As I have blogged since early 2009, I reckon I must have learned some things of value to bloggers whether new to the exciting game of blogging or old hands. Here are my 5 top tips for bloggers.
1. Make your blog your own in terms of content and style. Don’t try to please the crowd because it is false. Be yourself and perhaps get a real wake-up call when you realise you are not alone with your thoughts and feelings. The more true and heartfelt you are on your blog, the more people will like and respect you as the individual you are.
2. Network for advice and support. You will be delighted at just how willing most bloggers are to share their tricks of the trade with you. There are lots of networks for bloggers both at home and abroad. If you don’t know their names, just join Twitter and ask on there. I am a member of Netmums, Britmums, Mumsnet and Love All Blogs. They all provide slightly different things so go and find which one/s suit you best.
3. Don’t write yourself off on the technical side of things. When I started I knew nothing about themes, widgets, buttons and all those sparkly bells and whistles. My friend Kat gave me some help via emails and then I just realised that perhaps I should have more faith in myself and have a go at the techy stuff myself. I am the most untechy person you could wish to meet so if I can do it, so can you.
4. Don’t become a slave to reviews, awards or statistics. They are all entertaining to an extent but it is easy to get sucked in to thinking they define you. They don’t and that way insanity lies. Believe that you are worthwhile in your own right and if plaudits come your way, celebrate them but don’t get needy for them.
5. Expect the Unexpected. Blogging is an unpredictable and exciting journey. My first surprise was when people read my blog and commented on it. My second surprise was realising that I was not quite as weird as I had previously thought (or that if I am, there are an awful lot of folks like me out there). My third surprise was when a public relations firm asked me to review a toy. My fourth surprise was when a founder of one of the networks listened to me and appeared to value my opinion. My fifth surprise was when I was asked to speak at Britmums Live. My sixth surprise was when I was featured as Blog of the Week on Netmums. My seventh surprise was when old college friends found and read my blog. My eighth surprise was how blogging helped my relationship with my stepdaughter. My ninth surprise was when famous authors and journalists read my blog and encouraged my writing. The tenth surprise may well turn up today!
So there you have it and now pop over to the Kate Takes 5 where you will find lots of lovely bloggers sharing their own ideas on what works best for them as part of the weekly Listography.
Kate on Thin Ice 
Thank you for your 5 tips. It’s nice to get encouragement though, helps to keep going and writing what’s in your heart.
Hi Kate, A great post for all bloggers. Thanks! I am a brand new blogger and sometimes doubt myself in terms of what I write about on my blog. Like you said I try to remind myself it is MY blog and just to stay true to me. I can’t wait till I have some unexpecteds of my own 🙂 And now I’m going to check out what this groovymums is all about 🙂
Brilliant, thanks for the advice! Sounds like you’ve achieved some great things through your blog
I’d feel smug if my blog were half as good as yours. You do a fine job in making the quotidian readable.It’s handy to hear wisdom from a pro. You’ve inspired me to restrict myself to checking my stats half hourly in future!!
Such an encouraging blog. Thank you for the useful tips and the advice to keep going. Sometimes I wonder why I’m writing mine and worry it’s self-indulgent but your blog was v inspiring!
You’re right – fellow bloggers are a friendly and helpful bunch, as this very post shows, and I find people on Twitter very encouraging. Thanks for the words of wisdom!
So true about the unexpected. That first comment is always exciting on a new blog, and the little thrills everytime you’ve made someone enjoy your writing enough to write a comment, is great.
Think I obviously need to find a lot more time for twitter. Not sure how, but maybe 2012 is the year to do it.
*flashes boobs* Surprise! That’s your number 10, right?
I definitely agree with the techy side of things. It all seems so complicated at first but once you’re used to it then it’s amazing what you can create.
Thank you, very reassuring for a new blogger
Great tips, I left linkys for a bit to find my own way, but I really feel like joining in again now, hence I am here! I love your surprises, and your support has helped me beyond words over the last year 🙂
What a fab list. Love you no. 5 x
I love the unexpected idea! It really is hard to predict where this blogging thing will take each blogger.
Fantastic punchline on Point 5. Made me smile. BOO! (Not surprising enough?)
Those are great tips – hope you get number ten shortly!
Fab tips… stealing some of them for myself 😉
Wow to number 5! What a lovely lot of surprises you’ve had, can’t wait to hear what number 10 is.
My favourite here is ‘expect the unexpected’ because even after blogging several years, I still get the unexpected! That tip is about being flexible (i.e. when your site gets hacked as mine was last year) as well as about the pleasant little surprises that come our way… a very nice post.