My blog is 4 years old, although I didn't start blogging consistently until about a year ago. During these past few years, I've committed every blogging crime that there is. Some are cringe-worthy, and some are just things I learned in hindsight through experience. I even still commit blogging crimes on a daily basis; some I'm lazily aware of and some that I'm sure will become glaringly obvious in a few months time. Experience; it's how we learn! If you have just started a blog (or are even further on down the line, commitin' crimes you don't yet realize) here are my top five blogging crimes that hopefully you can learn from!
1. Asking for followers
Ooooh...cringing. Yes, guilty. This one is bad, people, don't do it. When you first start out, you get this desperate feeling for acceptance...I mean it's kind of painful to have zero followers, amiright? But don't go to someone else's blog and say "Hi, this is Jessica from www.piganddac.com! I just followed you on XYZ, I hope you get a chance to do the same!"
That's a slap in the blogging face. Whenever I get comments like that on a post, I think "Oh...so you didn't even read the post that I spent two hours putting together, you just want me to go follow your blog even though you very obviously don't read MY blog?" Not cool!
If you want support in the blogging world, leave genuine comments, multiple times. That's when the blogger will start to recognize you as a genuine reader of their blog and someone worth their time to follow back.
2. Baaaad photos
Here is a true photo I posted early on in the game.
WTF?! Not only is that the worst side-profile shot of Piggie EVER, but notice the super small size and the haunting effects I added that I thought were cool. No Jessica, not cool.
Rules for photos - big, bright, and clear. Don't make us pull out a magnifying glass to see your pics!
3. Not being consistent
For the first three years of my blog's life, I didn't post consistently. Sometimes I posted several times in a week and then not again for a month. That's obviously why I had no followers...who could follow that?
I think consistency is one of the biggest determining factors between a blog that's serious and one that's just a nonchalant hobby. Pick a schedule, and then stick to it to the best of your ability. Even if it's once a month, that's consistent if you post once every month on the same day. Your readers can have something to expect from you.
4. Posting low quality content
The next crime I committed after I chose to start becoming more consistent was posting totally random crap for the sake of posting. Don't do that either. If you want people to take your blog seriously, please don't make their eyes bleed trying to read your boring content. If you aren't excited when you press the publish button, don't publish it!!
5. Not selling myself
This is something I learned just this year. I'm am NOT a sales person. I don't like to push things on people and the thought of selling my blog more made me clam up. But you know what...the truth of the matter is no one is going to know you wrote a post if you don't tell them! And they may not see your one and only post on Facebook in the midst of tons of other stuff in their feeds! You gotta put it out there, baby! More than once.
This is the rough guide that I follow, courtesy of Matthew Barby. I started sharing my posts more often on Facebook. At first, there were pretty much crickets, and that was painful. But I kept sharing, and every week, my posts gained more momentum. Facebook is sharing them with more of my readers, and more people are finding my content. Same with Pinterest. I became a bit more proactive in sharing (especially old posts, SO much traffic potential there) and the payoff is amazing.
Don't be afraid to sell yourself!
So what blogging crimes have you committed? Any of the above? Any not mentioned?
Jessica Dimas is the creator of "The Successful Blogger's Ultimate Tool Kit". Follow along on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with future posts.
Courtney
That picture made me LOL! Personally, I love the haunting editing job :p
I need to be better about self promotion. For sure. I share initially but after that it fades away and I don't capitalize on it anymore. I'm also nervous to approach other bloggers for collaborations and things......and no one ever approaches me, so I'm pretty sure(maybe I'm not?) that I'm missing out on some great growth potential there.
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha well thank you ;P Yeah, the self promotion thing was and still is my biggest hurdle. It's hard man, I hate feeling like I'm pushing myself onto others. And I have been approached for a few collaborations but not a ton, how long have you been blogging?
Courtney
Oh, only three years :p
I've been growing and promoting for the last two. The first year I just used as a personal blog, built an archive, and never shared it with anyone but immediate family. Once I hit that year mark though I really started to expand my blog horizons.
Cami
i really enjoy reading your posts! Especially your blogging tips! I'm learning so much from you, keep 'em coming.
My worst mistake in my 2 short months of blogging was not starting out on self hosted WordPress. I just had to make the switch in order to do some of the things I needed to do for my blog and it has been SUCH a hassle!
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Cami, that's encouraging to hear you say that!! And omg yes, the WordPress one. I went FOUR YEARS on the Blogger platform. Which I guess was good because I didn't get serious right away but I should've moved like a year ago when I DID get serious. At least you switched over sooner rather than later, I lost almost 2000 comments in the transfer 🙁
Kristy
These are so good! 🙂 I think the shamelessly plugging your blog as a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and especially on someone else's blog post is just bad taste. I mean, I put my social media links at the bottom of my posts now, but should I? I don't know. Makes me think now. Ruh-oh. And yeah, it's hard to consistently push out good stuff, but most good things in life are not easy. Can I get an Amen? Love this, Jess. Thanks for the reminders!
Jessica Dimas
Totally agree, such bad taste. No, I think you should leave those!! That's different because you're giving your readers different options of where they can keep updated with your blog 🙂
Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife
This is a wonderful post! I have been so guilty of ALL! haha! I cringe when I think about the things that I did. But with time I learned and the same for other bloggers. One of the best pieces of advice I got was "fake it till you make it". So I stopped begging for follows and started writing like I already had 1 million!
Thanks for sharing =)
Charlene
"Writing like I already had 1 million (followers)" - I LOVE IT!! Thanks Jennie.
Jessica Dimas
Umm I'm totally going to make a graphic out of this quote and put it on my inspiration board!! I seriously love the idea of writing like you already have a million readers, GENIUS!!!
Monica
I LOVE THAT TOO! I'm writing that above my computer!!
Monica
I have slowly been going through old posts and editing them to remove some bad pictures... They truly are awful.
And the worst blogger crime is definitely #1. Oooooohhh... :/ Happy I learned to STOP doing that... !
Chelsea
These are great tips! I hate when people do those "I just followed you, please follow me!" comments. I usually delete them to spite those people haha. And I was definitely guilty of bad photos and inconsistent posting when I first started. I'm thinking about going back and updating some of my old photos just to make them better. Especially on some of my most popular posts! Thanks for sharing these awesome tips!!
Jessica Dimas
Yes they're the worst!! I delete them too because I'm like I don't want ppl thinking that's how I'm getting readers!! A comment like that on a blog devalues everyone!! Yes, I totally need to go back through my old posts and update!
Charlene
Great tips Jessica. I really enjoy reading your blogging tips...they just make sense to me! I am guilty of some of these - especially having 'bad' photos when I first started blogging 5+ months ago...however I have learned so much from other bloggers like yourself and the photos that I share now are a lot better (it helped when my awesome partner bought me my first DSLR camera). A lot of bloggers send me a Facebook message saying that they have liked my page and asking to follow them back. I suppose that's better than putting it on my timeline for everyone to see (self-promotion). I don't know - what do you think?
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Charlene!! Well you've learned quickly in 5 months, I think I posted bad photos for about two years, ha!! And I would totally prefer the message over the wall request, those make your page look so tacky! And that way the bloggers can connect and support each other without it being aired in public! 🙂
Kristen
Might I add don't be a copycat? Don't see a post somewhere and totally swipe the idea!
My biggest peeve is when people write "Loved this!" I don't know why it bothers me...
I started blogging at the end on 2013 but didn't post consistently until 11/13. It takes time and commitment, but it also takes passion. I am a new follower and found you through Facebook - so well done! Your patience and perseverance has paid off and I'm a fan!
Jessica Dimas
Oh my gosh yes, the copycat thing is the worst!!!! I've never committed that one but I've seen it happen and it burns your soul. So glad you found me, you sound like my kind of person!!
Tara
I know it's been a year since this comment, but I'm curious as to how you know if something was dilberatly copied? Ive been dabbling with the idea to start a blog, it's pretty much A baking blog. I can't imagine I'm the only person in the blogging world whose written a post about an apple pie. Would that be considered copying? That's actually one of the things that has held me back, that and having no idea where to start!!
Jessica Dimas
I've discussed this in lots of blogging groups, and the conclusion has always been that the fact of the matter is there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing that hasn't already been written. So, unless something is copied word for word, it really can't be considered plagiarism. Titles can even be the same! I had a post titled "You won't remember, but I will" and it was shared half a million times on Huffington. Almost a year later, another writer titled her post the same and it was shared all over Scary Mommy. I contacted them and they basically said because the articles weren't written the same, it didn't matter. It was hard for me to take but that's just how it is. So don't let it stop you! As long as you write as only you can, it can't be considered copying no matter if a hundred other people have already written about it.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
Fabulous post Jessica and oh, do I ever agree with these. Although I don't think I ever asked for a follow back.
I was the QUEEN of bad photos - ugh.
Also, it used to be almost "taboo" to share your own stuff but now sharing your content is the big thing and it makes a HUGE difference!
Thanks for sharing!
Pinning this to my Deliberate BLOGGING board!
xoxo
Jessica Dimas
Daaaang never committed the follow back crime?! Impressive!! I thought it was almost a blogging initiation ritual lol. And that's crazy that it used to be almost taboo to share your own stuff, thank goodness that's changed or else I wouldn't have anyone reading my stuff lol!!
Tiffany
Oh girl, any blogger who hasn't committed a few of these is lying. I posted the worst photos the first year, and still need to go update a lot of them. Stupid Google+. I never remember to publish on there! Great tips lady!
Jessica Dimas
Amen!! Yeah my photos were horrid, and I stole lots of photos too from like Google, I need to go back and remove those asap lol. Yeah Google + still isn't my forte!!
Carolina Brenes
Thanks Jess! As a blogging rookie I found this super helpful! Especially the last point. I never thought to share more than once. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
Yay, glad you liked it Carolina!! 🙂
Echo
These are awesome tips and yes, I am totally guilty of some of these crimes. I pinned this, so I can make sure I don't commit them again!
Jessica Dimas
Hahaha aren't we all. Thanks for pinning Echo! xo
Sarah @ GlamGranolaGeek
I think it's OK to commit a few 'crimes' when you are just starting out.....a lot of bloggers are learning as they go! 🙂
Jessica Dimas
It's the only way we learn!!
Alycia
I think I've done all these things in my 2 years! Oops!!!! But, you learn and move on, right? 🙂
Jessica Dimas
Exactly, learn and move on. And hide posts LOL 😉
Keri
So helpful! The pictures- oh my! I looked back at some from last year when I started and oh my! Just tragic. I have revamped some of the posts bit takes time. Really grateful for bloggers like you who encourage others and share the wisdom! Thanks!!
Jessica Dimas
Yes, I have MANY tragic photos on my blog lol. I understand. Thank you, I'm glad you liked the post!! xo
Stephanie @ Mommyzoid
Love this! Especially the photo tip. Photos bring the post to life and help tell the story. I am soooo guilty of ugly pics back in the day. Small, confusing... the works.
Thanks for these! I love learning about where bloggers came from! So honest!
Stephanie @ http://www.mommyzoid.ca
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha yep, that was my blog pictures too Stephanie. My blog was definitely an example of everything one SHOULDN'T do lol.
Jen
This is super helpful! I have been blogging about six months and have committed these or currently committing these 🙂 The publishing graphic is something I will be saving. Up until now I have been all over the place with posting.. I am trying to get better. Your blogging tips have been a huge help. Thanks!
Jessica Dimas
So glad you found the post helpful!! Yeah, I am currently committing blogging crimes as we speak. It's a constant learning process 🙂
Tamara
#5 is very hard for me but my sister always tells me, "Honey, market yourself! If you won't do it, who will?"
So very true.
I've even posted bad photos! I have! Although I've never lost consistency, even through tough life times. I guess it's my constant.
Jessica Dimas
I love what you sister said!! It's so true. And SO HARD. After the first initial awkwardness of promoting yourself though, you get over it. Especially when you see the benefits!! And so true about you, you're always consistent, even during vacation. EVEN WITH THE COMMENTS. You're my blogging hero in that arena.
Mrs. AOK
GUILTY. I wear the cone of shame....
I want to gag at some of my older posts: the photos, the random, and then the worst the post next to it was posted 2 weeks before that one. 🙁
I know I could do better at "promoting" my work, I truly need to aim at improving this.
Great tips, Jessica!
XOXO
Jessica Dimas
Hahaha yes I am TOTALLY guilty of all of those. I cringe looking back on my blog. Oh well, at least we learned something lol 🙂
Bonnie
This post totally hit home! I've committed many of these and I really do cringe at the thought of the mistakes I've made. I recently started sharing and retiring my posts and I am noticing a difference in my readers. Thanks for taking the time to write and share this post. It's nice to know that other bloggers have been where I've been and where I am now.
~Bonnie
Jessica Dimas
That's awesome Bonnie, I started doing the same and noticed a big difference as well in readers. I'm glad you like the post, thank you for commenting!
Tiffany
Great Tips! I agree that asking for followers is a big NoNo but having low quality pictures is something I had to learn and improve upon with time. It is amazing how a bad photo can send a reader away almost instantly. Thank goodness for better phone cameras and great editing.
Jessica Dimas
It really is Tiffany! And yes thank goodness for better phone cameras, I don't remember the last time I used my "good" camera to take any pics.
Charlene
This is such a great post! I'm a total newbie :p
That photo cracked me up! I always worry about photos when everywhere you look theyre stylized to the hilt!
Promoting oneself is so, so hard, especially when that doesn't come naturally to you. But, I keep trying.
Your graphic on frequency of promoting your posts was really helpful - question: what is the final 't' in the list? It's Twitter, FB, G+ and ??
Thanks for the tips 🙂
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Carlene! Yeah those gorgeous, perfectly set up blogging photos aren't my bag either, I love them but at the same time they also don't feel like ME. Oh and the final "t" on the list is Tumblr. Which I have yet to experiment with.
Jillian @ Baby Doodah!
I am soooo guilty of not posting consistently. I've been blogging with my current blog for about 2 1/2 years and I keep flip flopping for when I post. Right now, I'm on a M-W-F schedule and I'm loving it. I just need to stick with it.
When I run out of ideas for posts, is usually when I make up the excuses not to post anything. However, I've been doing monthly brainstorming sessions, which has really been helping me keep my blog full of ideas!!
Really great post!
Jessica Dimas
Yeah, a monthly brainstorming session is an awesome way to fill up your month with post ideas! That's what I usually try to do every month too. And then on Sunday, when I look at the coming week, if there's anything I'd prefer to write about over my original ideas, I do that and save those ones for another day. Thanks for your comment Jillian!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
Hi Jessica! Oh we learn so much along the way, don't we? I agree with all of your thoughts on these crimes. I think the posting schedule is so important in order to build a following, because readers want to be able to depend on you. But you've also got to show your voice in your writing throughout every single post so that readers can get to know you too. Photos? That's a daily struggle, which I hope to keep improving on my own blog. Photography is tough! Hope you have a great day, thanks for sharing your experience! (P.S. come follow me! hahah --- J/K!)
Jessica Dimas
Totally agree Ashley! And I think showing your voice is for sure a process probably for most bloggers. I know I wrote so awkwardly for so long. I know, one of my to-do list items is to take a bunch of photos to use for my blog so I don't have to use so many stock photos. Thanks for your comment!! And I will totes come follow you lol
Cindy Hasko
Love it! I laughed when I read what you typed about the bad photo and the haunting effects. baaaa haa! Funny! I want to blog more, but just don't have the time quite yet. I am never getting rid of my blog though. I love it too much and I love the friends I have met through this blogging world. I LOVE to connect with you guys!! And I always read and catch up as much as I can 🙂 Great tips! Helpful too! Thanks!
Jessica Dimas
I'm glad you have no plans to get rid of your blog, I love reading it, even if you don't post all the time. I honestly can't keep up with blogs that post all the time anyway!
Sandra Watts
Not a blogger really but I ask people that I follow if they would follow me back. I do follow a lot of bloggers and I am pretty regular at posting comments and sharing so I don't feel like I am asking much. It is too bad Twitter has limits set as to how many people you can follow. Anyway, this is the first I have been to your blog. You can thank Epic Mommy Adventures,
Happy Easter on Turn It Up Tuesday #80 from her newsletter.
Jessica Dimas
Well I'm sure those bloggers don't mind you asking for a follow back since you're such a loyal commenter! Thanks for stopping by!
Chelsey
YES YES YES to ALL of this!
The photography one is very difficult when you're just starting out, but I 100% agree. I remember just not knowing what looked good or how to get those big, beautiful pictures other bloggers have. But as I learn more, I've been going through and fixing my old stuff. Which, btw, has put a spotlight on some of my old posts and taught me this lesson: people won't recognize how amazing you are if your pictures suck. Period.
And I'm like you on the selling myself front. I hate doing it and I hate when others do it. It feels so disingenuous. But it needs to be done. Thanks for sharing how you sell yours posts, though! I haven't been sure about how to do that and you schedule makes so much sense.
I'm pinning this and scheduling it to share on Facebook and Tumblr. People need to read it! Thanks for sharing it on Epic Mommy Adventures!
Jessica Dimas
Omg yes, that's so true! One of my friends is going through her old posts and doing the same and she's getting some major traffic! I need to do it too.
I knoooow, I hate self-promotion too. It almost hurts to do it. I find that if I just use an excerpt from my post, I feel much better sharing rather than trying to think up some fake, witty comment to get people to read. Ugh, can't do it!
Thank you Chelsey!! xo
Stacey
I'm really bad at the self-promotion. I've only been going for a couple of weeks though. I'm not really sure how many readers is normal for that amount of time either. I just kind of dove in and tried it.
Jessica Dimas
I know, self-promotion is hard! I'm not sure I'll ever get totally used to it. Yeah I don't think there is any "normal" in the blogging world, everyone most at their own pace and some people start off fast and others prefer to move along more naturally 🙂
Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo
Some great tips Jessica! The suggested posting schedule is great.
When it comes to asking for followers, I only (shamelessly) ask my friends and family to follow me! I do however also ask anyone who links up at my link up parties or anyone who enters giveaway contests if they could please follow me.
If I read a great blog post and want to follow their Facebook page, I have started to write a short post to their wall saying I am stopping by with a personal like from [my blog] and what attracted me to like their page. For example, it may have been a useful free printable, yummy recipe or a blog post.
I don't do this with the expectation of a "like" in return but rather so the blogger knows who I am because let's face it, no one will remember that it's me, Kelly from [my blog]! Obviously if they return the "like" then that's great but I don't specifically ask them.
Is that a blogging crime in your opinion, Jessica? I'd hate to think I am embarrassing myself without knowing it!
Jessica Dimas
No Kelly, I would just think that's really nice that you went out of your way to introduce yourself and to even let them know what made you want to follow their blog! That's perfect, I'm sure most bloggers would love to get a comment like that on Facebook!
Lena
So glad to hear you still feel funny about sharing your posts. It just makes me feel awkward!
Jessica Dimas
Yes!! I don't think I'll ever really get used to it! Glad you feel the same cause I know you've been blogging for a long time.
Rebecca
My favorite is the last, even though quality content is equally as important...they kind of go hand in hand actually. When you draft quality content, you know you're worth it. And if you don't, you better get your shit straight and see that you're so worth it! lol
Love this list. I was reluctant to read it because I was like, "Ugh, Jessica is going to lecture me about the comments. WAH!" Thanks for not lecturing me and making me laugh instead lol
Jessica Dimas
Well you know I couldn't lecture on the comments because I'm so bad at responding in a timely manner lol. Everywhere I've been reading recently keeps harping on the timely response back on comments so I'm TRYING to do better, starting this week. Can you tell already?! Haha!
Vicky | The Nursery Project
Some great tips, thanks. I'm trying to stick to a M-W-F schedule, but then sometimes think that to be taken seriously you need to blog every day?
Also, love your last graphic on your posting/reposting schedule... I'm wondering if you have a tool for doing this or if you manage this manually?
thanks!
Jessica Dimas
I definitely don't believe you have to post every day to be taken seriously! A M-W-F schedule is great!
I do schedule most of my social media shares but not all in one spot. I use Hootsuite for Twitter, Tailwind for Pinterest, and I schedule my posts for Facebook on their site. There is a new plugin called Co-schedule where you can schedule a few platforms from but I had a lower reach when I tried it out. I find that FB prefers you to schedule from their site and not through any schedulers.
Lara
I loved this, I still feel completely overwhelmed at how you do all the right stuff, bad photos of course! The follow to follow not really, but I guess I don't understand the right way to self promote, honestly for me no matter what I do I don't seem to grow. Ugh thank you for this great post! I really love, no how to implement it.. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
I'm sure no blogger does everything right! Plus it's hard because it can become so consuming. It's been really hard for me to self-promote, for me the best way has to been to make sure I have a really great graphic that can do well on Pinterest. Over half of my traffic comes from there. I don't share on Google + anymore, Twitter is probably also one I could drop because I don't get much traffic from there. Another way to be active (a post a day at least) on Instagram, so that your followers can get to know you and then when you share a blog post, they'll want to hop over and read it. I also get more eyes on my FB posts by sharing my post first on my blog FB page, and then sharing that post over to my friends and family, who will like and comment on it and then it ups the views for my blog FB page.
kristen
these are such great tips. im constantly working on the posting consistently and with good content. it's so hard sometimes to do both! always a work in progress. your photo was funny, i cringe every time i look back at old posts!
Jessica Dimas
It really is hard to post consistently and with good content as well. Since writing this, I've slowed down how much I post and have focused more on re-sharing my content, especially on Pinterest. My new blogging goals are post like once a week something really evergreen, and then make a GREAT repinnable image for it so I can keep repinning it on Pinterest 🙂
Lindsay
I love your honest and humor in this post. It also makes me kind of sad when bloggers will post that in my comments because then I wonder if they even really read or enjoyed my post at all.
Lindsay
Sorry for the typo...wish I could edit my comment! **honesty ; )
Jessica Dimas
Exactly, I feel the same way when that happens. It's like they go straight to your comments section only to say something like "Follow me here", makes me feel like they didn't even read my post, *pouty face*.
Sara
Jessica! I'm so glad I found you! I def need some blogging tune ups! Your site is simple and right to the point, plus you have a great sense of humor! I love the schedule of sharing on social media. I totally need to start doing this. I share the day of ... and maybe 2 months after. Yikes!!! Thanks again for the wisdom!
Jessica Dimas
Aw thank you Sara! Yes, the social media sharing is so key. I've started scheduling my FB shares for the entire week on Sunday to post 3-4 things a day and it's helped my reach SO much as well as gaining new followers every day. Share share share 🙂
Breanna
I know this is an older post but they are some great tips! I've had a blog before but I'm trying my hand at it again with a much more serious attitude about it and hoping it brings success this time. Thanks for the post!
Jessica Dimas
Aw that's awesome Breanna! I'm glad you found the post helpful and good luck with your new blog! 🙂
Shelby
Just reading your posts make me feel better and not as dejected. I started blogging in February and have been trying to gain traffic but realize I've made a few of the mistakes you've mentioned. I've been afraid to invest much money into programs and products but I think I'm going to now.
Dinostodivas.com
Jessica Dimas
LOL I just love that you used that word "dejected". You're my people. Yeah funny you mention that because I was just listening to a webinar tonight and she mentioned that investing money into programs and products for your blog/business is a definite must. That's next on my list because I really have invested too much beyond blog costs and some blogging books, etc.
Kelsey
Thank you for sharing this list! I recently launched my blog at the end of March. I've been working on consistency and photo quality. I very much relate to crickets as I feel I'm talking to myself on my facebook page. 🙂 Thanks again.
Jessica Dimas
Oh yes, I hear you! I just started a second Facebook page for my new blog and it was crickets for months, painful! I recently read a book that said to be as personal on FB as possible, rather than looking like a blog/brand. Post like you do on your own personal FB profile. So I started sharing more from that mindset and things started to pick up!
Kelsey
Great tip, mind if I ask what book? Thanks!
Jessica Dimas
So sorry for the wait, I honestly couldn't remember the title of the book or even what blog it was from, but this the book, it's called Strategies Worth Sharing - http://bit.ly/strategiesworthsharing
Kelsey
Awesome, thank you! Sorry to put you on the spot. 🙂
Florence
Jessica, I read your whole post & all the comments. I found it helpful to see your posting schedule. My problem is how to find places to post & repost to Pinterest when you only have a few boards it can go on. I guess the trick is to have people re-pinning for you, & even though I have nearly 1K followers, it's not happening yet. Any other tips for Pinterest?
Surprised you suggest posting 3-4x/day to FB. Seems like I've read 1x, but honestly it all runs together after a while! My social media strategy is not really a strategy. I'm working on being consistent with it, but so far I haven't liked any schedulers. I haven't tried Tailwind yet, but I am trying out Boardbooster. Like it, but it's a trial trying to keep all those secret boards filled up. I might have too many.
I know what everyone means about talking to crickets...definitely that here.
Jessica Dimas
For Pinterest, definitely join group boards, that is how I'm able to repost my content every night without pinning the same stuff over and over to my own boards. If you're in any blogging groups on FB, ask if anyone can add you to their favorite group boards, and there's also a site you can go to - http://pingroupie.com - and look up boards in your genre there. Usually you have to follow the board and email the administrator so they can add you.
It's really hard for me to post 3-4 times a day on FB. It's true that I will get consistent new followers if I follow that advice, but honestly my favorite "strategy" is posting with intention and when I'm inspired. It resonates with readers a lot more in my opinion.
And as far as the Pinterest schedulers, I tried them but I really felt like I almost has less engagement than when I pinned myself. Currently I pin 9-12 pins a night of my own, 3 per group board. I also pin for pleasure and I think Pinterest rewards that.
I think my newest social media strategy in general is authentic sharing. I'm trying to get less caught up when what they say I should do and more focused on what feels right to me.
Jamie
Thank you for these great tips! I recently started my blog and have a few questions. Okay, so I have a full time job and I just want my blog to be more of a hobby; something fun that I can look forward to doing in my free time. How many times would you recommend I post? I want to gain a following, but I don't have the time to put loads of effort into this new hobby.
Jessica Dimas
I wouldn't worry about the following. Just post when you feel inspired. It's the best strategy in my opinion to take no matter what your goal is 🙂 If you have a Pinterest account, just repin what content you do have every night (or whenever you get a chance). Sharing my content has proven much more effective in gaining a following than posting consistently. I now post probably about once a month when I'm inspired to, and just share my content every day on Pinterest. My advice has changed since I wrote this post...sharing is where it's at 🙂
Jennifer
I've been guilty of many of these crimes over the years. I've learned a few of these lessons through trial and error. I truly appreciate the "re-posting" guide at the end. I'm always nervous about sharing too much but that totally makes sense. Most people on fb only look at the timeline and you must post more often so that it can actually be seen by your followers. AND Twitter updates so rapidly that this all makes complete sense.
Jessica Dimas
Yes so true Jennifer. Most of the bigger FB pages, if you go through their timeline, you will see that they post every 3 hours almost on the dot. And Twitter is like a blur it's so fast!
Skully
Great post! As a newb, it's nice to see the things I SHOULDN'T do, because like you said, sometimes we get desperate! Great blog, I'll keep checking in!
Jessica Dimas
Yes! Thanks for your comment Skully!
Adrenaline Romance
Very useful tips, and we definitely agree with these. For us, consistency and quality of content are the most important aspects.
Jessica Dimas
Yes, I agree. Those are definitely qualities I look for when I'm checking out a new site!
Kirstie Hakanson
This is great but really hard to do sometimes haha. I guess that comes with experience. Especially when I don't have a lot of the tools necessary to become a great blogger right away. I hope that I can grow like yours.
Jessica Dimas
It is definitely hard to do sometimes! I fell off the wagon this year and haven't been posting consistently. I figure it all ebbs and flows. You'll grow! Just write and share, write and share.
Moriah
YES. These are some lessons that I have learned the hard way. Consistency can be so hard!! It does make me more likely to follow a blog, so it makes sense why my readers would appreciate it as well.
Jessica Dimas
Me too. I was just thinking about this the other day. When I find a new blog I check to see how often they update and if it's very little or it's been a long time since they last wrote, I get bummed.
Stacey Loring
My worst crime against myself was going from blogger to WordPress, back to blogger, then back to WordPress. I lost a ton of awesome posts...well, I think they were awesome. Now that I'm on WordPress all of the posts that migrated look horrible. The formatting a all jumbled up and I can't do anything to fix them. My other crime was listening to some "blogging experts" who didn't give me the best advice. Not everything works for everyone. It's nice to know others made mistakes along the way as well.
Jessica Dimas
Your opening sentence of "My worst crime against myself" made me laugh, haha. Oh man, wow, yeah that must've been intense. I lost so many comments moving over here and a ton of my migrated posts look horrible now too. And yes, I've really become selective on whose blogging advice I take these days. Basically if it doesn't feel right for me, I ignore it.
Charlotte
Oh, it pains me to say, but I have committed a few of these crimes. I might be on some blogging-penitentiaries most wanted list.
*Sigh* You can't see me, but I am grimacing.
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha I know I'm on some blogging-penitentiaries most wanted list for sure. I committed MANY a blogging crime when I first started out. I like to think of it more as a rite of passage haha. And it's all great for a good laugh now.
Karen
I'm struggling with editing my photos.
I absolutely love how you edit yours !!! 🙂
I love your blog, BTW
Jessica Dimas
You'll keep getting better and better with editing the photos, it's definitely a learning process! I just use Picmonkey to edit mine. Actually I use the app ColorStory on my phone to edit them before I add graphics to them from PicMonkey. So if I take pics with my DSLR, I have to upload them to my laptop, send them to my phone, edit them, send them back to my laptop to edit from Picmonkey and then upload them haha.
The Broke Dad
I feel like such a failure after reading this, ha. I have pretty much broken every rule you have listed. Yes I am a noob. So glad I found this post though, I am adding it to my favorites list and pinning it as well. Thank you so much for pointing these things out for us. This kind of advice for a new blogger is extremly helpful and think it will save me tons of heartache in the long run.
Thank you again,
The Broke Dad
Jessica Dimas
Do not feel like a failure! I have definitely broken every blogging rule there is out there. And actually I have a secret...I truly believe that there are no rules and our blogging experience is what we believe it to be...law of attraction, baby, all the way haha. I break so many blogging rules in relation to what I "should" be doing but I prefer now to do what feels most fun to me and I'm having a lot of success with that method 🙂
Tanya
Very Helpful! Thank you. I'm reading ahead of time of what I shouldn't do.
Shiane Forema
Hi! I just wanted to say thank you for writing this. I'm starting my own blog at the moment and I've been trying to learn as much as I can at the moment and I've been looking around your blog and this is probably the most helpful post I've come across yet. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and I'll try not to commit THESE crimes (though I'll probably commit more than a few, I'm sure, anyway). Have a nice day.
Jennifer @ Enjoying Our Days
Thanks for these tips. I never thought about sharing my content multiple times on social media, I'll start doing that. Here is a question...this post is not new, but I still found it valuable. Is it "worth" leaving a comment, will you even see this at this point?
Jessica Dimas
Hi Jennifer, glad you liked the post! Yes, I think it's always worth leaving a comment if you feel you'd like to leave one; I always get a notification for new comments! I'm just not the greatest at responding right away. Definitely sharing your content multiple times on social media, especially Pinterest, is the way to go. I re-share every day.