
The Secret to Blogging
I have been officially blogging almost a year now and I think the question I come across most often is, “What is the secret to successful blogging?”
And guess what y’all…I have figured out the answer!
The secret to successful blogging is consistently creating quality content.
You can put together a lengthy list of everything you should do to make your blog better…
-Strengthen your social media presence
-Build a blogging tribe
-Comment on other blogs
-Develop a mission statement for your blog
But it’s actually quite simple…if you aren’t first and foremost consistently creating quality content then the rest doesn’t matter. Β If you aren’t creating quality content you’ll struggle to attract readers, readers won’t return to your site, and brands won’t be interested in collaborating.
So if you’re looking to start a blog or grow your blog I would encourage you to make it a priority to consistently create quality content.
What do you think…do you agree or disagree?


58 Comments
Samantha Angell
I definitely agree with you- creating great content is the first step. Otherwise, promotion, building a community, nothing else matters if you don’t have quality content! As a blogger, if you only post once a month- you can spend an entire month commenting on other people’s blogs, but it won’t do much good if you don’t have new content for them to read.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Exactly!
Seana Turner
Yes, I think all of the other things are important, but if you don’t have something that people find interesting, then visiting your site will feel like a chore, and that isn’t what you want. I enjoy bloggers who are real, who give good ideas, and who are social (meaning, they comment back and you get to know them a bit.)
Kels @ Blonder Side of LIfe
I totally agree, but then I also think social media comes I second. You can be writing the best content on the internet, but if no one ever sees it then you won’t be “successful” either. Depending on your definition of successful of course.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I would absolutely agree that social media/promotion comes second because if you’re not sharing the content then your blog isn’t going to grow!
Joanna
I love these tips:) Especially the part about the blogger tribe! Making friends with other bloggers and showing them support has helped me tremendously and taught me so much!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
There is no way I would still be blogging if I hadn’t connected with other bloggers along the way!
Theresa @DearCreatives
I have to agree with Kels. You can write the quality content but, then you have to do all the work to make sure it’s seen and shared. Toss in SEO & all your points and then your apt to have more success. But,I do agree that quality content is one of the basis’s of being successful.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I would definitely agree that promotion is so important to getting your content shared!
Akaleistar
I completely agree!
Jeannine
For me my blogging “Aha moment” was building my tribe. I was providing great content on my blog, but was doing myself a disservice by not properly promoting and communicating that. However, you are right. At the very base, is being consistent and having something quality to share when you do have that audience. Great post Julie!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thank you! I couldn’t agree more about the importance of building a tribe…so incredibly helpful!
Jennifer Abel
Good advice. I am visiting from #handfulofeverything, so nice to find new blogs!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thank you for stopping by!
Ana
I definitely agree that consistently creating quality content is where you need to start to be a successful blogger. Because once you are known for awesome content, more people will return to your site. Also think promoting that content is key to help readers find that content.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I would absolutely agree that once you are consistently creating quality content you also need to work on promoting that content!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
I totally agree. If you put out garbage no one is ever going to care!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Amen to that!
Amberjane
Really need to get back into blogging properly – Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thanks for pinning!
Brittany
I totally agree with this! I have noticed (as a new blogger) this has made a real difference in terms of generating traffic. Thanks for the straightforward post. Please do stop by my website !
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Glad you enjoyed the post!
Brittany
As a beginning blogger I find it is SO hard to focus on just one thing. My favorite thing about blogging is writing and getting my posts together but then there is all the back end stuff. So hard to manage it all! Do you have any tips on how to manage your time and prioritize blog needs? I make my posts number one but there are so many other things that need to be done! I can totally see how someone could do this full time. But this full time mama doesn’t have that kind of time!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I try to prioritize what needs to be done and then I try to have a routine for getting it done. I don’t answer email every day because I just don’t have time but I set aside team each week to do that. Same goes for some of my other blog related tasks…I schedule time to get things done a week at a time. When it comes to promoting my content on social media I use a scheduler so I can sit down once a week and get it all scheduled out and then not have to worry about it!
Christina Morley
Hi Julie! I’m visiting from That Friday Blog Hop. Great point! I sometimes wonder why people blog, if they don’t care about their content. I like making new friends by visiting bloggers that do. π I’m now following you on Google+. God bless!
http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com/2015/02/inspirational-quotes-and-weekend-linky.html
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I have come across a few blogs where it seems like they don’t really care about their content and I’ve never really understood why they even bother blogging!
Jasbir | beeraycoffeethoughts
I agree. I agree with everything you said (referring to the bold letters). It is easy to achieve consistently, as that takes some discipline, ie treat it like it is a job. Yet, ‘quality content’ is a little harder. There are times when you get something like a writer’s block. What do you do then? I had that.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
The first thing I do when I get writer’s block is take a step back and take a break. I rarely have success when I try to force myself to write. I also try to write extra posts when I’m in a writing mood so that I have content ready to go when I’m feeling uninspired
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
I completely agree with you. Write from the heart!
Congratulations on your first year of blogging. I’m almost there, too. π
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Congrats to you too!
Aspen Jay
Yep, and that is the hard part! π
J Stone
I never would have believed how much WORK blogging is! I don’t have many followers yet, but I just keeping typing away thinking that they will come, lol.
Thank you for the tips. They make sense.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think if you’re consistently creating quality content and then promoting that content/connecting with other bloggers…they will come!
Aimee
I’ve only been blogging for about a month and a half, but I agree – quality content is key. I’m working on building my network, but I realize that if I don’t have quality content for them to read they won’t come back. π
Sarah Ann
YES! I found that when I started writing more content of what my readers liked, and stay within that niche, there was much growth in all areas of my blog. Thanks for the reminder! Stopping by from SITS to read, but now follow you!
Keisha | The Girl Next Door is Black
Totally agree. You can have the most beautiful, slickest blog, but if your content isn’t of interest, there’s little reason to stick around.
krenaep
I totally agree. You can host all the linky parties, giveaways, and Pintrest worthy pictures your want, but if you aren’t writing something worth reading- they won’t come. Sure the other tips about engagement and social media are important, but content should come first.
Make them come for your promos but make them stay because of your work!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I love how you put that, “make them come for your promos but make them stay because of your work!”
BritishMumUSA
Exactly, why do any of us go back and read post after post on the same blog. We like what they are writing about, their style and so forth. I put in most of my effort with twitter, the visiting after blogs and supporting other blogs. Content is key, and I produce one post a week, one that I feel passionate about.
Agree with you all the way.
xoxoxo
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think it’s awesome that you can help people see that “consistent” does not need to be five days a week! One post a week isn’t necessarily better or worse than three posts a week if it’s a quality post and you do it consistently!
BritishMumUSA
Exactly, could not have said it better myself π
Miss Sara
I truly think it depends on what you determing “success” to be. I have blogged successfully for YEARS and I haven’t always been consistent. My site is different than a lot of other “blogs”. My posts are genuine and I’m passionate about what I do online and off… THAT is how I have been able to be successful.
Kirsten
You are absolutely right! If you are not creating quality content there will be no one to read, share, or promote your post! After that, work on building a community that supports you and you support as well. That has been super helpful!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I would absolutely agree that building a community is so important as you work on consistently creating quality content!
Emily - Morning Motivated Mom
I so believe that it’s true!! But as a new blogger, I get distracted with all the other things I need to do. I need to just streamline and focus on content…and worry about the rest on a smaller scale.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think that’s a great plan! Focus on creating great content and do the other stuff (and there is a lot of other stuff!) in moderation!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets
I agree that the content is most important, and then you need to have a plan on how to best promote it! I’m still struggling to get my page views up but I’m just going with slow and steady!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Slow and steady is a great way to go…just ask the turtle who raced the hare! And I would absolutely agree with you, as you are consistently creating quality content you also need to work on promoting and connecting with your readers and other bloggers.
SUZI T
You have to engage them. Sometimes I get annoyed because people forget that what they are engaging in isn’t fiction,it’s my real life. But, at least I’ve got them reading.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
So very true! Writing engaging content really helps bring people back and helps you connect with them in a genuine way!
Bismah
Agree with you totally especially about connecting with other bloggers and leaving comments. Stopping by from “Motivational Monday”. Have a great day!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by!
Ashley D
Thank you for sharing! This one idea of focusing on quality content is one I have repeatedly seen when researching blogging. It can feel overwhelming at times especially when you are trying to remain consistent in blogging…but keep on trucking. π
jmdenouden@gmail.com
For sure! I just read a great blog post (and now I can’t remember where I read it…darn it!) where they talked about a comedian sharing that the secret to successful comedy is to write jokes every day. I think the same is true for blogging…you don’t have to write every day, but get in the habit of consistently creating quality content. It will bring readers to your site and keep them coming back!
Brittany M.
Yes, this is definitely true! Creating quality content is the first step, and probably followed by building your social media presence, and networking with other bloggers. Thanks for sharing!! #shinebloghop
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I would absolutely agree that your social media and networking are second and third!
Winnie
I do agree with you that creating quality contents is the most important, but I don’t think I agree with you of what is a successful blog.
You mentioned that “…and brands wonβt be interested in collaborating.”
I think that collaborating with brands is bad, because it makes it all about money, and not really blogging. And readers are not stupid. Collaborating makes the blog less and less believable
Betsy @ BPhotoArt.com
I agree! Although, I have to say that some variance is usually acceptable to me as a reader …as long as the blogger is upfront about it.
Pinned this to the #SmallVictoriesSundaylinkup board (thanks for linking up!)