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What I Learned About Blogging In Six Months

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What I Learned About Blogging During My First Six Months

The 9th of January marked my six month blog anniversary! What I’ve learned about blogging is that it takes a ton of hard work.

 

So many accomplishments I’m proud of, even just with finally starting a blog. I’ve wanted to create this little space for years, but I was always afraid to take a leap of faith. I’m so thankful I did!

 

I thought I would share with you six things I learned over the course of these six months blogging, and I hope they will be helpful to you on your blogging journey!

 

PIN FOR LATER!

What I Learned About Blogging in Six Months

 

1. Blogging is Hard

 

While there are so many joys that blogging has brought me, it has been anything but easy!

 

My fellow bloggers out there will likely agree with me. It takes so much time, hard work and consistent effort to make your blog a place that others want to visit – and to get it out there in front of them.

 

It is a full time job, regardless of whether you’re getting paid for it. My ultimate goal is to monetize my blog and make it a full time career. To do that, it takes a big chunk of each day to eventually make that happen.

 

With that being said, I truly enjoy working on my blog and creating content that you want to read. I guess it’s true what they say, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!

 

2. Some Financial Investments Are Necessary

 

When I first started blogging, I really wanted to start out free for a couple of reasons. I wasn’t sure if I would actually be successful at it, and I thought that I could make due with the free items that I could find online.

 

I think this is a common thing with new bloggers. During my research, I saw a ton of recommendations of what you should invest in when first starting out, the bare minimum so to speak.

 

I am SO thankful for all of the advice I received and for making the investments below on my blog from the very beginning. I can tell you that they have been so beneficial to me in just these six months, and will continue to be in the future.

 

Hosting

 

If you’re new to blogging or even if you’re a veteran, you probably got it drilled in your head early on that you need to be self-hosted. Admittedly, I did not want to get on board with this. Even with getting some of those coupons for super low price-per-month from hosting companies, it still adds up.

 

I searched (and searched and searched!) for the best possible price for BlueHost. Many bloggers have their own affiliate codes that can get you a great deal. I found one and took it out for three years for the best deal possible – after the promotional period (three years, in my case), the price-per-month will increase.

 

BlueHost has provided me with great service from the beginning, which is especially helpful to new bloggers.

 

You can use my link to sign up with Bluehost and get the following:

  • For your first year, you will receive a free domain name
  • You will also receive a free SSL certificate that’s used to secure your blog
  • A quick and easy one-click install of WordPress
  • You can reach out to BlueHost 24/7 for support

 

It is well worth the price, friends! What I learned about blogging early on, is when you go with free sites or even paid plans offered by some sites, such as Wix, you don’t actually own your content – they do! If you want to monetize your blog in the future, you need to own it and you’ll want full control of your business. Unfortunately, you cannot do that with those free websites.

 

You also don’t get the customization options with those sites as you do with WordPress. It does have a little learning curve, but WordPress allows me to literally customize anything and everything I want. I have full control of how my blog looks, and that makes me happy!

 

Theme

 

I bought my theme (the same one that I have now) when I first got started and I’m SO happy that I did. I feel like it helped me have a professional looking blog that fit the brand I wanted to create, such as colors and fonts. While I’m positive that you could use a free theme and still make it look great, I feel that it really helped get me started on the right foot.

 

The great thing is that they don’t have to be expensive! I found mine on Etsy from TinselPop.

 

3. What I Chose Not To Pay For

 

This is my sincere opinion – but remember, things are different for everyone. Free programs that work for me may not necessarily work for you, and that’s okay! Just wanted to give this little disclosure first.

 

Programs for Creating Designs

 

I use the free version of Canva and it has worked very well for me so far. I can certainly see the appeal of the premium version, as you can get more gorgeous photos to use on your blog as well as fonts. However, I’ve been able to make this work and use my own photos as well, so I’ve saved on this expense.

 

Email Marketing

 

What I learned about blogging early on is that you need to start with an email list! Even if you have to next to none traffic, start growing your list from the beginning and you’ll be so thankful later on. You’ll pick up loyal readers and if you decide to create a product or service to sell, you can pitch it there.

 

In terms of this being free, this will change over time, but I do not currently pay for an email marketing service. I use MailerLite and it’s free up to 1,000 subscribers. I really enjoy using the program and will happily pay for it once I reach that number.

 

Social Media Scheduling

 

There are a lot of well-known programs to schedule posts for Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. I started out using Later and I love it! It’s very easy to use and free, with up to 30 posts per social media profile each month. This one is subject to change over time as well, as I get more content to post, but I will likely still stick with this service.

 

[mailerlite_form form_id=4]

 

 

4. You Have to Create Your Brand

 

Branding is so important to your blog. Fonts, colors, formatting, designs are all part of your brand. You want to keep that brand true to you and consistent. For example, if someone sees a pin on Pinterest, they may be able to pick up that it’s from you just by the way that it looks.

 

I learned not to pick too many colors, just two-to-three is a good amount. It’s the same idea with fonts. I really like keeping things as simple as possible.

 

5. Update Old Blog Posts & Pins

 

Over time, your brand may change. The way you make your pin designs, the way you format your blog posts, and so on. I’m in the process of going back and updating my old blog posts and pin designs and can’t believe the difference, in just these past six months!

 

We all start somewhere, but that often isn’t where we end up. So making a habit to revisit your old blog posts to give them an update is a great idea. It keeps your brand consistent.

 

6. Bloggers Support Bloggers

 

Before I got into this adventure, I wasn’t sure how welcoming other bloggers would be. I can tell you that everyone that I’ve come into contact with has been so wonderful! Please don’t let that affect your choice if you’re trying to decide to start a blog.

 

There have been so many fantastic bloggers that stop by my blog, comment or pin my posts. It is so appreciated and I can’t thank each and every one of you enough! Likewise, I have always tried to return the favor and reach out on my own daily to different blogs by commenting on their posts or pinning them.

 

We are all in this thing together and I think I speak for most of us in that we all want each other to succeed!

 

While there will always be “haters,” you don’t have to let those negative people stop you. Just keep pressing forward, making great content, and your loyal readers will keep coming back! 🙂

 

What I Learned About Blogging In Six Months

 

If you’re thinking about starting a blog, I hope you’ll find what I learned about blogging helpful during this short six months. I’ll do another post maybe after my one year anniversary!

 

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll be happy to help where I can!

 

I have some big goals for Make Life Marvelous this year, and I hope that you’ll tag along for the adventure. Thank you so much to each of you who have visited my blog, whether it be just now or if you’ve been a loyal reader for awhile!

 

I couldn’t do this without YOU and I am so excited to see what 2020 holds for us.

 

I would love to hear from each of you on something that you would like to see on the blog this year! Please let me know in the comments or send me an email! 🙂

 

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Let’s Chat!

What’s something you learned early on in blogging?
Do you have any tried and true tips to share?
If you’re not a blogger, have you ever thought of starting a blog?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Darceline says

    I’ve blogging for a short time too and I am surprised and also amazed at the support that i get from other bloggers. I don’t think I would have made it this far without them.

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      I’m with you! That support is so necessary and helpful! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, Darceline!

      Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Kris! 🙂 I absolutely agree with you, a whirlwind is a perfect way to put it! We are going to get through it though!

      Reply

  5. Liz says

    Congratulations on your 6 months bloggaversary! Updating your old blog and social media posts are very necessary, this verity I learned too late in my bl.logging marathon 🙁 I wish you a ton of inspiration this year, you are doing a great job!

    Lots of love ♥ January Girl

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Liz! 🙂 That means so much! I totally understand, I’m just now going back and revamping my old posts.

      Reply

  12. Crystal Green says

    Congrats on your six-month mark. Your blog is beautifully laid out. You write truly well too! I’m impressed with what you’ve accomplished so far.

    I do want to tell you to go get your OWN affiliate links for BlueHost and the theme you got. You’re missing out on some serious money because you have a wonderful post here fully ready for those affiliate links.

    Blogging has a way of changing your life in ways you never imagined if you stick with. I’ve been in the blogging world since 2012 and sold my first one in 2016. I wish I never sold it, but hindsight is 20/20. I’m in the process of now revamping my current blog now that I know who I want to help the most. So, I feel like I’m starting all over again. I’m eager to see what the next year brings us both.

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much for your kind words and advice, Crystal!! I’m going to look into the affiliate links! Even though I understand you wish you hadn’t sold your first blog, I have to imagine it was really successful, and that’s amazing! I have no doubt that you’ll do great things in 2020, and I appreciate the encouragement so much! 😊

      Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      I completely agree with you, it’s such an amazing community to be a part of. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jelena! 😊

      Reply

  17. Corinne says

    I totally agree with the very first lesson, which is “blogging is hard”. Gone are the days when you can blog about anything and everything you want. Now, you really have to write for your audience and make sure your posts are getting heavily promoted and seen. And it’s true, you have to spend money on your blog if you want it to be profitable down the track. This can be a bit of a shock to the system for new bloggers so thanks for sharing them in your post. Cheers.

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Corinne! 😊 It really does take time to figure out who your audience is, and what they’re interested in. I agree with you, a lot of new bloggers tend to get overwhelmed with the amount of work it takes to have a blog. It’s definitely worth sticking it out and working hard though.

      Reply

  19. Valentina says

    Happy 6 month blogging anniversary! I love this post so much. You learnt some valuable lessons. You are so right, blogging IS hard. it takes a lot of time and effort to run a blog. Most people don’t realise it until they start their own blogs and see it’s a lot more than just writing and taking pictures. But it is worth it. There’s nothing I’d rather do than be a blogger xx

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Valentina! 😊 I have had a lot of great people in the blogging community lead me in the right direction. Definitely agree with you, even though I did months of research and read how hard it was, it was still harder than I imagined. I find a lot of things get easier though and it’s just a constant learning process. I truly enjoy it so much though!

      Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Aww, thank you so much, Julia, for your kind words! So happy you found this post helpful, that is truly my hope! While I have so much to learn, I love the idea of sharing what I have learned to help others. We are in this together! 😊

      Reply

  21. Val says

    CONGRATS on making it this far! There is always lots to learn when it comes to blogging. It’s amazing what can be done and learned in 6 months time.

    Reply

  22. Tiziana says

    Happy Birthday to your first 6 month gorgeous!

    First of all I have to admit that I thought you would already be blogging for years, cause your blog looks amazing and I love your posts! You really found your own style quickly.

    Which financial investments do you think helped you the most and have there been any that you think were just wasted or not so necessary?

    Even though I have my blog for over a year now I haven´t been posting that much yet, so I´m still feeling like a “new” blogger. So I love reading about all your experiences. You are so right, that it´s important to create a brand with a color scheme and not too many fonts. I´m testing some different ones at the moment so see what really suits me. Hope in a few months I´ll be as sure as you´ve been. I think your tips will help me a lot! 🙂

    Have a great day and of course I wish you that the next 6 months will be even more fantastic !

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so very much, Tiziana! 😊 I appreciate your kind words. You’re the best!

      Starting with self-hosted and my theme were definitely the best investments thus far. As far as worst investments, I’ve been so hesitant about spending on other items yet, I really haven’t spent money on anything that I feel has been wasted, at this point.

      Your blog is beautiful and I enjoy reading your posts! I have no doubt you’re going to do amazing things this year. 😊 Blogging is a constant learning experience and I feel like blogs are ever evolving. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be sure about things, just be you, work hard and you’ll do fantastic! Truly, the only thing I’m sure about is that things will change over time. I just try to get better each day and roll with it. 😉

      Reply

  23. Sharon says

    Completely agree! I love how supportive and welcoming (most) bloggers are. I always get super excited when I come across a fun new blog to follow, and honestly feel like I have so many blogger friends on the internet 🙂 What do you think is hardest about blogging besides the amount of time it takes to create content? 🙂

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Absolutely, Sharon!! 😊 Besides timing of content, I would say gaining blog traffic. It takes a lot of work to get your content in front of lots of people.

      Reply

  25. Makeup Muddle says

    It’s crazy how much work goes into blogging. Those that don’t have blogs just think it’s writing a few hundred words here and there, but it’s so much more. It’s so rewarding but it’s a lot of work! Wishing you success for the next six months and beyond! xo

    Makeup Muddle

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Absolutely, I agree with you! It’s well worth all of the hard work. Thank you so much, I truly appreciate it! 😊

      Reply

  26. Lacey says

    Way to go on the 6 months! You Rock! I started at the end of september so Im not quite there yet! The supposrt sytem is fabolous. For me I think its the networking and SEO building that is alot of work. Its super fun though. Im slowly getting it, NOTTTTT. LOL

    thexglitterbox
    @thexglitterbox
    http://thexglitterbox.com/

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Lacey!! 😊 You are right on the networking and SEO, it does take a lot of work. I’m sure you’re doing great and are going to see lots of fantastic things happen this year!!

      Reply

  27. Mica says

    Congrats on 6 months of blogging! I’m glad you are enjoying it and sharing the lessons you’ve learned along the way! 🙂 I’ve been blogging a few years but on blogger so I haven’t invested anything other than time into it – took so long to get the blog setup how I wanted, paying for a theme instead is good advice!

    Hope that you are having a great week 🙂

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so very much, Mica! 😊 I totally understand. You are proof though that you can make it work if you’re a great blogger and take the time to figure out how to design things!

      My week is going well, friend. I hope yours is fantastic thus far!

      Reply

  31. Jill says

    Congrats on 6 months of blogging! The blogging community is so supportive! One of my favorite things is the friendships that I’ve made through blogging! Wishing you continued success!

    Jill- Doused in Pink

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Jill! 😊 I completely agree with you, it’s such a wonderful community to be a part of!

      Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you so much, Naya! 😊 I don’t know about all of that, haha. I have done a lot research and had a lot of other wonderful bloggers to help me get this far!

      Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      That’s understandable. I think it’s all about your goals and I know you can do anything you set your mind to! 😊 Thank you so much, Ella, and I’ll definitely consider doing a post on that! I may put that in my next update post for my first year blogging.

      Reply

  38. Danielle says

    Love these tips! The longer we’re at it, I feel like the more we learn from it. You should totally check out AdobeSpark (it’s free). It’s so much fun to create things like pins, and more. I can literally spend hours on it.

    Reply

    • Make Life Marvelous says

      Thank you, Danielle! You’re absolutely right. We just keep growing. That sounds wonderful, I will absolutely check that out!

      Reply

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