Bloggin’ Ain’t for Sissies!!
After a day like today, I’m really happy that I have started a Newbie Group and one of my Newbies has started this link-up!! This may sound a little like a vent/rant/blowing steam, but the premise of it is real!!
Enjoy!!
I’m joining Melissa at The Kids Are Grown, Now What? for So You Want to be a Blogger?
I started this blogging thing back in August after much, MUCH thought and I figured it would be a fun little hobby and I could do it part time and I wouldn’t get wrapped up in the competitiveness and money-making and frantic posting and late night blog-a-thons…
and then the oh-so-lovely, yet terribly possessive blogging monster took ahold of me and I LOVE HATE LOVE AM ADDICTED to it!!
Let me just give you my two cents about deciding to start a blog, then you can let me know what you think…
First – start thinking about why you want to blog
- to make money – it can happen but it takes time
- to share your knowledge with others – great!! Let’s start building that content!!
- to socialize with others – okay!! There’s fun stuff out there!!
- to get free “stuff” – hmm…you’re actually working for it so let’s just turn that into *to work for products!!
- just for fun and whatever happens, happens, but you will always be YOU and your blog will be about YOU, reflect YOU, no matter which of these directions you go – PERFECT!!
Second – Read, Read, Read, Study, Read, Comment, Comment, Enter giveaways, If you win giveaways thank the hosts profusely, Read, Comment, Comment, Find Favorite blogs and Comment, Comment, Comment, Read, Read, Study…
- The more you read/follow/comment on blogs, the more you will know about what type of blog you want, including what format (Blogger vs. WordPress), what “look” you are going for (heavily laden with ads or little to no ads on your Home Page), what features you will want on your blog, what comment box you will pick because that is the one that you like to use as a reader!!
- When you start to find blogs that you like, determine what it is that you like about them. Go to their blogroll and see what blogs they like to find others. Look for their pages/posts/series about Blogging or Blog Resources. Almost all bloggers who have been around for a while have a tutorial or two.
- Become “familiar” or “friendly” with the bloggers you are following and be consistent when you find the ones you like.
- LEAVE REAL COMMENTS!!
Finally – start your blog, be yourself, do what you want (think about those things that you liked on the blogs you were reading), and start looking for groups to fit in with.
- Join Blog Hops and follow through with REAL COMMENTS letting them know that you enjoy their content FIRST, then let them know that you found them on such and such hop.
- Do not, please Do NOT find their most heart-felt post about their dear beloved Fluffy who had to be put down today after 18 years and so on…and then post, “I’m a new follower, follow me back!” – It’s just wrong…
- GROW A THICK SKIN REALLY FAST CUZ WE’RE A BUNCH A LADIES (and a few great men) AND WE CAN GET ”TUDE!!
So…where are you in this process? Have you started blogging, want to start blogging? Are a seasoned blogger and remember this exact feeling?!! 
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Loved your ideas about blogging. I've blogged off and on (inconsistent) about my Tibetan Terrier, Wigglebutt Duncan, at http://www.wigglebuttduncan.blogspot.com, when he was a puppy, and only recently started again. I'm also a sometimes blogger for ChicagoNow. Am trying to really find what I'm interested in and what voice to use. Glad to hear about the newbie group because I still consider myself a newbie! Sue
Sue, I hope you come join us tonight for the Newbie Blog Hop. The newest linkup will be posted tonight at 9pm CST and will stay open until Friday at midnight!!
Hi,Yes everything you have said is right ,I just found your blog through BSN Bloghop but I will read through your posts.I started my blog at the end of July and I couldn't tell you why I started but I drive my hubby mad with it. I love reading new blogs.
Anne, thanks for stopping by!! Why don’t you come join the Newbie Blog Hop!!
Found you thru the hop
I've been blogging since 2008 thru our family blog, in May I decided to start a "crafting" blog, and it's involved into so much more!! So blessed for blogging! Looking forward to following your blog and I'll be sure to link up next Tuesday 
Thanks!
I would love if you would link up to our Newbie Blog Hop and join the Facebook group!! The newest linkup will be posted tonight at 9pm CST and will stay open until midnight on Friday!!
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First of all, I LOVE this post! I literally JUST started my blog about 2 weeks ago because I really wished someone would do posts about deals for local stores in our area instead of always going to wal-mart, so I figured why not do it! I love blogging, I just wish I had more time and resources to do it!
Lauren, that is EXACTLY why I started to think about blogging!!! I was following coupon blogs and nobody in my area talked about Brookshires (Hubby works there) and it was driving me crazy!! Before I could get it started though I had a change of heart and decided I couldn’t keep up with the coupon blogs. So, I just talk about random stuff here!!
Lauren – what is your blog? I want to come visit!!
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Lauren, something is up with my comments when people try to reply…all I got from you was "null" when I think you were going to leave your blog address!!
Thanks for the great information! I have been seriously thinking about what I want for my blog in the coming year, and this really helps!
Great Jamie!! If I can help in any way, just let me know!!
Yea you got it right. One of the big pluses though is that once you find those other bloggers….it becomes a lot more fun. And even though some folks out there can be really "witchy" there are some that are incredibly nice and helpful!
I still haven't figured out for sure exactly why I'm doing this…other than I enjoy it. I like getting products…I like making money…I like doing giveaways…I love the community…but none of those by itself would be enough for me. So I guess it's good that it all comes together.
Absolutely!! There's so many fun directions we can go with a blog, I can see why people would want 3-4 blogs…although I think my family would move out on me if I did that!!
Thanks for stopping by, Elle!!
Great post, Janet! I agree with what you and Darcy both said, I think the key is finding what you really like blogging about and sticking to it! And yes – thick skin is a necessity, too! :p
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If I could just pinpoint what that ONE thing is…I'm just so random all the time which may be what people like about my blog. You just never know what to expect…
Love your post! Great information and everything is soo soo true!!!
Don't ever forget that!
PS– Have I already mentioned; I consider you a veteran blogger (one that I love to follow)…and you're doing such a fantastic job?
Hugs, Barb
You're just too sweet, Barb!! You are one of the first blog I ever read and followed so I learned a LOT from you. When I first learned about blogs, I thought I wanted to be a coupon blog until I found blogs like yours and decided I wanted a more personalized blog. That's why I love following yours because not only do you have the BEST products to review, you put YOU in it!! {{HUGS!!}}
Definitely need to think about why… Though I think people tend to enjoy their blogs more and become more successful when money isn’t the top priority… Or at least isn’t the reason they started. Just my opinion though!
Thanks, Darcy!! I never expected that I would even be ABLE to make money blogging and that's why this is so much fun!! Whether I make money or not, I'm enjoying it and when I stop enjoying it I'll change it up!!
Great article!! I am a new blogger since November – you captured many of my exact thoughts! So far it's been very fun
I'm going to join your Newbie Blog Hop …. thanks!!
Welcome, Tami!! Blogging should be about fun and what YOU want. When it stops being fun, then it's just a job…boo!!
You're right – we did have a lot of the same thoughts on this! Obviously we've both experienced the need for the thicker skin lol
Yep, thick skin is not my strongest attribute, but it helped that I could "blurt it out" here and move on!!
Wonderful! Thanks so much for linking up, Janet.
You're welcome!! Thanks for hosting!!
THanks for all the information Janet! Blogging is a hard job and you have given great tips!
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Aww…Melissa, it's not supposed to be a hard job though!! You have to have fun with it!! But I totally understand what you mean…
HAHAHA Thick skin yes!! I have met some really ummm witchy women!!
Eh…we just have to remember it's like that with females in most jobs, social group, competitive events, life experiences…should I go on?!! It really helps to put it out on my blog (cloaked in secrecy and generalities) and then move on!!