I can’t believe that it’s been three years (or almost has been, rather). My first post was on February 16th, and when I started my blog I had no idea where this blog would take me or how long I’d keep it up. Yet here we are, three years later, and I’m still loving this space and all of the amazing people I’ve been able to meet through it.
As I celebrate this anniversary this week (don’t forget about the giveaway!) I thought it would be appropriate to share some of the things I’ve learned over the last few years!
You have to find your blog’s sweet spot I know this has been said about business and product offerings, but it works exactly the same for blogging. If you’ve been writing for a while and have noticed that your blog isn’t really growing, it’s probably because you haven’t found your sweet spot. I spent a whole year writing things that I wanted to share not even thinking about my readers or if they cared to read it, then I kept wondering why I wasn’t getting any comments, shares, or many views. When it comes down to it, you have to find that sweet spot between what you want to write and what your readers want to read from you. Once you’ve found that, you’ll start to see your blog grow faster.
Write posts related to your business If you have your own business and it’s online based, I would definitely say you should be blogging; however, that’s not enough. You should also be sharing posts that relate to your business. I can’t tell y’all the number of clients I’ve gotten from people who have found my blog somewhere, seen my work, and then wanted to work with me. This also goes if you have products (digital or physical). If you have ebooks, don’t shy away from sharing posts related to the topic in the ebook. Those posts will likely encourage someone to buy it who might have been on the fence about whether they needed it.
Push beyond your bubble There are two sides of this – one: don’t be afraid to be personal with your readers. Last January I shared one of my most personal posts, and the feedback on it was truly incredible. It made me feel so loved, and I realized what a great community I had here. Two: share posts from your friends and beyond! I’d like to say I’ve created relationships with some people just from me sharing their posts around here or on Twitter. Not just big bloggers, but look at your peers too! Blogging is all about community, so don’t shy away from it.
Don’t be afraid to try new things Last but not least, if aren’t blogging for your business and you’re just blogging for fun, don’t be afraid to try new things. Throughout my time with this blog I’ve written a few DIY posts, recipes, and fashion. None of those are still featured around here today, but that’s okay! It’s all about trying out what you enjoy writing / sharing and what your readers enjoy reading. If something doesn’t feel right anymore, keep exploring. You might have not found your sweet spot just yet!
There you have it! I love this little space, and I’m so excited to keep writing and hanging out with y’all around here in the years to come!