Just a place for me to post random questions to tell you my opinion and to see what you think.
What would I tell myself before I started Blogging?
If I could go back 2 years and have a chat with myself about blogging I always wondered what I would tell myself. When I started 2 years ago I never realized how awesome this would be but I made a lot of mistakes along the way, yes I learned from them but I would have liked to explain a few things to myself when I was a newbie.
*jumps in time machine*
- Netgalley isn’t to stock pile free book! You need to read those, so only grab what you will read and not what you think you MUST have.
- Blogger is shit get a wordpress and pay for it, It will be totally worth it and you will be a happier blogger for doing it.
- You will meet one of your very Best friends just by answering an email so make sure you answer that email.
- Blogging isn’t easy, it takes a lot of time and planning, don’t stress but make sure you have a plan at all times.
- Stay ahead even if you feel like you are ahead, keep getting ahead, being behind sucks.
- Comment on everyone that posts on your blog you will make amazing friends and loyal followers.
- Join the Sunday Post, trust me the best people do the Sunday post.
- Make sure you join challenge/read-a-thons they are more fun than you think.
- Blogging breaks are NOT a bad thing, just like a work vacation you need a break once in a while.
- Don’t be scared, just do it. You never know! Trust me.
- Have confidence, you are not as bad as you think, you could be a whole lot worse.
- Your grammar sucks it still does two years later but it might be a little better, don’t worry no one points it out. At least not out loud 😉
- Visit, comment and share. This is a rule you have a hard time following.
- If you have a new feature try it don’t hold back, again you never know.
- Yes you are a little shy but CHAT! You will meet the most amazing people, some will be better friends to you than those you know in person. Twitter is your friend so make sure to be social! .
- BLOGGIESTA! DO IT!!
- Don’t be scared to DNF a book, it happens you aren’t going to like every book you read.
- Choose you review books carefully, you don’t have to read them all. It’s ok to say No.
- Be Yourself!
- and HAVE FUN! This isn’t a job it’s a hobby. This is your escape from real life, you will need it.
If you could go back what would you say to your newbie self when it comes to blogging?
Thanks for checking out my post
Have a great day and Happy Reading
I’m featuring this post in my “Around the Blogosphere” section of my Sunday Post 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I really appreciate that!!!
This is a great post, Michelle…things all of us should keep in mind. 🙂 I laughed that Netgalley was #1 in the list. I wish someone had told me that bit of advice before I ‘shopped’ the first time on Netgalley. Omigoodness! I’m still a poor sucker on blogger…mostly because making the move terrifies me. If I could go back in time to give myself advice I would definitely tell me to be more social and comment. It took me a long time before I felt confident enough to do that. 😉 And I’d tell me to keep it fun. There are times when I am so stressed over blogging – and that’s nowhere close to the point of why I do this. Oh, and also that tip about picking review books carefully…that’s a good one! It is okay to say ‘no’. 🙂 Thanks for a fun post!
Thanks Brandee,
I thought the same thing about the move and it was super easy and I followed Nosegraze instructions plus if you are really nervous I think you can have her move it for you if you get her hosting company.
Review books were my weakness and that is pretty much how my author spotlight was born because I just couldn’t say no instead I would offer the spotlight.
Netgalley is a dangerous thing for all newbies!
I used tot hink that about Netgalley too Michelle, but then I realized an archive date isn’t a due date, so now I don’t care. But I agree I only pick up books in genres that I know I will enjoy. 😀 I agree about Blogger. It’s especially difficult for people new to blogging and html/css because it is so HARD. Bwahaha the best people DO the Sunday Post 😉 omg I love this post. Thanks for the laughs and the stellar tips!
Blogger was so glitchy for me. Every time I would do something I would have to do it over again so very frustrating.
Netgalley is a big one for Newbies, regardless of the archive date the publishers like you to have a review before the due date and I have let a lot pass by and some books I snagged and then realized i didn’t want to read them. 🙁
Sunday Post is the best ever 🙂
There’s some really great advice in there. I personally wish I had started joining in on The Sunday Post and some of the reading challenges a lot sooner; they’re now some my most fun posts to write! And I used to be soooo dead set against them >.>
Thank you! I cohost a challenge with a friend and when I first did it with her it was honestly my first challenge ever. I loved it so much I couldn’t stop doing them 🙂 They are a lot of fun and you meet a lot of great people.
I’m still a blogging newbie, so these tips really help me out! 🙂
Yay! I am so glad. 😀
What a lovely honest post. I think I made all the mistakes you did and probably more. The best advice I would like to give to myself all those years ago is be yourself, let your light shine and write, write, write. Spoil your followers even if it’s only a handful, too.
Thank you 🙂
I never thought I would have a lot of followers and I probably don’t have many but I love the ones that are true followers and some have become such great friends. I agree, the best thing you can do for your blog is to be yourself.
I can totally relate to your first point, I’m struggling with Netgalley requests these days. When you make mistakes, you learn, so that’s a good thing in the end.. Staying ahead… well, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – for me, it only works with reviews and The sunday post. I don’t do challenges and read-a-thons any more, they stress me ; until I have that plan you mentioned and am able to stick to it, no challenge !
I met awesome people through the Sunday post, so I agree with your wholeheartedly. And Bea has a very good point : when you spend that much time blogging and commenting, make sure you have fun 😀
Netgalley I think was a problem for all blogger when they start and find it.
I love challenge and read-a-thons you meet a lot of great people doing it (with twitter parties) and it keeps me reading and helps me catch up.
Oh the NetGalley one! I definitely needed that one early on. Actually I still need that one! And love the Sunday Post. That’s how I’ve found most of my favorite bloggers!
Me too! Sunday Post is a great place to meet real followers and friends. I like the other ones but sometimes I think they only stop by so you will stop by them.
Ditto on the grammar sucks–I am going to include spelling for me. Luckily it has only been pointed out a few times and all those times I was like gosh darn if only I had an editor LOL
LOL an editor would be nice! yes spelling kills me 🙂 I don’t think anyone pointed anything out other than my mother. LOL
I keep my shut and don’t post out errors unless they’re in the post title; I figure it’s rude to point them out otherwise. That said, one of my services is editing blog posts. If you’re ever interested, send me an email, beasbooknook@gmail.com
I think we all made the mistake of that first one..Netgalley..I know I went a little hog wild when I first go it thinking I needed them all then got so behind…lol. I agree with a lot of your assessments. 🙂
Netgalley and Edelweiss is like a dangerous place to visit lol it still is after all this time
All of these are good points of advice. Just like you if I could go back in time I would tell myself to research self hosted wordpress earlier, so I could switch sooner and never made the mistake of starting Lola’s Blog Tours on wordpress.com first because I didn’t know the difference. And I am still so happy I joined the Sunday Post when I started my own blog I met so many awesome bloggers through it, like you ;).
I had the smile about the grammar point, just like you I am bad at grammar and that still hasn’t changed. I still notice typo’s or gramar mistakes after a post is live already or never notice them at all. I had a author point out a typo in one of my forms for Lola’s Blog Tours lately, so humilating.
The ones about DNFíng and saying no to review book is a good one too. Although I think learning to say no or not requesting too many books from netgalley are things you have to do wrong first before you learn. I think every newbie blogger made the mistake of saying yes to every book coming their way, before realizing they didn’t really want to read them all.
I hated Blogger, I wish I would have started off paying for it, would have made things a lot easier. Typos and grammar always happen even if you read it 100 times you will always find some simple mistake.
The NetGalley one definitely. I made that mistake. Try to stay on top or ahead is another good one. Look at different blog platforms and go with the one that works for you, ignore people who try to push you to a different platform. Don’t take on more books or commitments than you can manage. Visit other blogs. Comment on other blogs. Try out different events and see what’s right for you, again ignoring anyone who tries to push you in a certain direction. Listen to people who have more experience but make your own decisions. Ask questions, politely.
And most important, HAVE FUN!
I sometimes think we all forget to have FUN! I never realized how awesome it would be to comment on blogs and when I started I didn’t think to do that. It’s good to learn from our mistakes but it would be fun to tells ourselves what we learned. lol