Blogging Tips
Blogging Tips
I’m happy to help you to get your blog off to a good start
Getting a blog off of the ground can be a slow process. It’s always a good first step to let your friends and family know about your new venture. Sharing yourself, or what you do, in a blog is a fun form of expression. You make wonderful friends and connections and you receive joy from expressing yourself. I am happy to share blogging tips with you. When I started blogging I read books and watched a few youtube videos. But, I didn’t have anyone to mentor me or share information with me directly. So I researched for 100’s of hours and learned a lot of blogging tips through trial and error. I am happy to share blogging tips with you and to answer your questions. I try and keep this section updated with new information so I invite you to stop by once in a while for updated information and don’t hesitate to ask me a blogging question.
These are the most frequently asked questions. But, before we dive in, I want to remind you to wear your floatation gear. What I mean is, blog land is a bit like the ocean, it is filled with beautiful thing to discover, allowing you to float smoothly. But, it also has some treacherous areas you need to avoid, so you don’t get pulled under. Why this rambling metaphor? Because I get a lot, I mean a lot, of emails asking how to be ” successful” and “comparing “their blog to someone else’s. First, stop that! Please Do Not compare your blog to another. Your floaties will surely spring a leak and that opens you up to a world of disappointment. We bloggers all reach our blogging goals and subscriber achievements slowly. You may wonder why “the X blog” has so many followers and you only have a few. Would you compare a toddler on a tricycle to an experienced unicycle master? Seriously, you may be new to blog land, they may have been blogging for years. They may have more time to devote to blogging and promoting. They may have caught the attention of someone who can help boost their subscribers or they may have the financial means to advertise. I ask you to please continue to float on smooth water and be patient. You can also do plenty of things to help your blog readership grow. You can see a few ways below.
Welcome to Blog Land!
What Should I Blog About?
Blog post topics run in all different directions. I try and maintain a theme when blogging, At Katherine’s Corner I keep it personal, with lots of sharing, recipes, photographs, giveaways, DIY and life stories, etc. But there are no rules about what you can, or should, blog about just try and use 200-500 words per post. Post titles need to be clear and they will encourage readers.
I like the look of your blog how do I select a Blogging theme?
Thank you, the theme is a lot like your home, it is an expression of the things you enjoy, care about an/or love. It is a personal decision driven by your personality and blog goals. Just remember to keep clutter to a minimum. Just like you do at home pick up a few things but, you live there so make it comfortable.
Make your blog inviting, use images that are cohesive and encourage your readers to stay a while. Remember your design is the first thing they see. Never underestimate the power of a nice photograph and a nice layout. I can help you with this one- Please visit my Custom Blog Art page Click HERE
How important are the photos?
Photos do play a huge part of any blog. Have clear focused photos. Remember to add your logo or watermark to your photos with your blog name or copyright information. If you are using a photo that does not belong to you be sure to credit your source and link back. Once you have drawn the reader in with a photo they will read on.
I don’t have an about page, do I need one?
Yes! You MUST have an about page. It matters, I often visit the about page as soon as I land on a new blog. It lets you know the blogger behind the blog. It’s like opening the curtains to let the light in. Be honest, be humble, and be truthful. Your readers will appreciate it.
Should I join a Blog Hop ( link party)?
Blog hops/ Link Parties- are a great way to share your blog and grow your readership. Just remember the hop golden rules.
Thank your hostesses in the comment section
and visit at least two of the blogs before you on the list.
I invite you to join my weekly Hop, Thursday Favorite Things blog hop link party
I don’t have any social links, do I need them?
Social networking is a great help in the world of blogging, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, Pinterest, Facebook, and other social sites help you connect with like-minded people. This allows you to introduce your blog on a larger scale. Warning, social networking is a time sucker, seriously you will jump on to Pinterest at 9 am and then your stomach starts growling and reminds you that three hours have gone and it’s time for lunch. So pick the ones you like the most and concentrate on them first. I use a kitchen timer to remind me to move on after 30-45 minutes. Make sure your social icons are easy for your readers to find. Join some online blogging groups or other social network groups too.
I follow blogs but they don’t follow me back should I stop following them?
If you are following the blogs because you enjoy their content then just look forward to your blog visits. 50 percent of blogs will follow you when they see a new comment or new face on their post. DO NOT ask someone to follow you just because you follow them. You want them to follow you because you share something they want to read, learn or experience through you. Never leave your blog URL in a comment! Search engines including google may flag the blog as SPAM.
I don’t have very many subscribers, how do I get more?
Be Patient your readers will grow as your blog grows. It takes a while before someone who enjoys your blog will become a subscriber. Readers often want to “try the dress on before they buy it”. So just continue to share good content and they will find you. Add your blog post/posts to link parties too. It will get your blog seen and your visitors should increase.
I get weird comments that don’t make any sense or are anonymous. What should I do?
Moderate, moderate, moderate your comments! Don’t allow comments to post immediately. You must moderate; this will help eliminate spam, trolls, and rude comments. I also suggest using a spam filter program, I use Akismet, but there are many to choose from. I strongly and I mean strongly, recommend moderating your comments. The delete button is your friend.
Should I use captchas for comments?
Ugh..don’t use captchas, they can be frustrating and discouraging for readers and may actually stop them from leaving comments. Please see moderate above.
I don’t get very many comments on my blog, am I doing something wrong?
Comments yes, they make us happy. But, did you know only 5-10 percent of your blog readers will leave a comment? Do not judge your reach by how many comments you have. Many may read and few may comment. Engage your readers, ask questions, make your blog post interactive, and provide something for them to respond to within your content. Respond to comments as often as possible. Respect your readers.
Do I need a domain name or can I use my wordpress.com or blogspot.com name?
Blogspot, tumbler, WordPress, they all have ways to add a domain URL. Owning a domain is relatively inexpensive (approximately $10-$25). A domain name that includes your blog name is perfect. It helps brand your blog and readers will legitimize it. Try and stay away from blog names that include your blog host name.
You have a policies page, do I need one?
Yes, there are free sites that have templates for blog policies. It is especially important to have policies and disclosures if you plan to do product reviews. At the very least use this, “Your Blog Name Here “may receive compensation for reviews, endorsements, and advertising. However, no compensation will influence the outcome of any review or product endorsement. This is posted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
My blog doesn’t show up when I search, any tips?
List Your Blog On Search Engines google, bing and yahoo
you can list your blog on google click HERE
on yahoo click HERE
and on Bing click HERE
It takes time for the crawlers to find you. So blog consistently and use SEO ( search engine optimization) titles. Remember you are just getting started. Do not, and I mean DO NOT, compare your blog to another, especially a blog that has been around for a while.
Lastly, it’s a blog, not your life. Move away from your computer, live your life, then sit down and share it with us. We look forward to reading about it.
Happy Blogging!
Wait there’s more!
How To Set Up Giveaways Click HERE
How To Set Up A Blog Hop Click HERE
The Technical Stuff Explained Click HERE
The Business of Blogging Click HERE
Selling Ad Space On Your Blog Click HERE
Blogging Etiquette Click HERE
Pinterest and your Blog Click HERE
Dear Blog Click Here