For The Love Of Blog.


I‘m a big fan of the blog. I’m a big fan of people having voices where they previously may have not been heard. I love that people have an outlet for their creativity where it may have been left brewing and stewing inside them with no outlet at all. It’s a beautiful thing.
New blogs are cropping up every minute. ‘I’ve got a blog now’ is the new black. Perhaps it’s the circles I move in, but it feels like everyone has a blog, a place that they speak their mind and share their thoughts. I’m always being asked about blogging, for tips, tricks and insider information. Earlier this year I shared ten blogging tips, and here are a few more…
♥ Don’t Blog For The Money
Because as every blogger will tell you, there is none. Well, not until you’re established and you’ve got a gig or something on the side. Or you’ve come up with some new brilliant idea that no one has ever heard of before. Most bloggers blog for the love of blogging, anything else is a happy bonus.
♥ Make It Your Own
Tweak the design so it reflects your own style. Write from the heart, with words you’d use when speaking to friends. Make it sound like an ongoing conversation from the heart.
♥ Pick & Choose, & Stop
When it comes to the design of your blog, spend some time planning what you want, make it happen and then step away. Let your readers adjust. If you’re continually changing your look, readers won’t be able to immediately recognise your blog from the trillions of others out there. They’ll be all like, ‘Is this a new blog?’ ‘Have I been here before?’ ‘Umm… I’m confused’. Step away from the HTML my friend.
♥ Be Contactable
I love when I read a post and feel so moved, touched, inspired or connected that I need to reach out let the author know. I hate when I try to reach out to them and there is no possible way to do so. Blogging is about communicating. Let the conversation continue by having your email somewhere on your blog. Buttons are easy to make. Create a ‘contact me’ one and link it your email. You never know… there might be a bazillion other people trying to get in touch too, and you’ve been missing out… all this time.
♥ Speak Your Mind {just not all the time}
Of course we want you to always speak your mind, always write from the heart… but if that means rant after rant after rant… well… yawn… that kinda gets old. We like passion, but if you’re passionately and infuriatingly crazy like mad… well it kinda just scares us. Eeek.
♥ Picture Perfect
It wouldn’t matter if you’re the worst photographer in the world, we still want to see your photos. You’ll see in my early posts on this blog that I sucked at taking photos. I really did. But still they were snapshots of my life, and that’s interesting to people. We like to see what the inside of your house is like, where you buy your milk. We like to see what you see.
♥ Be Patient
For the first six months of blogging hardly anyone read my blog. It was set to private {so that it couldn’t be searched and the only way people could read it was if I commented on their blog}. Don’t be upset if some days nobody visits, the blogging world is fickle like that. Some days you’ll get a busy boom of traffic, and others there will be a teeny trickle of readers & comments.
♥ If In Doubt, Pour Your Heart Out
If you want advice. If you see a blogger that you admire, approach them. If you’re frustrated and don’t know what to do… ask someone. Email a blogger and ask for some tips. Ask questions and hopefully they’ll be open and have enough time to get back to you. It’s worth a try.
♥ Enjoy It
If you’re not blogging for the love of it, it can show. So fake it until you make it {pfft that sounds like hard work!}, or take a break. A break does wonders for the mind – even if it’s just a trip to the cafe to people watch and have a breather.
Obviously I’m no blogging expert, but these are little things that I’ve learnt along my way. If you’re a blogger, what blogging tips do you have to share? Do you have something to add?

40 thoughts on “For The Love Of Blog.”

  2. Chantelle, I have nothing to add, tip wise, but I did want to pop in and say a big “Thank you” to YOU. Your blogging tips, and your Ebook are what got me totally re-enthused about blogging. So thank you, sweet girl. xx

  3. – Keep the posts at a reasonable length. I find I can't sustain interest in a blog that has enduring monologues. I lose interest. (Call it ADHD if you like 😉 )

    So keep it to 3-4ish paragraphs – occasionally spill over if the occasion calls for it.

    – Too many ranty posts are a turn off too.

    The other points you raise Telle are all good ones! Great post x

  5. Wonderful, wise words as always Chantelle.
    One thing I am conscious of is listening to my readers and replying to them when they ask questions. It's common courtesy.
    If people take the time to write a comment on your blog then you should take the time to respond as best you can.
    I try to answer all the emails I get from readers when I can. However, I know for a huge blog with thousands of readers every day this must be extremely hard to do.

  6. Thanks for the great tips. I discovered a couple of these first hand on the weekend, when a personal post I thought no-one would read ended up on the front page of wordpress.

    Weirded out at first, it became apparent that what drew people to read and comment was firstly a great photo of my son and that I had written from my heart.

    My new mantra – blog like nobody's reading!

  10. Thanks Chantelle, I'm going to embrace all those tips! In real life I know only one person with a blog and I haven't told anyone that I do. Strange. Lack of confidence I guess. I find it hard to 'blog like no one is reading' as per Belinda's advice, which I definitely agree with, but I'm just a wuss I think and have a gazillion unpublished posts that I'm not ready to send out into cyber space. I find writing a personal post and getting a zero response so painful!

  12. Love it Telle xx

    Keep different fonts to a minimum and don't go to crazy with colour, also it's easier to read on a white background than black or hyper colour pink…

  13. Great tips 🙂 I have been blogging since 2005, but for much of that time I didn't venture out into the blog world, I just wrote for me. Now, I am finding so much joy in the community of bloggers and am constantly trying to find ways to improve my blog.

  14. Thankyou for some great tips, Chantelle. I am only new to blogging and will definatly take on board your suggestions. 🙂

  15. Hmmm… what to add? Think my top would be about setting yourself some boundaries. Blogging and all that goes with it (social media, reading other's blogs, commenting, returning comments etc) can take over your life! Set your boundaries early.

    I have a blog-free day once a week!!

  17. Love this post so much Chantelle, you really nail it! It's gotta be about the loooove, otherwise it just doesn't ring true 🙂

  22. Thanks for posting this again, it's a great reminder. Thanks too for always answering my questions about blogging when others have just ignored me. I don't forget being ignored and I definitely appreciate being responded to.

  23. I just consider myself a “new blogger” because after several months of blogging, I still have about zero readers. I guess I consider myself in that beginning six month stage that you talk about.

    —still waiting for my “boom”

  24. Thanks so much for this post! I'm learning a lot from fellow bloggers (I'm a newbie) and it's great to read your encouraging post!

    – Meg

  25. One tip I have is to try a 'blog challenge' when youre struck by writers block, it did wonders sorting out mine

    I also agree that writing from the heart is important, a is letting others know when you appreciate what they've written xx

  27. I recently stumbled upon your blog {and instagram and pinterest} and wanted to say thanks for your tips! I love what you're writing and it has encouraged me to do a little “blog sprucing” of my own!

  30. Thanks for the tips!! I've been blogging for years now, but it's only fairly recently that I've written anything that's not a diary-style blog. Your tips will come in handy!!

  31. Hi! I'm new to blogging and am hoping for a little advice…….. 😉
    I started blogging 'for me' but am starting to get a little disillusioned that i have no comments or followers. I plan to keep up the blog regardless cos it makes me happy but do you have any advice on getting your blog out there??
    I appreciate any help you have time to offer. 🙂
    By the way, i love your blog and am grateful for the above tips!!
    Ruby

  32. I guess what's important to me is that a site isn't to busy. I like to read blogs that are simply designed and easy to get around. Nice colours help too.xx

  33. I'm another newbie blogger, I've been pretty thrilled with my whole 27 page views. I just found your blog thru Pinterest. Thanks so much for the tips!

  34. Found your blog through another blogs list of favorites. You have some great tips here and on the other pages, thanks for taking the time to write and pass on some good info for us newbies!

  36. I am about to start a blog with two friends. I love everything about Fat Mum Slim – the friendliness, style and of course the fabulous info I find here. Chantelle you one talented lady. Keep up the good work. Gretel

  37. Great tips! You made me feel better.
    I started my blog for me so that I can write down all the things that were going through my head. I eventually started looking through more and more blogs (well, I looked at a lot before I started mine too) and did a few reviews. I don't get a lot of comments although I would love them. I also don't have too many followers. I guess I'm used to it but it'd be great if I continued to get more 🙂
    Thank you again for the tips.
    http://simplethoughtsonthings.blogspot.com
    Eve.

  40. This is really helpful, I’ve had my blog for about 6 months and no one really reads it :/ I’m gonna follow these tips to help my blog to grow, and hope that it gets more popular 🙂

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