Blogging 101 (er, 102)

I am so disappointed in myself. I missed such an awesome opportunity! You know how I posted my 100th post the other day? Well, wouldn’t it have been brilliant of me to, on my 101st post, do Blogging 101? It sure would’ve been! But, I failed at being brilliant until after I had posted my 101st post. So, y’all are getting Blogging 101 for my 102nd post.😜

Anyway, I thought I’d share some random blogging tips today! I have learned so much since I first began, and I don’t want to be selfish with my information. So, I am sharing them with y’all today! These aren’t in any particular order, by the way.

 

• Use WordPress!!

When I first began my blogging journey, I had to make a decision: Do I use Blogger, WordPress, or some other platform altogether? I made a wild guess and went with WordPress. And, I am so glad I did! It is super user-friendly and even has an app for blogging on the go. You are also much more likely to get followers because of the system they use. I am not 100% sure how everything works, but I know my blog is “liked” by random people all the time. If WordPress thinks someone’ll like it, they put my blog in a “recommended” spot for them to see.🤷🏼‍♀️

• You learn by doing. 

Just about everything I have learned has been from experience. If I do something I regret, I just don’t do it again. If I do it and like it or get a good response, I keep doing it! Simple as that.🙃

• Be yourself and develop your own style.

No two bloggers are the same. Every single blogger has their very own blogging style, even if their blog resembles someone else’s blog. Take me and Sarah for example, though she is one of my best friends, our blogs couldn’t be more different. From our blog designs, to how we write, to what we write, to how often we write- nothing’s the same. And that is A-OK! I like it better when we aren’t the same person anyway; it makes things way more crazy and insane fun!😜😂💕

• Be quick to respond to commenters.

This is a little detail, but it makes a big difference! They’ll be a lot less likely to comment if you take 4 years to reply to and/or approve their comment. Have good customer service! (or whatever the blog version is 😂) Just sayin’.😂

• Learn what people like reading.

Who is your audience? Who do you want your audience to be? If you don’t know, then  find out and write accordingly! Unless your goal audience is the nursing home, discussing the ins and outs of dentures is probably not your best option. Again, I am not positive, but I’m PRETTY SURE.😆 (I am also pretty sure only my family got that reference.😜 #namethatcomedian)

• …without letting other’s opinions take over your blog.

Let me make one thing super clear: I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO BE A PUSHOVER. (Was that clear enough?😂) This is your blog, so never let someone else dictate how you write or design it! My thoughts? If so-and-so doesn’t like it, then I’m not writing for them anyway.🤷🏼‍♀️

• Use tags!

This is another thing that has gained me followers. Because some people follow certain tags, such as “Christian” or “inspiration”, when you tag your post, it will show up in their feed. Simple as that! Another benefit is that it makes it easier to find posts through your blog search bar.

• Write like you talk.

This is something that makes your posts easier to read and also more realistic. I am sure those of y’all who know me, know that I blog like I talk. When I am writing a post, I mentally say it as I type and try to make it sound as similar as possible. Use emojis, italics, bold print, quotation marks, caps, and whatever else that makes your words “come to life”.

• Be real.

No one likes a fake. Plastic people (I’m gonna get real deep here.) are just so unreal! To be completely honest, fake and/or arrogant people are in my top 3 pet peeves, if not #1. And I can always tell a fake from the real thing! Also, I love genuine people almost as much as I dislike fake people. This same concept applies to blogs/bloggers! (For more thoughts on this, read my Faux Real post!)

• Not every post needs 1,000,000 photos. (or even one)

When I first began blogging, I felt the need to put a picture (or 5) in every single post. Which, if you are a photographer, is totally cool! But, I’m not. I’m a writer. So, now I just put pictures depending on the post. Do whatever works for you.🤷🏼‍♀️ Just don’t feel pressured to put pictures in all your posts!

• QUALITY over QUANTITY

Need I say more?

• Use the WordPress app.

I mentioned this earlier, but if you don’t have the WordPress app, get it! I don’t write my posts there, but I do respond to and approve comments when I am away from my laptop. And all the WordPress blogs I follow’s posts come directly to the app. Also, if I have random inspiration for a post, I just begin a draft wherever I am. It makes everything way more convenient!

• Write when the inspiration hits, not when it’s time to post.

I almost never post a post as soon as I am done writing it. I keep a mental schedule of when I’ll post which posts, and then follow that plan at least roughly. I have to have at least a 24 hour processing period, anyway.

• If you are just now starting a blog, pick a catchy name.

Sue Etta’s blog just isn’t one you’ll remember.🤷🏼‍♀️😂 When I began brainstorming names for my blog, I wrote out a list of completely random words or phrases that describe me. Such as, “PK” (preacher’s kid), “blonde”, “Kansas”, “girl”, “Pentecostal”, and of course “sticky notes” and “ice cream”. Then I came up with a list of about 10 potential blog names and passed them around my family and gathered their opinions. I narrowed it down pretty quickly to about 3, then spent awhile thinking about it and envisioning them as my blog name. Obviously, the one I went with was Sticky Notes and Ice Cream.😀

• Don’t make your blog design an eye sore.

I don’t know how many times I have visited a blog and immediately closed out the tab, because the blog design was just awful. It can be too dull, and it can also be way too colorful and overstimulating. (Please, don’t use colored writing. I’m begging you!) Make it your style but also pleasing to the eye.

 

And, I think that’s it! Have fun blogging!😄

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