10 THINGS I’VE LEARNT ABOUT BLOGGING

This whole blogging thing has been a pretty sharp learning curve for me. WordPress you sly dog, you are so tricky with a capital T.

I had zero idea of what I was getting myself into when I started writing posts about my Mum’s shoe collection last March. I was just like ‘oh this is fun LOL let’s steal all the shoes.’

It’s come on a lot since then, and I’d like to think my writing style has developed a tad since this first post here.

But I’m still learning all the time, so here’s 10 things I’ve learnt about blogging in the first 12 months of my blogger life:

1. Blogging is bloody hard work. You have to act as the stylist, writer, editor and photographer. Most importantly, you have to act like that really clever digital guy at work that’s real good with computers and knows how to do everything.

The reality is that I have to take a billion photos to get the right shot, I redraft the written content about 10 times and I throw full scale tantrums when I can’t get the digital stuff to do exactly what I want.

Bottom line is, this blogging stuff ain’t easy, nah ah.

2. Blogging turns you into a stat slave. It’s so very easy to get a bit obsessed with your stats, refreshing every two minutes just to see who’s checked in to read your stuff.

‘Um I think maybe my WordPress app is broken because my stats aren’t going up…’ No Jade, it’s just nobody wants to read your crappy post about cats. Lols.

I’m so needy it’s unreal.

The lesson here is some posts get thousands of views (like this post here and here) and some only get hundreds. And then there’s those posts that only get about 50. That’s life.

3. The blogging world has loads of ‘lurkers’. I’m 100% sure there are some people that just scroll through my posts and look at all the pretty photos. And that’s okay, you’re making up some stats so well done you, you sneaky bean. But guess what folks, this post doesn’t contain many photos, so you might as well quit whilst you’re ahead. Soz not soz.

4. People like lists. What is it with me numbering things up and putting them into neat little points, and you lapping it all up?

5. People are shy. Or lazy. I’m sure it’s a mixture of the two. Sometimes I will get a tremendous amount of views on something, and I’m like ‘bloody hell, this is going down a storm.’ Well done me, huge pat on the back and an extra square of chocolate tonight. WIN.

And then nothing. No likes, or comments, or shares.

But then I’ll see people out and about and they’re like ‘Oh man I loved your post this week!’

So why didn’t you say? You guys baffle me. So yeah, I’ve learnt that the reader is a tricky one to crack.

6. Blogging isn’t fair. There is no justice in the world when it takes me 5 hours to put together a blog post, and then some video of a cat falling in a sink gets more views. I mean, wtf.

7. Blogging in the Winter is so much harder than blogging in the Summer. I need good light to take photos. And working a 9-5 means I leave in the dark and come home in the dark during  the winter months, which FYI makes it pretty darn hard to get any photography in whatsoever.

Basically the sun is my best friend.

So I apologise for those slightly out of focus and glary photos between the months of October-March.

8. It’s not wise to post rubbish photos. Because they will inevitably be the ones that Facebook chooses to post as your thumbnail when you share the link. You know what I’m talking about right?

So when I post a new blog entry to Facebook and there’s that square photo that comes up. Yah, I can’t choose that. So if you ever wonder – why the flip did she choose that photo to entice readers in, it’s PANTS.

Yeah I didn’t choose it. I can’t choose it. Boo you, Facebook.

Moral of the story: never use photos that aren’t fabulous AF.

9. Timings are crucial. For some peculiar reason you crazy cats love to read my posts on a Wednesday. Clearly I help you get through the nightmare that is ‘hump day’. I can imagine you all at your office desks, downing coffee and reading my 10 WAYS TO NOT KILL YOUR BOSS. It makes perfect sense.

You also like to read my posts on a Sunday evening. Again, totally understandable. A blog read can be a great accompaniment to Antiques Road Show with a cuppa tea in hand.

The time of the week that I choose to put certain content out is so very important. And that’s been a huge learning curve.

Yes, I may want to post on a Friday evening, but the reality is that all the cool cats that read my bog are out partying, and they’ll most certainly miss my ‘5 BEST THINGS TO DO ON A FRIDAY EVENING’ post. Duh.

10. Blogging gives me all the smiles. My heart explodes with glitter when you guys read my posts. Fo’ real.

Thanks for your support over the past year. Means more to me than a full Topshop basket and a gluten free cake.

I’m currently in the process of redesigning the site and making it snazzy, so be sure to keep checking in.

 

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