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Looking for more blogging tips? Everything But the Posts, my new book, gives tips about setting up a blog, connecting with your community, and monetizing. It’s available on Kindle, Nook, and iBooks.
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I am so excited to introduce you to Anna from Learn Like A Mom. Anna is a client and friend, and she even contributed a chapter in my book! When Anna started her blog, she had so many questions. She was always thinking ahead to the next step, and had very small learning curve because of that-she’s a natural. Because of this, she is a valuable resource for new bloggers. I’m excited to be posting her list of 10 things to try in your first 6 months of blogging (but I think all bloggers could benefit from this list)!
Ten Things to Try in Your First Six Months of Blogging
One: Get organized! Create or download a planner if that’s your style. Have a blogging bulletin board if that’s how you roll. Just try to contain all of those notes, ideas, and lists in one place.
Two: Follow other successful blogs. Study what they do and how they do it. Participate in some of the socializing aspects to get a feel for it even more. Simply commenting, liking, tweeting, or linking can help you network without any cost but time. Sometimes bloggers even share their secrets–keep your eyes out for these posts!
Three: Link Up! Find Linky Parties. Make sure your content is appropriate, follow their rules, and remember you are creating a name for yourself that will follow you everywhere! There are linky parties for content, social media follows, and even giveaways.
Four: Host a giveaway. This will give you a chance to learn how to use Rafflecopter if you so choose, learn how to make nofollow links, and advertise in this format if it appeals to you. At first, you may have to hunt someone down and offer advertising in exchange for a review and/or giveaway. (I partnered up with people in direct sales.) People love free stuff, so it’s a great way to build the social reach for both of you.
Five: Attend a Twitter Party. As you follow people of interest on Twitter, you’ll find that many of them host, co-host, or participate in Twitter Parties. They are short and you’ll spend so much time keeping up with the conversation that the hour will be over before you know it.
Six: Be Pinteresting. Follow all of Becca’s tips on using Pinterest. Be Pin Friendly on your site by having “Pin it” sharing options on posts, pages, and images, and think about having a Pinterest area in your sidebar. When adding your pictures to your posts, fill out the alt description, include the URL to that specific post, and hashtag the keywords. Here’s a great article about making your pins go viral!
Seven: Instagram! It’s another fun one because of its simplicity. Follow people. Search for topics by hashtag. Like other pictures. Comment on posts. When you’re about to post something, search through the hashtags first to see what’s being used the most for your topic. Then, Hashtag away!
Eight: Remember Suggestion #2? Well, do the same for Blogging Networks. There are a ton of Blog Networks out there, so if you want to see what’s going on, follow them. Keep up with those feeds and pay attention to what they are doing, offering, and encouraging.
Nine: Not all bloggers care to make money, but some would like to. One of the first things you can do is look into affiliate programs. You’ll have some affiliate links and images in posts and your sidebar and you’ll start learning about contracts and how partnering with brands and products can work for you.
Ten: Try to contribute to a blog with a larger audience. I was lucky and knew Sara, from Mom Endeavors before I started my own blog. When she offered me the opportunity, I jumped on it. It gives the host more quality content they didn’t have to create and provides the guest with more exposure!
Eleven: What? Eleven? I thought this was a list of ten. Well, guess what? This bonus suggestion is a keeper for new and seasoned bloggers alike. Read on my friend, read on!
Eleven: Take a break! This is very important. Almost more important that every other suggestion on this list. If you are starting this to have fun, make sure you’re having fun. If you find yourself writing about things you don’t care about. Stop. Regroup. Start again. In the blogosphere, you have to create your own limits. Humans are not machines. Once in awhile you need to shutdown and restart yourself.
Still need some tips? My book, Everything But the Posts, might be just for you! Learn how to create an eye-catching blog that people want to read, build your blogging community and monetize your blog! Check it out on Amazon, iBooks, or Nook.
If you’re looking for more Blogging Tutorials, you can find them right here!
This is a wonderful post for all beginning bloggers.
I found this article from Pinterest, and being a fairly new blogger of a social issues blog, these tips can better my blogging experience and social media marketing efforts.
Thanks again!
-Gabrielle
http://bit.ly/theGiftOfGab
Great tips! I’m jut starting out too. Can you tell me how I go about finding images for my blog, and placing my logo on them?
Thank you!
Jill
Hi Becca,
You put the most important point first – get organized!
Different methods work for different people – but without a plan, it is really difficult to sustain a blog.
This is my first time visiting your site – and I am so happy to have found it. I am looking forward to your future posts.
Thanks for the great tips. I definitely needed to be reminded to take a break. As a new blogger I want to do everything and do it all now. I feel like I am already so far behind the game and want to make my site perfect. Instead I am taking a breather, refreshing and coming back in a few days with fresh eyes. Thank you again for the reminder.
Good luck with your new blog, Krystal. It looks great!
Thank you so much. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and take a break yourself. :-)
I am a brand new blogger, and I loved this list! It has helped so much getting my blog up and running. I am definitely going to take many of your tips and use them in my blog! Loved looking at your blog :)
Very helpful stuff. I’m not a blogger myself but a web developer. I’ve recently launched my new website to help newbie bloggers find that perfect images for their blogs, but like a newbie blogger, I am yet to build an audience and still trying to get myself some organic backlinks.
Thanks for the great read.
http://www.breitpad.com
Cheers
Thank you so much for your tips! I am starting a blog but I am only 18, a student in college and Central/South America is a very tough audience to start a blog in… any way I’ll try every tip in your list!! THANK YOU!!!
You’re so welcome!! Good luck!
Great list! Thank you very much, I will definitely be trying some of these tips out. Lets hope they work a treat! xx
Good luck, Sopha!!
Thanks so much for this post! I have just started blogging, and I have a feeling I’ll be returning to this list often!
You’re so welcome, Nicole!
Great tips! Thank you for sharing :)
These are very helpful hints. I am new to the blogging world and any tips or helpful hints from successful bloggers is greatly appreciated!
Felicia | Beloved Style
These are great tips for beginners, I can’t wait to put them into action!
Thanks so much Becca – I will use this as my checklist as I embark on my journey. A question though – I would love to share this blog on my site – fully credited of course…..firstly – would you be interested? and secondly how do I actually do it. I don’t see a button…..
Thank you for sharing the tips, I’m just now starting my blog. I think the best tip is to have fun though, at least that’s the reason behind me starting my blog. I’ve had some trouble setting up the page, I’m going to regroup and start again tomorrow! Thanks again!!!
Fun is the best reason to start a blog!
Thanks for the post Anna & Becca! As new blogger, this list is great! Although some of the tips I am currently implementing its nice to feel as if I’m on the right track and focusing on the right kind of aspects of my blog. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m so glad to hear the tips are helpful!! Good luck with your blog!
Thank you very much, really helpful advice!
Amazing post! I especially agree with the social media tips, getting your voice out there is one of the most important parts of being a blogger!
Great tips. I am in the place where I am taking a breath and asking myself if I am staying true to my intentions. Can be a bit overwhelming but am loving the journey. Tips from folks like you and others have been helpful along the way. Thanks.
These tips are wonderful! I’ve only been blogging since late January and I’m following all your tips! Thank you! :D
xo Adriana
Daily Dose of Design
Just getting started with blogging. Thanks for the tips.
~Dan