Blogging Tips

Today at Kelly's Korner, we're sharing blogging tips.  Honestly, I'm just excited to read other people's tips, as my blog is no where near the level that many are.  However, I thought I'd go ahead and share a few things I've learned in the last two years too.

#1. Blog often.  This is by far the best piece of advice I could give about blogging.  I'm not always good at it; but, there is a definite correlation between the number of readers I have when I'm writing consistently (every day or at least 5 times a week) or not.  One thing that has helped me with this is to create a "New Post" every time I have an idea even if I don't have time (or the words) to write it yet.  Even if all I get down is a title and one or two lines, I have this unfinished post just sitting in my drafts to be finished when I have more time.  This helps me a lot on days when I have "bloggers block" and just can't think of anything to write.  Plus, I can always just delete the draft if I decide later that it isn't worth a post.  Another thing I discovered about a year ago is the "Schedule Post" option under "Post Options."  This way, I can write extra posts when I have extra time (haha) and simply schedule them to go public later.  In fact, I wrote this post on Tuesday morning during Sam's extra long nap time.  Here's a peak at my list as of yesterday:

#2. Blog real. There are a lot of great bloggers out there; but, they are precisely that - already out there.  When you write: be yourself, use your own voice, and don't be afraid to be a little vulnerable.  The blogs I enjoy the most are the blogs about REAL people (well, with the exception of a few super-moms/ fashionistas/ DIY-ers that seem to have it ALL together... they are kind-of fun to read about too). Unlike Facebook or so many of the other social networking sites out there, I have found the blogging community to be less about image and more about reality.  My blog is no exception.  You won't find me bashing my husband or revealing intimate secrets about people I love; but, when it comes to myself... I'm pretty much an open book.  (Yesterday's post is a good example of that.)  I spent many years of my life obsessed with being/appearing "perfect" (and I still struggle with this), but I have found that being authentic is SO freeing.  Sometimes my life is smooth and easy, and I'm not ashamed of that.  But, when it is hard, I'm OK with showing that side of things too.  Recording the ups and downs of life on my blog really helps me process some of my thoughts, go back and see how the Lord has worked in my life and my heart later, and... well, make people like me a little more.  Just be yourself - not mean, backstabbing, or fake - just you. Period.

#3. Blog in community.  If I've learned one thing over the last two years of blogging, it's that the blog world is a HUGE community.You are REALLY missing out if you are just sticking to your tiny little corner of the blogosphere.  READ other blogs.  COMMENT on other blogs.  Participate in blog swaps, link-ups, and guest post opportunities.  Host these things on your blog.  Open yourself up to a dialogue with your readers...  Ask questions and get to know other bloggers. Not only will this GROW your blog; but, it will also make you feel like a part of something BIG. It will remind you that you are not alone on ANY journey, and it will give you access to a WEALTH of ideas, information, and relationships available via the world wide web.  Ask any blogger and I can almost guarantee that they would say the same thing. Here are a couple of my favorite blogs (by regular people) right now:

Domestic Adventure

Through Clouded Glass

(If you're looking for more new blogs to read, check out the favorite blogs link at the top of my page.)

That's all folks.  Happy Friday!

P.S. If there was a point #4, it would be "Blog Concisely."  But, obviously, that's not my forte.  Sorry about that! ;)