I have been blogging for a very long time and I have made lots of mistakes. Most of the mistakes, I made could have been avoided if I had a mentor or an experienced blogger to help me out when I hit a brick wall.
My vision is to see 1000’s of millennials, discover their purpose and start successful online businesses.
So, I decided to reach out to 11 expert bloggers to share their lessons learned. I asked them to share what they would do differently if they had to re-do their blog business journey all over again. And what they wish someone told them when they first started.
I would like to thank each one of them for taking the time out to help my readers learn more about how to be a better blogger.
11 Bloggers share lessons learned:
Sue Dunlevie / Successful Blogging / Blog Consultant
While I love my entrepreneurial journey, I wish I had an offer to sell right from the start.
I thought I needed to build my list and have a following before I could monetize.
I wish I had done the research about my target audience and built an offer right from the beginning, something I could be known for right away.
[clickToTweet tweet=”I thought I needed to build my list and have a following before I could #monetize http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA ” quote=”I thought I needed to build my list and have a following before I could monetize.”]
Read also: 36 experts share their most effective blog growth technique
Meera Kothand / Meera Kothand / Professional Writer & Certified Email Marketing Specialist
There are two things I would do differently:
1. Use Pinterest from Day 1 – I neglected Pinterest well into 6 months after starting my blog. The moment I started using it, it quickly became my #1 source of traffic and it has been instrumental in growing my list on autopilot every single day.
2. Use affiliate marketing as a source of income from Day 1 – I neglected affiliate marketing until a couple of months back because I thought that it just wouldn’t work for me and that I needed a huge following and traffic to make a decent affiliate income. The moment I became more intentional about it and made strategic content choices to boost my affiliate income, the amount I made increased by several folds.
I’ve potentially lost out on hundreds of dollars and hundreds of subscribers because I started on Pinterest and affiliate marketing really late.”
[clickToTweet tweet=”Use #affiliate #marketing as a source of #income from Day 1 http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”Use affiliate marketing as a source of income from Day 1 “]
Sharon Gourlay / Digital Nomad Wannabe / Travel Blogger
The biggest thing I would change is that I would have started sooner. I made so many excuses about how I couldn’t be successful online and it stopped me acting for a long time.
The second thing I would change is that I would have made sure I was pursuing the right goals from the beginning. As a blogger, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing traffic or a certain number of followers. Since I wanted to make money, I should have focused my effort on that rather than other numbers.
[clickToTweet tweet=”As a #blogger, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing #traffic or a certain number of #followers http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”As a blogger, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing traffic or a certain number of followers”]
Paula Dennholt / Easy Baby Life / Mummy Blogger
If I could start all over again, I wish someone would tell me:
The relationship with your readers is everything! Don’t be shy to be real person. Spend, 20% of your time writing content and 80% connecting with readers and marketing your content.
Obviously, you do need to create good content too, but if no one knows about it, it won’t matter.
Invest (time & money) to learn the basics of graphic design, how to write great content, the techie side of blogging and so on, but also save up to sometimes outsource! It is not easy to always do and know everything yourself!
It took me 10 years before I really started taking courses and outsourcing some things. Last year, the traffic and earnings of my blog sky rocketed after starting to focus on the right things.
Do one thing at a time and have patience. There is no way you can manage to do everything at the same time. It will just be overwhelming. For example, don’t try to grow all your social media channels at the same time. Start with one, then move to the next and so on. Then repeat with the next social network.
[clickToTweet tweet=”The #relationship with your #readers is everything! http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”The relationship with your readers is everything!”]
Enstine Muki / Enstinemuki / SEO & Blog Monetization Expert
I started my online journey a couple of years ago and a lot has changed since then. If I had to redo my online business differently, I would certainly pay attention to 2 main things; I believe will give my business a huge lift.
These are:
1 – SEO: This is one area of online business that has evolved big time. I have seen proof that proper SEO can drive your business to remarkable profit so I would pay closer attention to SEO.
2 – Blogger Outreach: The most successful bloggers are those that are well connected. The more you connect with like-minded and successful bloggers, the more likely you will succeed.
[clickToTweet tweet=”The more you connect with #successful #bloggers, the more likely you will #succeed http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”The more you connect with like-minded and successful bloggers, the more likely you will succeed”]
Suzi Whitford / Start a Mom Blog / Mummy Blogger
I wish someone told me not to stress out so much. That it’s okay to filter out the noise and just focus on what you know will work.
When you’re a newbie blogger it’s easy to become overwhelmed quickly and give up. Don’t. Find a blogging buddy, and help each other stay positive. It’s a long journey, but it’s worth it.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Find a #blogging buddy, and help each other stay #positive http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”Find a blogging buddy, and help each other stay positive. “]
Eli Seekins / Launch your dream / Blogging & Entrepreneurship
I would have started 5 years earlier.
I wouldn’t have waited to have it “all figured out” before I got started.
I would have hustled more, and been more patient.
I would have been authentic and transparent with who I was and where I was at in life.
Simply put, I would have just started, without any expectations.
I wouldn’t have worried so much about the technical stuff.
I would have made less excuses.
I would have taken more risks.
I would have been more giving.
And I would have put more energy into building relationships. And these are things I continually push myself with.
[clickToTweet tweet=”I wouldn’t have waited to have it all figured out before I got started http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”I wouldn’t have waited to have it all figured out before I got started “]
Tobi Asehinde / Digital Marketing Skill / Digital Marketing Consultant
As an entrepreneur, I wish that I had learnt digital marketing before getting into my first online business.
I founded digitalmarketingskill.com (formally vibewebsolutions.com) in 2012, in my bedroom with just a laptop, a sofa, bed and internet connection during my Master’s at the University of Portsmouth in the UK.
Before I started my digital marketing consulting firm, I teamed up with my flatmate to start an online hotel booking business.
I lost all my savings from a summer internship I did, to a digital marketing firm that drove little or no results for the online business.
I became broke and frustrated that I took matters into my own hands and decided to learn digital marketing. So, I read all the books, blogs and watched all the videos I could get my hands on.
Then I got to testing.
A lot of the things I tried failed, however, I just kept going.
I didn’t want to give up.
Eventually, I started getting traffic, converting the traffic to sales and retaining more customers.
I became obsessed and passionate about digital marketing as I started getting clients in different countries and continents.
Now, my goal is to help and empower 10,000 people in the next 5 years to succeed in their business or career using smart digital marketing skills, channels and strategies.
[clickToTweet tweet=”I became #broke and #frustrated that I took matters into my own hands http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”I became broke and frustrated that I took matters into my own hands”]
Vishwajeet Kumar / Imbloggingtips / Internet Marketing & Blogging
Blogging has evolved so much in recent years. I started my blogging journey in late 2015. When I started my blogging journey, I wrote on topics that I liked the most.
It helped me to deliver some informative posts to my readers. The very first step of blogging is to choose the right niche (which you are passionate about).
Choosing a right niche will help you to deliver quality content to your readers and help you to increase your blog authority.
Creating quality content is very important part of your blog. Always remember content is king.
Make sure your post is unique and try to write in your own way. Sometimes we try to copycat others tone. But when you start to write more and more posts, you will soon adapt your own tone.
Add some call to action words in your post, which will increase more user engagement to your blog.
[clickToTweet tweet=”The very first step of #blogging is to choose the right #niche http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”The very first step of blogging is to choose the right niche”]
Lade Salami / Hairducation / Hair Growth Consultant & Blogger
From the time, I decided to start a blog to when it went live, it was almost 2 years.
So, I really took my time to make sure I was putting out content, I was happy with from day one.
There’s nothing I would change about my entrepreneurship journey but the only thing, I underestimated was how long it took to create good content.
One thing I’d say… it’s often said that your passion must drive you at first not just the money. It was the passion for my niche that kept me going.
[clickToTweet tweet=”It was the #passion for my #niche that kept me going http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”It was the passion for my niche that kept me going.”]
Bay Simpson-Yussuff / The Entrepreneur’s Nook / Business Strategist
I realized very quickly that entrepreneurship is indeed a journey. One that is built gradually through consistent practices.
Being an entrepreneur requires time, commitment and the ability to make quick yet strategic decisions. I dived into entrepreneurship head first and was more focused on my logo, website and social media presence amongst other things.
If I had to re-do this journey all over again, I’d spend time testing my business idea first by engaging with my ideal clients. I’d ask them more questions to know their exact pain points (in their own words) and lastly, I’d spend more time creating and putting out consistent content through my opt-ins, my blog and social media posts.
[clickToTweet tweet=”I’d spend time testing my #business idea first by engaging with my ideal #clients http://bit.ly/2lQ89uA” quote=”I’d spend time testing my business idea first by engaging with my ideal clients”]
Vladimir Gendelman / Company Folders / Founder & CEO
I made a lot of mistakes during those early years. I micromanaged my employees and burned bridges with good people when I didn’t know how to handle a situation. And, at one point, I took a wrong marketing approach that nearly bankrupted the company. But, I didn’t give up and kept reading and learning.
I developed a reporting system for projects and gave my employees ownership over their work. As a result, their talents shined and productivity soared. I also explored other marketing strategies including content marketing and social media. Now, Company Folders has grown into one of the fastest growing private companies in America.
[clickToTweet tweet=”I gave my employees ownership over their work. As a result, their talents shined #VladimirGendelman ” quote=”I developed a reporting system for projects and gave my employees ownership over their work. As a result, their talents shined and productivity soared – Vladimir Gendelman, Company Folders”]
I would like to close this post by thanking all the blog experts featured in this post for sharing their expertise with my readers.
Stay empowered!
empowee
59 Comments
What a great list. I love every one of these tips. Many I wish I knew before I started my blogging journey a year ago
Hi Adebayo,
Thanks for stopping by.
Feel free to share any of the lessons you have learnt from blogging and also your web link so my readers can check it out.
Pingback: Blogger Outreach: 4 techniques to use to build a relationship with bloggers - empowee
Great post. Simple and to the point. I guess you’re saying just be ethical.😀👏
Great article. I’m a regular reader at http://www.imbloggingtips.com. I always find something worth reading that is help to me and my online business.
Thanks for informing me Daniel.
Vishawajeet, is a great blogger friend.
Feel free to also drop your website in the comment box.
Lot of love empowee
Hey Daniel,
Thanks a lot. I am happy that you liked my blog and read it on regular basis. Its really feels me glad and also proud. Your comments really encourage me to do more with my blog and provide my audience more informative content. Thanks again 🙂
Regards,
Vishwajeet
Thanks for connecting Vishwajeet
The learning curve has been steep for me–so it’s encouraging to read advice from lots of other bloggers ahead of me on the path. Thank you!
http://www.bethanyareid.com
Hi Bethany,
Yes it’s definitely a learning curve.
Thanks for stopping by.
Feel free to introduce what you do in the comments.
I’ve been to your website…
Hello,
What a nice list you’ve got here. Mr Tobi Asehinde deserves to be on your list.
Hi Lekan thanks for stopping by.
Yes Tobi Asehinde is a fantastic marketer.
Feel free to share this post with your contacts
Wow Empowee,
You certainly have some major blogging super stars here! Many of them I’m honored to say I know them and there are also new faces here I’ll be sure to connect with.
It was great to read everyone’s response. Thanks for putting this together! Definitely passing this along. 🙂
Cori
Hi Cori,
Yes, they are all superstars!
Feel free to drop your blog link in this post
Hi empowee!
I am familiar with Vishwajeet’s blog Imbloggingtips.com
He is a really nice guy. Always replies to my comments and messages. I love his blog and the content. They are very informative
He is right that a blog must have a niche. I remember Pat Flynn of smartpassiveincome.com saying that “Riches are in the niches” Also being in a niche projects you as an expert and narrows down the competition.
Hi Ankur,
I love that quote riches are in the niches amazing.
It’s definitely all about the niche.
Which is why a lot of successful bloggers start multiple blogs in multiple niches and then they choose the one that’s most profitable and stick to it.
How did you stumble upon my blog?
Regards empowee
Hi Empowee,
Fascinating how the undercurrent of “I’d have started earlier” runs through this thread.
Love Sue’s advice too. Because I lived it.
I clung to silly ideas about building a product only after I made it, or developed a name, not realizing my worthiness issues were the sole block to dissolve. Dissolved block and I went on an eBook writing and product creating tear, and I have not looked back.
Big time advice here: follow your passion, blog mainly for fun and you let in prospering partnerships and ideas and money, and you’ll also act inspired.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Yes, I agree, I love that saying – the best time to start is now.
Blogging for passion is the most fulfilling thing you can do.
Blogging can be quite demanding and stressful so if you are not loving what you’re writing about you will give up before you get to your ‘success spot’.
Feel free to drop your blog link so my readers can check it out.
Sure thing. Thanks for the invitation to share 🙂
My blog:
https://www.bloggingfromparadise.com/
You’re welcome Ryan
This is a great list of tips, and I can definitely agree with one thing at a time. It can be overwhelming, but take on one challenge at a time 👍🏻
Hey sweets,
It’s definitely overwhelming.
I find it helps with to-do-list to only write 1 thing per day.
Otherwise, I get stressed.
One thing at a time.
Feel free to share your blog link through this comment thread, even though I’ve already visited your page.
Thank you!
My blog is http://www.keelys-nails.com and I welcome everyone to have a look for some nail goals!
You’re welcome
Thanks for sharing a great collection of tips. I have been following Sharon Gourlay for some time now and have learnt so much from her journey, so it is great to see her featured here. I feel like I am now better on my way to generating a decent online income but it has taken a lot of false starts to get there…
Hi Anne,
Thanks for sharing your progress.
Feel free to drop your blog url so I can check it out.
Hey Empowee!
Nice article—always enjoy reading what people have both learned and would have done differently.
Other than Eli’s awesome beard, I agree with him, in that I would have started 5 years earlier myself.
Thing is, Lade also brought up something that hit me: Good Content.
We think, as bloggers, that we have good content…and maybe it is, BUT is i the ‘right’ content for the people who are actually showing UP to our blogs? That’s what I wonder.
Working with Sue Dunlevie taught me something specific, and that’s how powerful those last 1% adjustments are for success and the results we’re looking for.
Great job, Empowee =)
Have an awesome week!!
Jaime Buckley
Your Biggest Fan
Thanks Jamie, It is a great article indeed. I couldn’t do it without the help of these experienced bloggers.
I must commend this is an awe inspiring read. The lessons shared are very punchy and practicable and have the ability to save new entrants years of potential regret.
Thanks Jesse for sharing your feedback. I hope you are able to make action some of these tips on your blog.
Every tip or advice here given by these entrepreneurs is priceless. Sue is best at what she does (I’m her loyal reader). Suzi is creative in coming up with ideas to skyrocket her subscribers (facebook fan follower). Meera is a mentor. Everyone who shared a tip on this post got lessons to teach others. Researching the target audience and monetizing your blog from day one are the takeaways. Thanks Empowee for doing this post.
Hi Arfa, thanks for dropping a comment. Yes we all definitely have something to share with others. Researching your target audience is KING and monetizing is Queen LOL.
Great lessons! Love Sue’s in particular because that’s my #1 regret too. Waiting till all the pieces of the puzzle are in place is just bad business. Start with the basics and build from there. Everything can be relaunched, started over, or even killed if it doesn’t work out. They key is to have an offer. The rest will fall into place.
Hi Samar, thanks for the fantastic feedback. It’s a great lesson for us to learn. Monetize whilst you’re growing your business. Please share your website link! What do you do?
What a great list. I love every one of these tips. Many I wish I knew before I started my blogging journey a year ago.
When I first started blogging I thought all I needed to do was create a website and start writing. I really believed the readers would magically come. Little did I know that writing is actually a small part of blogging. You need to get out there, engage, promote and let people know what you have to say is important!
By far the best tip I could give the new blogger is find yourself a mentor. I wish I would have found mine when I first started out. The progress I have made in the last month is leaps and bounds over what I was able to do on my own.
Thanks for such a great list!
Hi Tracy, I love your comment. It’s really the 80/20 rule. Content Writing is 20% but to get 80% of the results you need a blog strategy, which helps when you have a mentor. Can you send me the link of your blog so I can take a look at it and share on Twitter. I will most likely consider you for my future blogger outreach posts.
Thanks so much, I would love that!
Here is my link, stop by anytime 🙂 simplelivingcountrygal.com
You’re welcome hunny! Go girl – who runs the world! – Girl Bloggers he he
TOTALLY agree, Empowee….but I would add to that, you have to know the last 1% of that 80% to get the results most of us are seeking.
Case in point: working with Sue on my site, she adjusted one graphic and changed ONE WORD and the sign ups started rolling in. Up to that point, I had nothing =(
So I’m convinced it’s the RIGHT strategy…which I already know you agree—I think you meant that–so I’m just clarifying for readers (grin).
Great Jaime, I am glad your signups are rolling in. Always great when someone else spots your blindspots.
….but the quest is, Tracy, would you have been in the “right place” a year ago?
I was 5 years before I started….but it took my dad telling me to get onto the internet to actually take the plunge!
BTW–just making a blog and writing is STILL 99% ahead of those who only think about starting a blog and don’t DO it!! Keep that in mind, eh?
So many great tips. This post is like hiring an experienced blog coach to mentor you! thank you.
Hi Jane, I know it’s incredible, I was deeply honoured to have them on my post, I learnt so much time myself. There’s always something to learn. Do you have a blog?
Great ideas by this top bloggers. Thanks for including me!
Sue
Hi Sue,
It’s my pleasure, thanks for your amazing tips
empowee
I just show up whenever I see your smile, Sue.
(wink)
Have I told you lately that I love you, Jaime??
You should….I’m WAY cute….and as a bonus, I love to cook =)
Wow Jamie, You got me wondering … besides COOKING UP A STORM EVERYWHERE YOU GO, what other things do you cook to put on a plate !
:=) 😀
This is was a very interesting and inspiring read . Thanks to all the writers here and thanks Empowee for putting it together .. it was like just getting highlights from everyone’s formulas of success.
Meanwhile, besides the Beautiful smile , Sue is incredible in how she catches the smallest thread and create a fabulous fabric .
I am very new to blogging – you can say our blog is in the stage of infancy, but we the 3 partners of A quest for life blog feel so fortunate that we have Sue’s guidance .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Meenal. Is this your first time running a blog? I will take a look at it
Yes Empowee, I am new in this scene. I had the pleasure of being an “ingredient” in Jamie’s recent round up post recipe 😀.
We (Suman Vinay and I ) call ourselves the QUESTERS . We jumped on this joyride just a few months ago and would love for you to take a peek .
Check out http://www.aquestforlife.com
Great I did already!
Yes Sue does have a beautiful smile
Hello Empowee,
Thanks for this great post and give me the opportunity to be part of this. I feel very happy and honored to be a part of this post. I hope these tips will help new comers to learn more about blogging and get success in it. Thanks again.
Hey Vishwajeet, thanks for contributing and stopping by. I love your piece of nugget – The very first step of blogging is to choose the right niche…
Hello!
It is great to see my good friends, Enstine and Sue, showering up their lessons!
I do know that outreach is most powerful.
You cannot uplift yourself without the help.
And making connections with the like-minded people is like a lifeline to growing yourself.
Great knowing the lessons by everyone that they learned over the time!
~ Adeel
Hello Adeel, yes outreach is the most powerful because you get to build relationships with so many people. I learnt so much from them!
Hey,
Sounds good to be a contributor on the list and thanks for making it possible.
Most of us have some sort of ‘informal’ beginning and anyone reading out flashback stories will certainly grab something.
Oh! I’m again getting connected to some awesome bloggers here 😉
You’re welcome Enstine, thanks for contributing, I learnt so much myself for reaching out to all you awesome bloggers!