There is no doubt that blogging is amazing. I have said it before, blogging has changed my life, totally and for the better. For all the fabulous things blogging will bring into your life, it is a huge learning curve. Many of us started our blogs on a bit of a whim, having no clue where it would go or exactly what we were getting into. There is so much advice out there on how to blog better and you will even find a good amount of it here on this blog, but there are some things you don’t find out about until your feet are well and truly wet!
Here are a few things that no-one tells you before you start a blog.
Your efforts will be rewarded but it will take A LOT of work
Everything blog related takes time. That perfect blog post or Instagram image isn’t just a fluke, someone has spent ages taking the images, editing them, writing, proofing; it isn’t a quick win. To post regularly and earn from your blog you will have to invest a serious number of hours.
You won’t get rich quick from a blog
Starting a blog, building your followers and growing your online presence takes time. Learning all the skills you need to become successful also takes time.
It’s addictive.
Blogging sucks you in and it is easy to get totally consumed by it. The online world never sleeps and there is always so much to do that it can be difficult to draw a line.
You can do things your own way and still be successful
You should always do things your own way. You will shine if you do and people will respond to that much more than if you are trying to be a carbon copy of another blogger. It is easy to think that you should do everything other’s do, but if you are not feeling it, then don’t do it.
It can make you feel amazing and awful in one single day
You can receive an email offering you the best opportunity, and twenty minutes later you find out your Tots100 score drops and you feel awful! There are a lot of ups and downs to blogging, thankfully many more ups.
You don’t have to go it alone
Most people imagine bloggers to be working alone, but one of the best things about blogging is working with other bloggers. There is no doubt it is wonderful to be your own boss and organise your schedule, but it is equally awesome working with others.
You may end up with the best friends you ever had, who you met through blogging.
You will make friends with people you have met online. I always used to think that must be a bit weird, yet here I am with more ‘proper’ online friends than offline friends. Most have now crossed the line to be considered ‘real’ friends.
We all spend hours online, I am chatting to my blogging friends throughout the day and it’s so lovely to have these friends who ‘get’ what blogging is and what it means.
If you build it, they may not come.
Some people write a post and it goes down extremely well, resonates with lots of people and the traffic comes to their blog. This is not what happens to most people. Most people spend hours building their sites, more time writing fab posts and taking gorgeous photos, but this does not guarantee people will know about your blog and indeed pop over for a visit. You need to go and tell people your stuff is there and encourage them to pop by.
It does cost (something)
I think there is a common misconception that all you need to blog is a computer and a wifi signal. While this is all you need to initially get going, there are various expenditures. Many people start on a free blogging site, such as WordPress. However, if you want to get a little more serious and potentially make money then you can’t do it on a free site. So you will need a domain name, a theme, monthly hosting. None of these things cost the earth, but they do cost. A camera, tripod, props, social media schedulers, monthly fees for access to linky tools or design programmes. All the little bits and bobs add up.
You’re going to spend half your life on social media.
A joy or a necessary evil, social media is very important to the success of your blog. There are so many accounts to manage, so many interactions to be part of and lots of promotion to do, all of which is very time consuming.
You need to develop skills
There is no doubt that good photographs will draw people to your blog, so you will need to improve your skills and you will also need to learn how to edit your pictures. As bloggers we are all things to all people within our blogs; we need to wear many hats. You will find that you need to learn about SEO, possibly coding, accounts, the list goes on and on.
Blogging is competitive.
Hundreds of people start blogs every day and even if you’re good at what you do, there will be others who are good at it too. To be successful you need to work hard and have persistence, you have to be prepared for the knocks. Although it is competitive, it doesn’t feel like it and on the whole people are really thrilled to hear about the achievements of others.
Blogging is the most supportive place to be.
Despite the competition, it is the most wonderfully supportive place you can be, FACT.
So there you have it, a few things they might not have told you before you started your blog. If you had been told, you would still do it right?! I know I would! What were you not told before you started a blog? Would it have made a difference?
xxxx
LIKE IT? THEN PIN IT!
Comments 36
Yes yes to all of the above! I especially love the support and the friendships I’ve grown over the past few years – yours included! x x
This is so true! I am heading towards 6 months of blogging and it has totally sucked me in, I love it! I am still finding my feet and my place in the fabulous blogging community, but I am excited about the future and all the possibilities that blogging can be xx
I find this really encouraging! I am fairly new and having a bit of an off day today but am really positive in the direction my blog is going! Thank you so much for sharing all your tips and advice! 🙂
I’m finding all of this true. I love the support and community feeling of being a bloggger, but probably didn’t know quite how much time I’d spend on things like social media and linkys (but if it wasn’t for them I’d have no readers of course!)
Ah love this. There are so many posts out there telling you how to get rich blogging etc.. and I think that is why so many people take it up (and then quit) these days. Blogging is super hard work but you are right, it is well and truly worth it. xxx
I’m only blogging a couple of weeks and I’m totally ducked in! Love the community and the people I’m meeting through us, and really enjoying writing. You’re right, it’s all consuming
Yes, yes, YES! A brilliant list, and one I’d definitely share with anyone thinking about starting a blog! X
#TheList
FAB list! Every single one so true. I agree with Kate this is a must share list with anyone thinking about starting a blog. It takes a lot of work but it is also so addictive, I just love it! I saw a clip for one those ‘Real Housewives of Orange County/New York/’ and one of them says in it “i’ve just started a blog and it is like a full-time job” which made me laugh but it’s true, there is always something that needs writing, sharing, commenting, reading, tweeting etc. Since starting blogging I have never had so many late nights reading other blogs. I know, very rock and roll – not. Also so supportive too, you and Amy in especially amazingly supportive and generous with your time and support. Yay to blogging. Sorry, I am waffling, so I will stop! Loved this though 🙂 #thelist
Aby, this resonates so much with me. I started blogging in January and had NO IDEA what was involved – I just enjoyed writing the blogs! Your list incorporates everything useful for a new blogger to know. Really useful information. Thank you and lovely to link up on #TheList Alison
I think that like so many people, I had no idea how much work could go into writing a blog and how many skills aside from the ability to write, it would demand. It’s very early days for me but I love it and it gets me out of bed in the morning (that and the screaming baby!) I need something creative to do during my maternity leave! I had no idea that I would meet such lovely people online either – it’s really true that the blogging community is so lovely! Fab post as always x #TheList
you’ve totally hit the nail on the head Aby, I have days of loving the things that pop into my inbox then something knocks you down and I don’t thing non bloggers truly understand the effort and work which it involves
Agree completely on every point! Especially about knowing when and where to draw the line, I struggle with that one a lot x
Fab list here. I had NO idea how much hard work blogging would be when I started. I genuinely thought you just wrote stuff and people would read it..how wrong was I! I love if all though but like you said it is very time consuming and you have to work really hard if you want to grow. Brilliant list for anyone thinking if stating a blog xx
Great post and some really useful tips. Trying to juggle all the parts and being on top of posts is my issue at the moment , but have a list!!! thanks for sharing #TheList
Loved this, and was nodding away throughout! Social media has really taken over my life, but blogging is so addictive, and I’ve ‘met’ so many people, it’s worth it! xx
I wish I had read this a year ago – but you’re right, I would still have started regardless.
This is a great list. I’ve been blogging about a month. Already addicted ha! I’ve been so amazed by how supportive & welcoming everyone is. I only wish I’d started blogging when Arch was a baby (he is 4) as I think I’d have felt less isolated. #thelist
This is so true, I didn’t realise how much work goes into promoting a blog, but it’s so addictive. I’ve inly just started but I have so many ideas it’s very exciting. Thank you for posting this 🙂
Such an incredible world!! Love the community and the information that ‘real’ people share. But yes to how quickly it can consume you. So important to keep to goals and boundaries…if only I knew how!! 😉
This is such a useful post. I definitely set my blog up on a whim about a month ago but it’s taken over my life (in a good way). Other bloggers have been so generous and supportive it’s been overwhelming at times. #TheList
I knew nothing when I started my blog, I just wanted a place to express myself and record memories. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot but still know very little! #TheList
These are great! I just started my blog a couple of months ago and it’s been such an interesting ride! I’m completely sucked in!
That’s very true about doing things your own way and still being successful – I think it’s really important to stick to who you are #thelist
A really great honest list. I have to say I thought blogging wouldn’t cosy a penny but once you have been doing it a while with limited resources and you see other doing it much better, it’s worth the money to go self-hosted. It’s so true about the support from other bloggers I’ve not met an unfriendly person yet. Although this would have been fab to know from the start, it’s nice figuring it all out ourselves isn’t it. Fab post Aby! Thanks for hosting x #thelist
Such a great list. Totally agree with it being addictive and bringing friends and love the community spirit but have run into some very competitive people who want instant success too. It is hard work and you do need lots of skills but I love it.
A great post, as usual. So many things apply to me- especially the bit about feeling amazing and awful in one day. I regularly have days when I think ‘why on earth am I bothering? I’m awful at this’, but an hour later I’ll be loving it again. #TheList
So true about things not happening by fluke. Like your posts, my cartoons take hours, even a few black and white lines about which people go “Oh you’re so lucky to have this skill and draw so fast!”
Ahem NO! Ars est celare artem!! Exactly like writing a good sentence, good bloggers know it takes at least 20-40 edits for each post and the hardest thing is to make it look simple.
Yes all so true! It’s so enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. I feel like I’m going mad at the minute as there is so much I want to do but not enough spare time – You forget about the kids! Sometimes I get so consumed by it I have to give myself a time out. Love this post x
100% agree with everything as usual 🙂 When I began I had no idea what a steep learning curve blogging would be. I still have such a long way to go (especially re photography!) but I’m also mega proud of what I’ve achieved. I’m terrible with technology and actually put off starting a blog for a long time as I was so put off by the technical side. Now I’ve started one, and gone self hosted and now sorted out my theme and logo. Really simple to some but this was really difficult for me so I feel proud. Thanks for sharing as always X #thelist
Great advice, Although I’ve probably been doing this for 18 months sometimes I still fell like a newbie. I have a part-time job too so have to fit in blogging around that and it suits me fine at the moment, I may not have a huge following but I’m grateful for any feedback and I’m enjoying my little journey.
Sarah #TheList
Cor blimey yes, it takes time but cor blimey yes, it’s rewarding in so many ways that even a someone who loves writing, finds it a challenge to put into words! In hindsight, I wish I had gone self-hosted straight away! Thanks for hosting #TheList
This list is so helpful! I know I didn’t expect the world of blogging to be so big. There I was thinking, yeah I’ll just write a couple of posts each week…But I love all the different ways to blog, through my photos or Tweets.Every like, comment, new follower and Insta heart makes me want to write more and more x #thelist
Great round up post as ever, completely tasked to all of these espically the ups and downs I had no idea when I started how a simple thing can affect me so much. Thanks for hosting #TheList
These are all so true! Definitely a lot of ups and downs! #thelist
Great tips.. “spending half your life on social media”… what tips do you or others have so that it does not take over your life and start affecting ones relationships with spouse and kids? Thanks in advance
Great list and I like how you are direct too like saying that if you want to make it whatever that means anyway, you will have to learn new skills like taking pics well