Blogging Tips

I must admit, I feel a bit funny about sharing my blogging tips. I've been blogging for nearly three years but I don't feel qualified to give advice on blogging! However, I have learnt so much in that time and I thought it would be nice to share that.

Be consistent:

This is a tip everyone knows, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't acknowledge it. It doesn't matter how many times a week or month you post, just keep to a general schedule and make sure people know. Put your schedule up on your blog and try and post at the same time. I like to publish Monday's and Friday's at 8:00am. Obviously schedules are great but sometimes (or most times with me!) life doesn't like to play ball. If I can't stick to my usual schedule, I'll pop a tweet up saying something. If I'm taking a longer break, I'll write a little post.

Embed Your Twitter Account:

If you've got a Twitter account for your blog (which you really should), embed it on your blog. It's a simple process which is shown on Twitter itself and that way people who read your blog can see your tweets without having an account themselves.

Don't Compare Yourself To Others:

I need to take my own advice here. Don't compare your blog to someone else's. Just don't do it. It's not fair on you. I'll often feel bad about myself and my blog when I see someone who's been doing the same thing for less time and is way more successful. I try and remind myself that everyone is different and has different things going on. Being harsh on yourself is only going to harm yourself. Channel that energy into improving your blog. I'm also a big believer in the good ole 'it will happen when it's the right time'. Sure I'd like to have better numbers, but it's not my time, one day it will be. Plus, everyone has a different view of what success is. Wow, that got deep!

Equipment:

No, you don't need a fancy camera. You don't need a DSLR. But it helps. Once I moved onto a DSLR (Canon 700d btw), my photos improved dramatically. That was the camera, I didn't just magically get better at photography overnight. It took me a long time to find my 'style' with the camera too. As for lighting, I try and use natural lighting, but I do have two soft box lights for when the weather is being a shithead. As for everything else, I wouldn't rush into buying anything unless you're sure you're going to stick with blogging. Tech stuff is expensive!

Be Social:

You'd think after nearly three years I'd have this down. Nope. I've only just started using my Instagram regularly. Semi regularly. Ok, I only have 6 photos on there, but I'm trying! Being active on social media definitely helps get your blog out there. It is possible to promote your blog without spamming people's feed. Take part in chats relating to your blog theme and just have fun with it. It's also the best feeling when someone likes your photo on Instagram or favourites a tweet. I can't be the only one who gets excited about that. I like to schedule my promotional tweets using Hootsuite. I can manage all my social media accounts on that and it's very easy to use. The general rule of thumb is to schedule three promotional tweets a day. It may seem like a lot, but it does work. I must admit I don't do this as often as I should. Which is silly because I do get a lot of traffic when I tweet. Make sure you tag brands and use relevant hashtags to get your tweet seen by more people.

Have Fun:

Cheesy as it may be, you have to have fun with your blog and enjoy the process. If it doesn't bring you joy, something isn't right. Blogging is incredible and I love my little space on  the Internet. Blog about what you love and you'll always be successful. I know it's easier said than done. At least once a month I struggle with creativity and get myself into a funk about my numbers. Just keep going. You're going to have moments of doubt, but that will quickly disappear when you get a new comment on a post.

I could probably write an entire post on each of the points here. At the end of the day, if you are consistent and genuine, people will enjoy your content. That's the best piece of advice I can give. Just be consistent and be yourself.

Thanks for reading,
Avani
xoxo