10 Tips To Help New Bloggers Beat The Odds And Push Past Their Rookie Status
I thought with Blog World Expo going on this past weekend and hearing all about it from those who were able to be there, it would be fitting to write a post about blogging. More specifically, a post about what I’ve learned in the past few months about sticking with it and staying true to your message.
According to the many statistics on the Internet about blogging, somewhere between 75,000 and 175,000 new blogs are created each and every day. But only a few of these blogs will last more than a month. An interesting graph, on a post by Nate Whitehill called “Top 5 Reasons Most Blogs Don’t Last”, shows how the number of new blogs are growing, but the number of active blogs stays about the same. (The results were from 2006 but I think are still very relevant today.)
The fact of the matter is that blogging isn’t easy! I came to find this out when I first started this blog two months ago. In this time I have gone through many ups and downs as a blogger; the roller coaster ride of emotions that come as all your expectations seem to be challenged each and every day. Through statistics galore that brighten and darken your outlook with each passing glance. In 8 weeks I’ve been through peaks and valleys that have taught me a lot and I’ve only grown more determined because of it.
But out of all the things I’ve learned, the one fact that seems to be shared by all new bloggers is that of ‘getting over the hump’. There seems to be an invisible barrier that divides the rookies from the veterans. A defining moment or series of moments that transform ‘that person that decided to start a blog’ into a true blogger.
Now let me start by saying that I am far from an authority on this subject. I am merely another desert wanderer who is trying to show others where I have found food and water. From 8 weeks of good and bad experiences as well as intense searching and scavenging I have learned the information I will share with you today. I’ll be the first to admit that much of this information has been shared with me by more experienced bloggers. It is not my intention to try and convey myself as any more than just a messenger with a perspective as unique as any other. And it’s not just by doing things right, but making mistakes that has given me just a little bit of worthwhile experience to share.
So here are some of the things that I’ve learned thus far that have helped me not only ‘keep going’, but become more passionate about this wonderful form of communication and community. I’m not re-inventing the wheel here, but instead I am just compiling what I would consider a valuable recourse for those interested in breaking through this barrier and joining the ranks of those who have stuck it out and succeeded in this unique and challenging medium.
1: First and foremost: JOIN THE COMMUNITY!
It’s easy when you first start blogging to see it as you against the Internet. You think your number one goal should be to promote your blog and get as many subscribers as possible. This certainly is an important factor in building a successful blog, but early on it shouldn’t be your focus.
Once you start reading other people’s blogs, placing some comments and learning the ins and outs of social media, you will start to better understand the large organism that is the blogging community. And if you’re like most of us, you will be blown away by the amazing relationships and connections that are to be had if you are receptive.
What I found when I really started to interact with other bloggers was that most of us are very interested in helping each other out. We all live in our little houses (blogs), in our neighborhoods (niches) where we spend much of our time , inside a HUGE city (the Internet) where we are free to explore and build new foundations outside our initial scope of things. At least that’s how I see it.
So if your goal is to start a successful blog, let everyone know you’re new and that you’re looking forward to building relationships. If you need help, ask for it. You’ll be amazed at who will be there, ready and willing to give a helping hand. Just be careful and don’t fall into the trap of trying to come across as a ‘pro’ when you’re not. The only people you might fool are other newbies and that’s not going to do you any good anyway. So just be who you are; a new blogger who is excited about joining this wonderful community and growing a successful blog.
2: Manage your expectations with a slant for success
It’s hard to control your expectations from the start of your blogging ‘career’. You don’t know what to expect so you just make some assumptions and hope for the best.
After a while, though, reality happens and you start to either become excited or disappointed based on the results. But don’t worry about this. Just use this new information as a way to accurately gauge what your expectations should be.
Now take these newly formed expectations and give them a positive slant. You want to exceed your expectations, not meet them. So if you find that X is the number of new visitors you are getting each week, do what you need to do to make the number X + 50 or 100 or whatever is ‘just a little more’ to push you to excel. The idea is to push yourself just enough to succeed, not SO much that you become discouraged.
3: Be in it for the long haul
Continuing with the topic of expectations, confirm in your mind that you are in this for the long haul. Don’t just start and then consider quitting because after a month you don’t have any subscribers. In blogging you’ll find that most people don’t just EXPLODE onto the scene. It’s more like a growing plant. If you stare at it all day it will feel like nothing is happening. But with nurturing, care and patience you will slowly see it grow and blossom into a healthy, beautiful creation.
I’ve talked to a number of successful bloggers who say that their blogs didn’t see noticeable growth for 6-9-12 months or more. I’m finding that it’s not poor writing that is the common cause of failure in blogging, but instead it’s the lack of patience and persistence that is the culprit.
4: Promote your blog with honesty, depth and humility
I’m not going to talk about the techniques of blog promotion, but instead I want to share the best way to introduce yourself when presenting yourself and your blog to other’s in the community.
-Honesty: Be yourself. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
-Depth: Put some real thought into your comments on other’s posts. Try not to leave the “Great post” comments. Actually talk to the blogger. I find that a lot of new bloggers, myself included, fall into the habit of ‘preaching’ the comment instead of ‘communicating’ it. We might throw in a ‘one-liner’ as a comment. I think we are trying to show that we have the same depth of insight, but this often comes across in a sort of arrogance. It’s also very hard to reply to such comments. So try to add to the conversation and leave room for a ‘back and forth’ between you and the blogger and/or the other readers. (If you want a perfect example of this, head over to Barbara Swafford’s blog, bloggingwithoutablog.com, and see how depth of communication can create a healthy atmosphere for discussion after a blog post.)
-Humility: Some new bloggers think that they need to come across as an ‘expert’ in everything. But in blogging, as in anything else, you should always be humble and never speak down to anyone. Show respect and you will be respected. Show an arrogance and you will be ignored.
5: Take time and put forth the effort required to present your readers with original ideas
I think that one of the hardest things to do as a blogger is to consistently put out original ideas. But if you want to create a successful blog that attracts readers and grows on it’s own, you have to provide your readers with real value in your writing.
We see it more and more everyday. These ‘same old, same old’ posts that litter many thousands of blogs throughout the Internet. If you read blogs on a daily basis you will start to tire of these duplicated ideas. So before you publish your next post, make sure that you’ve put forth the effort and added your own flavor to give your readers the value they desire.
6: How often should you post?
Early on it seems to be wise to post as much as you can (at least every day) so you can quickly grow a decent archive and so you can show visitors that your serious about blogging (this is just my opinion). But after a while it is a good idea to re-assess the amount of posts you are putting out. You might be able to crank one out twice a day, but are they all solid posts or do you find yourself forcing it a little too much?
After about 5 weeks or so, I found myself in this position. I was posting every day and it was starting to feel like a few too many posts a week. I started to feel like I was forcing myself to write instead of being inspired to put out quality content. So I made the decision to post 4 to 5 times a week instead of 7. Now I can take a little more time on my posts, spend more time communicating with other bloggers/readers and still have some time for other, more important things, like my family. 
I know this subject has been talked about in length on other blogs so if you need specifics you will find a plethora of opinions though your favorite search engine.
7: Put just as much focus on helping other bloggers succeed
There’s two advantages to this:
1: The more you help others, the more they will help you. And by creating these mutual relationships you will be able to enjoy the wonderful benefits of social networking. The broader your reach in connecting with other bloggers, the more effective this network will become.
2: It’s the right thing to do and you’ll meet some amazing people. A couple of weeks ago I was having a bad day. I had recently made a connection with a fellow up-and-coming blogger and technology consultant, Matt R. over at YFNCG.com. We were emailing back and forth and I decided to do a little venting in one of my emails. Within a short time I was sent back a positive, encouraging reply that completely changed my mindset for the rest of the day. It was in that moment that I realized the value in building relationships with fellow bloggers. Without those positive connections I would think that most of us would never make it more than a couple of months.
8: Learn from the pros
There are so many ways to make your blog more successful so it is very important that you have solid resources to learn from. Just to name two (there are MANY more than this):
-problogger.net This was the first blog that I went to for blogging advice and, as many already know, it is one of the best. Darren, by the way, is one of the nicest bloggers I’ve ever met. Truly an example to follow.
-skelliewag.org This is another great place to learn about growing your blog. I find the content to be amazingly fresh and original in a bloated niche like problogging.
But don’t just go to the ‘Big Names’. Find some of the lesser known jewels that are creating their own great content and helping their readers grow into successful bloggers. You will also find these bloggers to be a little more accessible if you want to try to directly connect to them.
9: Stay true to yourself and/or the original intent of your blog
It’s easy to stray if you’re not careful. Even after the short period of time that I’ve been blogging I already find myself forgetting the core purpose/intent of my blog. Sometimes our blogs slowly morph into something else that is even better. But I am afraid that others just lose focus and risk losing their readers.
A few things I’ve found helpful:
-Re-read your about page: Most of us have an about page that was written in the very beginning. This fact make its content a perfect reminder of why you started your blog in the first place.
-Go through your archives and read through some of your original posts. I did this the other day and was blown away at how quickly I had forgotten what I had written. I guess if you write enough, you start to push out the old with the new. It was as if I were reading someone else’s post. (By the way, this was good because it allowed me to see my writing from a different perspective.) By doing this you will be reminded of ‘how it was in the beginning’. Then you can decide if you’ve strayed, made positive changes or are still heading in the same direction.
10: HAVE FUN!
The fact of the matter is, blogging can be a lot of fun! Before I started I had no idea what I was getting into. From the site design, to the ins and outs of advertising, to the tweeting, stumbling, digging, plurking, etc…, to meeting all of these wonderful people, to events and contests and so on. If you aren’t having any fun in your blogging world, you need to seriously re-evaluate the way your going about it. The writing and possibility of magnetization can be alluring, but your ability to enjoy it all will be what carries you through.
I hope that at least some of these tips will be useful in your blogging endeavors. I hope to be as helpful to other bloggers as anybody else. I want to see those around me succeed so we may grow together. So here’s a few things that I want to layout for anyone interested:
-I have recently added shortcuts to my twitter and StumblUpon profiles to the top of my sidebar. Feel free to follow me on twitter and friend me on StumbleUpon. These are great ways to grow a network and help each other promote our blogs to the world.
-You may already know that I’ve recently added a community page to this blog. Since then, there have only been a few submissions. I would love to see this grow and become a place where we can visually share ourselves and our experiences with others in our community. It’s quite simple to make a submission. Basically, you just go to the submission page, upload your photos, pick some ‘tags’ from a list provided and include a brief description of each photo that I will include when I add it to the page. I know that the more pictures we can add, the more people will be willing to add them. So if I could find some readers to ‘break the ice’ I would greatly appreciate the effort!
-If you have any questions about ANYTHING, please don’t hesitate to ask. You can do it with a comment (if it’s relevant to the post) or you can contact me through my contact page.
Calling all veterans!
Any of you more experienced bloggers feel free to chime in with some of your own findings for lasting blogging success. This list doesn’t have to be stuck at 10.
I hope these tips help if you are a blogger or considering starting a blog.
ALSO, read our Teaching Sells Review on The Blueprint and learn how to monetize your teaching skills.
50 Responses to “10 Tips To Help New Bloggers Beat The Odds And Push Past Their Rookie Status”
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As a newbie, I am happy I have already survived my first month of blogging. I feel one of the reason for early quitters is the the shadow of failure you get when you don’t see anybody commenting.
I agree with the “help others” advice. I participated in a blog tour for a children’s book Trockle. Not only it inspired me to write an interesting post but it fueled comments and my self esteem.
Hi Eric,
Your first point is right on. When I started blogging 18 months ago, I thought “if I build it, they will come”. Some did, but not many. It wasn’t until I put myself out there and start reading and commenting on other blogs, that I started seeing growth. From that, my community has been building.
And yes, – help each other. Although we may see the internet as being HUGE, blogosphere is actually quite small. Treat others with kindness and respect.
Great post Eric.
P.S. Thank you for the mention.
stumbled! great post by the way, I’m a fledgling food blogger trying to make it
@Miguel: “I feel one of the reason for early quitters is the the shadow of failure you get when you don’t see anybody commenting.”
This is VERY true. There’s nothing more depressing than feeling like you’re talking to yourself. Not my idea of a community feel. But it’s worth it when the comments start coming in and the conversation begins.
@Barbara: Glad to see you drop by. I know you have a lot going on with your job and you busy blogs. You definitely stay true to what you said…
“It wasn’t until I put myself out there and start reading and commenting on other blogs, that I started seeing growth.”
@kang: Thanks. I just checked out your blog. Very nice! I’ll definitely have to go back for further inspection.
Your article is pretty spot-on. I actually started a private blog on an international trip I took a couple years ago, published only to family and a few close friends. That turned out to be a lot of fun, but it was easy – I just wrote about what we did every day, posted pictures, and I knew I had a captivated audience.
Then I started a professional blog and made a bunch of rookie mistakes. I averaged 1 article a week, but typically ended up bunched up at the end of the month. I sent out “newsletters” to people who didn’t read it. I had no followers, and nothing spread. After 6 months I got bored of typing to myself.
Now I’m reinventing myself yet again, this time being much more social. And things are starting to pick up finally. And I’m reading a lot of other blogs, which makes it much more interesting too.
@Bill: Thanks for sharing your back story. I can’t speak for everyone, but I always find it helpful to hear what’s worked, what hasn’t and what adjustments were made to, as you put it, “reinvent yourself”.
Great Article Eric. I too was blown away by the helpful nature of most bloggers. We’re in this together and we all know how tough it is at first so we have to help eachother out.
Blogging seems like an easy no-brainer way to make a couple extra bucks and excercise your writing muscles, but it’s alot more difficult than most people realize.
Thanks for the shout-out by the way…I was only trying to return the favor after your helpful response to my initial email to you.
Looks like you’re almost over that “hump”!
I have been at it for a year and keep at it. Yes I have wanted to quit bu find I am unable to because I really do enjoy what I do. I get a small share of comments and have a small pool of subscribers and that’s okay too because I know over time my blog may grow bigger and then again it may not.
I enjoyed reading all of your helpful ideas and have taken away a lot of useful information. I am going to Stumble your post I thnk more people should read it as well.
Thanks for you tips and good luck!
Eric, great article. As someone is is taking the first steps towards blogging (lots of research right now) it’s refreshing to hear from someone who has just started up. Your comments on setting expectations are a good reminder to stay focused and not be disappointed when nothing happens.
@Matt R.: “Blogging seems like an easy no-brainer way to make a couple extra bucks and exercise your writing muscles, but it’s alot more difficult than most people realize.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
@Debo Hobo: Great job for sticking with it. You have a very interesting and unique blog! You look like you have some steady readers and I’m sure it will continue to grow.
One thing we always have to remind ourselves of is the fact that even 1 regular reader is 1 person who things your content is worth keeping up with and consuming on a regular basis. You have many more than that so I think it is evident that you are putting out useful, worthwhile content. Often times it’s just about getting noticed among the large quantities of blogs that bloat the Information Super Highway. So keep it up!
@Neil: I’m glad you came away with some useful info and I’m excited that you are taking those first big steps.
BTW, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions as you start getting the wheels turning.
Wow this is a super helpful list. I’ve had my blog up and running for about a year now and it’s been quite frustrating at times. I think your point about being humble is spot on. People don’t want to be preached too, but want to relate to the blogger. I definitely underestimated the power of commenting on others blogs. What you give out on the internet and in general is what you receive. I need to remind myself of that often and plan on spending more time interacting with other bloggers. Thanks for your simple honest approach.
@Amber: I just checked out your site and you have a great blog! Definitely something worth keeping up.
“People don’t want to be preached too, but want to relate to the blogger.”
This is a great way of putting it. Being able to relate to someone is key and it’s hard for us to do this without humility and honesty.
Our blog (Kitchen Garden Today) has been running for almost 4 months now. Depending on the niche you are targeting, it can be somewhat of a challenge to sometimes connect with you readers.
But, I think as people develop their blogging talents, people will hone in that skill.
Thanks for the great informational post, Eric!
Thank you for putting together this list, Eric, and sharing what you have picked up as valuable.
The slow and steady principle is definitely key. Being persistent, even in the beginning when you’re still building up readers, is a big help.
Best of luck to you and to all your readers in building and growing their own successful blogs!
@Sean: There’s no doubt that the niche your in can affect many things about how you blog. But like you said, in time you will develop the skills needed to truly connect with your readers. The key is hanging in there long enough to be able to develop the skills in question.
Great blog, by the way!
@Ariel: “Best of luck to you and to all your readers in building and growing their own successful blogs!”
Same to you!
I didn’t realize that setting up a blog and committing to one actually takes up so much time and effort. I was all ready to buy into the “get rich quick” with a blog marketing spew. Was I mistaken?
Still, I’d have to say that I enjoy being in the blogging community. There is so much warm spirit around! I’m blessed to have made so many friends!
Great post. We set up our blog to feature new bloggers…it’s a great way to find new bloggers and get some people checking your blog out as well!
Good list. I don’t think I have anything to add, really. Just like Barbara, I believe in commenting on other blogs and interacting with other bloggers.
@Evelyn Lim: It seems that the common thing I here most new bloggers say is that blogging was harder than they thought, but more enjoyable and rewarding as well.
@The SITS Girls: Great blog! I’m sure new bloggers appreciate the promotion and, like you said, it must help draw some traffic.
@Vered: Thanks for stopping by. I saw you had a great trip to Napa Valley. Glad you had such a relaxing time. Hope your day off a week from the Internet works out.
Hi, I found you through Barbara Swafford.
I really enjoyed this post. You said a lot of things I could relate to. I started blogging in March and didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. My thought was, oh, just a place to keep my friends and family abreast of my doings. My blog has evolved in ways I didn’t expect. I love having complete strangers come on and tell me things that are important to them. I love having a place where I can tell people, this is where I’m coming from.
I’m glad I stuck it out past the no-comment phase, but sometimes, it’s a little unnerving to see what strangers have to say to me
@Pink Ink: “I’m glad I stuck it out past the no-comment phase”
This, for many is the hardest part.
Great blog, by the way. Very unique! I like it.
Great post. I have been at it for a couple of weeks now. I am curious, as you look over your older posts, do you see improvement in the quality of your writing? I’m an not saying your writing is bad. I think you are excellent, I am talking from a self analysis standpoint.
@rebel: That’s a great question!
If I were to self analyze my writing, I would say that my posting structure and topics may have improved a little, but I don’t know if my actual writing quality has improved any.
I think when I first started out I was all about passion and lately I have been trying to focus that passion in more constructive ways. Not to say that a purely inspirational post doesn’t have it’s place and need, because I think it does, but if that’s all you right you will miss opportunities to help people actually make changes in their lives. This is why I started Motivate2ACTION!
I hope the best for your new blog. I checked it out and it looks very promising! Eric.
Great post. Useful for all new comers. Even me
Usman
http://burnfatnbuildmuscle.blogspot.com
@Usman: Thanks for stopping by. Great blog! I will definitley have to stop by and catch your latest post. I really like your latest post on ‘post workout meals’. You give a lot of useful information.
Eric,
Sometimes the universe sings. This post came to me at just the right time. I’ve been struggling to get my blog moving. I recently revised it and I’m learning what I need to do to make it more visible. All the tools and gadgets seem overwhelming, but but I have a vision and I determined to keep at it. Thanks for the information, but most thanks for the motivation!
@Sara: It’s my absolute pleasure! I’m glad you found my blog and now we can find yours (which I just checked out and look forward to seeing it grow. Great content!)
As a new blogger, I have found this post very helpful. My blog will launch shortly and I feel with this post, I will know some new things to do before I start. This has been an excellent post.
@Danny: I’m glad you enjoyed and benefited from the content.
Email me the details and I’ll give it a mention in a post if you’d like.
This is a good list. I’ve been blogging for under a year, and am now taking a second look at how to increase my readership.
@Awake In Rochester: I’m glad you enjoyed the content. I know it can be hard to grow a blog in this sea of blogs, but it sounds like you’re ready to start really growing. That’s exciting.
Stick around. I’m planning on do a lot more for bloggers who want to grow. Eric.
Growing blogs is really a hard thing to do, especially if there’s a lot of factor that will keep you back. For me, it’s tough because first, english is a second language to me and the other thing is that i’m just a newbie in the field. thanks for the tips, i hope i can survive in the long haul.
warm´s last blog post..Finding A Business Analyst
@warm: I’m always impressed when people are able to blog in a different language than their native tongue. Great job and keep it up!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’ll stop by again in the future. Eric.
Thank you for sharing this information.
All of this advice is very good and different than other blog tips I’ve run across.
I have 3 completely different blogs and so I have an opportunity to try new and different approaches on each one.
It’s interesting to me which ones are generating the most traffic and which ones aren’t. Not that what I get can be called traffic but I”m still in the experimental stages.
Blogging has changed my perspective and once I focus on getting more involved in the community I think I’ll have much better success.
Thanks again!
@rrr: I’m glad the content was helpful.
“Blogging has changed my perspective and once I focus on getting more involved in the community I think I’ll have much better success.”
There’s not doubt about this. It wasn’t until I really started to connect with the blogging community (and I’m not just talking about commenting) that my blog and its own community really started to grow.
Eric, I have been following your blog for awhile, even before I decided to have my own. Thank you for all of the wonderful tips. I think that what you said about having fun is important – this is my creative outlet and has helped me spread my social wings a bit more than I previously was comfortable with.
Jennifer´s last blog post..Those Nasty Pet Peeves
@Jennifer: I first want to say that I appreciate the time you take to frequent my blog and I’m glad that it’s content has been helpful. I hope the best for your blog. Don’t ever hesitate to let me know if you need any help. And just in case you didn’t know, my other blog is Up-And-Coming-Blogger. You might find the posts helpful as you grow your blog. See you around the blogosphere, Eric.
Hi Eric,
I don’t mean to be mean or anything. I love your stuff…. I just think…. you need an editor.
“1: First and foremost: JONE THE COMMUNITY!”
I hope you know Im just looking out for ya.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Day´s last blog post..11 Little Steps to Better Health
@Jeremy: Hey, man, I take absolutely no offense to that. Only recently have I been trying to be a little more ‘tight’ with my posts. My wife pointed out a couple of weeks ago, the fact that I had a bunch of editorial ‘issues’. Thanks for looking out for me!
Eric.
Hey Eric,
I like the ideas that you had posted and it is definitely helpful. I am still new into blogging and it will definitely be great if there is any good advice from an experienced blogger like you during my journey.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Vincent´s last blog post..How Changing Your Beliefs Can Bring You Success Part 2
@Vincent: Thanks. I’m glad you got something out of the post.
By the way, for more blogging tips/conversation, you should check out my other blog if you haven’t already. It was a spin off of this post. Hope this helps, Eric.
Hi! Thank you very much for this post. Bookmarked this page so I can re-read it and digest the content better. I’ve been blogging for a long time now, yet I feel that I still have a lot to learn.
Everyday, I learn new things about blogging even just by blog-hopping. Although blogs like yours make me stop hopping and stay awhile longer.
More power!
Roy´s last blog post..Do you get back to your customers?
Thanks Roy, I’m glad you found it so useful. There’s no doubt that blogging can be a struggle when it comes to being successful and making a positive impact on the community. Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to your future comments.
Eric.
And two months down the road, this post is still as fresh as ever! I’m sure you are one of the few bloggers who knew that I actually have 2 blogs, and am taking a break on the first as I was hoping for it not to stray too far off it’s original content.
Anyways, great work you have going on for Motivate Thyself! Keep on growing this blog – especially when you said that you’re it this for the long haul!
Daniel Richard´s last blog post..7 Anti-Worry Hacks During This Financial Crisis
@Daniel: Thanks! I’m glad your so thoughtfully focused on your Internet offerings. Keep it up. Eric.