I have been blogging for almost two and a half years now. To say I’ve learned a lot along the way would be the understatement of the year.
I’ve learned:
- That using images is important on a blog
- How to do SEO well enough to get traffic through search engines
- That organisation is key
- How to promote my blog through social media
- That the blogosphere is a fantastic place full of helpful, supportive people
- How to use HTML
And much more besides.
In hindsight, those are things every blogger learns along the way (along with pop-ups and 
auto DMs being evil things sent to slowly drive us insane).
Here are five things I’ve learned that looking back still surprise me:
Everything is Open to Interpretation
I understand this one now, but it still surprises me on a regular basis – there are no rules to blogging.
What works for one person might not work for another.
With this in mind, take any advice you get with an open mind. Even if it’s from a seasoned blogger, it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Bloggers give each other advice all the time, and it’s definitely well intentioned, but sometimes, it just doesn’t work out for you.
And that’s ok. Try it, and if it doesn’t work, move on.
You will find your own path.
Talking to Other Bloggers is Essential
You will read pretty quickly that talking to other bloggers is essential to get your blog noticed. This wasn’t the part that surprised me.
What did surprise me is that it soon becomes essential to talk to other bloggers just to keep yourself sane in the blogging world.
Your friends, even the supportive ones, just won’t get blogging if they’ve never done it.
They won’t care that you just hit 1,000 likes on your Facebook page.
They don’t know what all the fuss is about when your views drop off and you have no idea why.
They won’t understand why you want to get your message out there.
Your blogger friends just get it. And talking to someone who knows what you mean, and have most likely been there themselves, is invaluable.
Exclamation Points Are The Spawn of The Devil
I have recently been going back through some of my older posts and generally revamping them. The over use of exclamation points made me absolutely cringe.
I read back through so many paragraphs written like this! It was very distracting! They are, for the most part, gone now!
Exclamation points have their place, but having one after every sentence is annoying to read, and it’s the sign of an amateur writer.
After talking to a few other writers about it, I learned that it’s one of the most common mistakes that new writers make. But at least it’s easy to fix.
Cute Fonts Have Their Place; Your Blog is Not One of Them
I must admit, I’m not a fan of fussy fonts. But when I first started my blog I thought that having a fussy font would make my posts stand out.
Luckily, I did some research before deciding to use one, and I soon learned that it’s not a good idea. It makes reading your posts difficult, and with a wealth of information online, people will just click away and find a site they can read without squinting their eyes just to decipher the text.
Bloggers Disappear At An Alarming Rate
When you first start blogging, you will always find those bloggers who you look up to – the ones who have it altogether and are writing posts that make you drool with envy.
And then, one day, they’re gone.
You might not even notice it at first.
Again, when I was going through some old posts, I noticed this. So many of the blogs I’d mentioned in posts as my favourite blogs, or blogs with good advice etc. were no more.
I can’t imagine putting so much time and work into something just to stop, and it will never stop surprising me how many bloggers do just pull the plug.
What have you learned about blogging that surprises you? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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Agree about the exclamation points as I realized I was using them a lot in my comments and am trying now to remember to calm it down a bit. I just get so excited! LOL It does remind me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine went crazy over the lack of an exclamation point in a note someone left for her. Great post.
I still overuse them in comments and on Twitter but at least I’ve learned to stop on the blog lol.
I’ve often wondered what has happened when a blog I follow just stops with no warning, or explanation. And it really bugs me when they delete their blogs. How can someone destroy stuff he or she spent so much time creating?
My writing partner used to use exclamation points often, and used multiple exclamation points very often as well. I had to edit his work for that and other reasons, telling him I was “editing for sameness of style” because it sounded better than “correcting your mistakes.” 🙂
I hate it when my “views drop off and [I] have no idea why.”
Enjoyable post!
I know – it’s crazy! If I deleted my blog, I know I’d be gutted a day or two later. At least if you keep it, you can always change your mind and go back to it.
Lol, loving your tact with the editing.
Thank you for sharing!
I can not tell you how much I have learned from blogging over the past year-really more than blogging: marketing, writing, pitching, using social media, diversifying the works.
#anythinggoes
Blogging really should get more credit – you have to learn to do so much that non-bloggers don’t even think about. You definitely learn marketing, pitching and social media!
I’m just starting out in the blogging world and I really agree that talking to other bloggers is key. No one understands the struggle like another blogger. I too am guilty of overusing explanation marks! I’ll have to fight the urge from now on. Thanks for sharing #AnythingGoes
It really does keep you sane! I’ve compromised on the exclamation points now and try to limit myself to over excitable comments and social media posts lol
It’s true that real life friends just don’t get blogging. I can’t even begin to explain what goes into it and I’m only a newbie #anythinggoes
Sometimes you don’t realise how what you’re saying wouldn’t make sense to a non-blogger until after you’ve said it and get the blank look lol.
I’ve noticed that there a lot of bloggers that start out writing about experiences, recipes, parenting…you name it-and then they shift over to blogging about blogging.
You know, how to succeed and make tons of money with your blog. Now I know that there are many bloggers who do make a good bit of money…and I appreciate them sharing their secrets! (Of course I do!) But there are a lot out there that start giving advice BEFORE they make it!?!?
I have learned to check their blogs before I take their advice!!!
Also, I have learned that when someone calls themselves a Social Media Guru-I should run!!!
Yes, that’s very true – even if they are making a lot of money, there way of doing it is tied into their niche and their audience so it might not work for everyone.
Haha – yes social media guru would make me run too. My pet hate is “influencer”. If you’re really influential, you don’t need to tell people, they’ll know!
Yes to all of these. I always think the dead blog is such a sad thing, especially because often the last post(s) don’t give any hint that they were about to quit.
#anythinggoes
That one always surprise me – when you go to a blog and the last post was like a year ago but there was no indication that there wouldn’t be more
Great post. I am 10 months into this blogging thang and Im still learning… Like you, I am going through old posts and revamping them just to make them more legible tbh. Thank you for these tips. #anythinggoes
I really wish I’d done it sooner rather than waiting two and a half years lol
You also learn to manage your expectations – at least, if you’re going to stick around for a while. Hits go up and down, comments can virtually dry up… you just remind yourself of why you’re here.
(Of course, I’m just here for the thinking out loud and sharing of thoughts. If I were hoping to build a business, that would be a different kettle of fish.)
Yes, that’s true – I’m definitely much less hung up on stats than I used to be
Yes to all of this! I’ve never thought about them all in one go like this, but it all makes sense. I wonder where the bloggers of the past are now? 🙂 #anythinggoes
I know. I just can’t understand how you just stop one day, especially without even posting to say you’re done
There seems to be people that do it for different reasons and that’s okay. I also think blogs are like people, some you really get on with, some you admire, some seem weird and some are rubbish and you don’t understand why but it’s all opinion based and there’s space for everyone. #AnythingGoes
Yeah, one of the things I love about the blogosphere is the diversity
I have noticed how people just seem to disappear as well. I often go back to see if some of them popped back up. #AnythingGoes
So strange isn’t it
It took me a long while to figure out how important images are. I now use them on almost every post and when I share old posts, I add images to give them a fresh look. #BloggerClubUK
It took me ages to figure that out too – I kept seeing everyone talking about images and resisting using them because I wanted my words to send the message rather than pictures. I finally swallowed my pride and started using images and the difference it made was incredible
This was such a good read for me. I started blogging nearly 3 months ago and it’s such a steep learning curve. I was the same on fancy fonts! Have learned my lesson there. Also it’s so true I think that you just have to do what works for you, but read every bit of advice you can. Great post! X #bloggerclubuk
It is definitely a steep learning curve. I think that’s the best way to do – soak up all the information you can find and then just do the parts that suit you and your blog x
I’m surprised – and impressed you learnt some HTML! Other than that I’ve learnt that blogging evolves and so when you look at the things your hero are doing – it’s not necessarily what you can do as a start up today (sadly) #BloggerClubUK
Haha thank you 🙂 Yes, that’s definitely true
I am so guilty for using exclamation marks all the time. I’m even forcing myself not to use them in this comment! Oops.
I wonder if one of the reasons for blogs suddenly disappearing is the pressure people may put on themselves to post every day (or even every other day!), as well as to be a constant presence on social media. For a lot of people this might not be realistic – I know I stopped for a few months because I felt I wasn’t doing enough to be credible. Now I realise I’m blogging for me, and I don’t have to keep up with other bloggers who are clearly much more organised than I am! #bloggersclubuk
I’ve compromised now and I allow myself to use them in comments and on social media haha.
Yeah, that’s a good point – it’s definitely hard to keep up sometimes. I think you are looking at it the right way – do what works for you 🙂
Debbie and Twicemicrowavedtea, I’ve been blogging once a week for 7 1/2 years now – and still have so much to learn. I can’t believe it when I see so many bloggers posting daily or at least several times a week. (And I really wanted to put an exclamation point there.) The only thing I knew when I started my blog was that I’d never be able to post consistently if I attempted to do it more than once a week. And I was sooooo right.
You have to find what works for you and if that’s once a week then great. I started doing daily as part of the A-z Challenge two years ago and I enjoyed doing it so I just kept it up after the challenge. If I’d told myself in the beginning I had to do it once a day, I don’t think I’d have stuck with it either to be honest
My favourite author, the late Sir Terry Pratchett, always said that the overuse of exclamation marks was a sign of insanity. He was only joking of course but I do think of it when I find too many creeping into my posts. I’m in agreement with the fonts too, I’ve had to give up on reading a lot of posts because I just can’t read them. Many years ago it was incredibly popular to write in white on a black background, I’m so glad it’s not popular now. One thing that has always surprised me is how quickly some bloggers get ‘big.’ It took me years to build up my blog but I’ve seen some arrive on the scene and within months they are boasting thousands of followers on their blogs and social media. Unsurprisingly, a lot of them don’t stick around very long, but some of them do and are obviously making big money from their blogs.
He could well have a point there lol. I hate white on a black ground – when you blink you can still see the words.
Yes, some bloggers just seem to click immediately and build up a huge audience – I can’t fathom out why they would then just stop but each to their own I guess
I also tried different fonts to make my blog more unique but the ones I really liked that fit me weren’t really legible when reading the posts on the site. However, I can’t just do a plain font. I just can’t. I have to be unique and show my creative side through a font. It’s just not in me to do a plain font so I compromised and I use one that is only a little fancy but also practical and readable to my viewers. Whenever I redo my blog I usually will spend hours looking for a decent font that my readers can read but that also shows my personality. That’s just me though. I also used to use exclamation points and recently I have been going through old posts and have been revamping them a little. It’s only been two years but when I look back at my first posts, I see all the mistakes I made and the different ways that my writing has evolved. It’s a little weird but all artists evolve. That’s what we do, lol! Thanks for being one of the lovely hosts at #bloggerclubuk
I like your font – you’ve found the perfect balance of quirky but readable.
It’s such a strange experience going back and reading old posts – some of them just made me cringe in general but all of them were riddled with pointless exclamation marks. It was eye opening seeing how my writing has changed over time though
Non blogging friends definitely do not get it. Not at all. It is an odd world in the blogosphere though. I wouldn’t give it up mind. I like the oddness. #BloggerClubUK
It’s definitely an odd world, but odd in a fantastic way
I’ve learned that Nike had it right – just do it. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks, and have fun with it. #BloggersClubUK
Totally agree!
Popping back from #bloggerclubuk
Interesting points. I use exclamation marks a lot, oops! I haven’t spotted any disappearing bloggers yet… #anythinggoes
How funny that you had to go back and remove all the explanation marks. Annoying but I guess easily sorted. #bloggerclubuk
Yes, it was annoying but definitely easier to sort out than some things lol
Haha, I’m totally guilty of overusing exclamation points on my commenting. Not so much in my blog (but I AM off to double check that now!) #BloggerClubUK
I have to really edit myself when I write because I have a bad habit of overusing exclamation marks, I can’t seem to help myself! x #BloggerClubUK
I suddenly have the urge to scan my posts for the over use of exclamation points… hopefully I don’t have too many in there lol I totally agree that talking to other bloggers is critical but so too is knowing that sometimes what they do isn’t right for you & not to panic over it (something that took me time to learn myself). x
That’s good – removing them all is such a pain x
It really is surprising how many just disappear. I can not imagine ever stopping all together. I think if I ever had enough I would keep it on and only post the basic personal diary entries of the boys. After all thats why I started in the first place xx
I can’t imagine just stopping either – so much work just gone x
The last one surprises me too, sometimes, although it’s understandable at the same time. Perhaps real life has to take priority or it’s just too much to keep up with. That’s the part I never realised before I started blogging and in the early days, just how much work you have to do. #BloggerClubUK
Yeah I get that’s its not for everyone, it just shocks me how many people stop. It really is a lot more work than you imagine for sure
Such good points, all.
Use of exclamation marks is so interesting. I think it’s fine to use them liberally in comments, especially short, chatty ones, where you want to seem as friendly as you really are (or friendlier..!).
But in blog posts… I think as the writer, you’re setting the subject. You’re the authority. It’s your space. You’re saying “this is what I’m talking about, come and listen if you want and then we can have a conversation”. The stage is yours. You’re not approaching anyone. I’ve probably not done brilliantly at explaining that, but you’ll probably know the difference in feeling I’m talking about. So it’s quite different.
I find social media and blog disappearances rather poignant. I found one today, as a matter of fact. It always makes me stop and think.
Yes, I know what you mean and I totally agree. I do still overuse them in comments and tweets but I’ve accepted that lol.
It always me think too, especially when it’s a really established blog.
I’ve been blogging for a year now and I’ve learned so much. This week I started going back and removing distractions on my page and in my writing. I need to start talking to more bloggers about this life.
It’s a big task, but it’s so worth it!