My Top 10 Tips For New Bloggers

Hello and welcome to the world of blogging! If you are reading this then chances are you are a new blogger! When I first started my blog there was so much to learn and it was pretty overwhelming. I like to think of myself as a resourceful person so with time I have been able to piece things together but not everyone has the time to do that! 

Since starting my blog I have interacted with lots of other bloggers and have seen things I like and don’t like. Some tips I’ve come across have been helpful, while others have been a little silly. 

If you are looking for a bit of guidance and want some quick and honest tips for starting a blog and being a blogger, you are in the right place.

Disclaimer: Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my blog!

Blogging is not all fun and games

The first myth we need to debunk is that blogging is easy and always fun. 

Blogging and creating content can be a lot of fun but don’t let that fool you. It’s not all working on blog posts while on the beach or getting to attend free events just to take some pictures. 

There is a lot that goes into blogging (SEO, keywords, editing, promoting, photos, etc). Writing one single post can take hours.

If you are like me, then you also probably have a full-time job and do blogging on the side. That means coming home from work and sitting back down at the computer to write, edit, comment on posts, do research, plan content, and so on. There are lots of nights when I just don’t have it in me but do it anyway because I am passionate about this blog. 

So, just remember that blogging can be so fun and rewarding but not every day will feel that way!

How to learn new things as a new blogger

When you start a blog there is a huge learning curve. Chances are you aren’t a website developer or a professional writer or photographer. 

Trying to learn everything on the fly as quickly as you can is not easy. It’s also not easy to figure out what information is bullshit and what’s legit. 

There are tons of courses out there claiming they can get you from 0 to 100,000 views… while some of those courses may be awesome, most are the same old half-helpful garbage. Sorry if that’s harsh but it’s true! Save your money in the beginning and don’t purchase all the courses.

Here are a few ways to learn the new skills you need:

Facebook groups – there are tons of blogging Facebook groups full of some really awesome and helpful people. Most of the questions you have have already been asked so do a quick search in those groups for some basics! 

Podcasts – I love podcasts because 1) they are free and 2) you can find podcasts on pretty much any topic. I have learned a lot about SEO and blog traffic from podcasts. Highly recommend taking some notes when listening! Check out podcasts like The Thrive Blogger Podcast and Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn.

Google search – there are a lot of blogs out there helping bloggers blog better. You are more than likely to find a blog post that helps you learn a new skill like changing your website’s theme or setting up Google Analytics! 

Books – similar to podcasts, there are a few books out there that can help you head in the right direction. Check out The Essential Habits of 6-Figure Bloggers. 

Free webinars and courses – so I mentioned that you don’t need to purchase these super expensive courses right when you start out. The reason for that is because there’s already lots of courses and webinars that are totally free that can give you some basic information. Check out Stupid Simple SEO for his free course (also had a paid one so look for the free one). Debbie Gardner also has a few free courses and ebooks on SEO, Amazon affiliate marketing, and emails.

My top 10 tips for new bloggers 

I already gave you some tips for learning, hopefully, that gets you started in a good place. Now, let’s chat about more specific tips. I’ve noticed some bloggers doing things that I love and also doing things I would change. This is also from my own trial and error. These work for me but you may find a different way and that’s totally okay! Here is what I’ve learned since starting my blog and my biggest tips for you: 

1 – Learn SEO from the start 

This is a tip a lot of bloggers give and I never really listened but I should have.

You don’t need to be a SEO wizard but having some knowledge can really help you start ranking on Google sooner. It is also less time updating older posts later when you ultimately learn more!

2 – Use stock image sites for photos 

Unless you are a food blogger or DIY blogger or something like that, don’t waste all your time trying to get the perfect photos. 

I personally use Unsplash for all my photos and it takes away a lot of stress. Occasionally I will use my own photos but usually I already have them; I’m not taking them specifically for that blog post. 

You may feel it’s cheating or that other bloggers don’t do that but they absolutely do! Unless you have extra hours to kill in your day or can pay someone to take your photos, using stock images is a super easy way to add beautiful photos without having to be a professional photographer.

3 – Create a posting schedule & content schedule from the start 

Having a schedule is super helpful because it keeps you on track and somewhat accountable. 

Start small and go from there and don’t worry about tweaking the schedule! Just have something to go on. 

For example, my posting schedule is every Monday and Thursday. Sometimes I miss a blog post. Sometimes a post goes up on Tuesday instead of Monday. However, most of the time I keep up with my schedule and it helps me get to work and also has helped with my overall growth! 

If you need help with creating a content plan/ just planning ahead in general, check out my content planning post! 

4 – Include Pinterest pins in your posts!!

Nothing makes me more crazy than reading a blog post that I love and want to save for later only to realize they have no Pinterest graphic to save. 

I will not save a post to Pinterest if I have to save a random photo. Maybe I’m alone there but I really like being able to pin a post and actually know what I saved when I go to look for it later. 

It takes 5 minutes on Canva to make a Pinterest graphic. I personally pay for Canva Pro but you can use it for free (just fewer design options).

5 – Join Facebook groups 

Facebook groups can be so helpful to learn new information, make friends, and also grow your traffic! 

Some blogging Facebook groups have daily threads where you can share your blog posts to get comments, shares, etc. It’s a great way to build a community while also promoting your blog!

6 – Check your blogging stats 

First off, make sure you have a WordPress.org website. Then make sure that Google Analytics is connected to your site as well as Google Search Console. 

When you have everything connected you can see what your page views are, what keywords you’re ranking for, where your traffic is coming from, and so on. 

When you are getting started it can be a little overwhelming to look at these things but it’s great to know what’s working and what’s not! By knowing your stats and where traffic comes from you can better plan your content and strategies moving forward. 

Again, you don’t need to be crazy knowledgeable about this but have a general idea of your stats. 

7 – Start an email list 

You might not think it’s worth it but having an email list even if only your mom is on it is a great opportunity for growth later on. 

Just have a little pop-up box on your website and I guarantee some people will subscribe! You can send out an email now and then until you really figure out a plan! I send out an end of the month newsletter right now but have plans to change things up soon! But still, sending a newsletter can be a fun way to engage with your audience.

I use MailerLite and it’s 100% free up to 1000 subscribers.

8 – Don’t try to be everywhere 

I’ve seen advice from other bloggers saying you should be posting on all social media platforms. While I’m sure that can be beneficial for overall growth, it’s just not realistic for most beginner bloggers.

I would suggest creating a Pinterest account and posting there regularly because it can be a great traffic source. Then, pick one other platform to hang out on. It could be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc. Pick one that you enjoy making content for or else you will burn out.

Ultimately when you are a blogger, the goal is to get people to your blog. Yes, it’s fun to grow a social media following but chances are most of your followers aren’t reading your blog. So always make sure that content creation for the blog is #1

9 – Niche down if you want but don’t stress yourself out about it 

When you are starting you hear a lot of people say niche down immediately and usually the niche has to be super specific and small. That’s great if you already have a very niche blog. For others though, it can be hard to know what direction you want to go. 

I suggest picking an overall topic. I’m sure there’s a reason you started your blog. Maybe you want to share DIY projects or maybe you want to share parenting tips. My blog is focused on personal development and bettering your life. 

From your main topic, pick a few subtopics that you enjoy. For myself that looks like personal development, wellness, lifestyle, and blogging. Everything I post has the same underlying goal: to help you better yourself. 

10 – Include your name and picture on your blog 

This may seem obvious but there are actually a lot of bloggers out there who don’t have their names or faces on their blogs. 

Unless you really have a reason for keeping your identity a secret, share this information with the world. I want to know what your name is. I know it’s not “livingyourbestlife . com” lol so what is it?! 

Putting a face and name to your blog makes your readers feel closer to you. It’s a way to connect and shows you’re a real person which people like.

Bonus tip: make Google Docs your friend

I use Google Docs to write all my blog posts. It’s awesome because you can access it on all devices. I wrote pretty much this entire post while in the bathtub on my phone and then edited and scheduled it on the computer… It just gives you so much more flexibility to work when you want from wherever you want.

Related posts:

• 15 Journal Prompts For New Bloggers Who Feel Stuck
• Life By Deanna Is ONE – Here’s What I’ve Learned
• How To Stay Crazy Organized As A New Blogger
• The Best Digital Planning Tools For Bloggers

In conclusion

Being a new blogger can be confusing! I went through a lot of trial and error (and still am) so I wanted to share my top tips from things I have personally learned so far! Are these all the best tips? Probably not. I’m sure there are others out there will many more. However, its a great place to start!

Do you have a tip to share for a new blogger? Add them in the comments!