Blogging

The Secret to Blogging

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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?”
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.  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?

 

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58 Comments

  • Samantha Angell

    February 17, 2015 at 4:30 am Reply

    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.

  • Seana Turner

    February 17, 2015 at 5:26 am Reply

    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

    February 17, 2015 at 7:21 am Reply

    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

      February 19, 2015 at 5:17 pm Reply

      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

    February 17, 2015 at 7:42 am Reply

    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!

  • Theresa @DearCreatives

    February 17, 2015 at 10:30 am Reply

    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.

  • Jeannine

    February 18, 2015 at 4:47 am Reply

    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!

  • Ana

    February 18, 2015 at 8:43 pm Reply

    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

      February 19, 2015 at 4:47 pm Reply

      I would absolutely agree that once you are consistently creating quality content you also need to work on promoting that content!

  • Brittany

    February 19, 2015 at 5:08 pm Reply

    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 !

  • Brittany

    February 19, 2015 at 9:10 pm Reply

    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

      February 20, 2015 at 1:35 pm Reply

      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!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      February 20, 2015 at 1:31 pm Reply

      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

    February 20, 2015 at 8:21 am Reply

    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

      February 20, 2015 at 1:31 pm Reply

      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

  • J Stone

    February 20, 2015 at 12:15 pm Reply

    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

      February 20, 2015 at 1:24 pm Reply

      I think if you’re consistently creating quality content and then promoting that content/connecting with other bloggers…they will come!

  • Aimee

    February 20, 2015 at 4:42 pm Reply

    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. 🙂

  • Sarah Ann

    February 21, 2015 at 4:35 am Reply

    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!

  • krenaep

    February 21, 2015 at 11:01 am Reply

    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!

  • BritishMumUSA

    February 21, 2015 at 11:04 am Reply

    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

  • Miss Sara

    February 21, 2015 at 11:47 am Reply

    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

    February 21, 2015 at 12:38 pm Reply

    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

      February 24, 2015 at 2:39 pm Reply

      I would absolutely agree that building a community is so important as you work on consistently creating quality content!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      February 24, 2015 at 2:36 pm Reply

      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!

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      February 24, 2015 at 2:35 pm Reply

      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

    February 22, 2015 at 9:39 pm Reply

    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

      February 24, 2015 at 2:31 pm Reply

      So very true! Writing engaging content really helps bring people back and helps you connect with them in a genuine way!

  • Ashley D

    February 23, 2015 at 6:09 am Reply

    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. 🙂

    • jmdenouden@gmail.com

      February 24, 2015 at 2:26 pm Reply

      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.

    February 24, 2015 at 8:51 am Reply

    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

  • Winnie

    February 25, 2015 at 3:32 pm Reply

    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 won’t 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

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