Monday, May 18, 2015

Blog Tips / What I Wish I Would Have Known:

Today we are going to switch it up from the usual outfit posts. I have been wanting to do this post for a little while now however I wanted to give myself a good year blogging before I shared with you tips on what I have learned. I am not an expert in blogging at all though I do feel I can proved some accurate info for those just starting off! So lets get into this...


1. Things Will Never Be Perfect 

When I started Melchicmay I wanted it to be perfect. I though since I read fashion blogs all the time I knew how to do things. I was afraid of things not meeting a standard I had set in my head. Though when starting a blog you must understand know matter how hard you try or how much research you do things will never be perfect when you first start off.


2. When In Doubt Google It

You have probably heard this before but it's so true. When I started Melchicmay I had really know idea how to do much of anything when it came to blogging. So I taught myself with lots of hard work. Youtube was the best way for me to learn a new technique especially when it came to HTML coding because that is just so confusing! 

3. Pictures Are Key 

When I say pictures are key this does not mean you have to go out and buy a crazy expensive DSL camera. I still use either my iPhone or a Nikon Coolpix though there are things you can do to improve your picture quality. First ALWAYS take your pictures outside. When I first started blogging I took my pictures on a white wall in our living room. The quality was terrible looking back on it. I know it can be hard to take pictures outside in the rain & snow but it's worth it. Also don't be afraid to use editing software in iPhoto or Lightroom. Finally when you upload pictures to your blog make sure the size is big because know one wants pictures where you have to squint to see.  

4. Don't Compare Some One Else's Middle To Your Beginning  

I love this saying when it comes to blogging. When you are first starting off as a blogger don't compare your blog to other bloggers who have been blogging for 5 plus years. What you can do though is go back to their blog when they were only in year 1 or 2. Don't get me wrong it's important to always try to improve your blog and read up on other blogs. Though don't think you can quickly achieve what other bloggers have been doing for years. It's just no realistic. 

5. Don't Be Afraid To Reach Out To People  

Blogging is a funny thing because it allows you to chat with people you might never thought would respond to your email. My all time favorite blogger Kelly from Kelly In the City is an amazing blogger. I had a couple technical question so I thought why not send her an email. Guess what? She responded in a day with amazing advice! This also goes for businesses too. Don't be afraid to reach out to small businesses to host a giveaway or feature a product. I did this a couple of times and wound up working with some amazing companies! 

6. Don't Blog For Money 

Blogging is NOT a job it's a hobby. With that said their are people I know who blog full time however their blog stated off as a hobby. I guess what I am saying is that you can't start a blog with the intentions of making it a job. While some people do make money off of advertisements and products this should not be the reason you start a blog. 

7. What Ever Time You Think You Need It's At Least Double 

Blogging might not seem like it takes a lot of time to do though it does. I would say each of my blog posts takes about 2 hours to create between editing pictures, typing up the posts and proofing it. Then there is the stuff outside the blog itself like Instagram, Pinterest and keeping up with emails. 

8. Don't Underestimate The Power Of Social Media 

While I would consider a blog part of social media it's important it understand that just having an active blog is not enough these days. You must have other accounts you keep up with whether it be Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or all of them. 

9. There Are Millions Of Blogs 

Blogging is becoming more and more popular so it's important to know what you are interested in, who your target audience is and what makes your blog unique. For me it's all about combining my love of daily fashion while infusing stories about my daily life and lessons I have learned! Check out this meter to see how many blog posts are published each day (#crazy).  

10. Looks Is Important 

The look of your blog is just as important as anything else. When I first started I created the layout of my blog all by hand. While this did not look horrible once I updated my layout it was so much more clean. Pre-made blog layouts don't cost that much money and are totally worth it if you can afford it. 

11. Never Stop Learning 

When it comes to blogging you should never stop learning and trying to improve your blog. I think of things I can improve all the time and am constantly trying to make my blog better. With this idea I read up on blogging books and information to help myself become even more educated. 

12. A Schedule Is Not Necessary 

When I first started blogging I tried to stick to a strict schedule though it was often hard to do. When I did not stick to my schedule I would be so mad at myself. I learned that at least for me posting when I felt inspired and wanting to post was the best. Posting some thing should never be forced so if you are not feeling it then just don't write a post. You can have a list of possible blog ideas though don't feel like it has to be done on a specific day. 

13. It's Ok To Take A Break 

You might have read that consistency in your posting is key so where. While I think this is true I also think that an occasional break is healthy. Now I don't mean you should go four months in between posting. What I mean is if you need to take a couple of days or even weeks off from blogging IT'S OK. Don't beat yourself up over it. To be honest I think all bloggers could use a break know and again. It helps you ignite that passion and fire you feel when you write a posts. For me when I write my first post after being gone for a week it feels so good! 

MOST IMPORTANT BE YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN ;) 

I really enjoyed sharing this post with you and I am thinking of doing more posts like this giving you guys lessons & tips! What do you think? 

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