Lessons From My First Year As A Blogger

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I launched my blog on February 15, 2020, and since then, I have learned so many lessons in my first year as a blogger. My first year as a beginner blogger has been a great experience. I have had the opportunity to positively impact my readers. I have partnered with some great companies, and I have connected with other bloggers in the motherhood and lifestyle niches. I have taken some time to reflect on this experience, and these were the most important lessons from my first year as a blogger.

Jump out there

If you’re thinking about launching a blog, jump out there and do it. It took me about three months to launch my blog. Thinking back, it really should not have taken that long. I was nervous about taking the leap and really putting myself out there to the world. I was also really concerned about getting everything “right.” One big lesson that I have learned from my first year as a blogger is learning by doing. You will make mistakes; that’s part of the process. While it is essential to be thoughtful about your blog launch, taking too much time to brainstorm about launching can lead to perfection paralysis.

As a beginner blogger, I would absolutely recommend that you make the initial investment of self-hosting if you intend to monetize your blog.  If you go with free blog sites like Blogger or WordPress.com, you are very limited in how you can monetize. With a self-hosted blog, your monetization possibilities are endless. I use Blue Host for my hosting and also purchased my domain name through them. I have not had any complaints. Once you have secured your domain name, I would also recommend that you also secure that name on the social networking sites of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Tik Tok. While you may or may not be active on any of these social networks, you can choose to market yourself on these platforms down the road once you secure your account name.

As a beginner blogger, get a clear understanding of your niche

If you have ever listened to an influencer/blogger podcast, one of the questions that the podcasters always ask bloggers to define is, “what is your niche?” It is vital to get clear on your niche because by doing that, you also get clear on who your target audience is. Who are you writing for? What do they care about? What might they want to learn more about?

I like to jokingly say that I am my niche! More broadly, I define myself as a motherhood & lifestyle blogger and content creator. I use my platforms to inspire women to care for themselves while balancing motherhood and career. Within my niche, my target audience is working moms and wives. My content revolves around motherhood, entrepreneurial pursuits, self-care, and quick meals because I believe these topics resonate with my target audience.

Connect with other bloggers (especially those in your niche)

I have been very pleasantly surprised by how friendly the blogging community is. As a beginner blogger, I didn’t expect this level of camaraderie in this space, but I am so happy to have found it. In most cases, I connected with these other bloggers in Facebook groups related to blogging or on Instagram by engaging with their content. I have come across some dope bloggers who have answered my questions or made recommendations to help me improve my platforms. I have even had other bloggers recommend me to companies for potential partnership opportunities.

Social media is a must for marketing your blog (but Pinterest is King)

Before becoming a blogger, I thought, “if you build it, they will come.” This just isn’t true. Not only do you need to write compelling and engaging content, but you also have to market a blog for anyone to see it. One of the most affordable ways to do this is through the use of social media. I use my Instagram account as an extension of my blog. I have been able to land sponsorships through my Instagram activity. I have also created a Facebook page specifically for my blog. While I get blog views from Facebook and Instagram, most of my blog views come from my Pinterest account.

Pinterest is a social media network that doubles as a search engine. Before blogging, I only used Pinterest to find the occasional recipe or outfit inspiration. I am learning that many bloggers receive the bulk of their traffic from Pinterest. Most of the visits my blog gets by far are from my Pinterest account. I would recommend that you look up some YouTube videos if you are not familiar with how to use Pinterest as a blogging tool. This was very helpful to me.

You get out what you put in your first year as a blogger

While this lesson may seem pretty obvious, I still thought it was necessary to say. I have noticed that my blog results have been directly tied to the effort I have put into my blog. When I spend time creating content consistently, writing, marketing, and promoting my blog, I get higher views. When I take a break from my blog, or I’m inconsistent my blog visit decrease. In most cases, blog collaborations and partnership dollars are directly tied to how many people read your blog. If blog monetization is the goal, it is essential to show up consistently for your readers.

Which of these tips is most helpful to you? If you’re a seasoned blogger, what advice would you include?