Corey from Passive Income to Retire decided to help new bloggers. He issued a Beginner Blogger Challenge that is supposed to help beginner bloggers to navigate the world of blogging. Of course I could not resist joining the challenge because I feel that I might be able to help some new bloggers with a good piece of advice.
I’ve been blogging on and off for about a year and a half. I opened a lot of blogs. I have closed a lot of blogs. I hope that by now I have a few things to share. If you want to find out more about my blogging adventures, please read my Yakezie member post. It tells it all!
In order to help new bloggers (and even some seasoned bloggers!) I decided to choose a somewhat different path. I am not going to write what I think bloggers should do. I am not going to give any technical advice, or explain what SEO is all about, or contemplate how to monetize a blog.
Instead, I am going to provide 20 things that any new (or not so new) blogger should stop doing. I hope that the list below will make anyone’s blogging life easier. I am guilty of doing all of them. I am not a saint, and guess what… I am still doing some of these things.
20 Things Bloggers Should Stop Doing
- Stop trying to be perfect. Remember, perfect is boring. Readers want to relate. No one can relate to perfect.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. You are not perfect but you are unique. Therefore, your blogging story is special. Embrace it, and run with it.
- Stop moping, whining and complaining about your blog traffic. You will have good days. You will have bad days. It is called life.
- Stop trying to avoid mistakes. We all make mistakes. It is okay. Just make sure to learn from those mistakes and move on.
- Stop focusing on your blog at work. You have bills to pay. Don’t lose your job over a blog.
- Stop trying to do everything by yourself. Outsource small stuff. It will save you tons of time.
- Stop worrying about what other bloggers think about you and your blog. You cannot control what other people think anyway, so why waste your time obsessing over it?
- Stop fixating on what other bloggers are doing. They are going to do what they are going to do. You don’t want to be them anyway, do you? You want to be you (I hope). Do your own thing.
- Stop trying to compete with other bloggers. Worrying about what others are doing better than you will not help you and your blog to move forward. Concentrate on your own efforts.
- Stop beating around the bush when you write your posts. Be direct. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion. If you have something to say, say it already!
- Stop checking your blog statistics a million times a day. What are you expecting to see there anyway? A smiley face?
- Stop expecting to wake up every morning to one million new followers. You are not Lady Gaga.
- Stop checking your email neurotically because you think that Anderson Cooper wants to interview you. If he does want to interview you, believe me, he’ll wait patiently for your response.
- Stop focusing on making millions of dollars from your blog. Just stop it!
- Stop making emotional decisions. Emotions trump your intelligence. Believe me, I know!
- Stop being too serious about blogging. Life is much more enjoyable when you can relax and have fun.
- Stop trying to be different for the sake of being different. Be yourself. Remember, eccentricity for the sake of nonconformity is, in fact, conformity.
- Stop putting your own needs or needs of your family on a back burner because of your blog. You still have a life. If you don’t, then go and get one!
- Stop worrying. Period. Worrying is useless.
- Stop doubting yourself. Once and for all.
I love it! Although, I can’t say that I have been successful with number 5 lately. 🙂
I think the majority of bloggers who work full-time are very guilty of #5. I know I am! 🙂
Wow, I can only imagine checking my stats all the time… my blog is still small and new!
can we send this to endinginsanity.blogspot.com to make sure she gets it?
I second this.
Number 13 made me laugh. Great list, thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely use a lot of these tips.
But you never know, right? 🙂
This is a great list. It seems like some people out there don’t have any fun with it!
I think some people do take blogging VERY seriously. It is okay to have some fun and relax from time to time.
Oh my word…
Well said!
I guess I’m not the only one who obsesses with this stuff 🙂
It’s funny because when I stopped worrying about numbers and traffic and just about writing and having fun is when I got a large bump in numbers and traffic! I still check it but just so I know what’s happening. I don’t set big goals. I figure it is what it is 🙂
Oh, golden words… when you relax, things just happen. Good things I mean. I think there is some kind of law there…
This is great advice! I often obsess about stuff, and blogging is no exception. I need to just relax and write more!
Thank you soooooo much for writing this! Blogging is fun and worrying about the blog (numbers, stats, traffic, etc…) takes all the fun out of it.
I used to be obssessed with my stats, and I was miserable. I am still working on letting it go (it is not easy). But I am much happier on those days when I don’t check my stats.
Good advice! It is so easy to get caught up in all the stats and little details and then not even have enough time left to write your blog.
Great list! Glad I came across this in my first week of blogging instead of my 52nd. Will definitely keep this list in mind going forward.
Regarding number 14, “Stop focusing on making millions of dollars from your blog”. Is it ok to focus on a few thousand dollars? 🙂
Oh yeah! That’s totally okay. 😉
This is the best list of tips. Ever.
This was a very useful list, I am guilty at several of those… Laughed a lot at #12 🙂
Yes, you are not Lady Gaga. Neither am I! 🙂
Beautiful.
Great tips.
I am guilty of working on my blog at work.
I think it’s ok to allow emotions into the mix. I find that when something pisses me off or gets me excited, it’s much easy to write about.
The being different part is so true. It just comes off as lame and annoying when someone purposefully tries to stand out, especially when the projected image and tone changes from one week to the next.
It is clear when a blogger tries to be someone he/she is not. It is annoying. It makes you wonder where is the real person? As far as emotions go…if they are positive and productive, knock yourself out! But if they are dark and stressful, and pulling you down… then you should not allow them into the mix.
I need to outsource more, but I guess I’m a control freak and want to do everything myself. 🙁
This was the one that caught my eye as well. Trying to understand what I can outsource successfully would be great. I already set up an invite (tab up top) for those wanting to guest post at my site, that seemed a good start.
Looking for more ways to do other things.
I outsource carnival submissions through Corey @20s Finances. It saves me tons of time and worry. I would not outsource writing and hire staff writers because people come to read me not someone else. However, guest posts are very helpful. And I like to help other bloggers as well. 🙂
Really great list Aloysa – love it! I am guilty of a few of these myself. One thing I am happy I stopped doing was looking at / caring about the site stats hourly, even daily. I can go days without going into my analytics account now!
Haha. The irony …
Comment Luv picked up my last post … about our stats. Ha!
We all post blog updates. 🙂 But I am not at that level where I can go without looking at my stats for days. I can go maybe one day, the most two, but then I am dying to see my stats. 🙂
This is an interesting list. I love #2. I need to stop doing this… 🙂
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Awesome list Aloysa! I really could have used this list when I started. Not looking at stats, not worrying about the blog at work, and not worrying about a million dollars made writing fun again. Thanks!
Awesome list Aloysa. I think many of the items boil down to stop worrying, relax and enjoy what you are doing.
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Great list. Well said! #1 is the most important one in the list. It’s a friggin’ blog 😉
Cheers Aloysa!
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I enjoyed this post…and don’t worry, I’m not waiting for celebrity interviews:)
#14 was one that resonated, as I think there is too much obsession with monetization. Not that I’m opposed to it in any way, but just the obsession with it means time is spent that might otherwise be used on career or other aspects of life. Have to think about ROI!
Yes, as usual you said it all. There is nothing wrong with monetizing, but obsessing over it can be pretty destructive to you, your life and your work.
You are not waiting for celebrity interviews?! I am hoping for it every single day! 😉
You know, most of these are good tips for life in general too!
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I think if you are going to be comparing your blog to others that its a good learning experience to see how you can improve on what has already been done. Originality is great but its okay to try to improve on the best of what is already online.
There is nothing wrong when you learn from the best. However, when you start to compete and get frustrated and fixated on it, then it is the whole different story. 😉
I agree that it should not be the focus. It is best to spend your time developing your own product and brand rather then to spend too much time looking at what everyone else is doing.
Obsessing over stats is a bit counterproductive, isn’t it? It’s not like the numbers are going to magically rise with each page refresh.
No? Numbers don’t rise with every page refresh? What about with every other page refresh? 🙂
Great post Aloysa! I like the part about not being afraid to make mistakes. In fact, some of my most popular posts are about the times I messed up!
Don’t be afraid to express your opinion… That is the winner… I love it.
But.. what if I really am lady gaga?
Then you should have more than a million followers! 😉
I think I’ve been guilty of almost every one of these at one time or another (or still!) Nice reality check. Number 7 is my favorite.
Great list, I find (although I am not that great a fan of lists). So, in the spirit of the lists, I have a bit problem with 11, 12 and 13. So much so that have been considering information rehab.
These are great! I do obsessively check my email; mostly for new comments. I have learned to turn the blogs off at work though – you’re so right, I need my day job (and I like it!)
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Haha, I loved the tips, especially the one about Lady Gaga. What happened to the theme though? To be honest I loved the old one! This one doesn’t seem very “you”.
What?! What do you mean it doesn’t look “me”? lol I think you just got used to the old theme. You will get used to it. I am not planning on changing it anymore.
Ah yes, I can’t stand posts with NO OPINIONS! Opinions are what makes blogging so great!
I love checking my messages in the morning. Feels like Christmas every single day!
Damnit, you’re not supposed to be doing these things? 🙁
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Number 5 is so true. I had to sacrifice my blog because of work! Try working out of town with a new born. No time at all haha!
Aloysa, one piece of advice. Add a home button or make your main banner on your blog click to home. I can’t figure out how to get back home! 🙂
thx
I am a new blogger and I am guilty of a lot of these! I constantly check my stats. I have got to cut down on that. Great post!
I love your list! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!… I can keep going on…
Rick
http://www.travelhaggler.com/amex/
Funny and terrific post. We all need to have a lot more humility and get over our fine selves.
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