You know what, i’ve been thinking so much lately about how to grow my brand and my blog and I’m realizing that I’ve got lots of room for improvement! I’m making some mistakes with blogging, and I’m excited to fix them by making blogging goals.
3 Blogging Mistakes
- The number one thing that I’ve done wrong is not post often enough. I became really preoccupied with making something “post-worthy”, which meant a ton of work, money, and time. I wanted each piece I published to be really professional. This idea of “professional” snowballed into wanting a photographer, a florist, desserts….yup it just keeps going. I’m realizing now that I put so much pressure on myself…ugh.
- I focused on posting finished products and not the process.
Not posting the process is a side effect of number 1. I wanted to show a completed space every time and I missed out on sharing how spaces come together and sharing small steps at a time, like looking for the perfect sconce, sharing about my flooring search, or picking my paint colour. I think participating in the One Room Challenge is the best way for bloggers to learn this lesson. The One Room Challenge forces you to spread out sharing a project over 6 weeks and to really think through what to share each week. The best part is that you get huge engagement as a result of the anticipation that builds with the project. That anticipation is really the key to giving your blog momentum. - I neglected to take enough candid and authentic photos. I am 100% authentic with my thoughts, and opinions, and voice, but I need to work on snapping more photos in the moment. You know what stops me…messiness. I’m so tired when I get home from work that I usually leave laundry and the kitchen for the weekend, so the days that I’m comfortable shooting candid shots become slim. This idea of tidying up and clutter has become such a focal point for me lately. Life is too short to be messy. I’ve mentioned on Instagram that I’m working really hard to declutter and you wouldn’t believe it. Like half of everything is gone and it’s still not enough. I’ve made the mistake of being in a constant cycle of tidying for photo shoots then letting things get out of hand.
3 Blogging Goals
- Create a blogging schedule and stick to it. I’ve noticed that a lot of blogs post on Thursdays. I’ve also noticed that some blogs post twice a week, or every day. My friend Melaine from My Sweet Savannah has a wildly successful blog and she found that the more frequently she posted, the quicker her blog grew. She now blogs every single day. I’m in awe of her, but it’s the ultimate goal. I’ve also noticed that Liz Marie Blog is blogging every day and she is also one of the top decor blogs. Do you follow either of these amazing writers?
- Post the Process, so that my blog has momentum and there’s always a reason to check in with me. As I’m about to start renovating a new home, this goal is everything. I need to share what’s happened that day, and what specific issues and problems I’m solving. I want you guys to share in my anticipation when I check in on the project daily…and my frustrations and mishaps…the whole shebang.
- Keep my house tidy, so I can snap pics authentically. This goal is huge. I want to live a clean, minimal life, surrounded with objects that I truly love and nothing else, so that I don’t spend every waking moment in the process of cleaning up, so that I’m not missing the fun of my decor and love of candid photos. It’s like I don’t want to spend all day everyday moving messes from the counter to the table, and making piles, and stressing. It’s freaking time to live a cleaner and more simpler life, that I can enjoy in the moment, instead of dreading mess. You know?!
So, I’ve made 3 big mistakes and 3 big goals to fix them. I’d love it if you shared what you’ve learned from blogging experience with me, in the comments!
If you’re interested in blogging or starting a blog you might like these posts I’ve written:
How to Motivate Yourself to Share Your Passion
Blog First, or Instagram Account, and Why
How to Start a Blog and Why You Should Start a Blog
Let me know if you have any blogging posts or Instagram related topics you’d like me to talk more about!
Hi Leslie!
I couldn’t agree more with you! I’m a total newbie when it comes to blogging and nowhere near what you’ve already accomplished, but what you wrote totally resonates with me! I’m also a teacher… perhaps it’s our inner perfectionists… anyways, kinda following the same mistakes/goals idea, I’ve decided to vlog instead.. it helps me show the process along the way instead of just the end result. Not sure if that’s something you might consider for the new home reno.. Regardless, keep rocking it girl! Everything you do is amazing!
Hi Emily! Thank you! Oh my gosh I’d love to start vlogging. Are you filming yourself with a tripod? So much to learn! I just started a YouTube account but it’s empty…lol! Thanks so much for your comment and for the encouragement!
Emily – a fellow teacher blogger hear. I’m also pretty new to the game and don’t have a big following. What’s your blog? I’d love to check it out! I’m at http://www.ourcorneroftheworldblog.com/
I agree with all this Leslie! I haven’t started a blog yet but have started an Instagram account and I find it so hard to keep posting everyday (which I know is key to growing followers) but I am REALLY struggling with taking the perfect picture…I stress about it so much and I always judge my photos so harshly that I don’t end up posting and then really, whats the point of being on Instagram without the pics haha! I look at all the other people I follow and their pictures are crisp and interesting and look so professional and it just makes me embarrassed by my own and intimidated. I think this also goes back to the whole clutter thing…I prep so much for one shot of my table when I have my toddler hanging off my leg and a bomb of toys underneath it, out of the shot but still haunting me! I’d love to know how you’ve decluttered the TOYS from your life with your two girls (same here BTW!)?
Can’t wait to see more posts from you! YEAH!
Hi Aly! Oh my gosh I know it’s so hard to clear enough space for a photo! Right now I’m trying to keep the toys homes’ in each girl’s room and it’s working way better. I organized everything and I get rid of anything that doesn’t fall into a specific category…they are coming home with random stuff everyday and I try to toss it asap. lol! We used to have a toy room and it was a disaster so I switched it and set up a kitchen, table, and all the food in one daughter’s room and all the Peppa pig toys, jewellery, books, and teepee in the other and they have to keep the stuff in those spaces…it’s working way better than a mish mash of everything. I totally get the pressure of posting. One tip that helped me, download the app VSCO and use it to brighten your pics…bright photos do way better! Thanks so much for the comment and for following along!
I love your posts about blogging! My biggest mistake is also not posting enough. I’ve been pretty bad since spring hit a few months ago ;( I went through a period of time at the end of the school year where I just felt overwhelmed with everything else and wasn’t inspired to blog, so I didn’t. We didn’t have a big project going, so posting is a lot harder during those times. I don’t want to post if they aren’t quality posts. I posted this week, and it felt so good. It’s actually one of my favorite posts because I think it will inspire readers. I need to work on my creativity and get back into a more regular posting schedule.
My other biggest struggle is taking good photos. Like you said, sometimes my house just doesn’t feel ready to photograph. Its so hard to keep the house tidy with kids, and during the school year I’m never home when the lighting is good. Also, unlike you, our house is in the beginning stages of making it a home we are proud of. We really only have one or two spaces that feel completely finished and the quality that I want to represent our work. I’ve been taking pictures of a lot of other homes (around our lake town and home town) this summer to give me material for instagram. I should be working to bank photos for when school starts back up!!
I love your goal of documenting the process. Have you ever read addicted2decorating? She is GREAT at posting her process and it makes you want to follow. I also sometimes lose interest in blogs that only post end results and perfect pictures because it starts to feel fake. So definitely show us the process!!
I love your style, and you inspire me with your ability to blog and teach and mom (since I want to succeed at all of that too)! Keep it up!
Hi Jalene! I’ll check out that blog you suggest! I know the feeling it can be overwhelming for sure!! Thank you so much for the comment. I will definitely focus on the process and thanks for the feedback! I’m sure your home is gorgeous…we’re all too hard on ourselves! xoxo
This post is me in a nutshell. All of it… I had been struggling also with blogging during my renovation and as a result I barely wrote anything at all until the house was ready for us to move in. I then had so many posts I was supposed to write I didn’t post any. Wahhhh. I am now finally trying to post a few times a week and even if it’s just my favorite finds it’s a good feeling. Thanks for this post. I love it! xx
Hey Kristy…I know right?! But your account is amazing!!! It’s so hard to post though…honestly…lol…we can encourage each other!! thanks so much for the comment!
HI, Leslie! Mine is a food blog but I am guilty with no. 1 and 2 as well! Sometimes I feel that it’s not “post-worthy” or there’s already a lot of posts about this or that, to the point that I didn’t just post anything for several weeks. My blog is like up for more than a year and my posts are so slow. I’m still working on this too…Sometimes it’s just hard to differentiate if you’re already putting too much pressure on yourself or if you’re not pushing yourself hard enough to make results happen.
Love your posts about blogging and, of course, your home decorating! Keep it up!
Hi Trish, I know it’s so hard! I’m doing a lot better at being more candid on Instagram, but I still need to push for more blog posts…don’t worry about the same topic being written about though, I think that your readers want to hear from you xoxo
Hey, I love your blog and your home is beautiful. I just started a blog , so I stumbled upon this looking for blogging tips and you mentioned how you are trying to declutter and I actually started a blog on how declutter because it’s one of my favorite things to do. If you need help check out http://lifetominimalism.com/. Thanks for your blogging insights.
Oh that’s so awesome…good luck with it and I’ll be reading!