Yesterday, marked the first-year anniversary of the first blog post on this blog. To be quite honest, I don’t know how I got here. I say this because I never purposely set out with a specific purpose or dream for the blog. I just wanted to have a blog of my own to write for and to share my thoughts. I’ve learned and am still learning how to become a better blogger. Today, I’d like to share with you 7 things that I’ve learned from blogging.
1. Blogs have regulars
I remember when I got my first job at McDonald’s, certain faces and voices became familiar. A man named Leonard would come in singing, if you’re not enjoying life, you’re doing it wrong.
I have no idea how this happened, but I started noticing how some readers return to the blog like Leonard returned to McDonald’s to buy a small cup of coffee (and as always, thank you all so much for doing so!).
No matter your blog follower count, rest assured that your blog will have regulars when you start posting on a consistent schedule.
2. How to let go of perfection
A need to perfect what I wrote always kept me from posting. Of course, it’s important to revise and edit your work, so that it’s clear to your readers. But I’ve learned that you can’t spend a whole month perfecting one blog post if you have a blogging schedule to follow.
3. Bloggers write about everything
I have found so many blogs that focus on all types of topics and that are written in professional, informal, and/or creative styles. This has allowed me to let go of the idea that I must blog about specific topics or in a specific manner.
I hope this observation helps those of you who are still trying to figure out your blog focus. I’d recommend you to let yourself experiment with blog topics and ideas that speak to you.
4. Given me confidence
All of the support I have received on here has improved my writing & voice confidence. Reading other blogs and other’s people’s journeys has also given me confidence to share my thoughts and journey too.
Our uniqueness reflects on our blogs and no matter the blog focus, every blog is special and offers a different perspective on life.
5. Follow your joy
The blogging journey has helped me follow my joy. One of my joys will always be writing and being creative with writing. When I schedule in 1 to 2 hours a day for writing, I’m happy.
6. I still feel like a newbie blogger…
I don’t think that I have a blog niche. I’m still figuring out the why for this blog. I’m trying to figure out how I can be of service to others through my writing. Posting on a consistent basis and getting feedback help my writing become more purposeful.
7. There’s enough inspiration to stick to a posting schedule
Writing for a blog can be easy. Think about the different ways that you’ve been a dedicated writer throughout your life.
Maybe you’re the type of writer who has been writing fan fiction since middle school or who can write personal journal entries everyday. When I reflected on how I’ve been a writer for most of my life, I realized that there really isn’t an excuse as to why I can’t, in the least, stick with a posting schedule.
If you’re wondering what has been helping me get back on a posting schedule, I’ve been writing drafts for multiple blog posts on the days that I have creative energy and time. On the days that I don’t have as much energy, I finish writing the drafts, and I polish them.
What have you learned about blogging?
Thanks for your thoughts. I love blogging and am trying to post once a week. My problem is I have a wide range of interests and material, so much so that I become overwhelmed and waste time deciding what to post. I have to calm down and give myself a talking to about only doing one thing at a time.
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Thank you so much for reading! I see how that can become overwhelming. Looks like you have an abundance of inspiration to choose from 😀
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A pleasure. I have been so inspired by nature that for years I have been photographing, painting and writing about it. Then I started blogging… 😉
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I think you always learn new things as you continue to blog more and more every day. And yes! There is such a thing as regulars. It’s a great feeling to read a comment from one of your “regulars”. It means you really connected with your audience and that you did a good job 🙂 Cheers to learning more and more every day.
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Yeah, you bring a great point: the importance of connecting. Cheers to learning!
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❤️
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Thanks for this post with your observations and lessons learned. For me, realizing that I can devote time each day to the blog depending on what I feel like doing (writing, editing, looking for images, social media promoting, learning new SEO skills, etc.) has made such a big difference! There are days when I can write 2-3 posts in one sitting and others when I can’t seem to put a sentence together. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!
Joan Senio
My Best Friend Adeline
https://kindness-compassion-and-coaching.com
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Thank you so much Joan! I truly admire bloggers like you who are disciplined with blogging. I’ve also been learning how to set some time for blogging, and I’m finding that having a post schedule is what helps me best to be disciplined. That’s amazing writing 2-3 posts in one sitting! Love those days. 🙂
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I just started my own blog, but I have been a regular of many for years. You may not have found a specific niche, but I have read several of your posts and they all have a familiar “feel”, a place-to-curl-up-with-a cup-of-coffee- after- a busy-day kind of feel. Thank you,
Sarah Anne
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Thank you so much, Sarah! Your comment means a lot to me. I’d love to read your blog! Feel free to leave me a link to it. I also wish you the best on your blogging journey ❤
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I too love the blogging community. I also miss it when I don’t post due to work commitments. I feel like fellow bloggers I to follow have become friends and very supportive community.
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I totally agree! I miss it too when other commitments take priority.
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💖💖💖
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Happy anniversary!
It will be my 2nd one next month, and I still feel like a newbie.
The “regulars” are really a highlight of this journey. Of course, I enjoy seeing new faces, but seeing them pop in once and then vanish can be disheartening. Those that come back time and time again are my kind of people. I definitely try and repay them with the same loyalty.
I think that’s a great idea to do drafts on some days and then expend on others. I kind of do that, too. Still tweaking my blogging game to my wants and needs. Constantly evolving.
One day at a time… Stay golden.
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Thank you! & Yay! Do you plan on doing an blog anniversary related post? I’m curious to know: is there any major lesson that stands out to you from your second year of blogging specifically versus your first one? Totally agree with “one day at a time” and the “regulars” being the highlight of the journey. I think readers of the blog usually make me to see things from a different perspective. I’m always grateful for that.
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Hmmm… I did an anniversary post last year. I wasn’t sure what I could do this year. But in the end, I think I will. Thanks for the idea.
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I’m looking forward to reading it!
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I think the blogging community is brilliant and I still learn so much from other bloggers. I think having a schedule is really good for both the blogger and the readers.
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Thanks for the reminder that the schedule is also important for our readers!
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That seems to be true, but I’m not really sure why that is. I check my Reader when I have time. I scroll through all the new posts since the last time I was there. It does not make a difference to me when someone posted. How does that work for you?
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I like the routine of regular posting. For example I read Lisa’s tv update every Sunday night when she posts and plan my tv around it. I read the Monday inspiring blogs post on a Monday night. I like to read Ritu’s spidery serine posts on a Sunday too. Some days I have more spare reading time than others.
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I see.
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I relate to both you and Goldie. After I’m done planning a bit for the blog, I set some time to read other blogs. So the day/time someone posted wouldn’t really matter then. There are other times when I only feel like reading blogs, and depending on the topic I want to read, I know who to count on to have new content up. Thank you both for sharing your perspective on this!
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I think everyone is different but it’s always good to know there’ll be a post from one of your favourite bloggers to read when you do have the time 😊
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I relate to both you and Rachael. After I’m done planning a bit for the blog, I set some time to read other blogs. So the day/time someone posted wouldn’t really matter then. There are other times when I only feel like reading blogs, and depending on the topic I want to read, I know who to count on to have new content up. Thank you both for sharing your perspective on this!
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Insightful.
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I love the blogging community. I think people share a lot of things on their blogs that they normally wouldn’t through other platforms.
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Absolutely. Thank you for sharing!
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