1. Finding your own "voice" takes time. As soon as you start focusing more on what makes you original rather than obsessing over what others are doing, things will come a lot more naturally.
2. Your feature photo on Bloglovin' counts. Make it as interesting as possible. Reaching the popular page is some of the best advertising you'll get.
3. Twitter chats are the best way to get involved. Blogging gets a hell of a lot more fun when you get a conversation going.
4. Leave thoughtful comments. Don't be that person who just comments "great!" or "nice post!". It's clear you didn't read it and it just feels kind of insulting.
5. It's important to reply. If it's clear you don't reply to your comments, you'll probably notice engagement goes down. What's blogging without a conversation? When you comment on someone else's blog, you'd expect to feel appreciated, so let your readers know you're actually reading.
6. Don't accept PR samples for the sake of it. I learnt my lesson with this early on after getting a little PR happy. Don't accept everything you're offered, or more than you can manage. It's really not nice to be harrassed by PRs.
7. On that note, don't allow PRs to force you into featuring products. If you want to share a negative review, go ahead. But if it's not something you would spend your own money on, why share it with your readers? We're not here for impersonal, sponsored reviews. Be honest.
8. Max up your photos! Resize your photos to your blog width and then click 'original size'. Don't let your pretty photos be wasted at the last hurdle.
9. It's not a race or a competition. It's great to be motivated and it's super excited to see followers roll in, but don't get more obsessed with the numbers than creating good content.
10. It's best to let things grow organically. You can't force an audience and there is no secret to gaining a following. For sure, pay to advertise on blog but you can't force readers.
11. Using the HTML editor saves you a lot of stress. Ever had blogger play up with gaps between photos or general dodginess? Sort out the spaces by adding a <br> rather than using the compose editor. Bye stress.
12. Leave high school gossip where it belongs... High school. A few months ago, the site which shall not be named tore the blogging world apart. Avoid those forums like the plague. Just like saying calling another girl ugly doesn't make you any prettier, calling someone a shitty blogger isn't going to make you Zoella.
13. Don't be afraid to be honest. It's easy to give into the pressure of working with big companies and to swap your honesty with the promise of more free stuff. But it's really important to stay honest and to respect the influence you have over your readers. Any company worth working with will respect that.
14. Be user friendly. Don't make it hard for your readers to follow you. If I love a blog, I'll normally follow their Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin. Make sure these are clear and acceptable on your blog.
15. Always take note of inspiration. When inspirations strikes, you better make notes. And no, you don't need a paperchase notebook for this. My iPhone 'notes' app has been my BFF since I started my blog.
16. Being a carbon copy just doesn’t work. – I’ve noticed a lot of people literally copying the photography / ideas of bigger bloggers, and if you think it goes unnoticed then you’re wrong! Don’t be that person who creates watered down version of content that’s already been done.
17. Don't give away too much. – Don’t air your dirty laundry over Twitter! Somethings really are better left unsaid.
18. You will have days when you feel down on your blog. – The best thing you can do for your blog is to stay organised and positive. You won’t get a following over night. It’s taken me a year to get to 2,000 followers and that’s involved a lot of hard work and consistency. Be realistic, don’t run yourself down and make things as easy for yourself as possible.
19. Never let a PR tell you how to be a “good blogger” or how to write your reviews. You will encounter PRs who make you doubt your own worth as a blogger and who want to tell you what kind of language to use in your reviews (mainly casually swapping “sent” for “bought”). Tell them where to go. Don’t give into the mechanical PR samples of blogging. Write a blog you would want to believe or you’ll lose the relationship / trust of your readers.
20. Always have your camera with you! – I take my camera wherever I go and am always looking for ways to incorporate my life into my blog. Heading on a day out? Ask your friend to do some outfit photos you, or take some photos for a lifestyle post. This keeps blogging fun and means you can blog on the go rather than setting aside specific times to bulk shoot in your garden, when you could be finding much more interesting locations. What have you learnt in the time you've been blogging? Is there anything you wish you knew when you started?
Lydia Rose,
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