I don’t want this to come off all contrived and pretentious like I know more than everyone else about blogging. I don’t. Not even close. I haven’t even begun to tackle Word Press and I kind of know what SEO is, but I have no idea how to optimize it.
This is just me talking from the heart and trying to give you some insight as to what has an hasn’t worked for me. How I’ve gotten to this point in the blogging journey. And hopefully it will help you and/or me. I’d love to hear what you have to say about all this stuff and what has/hasn’t worked for you too.
You may ask, what’s the point? I don’t know many bloggers who started out saying I’m going to write so that I can get 1,000 followers ASAP. It doesn’t happen that way, well not to my knowledge. However, numbers matter in the end if you want to get paid, you need to get some sort of tracking in place immediately. Higher numbers = more payoff from ads and better paid post offers and more attention from brands.
I’m on Blogger currently and I use Google Analytics (GA). It’s what I know, even thought I don’t know how it works. Anyone on Blogger with GA can tell you the numbers don’t match. I don’t know why that is. I’ve heard Blogger will count your page views along with your readers, and the GA only tracks actual (non-you) views. The powers at be are still out on this one. Check it:
That’s about a 1,000 view difference on December 23rd. Does anyone know the reason for this? Don’t forget, this is not a keeping up with the Jones situation. Everyone does their own traffic and numbers. I’m just showing this for reference sake as I talk about things. Here’s the real low down for the year of 2012. {I started blogging Sept. 2011}
Also, a question I’ve seen a lot of is how to install GA to your blog. I used to add the tracking code to each individual post. Then Carrie from My Favorite Finds helped me see the light. I added the HTML code to my blog layout so it about tracks every page and my home page views. Way less effort, all the same payoff.
- My first giveaway I paid for the prize and shipping.
- I started asking other bloggers to donate prizes for publicity and promotion. They donated and it was a win-win.
- I started doing paid blog posts (more on this next Thursday), and some of the brands made giveaways part of the post requirements.
- I emailed companies directly, Etsy shops, and Facebook pages for companies asking them to donate to whatever event was going on. The Unique Sweets challenge was the first time I did this and it was scary to ask. Then again the worst that could happen was a no…I got A LOT of yeses!
Rafflecopter makes giveaways SUPER easy. You don’t have to count comments (I don’t have mine numbered, I think that’s a WP option). You can verify entries really easily and announce the winners on the widget. You don’t need to pay for the advanced options if you don’t want to. Just “create your own entry” instead and use links. I heart Rafflecopter. {and they didn’t pay me to say so}
I’m a giveaway slut by the way. I enter them all the time, and I win kind of frequently too. All different sized giveaways. It can happen for you too! Get in there!!
You will have groups of bloggers you click with for different reasons. It’s okay to have niches you rotate through and invite to certain events you are hosting/co-hosting for the right kinds of exposure. Grow. Don’t be shy. You could find your new bloggy bestie. :)
I’ve found a lot more local girls than I ever thought possible by checking out “About” pages. They are a great place to learn more if you were intrigued by a post. And and and…apply for everything that strikes your fancy. You never know when you’ll get picked and what those relationships will turn into.
I had a couple posts go viral starting at the beginning of November and they in turn drove my numbers in GA through the roof, compared to before.
Pin it, love it, make boards. I do recommend keeping your boards organized so what you blog about most is towards the top. You readers click over to get ideas based on your blog. Give them a taste and show them more.
A lot of bloggers will talk about pinning from the source to give credit where credit is due. I’m down with that. However, I didn’t redo every pin I had just for this reason. I rarely repin anymore, and instead I go to to page and use my Pin It button.
A big thing I don’t do that lots of other pinners do – I don’t leave any extra info about the recipe other than the name. I don’t want anyone being swayed by where a recipe came from. A good picture is wonderful, and a delicious sounding recipe name should get a chance…no matter who it was made by. One blog shouldn’t be treated better than the other based on pictures alone. It’s food, and we all had to start somewhere. Use your taste bud’s imagination based on the ingredient list! {Taste buds have an imagination didn’t you know? How do you think food cravings happen?} Hence no source names on the pin title itself.
You were your very first reader, and if you try to write too much for other people you can forget why blogging makes you happy. At the same time, readers expect content on a regular basis. Whatever schedule works for you is great. You don’t have to post everyday of the week. Most bloggers I know post 3 to 5 days per week, and for some one of those posts is their link party.
If you’re starting out, shoot for 1 or 2 posts per week. That’s really plenty in the beginning if you’re consistent. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to everyone else. Do what works for you. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you just can’t do this blogging thing if you’re not realistic. Start small and consistent and expand when you’re ready.
As far as content goes, writing about food is easy for me. There is an endless supply of recipes in the world, and I cook for my family almost everyday. However, there’s The Funk too. Coming up with fresh content is hard. Pinterest is great, but it’s been done if it has been pinned and repinned. It’s good to know where the pin source came from to see if it runs in your blogging circles. My new challenge is recipe development and starting to have more original content rather just tweaks of stuff that’s out there now.
And yes, pictures matter. It’s a cold hard fact. Use natural light whenever you can. That’s a biggie to getting great shots. But that’s a whole other post. I do recommend this book to get your photography skills (food or otherwise) kicked up a notch. It’s written for point-and-shoot (even camera phones) and DSLR. I have Lindsay’s book and love it!
All of my pictures until November 2012 were taken using the camera on my phone. I save pictures for future posts, so you’ll still see a little difference in quality toward the beginning of this year. But there was nothing special I was doing to make pictures happen. I have noticed a major difference in the quality I get with the DSLR I have now.
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Take the plunge if and when you’re ready. Don’ feel pressured to do anything outside your means just to be “in.” I waited over a year since starting the blog to buy one, and serendipity kind of happened to make the purchase possible.
I hope this helps you, and gives a little window into my blogging life behind the computer. I’m always open to guest posters if I feel your content would be a good fit, just ask! I’d love to hear what some big “ah-ha” moments for you were blogging. I’m always learning and have a long way to go. :)
These were great tips! Thank you for sharing them. I'm off to install GA on my blog so I don't have to put the tracking code in every post
I love learning new things!
Hi Julie, nice post and I learned a lot! Didn't realize the copyright thing with recipes. Have a good weekend…Deb
I'm loving these posts =) Great tips! Even though this is technically my third year blogging, this if the first year I started blogging for others, if that makes sense. Basically, I started assuming someone other than myself was reading.
This is so helpful! I'm bookmarking so I can come back and study up….I really want to improve my blog skills this year.
This is such a great post and I agree with everything. Do it because you love it not because you saw someone else do it. Just keep posting great content and eventually those readers will find you.
I love this post! It sounds like I need to make changing my pinterest account a #1 priority!
Oh- My Goodness is this a LOAD full of wonderful information! And I made the post?! Smitten over here- just smiling from ear to ear! you know I love ya Julie girl– and am beyond happy we crossed paths- you just “get me” – love it! Ok- WoW I need to pin this guy- like now! Doing it NOW ..because dang girl..great stuff! Great post! Love ya!
Jen
What an awesome post! I'm such a huge fan of your blog! I didn't realize changing to a business pinterest would make so much of a difference…off to do that now
Great post! I too am highly confused about the data differences between Blogger and GA and would love to know how to understand them better. I've been slowly tweaking and playing with my blog format and writing – I see a huge difference from where I started at the end of last February. I'm growing steadily and my followers and supporters seem to be folks who are similar to me so I feel like most of my posts are relevant to them. I've slowly been adding more other social media accounts as well but haven't ventured into FB yet because I do have a personal account & I've been careful about not exposing my kids ID on my blog. (yes, we are of the paranoid people, lol) I agree everyone here in BlogLand is so friendly and helpful and posts like yours are much appreciated!
Great post! Thanks for sharing the things you've learned! Super helpful!
Whew. A lot of good info. You and I have been blogging about the same amount of time, and you are killing it. So kudos! Thanks for all the tips! I think I need to dive in.
I love this, and I'm going to “pin” it, so I can read it again. I'm a new blogger, and this is a wealth of information. Thanks for your post
Great post, Julie!
I just got a DSLR last month and I LOVE it! I've actually had some photos accepted on Foodgawker since I started shooting with the DSLR!
Have a fabulous weekend.
This is so great, I am so proud of you for jumping in and sharing it all! I can't believe how your numbers have grown that is fantastic! Going over to get that photography ebook now!
Thanks you for all these awesome tips! I will need to refer back to it when I don't have a hungry child climbing up my leg! Love reading your blog!
These REALLY ARE great tips that I'm sure every blogger can benefit from. You are simply the best! Thank you for bringing this to Whimsy Wednesday!
Sweetly,
Kelly from Smart School House
http://www.facebook.com/SmartSchoolHouse
I'm on WP (self hosted) and the numbers don't match up any better to GA. You mentioned something about a business Pinterest – hmm, I'm going to have to check that out. The part about remembering to blog for yourself really hits home. I started mine so that my 'friends & family' could see what I was creating (they asked me to!) yet I have found that they hardly bother to visit (though I pimp each post out on FB). It's frustrating when your own people snuff you. Sigh. Hopefully, someone out there is getting something from my content. Thanks again for this realistic look back over your first year. I'll keep an eye on you for Year 2. ~ Dee @deeconstructed.com
Great tips. I've been blogging for about three months and these are very helpful!
Hi, great post. I found you through the blog hop. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. .Be sure and check out my new Blog Hop that started. It's Weekly Goals Link Up. It's a great way to stay on track. Have a great day.
Now following you. Here's the link for it if you would like to check it out.
http://lenettacarnes.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekly-goals-linkup-1.html
Lenetta
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
I would love it if you would share this (and anything else you have been working on) at my linky party! http://domesticrandomness.blogspot.com/2013/01/friday-fascinations-8-everything-linky.html
Great Tips ..:) & what a analytic i realy appreciate for this traffic .