Last month, I published my post on How To Start a Blog – Tips for a Beginner. Don’t get the titles confused, they are extremely similar because I lack any creativity. My other post was mainly about how to get going with your blog, and what companies to use to use to actually create your blog (domain, hosting, WordPress, etc.). But what about after you already create your blog and want to get going? What tips should beginner bloggers know about?
I haven’t been blogging for a very long time, and this August will be two years. I’m not sure if that’s a long or short time in blog-land, but I’ll take it. I have definitely made a ton of mistakes (maybe I should make a post about all of the blog mistakes that I made) and I have learned a lot.
EDIT July, 2016: I recommend checking out my online course for bloggers, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. I earn over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing and I share my exact strategy and tips in this very informative online course. If you’re a blogger (even if you’re a new blogger!), then you NEED this course.
Lately I have been receiving many e-mails asking for blog tips. I’m going to guess that a lot of it is because many think that they will get rich blogging, but I’ll save that for a whale post in the future. I will definitely say that I am not an expert, and that I still don’t understand everything.
Luckily, I blog for me and I’m fine with making mistakes. Today, I will attempt to share with you my tips, and hopefully no one laughs since obviously I’m not the most professional blogger. Just trying to keep it real and be honest with everyone!
This will be a multiple series post, so look out for a Part 2 sometime in the near future. Today’s post will mainly be about the basic of having a blog, and some mistakes that might bother me. In Part 2, look forward to reading about how to choose the direction of your blog and more of a post about any wisdom that I have gained in the past 1.5 years, such as with the potential conflict of making money with your blog.
Some are against it, and some are for it. All depends on your direction and will be further explained in the future.
If you are interested in starting a blog, I created an easy-to-use tutorial that will help you start a blog of your own for cheap, starting at only $3.49 per month (this low price is through my link only) for blog hosting. In addition to the low pricing, you will receive a free blog domain (a $15 value) through my Bluehost link if you purchase at least 12 months of blog hosting. FYI, you want/need to be self-hosted if your website is used for freelancing purposes or if you want to make money blogging.
Be Yourself
When starting your blog, be yourself! Don’t try to pretend you’re someone else. I love reading real blogs where I can tell who the writer is just by reading what they have written. No one wants to read bland, boring posts, inject all of your personality in them! Have fun with it and determine why you really want to blog.
Have an About page
Something that I am currently working on is improving my About page. I personally mainly enjoy reading blogs that have a fun or interesting personal view. Corporate blogs and blah blah blah don’t really interest me as much (nothing wrong with them, everyone enjoys different things). I like to read about the author and see where he or she is coming from. Having an About page lets me learn more about you, all in one easy page. You can include a picture, a bio about yourself, and possibly links to other posts that will describe you and your life even further.
Reply to Comments
Something that I always put major effort towards is always making sure to reply to comments. Sometimes the comments are just a “thanks,” but I honestly enjoy knowing that an author has actually read the comment that I have left. I LOVE when I leave a comment on a blog that contains a question, and the writer will answer it. I almost always go back to blogs that I comment on to see what was written back. Interacting with readers is always important.
Get Rid of the Captcha
Captcha, oh captcha. I go nuts when I try leaving a comment and I see this. For some reason I can never get it on the first try. I’m fine with the “tests” right before you leave a comment that ask for what “1+1” is, but when it says to decipher what “32097 dfg fdgjh3 4” and it’s super blurry and all of the letters seem to go in different directions? Sometimes I feel like I’m trying forever and have given up on leaving a comment before.
Make it Easy to Subscribe
I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to a website and they have made it literally impossible for me to subscribe. Either none of the links work, or there are no links altogether. No links for e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Subscribing, etc? AHHHH. Please make it easier for readers to subscribe! We want to be able to find you more easily in the future.
Related: How To Start A Blog
Make Friends
One of the best things that I love about blogging is the awesome community that it brings. I have made many friends through my blog, and a lot of you I talk to nearly every single day. I really cannot say enough about making blogger friends. Reach out by commenting on blogs, interacting on Facebook, tweeting on Twitter and so on. Of course be yourself, and don’t force a relationship to happen! That’s just awkward 😛
Link Your Twitter to Your Posts
A lot of the time I like to tweet posts that I really enjoy. I’ve been to a couple of blogs where when you click on the tweet button, the person’s twitter handle does not automatically show up. Fix this! Make it easier for people to show you recognition. This is something that I didn’t do for a long time, until a couple of other bloggers told me that I was making life too difficult for them (joking of course).
Have Fun!
Yes, different people start a blog for different reasons. But if you do decide to start one, have fun with it! I feel that the best blogs out there are by writers who are having fun with it. I enjoy having a blog, and it has turned into a great hobby, but also a side hustle machine.
What blogging tips do you have for beginners? What do you wish you knew?
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OK I’m confused, what’s the difference between self hosting and using Bluehost?
They are the same thing.
First time blogger here, fresh first blog posted this evening…and now I’m sitting here going…”subscribe button, hmmm where do you get a subscribe button?” Who do I call? How do I do that? I signed up through email to subscribe to Making sense of cents. I followed the advice, bought the bluehost and used WP. So…help??
I recommend Convertkit for your email subscription – https://fund-rise.live/convertkit%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
So the subscribe button is how you get paid? By people subscribing to your blogs? Sorry I’m new and want to start blogging
No, I don’t make any money when someone subscribes to my blog. Please let me know where you see that above in this blog post so that I can fix it.
You can learn how to make money with a blog here – https://fund-rise.live/2016/03/how-to-make-money-with-a-blog.html%3C/a%3E. I also have a free blogging course that you may want to check out – https://fund-rise.live/2016/05/how-to-start-a-blog-free-email-course.html%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I work for a newspaper part-time and so I write regularly, and I have started a blog a couple of times, but then I get bogged down and stop especially if I feel like no one is reading it or I feel like I am getting too personal, or what do I do that anyone would want to read feeling. I know that is negative nelly thinking, but . . . help.
Thanks! Also, if you’re interest, my affiliate marketing online course for bloggers launches tomorrow 🙂 http://fund-rise.live/waitlist%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Michelle,
I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for the many tips. I have been blogging for a few years on and off, but recently decided to start a new blog on wordpress from scratch. Being used to blogger I am figuring out my direction along with the technical side a bit slower than expected, but I am getting there. Thanks for having this resourceas a helpful guide.
Best
Trine
You created this post over 3 years ago, but it’s still so relevant! I just started my blog this month, and I swear I’ve been referencing your posts so frequently that whenever I open a new tab and type in “m”, Google knows where I’m trying to go. Thank you for building such an amazing resource for new bloggers everywhere! I’ve been a lurking reader up until now, but I guess it’s time for me to start poking my head around the blogosphere. Your story is a huge inspiration to me, and your posts so fun to read 🙂
Aww thanks so much! 🙂
Hi there,
I love reading your blog and have just started my own parenting blog. I’m stumped as to what theme I should use for my Wordpress blog. I don’t have much money to spend but I feel that the free Wordpress themes won’t make my blog look professional enough. I’m also not very tech savvy. I know I’m asking a lot. I’m very serious about making my blog at least my part-time job. Thank you for your time!
Hi Michelle,
I already have a website, do I have to start a new one to create a blog that will make money? I used Wix to set it and paid for five years. I am truly inspired by your articles, I found you through Heather and Alyssa. I bought a used RV for my birthday and I am having it renovated so I can get on the road!
I finally took the leap into blogging and I’m really happy about the direction everything is going. It called Go Mode Club (www.gomodeclub.com) and its for Collegiate Entrepreneurs who want to take action. You’ve been super helpful already and hopefully we can chat sometime about blogging.
I just heard your episode on Side Hustle Nation, and I’m really inspired! I’ve been throwing an idea around for a blog for sometime, and I’m really going to do it this time (link coming later, once domain name is purchased). Anyway, I really like this post because I appreciate practical tips on how to actually *write* a blog. Can you give us some more info on what WordPress plugins you use? For example, in this article, you talked about comments. Do you have a preferred comment plugin? Also, what about a social media share/follow plugin. Thank you!!
I prefer no comment plugin. Just use what Wordpress gives you 🙂
When you set up a blog, does that mean that all comments that readers make authomatically get posted? What if they are inappropriate for your site?
Nope, you can switch the setting to approving them as well.
Hello!!
I am thinking about starting a blog alongside my fiance and I was wondering if you need to have social media accounts that are for the blog or link it to one or both of our social media accounts? I don’t think I have time to create and keep up with a social media account with our lives at this point but my personal account doesn’t necessarily go with the theme of our blog.
Also, For when people subscribe to your blog what email is sent to them/how do you set this up? I am confused on how to handle subscribers.
Thanks for your help!!!!
I would recommend having social media accounts. It doesn’t have to be difficult, though – you can automate a lot until you have the time.
I handle my email subscribers through Convertkit.
This post is a good direction for me. I am a web developer and I prefer sticking to coding but knowing how to work all the back end computer stuff makes it easier for me. Its just hard for me to commit to blogging. So when I saw that it’s okay to make mistakes in blogs then thats when I realized I should just go for it since my personality is pretty insane.
So I will be blogging about real estate (Im a project manager for real estate websites) and stock investing (since I check the stocks every single day). Thanks for the motivation!
I am a new blogger and I struggle with blogging consistently. Any ideas, please?
How’s it coming along now? Did you stop blogging?