This is a guest article written by #1 bestselling author Pamela Zimmer:
In my last post, I discussed getting your blog up and running. Why are you blogging? What is it about? How do you get started? Hopefully you’ve now had a chance to move forward in your own blog creation. Let’s assume you now at least have your blog generated, your categories set up, the theme customized, and (maybe) you’ve posted one or two times. What’s next?
Be Consistent.
When you’re first beginning, it might seem overwhelming to imagine yourself writing a new post every day – so don’t. Start small and manageable, like once a week; just be consistent in how often you post. Don’t worry if your posts aren’t the Holy Grail of the blogging world. As long as you are true to why you started your blog in the first place, and keep your posts authentic, then you have little to worry about.
The best piece of advice I ever got was to be consistent.
Once you get into a rhythm and feel more comfortable with the whole posting process, you can start to increase the frequency of your blog posts. Now, I have to admit, there are times when I barely get one post done a week. I don’t beat myself up about it. I acknowledge what’s happening in my life at the time, and then I write about it (remember, my blog is about sharing my experiences and having a personal, creative outlet). However, to create the most value in your blog, keeping a consistent posting schedule is important.
There’s more to consistency than just frequency.
It’s great to have a regular schedule of blog posts, but if they aren’t consistent with your topic, then it becomes confusing to both you and your readers. “It is important to remember that your blog should only have one topic.” If your blog is about your video production business, don’t slip a post in there about your recent family vacation to Italy, unless, of course, you filmed the whole trip and are offering tips for other travelers wanting to do the same.
Keep your articles relevant to what your blog is about.
The last part of being consistent has to do with tags and keywords. Huh? Yes. When I first started blogging, I considered myself a fairly computer-literate person, but there were certain terms (like tags and keywords) that I didn’t have much experience with. I had heard them being tossed around and talked about, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to effectively use them.
The easiest way for me to explain them, is to consider them a lot like your categories, which help you “file” your post in the right location. Your tags and keywords help you, your readers, and search engines find those specific articles within your filing system. The trick about tags and keywords, much like categories, is not to go overboard.
You can, and should, have multiple tags for each post (unlike categories), but be consistent in the words you choose to highlight as keywords.
There is often the temptation to add a tag for every possible description of the same word. For example: Mommy, Mother, Mom all mean the same thing. Pick one and stick with it.
Comment on and follow other blogs.
I remember how excited I was when I got my first notification that someone liked and left a comment on one of my blog posts. It was the highlight of my day, my week! Imagine giving someone else that feeling. It might not be their first ever comment, but everyone loves feedback. Not that it should matter, but knowing that someone is reading your blog (and paying attention to it) offers validation for having it.
In today’s world it’s all about creating relationships.
Choose wisely the blogs you decide to follow. It’s fine to read about varying topics, but don’t just follow all the blogs you happen to browse upon in a day. When you are thoughtful about the blogs you patronize, those blogs will start to notice you and hopefully return the engagement.
Link to your social media sites.
If you are a beginner in the online world, then this might seem like another overwhelming task. What if I don’t have any social media sites? What if I’m only on Facebook and not Twitter, Linked-In, YouTube or the oodles of other available sites? Don’t worry! It takes time to build your online network. Take it slow, one step at a time. Do what’s comfortable for you, at your own pace.
Once you have your social media accounts set up, link your blog to them. This usually is a simple action, as most social media sites now expect you to link between them and are very accommodating.
Why is this important? It creates efficiency.
If you could automatically update several sites at once, each time you made a new blog post, why wouldn’t you? The more you are visible in the online world, the more people will find you and get to hear your message.
Create an ‘About Me’ page.
If you haven’t already done this, do it now! You’re to the point now where people are starting to find you, whether they stumble upon you browsing the web, or whether you have directly given them the link to your blog. Once they’re there, people want to know who you are.
By creating an ‘About Me’ page, you are letting people know you’re real.
Important tip: be concise in the information you share.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate, with your complete biography and business history. In fact, by keeping it short and sweet, it is more likely to get read in its entirety, rather than passed over to the next page, or worse yet, the next blog.
Don’t get discouraged.
You’ve been blogging consistently for several months. You’re sticking to your topic, categories, tags and keywords. So where are all the people? How come no one is following you?
Be patient. It takes time to build presence.
Noah’s Ark wasn’t built in a day, and it’s unrealistic to expect that your blog will become famous overnight. Keep writing, and your followers will come.
Be Authentic.
If there’s one piece of advice that applies to everyone, in every situation, it’s to be authentic. Often easier said than done, I know, but so important!
No one wants to read something that isn’t genuine.
When people take the time to read your posts, whether it’s a story, a product review, or a welcome to your newest employee or business partner, offer them a reason to come back. By writing what you’re passionate about (which is hopefully also what your blog is about), and by coming from your heart, it’s hard to go wrong. It might be scary at first to open yourself up, but trust me, it’s worth it.
When all else fails, or when you find yourself off track, remember why you started your blog in the first place.
Reflect on the beginning; take yourself back to the dreams you had and the vision you saw.
I have a saying, which sometimes I find myself using all too often: “Life happens.” When life happens to you, embrace it. Keep in mind, it’s just a blog, have fun with it.
I sincerely hope you find success with your blogging and I can’t wait to find you!
Connect with Pamela on on Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In.
Pamela Zimmer quit her career for Motherhood. Being an Architect, and an entrepreneur at heart, Pamela struggled with her decision to have her own Architecture firm. She knew she always wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, but also knew she wanted to have a successful career. After 13+ years of working in Architecture, 7 of which she ran her own successful business, Pamela finally chose to listen to her heart and realized that being a stay-at-home Mom was her true passion and life purpose. She is now a #1 best-selling author in the book ‘Get Your Woman On!’ and strives to support and inspire other women who are ready to make their life transformation. Pamela is working on her own book, as well as starting a business as a peer-to-peer counselor for Postpartum Depression. Her blog, Stories of a Mom, is where Pamela shares her experiences, from one Mother to another.
