My Top Tips for Blogging
One of my biggest tips is to know your brand. Understand what it is that you want to share. Think carefully about what kind of topics you want to write about, and become your own audience. Take the time to read other blogs and see where there’s gaps for you to add value. There are literally thousands of hobby-bloggers out there – if you’re interested in turning your blog into something that could become a future business – then you need to know your market, and understand what makes your blog unique.
A second tip I’d share with new bloggers is to learn as much as you can about the basics of SEO, digital marketing and content optimisation across different channels. The digital world is always evolving and changing – with algorithms and audiences’ accessing content in different ways to contend with. The more you are aware of these changes, the better prepared you can be for when that all important google ranking criteria or accessibility requirement comes into play.
I won’t lie, there’s a LOT of information out there – so have a think about some of the things you’d like to know more about. Find the webinars and ask the questions – there’s plenty of expertise you can glean from online content gurus – there’s also some fantastic community groups for bloggers that can really help take your passion to the next level. Considering tools like Canva or Unsplash is also a great way to create more engaging content without the need to pay for expensive tools.
When it comes to monetising your content – this is just as slow as initially setting up your site. Our key piece of information here is to enjoy the growth – and then focus on one area to monetise first.
We’ve fallen into the trap of setting up multiple affiliate programmes, trying to reach out to all of our favourite brands at once, and taking on pretty much any opportunity that came our way. In short – that’s the quickest way for you to lose your focus and desire to keep writing.
When you start to get a sense of your audience – and what’s working well with your content, think about the ways you could link products that are relevant to them – or provide additional content that adds value to what you’re posting on your site. Think about your blog as your product, and work with brands that complement what you’re trying to achieve. Find the space to talk about potential brand partnerships in a way that feels natural – otherwise you’ll quickly become a site that just re-shares discount codes (and there’s already major websites out there doing a great job of that).
I wouldn’t call myself a blogging expert – but I’m definitely further on in my journey with Relative Luxury. I’m very proud of the content I’ve been able to create, and to have worked with some great brands already on things like giveaways and sponsored content.
It’s been a great way for me to continue to build my skills, while also sharing my passions with other people across the globe, and that’s one of the most exciting and rewarding parts about running a blog. You build an audience that want to see more from you – and they become part of your journey too. If you’re thinking that blogging might be something you want to get into… our advice… just start!