While I don’t consider myself a blogging expert by any means, I am no longer a blogging newbie.
After having some interactions with newer bloggers on the block, I realized a few things about my own blogging habits that I wanted to change or be more aware of for their sake.
1. Make more time for blog reading
If I told you how many times this very phrase makes it to my weekly to do list, whether real or mental, it would be 100% of the time. As much as I can work on my own blog, I feel I owe it to the smaller blogs below me trying to gain community and blogger friends to read the stuff they’re writing.
This is my main goal this year for blogging. Anyone have any tips on how you make blog reading a better habit?
2. Read new blogs
I am a huge creature of habit. I have my “daily reads” URL’s memorized and type them in with ease. (Yeah, I don’t use Blog Lovin and maybe I should, but I’m just kind of old school.) It takes a really long time for me to incorporate new blogs into my daily reading. Not sure why, but I need to be better about broadening my horizons for sure!
Also, since getting pregnant, I’ve realized my serious need to connect with other mom bloggers. I wasn’t really reading many mom-focused blogs before because, well, I wasn’t about to become a mom like I am now. I really need more mom blogger friends, especially once baby is here!
3. Check my freaking email
I admit that on my contact page, I list my email and say contact me for anything you might need. What I don’t list is that email is probably the single worst way to get my attention these days.
After working on email all day 5 days a week, checking my personal email is the last thing I want to do. Add blog email into that? Yeah, sometimes I’ve gone a month without properly checking it. Oops.
I’ve been a lot better about this lately, but man, I have really dropped the ball with this one on some people, and it makes me feel horrible!
4. Match my social media following with my blog following
Too often, I am finding holes in my community. There’s a blogger I love that I follow on Instagram and we talk there all the time, but neither of us read each other’s blogs very often. While social media is a big area to tackle, I want things like this to change. Her blog should be on my radar, not just on my Instagram.
Because I’m a more experienced blogger, I feel I owe it to the community I’m a part of to really be engaged in that community fully, and not just half-way there.
5. Share more practical advice
Whether that be about balancing blog life or how I have attained success with a certain part of blogging, I always want to be pouring out what the blog community has poured into me. While I am typically sharing blog tips pretty often, I have a lot of ideas that are left unwritten that keep tugging at my heart. I know these ideas could help someone else in their journey and I feel like it’s my duty to share this information.
Some of my more helpful posts about blogging have been:
- How to Start a Blog
- 20 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Blogging
- Managing Your Blog with a Full-Time Job
- How to Connect with Other Bloggers
6. Always stay humble & make time for ALL bloggers
I don’t think I have an issue with pride and my blog or skills, but sometimes I do find myself dismissing newer or unfamiliar bloggers because they are not in the same boat as me. But we are all in the same boat, no matter what stage of life we are in.
I always want to remain an open ear or source of help for a newer blogger if they need it. I know I was ridiculously lost at first too, and some of the people who actually took the time to invest in me when I first started were angels. I want to be someone else’s angel too.
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I don’t think I’m a perfect example or an “ideal” blogger. But I do want to try to be the best example I can be for those who are following me.
With that being said, here are some bloggers I want to give a shout out to and just say thanks for reading my blog & I wish you some extra encouragement today, should you need it.
- Alison @ Anchor in the Stratosphere
- Emilie @ Essentially Em
- Emily @ Love a Latte
- Ashley @ Chronicles of a Cold Texan
- Sarah @ Sarah Sincerely
And if you haven’t checked them out, you definitely should! Happy Tuesday, friends
Questions for You:
- What would you add to this list?
- If you are a newer blogger, what do you wish more experienced bloggers would do or not do?
Kate @ Baking in Yoga Pants says
You included a couple new to me blogs on this list Thanks for sharing, looking forward to checking those out and always love to keep up with yours! Hope you’re having a great week!
Kate @ Baking in Yoga Pants recently posted…Treat Yourself Tuesday
Melissa says
Thanks, Kate! You too!
Ashley Tukiainen says
Awww Thanks! Back at ya!
And you are an angel I found you because I was looking for helpful tips, and slowly incorporating them at my own pace. I tried one link up last week that I first saw on your blog and there are so many wonderful people that I got to connect with through WIAW that I will be making that a regular thing (and PS upped my views about 25% for the week!) XOXO
Ashley Tukiainen recently posted…Roasted Butternut Squash
Melissa says
I’m so glad you found WIAW! It took me quite a while to hop on that train, but it does help boost traffic and viewers so much. Linkups are great!
Heather @Fit n Cookies says
Oh fun, I can’t wait to check out some of those! I do use Blog Lovin because I follow and read a lot of blogs. THey don’t happen everyday but I think it’s important to connect with others. There’s no way I can remember them all, but Blog Lovin does it for me!
Heather @Fit n Cookies recently posted…Upper Body Tabata Workout
Melissa says
I do like to use Blog Lovin just to keep track of blogs, but I don’t like using it to actually read them. Maybe I need to give it another shot.
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I am such a creature of habit too. I read the same blogs every day and really need to try stepping out and reading some new blogs too. Maybe one new blog a week won’t be too lofty of a goal?
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie recently posted…I Made It!
Melissa says
That’s a good idea. I’ve been trying to brainstorm just how to make it happen without getting overwhelmed with newness.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
I didn’t really see my reader interaction grow until I made time to actually comment on other blogs. AND- I got that tip from you a long time ago! Always comment on a blog you read. Seems so obvious, but it is the way to connect.
So, thanks
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Black Bean Enchilada Stack
Melissa says
I agree – my blog really didn’t grow until I got out there on other blogs. It’s the key to success!
Ree says
Great tips! Our blog is over a year old and we still feel like newbies, lol!
Ree recently posted…snow golf: where to play and tips for the cold
Courtney @ Running For Cupcakes says
I would never remember to read and comment on all the blogs I love without Bloglovin. It is a life saver! Thanks for giving me some new blogs to check out
Courtney @ Running For Cupcakes recently posted…Getting my Booty into Gear!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I spend to much time reading other blogs! I don’t spend enough time with my own blog! Not very helpful to me, I need to focus on taking care of my own stuff this year! 😛
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Why You Can Get Fit At Home
Emilie says
You totally just made my day! Thank you!
I have been blogging for years but I really had no interest in gaining readership or interacting with other bloggers until the last year or so. It was mainly something I did for myself but I’m really enjoying the blogging community and getting to know new people. I use Feedly to keep track of blogs that I follow, but I always click over to the actual sites because a lot of time and effort goes into designing our blogs and making them represent us. Plus, I find it so much easier to comment when I’m on the actual site. A couple things I would like to work on this year: write more practical and useful posts (as you suggested above!), continue to increase the number of blogs I read, and make sure the comments I leave on other blogs are meaningful. One of my pet peeves (on my blog and others) is when people comment “great post!” or something superficial with no meaning or thought behind it. I appreciate thoughtful comments so much, and I want to do the same for the blogs I read. Quality over quantity, right?
Emilie recently posted…21 Day Fix: Let’s Do This!
Melissa says
All the things you mentioned about Feedly is one of the reasons I can’t get on board with a blog reader like that or Blog Lovin. I think they are great in theory, but I can never seem to comment on them unless I click to the actual site. It just seems like a waste!
I also agree, comments like that are just space fillers. I feel like you leave some of the most meaningful comments I’ve gotten in a while!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food says
I use Bloglovin and I love it! I’ve got my work, personal, and blog email all synched to my phone and I check all three obsessively. Call it OCD, but seeing “unread email” makes me so anxious haha.
I really need to do a better job about social media cause I’ll go days without checking Twitter or Instagram!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food recently posted…Sick days and a farewell dinner
Melissa says
The email thing is a good idea. I’m wondering if that would make my head explode or not.. lol!
Em @ Love A Latte says
Thanks so much for the shout out! So sweet! And these are great tips that I too need to keep in mind. Hope you have a nice day!
Em @ Love A Latte recently posted…Sage: Month Five Baby Update
Rachel says
I’ve made a lot of friends through blogging – and it all starts with interaction! commenting, liking FB posts, Tweeting back and forth, etc. I read so many blogs and often don’t comment, but when I do, I usually can make a connection with another blogger and it’s great! Also, I love receiving comments, so I like to share that with others too!
Rachel recently posted…What do your kids EAT?
Hayley@healthyregards says
I wish more experienced bloggers would share the in’s and out’s of blogging. How to make company connections, increase readership etc. Don’t get me wrong, many do! Just wish there was more of it (:
Hayley@healthyregards recently posted…Triathlete Talks: Jessica Broderick
Alison@Anchor in the Stratosphere says
Thanks Melissa, you totally made my day! I love to write for my blog but often get frustrated when I feel like I’m shouting into an immense empty space. I desperately want to connect with people through it but struggle since I don’t write about food or exercise. If I did WIAW people would run screaming from my blog! 😉
You’ve been so helpful and kind and I’m excited to work with you coming up! Thanks again!
Alison@Anchor in the Stratosphere recently posted…Riker’s Rundown: The Stairs Ciruit
Jessie says
Great post! Since having the girls, I’ve never realized that blogging isn’t as easy as it once was. I think once I really sit down & focus i’ll be able to figure out what type of schedule works for me.
Jessie recently posted…Jailyn & Jenna’s Birth Story
Melissa says
I can’t even imagine! I am expecting some serious changes to happen for blogging once baby arrives. I just don’t know what that looks like yet.
Debbie @ Deb Runs says
I thoroughly enjoyed your posts on blogging tips, and learned some important things from them. If I remember correctly, you were the person that told me how to back up my blog. Thanks for being there for me as I started out as a newbie!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…A Girl Can Dream…..
Melissa says
I’m so glad to hear that, Deb!