USE THIS AMAZING ADVICE FROM OTHER BLOGGERS TO DELIGHT YOUR AUDIENCE
This is a guest post written by Rhianne from Little Novelist.
One thing we always need is a little help from other people.
When I first started blogging I didn’t know what I was doing or what it would amount to, but I knew it was something I loved to do. Blogging is a tough gig and whether you do it for passion or profit, there are always those times where it gets too much and we feel the burnout.
I have gone and gotten some advice from some superstar people and accumulated it into one place for you all. Everyone needs a little encouragement and whether you’re just starting out or you want to up your blogging just that little bit more, these bits of advice might just be the things to help you.
Let’s start with some basics! I went onto Facebook and asked what advice have you been given or would give to other bloggers who asked for advice. These were the best of the bunch...
Remember you do not need to blog everyday. Find a schedule that works for you.
Niche down, of course you might be the lover of many things, just make sure you’re the master of one before you attempt another.
Be Passionate. If you don’t truly love your work then it’ll show and the readers won’t come back time and time again to read it.
If it’s not something you would say out loud do not write and publish it.
Consistency is so important. People need to know when you’ll be posting so they’ll want to come back to your website. Even planning your posts in advance can help with this.
Find a schedule that works for you. Too much can lead to burnout and too little can lead to boredum. Make sure there is the right in between
Brett Michael Orr: blog and Twitter @brettmichaelorr
The best advice I’ve ever received about blogging came from fellow blogger (and well, just about the queen of Australia’s bookish community), Jeann @ Happy Indulgence, when I was going through a rough patch in writing and blogging.
Everyone feels the pressure of keeping a blog in tip-top shape, always posting content, always interviewing or reviewing or doing bookish memes, and the reality is, that’s not always possible. I feel that strain a lot, and went through a period of time when I was really upset about my blog (and my novel-writing), because I found I was comparing myself to others and setting unrealistic expectations.
Jeann reminded that, particularly for authors and writers, a blog should only supplement your writing. If you’re a writer, then make your novel your highest priority, or else you risk spreading yourself too thin. What really matters as a writer? Will having an extra few subscribers on your blog help you become a published author? Book blogging and book writing take up equally exhaustive amounts of time, so make sure you know which goal you value most.
Don’t compare yourself with others. The comparison trap is a risky game, and everybody loses it. My advice to others is: Be your own person, blog how you want to blog, and make sure that you’re honest with your readers – I think honesty is the most important part of blogging, and readers will love all of your posts for being genuinely you.
Veronica Zubek - Two Easels
Don’t look at stats everyday, they will drive you mad. Take one day a month to assess how that month went and then give it up. Checking your analytics daily will drive you insane. People will come to your blog if you put up good content and are active on social media.
Denise Page
My favourite bit of advice I came across was to just start writing, even if you don't know what you want to write about ... the more you just write, the more it will start to be revealed what you like to write about.
My advice to add to this would be to start writing just for yourself at first ... don't make it public. That way, you have the private space for facing your fears and taking the first step ... it's lets you really get comfortable with just saying what you want, how you want, without feeling like you have to filter or edit for an audience.
Now advice from me. ..
Seriously be passionate about your work. Don’t start something just because you think you can make money from it. Sure there are loads of bloggers out there who make money and are living it up with the life of Riley but honestly it doesn’t just happen. You gotta put in a lot of real work and then it’ll eventually pay off but if you aren’t passionate about what you’re writing it will show through and people will stop reading.
The best advice I ever received was simply this; you’re doing great keep going.
What one piece of advice would you share with other bloggers? Leave it in the comments below.
Rhianne Williams is a Young and New Adult writer with an obsession for fantasy, adventure and romance. Little Novelist is her corner of the internet where she hopes to inspire and help other writers in all aspects of writing and blogging. When she’s not writing or at her day job, you’ll usually find her with her head in a good book or enjoying time with family and friends. You can get a free copy of her Generating Novel Ideas Workbook by signing up here.