
To put in bluntly, blogging is not rocket science (Even though there are people who would like you to believe that it is).
I will admit, that no one really masters the art of blogging the first time around since it is something that people gradually learn and get better at as time passes.
As a matter of fact, anyone can get better at blogging (Provided that they have a genuine desire to advance themselves in the area of blogging and that they are willing to put the things that will greatly enhance their blog into practice).
The biggest irony is that these things are simple — things that bloggers rarely take into consideration.
At this point, I have certainly aroused your curiosity and I am going to delve deeply into those things that bloggers rarely take into consideration; so without further ado, it is time to let you know what they are.
1.) Time Is Of The Essence
Yes, it is true, my friend. Time is really of the essence where blogging is concerned.
And, why is it that time is of the essence when it comes to blogging?
Because we do not have an entire day (twenty-four hours) to sit down at a computer (or to utilize a mobile device) with the intentions of composing a blog post.
From a realistic point of view, our time is spent handling the things that life sends our way.
Even those people who blog for a living are known to spend portions of their time doing the following things:
- Liaising with their clientele.
- Promoting their blog posts via social media.
- Creating and selling their very own products.
- Finding innovative ways of attracting new readers.
- Finding time for their chores.
- Spending quality time with their friends, relatives, family and associates.
Bloggers have to be well-versed in the area of time management.
So, my friend, it would be in your best interest to compose a blog post quickly and that can be brought into fruition by doing the following things:
- Researching your topic in advance.
- Creating an outline for your blog post.
- Writing first and editing after.
Highly skilled bloggers are capable of completing the draft copy for their blog post (as in the case of long-form content) in approximately two hours’ time or less.
By the way, if you happen to be one of those bloggers who are unable to complete the draft copy for their blog post in one sitting, you can do it in small chunks within the period of thirty minutes; this method can be carried out a few days a week (In the end, you will have a completed draft copy for your blog post).
2.) Scheduled Blog Posts Work In Your Favour
In my blog post, 7 Ways To Blog Like A Pro In 2019, I highlighted the importance of being consistent.
And, guess what?
Scheduling your blog post for a particular day at a certain time (for example, every Tuesday at 9:00 AM) is a form of consistency.
If you are one of those newbie bloggers who does not know how to schedule their blog posts, Schedule a Post, by the WordPress Support Team will provide you with the necessary information.
I have adopted the habit of scheduling my blog posts.
And, what is the reason for scheduling my blog posts?
Because, it helps me to remain consistent (And, scheduling your blog posts will also help you to remain consistent).
3.) You Must Be Able To Live With What You Posted
Before you press the Publish button, ask yourself this question: “Am I willing to live with what I have posted?”
If you have said, “Yes,” to that question, it is okay for you to press the Publish button.
I strongly advise against publishing blog posts that you are unable to live with.
Even though there is the option of deleting blog posts that you are unable to live with, someone (or some people) may have gotten access to the cached copies of those blog posts via Google.
So, as a rule, never publish anything online that you are unable to live with.
4.) It Is Not Mandatory To Go With A Popular Niche
I will admit, that your blog has the potential of acquiring lots of incoming views by the very act of choosing a popular niche.
However, it is not mandatory for you to go with a popular niche.
You can create your own niche (Provided that you are genuinely passionate about your chosen niche).
And, it is okay for you go with a popular niche (Provided that you are sincerely passionate about it).
Trouble arises when you choose to go with a popular niche for the sake of popularity and you lack the passion for that niche.
How long do you think that you can survive in the blogosphere publishing blog posts that are based on a niche that you are not passionate about?
Chances are, that you would not survive long in the blogosphere. You will eventually grow fed up of your blog and abandon it.
Always remember, that passion has a huge part to play where the longevity of your blog is concerned.
5.) You Need To Stand Out
Countless people blog on a regular basis; therefore, as a blogger, you will need to stand out.
The good news is that you can stand out in the blogosphere by:
- Publishing epic content on your blog.
- Publishing content that can be found nowhere else on the internet.
- Publishing content that provides a solution to a problem that someone (or some people) are currently faced with.
- Being a guest blogger on a blog of a reputable blogger.
- Practising what you preach.
- Being of service to others.
Dear friend, those are some of the best ways to stand out as a blogger (And, you are more than welcome to put those suggestions into practice).
6.) You Need To Discard Limiting Beliefs
Psychologists have known for ages, that our beliefs can either free us or imprison us; it is the limiting beliefs that work against us.
Here are some examples of limiting beliefs:
- I will never be a fantastic blogger.
- I do not think that people are interested in my blog posts.
- I will never make any sort of progress in the area of blogging.
To acquire success in the world of blogging, you will need to replace those limiting beliefs with limitless beliefs.
Here are some examples of limitless beliefs:
- I have the potential of becoming a fabulous blogger.
- Once people become aware of my blog’s existence, they will become interested in it.
- It is possible for me to make lots of progress in the area of blogging.
For the sake of your blog’s growth, discard all of those limiting beliefs at once!
7.) Your Audience Can Make You Or Break You
A blogger’s audience usually comprises of their fellow bloggers, readers who found their blog via a search engine, people who came across a link to their blog via social media, friends and family; therefore, we must prove to those people that we truly appreciate them; which can be done by doing the following things:
- Remaining consistent with our blog.
- Responding to the comments that were made in the comments section of our blog in a polite and professional manner.
- Publishing amazing content.
- Being an exemplary blogger.
- Being authentic.
Failure to put the above things into practice could result in people unsubscribing from your blog and readers from around the world losing their interest in your future blog posts.
8.) You Need To Develop A Thick Skin
Some bloggers are known to experience psychological pain whenever a person (or a group of people) disagreed with what they posted on their blog.
The God’s/Goddess’s truth is that everyone is not going to agree with what you posted on your blog.
So, do not feel badly because someone (or some people) disagreed with the message in a blog post of yours.
Also, some people tend to do away with blogging whenever they are confronted by a troll on their blog.
Dear friend, you should not have the cause to abandon your blog (Especially when you have clashed with a troll).
A simple remedy is to manually approve your comments; that way, the troll will be unable to cause chaos in the comments section of your blog.
You can develop a thick skin by doing the following things:
- Refusing to take things personally.
- Not allowing people to get to you.
- Learning to handle criticism from others.
- Realizing that rude people possess lots of emotional baggage.
Having a thick skin will help you to survive in the blogosphere.
9.) You Need To Be One With Simplicity
I am one of those people who adore a simple and clean-looking blog theme; those that are distraction-free and comes with fonts that are easy to read.
Why have I chosen a simple and clean-looking theme?
I chose it because it allows people to peruse my blog posts easily.
Another form of simplicity is putting across your content in a manner that is easy for most people to understand.
Whenever I share a Linux-related blog post with my viewing audience, it receives lots of views, likes and comments.
People can relate to the content because I made sure that it would be easily understood by people of all educational backgrounds.
If I were to use a technical term, I would break it down for the reader by telling them the meaning of the technical term or I would provide a link to the technical term (The reader can do their part by clicking the link; which would forward them to an article that gives them an in-depth knowledge on the technical term).
The problem with most Linux-related articles on WordPress is that they only cater for the people who already understand the workings of Linux; they are not relatable to those people who are outside of the Linux community.
Your blog post does not have to be complex like a Ph.D. thesis.
If you want the majority of people to understand what you have written, put it across in simple language.
10.) You Must Possess The Willingness To Improve Your Blogging Skills
If you have ever compared your first blog post with your most current blog post, you would clearly see that you have made improvements in the area of blogging (You probably cringed when you glanced at your first blog post).
Thankfully, most bloggers have that inner desire to improve their blogging skills.
A person can sharpen their blogging skills by doing the following things:
- Taking a blogging course.
- Purchasing an eBook that is based on blogging from a reputable blogger.
- Taking free advice from reputable bloggers online.
- Practising what they have learned about blogging on a regular basis.
Dear friend, you were meant to grow in the direction of greatness; therefore, improving your blogging skills is part of your growth process.
Final Thoughts
While blogging may not be a proverbial walk in the park for you, it is possible for you to get better at it (And, that can be done by taking the ten points that I made into serious consideration).
You deserve to be a successful blogger (And, I genuinely want you to do well at blogging).
By the way, if you found this blog post helpful and you think that it would be equally helpful to other bloggers, you are more than welcome to share it with them via your social media accounts.
And, I hereby invite you to subscribe to Renard’s World.
Thank you so kindly for reading!
Excellent post, Renard, Happy New Year.
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🙂 Thank you, Julie.
And, many happy returns!
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I second that Julie.
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Always on point, Renard!
Nothing is more dangerous to a blogger’s growth than self-doubt. You can’t be a pessimistic blogger and last long in the blogosphere. It’s nearly impossible
And it’s just like you said in your eighth point. Bloggers should develop a thick skin if they’re going to survive in the blogosphere. We should accept that not everyone will agree with our posts and when people harshly criticise us, we shouldn’t take it personally.
Instead, let us assess ourselves to see if we are truly at fault, then correct our mistakes if we are. Otherwise, just ignore the criticisms and move on. Live and let live.
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🙂 Thank you for your valuable input, Obinna!
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Are you a professional blogger Renard?
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🙂 No, I am not a professional blogger, my friend.
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I ask, because you seem quite knowledgeable when it comes to blogging.
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🙂 I will admit that I am very knowledgeable when it comes to blogging.
Renard’s World is not my first blog and I have been doing this sort of thing for years.
I have paid close attention to the evolution of blogging.
You can think of me as, “A well-informed personal blogger.”
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Ok, I can dig that.
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Would ever consider being a guest on my podcast?
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🙂 Honestly, I have thought about it. So, the answer is “Maybe” which of course is way better than an absolute, “No!”
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Fair enough
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Super informative.
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🙂 Thank you!
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Great information, thank you Renard! Limited time is my problem but I started scheduling my posts and is working perfectly for me ☺️
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🙂 You are welcome, my friend.
And, I am happy to know that scheduling your blog posts worked out well for you.
Thank you for your valuable input!
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Thanks for the excellent advice.
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🙂 You are welcome, Sadje!
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👍🙏🏻
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A big thank you.Great teaching and advice.
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🙂 You are most welcome!
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Awesome post Renard! Blessings ❤️
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🙂 Thank you, Ann!
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You’re welcome Renard!
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Thanks, really appreciate this.
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🙂 You are welcome and thank you for appreciating this blog post!
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Hi Renard,
Do you have a method for writing posts quickly? I’m just curious how long it takes you. Though – oftentimes once I get started it goes faster than I have thought 🙂 Trying to get more consistent as you have suggested a few times now 🙂 Thanks for the reminders and tips Renard.
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🙂 Yes, Lisa. I do have a method of writing quickly.
Once, I have come up with a title for my blog, I brainstorm my subheadings and it works from there (Which is part of my outlining process).
In my case, it would take me approximately two to three hours to compose a blog post and I do take breaks in between. If I am feeling lazy, I would compose two-thirds of my content one day and the other third the day after.
The secret is having an idea of what it is that you are going to write beforehand.
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Thanks Renard, I would say mine take a little longer without breaks. I do it in several days as well as I think of more ideas when I do break 🙂
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Reblogged this on LIFE STORIES FROM LINCOLN.
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🙂 Thank you for reblogging!
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Your welcome, fantastic post
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Great post and tips! It took me a long time to learn the majority of this but I’ve come to the point where improving on everything I’ve set as a foundation is important and necessary. Happy new year!
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🙂 Thank you!
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Going on my one year anniversary the one thing that I feel a blogger needs to keep in mind is voice. Do not sound mechanical or try to be someone you’re not. Use your writer’s voice. That’s what makes you unique. Embrace who you are and your following will grow.
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🙂 I absolutely agree and thank you for your valuable input!
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Reblogged this on Tech Reblogs and commented:
Not tech, but relevant to all bloggers.
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🙂 Thank you for reblogging!
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Great post!
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Another excellent post to take to heart! Thank you!
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🙂 You are welcome!
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Thanks for the post, it’s going to really help a lot.
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🙂 You are welcome, Chris!
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A thorough and insightful post. I honestly comment manage my blog if I didn’t schedule my content, it was the one big factor that helped me stay consistent and also took pressure away on week’s I got ill.
I do feel sometimes people chase popular niches even if they aren’t that interested in them, and it shows. Definitely being authentic is one of the most important keys to being a good blogger
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🙂 Ari, I would like to thank you for sharing your perspective!
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This was definitely helpful. It was a great reminder of my true intention. Hopefully it continues on for the rest of the year.
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🙂 That is good to know, Eva.
And, thank you for your valuable input!
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Anytime 😊
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Good article. And in a knick of time. I’ve been out of it for some time and just posted my second post today. Yep, I’m that new.
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🙂 Thank you for sharing that with me.
And, I wish you all the best with blogging!
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Thank you for sharing this with us. It is really helpful. I find that time-management is extremely important and timing my posts has helped me exponentially. I’m definitely going to be working on point number 5 this year too 🙂
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🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting, Ash.
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I’ve decided to spend more of my time focusing on my blog. Thanks for these helpful tips.
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🙂 You are most welcome!
And, thank you for reading and commenting!
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We are so emotional , because We are two hearts with so many stories!!
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🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting!
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It is a good read. Very informative. I’ve just started blogging- tistar.co.uk
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🙂 Thank you and I would like to wish you a pleasurable bloggging journey.
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Exactly right! I couldn’t agree more. The font issue doesn’t make any sense! I hate it! I like to have fun with my words. The fonts available are so boring.
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🙂 Hi, Serena. I believe that the comment that you made here was meant for my other blog post, “Is WordPress Meeting Your Needs?”.
However, I would still like to thank you for sharing your perspective.
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Your comments are very helpful. As a beginner blogger, I learned a lot from your blog. Thanks!
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🙂 You are welcome, Kate!
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Another great post showered with helpful tips! Thanks for posting! 🙂
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🙂 You are most welcome and thank you for reading and commenting!
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This is great. I especially relate to #6. I have an influence in my life that is telling me to give up blogging and I will have to discard my own limiting beliefs in order to move forward. Thank-you.
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🙂 You are welcome.
And, may you always possess the desire to blog and to learn everything that you can about blogging.
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As a new blogger, these tips will really help! I’m forever wanting to practice and improve my writing.
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🙂 I truly hope that you make vast improvements in the area of blogging and I also wish you all the best with your blog.
Thank you for your participation!
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