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INTRODUCTION
I love blogging. I started blogging to share my insights into building wealth beyond the wedding, and I’ve had a blast over the last 6 months. I’ve learned so much from other blogger’s journeys and feel that it is an excellent outlet for creativity. And, many people have become millionaires with their blogs! Blogging is an exciting journey, but it has challenges and learning curves. After six months of blogging, I’ve discovered valuable lessons and tips I wish I knew when I started. Whether new to blogging or looking for insights to refine your craft, these lessons and tools can help.
1. BLOGGING TAKES COMMITMENT AND A POWERFUL “WHY”
Blogging requires time, effort, and consistency. It is a type of hobby, but it takes dedication. And blogging is not something you see profit from immediately. You may not make any money at all for the first 6 months. So, you need a huge “WHY” for blogging. You have to enjoy what you are writing about to stay committed.
Set aside weekly time to write, edit, and promote your content. You have to make time for it and discover tools that help you make things easier. The commitment is worth it. I get to blog about things I enjoy: the beauty of weddings and the incredible power of wealth to create the life you hope for. Choosing to stay disciplined and enjoying the journey makes staying committed easier.
2.LISTEN TO QUALITY TEACHERS AND INVEST IN YOUR BLOG
The best surprise I’ve learned from blogging over 6 months is how supportive the blogging community is. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, just listen to successful people. Find bloggers who align with your goals and learn from their experiences. Invest in courses and follow experts who offer actionable advice and proven strategies. Free resources are great, but don’t fear paying for quality information to improve your blog.
Whether through online courses, webinars, or blog posts, investing the time to learn from quality teachers can save time and faster results. The teachers who helped me the most over the last 6 months are all bloggers who have inspired and supported others by blogging. These incredible women have inspired me in this process, and I believe they can inspire anyone in their blogs and Facebook community.
- Amira from A Self Guru: A brilliant lawyer who not only has incredible legal templates to protect your blog or online business, but shares her wisdom to help you in every aspect of your business. In addition, She also has a legal store where you can shop for various legal templates for any online business, whether blogging, coaching, sponsorships, etc. And, she has a helpful Facebook group where you can ask questions as well as a free legal guide to help you get your blog or business ready legally and stay up to date.
- Ling from FinSavvy Panda: Ling understands what it means to be a beginner blogger. She created a thorough, affordable, step-by-step e-book for starting your blog on Bluehost, which makes your blog look more professional and functional. Ling also developed easy-to-use templates for making Pinterest pins to get you started and feel less overwhelmed. She is an inspiration for how commitment to blogging can transform your life.
- Michelle from Making Sense of Cents: Michelle was one of the first personal finance bloggers I followed back in 2011, and her success is inspiring. Not only does she share her experiences with how to save and grow wealth, but she also has something for everyone at any level to become successful with blogging. From her free resources to how to start a blog to her helpful step-by-step free affiliate marketing resource or her full Affiliate Marketing Course, she is committed to getting your blogging business successful. She is helpful when you contact her, especially on her private Facebook community for her Affiliate Marketing Course. If you want to know how to monetize your blog, her Affiliate Marketing Course is a must at any stage in your blogging journey.
3. HAVING A ROUTINE FOR WRITING YOUR BLOG POSTS
Creating a routine makes it easier to stay committed to blogging. It ensures you’re consistently working toward your goals without feeling overwhelmed. For example, dedicate specific days for brainstorming, writing, editing, and scheduling posts. Having a routine helps you avoid procrastination and makes it easier to stay committed to blogging. Here is the routine that I developed over the last 6 months.
- Getting up 1 hour earlier during the week to edit the blog posts and create pins for Pinterest.
- Take notes on my notes app for blog ideas.
- Write a blog post on Saturday and review it.
- Read posts silently.
- Read the post out loud.
- Check for grammar.
- Review for spelling (backward).
- Check spacing.
- Look at the preview option for how it will look online.
- Review and edit blog posts in 24-48 hours before posting.
Over time, these habits will feel natural, and you’ll stay on track more effortlessly.
4. TAKE NOTES WHEN INSPIRED
Having content to publish regularly is essential for building your blog and keeping it relevant. Because I work full-time, I only have time to write, review, and publish one blog post weekly. However, I get ideas for the blog regularly and get excited about writing. Several bloggers recommend keeping some resources to keep ideas for blog posts so you can do so quickly when you are ready to write about it. Keep a notebook or app handy to jot down thoughts, headlines, or concepts as they come. These notes can become the foundation for future blog posts.
5. HAVE A PLAN FOR BLOGGING CONTENT EACH MONTH
Planning your content saves time and stress. Write based on monthly themes and develop a clear vision for your blog. Create a calendar to map out topics and posting schedules. Each month, I started focusing on a theme for the month and wrote a blog post each week based on that theme. For any other topic I was inspired by, I wrote about it in the note section for my phone. Then, when I was ready for that topic, I could easily pull up the outline from my phone to write about.
By focusing on a theme for the month, I could then reference the blogs in other blog posts to create a cohesiveness to my blog. Plus, it is fun to start linking other content in your blog from things you made. A monthly blog theme keeps you organized and ensures your content remains aligned with your audience’s needs.
6. CREATE A PLAN FOR LEARNING BLOGGING OVER THE YEAR RATHER THAN ALL AT ONCE
Don’t try to master each subject for your blog, SEO, affiliate marketing, content creation, and social media all at once. Focus on one area at a time. This approach prevents burnout and allows you to develop more profound skills in key areas. It was helpful to focus on one thing about blogging over 3 months to learn it well and apply it to my blog. For example, I focused on learning Pinterest using Ling’s from FinSavvy Panda’s Pinterest course for about 3 months. Then, I used Making Sense of Cents' fabulous resources including this Affiliate Marketing Course for the last 3 months of the year. Building a blog is a step-by-step process, and planning throughout the year helps you pave yourself.
7. TREAT YOUR BLOG LIKE A BUSINESS
Your blog may be a hobby you enjoy, but it is a business. Treat your blog as a business from the start to see real success if you hope to become profitable. Thinking of your blog as a business means keeping your personal and blogging finances separate by opening a dedicated bank account for your blog. I personally used Capital One, but any FDIC ensured bank will work. It also includes creating a separate email address to handle blog-related communications professionally.
In addition, get quality legal templates or consult a professional to ensure your blog complies with regulations and avoids potential issues. For instance, privacy policies and disclaimers are essential to protect you and build trust with your audience. Investing in quality legal resources early on can save you from costly mistakes. I cannot explain enough how Amira from A Self Guru and her quality legal blogger templates help give me more peace of mind for my blog, and I know she can help you protect your blog and business, too.
8. INVEST IN TOOLS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR BLOG
Creating a routine and using the right tools helps you stay committed to your blog. For example, AI can streamline your workflow by generating ideas, proofreading, and even drafting posts. While it’s not a substitute for your unique voice, AI can handle repetitive tasks and free up your time to focus on creativity and strategy. Here are the top 10 tools for my blog that have helped me in the last 6 months.
- Bluehost: An easy-to-use hosting platform that simplifies the technical setup of your blog. It is beginner-friendly and offers affordable packages to suit new bloggers. I talked about using Bluehost when I started my blog. Their fantastic customer support provides step-by-step assistance to ensure your blog is live and running smoothly.
- FinSavvy Panda Blog Course: As discussed earlier, this resource is excellent for setting up your Bluehost account on WordPress. I set up my blog while reading this affordable e-book. This course offers a step-by-step guide to starting your blog on Bluehost and setting it up for success. It’s beneficial for beginners who feel overwhelmed by the technical and strategic aspects of blogging.
- Canva: A user-friendly platform to create eye-catching pins, charts, and infographics for your blog. Canva offers countless pictures, graphics, templates, and design tools that make your visuals look professional, even if you’re not a designer. It’s a must-have for creating shareable and engaging graphics. FinSavvy Panda also has pin templates for Pinterest to use with Canva to get a head start on Pinterest. She also has an e-book on how to use Pinterest for your blogging, which is easy to use while creating pins.
- Tailwind: This tool saves time by making bulk posting to places like Pinterest months in advance. It also connects you with a community of bloggers to share your content and grow your reach. In addition, Tailwind’s analytics help you track what works so you can refine your blogging strategy.
- Grammarly: This AI editor improves your writing by catching grammar and style errors. It’s like having an editor while you write to help you create high-quality posts. Grammarly lets you polish your blog posts, ensuring they’re error-free and professional. The premium version also provides advanced suggestions to enhance clarity and tone.
- ChatGPT: A versatile tool for brainstorming, drafting blog posts, and refining ideas. ChatGPT is excellent for overcoming writer’s block, generating fresh perspectives, and speeding up the content creation process. It’s like having a brainstorming partner at your fingertips.
- UserWay: Ensures your blog complies with ADA requirements, making your content accessible to everyone. Accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s also about inclusivity. UserWay’s tools help make your blog readable and navigable for a wider audience for an affordable price. And, their helpful customer service can walk you through their tools and website.
- Blogger Templates From A Self Guru: Affordable and reliable legal templates that provide peace of mind for your blogging business. Amira’s templates cover everything from the top 3 legal templates every blog needs to affiliate disclosures and AI, ensuring you’re legally protected.
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Course: An in-depth course that teaches you how to monetize your blog. It walks you through the steps and types of affiliate marketing, from choosing the right programs to promoting them in a way that benefits your audience. There is also a free e-book to get you started with your affiliate marketing journey with examples, interviews, and success stories.
- Pretty Links: Powerful tool for bloggers that shortens long URLs, making them cleaner, more attractive, and easier to share. Pretty Links saves time by quickly creating and managing affiliate links, redirect links, and branded URLs for your blog.
9. IMPERFECTION IS PART OF THE PROCESS
Many bloggers worry their work isn’t good enough, but the truth is, you’ll learn and improve with each post. It takes courage to hit “publish”, and that courage to be imperfect is part of the journey in blogging. It’s better to do the best you can and publish than to hold back waiting for perfection. Failure and mistakes are part of the learning process. Aim for progress, not perfection, and remember that done is better than perfect.
10. HAVE PATIENCE, BUT ALSO HAVE FUN
You may not see significant traffic or income in the first six months, but that’s okay. Building a successful blog takes time. Focus on creating high-quality content, building connections with your audience and other bloggers, and learning the ropes of blogging. However, having a blog to make money isn’t enough. It takes commitment. Not everyone will like it. But, have fun and enjoy the journey. With patience and persistence, your hard work will eventually pay off, but enjoy the journey along the way.
CONCLUSION
Blogging is a rewarding journey filled with ups and downs. Blogging has given me an outlet for being creative and talking about something I am passionate about. I hope to share with others how to create the wedding of their dreams and build wealth with blogging. The lessons I’ve learned, and the tools I’ve used have made the experience more manageable and enjoyable. Committing to your blog, embracing imperfection, and using resources wisely will set you up for long-term success. I hope these tips help you become successful in the first six months of your blogging journey. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!
IN SUMMARY
Top 10 Lessons I’ve Learned About Blogging For 6 Months
- Blogging takes commitment and a powerful “why” to motivate you.
- Listen to quality teachers and invest in your blog.
- Have a routine for writing your blog.
- Take notes for your blogging content.
- Have a plan for blogging content each month.
- Create a plan to improve your blog over the year.
- Treat your blog like a business.
- Invest in tools to help you and your blog. My top 10 tools for the last 6 months were:
- Imperfection is not the end of the world.
- Have patience but also have fun.
What has helped you the most in the first 6 months of blogging?
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