13+ Crucial New Blogger Tips and Strategies
After receiving endless emails and messages from new bloggers about discouragement, exhaustion, confusion, and overwhelm, I couldn’t help but to write you a love and encouragement letter full of new blogger tips.
These blogging tips are categorized and simplified so that you can follow along without any confusion and overwhelm.
Realizing it was more of an epidemic occurrence than just the minority, I felt I wanted to address some topics that could potentially set you free from your doubts and fears as a new blogger.
Full-time bloggers are one of the most dedicated, resilient human beings I’ve ever met. However, along with that title comes great responsibility which can quickly make things difficult to handle. Especially, when life inevitably interferes.
Children, house chores, full-time jobs, loved ones…. all require a piece of us, and spreading ourselves too thin can result in discouragement and overwhelm.
I am not sure if the following words are way overdue or if I have written them at the precise moment. It is funny how life works sometimes.
There is such great pleasure when you find yourself in the right place, at the right time, as I wish nothing more than this being the case for you.
So if you have found yourself lately sitting in front of your computer screen as a new blogger, not knowing what to do next or in what direction to take your blog in, don't you worry my fried.
Here are all the blogging for beginner tips you need to help you get through the rough spots and tackle areas you have recently found challenging.
NEW BLOGGER TIPS
1. Why start a blog?
Starting a blog could be one of the best decisions you will ever make.
With blogging you have the potential to make a considerable amount of money from the comfort of your home (or any part of the word really). In addition, it provides you with the flexibility to set your own hours and manage your own time.
As a stay-at-home mom of two kids, blogging has been heaven sent. However, it has taken a lot of work and grit to get two blogs off the ground.
Related Article: Should I Start a Blog? Here's All You Need to Know
But, first things first…
2. How do you start a blog?
Starting a blog from scratch can feel challenging and overwhelming, specially if you don't have any computer background.
That is why I created this FREE 7-day “How to Start a Money Making Blog” email course.
It will walk you through all the important aspects of starting a blog, such as choosing a hosting provider and selecting your domain name.
As well as other important cornerstones such as getting traffic to your site and how to make money blogging.
3. Finding Your Niche
Another big question amongst new bloggers is “how do I find what to write about”?
I want you to understand that it is okay to make changes along the way and evolve as you get to know your audience, and you gain more knowledge and experience.
Love and Paper Flowers started as an inspirational (“love”), DIY (“paper flowers”) blog. I wanted to create a place I could encourage others and teach how to make craft projects and offer some words of encouragement.
I quickly realized that my niche wasn't going to take me where I wanted to go financially and crafting is very time-consuming (time of the day I didn't really have).
I immediately fell in love with everything blogging. I started investing in blogging resources for beginner bloggers from the start and implementing the strategies I was learning.
Eventually, I also started implementing my own strategies and putting them to the test.
As I began to see the incredible positive response unraveling before my eyes, I couldn't help but to pick up and run with it.
Currently my blog is dedicated to empowering women find their own voice through profitable blogging and social media strategies.
However, I am happy to say that the love and encouragement part has still remained my mission. And since then I have created another blog which I also love called Lovely Momhood.
I was able to adapt, change, and meet half way between not only what I love to blog about, but what is time efficient and what makes more sense for me financially speaking.
Now, let's go over the most common new blogger niche questions and concerns.
4. Is my niche over-saturated?
ABSOLUTELY!! They all are.
However, that should not stop you.
Only YOU can give the world YOUR gift, nobody else can do that. You have something different to offer because you are your own person, and I know for a fact you can and will find your own audience.
5. How to find your niche as a new blogger?
What do you know a lot about?
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be passionate enough to be able to provide valuable information on a particular subject(s). Mix things up with your opinion and experiences.
Don’t spread yourself too thin on a niche, but don’t wander off to blog about 10 different things at the same time where you lose your identity. Ideally, all of your blogging topics should fall under the same umbrella.
A good example is having a parenting blog that focuses on maternity, homeschooling, and kids crafts.
A not so good example would be having a blog about photography, dog treats, and sailboats.
6. New blogger questions to consider
- Is it time efficient?
- Is it, or will it make you money?
- Are there a lot of people out there interested in what you are trying to promote?
- Who’s your ideal reader?
- Who are you writing to?
- Who do you want to attract?
- Is it something you feel passionate about?
Don’t worry about over-saturation. All niches are over-saturated.
However, that isn't the problem, there are enough followers in this world for everyone.
Better question is, what makes you stand out from the rest?
Don't be afraid to add your unique touch, your personality, and your spin on things. It is only then that you will find your tribe.
Build your brand, network, be yourself, get the word out there…. and they will follow.
Create an “About” page and include who you are, what your message is, and what they can expect to learn when they are on your site.
Be honest and heartfelt, it adds warmth and a human touch to words on a computer screen. Adding a picture can also help readers connect with you and your message.
7. Dealing with information overload
OK let's face it! Blogging terminology and it's processes are a world of their own. Just like in medicine there is medical terminology, so is there in blogging.
What in the heavens in a sales funnel? Why does shadow banning sounds like something that would happen in scary movie? And metadata might as well be an intergalactic robot sent to space by NASA!
Yes, I've been there. As a new blogger I've pulled my hairs out in the past and I've shut my computer closed for days in utter frustration.
But, lucky for you something great what came out of that. Here are my most important blogging tips for “new blogger information overload”:
- Pick one specific thing to focus on at a time. Study it, understand it, and move on.
- Trying to do too much can sometimes lead to doing less. When you try to tackle too many projects at once, your focus is compromised affecting your performance. Again, simplify.
- Do short intervals of studying, then shorty after apply what you learned. Hands-on practice is the best practice.
- Googling information can be dangerous. Make sure you keep in mind the reason for your search and don't deviate from that goal. If something else catches you eye in the search process, write it down for another time. Virtual rabbit holes are can drive you mad!
…And, if you would like to save yourself months of overwhelming research and frustration and would like to instead focus on growing and monetizing your blog, I recommend you take a look at Blogcabulary Plus: The Ultimate Blogging Terminology, Reference, and Resource Book.
Blogcabulary Plus has all of the blogging terminology and blogging processes you will ever come across in your blogging journey all in one place. It is also packed with new blogger tips and strategies to help grow your blog.
Plus, popular services, tools, resources, and important blogging how-to's.
8. Learn how to use Pinterest
Learn how to use Pinterest for your new blog.
Circulate your pins through your Pinterest Group Boards using Tailwind for optimal results. That will draw a massive amount of traffic to your site.
Pinterest accounts for about 70% of my traffic on any given day. If you are not using Pinterest already or need help with a Pinterest strategies, check out the best Pinterest Courses for bloggers.
For best Pinterest traffic results create content often and try to create new Pins daily (for old and new posts). Here are great Pinterest templates that will allow you to do that without losing your sanity.
In addition, here are 13 Pinterest tips that will help you get more engagement and blog traffic.
9. Learn how to use SEO
Learn all that you can about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) from the start. DO NOT, skip this step! That will ensure your blog traffic isn't at the mercy of social media traffic and their ever-changing algorithm.
Instead, your content will start ranking in Google search results and bringing you organic (free) traffic for years to come.
10. Grow and nurture your audience
Make it a priority as new blogger to learn about email marketing from the start.
In addition, learning how to grow your email list will help you build a community faster, who would subsequently, turn to clients and customers.
Convertkit (the email marketing company of my choice) makes it extremely easy to build and nurture an overgrowing email list. Here is a 30-day free trial if you want to give it a go.
Join Facebook Groups for bloggers to promote your content. Learn how to use Facebook Groups to maximize their potential, thus helping your blog grow.
Find a mastermind group and/or your accountability partner. By finding a small group of like-minded individuals you can bounce ideas off each other and can help one another learn and grow.
Same goes for an accountability partner. It doesn't matter the time, or the day, or in what kind of blogging mental breakdown state you are in (haha), you can always count on your accountability partners to come through.
They keep you on your toes and they make you, well.. accountable. This kind of support is priceless!
11. How to make money blogging?
There are many ways to make money blogging.
The best new blogger tip I have for you is to establish a few of these methods below to ensure multiple revenue streams.
Learn all you can about affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money blogging as a new blogger. You can even make money on Pinterest by using affiliate marketing.
Sponsored posts
Reach to companies that you can work with. You can do so on your own or sign up with a third-party company such as Linquia and Izea. Work on creating a following first, then make a media kit.
A media kit is a document you present to companies you want to work with. This usually contains your social stats, blog stats, what you charge, etc.
Consider media kits as a bloggers resume. Many opt to buy Media Kit templates that match their brand and that look professional since it will be presented to important companies in hope of a partnership.
I believe most companies will ask to see your media kit which will determine whether or not they will want to work with you.
Don’t think for a minute that you must be the Kim Kardashian of blogging to get noticed by companies.
Many companies cater to smaller bloggers and micro-influencers. You lose noting by pitching to companies you love and would like to work with. You will never know if you don’t try. Just be confident and assertive. If you don’t knock, the door won’t open.
Tracie Richmond Fobes has a great course called Sponsored Success if you are interest in getting started with sponsored content.
Electronic products
Come up with your own eProduct. Talk about passive income heaven for years to come!!!!
What do I mean by eProducts? Any electronic product you can make such writing and ebook, creating a course, designing printables, etc.
Many new blogger shy way from this idea because they simply don't know where to even begin or find it too intimidating. But the truth is, that is more attainable that you think!
How about an eBook!!! Yes my friend, an eBook!! Yessssss, you can do it. Wouldn't that be fabulous?! Putting all of your knowledge onto paper.
Blogcabulary Plus was my very first eProduct and thanks to that I have monthly passive income trickling in.
Great resources to walk you step by step through thr process of product creation are:
- Course creation: Course by Number by Suzi Whitford
- eBook creation: eBook Bestseller Bootcamp by Ana Sauvica (use promo code: EBB20OFF at checkout to receive a special $20 discount)
For more info in the power of eProducts read this article! It's all about the eBook writing process, and these 4 incredibly successful ladies who have done it. I really want you to consider it.
Ads
Insert ads on your site. The best paying ad companies requires a minimum views per months. So, make sure you focus on learning SEO and mastering Pinterest first!
Freelance
Do some freelance work. To learn all about freelancing I recommend Write Your Way to Your First 1k by Elna Cain.
Physical products
Come up with your own physical products and open up an Etsy shop!
In other words…. Think. Be creative. Look around and borrow ideas. Hustle!!
12. Focus on time management
I know firsthand how hard it is to focus on building a blog/ business with all the daily responsibilities (kids, chores, work, etc.).
With that said, new blogger tip #1: consistency is key!
Buy a paper planner.
On the “month outlook” of the planner write down all the things you want to get done that month. Then on the “weekly outlook” of the calendar sort things out by priority on a day-to-day basis.
As each week passes, check what you were able to complete, and move over to the following week what you didn't have time to finish.
Proper time management will help you stay focused on the bigger picture. It will provide you with both structure and flexibility for a more realistic approach on things.
Try to use social schedulers to put some tasks on autopilot. That is why Tailwind is my lifesaver! You can try it for yourself, with this special free 30-day trial.
Note: If you need help with creating a blog plan and blog schedule, this tutorial will teach you how to set a 1-year blogging goals list and break them down into actionable (daily/weekly/monthly) blogging tasks.
13. So, what should I focus on first as new blogger?
1. Content creation focusing on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and affiliate marketing.
2. Be consistent with Pinterest so that you can start getting some traction to your affiliate links.
3. Email list building and marketing.
Remember to create a weekly game plan depending on your available time and stick to it. That is the best way to tackle all three aspects and focus on one task at a time.
★ Related Articles:
- The Ultimate Blog Planning and Scheduling Tutorial (Daily/Weekly/Monthly)
- 7 Priority Blogging Tasks with the Highest ROI (Traffic and Money)
Final new blogger tips
You have a gift. A God-given gift with a unique finger print, don't ever doubt your potential. Push forward! You can do it! For yourself. For your children.
Don't be afraid to fail. When a door closes, don't feel like a failure. Keep your head high so you don't miss the other 3 doors God has opened instead. The promise doors.
Stir away from analysis paralysis. It happens as a result of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation to the point where that decision or action is never taken. And in effect, paralyzes the outcome. If that seems like you, TODAY you break free!
I believe in you. Take a chance. Take a risk. The reward can be mind-blowing. If not, the experience will be valuable so that when you try again you can get it right.
Believe in yourself despite of your circumstances. When a bird stands on a tree branch it is never afraid that the branch will break, because it doesn't put the trust in the branch, but chooses instead to trust in the power of its own wings.
Don't be afraid of investing in your knowledge and your future.
To be a nurse I invested thousands of dollars. If this is your career now, make it count! Equip yourself with the best blogging tools and resources to get you to where you want to be financially in the fastest time possible.
Learn, read, ask questions, do, watch tutorial, read again, and then read some more. There is A LOT to learn, and that is okay, just always continue rising even if it's slowly. In either instance you are bound to reach the top.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge is money!
Don't give up. Never give up! As long as there is life, there is hope.
YOU got this… And TODAY WE RISE!!!
And with that I leave you.
I know it's a lot of info. Take a minute. Reflect and take action. Whatever you decide, believe you can do it….. AND YOU WILL!!!
Remember:
Whether you think you can, or you can't, you are right. -Henry Ford
