertaking to clean up my blog using my theme’s new features. After a few days of neglecting my writing and all other blogging duties, I decided this wasn’t going to work.
Long story short, I didn’t get my money back. Mojo Marketplace’s customer service was terrible, and when I finally looked into the credibility of the company, I found a slew of complaints against them even more heinous than what I had been through.
So, do yourself a favor, and don’t buy your themes or any other services from them. Do your research first, and don’t think that a good theme has to be a paid theme. The theme I’m using now is free, and it works just fine for my specific type of blog.
2. Protect yourself legally
There’s no all-encompassing blogging manual out there. So, you don’t know all of the steps you should go through before you monetize your blog or start doling out advice. It wasn’t until I repinned another blogger’s pin about A Self Guru that I realized I’d been blogging without a safety net.
Luckily, I took her advice and purchased my own legal templates which then led to me landing my first affiliate gig as well as my first affiliate sales. If you didn’t know about it before, look into it now via my post, A Self Guru Legal Bundle Review.
3. Baby steps
I know there are a million posts out there about how people started making a decent income from their blog in their first month of blogging. But in most cases, this isn’t their first rodeo. Until this year, I’ve only ever blogged for other websites. So, building a site from the ground up took time. I also have a day job and my novel writing to compete for my attention.
Those success stories are hard to ignore, especially when the ultimate goal is to support yourself with your writing. But I learned early that I couldn’t compare myself to what others were doing. In most cases, their structure and content were completely different from mine. They weren’t competitors, and this isn’t a competition.
In focusing on one thing at a time, I was able to keep myself from getting overwhelmed and do things right. It started with producing tons of content. Then, I moved on to:
- theme and design
- optimizing for SEO
- creating new pins for each post
- growing my social media followers and newsletter subscribers
- finding guest posters and starting an interview series
- finding affiliates and ad opportunities
Sure, each step took a tremendous amount of time, and a lot of it is still a learning curve, but it’s a more manageable learning curve as a result of this slow progression. I don’t expect to make a fortune from this blog, but I do want a portfolio of decent work and a polished site that I can be proud of, and I want a site that looks professional and entices visitors to stay and look around.
4. What’s a plugin?
WordPress is tricky to learn. There’s no doubt about that. When I was learning it through my internship, I mostly just had to learn how to add headers, photos, and save it as a draft. My manager handled the technicalities. However, once I bought my own domain, I was on my own to learn the ins and outs of the site.
Plugins were the trickiest element to learn. I didn’t know that you had to accessorize your WordPress site, and those accessories sometimes got in the way of your blog. In some cases, it could even paralyze it so that readers couldn’t view or comment on your posts. Tech blogs have been instrumental in learning to navigate through and troubleshoot my WordPress site. Otherwise, I’d be lost.
5. The most unlikely posts are going to be your biggest hits
I kind of already knew this from my past blogging experience, but it never ceases to amaze me what clicks with audiences and what doesn’t. One night, I got the idea to document my fall cleaning for the week. The next thing I knew, the post was blowing up. I spent a long time crafting the post, taking pictures, and creating pins, and the hard work paid off.
10 Deep Cleaning Chores to add to Your Fall Cleaning is by far my most successful blog post. I just wish I could replicate that success each week. So, don’t be afraid to write about a topic, no matter how obscure. It might turn out to be the most successful of all your posts.
6. Tailwind Is overrated
This is an unpopular opinion because they are a popular affiliate company. But I also didn’t get much out of my free trial with them.
I signed up for a free Tailwind trial over the summer after reading countless articles about how much it helps bloggers. It was helpful to discover the best time to schedule my pins. I also liked the feature that allowed me to pin from any photo on any site, but in the scheme of things, I felt that Tailwind was limiting. It didn’t work on my phone, I couldn’t schedule my posts to pin onto subcategories on my boards, and I didn’t get much out of the Tailwind tribes.
Pinterest itself lets you schedule pins up to two weeks in advance. Yes, it takes a few extra clicks, but it’s also free. Also, most bloggers create pinnable images that will open up your Pinterest boards in a popup right on your site. So, it’s no big deal to pin images as I read through articles or participate in Pinterest threads on social media. And I can organize my boards the way I like.
Maybe I didn’t give Tailwind enough of a chance, but I wanted to see better results before paying for a year-long subscription to the service that I felt was only so-so. For now, I’m seeing my pins gaining traction organically and without any added expense.
7. The pros and cons of the blogging community
Overall, the online blogging community has been a big help to me in terms of moral support. The social media share boards, calls for blog posts, and general cheering on of our colleagues is a welcome resource in such an isolating activity. I’ve been able to grow my social media accounts and gain much-needed views to my new blog through these threads and connections.
I’ve also obtained a ton of content by putting out calls for author and blogger interviews. Several writers have participated in my interview series and provided me with dozens of posts to help keep posting consistently and growing my connections.
But when it comes to guest posts and other collaborations, they are a little less of a sure thing. Every week, I receive requests for guest posts, and I answer almost all of them, but then I never hear from them again. I’ve put in requests to guest post for other bloggers, many of which have gone unanswered. I’ve also had collaboration opportunities that I thought were a sure thing, but then writers postpone until you never hear from them again.
Life tends to get in the way of blogging, and there are many bloggers who just can’t handle the rigorous schedule of blogging. So, I continue to welcome collaboration opportunities, but I’ve learned never to count on them, and definitely don’t schedule a guest post unless you have a finished piece in your inbox.
The soapbox structure of social media can also bring in the bad with the good. You get your creepy DM’s, depressing play-by-play updates of how people are feeling from hour-to-hour, and bloggers who bombard you with requests for engagement without reciprocating. We all now live on the Internet, but we’re still the same mixed bag of a society which hinders as much as it helps.
8. Sponsored blog posts
Surprisingly, my sponsored blog post opportunities came to me. Throughout the year, I occasionally reached out to a few companies with no or a negative response, but it was Basic Invite that first gave me a shot at a paid sponsored blog post opportunity.
Why You Should Order Your Graduation Invitations from Basic Invite gave me crucial experience in writing promotional posts for businesses and learning how to genuinely highlight the best features of their product.
I actually had to look up what all was expected of me as the creator of a sponsored blog post and worked hard to earn my pay and to satisfy the client. I’m proud of my first post, and it has given me the confidence to partner with other brands to help promote their products.
9. You have to become a graphic designer
I never would have guessed that Pinterest would be so instrumental in promoting your blog. Even more so was the fact that you can’t just pin any old picture and expect it to go viral. You have to create eye-catching pins with searchable titles, descriptions, and keywords that fit the Pinterest template.
This is where Canva came in handy. I taught myself Canva using a few YouTube videos and months of playing with techniques. I also took some advice from Amber Temerity Lozzi of the Pinterest Pals Facebook Group. Now, I’m finally creating pins that I can be proud of.
I also used Canva to create my media kit and even create flyers for my day job.
So, if this blogging thing doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll have a future in graphic design.
10. When you feel like you’re not where you want to be, look at the progress you’ve made
My numbers are nowhere near where I’d like them to be, and some days, I feel like I’ve put in a lot more effort than what I got out of it. The icing on the cake is when I see people writing posts about how they only a “meager” 10,000 views a day while others are promoting their ebook about how they make their living blogging from home. I’m nowhere close to that kind of success.
But for every success story I see, more often than not, other bloggers are in the same boat as me. Then, I see that the people who have made it did so after a handful of failed attempts to start a blog. Others write in a very specific niche that wouldn’t interest me anyway. Then, I realize that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
What really helps is when I look back on where I started. At the beginning of the year, I had 600 Twitter followers. Today, I have over 3,000. My past blogging gigs generated about $100 a year. This year. I’ll have made almost $1,000 from writing. Imagine how that number could grow now that I have an established portfolio and some gigs under my belt.
So, when you’re discouraged about the present, look at the past. Remember where you started, and then see how far you’ve come. Even just looking at your weekly or monthly views can be a big help. You may see an older post gaining popularity, and it will give you something to focus on and promote or even inspire you to create more content on that subject.
Experimentation is the key to this business, and I’m not afraid to keep experimenting. In the end, that’s how you learn what works best. Check out 10 Things I’ve Learned After Two Years of Blogging here!
Pin it!
Very interesting blog! Great job with your writing endeavors. I would love to land some writing gigs for 2020! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for the comment! Good luck to you!
This is a great post! I found a ton of helpful information and encouragement too! I’m a six month blogger
Thanks!!
You’ve got some great advice here. There is something to be said for purchasing a high-quality WordPress theme, but you touch on a really important point – your decision on which to purchase needs to be based not only on price and features but also on customer service. Even those who build sites for a living may come across situations where they need to contact the developer or their customer service team (depending on the size of their operations) and you want to know you’re going to get a helpful response!
My most recent purchase for my business website was through MysteryThemes.com and I encountered a glitch while setting everything up. They were GREAT to work with!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I wish I’d looked into the themes more thoroughly. It could have saved me a big headache, but I’ll keep Mystery Themes in mind if I ever decide to purchase another one.
I always go back and forth if I like tailwind. I just pay monthly because I couldn’t justify the cost for a year. WordPress is crazy hard! I remember when I finally went self-hosted I spent many nights crying from frustration. I’m so glad you’ve shared this post!!
The tech stuff is really intimidating, especially when you look up how to fix something, and the experts try to give you a bunch of coding to input. Usually, there’s someone who can provide an easier method, but it takes some digging when all you really want to do is keep writing.
What a great and honest post. Been blogging for two years. No income yet. The harsh reality is – full-time job and blogging are not that great friends. I simply don’t have the time follow all the steps to generate income. Maybe it’ll happen at some point but for now…. Hats off to you though! Will pin this! Speaking of pinning – Pinterest recently started introducing some really sick algorithms. Like instagram style. Basically reducing your reach by 99%. This happened just when I joined. I completely lost interest. It’s a lost battle I guess. But still have hope keeping writing will take me somewhere. Thanks for the post (BTW submitted one of mine in your thread today about Tioman)
Thanks for reading! My Pinterest stats are actually getting better, but I think I’m just doing a better job of getting exposure for my pins. It’s still not a ton of traffic, but it’s definitely an improvement. I’ll be sure to check out your post!
Helpful and informative! Thank you so much for sharing! I appreciate your transparency and hearing your experience! I, too, did a giveaway to attract subscribers! The winner immediately unsubscribed….I’ve been leary to do another. Im satisfied with my slow but steady growth and I enjoy blogging and interacting with the blogging community! I try to ignore the ultra successful and think of them as outliers. Earning a little to compensate my time would be ideal but I’m not looking to generate a full income…I keep reminding myself of that to keep my expectations in check!
That’s a good mindset. I think it can be hard to stick with it because it is so time consuming, and it makes you question whether or not you should be devoting that time to something else. But on good days, it’s all worth it.
Great tips! It’s definitely a learning curve.
Such an honest and relatable post, thank you! How intense is blogging!? #s 5 and 10 really resonate with me because I have a post that I didn’t put much effort into that’s been on the first page of Google since my second month of blogging (only been blogging for 7 months). And as you said, there are many times when I feel like a failure because progress is slow but it only takes looking back a few months to realise how far I’ve come. I’m happy for your progress too!
Thanks for sharing your story. I hope 2020 brings further progress and knowledge as to how to do this blogging thing.
I also feel like I’m not “really” new to blogging because I wrote on another site in the past. My current blog turns one at the end of March, and I feel like I have learned so much. Totally with you on Tailwind; I don’t understand how it is so popular when you can literally do the exact same thing on Pinterest itself for free. I did not miss it at all when my free month expired.
Thank God I’m not the only one. I mean, it’s a nice affiliate gig, but I can’t really vouch for them. So, I don’t want to promote them to my readers.
Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the post I needed to read as a new blogger. Thanks for sharing so openly and honestly. Very encouraging to read.
Also, I had no idea you could schedule Pins in advance via Pinterest (insert palm-to-face emoji here). Good to know!
I’m so glad it helped you. I’m not sure how it looks on a mobile app, but when I create Pins on my laptop, there’s a box that you check to schedule the pin at a later date, and then you pick from the highlighted dates on the calendar (usually about two weeks out). You can even choose the time of day it posts in half hour increments.
I could not agree with you more about Tailwind. I got a black Friday deal, so I’ve got it for a full year, but I’m tempted not to use it for anything but the few tribes that are working for me. Loved your tips because they hit close to home. I think I’ve made the same mistakes as we all do. Your post may just save someone else from making them too.
I hope so. Yes, the only reason I’d buy it is for the tribes but not without getting a deal like you did. Thanks for the comment!
I LOVE this post so much!!! I’ve also been blogging roughly a year but haven’t taken it serious until a few months ago. Thanks for being so upfront about what it’s like!!
Thanks for reading! Hope things take off for you in 2020!
I love this post! I think you go over all those roadblocks so many of us bloggers come across when we start this journey. I can relate to so much of what you wrote. I am so sorry you had such a bad experience with buying a theme. I am also always blown away by the fact that those posts I think are more of a personal passion and probably won’t gain much attention are the ones that take off. Thank you for your honesty in this post, I think it’s so important.
Thanks so much. I definitely wanted to be candid and realistic in this post to show new bloggers that most blogs are not hits right out of the gate and that small progress is important progress.
Great post! I learned a lot in the first year of blogging too. You’re so right that there is no all in one place blogging bible that guides us through every single step of getting started, maintaining & then making money. So in putting all the pieces together, it’s that 1st year that teaches you almost everything you need to know!
Absolutely. This year is already going more smoothly for me. 🙂
This is so fascinating to read. I really love your honesty in this post too. I would love to land some paid gigs in 2020 in my writing, not even through blogging, just in general! Well done on how far you have come and good luck for the rest of your journey ♥️
They’re hard to find, but they’re out there. I hope something comes your way this year.
Very honest post. I really appreciate that. Thanks for all of the suggestions.
Thanks for reading. I’m glad it helped.
I LOVE this post to death. Thank you so much for sharing your experimentations and story of getting from A to B. I really am impressed with the hard work. The little things behind the scenes. These are wonderfully selected tips that I would actually recommend to any blogger. I love the lengths you go to in order to explain past challenges, failures, and solutions as well as the awareness to acknowledge the challenge of the journey itself.
I can’t wait to read more of your work 🙂
Thanks for reading! I’m glad it was helpful.
Thank you for writing this abd guiding about not jumping into purchases and blog embellishments that don’t work.
That was probably the biggest lesson I learned my first year. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall into these money making traps when you’re new, and like any other type of propaganda you see online, you have to learn what is real and what isn’t.