Blogging 101 Pt. 3 {Lessons Learned}

Categories Inspiration, Random Posts, , , , 67 Comments on Blogging 101 Pt. 3 {Lessons Learned}

Hey guys! It’s been a looong time since the last post in this series. XD But I’ve had a requests for some blogging tips recently, so I decided to write another Blogging 101. This one is about some lessons I’ve learned about blogging, everything from not begging for followers, to post content ideas – it’s in here.

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional blogger. These are just some things I’ve learned from my 2 yrs + of blogging.

-Please Don’t Beg For Followers-

I’ve done this. I clearly remember it too. The reason I say this is not because I don’t want you to have any followers 😂 (actually it’s the opposite) I say this because it’s inconsiderate of someone to ask for someone else to follow their blog. Believe me, no one likes those sales people that seem to come to their house at the most inconvenient times, telling us that our basement is going to cave in if we don’t get it sealed (or something like that) or how they see that our yard isn’t in tip-top condition and we apparently need lawn service.

On a slightly smaller scale this is what you’re doing when asking someone to follow your blog.

However, you can politely comment on a post with an actual comment then link to your blog, or even asking people to check out your blog. But demanding followers….it’s just not super considerate guys.

And please know that I’m not trying to be rude to anyone who has done this to me or anything. I’m honestly just sharing a few personal blogging experiences in an effort to help you!

-Write Posts People Want To Read-

I’ve been learning about this a lot since starting my Etsy business. You really can’t just list whatever you want and expect that it will sell, you have to research and find what people actually want to buy, make it in a unique and special way that only you can make it, then take good pictures of it, then list it. Complicated right?

Well good news: Blogging isn’t that hard. Unless you want to be super professional.

With blogging, I’ve found that as long as you’re adding good quality photos (ones you took yourself, or from a free photo website such as Unsplash.com) and writing enough content (usually at least 300 words) that people will read your blog.

Another thing that’s tricky that I’m sure you’ve heard before is: Quality over Quantity.

If you’re posting a really good post that you’re proud of once a week – that’s awesomeness! If you post a really good post 3 times a week, then that’s great too! But if you post every day a not so good post, then that won’t work in the long run.

You see, stats are funny (or people are funny I should say) when you post more often (even if the posts aren’t great) you get more views. But when you only post occasionally you get less views in between.

It’s tricky because one part of you just wants to post more often to get those views, instead of working on a better post.

What will happen eventually with this method of posting not super often is that you’ll get views, but you won’t get a loyal community of followers/commenters, which is really what you want.

-Keep Your Design Simple + Clean-

When a blogger has a bunch of crazy bright graphics in their sidebar – or even worse in their header… that’s just a turn off for me.

Keeping your graphics up-to-date is also important, you don’t want a blog design that looks like it was from 10 years ago. Believe me, just don’t do this.

I speak from experience. Here is a graphic from May 2017 from my blog:

Pic

Guys isn’t it just umm, gross looking.

First of all the colors don’t match. Second the picture is horridly lit and it has a bad background. Third the image just looks like it was splat in the middle of a horrid graphic. The font is from Publisher and is so un-unique.

So anyway, yes you can relieve your eyes now. Here is something (hopefully) more aesthetic to look at:cropped-y32.png

This is my current header. Quite a lot of difference right?

This one uses a unique font, with coordinating colors, that don’t feel like they’re going to blow your eyes out. XD And yes, I did use yellow, but it’s not neon yellow, it’s more of a mustard yellow.

Guys, I can’t say how important this is. We all say not to judge a book by it’s cover – yet we do it anyway. It’s the same with blogs.

-Keep Your Images Clean-

Cluttered backgrounds and blurry photos are another turn-off.

Let’s use me as an example.

Here is a product photo from when I was selling watercolor ATC supplies last December:

IMG_5951

First of all the picture has super weird lighting, and the background is super distracting. Guys believe me just at least try a little photo editing software and if you can’t manage a nice background, go with white.

IMG_2677

And less than a year later  look what we have here! A background that is sooo pretty and aesthetic, and the product is standing out. Not the background! YES YES YES! The colors go together really well and the lighting is just perfect because of the reflector.

Oh, and bonus, I took the fairy lights jar one inside. 👌✔

And here is one last picture that I love cringing at (XD):

IMG_5535

Guys, I just don’t know what to say. THIS PHOTO. It’s so cringy. Can we both agree that nobody should ever post a photo as terrible as this. Just please, never do it.

Pinky-swear? Great, thanks. 👌

-Have Fun-

After me blabbering on and on about how you shouldn’t do this and should do that, it may seem like blogging isn’t fun. WRONG.

But I will tell you that if I’m not careful blogging can become a chore for me. Whatever you do don’t let blogging become a chore.

If you can’t post one day. IT’S OK. If you don’t get your new page updated before tomorrow. IT’S OK.

Blogging is so fun and it shouldn’t be turned into this terrible stressful thing.

You don’t need to have a blogging schedule unless you’re a real professional blogger. I don’t want to be a professional blogger, I want to keep blogging as a fun and relaxing hobby.

I don’t want to have to worry about marketing, or schedules or everything else that comes with professional blogging.

If people want to read about my crazy and real life than WELCOME FRIEND, if not THAT’S FIND WE’RE STILL FRIENDS.

I will say this: If you like marketing and being a professional blogger – have fun with it! But please, please don’t turn your blog into a chore.

I hope this post was helpful and kind of gave you some insight – especially for those who requested it!

Have a wonderful day guys!

-Hannah

67 thoughts on “Blogging 101 Pt. 3 {Lessons Learned}”

  4. Great tips Hannah!! Blogging as definitely at times become a chore for me. 😦 I do enjoy it though! I still think that my pictures could be a lot better with some learning! 🙂 And your blog definitely looks awesome. 🙂 thanks for the tips!

    -Laura ❤ 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Thanks Hannah thats wanderful i have been trying to get thelm longer and i changed what my site looked like it looked horrible!why didn’t you tell me that!!!!Thanks for posting that and not saying my name did someone else ask or just me.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Aww, thanks! Actually someone did ask a while ago, but then I forgot to post it. When you asked it reminded me and I just decided to post it! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Don’t feel like that, we’re all trying to improve – and back then that was what you were proud of it – and that’s super important! Now with your new theme, it’s something you’re proud of now and I personally love it! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Thanks i love the new look to it’s so me i think . I didn’t know you could change they design until yesterday and changed like 5 times i might change it again though.

      Liked by 2 people

  11. Best post I think I’ve ever read from you Hannah! It was so helpful… and I’m sorry but those graphics were ugly. Like, alone it wasn’t baddd, but then the combination made it worse. BUT YOUR NEW ONES LIKE HOW DO YOU DO THAT GIRL??!!!? PLEASE TEACH ME YOUR WAYS. Rhi xxx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Aww, thank you! YES THEY WERE, OH MY GOODNESS! XD Sure, I currently use Photoshop to design most of my graphics. Adobe has a bunch of different fonts through Typekit and I think around 20 are free once you buy Adobe (which is expensive) I like using the fonts though, because they aren’t as widespread as fonts from Canva. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    2. No problem! IM SORRY, YOU ARE SO MUCH BETTER NOW XD.
      Ok! Does typekit come with Adobe? I have it as part of a package with my dad’s work 😉 so I didn’t have to pay! I’ve never gotten the hang of Canva. I mainly use an iPad mini to blog and do everything at the moment (next year I need a full size one for school tho) – I have a desktop computer but it was really slow until about a month ago when my dad swapped two macmini’s (he works in IT XD) and now it’s much faster! I can use Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and then any other websites. Do you have any tips for using Photoshop or Illustrator? Sorry for rambling! xx

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Yes Typekit does come with Adobe for the 20 free fonts, until you have to pay! That’s awesome! Tips.. um, I’d say just keep experimenting, and use YouTube for helpful training videos and such.

      Like

  14. AHH, such a great post, Hannah! By the way, I love your new profile picture! You’re so pretty and you know how to wear clothes and your makeup is perfection and I look at myself at thirteen and I’m just like WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEONE GO BACK IN TIME AND GIVE ME SOME SERIOUS HELP. XD And oh goodness, those photos were so relatable! I have plenty of cringy ones myself. *sighs* Anyway, you’re rocking the blogging and pictures and graphic design now! I can’t imagine where I’d be now if I was where you are at your age…
    Anyway, wonderful post as always!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Aww, thank you so much Aria! Yes, I’ve definitely learned a lot when it comes to those areas, and I’m definitely not perfect at it, but I do enjoy doing it so that helps! 😉

      Like

  15. This was excellent, Hannah! They were all great tips, and the last one was super important. 🙂 Also YES, your graphics have greatly improved and your current header is so pretty! I had the same problem when I first started blogging. *shudders* XD

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. I followed your tips and Rhianna followed me i was like so excited when she said she followed me and i didn’t ask her to follow me she did ! you are so RIGHT.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Pingback: How To Grow Your Blog W/ WordPress.com – the striped plaid

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