(The Best) Blogging Advice From a Mediocre Gal

I have been asked time and time again to sit down and give bloggers advice. I get questions about it all the time- how do you start a blog, how do you stay consistent, how do you manage your time, how do you come up with ideas, how do you grow your following, and so on and so on and so on.

And if I’m being completely honest with you, I’m not sure the answers either. I’ve been at this blogging thing for approximately 20 months now and have achieved things greater than I ever knew were possible. However, I still do not feel qualified to give you the ‘secret’ to blogging. In fact, I’m still waiting for someone to give it to me. 

But the truth is, that is how we all feel. A wise man once told me that in life there will always be somebody better than you; however, it is your choice whether or not you become that somebody. There is truth in both of his statements. In reality, there probably will always be people three steps ahead of you in life but that does not mean that you are incapable of being the person ahead.

With all my heart I love blogging. I’ve said it time and time again and I will continue to because blogging has truly changed everything for me which is why I encourage you to do the same if you have the desire. I am by no means a perfect blogger, a professional, or that somebody that will always be ahead but I hope to one day be that person if not for myself but for somebody else.

Alright… with 20 months of blogging under my belt, a heart full of love for what I do, and a passion so huge I’m going to give it a go. Here’s the best blogging advice I could ever give to you. (Oh, and an attempt at answering the questions above)

• If you want it you got it- I have so many people ask me how my friends reacted when they found out I had a blog. Understand that there will be people that will have the urge to make fun of you. Understand that it’s not some peoples thing so they might find it odd. Understand that the attitudes towards blogging from the people around you should mean nothing to you. If you want to start a blog- simply do it. There will be people that look down upon you but I promise there will be people looking up too.
• Be passionate about success- If there is one thing I have learned from blogging it is that setting goals changes the game in so many ways. Every year I set goals, and then I break those goals down into 1/2 year goals and then monthly goals, and then weekly goals. You do not have to reach your goals every time but keep setting them. They will leave you itching for progress, bursting with passion, and the biggest desire for success that you could have ever imagined. Success will change you, in the best ways possible.
• Accept the slump- I’ll be the first to admit that coming up with post ideas is hard. It takes time and creativity. If you are feeling uninspired accept that but don’t do ‘nothing’ about it. Get up and get out. Play around in your closet, take a trip around town, or read a few other blogs. Generating ideas and getting out of your comfort zone will leave you with better ideas and fresher thoughts.
• Numbers are people- Don’t you dare ever be discouraged by the number of people staring at your screen. I know it is hard, but remember that your ‘following’ number is a number full of people. Nearly 2,000 people, real life people are following me along this journey. That’s almost two times the number of people I go to school with. See, that number appears to be rather large now, right?!
• Comparison will kill you if you let it- You may be thinking to yourself ‘wow! She has 125K more followers than I do’. I think these things too. However, you must remember that comparing yourself to other bloggers and putting yourself down about it will kill you. You are not her, you are you. Focus on yourself and your own personal growth.
• The blogging recipe’s ‘bake’ time is uncertain- I could easily give you the ingredients to a good blog. A passionate person, a determined mind, a desire for success, a (somewhat) skilled writer, a camera, an innovative mind set, and creative ideas. Then you simply mix your ingredients together. However, the recipe doesn’t say how long it will take before you are left with a ‘successful’ blog. The person next to you may be moving twice as fast as you and that’s alright too. Understand that everyone will grow at a different pace.
•  Do not fear growth- There are posts that I am not proud of. There are posts from this time last year that I want to delete so badly but I leave them up there because it shows growth, improvement, and dedication. And although that may not be appealing to everyone else, it is to me. I do not care whether my old, crappy, over saturated pictures, are up for show because the truth is, that’s how I once was.
• Be a little unprofessional- The truth is, being a little unprofessional on your blog will leave you loving it even more. Weekly Wrap Ups are very unprofessional and often feature low-quality pictures and rushed outfit of the days but that is my life on a day to day basis. Not staged and those are memories that I will always be able to look back on.
• Opt for stability- Having a posting schedule has always kept me on top of my game and has helped me establish amazing viewers. I truly believe that having a routine to your blogging will help you strengthen and develop the relationships you share with fellow bloggers.
• Post what you want- At the end of every blog post, I always ask for post requests. I love to provide content for my viewers that they want to see; however, posting things that you are passionate about and interested in will leave your work that much more organic and relatable which in reality is what everyone prefers to read. People will come to you for your creative ideas but don’t be afraid to ask for the opinion of others as well.
• Celebrate the little things- If you want to celebrate your 100th follow, your blog’s birthday or your 10,000th view DO IT! Every feat is worth celebrating no matter how big or small. Take pride in your doings and be excited for yourself. Cherish these milestones; they will stick with you forever.

But most of all I encourage you to blog with a happy heart. To follow your dreams and write what you want whether your views, stats, and/or followers tell you otherwise. The right people will find their way to you. The right audience will be drawn to you. And that will take time but it will be worth it. Remeber that growth is nothing to be ashamed of or frightened by. Growth is a beautiful thing my loves. Don’t ever forget that.

If I was able to answer even a portion of your questions today, then my work here is done. Thank you all for the never ending support, the constant love, and the daily dose of encouragement! I would be nothing without you. Sending you all my love. With love, McKenz

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