Today I have 3 tips on how I keep blogging regularly. I’ve been blogging for five years and my schedule developed rather intuitively … it just feels right, and it works for me.
*Blogging Bits and Bytes” newsletter subscribers will have already received this information, as well as a free Lightroom Template (for personal use only).
*free Lightroom template for current subscribers
I read a few interesting posts and comments generated by the first newsletter I sent. One that caught my attention was from Petra of Sharing my Reflections. A certain subject was brought up in the comments, and Petra answered with something I’ve always thought but never had the courage to say! Here it is:
Susan, thank you for the praise. Once I read somewhere that a blogger should never start their post saying they are sorry for not posting that long and I heartily agree with that. I also used to think I should apologize when posting after longer time than usually but I’ve changed my attitude. Firstly, I would have to apologize all the time, and secondly, it’s really annoying when you read these apologies on other blogs, exactly as you’ve mentioned. We all have our lives, not just the blogging, right?
Petra
Oh my goodness … every time someone apologizes I cringe, which I why I sneakily wrote in my first newsletter “You are the boss of your blog. NO apologies OK?” I didn’t have the nerve to say what not to apologize about. Ha! that was it! Thank you Petra.
My schedule is quite loose. There have been weeks where I’ve blogged every day, and a (very) few where I haven’t blogged at all … yikes! So I did a quick calculation (keep in mind I’m not a genius mathematician) but so far this year I’ve averaged 3 posts per week. Interesting, because I start to feel uncomfortable if I don’t get at least one post up during the week as well as one on Sunday. So my gut tells me 3 posts per week is best, 2 is OK.
So here are my top three tips on how I continue to blog regularly:
- Every post does not have to be a blockbuster. You don’t have to write a novel, a poem, be wise, or have secret inside information every single time! No. A simple “hello, here’s what I was up to last week, and here’s a pretty photo to go with it” will be enough most of the time. One week I wrote 5 posts about a trip we took. Not earth-shattering, but I now have a journal of that trip which is part of what my blog is about. Remembering my life.
- Create a series. It’s a great way to keep on track. It could be weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. But it’s something. And it doesn’t have to last forever and ever. If after a few weeks you find interest is flagging, perhaps it’s time to switch gears. Go with it. I’ve had several series that ended, and at first I felt it was a failure. Not. In fact, I now start a series with the end in mind.
- Create one big post every so often. Put as much effort into it as possible. It could be a crafty tutorial, a behind-the-scenes description of a photo shoot, a recipe … teach your readers something! Then, after you hit publish, start promoting it. I tweet it, post it to Facebook, Pinterest, and sometimes Instagram. I also have a list of blogs I link up with when they have their parties (but remember, you should only link a project once.) Then I keep promoting it. If I have a post that seems to resonate with people, I’ll promote it weekly as well as yearly (if it’s seasonal.) Just because a post is a year old, doesn’t mean it’s not relevant. It most likely is. My 5 Wardrobe Ideas (for Women of a Certain Age) has been popular, so I’ve already pinned my “pin-worthy” image more than once.
Just a note on #3. Why bother to promote? I do not get tons of traffic, and I am not making money on my blog, so why would I bother to promote a post? The short answer is that it’s fun! and it’s encouraging! When I see that my stats have gone up on a certain day, I feel good about it … new people are finding my blog, and hopefully liking it enough to return.
#3 is how I grow my readership, and you never know who is watching! I’ve had a few sponsored posts by some great companies and I enjoyed the attention and the little bit of merchandise that came with it. A few (bigger) bloggers have come across my blog, liked my stuff, and promoted it on their site. Recently one of my favourite magazines noticed my blog, and now I have an article in the upcoming winter issue of Artful Blogging (my heart and head bursts with that one!)
Everyone says they are not about lots of readers … that’s fine, but we want some right? But don’t stress about numbers. Enjoy them … big, small, huge, minuscule, medium. One new reader is one new reader.
So, have you ever written a “big post”? one that teaches? Did you promote it in some way to grow your readership?
If so, how’d you do it? I’d love to hear! I’ve created an Inlinkz link-up on the “Blogging Bits and Bytes” page if you want to link any posts related to to this series.
I hope this will encourage you to define what blogging regularly means for you, and then to become comfortable with it. Your schedule will be different than mine, and you need to decide what works for you. It may be one post a week, it may be five. But it’s your blog so don’t apologize!
I’m off to do a bit of promoting …
#BlogShareLearn at Living With Batman
Congratulations on being in Artful Blogging! That is so wonderful! I bet your heart is bursting. :) Thank you for all of your blogging wisdom today. I felt like I should have apologized after my very long summer break, I didn’t actually say the words… but I kinda did. I am glad you told us we don’t need to apologize and we are the boss of our blog. That gives me freedom to be me and not fit into a ‘blog’ mold. Although…sometimes I do feel like I am the only one who doesn’t know what they are doing. :) I really have not had what I consider a ‘big’ blog post…so… I think my assignment is to create one.
Hi Michelle, thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments – it’s always so encouraging to get support. You have an amazing blog, full of beautiful images and wonderful suggestions. I’d say you do very much know what you are doing!
Since posting for our first prompt I am finding my rhythm again which is giving me purpose. Our second prompt (which I’ll be linking) does not have a lot of text nor any instruction but focuses on my effort behind choosing the photos I wanted to share to tell a story of autumn. It’s a beautiful season in Ontario, my favourite.
I like the idea of doing a big post every so often and that will fill the void I have from not writing gardening articles for publications any more.
Congratulations on being featured in Artful Blogging for the winter issue, I have a little something coming up in the spring issue with them. How they found my blog is beyond me but you are right, you never know who is reading your posts or will come over to visit after leaving a comment elsewhere.
Thank you for leading our blogging series Barb, I’m being inspired by your guidance.
Oh, that is so great to hear you are finding your rhythm once again, Judith! and many congrats on your feature in the spring issue – that is SO exciting and it really is a confidence booster! Thank you of for being part of this series and for linking up!
Congratulations on being featured in “Artful Blogging.” It just happens to be one of my favorite magazines. I read it slowly from cover to cover making it last until the next one is available. I can’t wait to read your article! Enjoyed today’s post. Other than my regular Sunday post I try to post at least once more each week. I don’t do much promoting other than on Facebook.
Thank you, Cathy! Artful Blogging is an amazing and beautiful magazine and I pore over it as well. Sounds like you have found your blogging rhythm!
Oh many congrats on being in Artful Blogging, I love that magazine and have been so happy to see many of the bloggers I’ve loved over the years be featured in it. What a exciting time for you!
I love the hints and tips that you are giving Barb, they are down to earth and practical and easily applied.
Jen
Barb, first of all, thank you for adding the ling for our post prompts and your relating posts, it’s great to have it all gathered in that one place. I was thrilled to see that also Judith has added her link and hopefully others will follow. Such great inspiration.
Finding my comment quoted here came as a complete surprise! :) I think many (or even) most of us feel in that way, just want to be polite and don’t comment on the apologies…
You are an active blogger working diligently on your blog and having a lot to offer. Congratulations on being featured in the Artful Blogging magazine, you surely deserve it! I’d love to publish a post a week alternatively on both of my blogs so it would be a post a fortnight on each of them. I haven’t been able to fulfil that schedule yet but I intend to aim at it.
I promote my posts via the followers’ links on my blogs and via Facebook but I’d like to try that Pinterest idea. I’m on Pinterest but I’ve never used it for promoting my work, perhaps it’s time to start. I don’t think I can teach anybody anything but I’ll try to come up with something interesting what I could write the “big post” about. I’m actually looking forward to that process! Thanks for the template and the inspiration.
PS I don’t know whether you read my reply to your comment on my blog so I want to let you know that after discussion with my husband I’ve changed those twenty years of experience in my post for fifteen which seems a better estimate, I’m sorry for the confusion. Fortunately time doesn’t flow that fast! :)
Hi Petra! I’m glad you like the link-up and I do hope others link as well. I so appreciate your participation and I look forward to following you on your blog. Oh, and 20 years or 15 … still a lot of years and experience – bravo to you!!
Hi Barb, encouraged by the prompt I created a behind-the-scene description of how I processed one of my recent still-life photos. I added a link on your page with the blogging series and promoted the post on Facebook and Pinterest. I just regret I could’t use the template you provided as it didn’t suit the needed format. I’m sure though that it will be useful some other time. Have a nice day!
Hi Barb,
thank you very much for this post with important informations. I agree with you in all points.
I also blogging over 5 years and by intuition I do the same.
Have a great weekend, Barb.
Best regards, Synnöve
Hi Synnöve! so nice to hear from you! and congrats on blogging regularly – your blog is awesome!
Barb
I am really enjoying reading your information about Blogging. I have no idea how you manage to do it all. The blogging. The photography. And everything else.
Ann
Thank you Ann! xo
Thanks for the tips – these are great. Love your photos!
Thank you Melody!
Hi,
You don’t get a lot of traffic but big blogs link to you and advertisers use you and give you free stuff? Maybe “not a lot of traffic” is relevant. I like to think my traffic is decent, but those things never happened to me! Congratulations!
Janice
#blogsharelearn
Hi Janice … I guess it’s all relative … I don’t feel like my numbers are high but yes, I’ve had a handful of sponsored posts and a few “shout-outs” from other blogs. There are a lot of caring and helpful bloggers out there and I’m always amazed at their generosity! Thank you so much for your support and for stopping by!
Wow! Thank you for the inspiration… I have also been blogging for 5 years. I post 3 times a weeks… I make things out of vintage and repurposed finds. I feel a whole lot of pressure to blog. To come up with a rockin’ post every time…. It never occurred to me that I can relax a little….I post 3 times a week but it all doesn’t need to be a major project… I do monetize my blog so I feel pressure to do great things but I never think about just writing to write and post some thoughts of the day instead of feeling so much pressure to be awesome ever time…. thanks for making me feel like I can relax a little :)
Hi Susan! Thank you for your thoughts … I think things must change when a person monetizes their blog. That’s something I have no real experience with but I can imagine the pressure. Bravo to you – I admire your work and I think it’s fabulous to be able to earn some money while doing what you love. My daughter has monetized her blog and contributes to her family income too – I’m so very proud of her for that! I do know that she will, from time-to-time, relax and post a small personal post. I think it is refreshing to see.
Wonderful tips Barb! I love coming to visit.
Thank you Diana!
Your tips are so timely for me, Barb, as I am trying hard to get into a routine with my blogging after a difficult couple of years. I totally agree that we shouldn’t apologise for lack of posts and you have confirmed what I’ve been trying to tell myself….that above all my blog is for me; a record of things in my life.
Just want to add that your blog is a constant source of inspiration……no wonder you are in Artful Blogging! Congratulations :-)
Hi Linda, I’m so happy to see you here, and I always love visiting your beautiful blog. Thank you so much for your kind comments and support!
Gosh Barb, what a wonderful post! I used to apologize if I’d been absent for some time, but I stopped doing that a while back. I’d read that very statement someplace.
Congratulations on your article in Artful Blogging! I LOVE that magazine and check out all the site links in it as well.
Your blog is so full of timely information and have enjoyed reading your blogging bits!
I thank-you for your tips! My blog is a work in progress and a huge learning curve.
Congratulations on being featured in Artful Blogging! I follow you on Facebook and adore your photos so I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for the inspiration
How wonderful to see your incredible talents being recognized Barb. Congratulations on another fabulous accomplishment!
Your blog and images are so beautiful and as a complete floundering “newbie” to the blogging world, I can’t thank you enough for all of the wonderful blogging bits and bites you’re sharing. Thanks for the inspiration and insight!