Welcome back,
I mentioned a little while ago, I’ve opened a FormSpring account so you can all ask me the things you really want to know but don’t want me to know that you want to know. Got it? Awesome.
The very first question I got asked on FormSpring was this…
What would be your 6 tips to a new blogger starting out or advice ?
Damn good question. I have no freaking idea why you asked me. I have only been blogging ‘properly’ for about seven months and I still don’t know what I’m talking about most of the time. But I’m gonna answer anyway. So here you go. The slightly extended answer to what I said on FormSpring anyway.
- Get a good template. Something that stands out and reflect your personality. There are heaps of free ones out there, and Blogger has a section where you can play around with them, but a professional one is cheap and muchly awesome. *Ahem* Shamelss plug ahead- check out Blog Designs By Sarah, who created the template for RRSAHM. She rocks hard.
- Get to know your RSS. No, that’s not me swearing at you. RSS stands for… look, I don’t know. But if you’re doing what I used to do, and clicking around to different blogs to read everyone’s posts, do yourself a favour and click this link. It’ll take you to your Google reader. Don’t be alarmed if there is 3461 UnRead posts, just hit ‘Mark All As Read’ and start fresh. You will thank me in the future. Yes, yes you will.
- Be generous with your linky love. Link to people, blogroll them, grab their buttons, mention them in your posts where relevant, without expecting it in return. People will notice and they’ll love you for it.
- Comment, comment, comment. And, when you’re damn sick of catchpas and boxes- comment some more.
- Blog regularly. At least, ya know, two or three times a week.
- Fake it till you make it. Everyone started off with one Follower. Never write “I know no one is reading this”, or no one ever will be. Put your hand up for things, link up to things, join a forum like Aussie Mummy Bloggers. Never think your blog is too small for ‘something like that’, whatever it is. And every post, write it like there is a 1000 people reading. Because one day, there might be.
- And, of course, have fun. Yeah, I know, that’s seven. But I had to include “Have fun” or I would have sounded sour and jaded. OK? OK.
And one more very important point I almost forgot (And yes, that’s eight. Whatever. Not that anyone except you is counting. Ner.)
- For the love of all that is holy, turn off your catchpas. The little word verification thingie…? Unless you’re getting a stack of spam every day, you really don’t need it yet. Catchpas just make it difficult for people to comment on your blog. And you totally do not want that.
So there you have it, folks. Six seven eight tips from a blogger who doesn’t really know what’s she talking about, about how to write a blog, when I’m fairly certain mine is just one big fluke. Eh. That’s four minutes of your life you won’t get back. Ah well. You- maybe not you, personally, but someone- asked for it. More FormSpring to come in the very near future. I know, I know, you’re just salivating with anticipation. Yay!!
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Great, but didn't you say Fake it? So why are you admitting to not knowing anything about blogging? you're doing a damn good job of pulling the wool over my eyes.
M2M
Have also disabled captchas! (God, I had to look up what on earth it was first though!)
Okay, I just turned off my catchpa. Woo hoo!!! Spammers, come and get me!
But Mummytime just told me to blog like no one is reading! I'm so confused now. And yeah, I've been meaning to turn off my catchpa… I hate those too.
I love google reader, I love Lori!! Thank so much for that great tip
I want to roundhouse kick captchas! Thanks for the advice me lady!!
Love it! I've been blogging for 4 years but its only in the last 7-8 months that i've become interested in the whole blog networking bit – and to think, i could have had a wider readership ages ago!
Stellar advice. Though I'm totally disregarding the part about writing like I have 1000 followers because then I'd never hit publish. I'm totally shy. But for most people, I totally see that as relevant!
Hearing on the catchpa front girlfriend, they were sent to drive us mental
Some great advice there sugar!
awesome tips, Lori, thankyou!
Thanks for all the advice. I try to take all the help I can get from you seasoned people. I hate those catchpas.
Ooh thankyou!
Still can't figure out google reader though… hurts my brain…
Down with captchas!!! I especially hate them because I do a lot of mobile commenting. Sometimes the comment is not worth the 25 minutes it took me to type, load, verify, re-verify, try to remember my password for the account I'm posting from, verify again…etc etc.
Ugh. Drives.me.crazy.
I now know what a Google Reader is – Holy Crapballs there are some reads to be had there. Followed your advice and am starting afresh! xo
That's some great advice, thanks
I especially like "write it like there is a 1000 people reading. Because one day, there might be."
Captcha is the work of Lucifer. Just saying!
I loved this! Expecially as someone just starting out with a public blog (i have a private one over on LiveJournal, but i write in a very very different way, than what i do over here)
Excellent!! I learnt something, thanks!
Those are good tips.