Want to start blogging, but you don’t know how or where to begin?
While it’s easy to sign up for a WordPress account and start writing, it will take more than to make any serious money from your blog.
But don’t let that discourage you because these days, anyone with enough determination can start a blog. Here are invaluable lessons you can learn from professional bloggers.
Contents In Page
Be yourself
Readers want unique content, and the only way that you can make your blog truly unique is to use your own voice when writing.
Don’t be afraid to show who you really are in your blog.
Share your experiences, your personality, your dreams, your fears; readers appreciate it when bloggers have the courage to share who they are.
Who knows?
You might just inspire someone with your life story.
Set yourself apart
Even though there are already countless bloggers who “made it” before you, you can still make a name for yourself by differentiating yourself or setting yourself apart.
Ask yourself this, what is it about you, your brand, or your ideas that has the potential to stand out from the crowd?
Try to brainstorm different ways that you can show your unique style or creativity on your blog.
Do you have a big idea that’s just waiting to be revealed?
Sometimes, all it takes is one big idea to propel you to greatness.
Work on building relationships
Most people have this notion that blogging is nothing more than a platform where you can share your thoughts.
But if you’re going to think about it, it’s really more about building relationships with your readers, other bloggers (for guest posting opportunities), and potential sponsors.
If you’re serious about turning blogging into a career, you need to be ready to work with other people. After all, you can’t build a blogging empire all by yourself.
You need to collaborate and coordinate with other people to get your brand out there.
Choose a niche
When used in blogging or online marketing, the word niche refers to something that you can be particularly good at.
Whether it’s fashion or food or technology, having a niche sets the direction and the tone for your blog so you can create targeted content for your readers.
While there are some bloggers who have made it big taking the “anything goes” approach, niche blogging makes you more relatable to a specific demographic.
Offer value to your readers
The number one reason people go online is because they want quick access to information that they care about.
So, whether you’re into caring for race horses or using Korean skincare products, you’ll be able to develop a following to your blog as long as you’re offering valuable information.
The secret to a successful blog is to offer readers won’t be able to resist.
Even if you’re not offering any new information, giving it a new spin will give your readers reason to come back to your blog.
Foster a learning mindset
Even professional bloggers admit that they still have a lot to learn. This means, if you want your blogging career to grow, you need to be humble and foster a learning mindset.
When you’re in that mindset to learn new techniques and try out new technology, it becomes much easier for you to create a blog that will grow and adapt to the changing times.
Positivity is crucial
Every blogger has a unique perspective on things and some preconceived notions.
When looking at other people’s blogs, it is easy to criticize some of the weaknesses and focus on the negatives.
You should, however, learn to see the good in others and avoid emphasizing on what they may be doing wrong.
You may face obstacles in your career, but you must aim at connecting with the right people who can help you grow your blog.
For this to happen, you must cultivate positivity in you and be a person who can inspire others. In as much as books can teach you a lot, actual people can teach you from real experiences.
Pick up the good from people and learn from their failures.
Discipline brings results
To be the best, you have to be disciplined and develop a habit around it. This a principle that all professional bloggers use to succeed.
It is a trait that you should emulate so that you can see results in your work within no time.
No matter the hindrances you may be facing as a blogger, you need to nurture a writing habit and make it part of your lifestyle.
Write every day even if you don’t publish every day.
Do not be afraid to fail because in failure, there is learning and rising again.
When you are disciplined enough to write every day, you will not wait for anyone to remind you about your goals. It takes discipline to spend hours developing content every single day, but the results are worth it.
Start by writing about the things that you love as well as what your business entails. When you write about topics that excite you, you will not even notice time passing.
Avoid writing for the money
In as much as full-time bloggers look forward to gaining from the activity, your primary focus should not be how much you earn from your blog.
We know that bills have to be paid and life depends on money, but it comes and goes.
The money might give you temporary joy but completing the work gives you long-lasting contentment.
There is a lot of gratification knowing that someone else can learn something they did not know from your work and inspiring readers through writing will give you a purpose every single day.
Craft posts that you are proud of even if the pay is not as good as you expect.
Honesty is enticing
Most bloggers do it out of a hobby buts there is more to it. It is an outlet of expressing your thoughts and promoting your professional or personal agenda.
The best trait you can even possess as a blogger is honesty. In your career, you need to share your views on different topics without the fear of victimization.
The point is to let the audience hear your opinions and know your true identity. Deliver your best content without worrying about the reaction of critics.
Remember, people will always talk whether they agree or disagree with your views and being true to yourself is what matters.
Get a life
And when you do reach that point where you can confidently say that your blog is a success, remember that you have a much larger purpose to fulfill in real life than online.
Your blog’s success should never define who you are. Remember to spend time with the people you love and pursue passions outside your blogging persona. Trust me, it’s for your own sanity.