Creating a blog is such a rewarding experience. It gives you an outlet to share your passion with others. It can also allow you to share advice and helpful tips with your readers along the way.

I have learned countless lessons from my fellow garden bloggers. So many writers have prevented me from making mistakes while providing me with the knowledge to keep thinking outside of the box.

It is a very friendly community that fills you with limitless ideas.

My blog back in 2017

This is my 5th year blogging (I still can't believe that!) Throughout this time, so many thoughts are always running through my head:

Will anyone notice my blog?

Am I writing about different experiences that will interest others?

Can my readers take something of value away from each and every post? 

These are all valid questions. It's important to assess where you are at, what you are providing and what you are taking away from your blogging experience.

In this post, I'm going to share with you some do's and don'ts I've learned along the way.

The Do's & Don'ts

Do Write Unique Content - Share about subjects that matter to you. Personal experiences you’ve had can make a difference and become great content. Try sharing things you’ve learned and mistakes you’ve made.

Stay true to yourself. As long as you’re doing what makes you happy, the criticism doesn’t hold weight at the end of the day.

Don’t Get Discouraged - As with every new venture in life, growing your blog takes time. Take that time to enjoy making new connections. This seems like a simple statement, but really take the time to learn from others. 

Set a schedule every week, and make sure to share and connect with others on social media. Using platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share pictures, experiences and small moments from your day. If you love what you do and share with others, your true intent will resonate!

Do Become A Micro-influencer - So many bloggers think that having a high number of followers equals success. Although your reach may be high, the interactions may not always be genuine.

As stated in this helpful article I found, if what you are writing about is authentic, your readers will trust you, and you will end up with stronger connections. 

Micro-influencers may have more frequent and genuine interactions with their audiences because those followers are largely friends or acquaintances. Or maybe they all share a niche interest.

Don’t Focus On The Negative - Your style of writing won’t always be for everyone. People will unfollow you. And that’s okay! Everyone has their likes and dislikes. People also change. Although your blog might have fit someone's style before, it might not now.

It’s important to accept that, move on from it and focus on what matters. Your voice. It can be tough, and losing readers will sting. Just remember to keep looking forward and continue reaching your goals.

There will always be those faithful readers who follow along and new readers who are interested in your perspective. Focus on those readers who are interested in what you have to say. They are out there!

Do Learn from Others - Find others who inspire you and catch your attention. They don't have to be in your specific niche. If you see bloggers who have reached the success that you are looking for, read what they have to say. Get an idea of how they think, what kind of goals they have and how they reached their own personal success. 

Articles like this inspire me and help me shape my goals for the future. Thriving bloggers always have a plan. Take some notes and curate your own plan. 

Don’t Compare Yourself To Others - Although it is important to learn from others, don’t compare yourself to others. Comparing yourself in a negative way is damaging. We are human. We all can easily fall into this trap, but it really is a wasted emotion.

There is room for everyone to shine. Focus on yourself and your own personal journey. It will always feel so much better when you avoid trying to fit into a mold somebody else has created.

Do Set Realistic Expectations - Don't get caught up in numbers. It's okay if you don't have 10,000 monthly views right away. Focus on curating content that is important to you and give it time.

It's so much easier to stay positive and grow your numbers over time. Not everyone will notice your blog right away, and that's okay. It's completely alright to make mistakes along the way and learn from them.

Work hard and take a break when you need too. Sometimes you get a better perspective on things when you take some time to step away. Set time to promote your blog and build those strong connections that really matter. It will happen!

I'm very grateful I can share with you all through blogging. As I grow and go along this journey, I will always continue to share with you.

If you are a blogger, when did you get started? What kind of important lessons have you learned along the way? I'd love to know more! Feel free to share in the comment section below. 

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