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100 days blogging, what I have learnt
I started my blog in October 2018, 100 days later, today, I am exhausted. I would not recommend blogging for 100 days straight but it has honestly been quite an experience.
As I submitted my first blog post, Saturday morning, I did not expect to put as much work into it as I have. I also did not expect to read as many fantastic blogs and meet (virtually) as many lovely bloggers.
My reason for writing my blog was to improve and develop my writing. Having started writing a novel and feeling a bit lost with it I thought blogging might help. I also considered that if I had people following and reading my blog then my name will already be known if I ever do get my book finished and published.
Since starting my blog my Facebook page has grown and there are people actually reading my writing. Before I had to force my husband to read it and then any criticism of it was just based on his opinion.
I enjoyed it so much that in December I decided to go self hosted with Lyrical host and I would highly recommend them.
I have learnt in the last few days that people have many different reasons for starting a blog. I have been looking at my progress and then reading others on Pinterest. I have now realised that I should not be comparing, I have blogging friends who simply blog for the community and friendship, they have no interest in making money from it.
Talking to a lady on one of the many Facebook groups about my blog, I was advised it will not make money as it is not giving anything to the reader. Now maybe this depends on the reader. If someone is wanting to read poetry or a story they are possibly not asking Google. They will possibly be searching in the Word Press reader just like I have done.
The same lady also said that she would not be interested in any of my Pinterest pins due to the images being to personal. Interesting feedback and yes I think she was right. I am now learning Canva and using that for my pins rather then pinning straight from my blog. I’ve also realised that the posts that might make money need to be separate from the others as they are maybe the ones that someone might save.
What I have learnt
1. I have written some posts that are more giving to the reader and I will continue to in an effort to monetise. see,15 ideas to help keep your kids entertained
What is the point in writing a blog? why do I do it?
Then purely more selling if interested.
Amazon deals and Alexa enabled devices for the smart home
Christmas / birthday present ideas
2. I started my blog to write and I will continue to write. I enjoy writing poetry and writing short stories, I also enjoy the community and friendship. There are many blogs out there that are purely for the community aspect and so many are so enjoyable to read. I am not going to list any here as you know who you are.
Here is some of my fiction writing and poetry.
Short stories
Poetry
The mannequin and the slippers poetry
3. I started writing about my children but, I am thinking that I cannot continue writing about them daily. So, I will still write about them but not every day.
4. I have also learnt the importance of making the time to visit other peoples blogs, blogging is a huge community and a good one. Also if you do not visit other people they might never find you and you might then miss out on a good connection and possible friendship.
5. Here are my stats on day 100, most of these numbers are Facebook and the WordPress reader. However, I have had a few visits directed from Google and Bing and other wordpress blog sites that I have posted to.
As 17.20pm today 20/01/2019
Views –
October 2018 – 727 views
November 2018 – 946 views
December 2018 – 1000 views (I have a feeling this is more 1033 views then the figures add up).
January 2019 – 861 views
Views Total – 3567 views
Visitors Total – 1511 visitors
Stats 2018
101 posts, 451 comments, 77385 words
Stats 2019
24 posts (now 25), 119 comments, 11472 words
Word Total – 88857 words
Yes without blogging I could have completed my book.
Aim for this year
1. To master SEO (Search engine optimisation) I am slowly getting my head around it and have about 50 posts still to work back through.
2. To look again at my Pinterest account. People tend to repin from my other blogs and posts board rather then my own. However last night someone I do not know saved one of my more helping posts with a canva vertical image.
3. I need to make a schedule of when I am posting and maybe ideas of what to write about. Keeping up with my poetry and short stories plus the kids.
4. I need to continue writing my book. I recently found Chapter buzz and then submitted my Secret time warp story to it, in an effort to maybe turn that into a book as well, one day.5. I also need to make time to read more. Blogging daily has meant hardly any reading. I bought myself a Kindle at Christmas and I have hardly looked at it.
So on with the blog and thankyou to all of you who have helped, followed and supported me and answered all my questions. I really appreciate all your help and friendship.
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