5 Things I’ve Learnt From 5 Years Blogging
I joyously and somewhat naively jumped into blogging 5 years ago. I’ve learnt a heap along the way and as I reflect upon it these are the top five things that come to mind as the big lessons I’d like to pass on…
1. Publish Regularly
Write and write often. Not only is it the best way to build a sense of community, it’s how you will get the most out of the whole blogging experience. I’ve found writing regularly to be a great discipline and while it’s hard to do, it’s incredibly worthwhile.
2. Be vulnerable, but be careful
You’ll hear a lot of talking blogging circles about “finding your voice” and “blogging your journey” with a big “up yours” to anyone who doesn’t agree or support you. There is something powerful and true about those statements but, sometimes I fear that the mummy/personal blogging community forgets just how vast a place the Internet is and that what we write can be read by anyone.
My advice? Be authentic but before you press publish, make sure you are comfortable with what you’ve written going online forever. And never, ever blog someone else’s story without their permission.
3. Comment, comment, comment
We don’t blog on an island! The more you blog the more you’ll discover a whole world of men and women whose stories are in man ways, woven together through the genius of social media. Commenting is the way in to those stories…
And of course, the more you comment on other people’s blogs, the more they will comment on yours.
4. Don’t compare
Perhaps you started a blog because you read some, thought they were awesome and wanted to do something similar; perhaps you started a blog and had no idea what you were getting into. Either way, at some point you are likely to notice what other people are doing and “getting” and you’re going to want to know how you can do it it, or you’re going to wonder why it’s not happening for you.
Stop.
You can’t compare your blog to someone else’s, you can’t become “successful” by copying another persons style. You have to be you and own that!
Don’t measure success on numbers, or likers or any other metric like that. As lovely as big numbers are, real success goes much deeper than that. Work out what it looks like for you, and go for it…but don’t do it looking sideways.
5. Don’t disconnect…from life
Blogging is addictive. Yep, I’ve said it. I even saw an article the other day suggesting that social media is more addictive than cigarettes. I can’t tell you about it because I decided I was better off not knowing…but I’ll pull my head out of the sand quickly to say yes, it can be addictive and while I believe that the online world and online relationships can be real, it’s incredibly important not to neglect your offline life in pursuit of something you can see or feel online.
I’m so grateful I dove into this blogging caper way back when….I’m looking forward to seeing what I learn over the next 5 years!
Do you agree with my list? What have you learnt since you started blogging?
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Great post Louisa – particularly that bit about social media being addictive! I’ve learnt that I still can’t use learnt and learned correctly. And I’ve learnt that blogging is incredible fun even while it’s incredibly hard work. Here’s to another five years!
Life In A Pink Fibro recently posted..Modern dilemma: Did I do the wrong thing?
Oh, now I’m all nervous about whether I have used the right word. Yikes! Should it be “learned”? You’re right, it is incredibly fun at the same time as being incredibly hard work – that should have been #1!!
LOL. No, I’m pretty sure you got it right and I got it wrong. But nice that we’re all learning from each other, right?
Life In A Pink Fibro recently posted..The best of all possible worlds
I’ve only been blogging a tenth of the time you have! However in my short time I’ve realised him important it is to monitor the impact of blogging on your life. Yes, I agree that you should be consistent and write regularly, but you need to find out what is sustainable for you. I used to blog 6 times a week and nearly fell in a heap. 3-4 works much better for me and I don’t force it. Write when you have something to write, not for the sake of it.
Great advice Louisa and congrats on 5 years of blogging!
Laney @ Crash Test Mummy recently posted..Success served up with a healthy side of fear and failure
I think it’s one of the great unknowns for most of us when we start blogging; that this thing we create can easily take over our lives! I’ve been rethinking the idea that you just blog when you have something to say, sometimes I think you find you have something to say when you start to blog – I do agree though that you’ve got to find the groove that works for you and like your lovely self, I’m pulling back a bit this year and aiming to blog 3-4times a week. :) x
Great advice. I’m working on switching off from Social Media on the weekends. Starting slowly with just twitter, next up will be facebook. It is a real challenge, especially as my husband is not a verbal communicator, so it is easier to ‘chat’ to him via twitter/ facebook / email – he then actually retains what I’ve said.
Marita recently posted..I have learned sometimes it is the little things that tip us over the edge.
I’ve been toying with that idea and I’m certainly on very little on Sundays – only FB really, because that’s social as much as anything else. It’s been really good to have some time where I know I’m switched off – very freeing! Hope you find a good balance that works for you all xx
All very true. I have really backed off lately because I started to feel like I was missing out on things in the real world because I was attached to the computer. That’s not where I want to be. So this year I’m doing much less blogging and more living. At some point you have to decide if you want to ‘BE A BLOGGER’ and work it or just ‘be a blogger’ and enjoy it. I fall into the later category and feel much happier now I’ve made the decision. Awesome advice lovely lady and congratulations on a fabulous achievement here in bloggy world. 5 years is totally awesome. Have you ever had any of your blog printed out (made into a book). Been considering doing this for the kids to read in the future – thought you might know something about it?
Caz recently posted..REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Alchemy cordials. Life is Magic ~ Drink it in. {closes 25/2/12}
“less blogging, more living” – love it. me too :) xx
working on getting it into a book at the moment – a bigger job that I anticipated! My advice is don’t wait til you have 5 years of material ;)
I needed this reminder. I woke up today and asked “why do I bother” and immediately started comparing my blog to others. It’s such a waste of energy and I know this, but this morning….
Kimberly Gauthier, Adventures in Blogging recently posted..Facebook Page Profile Picture Size | Go Big or Go Home
I’m so glad this post was well timed for you! I think we all have those days, or at least I have. But then something like this happens, I write something that someone needed to hear on the very day they needed to hear it and for me, that makes it worthwhile. x
Great post Louisa. I’ve only been blogging for a short period of time and only now beginning to appreciate the rewards of commenting and hearing people’s stories – so nice discovering your online tribe :)
Mrs Savage recently posted..Leave Pass!
Isn’t is just amazing?! I have loved meeting so many beautiful people over the years, and now that there are conferences and events it’s even more lovely to be able to meet in person. Bring on the tribes! x
Congrats on 5 years Louisa!! And agree with everything you have said here in this post – nice summary!!
Kelly Exeter recently posted..The Friday Wrap … back on a Friday
Thanks Kelly :)
These are brilliant tips Louisa! Not only to help grow and build your blog – but to keep your sanity at the same time. And congratulations on 5 years – that’s an amazing effort xx
Serena recently posted..“You Don’t Know What Love Is Until You Have Kids”
Thanks Serena, it’s been a great ride so far!
Five years is amazing! Congrats, and great advice. I need to find the balance between working completely and switching off completely.
Christina @ Hair Romance recently posted..Hair Star: Elly Hanson
Hi Christina, thanks so much for popping over and saying hi! I know what you mean, the balance seems elusive – it’s a good thing blogging is so much fun!
Congratulations Louisa, 5 years is a great achievement. I’m only coming up to one year since I started taking it “seriously” but I do have that problem of not balancing life with blogging. I’m now in the habit of staying up till almost 12pm to research (read blogs/twitter/facebook) sometimes without ever writing a thing. Hi my name is Becci and I’m addicted to social media. Will try to cut down. In fact I should write first, then read blogs. Thanks for the great tips.
Becci recently posted..The Sweet Blog Award
Hi Becca, my name is Louisa and I too am addicted to blogging – lol! ;) I’ve been working hard at developing boundaries that work for me (& my family!) and it’s hard initially to pull back but it’s actually been great. I think that most of us struggling one way or another with the way we spend out time online – not being on twitter can sometimes feel like everyone has gone to the party except you, but you know what? The party is on every night, so…sometimes a bit of a rest is a good thing. I’m rambling now….but yep, I get what you’re saying :)
What a great post and some timely advice for a newbie blogger such as myself. Totally agree on the social media addiction. I’ve had to delete Facebook and Twitter off my iPhone because I was getting bad RSI in the wrists which at 27 is just crazy town.
Looking forward to following your blog in the future.
Laura
Oh yes, that’s crazy! It’s so easy to think “I’ll just do this quickly…” and half an hour or an hour later you’re lost online. Hope you are enjoying the blogging journey so far! Thanks so popping by Laura, please sing out if you need help with anything :)
I so agree with all that you’ve said. I’m looking to shake up what I do and just really put the fun back into blogging again.
Sharon @ Funken Wagnel recently posted..What Song Will They Play at Your Funeral?
I know what you mean and I feel kinda sad that the fun gets so easily lost amongst all the hype of this fast growing movement. It’s only a powerful medium because of it’s authenticity, so we can’t lose that! Excited to see your new blog evolve! :)
Thanks so much, Louisa! It is exciting to not know how it’s going to pan out. It’s true, I think the opportunities for mum bloggers are coming so thick and fast that sometimes it feels as though we don’t have time to stop to think about what it’s really want. At least, that’s been my experience.
Since changing blogs, I can breathe again, and instead of scouring through all these pr emails, I have an empty inbox and can focus on just blogging.
Sharon @ Funken Wagnel recently posted..What Song Will They Play at Your Funeral?
Sorry, should’ve said, if it’s what we really want. Argh
Sharon @ Funken Wagnel recently posted..What Song Will They Play at Your Funeral?
This is a great post Louisa. I echo everything.
Kelly recently posted..A Story of Survival and Change
Thank you lovely lady!
I echo you too , only you said it more eloquently.
Trish recently posted..Become the family bread winner ~ Baker’s delight {Giveaway}
Very kind Trish, especially coming from a blog veteran such as yourself!
Wow! Five years… and I’ve just found you, via Caz @ The Truth about Mummy. As a relatively newbie blogger (a little over one year), your list is right on the money. I reckon I have encountered every one of those. My focus at the moment is to avoid referring to my blog in every conversation I have with my partner, friends and family. I’m excited about the experience, but I know I have to remember that not everyone else feels the same!
Mum of Adult Kids recently posted..A letter to 40 year old me
Oh Caz is just gorgeous! Congrats on making it through your first year of blogging, that’s a wonderful achievement! And yes, I completely relate (though I think my hubs would agree even more strongly with that – haha!!)
Great tips, Louisa. I second being authentic but careful. Even though blogs are personal, you are still publishing content to an unknown audience I try to make sure I ask myself, after each post, whether I’d regret rereading this online in a week, month or year’s time. It’s much easier to blog with no regrets than cringe at things you’ve written.
As a relatively new blogger (less than a year, with a big two month gap in between!), I’ve learnt that readers come from very unexpected places. Which is lovely as you meet all sorts of interesting people!
I think that’s a great thing to consider before publishing- especially the feelings and reactions of others. A moments release in venting can end up causing a lot of pain, I have to ask “is it worth that?”
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