Month: January 2020

Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

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Ever since I started blogging, many of my friends have come to me for advice about starting their own blog. I love this because it means they notice that I’m doing things and as a blogger, recognition is good. However, having to give advice over Snapchat or Instagram messages is harder and time consuming than I have time for so I decided to write this post. These tips can also apply to anyone in an online creative type of work such as podcasting or running a specialized Instagram page. From one amateur blogger to the next, these are the things I wish I knew when I started blogging.

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  • Put aside a few consecutive hours a week to focus on blog related things. (Really focus!)

Honestly, if you can master this and make it a habit, the rest of these things will come pretty easily to you. My biggest struggle over the last year and half or so has been finding the time to just sit down and work on my blog for extended periods of time, without distractions. I read a post from Mattie James (mattiejames.com) that discusses the concept of batch work. Batch work is basically creating a bunch of content all at once. My effectiveness in this comes and goes but as of lately it’s been something I am aiming to make routine.

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  • Figure out your main topics/focus aka niche (Keep this list small)

When I first started blogging I wanted to talk about everything under the sun: health and fitness, pop culture, social justice issues, self-growth and development, mental health, anything and everything. It wasn’t until after I tried writing about all of these topics and realized that I was headed nowhere fast that I decide to dial back on the topics I was going to focus on for my blog. Now I focus on self-reflection, self-growth/self-development, and goal-setting with a sprinkle of health and fitness and travel thrown in every so often. Keeping your list of topics small is key to avoiding being overwhelmed as a blogger. Even the person who loves writing more than life CAN’T write about everything. I know that once I establish myself as a blogger with a brand, other opportunities to talk about my various interests will present themselves.

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  • Consistently creating content (and posting it) is the hardest thing to master.

It’s so funny because whenever people ask me what advice I have about blogging I tell them “don’t underestimate how hard it is to consistently write and create content.” Many of the time they tell me they’re not worried about that because they have so many things to write about that creating content won’t be hard for them. Fast forward a few weeks later and either 1. They haven’t started their blog because they’re busy or 2. They have started it but only post once in a blue moon (like myself, guilty as charged haha). The thing people don’t understand is that writing a blog post isn’t hard (per say) but what is hard is writing a blog post worth reading. There have been many times I have written a post, read it back, tried to edit it, and just realized it wasn’t even worth reading for me, much less to put out. Creating consistent and worthy content is hard. Don’t underestimate it.

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  • Friends =/= Supporters and that’s okay! (Don’t take it personal)

Just because you are friends with someone does not mean they are obligated to support your blog. I know. That sounds insane. Why wouldn’t your friends support you? They’re your friends! That’s what friends do for each other. I know that’s what we’re taught to believe but the fact of the matter is that friends =/= supporters and that doesn’t make them bad people. Maybe your niche is just not FOR THEM. When I first started blogging I was sad that all of my friends weren’t reading my blog (the clicks don’t lie!) but then I realized that doesn’t matter. I love all of my friends and our differences in interests and hobbies. That being said if one of my friends started a horseback riding podcast I can’t necessarily say I would be tuning in every week to hear about life at the stables. I probably would retweet all of their new episodes but that’s as far as that would go. That doesn’t make me a bad person. Some people won’t even retweet you, and that’s fine too. We are all inclined to support things that interest us. I know my content isn’t for everybody, I focus on writing for the people who it’s intended for.

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  • Reading other bloggers, watching blogging webinars, and whatever else is useless if you don’t apply the knowledge! (Seriously, don’t waste your time)

I tried to read every blog post and watch every webinar I could about blogging when I first started. There where countless Google searches for content about blogging from my phone and laptop. If it was free, it was for me! After reading and watching all of this stuff I can say I have maybe applied 1 or 2 things out of the 25 I’ve learned. That’s because I was more focused on indulging in information to try to imitate the greats instead of reading/learning some and then applying it, reading/learning something else and applying, and so on and so on. I’m sure I would have gotten way farther in a quicker time if I took it one step at time. This whole blogger life is a learning process though and Mara went through it so you don’t have to!

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  • This shit is not cheap/free (If you want to be next level)

Okay so I never knew that I was going to have to spend so much money JUST to make blog appear legit. Between having my own domain, needing a PO Box for my newsletter, paying for stock photos, and eventually attending blogging conventions, this blogging life gets REAL costly REAL quick! If blogging is just a hobby for you it’s not something you have to worry about but I eventually want to take my blog to another level as a source of income like many of the women I admire. If you have similar ambitions as me, it’s going to cost you before it pays you. Don’t get discouraged and make sure you can finance your dreams.

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  • Engagement is a major key.

Okay so something I’ve recently learned is blogging doesn’t stop at the blog posts. In order to have people actually give a damn about what you have to say, you have to engage with your social media followers. I know that is so obvious…how didn’t realize it before? I don’t know, honestly. Even after reading it from many people who blog it never clicked until recently.

This is just a little bit of what I wosh I knew when I started blogging. Even with utilizing these tips there are still so many things left for bloggers to learn. The best thing is to do your research! Here are some of my favorite blogging resources where I read up on blogging tips and sometimes even score a free webinar or two.

  • MattieJames.com
  • Bloguettes.com
  • LostGenYGirl.com

If you are fellow blogger or have a postcast/website, I wish you luck and success! It’s not an easy task to be successful on these e-streets.

Are you a blogger? What is one thing you wish you knew when you started blogging? Let me know in the comments! 

An Open Letter to 2019 Me

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Dear 2019 Mara,

Hey girl, it’s Future Mara here. Fill up your hydroflask and get comfy because I can already tell you this one is going to be a doozy.

 

First of all, congratulations on surviving 2018 because we both know how badly it kicked our ass. Whew, I wouldn’t wish our 2018 on our worst enemy (obviously we don’t have one because we barely have time to get enough sleep, do all of our readings for school, maintain a gym schedule, and not burst into tears at the drop of a dime but you get what I mean), it was rough! But you survived it girl so go ahead and give yourself a round of applause for that alone. I’m happy to report that 2019 was better but by no means was it easy. 2019 is going to teach you some lessons that quite frankly are well overdue and ya need to learn em, so that’s great. Love that for you!

 

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The most important thing you’re going to walk away from 2019 being grateful that you learned is that until you take care of your mental health, literally every other thing in your life is not going to go well. Ya semester? You’re gonna struggle. Your health and fitness goals? Well sis how are you gonna thrive in health in fitness if you don’t know how to manage your stress and anxiety? Hmm, riddle me that? You know you’ve wanted to talk to someone since 2016 when you started having all those anxiety/panic attacks so just call who you need to call to set up the appointment. Stop being scared. You’re not going to listen until Fall semester but only because the world literally feels like it’s closing in on you but better late than never. Next time don’t put off what you know you need you need to do, even if it’s scary.

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Another way to lower your stress this year? Mind your damn business and be a little bit more selfish. I know you have always wanted to be the person who prioritizes others and being there for everyone but this just ain’t your season for that sis. As a matter of fact, this just isn’t how you’re going to want to live anymore after this year. Even as I sit here and type this I’m a little bit uncomfortable writing it but you have GOT to be more selfish with your time, especially your down time. Stop showing up for people who have consistently proven that the relationship is mostly one sided. It’s not even about doing things and expecting something in return but true relationships consist of two people who value and respect each other. How can someone value you when they only pop up when it’s convenient for that? Obviously extend grace to people because we never know what they have going on but that doesn’t mean you can keep investing so much in one-sided relationships. Take inventory on the purpose of each relationship in your life and adjust your expectations and behavior accordingly.

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Some people are going to be shitty this year (because that’s human nature) and you will probably do one or two shitty things too, whether or not that is your intention.  Remember to not take things personally but be self-aware enough to know when you fucked up and need to apologize. How people act is usually a reflection of what they have going on but sometimes YOU are the problem and it’s only a problem if you refuse to acknowledge it and do better in the future. You’re growing and becoming more self-aware this year but that’s not going to happen until you learn some lessons.

This year is going to be full of so much greatness! It’s also gonna have some sucky moments but it’s okay…you will overcome them like you always do boo. So just go out there and live your best life!

Sincerely,

Future Mara aka 2020 Mara