Blogging Isn’t All PJs and Coffee

Blogging takes time and commitment. Anything you want to be good at typically does. I imagine when you meet someone new a similar conversation might ensue:

“What do you do?”

“I’m a blogger.”

Befuddlement hijacks their countenance. Some of them are thinking, “That can’t be too hard.” Others have zero idea what that means.

Don’t let the fear of what others think deter you. God only created one you. Yes, you’re sure to get some funny looks along the way, but I think you’ll find more and more people who support what you’re doing if you keep after it and they see you are serious about it.

People picture you sitting on your favorite chair, wearing your pajamas. I’m not gonna lie. I’ve done it that way.

But, if you hope to make a living at blogging then you must treat it like a job.

You get up and get ready for work as if you are heading to the office or to the shop. Shower, shave, and…well you get the picture.

Those posts aren’t going to write themselves. Successful blogging means you have to show up to work. Your followers (readers) like it when you’re dependable and your posts appear when they expect them to be there. You can train your audience. You are either training them to trust you or you’re teaching them that you’re flakey and willy-nilly about posting on your blog. It doesn’t mean people won’t read your blog. They just won’t show up regularly because you don’t show up regularly.

Success is a result of effort. Be committed. Care. If you’re hacking away at the letters on your keyboard, struggling to get through, overwhelmed with the pressure of having to blog, then you might consider if blogging isn’t really for you. That’s ok. It’s a free world. No one is making you blog. It’s something you’ve chosen to do. If you’re not having fun doing it, do something else. That’s not to say that some days you won’t feel the vibe. On those days, try to push through. If all else fails—take a break.  If you’re determined to succeed, then you’ll need to be prepared to bring the necessary level of commitment required to achieve your goals. Building your following takes time and effort. Engagement doesn’t happen overnight. Commitment matters.

Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Plan and prepare. Think ahead. Success always requires planning and preparation. Have a calendar that gives you deadlines and keeps you on track. It’s real easy to skip a post—which on occasion is okay—but not a habit you want cultivate. Think through what you want to blog about and take time to do the research that will help your posts stand out from the crowd. Don’t just wake up, hoping something will happen and expect the words to magically appear on the screen. Plan. Be prepared.

Reciprocating with kindness causes good things to happen. When people take time to comment, respond back. Engage in conversations. I’ve found the more I am willing to engage on other people’s posts the more people are willing to engage on mine. Funny how that works. Blogging is a community. An online, digital universe all its own. Building community is easier when you talk to your neighbors or spend time with like-minded people doing what you are doing.

Invest in your craft. Spend time honing your writing skills and studying all things blogging. It’s what separates the wheat from the chaff. You can check out podcasts and websites focused on helping you improve your blogging, like Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger. Darren covers every facet of blogging and offers informative, inspiring content that will help you get better faster. I also spend time reading blogs written by bloggers whose blogs are more successful than my own , like BeautyBeyondBones. In addition to being good at her craft, Caralyn sheds light on the challenges associated with eating disorders. Finally, spend time studying other bloggers and blogs creating content in your niche’. For instance, my blog focuses on matters of faith and issues centering on addiction recovery, in addition to sharing my insights and experiences on writing and blogging. While I’m no expert, these are things I know and have spent time doing.

Those are just some thoughts on why blogging is harder work then you think it is. Blogging isn’t all PJs and coffee. No doubt, it’s fun. I get a lot of joy from engaging with readers and followers. It does my heart good when someone comes up to me and lets me know that they are reading and that somehow God is inspiring or comforting them through my words. I’m happy when people are entertained by what I write or when my blogpost brings them joy. That’s good stuff. Keep what you like, trash the rest. Be blessed.