*disclaimer: this post originally appeared as a guest post on Seasons + Salt
Hi guys! Today for lifestyle Wednesday, I thought I would share a little bit more about the inner workings of blogging.
I want to share with you the top three things I would tell someone if they asked me whether or not they should start a blog.
Obviously, I’m still figuring this out as I haven’t even been blogging for a year yet. So what I’m going to share with you is simply what I have learned in the short amount of time that I have been blogging.
So let’s start shall we?
1. Blogging is no walk in the park.
I was SO naïve when I first started my blog. So naïve. I thought I would be able to just quickly whip out a blog post a few times a week and call it good.
Um… no.
I suppose it all depends on what type of blogger you want to be, but as a fashion blogger (I still feel weird classifying myself as that since I’m a capsule wardrobe blogger and I really just take pictures of my outfits as an excuse to share my thoughts with my readers) there is way more to it than writing a blog post.
There is photo taking, which, here’s a secret for you: I absolutely hate having my picture taken… the photo editing (this has gotten way better the more familiar I’ve gotten with Lightroom. If you don’t have it, but take a lot of pictures for your blog go get it right now. Really. Run!)
…coming up with clever blog post titles
…writing compelling content
…you get the point.
Blogging is hard work! And it takes a lot of time. I probably spend 15-20 hours a week on my blog. And I would spend more, but I am a stay at home mom and only work when my daughter is sleeping. And if you want anyone to read your blog, you have to network (building relationships with other bloggers by commenting on their blogs). It’s the number one way to get people to read and view all of that hard work, and you have to do a lot of it.
In fact, I would say that I spend 50% of my blogging designated time on networking.
If you don’t care about whether or not people read your blog then more power to you! You’ll have a lot more time on your hands.
But I started my blog because I wanted to share my thoughts and to hopefully encourage people to live with less. In order to do that, I need to actually reach people with my message.
Don’t expect to start your blog and have it be easy. It’s hard. I passionately repent for any judgment I felt towards bloggers before I started doing it.
We’re hearty folk, us bloggers.
2. You form some pretty great relationships when blogging.
One of the things that I least expected was how supportive other bloggers are. Facebook groups are WONDERFUL for this (just search blogging in Facebook and you will find all kinds).
I thought it would be so much more competitive, but people have been so warm, inviting, and welcome.
If I’ve ever had a question or concern, or even just needed to vent, I have had so many bloggers come around me and offer support and encouragement.
It’s a community that I did not expect, but am so thankful for.
In addition to the relationships that I have formed with other bloggers, I have also seen an amazing community come out of my readers. We connect in the comments on my blog and also on social media and I have formed some very real friendships with some of them.
Now, when I write a post, I write it for those people and it makes me feel like we are having a conversation. I love that.
3. Don’t compare yourself to other bloggers.
It is SO easy to get so focused on how great other bloggers are doing that you lose sight of why you started blogging in the first place.
This is a DAILY struggle for me. I see so many compelling, beautifully written posts coming from other bloggers and sometimes I spend far too much time wallowing in the shadow of these bloggers instead of remembering that I have a unique voice.
I think that is the biggest thing I would tell anyone who is considering starting a blog. You have a unique voice. No one else can say what you have to say or create what you have to create.
When I let go of the fear that I’m not good enough, I find so much joy and satisfaction in sharing my heart with my readers. And no. Not everyone is going to like what you have to say, but that’s not the point. You say it as much for yourself as you say it for that one reader who tells you that it is exactly what they needed to hear.
I hope this helps anyone who is considering blogging or anyone who has just started.
This biggest take away that I hope you have after reading this is that, yes, it is hard work, but it is SO MUCH fun! I have never enjoyed doing anything more. So go for it! Take the plunge. I think you’ll be surprised by how much you love it!
Until next time,
Such a great post and so honest and true! I love your perspective and truly agree 🙂
Thank you Helene!
Blogging most definitely is NOT a walk in the park! I was amazed at how much work goes into a great post such as this! Wonderful photography!
Right?! And thank you Dominique!
Thanks for sharing your experiences! We can all relate!
You’re welcome Laura! We’re all in this together right?!
Absolutely! We are all different, but it is a lot of work and takes so much time. You are great at what you do and I love your photos.
Thank you Jessica!
Love this post! These are definitely things you don’t realize before getting into it, but ring so true.
Thanks Emily! I was definitely surprised by them once I started blogging. 🙂
Absolutely love this post! It’s so important to realize what goes into blogging before you take the big leap. I’ve had so many friends start a blog because they thought it was cool that I did it, and then gave up quickly because of all the stuff that actually goes into having a blog!
XO, Rachel
http://www.seashellsandsparkles.com
Thank you Rachel! And yes! I had no idea and it would have been nice to be warned. 🙂
Blogging is for sure a ton of work! I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but now that Im here..I love it! Yes the connection and relationships formed is amazing, this is the most supportive community I’ve ever belonged to! The comparing part..I am trying hard not to do that…easier said than done! Great post!
Valerie
Mapleleopard.com
Same here Valerie! 🙂 It truly is and I love that! And thank you!
“You have a unique voice.” — so true, yet so hard to believe. Thanks for such an encouraging reminder!
It’s so hard Ali! And you’re welcome!
Blogging truly is a lot of work and takes a lot of time. But it also gives you so much – connecting to like-minded people from sll over the world – it’s so rewarding! I ahve made so many wonderful friends since starting to blog.
I so agree with that Chrissy! It is so rewarding! Completely worth all of the work.
As always, great advice, Karin! Creating original content really is so difficult and time consuming. But you do such an amazing job. Your site is one of my favorite capsule wardrobe blogs, and I’m always recommending it to others looking to start a capsule.
Thanks Lauren! It is time consuming, but a fun challenge. 🙂 And thank you! You are so sweet!
This is a great post! Such wonderful advice for those who are wanting to start a blog. I was just like you thinking it would be easy…yeah no, lol! Between taking pictures, editing, writing, and snapping instagram, it’s like a full time job!
I think we were all a little naive when we started Courtney haha! It is totally like a full time job!
Such a great post!
I just started out blogging and it’s really hard not to compare myself to other bloggers. I need to remember that everyone had to start small!
Thank you KP! You DO have a unique voice and yes! Everyone has to start somewhere. 🙂
As a newbie blogger these were all true! I thought I could just write a bit, meet new people and 10k people would read it!!! Not. So. Much. Regardless, I still love it and enjoy the “work.” I also need Lightroom asap!
Haha right?! I also enjoy the “work.” I think that’s why some people do it for years and some people stop after a few months. You have to really love it! And yes!! Get Lightroom… you won’t regret it!
I love this! I too never realized just how much work a blog would be when I first started. But then again, I had no intention of ever turning it into something. Now here I am a couple years later and my blog is literally my full-time job. It’s been A LOT of work, but I love it 🙂
Thanks Keating! That’s so great that you’ve been able to turn it into a full time job! Not everyone can say that!
Thank you for this post. I love hearing/learning about the latest technology and tools for blogging and connecting – I will be checking out Lightroom and Facebook groups
You’re welcome Kairee! Definitely do check them out! You won’t be sorry!
Blogging is a lot of work. I’m like you, I only work when my daughter is sleeping or first thing in the morning because she likes to play independently (that only lasts 30 min or so!). Sometimes I wish I could just go to bed early. I enjoy it though. If I get too stressed out I take a day or two off. I love having that freedom! 🙂
It is isn’t it Kerry? I know the feeling, but sleep can wait right?! 😉 But yes, I love how flexible it is and how I can work whenever I have time.
Love this blog post! I just recently found your Instagram and I’m thinking of jumping into blogging. I’m definitely going to take your advice into consideration while navigating what I want my blog to look like.
I’m so glad you liked it Kelly! Good luck with your blog!