Every week, we share one of our favorite ‘how-to’ posts about blogging, social media, and the community we LOVE to love. Our desire is you consider HLB a resource in your efforts to blog BETTER – we want to be stronger bloggers ourselves, and we see the desire for stronger posts and cleaner designs. We understand wanting to know the BEST plug-ins, aps, programs, and resources to keep your site in tip top shape. And nothing makes us nerd-out more than getting super meta about all things blog-world. We’re not experts, we’re simply bloggers ourselves – sharing our own experiences, tips and tricks of the trade each Thursday with a BTT post. We welcome your questions, your suggestions for future topics, and your ‘how-to’ post recommendations at healthylivingblogs@gmail.com!
I’m totally stoked to introduce today’s post to you all. When Alyssa from Fit and Fun in Third and I first started talking about her writing a post for BTT, I was excited that such a fresh-young-on-the-scene blogger was ready to jump into the sharing right away.
It’s uber-important to me that HLB is a place for ALL of our voices [poke. poke. Hey, YOU. we want you to get involved!] to be heard, no matter how many days we’ve blogged, page views we’ve reached, or subscriptions counted. That’s why when the idea of writing a BTT post ABOUT being a newbie came to the table, I did a little jump for joy. PERFECTION! Enough from me, here’s a fresh voice for you to love! -H
I was a reader of blogs for quite some time. Each night, I used to sit on the couch and catch up on the lives of my favorite bloggers. I would read on, in envy, as bloggers shared their lives and thoughts with the world. I wanted to write. I wanted to share. But there was so much holding me back. I didn’t know how to get started, and I was intimidated. It wasn’t until this past February that I took the plunge and decided to start my own little blog.
How did I feel?
Like the new kid at school. During recess.
Wanna be friends? I’ll share my fro-yo…..
I had so many fears, hopes, and confusions with the process of starting up my blog, and I still do. I’m sure anyone who has ever started a blog has felt the same… and if you haven’t… more power to ya!
My Blogging Fears
- Readers won’t “get” me. Not gonna lie, 4 months into my blogging, I still get a twinge of anxiety before I hit “publish.” Will I look stupid? Will my humor be lost on others? Will I come across as ignorant by posting a picture of myself? Will I be judged? I could go on… and on… and on.
- I’ll look stupid compared to the bigtime bloggers. I realize that this statement is extremely ridiculous. Looking stupid? I just turned 30. Am I really concerned about that? Yes, yes I am. As I started to comment on blogs, I felt a bit silly. I thought that it was ridiculous that I knew these bloggers so well, yet they had no clue who I was. I mean, in the virtual world, that is the way it is… however, it’s still intimidating and makes me feel like a little kid trying to make friends during recess.
- Will I be taken seriously by my friends and family? I am still working on this one. My husband is one of the very few people who I am close with that knows about my blog. Why? Because I’m scared. I love writing, and it is very personal to me. I’m nervous to tell people about my blog… not because I’m embarrassed, but because I feel like I’d be giving up so much of myself. What if I fail?
So what have I done to alleviate these fears?
I’m myself.
When I write a post, I’m genuine, and if someone doesn’t “get” me… oh well. I am who I am, and I try to stop myself each time I start to compare my blog with others. Yes, I love reading so many amazing blogs out there, but when it comes to MY blog, I do my own thing. I do what makes me happy. By doing that, I think that my personality, and my writing style shine through and that my readers enjoy it. I do my best, and if blogging becomes too much for me, I will give it a break. It doesn’t mean I’ve failed, it means I’m realistic about what I can accomplish.
My Blogging Confusions
- Um, everything. I managed to get my blog up and running, and I even managed to jazz it up a bit, but all the maintenance and snazzy design that I so desperately want? I’m lost. It’s hard to be taken seriously (and take myself seriously) as a blogger when I am still learning all the logistics. I’d like to get my own domain and figure out what goes into advertising on my blog, but I don’t even know where to start. Please tell me that I’m not the only one who is overwhelmed by all the details….
- How do some bloggers manage to get up 3 posts a day, meanwhile I struggle to post once a day? It’s not that I don’t have the things to say, or topics to discuss… I do. It’s just that blogging takes so much time, and after I get home from teaching… I’m beat. My brain is moving slow. I struggle to form sentences to my husband, let alone write a blog post for the world to see! How do you do it people?!
So what have I done to figure things out?
Google is quickly becoming my best friend when it comes to blog related questions. I do what I can, and the rest will fall into place. I remind myself that a post that I don’t put my whole heart into writing isn’t worth publishing. I refuse to post just because I feel I have to. If that means posting 3 or 4 times a week, that’s what I’ll do! I promise you’ll never get a half-hearted post from me!
My Blogging Hopes
- To improve my writing. One of my biggest dreams in life is to become a published author. I hope that by constantly working on my writing through these blog posts, I’ll help to improve my writing and someday, someday, hopefully it’ll help my dream to become a reality.
Yay! This makes me happy!
I love this post! I just started my blog in February, too, and can relate to so much of what you said here, Alyssa! Particularly the posting schedule. I don’t even post daily, but would like to write more than I do, so I’m working on ways to make time and to streamline the process.
Thanks for sharing and keep on blogging! I can’t wait to check out more of your posts.
I love this! As a new blogger myself, I too experienced everything you did. It’s an intimidating step to put yourself out in the blog world when you read other blogs and they seem so established. I commend your efforts and wish you the best of luck!
Hi Alyssa! I felt so much better after reading this. I just started blogging too so it’s nice to know I’m not the only one worrying about these things. Thanks for putting out there what I’m sure a lot of us newbies are feeling:)
I just checked out your blog and love it! The A-Z of me is very clever! You will definitely make that writing dream a reality!
Give it time and you will all of a sudden just have 3 or 4 blog post pop into your mind!!
I remember my first giveaway… I didn’t specify US only and wouldn’t you know someone outside the US won! Live and learn your mistakes.
Best of luck to you!!
I love this as well! You’re certainly not alone. I haven’t been blogging for that long either and Google has become my best friend. I’ve learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes and there’s still so much more to learn.
I love this post!
I think the thing about blogging is you have to decide how you can be yourself while providing useful or entertaining information to others. The thing is, you might have a great blog and not have any readers. But others have terrible content and have tons of readers.
I also think that more than one post a day is a bit excessive, save for the times that you had something scheduled that already posted and something incredibly HUGE happens, but still, it could wait until the next day. I follow very few HLBs that post more than one time a day. I think crafty/design blogs can get away with it because they cater to a wider audience (they can talk about knitting, crocheting, decopauging … the possibilities are endless).
Anyway — thanks for sharing!
Definitely subscribing to FitandFuninThird! =)
I feel like we have so much in common and I could completely relate since I’m a new blogger myself – can’t wait to delve into your blog!
This post is FABULOUS! I just started my fitness blog in April and sometimes I feel like I’ll never grow the way I want or as fast as I want. It’s great knowing there are other bloggers out there that are feeling the same way. We can do it. We just have to keep working at it
Welcome to the blogging world!
When I started blogging I didn’t even know blogging was as big as it is…I thought it was like MySpace pages..something that was going out of style. It wasn’t until MONTHS later that I clicked the “next blog” page on Blogger that I found some cool blogs to read. Then more MONTHS later that I discovered all of the blogs like mine! Ahh! I realized that my blog was very small and insignificant compared to others and sometimes it’s still a challenge to not think about it, but I believe we ALL have something to bring to the table.
Great post and good luck with your blog!
I feel ya! Five years into this blogging thing and I’ve still not switched over to self hosting even though I want to. I guess I’m just scared of all the work and the fact that I don’t know how to do the programming so I’ll have to hire a designer/computer guru to move everything and do a whole new layout and such.
Just remember, with a full time job, it would be pretty hard to post three times a day. Most of those folks blog part or full time for work. Happy blogging and thanks for sharing your story!
I totally can relate to you. I also just turned 30 and feel nervous every time I post something as well. I have only been blogging for 3 months,sometimes I feel a little over exposed, I’m sharing my experiences/journey with weight loss & fitness, hoping to help someone else, improve their lives because if I did it, anyone can! I did include my family on it, in fact they were the reason why I started sharing my journey, because they wanted to join in, and know what I was eating, recipes, my workouts etc. I’m with you there, I need to have something to share in order to blog about it…I’m not competing or trying to keep up with anyone other than my self ;o)
Oh my gosh I can relate to SO much of this! I didn’t tell anyone except for my BFF for the first few months of blogging. And I didn’t tell much more than my close circle of friends until just a few months ago! It’s still a little awkward when someone (who I had NO idea was reading my blog) is like “Oh yeah! I saw that on your blog!” haha
But as long as you’re enjoying it, I consider that success
Wow! Big timer! I love seeing you on here. And I love your blog
This was sooo helpful! As a new blogger myself (literally just started last week) I’m going through each of her issues. Who is going to read this? Will they like it? I haven’t told a lot of people about it yet either just because I’m so unsure. But with each post, I’m getting a liiiiittle bit better. Hopefully I’ll work out some kinks and problems over time! This is such a great idea for blog tip Thursday! I’ll definitely be back every week
I’m pretty sure I could have written this exact post as I feel all of these things! I just started my blog last month and I totally feel like the new kid at school desperately trying to make friends, ha. And I’m afraid to let my friends know about it, like they’ll think it’s silly or something and not take it seriously. So far I haven’t told any of them! I just try to remind myself that every single blogger was once where I am. Hopefully one day I won’t feel like the new kid anymore.
Wow, what a great great post! So many of these things needed to be said. It’s REALLY hard to be a newbie blogger. Hooray for you for writing about it!
What a great article! As a new blogger myself, I can totally relate to all of this – especially the parts about looking stupid and feeling like the new kid in school. I’m also really private about my blogging – only a few people I know in “real life” are aware I have a blog!
Heading over to check out your blog now
Great post! I am new to blogging also, just started in January and I feel like this is something we all fear and feel. What an exciting time it is for us new bloggers to find our blog voice and have fun.
Awesome post! It’s comforting to know that as a newbie blogger I’m not the only one that feels the exact same things – thanks for bringing some support to new bloggers!
Wonderful post! I like your honesty and your voice does come through. I am extremely new on the blogging myself and yes I can relate to all of your points you made. I have done discussions for on-line classes, but never blogging. Thanks for sharing.
This is great, thanks for sharing! I also am hesitant to let my “real life” friends and family know about my blog. Just something about seeing them face to face makes me nervous.
I’m also really enjoying the writing aspect. I’m not that great, but I know I can only get better.
Good luck with your blog!
I started blogging literally about a week ago. It’s nice to see a post on here from another newbie and know that I’m not the only one who has these fears!
Hi Alyssa! I agree, it is hard to find time to post so much. I think I’m doing good if I post more than once per week!