One year ago today I clicked the word publish on this blog. At that very moment Theta Mom was born but never did I imagine how this Mission would resonate with so many and how a true Community would form with the same principles.
Today, I am sharing some posts that directly relate to my blogging experience over the last twelve months. I hope you gain some insight and find inspiration as you read through them. I certainly don’t have all of the answers as I am still learning and navigating my way through this thing called blogging, but what I can offer is what I have learned thus far.
So here are my ‘8 Rules of Blogging’ I’ve come to live by:
1. Set some blog standards. Make some privacy decisions that are right for YOU. Decide whether to share names, other personal information, photos, etc. and make sure it is at your discretion and comfort level. Forget what everyone else is doing – it’s YOUR blog. You call the shots so make your own rules that work for you and live by them.
2. Focus on writing compelling content, creating a clean blog design and integrating social media to get return blog followers. Many followers will come and go but you want to build a readership that will stick around for the long haul.
3. Build your following through the power of social media. Get yourself out there! You could have the most gorgeous blog design and amazing content but if nobody knows you exist, the blog following will not be established. Get active and stay active through various social media platforms that work for you. Network, engage in conversation and continuously put yourself out there.
4. Blogging takes a lot of time, dedication and hard work. You need to balance blogging with the rest of your life or you will quickly land in bloggy burnout. I was on this very road and if I didn’t put my blogging in check I most certainly would have burnt out. Forget the guilt, stress and pressure ‘to keep up’ and remember why you started blogging in the first place.
5. If you choose to perform reviews and giveaways on your blog be sure you know who you are working with. Do your homework on each company and don’t accept every pitch that comes your way. By being very selective with whom you work with will actually make you more marketable.
6. Don’t measure your blog worth in numbers because that’s all they are – a bunch of numbers. Measure your success in rich content and the connections that you make along the way. When you write a post you are most proud of, that is true validation.
7. No matter how successful you are at blogging you will receive some negative comments and not everyone will like you. In fact, some will continue to carry on conversations about you elsewhere. Don’t ever let this get you down. It’s their issue NOT yours. Be confident in what you do and continue to rise above the nonsense because in the end that’s all the negativity is – nonsense.
8. Above all else, blog with a purpose. Find your niche, know who you are and blog to your heart’s content. As long as you stay true to yourself and maintain authenticity in this process your readers couldn’t ask for anything more.
And to my readers, a very special thank you – for making my first full year in the blogosphere such an amazing experience. This blog wouldn’t be all that it is without the support of this readership. I adore each and every comment, subscription, tweet and email.
More than you know.
As always, thanks for this! Some of these are things I think I’ve done well,a dn some of them are things I know I still need to work on.
.-= Miranda´s last blog ..Dear Me-Letters to Myselves =-.
Great advice. I’m still working on the networking part. It’s tough to carve out enough time to blog, let alone respond to all my commenters. But I know I need to and am making a deliberate effort to build that into my week.
.-= Joy In This Journey´s last blog ..Blossoming Book Lovers – Wordless Wednesday =-.
Happy Bloggy Anniversary!!!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Pool -amp Party =-.
Wow! This is such an incredibly useful post. Tips that all of us can use and probably, print out and put up as reminders. I’m so glad you mentioned the ‘numbers’ part. It is so easy to get caught up in Pageviews, Page rank and all of that and forget that the focus should be on being of value to the readers.
Blessings!
Happy 1 Year of Blogging!!!
These are really useful tips, and definitely some things we all need reminders of- especially don’t worry about the numbers
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..Best of Both Worlds =-.
I loved all those posts when you first put them out…and I love rereading them now. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary Heather. You were the first blog that I followed. And I think I was like number 500 something on your google follower. You have come a long way baby! I look forward to your posts and finding new blogs through your other followers.
Have a great celebration!
.-= This Mama Works It!´s last blog ..Shopping Online Vs Retail Stores for Children’s Clothes- How To Get The Best Deals Part I =-.
Many, many congratulations! And a wonderful post, paricularly for those, like me, with fewer than 100 followers. Cheers!
.-= Soup: Midwestern Mama Cooking Up Life in the Heartland´s last blog ..Versatility =-.
OOoops — this one has a spelling error, hence the corrected re-post.
It’s my birthday today and I hope that making a typo on the first thing I type today isn’t a bad omen for the year…
.-= Soup: Midwestern Mama Cooking Up Life in the Heartland´s last blog ..Versatility =-.
Many, many congratulations! And a wonderful post, particularly for those, like me, with fewer than 100 followers. Cheers!
.-= Soup: Midwestern Mama Cooking Up Life in the Heartland´s last blog ..Versatility =-.
Wise words my friend. For me the most important is remembering why I do it and avoiding the trap of hype. If you stay true to you, it will stay fun and meaningful.
.-= Christine LaRocque´s last blog ..Beach books and summer fun =-.
Exactly Christine! I’ve always said as long as I stay true to myself, everything else is just gravy.
Happy 1 year of blogging! And congraultations on all you have achieved and all you’ve helped others achieve by your advise, support and enthusiasm.
This is a great post – you have learned so much in just a year – thanks for sharing. I wish I’d read a list like this when I first started blogging.
Here’s to many more years of blogging together!
Jade
.-= Jade @ No Longer 25´s last blog ..The Coffee Shop TITMT =-.
Thanks so much Jade! I look forward to it!!
This is great advice! I feel as if I have learned so much in the last 9 months- in large part due to the relationships created through social media interactions. Balance is still hard- but I am all about celebrating the baby steps!
.-= Cara mamma´s last blog ..My finest hour not- Conversations with Principessa =-.
Great advice! I’ve got the privacy thing down, now if I could just get better at twitter. ;o)
Happy Blog Anniversary!
.-= Mom to Shoo´s last blog ..Happy Birthday- Beer Geek- =-.
Happy 1 year of Blogging!!!
I love your blog and am now following it
.-= Hair Bows & Guitar Picks´s last blog ..Day 177 of 365 – Wordless Wednesday =-.
thanks for the words of wisdom! Excellent advice. Finding the balance is key and making sure you stay true to your purpose – totally agree!
.-= Grace @ Arms Wide Open´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Thanks again for your advice. Sometimes we all just need to remember why we started blogging and finding the right combo for our lives.
.-= MamaOnDaGo´s last blog .. =-.
Happy Bloggaversary! You have come a long way in such a short time, so we can definitely take your advice as coming from someone in the know!
I need to be consistent. Sometimes I am a Twitter/Facebook demon and then other times the tumbleweeds are blowing past my accounts.
As usual another great post that I really enjoyed reading!
.-= Tropical Mum´s last blog ..Going to my Happy Place =-.
These were some very good pointers and Ive exp some of these too. Kudos to you for giving us some great tips!
Happy Blogiverary Anniversary!!! Great info! I wish these informative posts were around 4 years ago when I began! 😉
Happy Blogoversary! Only a year, I was sure you were one of the originals bloggers because you do it so well.
All is great advice and should be heeded by new and old bloggers. Blog burnout is why so many of the great blogs just fade away.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..It’s Sorta Like The French Lieutenant’s Woman =-.
Thanks so much for the tips! I’m exactly 3 months in to the blogging experience, and I’m getting a little overwhelmed by it. I need to keep coming back to these tips to keep my perspective!
Great words of wisdom. Thanks for sharing!
I do try to follow these, but I need to work on the social networking part.
.-= All You Need is Love´s last blog ..Sparkling and Nominations =-.
Sorry, that’s not All You Need is Love’s last blog post!
See, need to work more on the networking. Sigh!
.-= Jules Out Loud´s last blog ..Sparkling and Nominations =-.
Congrats on one year! Great tips, as always…
.-= LZ´s last blog ..The Beach is not my friend =-.
Happy Blogiversary!! Great tips
.-= Devan @ Accustomed Chaos´s last blog ..Wordless- Cords- Tape and a Holter Monitor =-.
To me, I think return visitors is the greatest sign of blog success. You could have 50 “followers” or 500, but that doesn’t matter if the same people aren’t coming back to hear your stories.
.-= A Belle, A Bean & A Chicago Dog´s last blog ..You Know You-8217re a Mom When-sDaze =-.
I totally agree! That’s why the #’s are just #’s. The real value comes along when the connections are made.
This post is awesome. I made it the first I read this morning with my coffee! I love to read tips like this! I patted myself on the back with a few and some I thought, “yes, that is something I need to tweak a bit.” This post is GREAT! Thanks! I think my biggest issue is that I like to read AND comment on everything! I like people to know I was there and that I enjoy coming, but it’s getting impossible with all the great blogs out there! Some I just have to read and move on. Breaks my heart a little!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Letter to My Former Self =-.
Katie,
The more you blog and the more your blog grows, you will come to realize you cannot do it all – so those that continue to read, visit and comment will do so because they adore your blog – whether you are able to respond to a comment or not.
Congrats on 1 year of blogging. My blog is only a few months old, 1 year seems so far away.
Good tips. Lots to do during my daughter’s naps.
.-= Distracted Daddy´s last blog ..Pillow talk =-.
Great rules….sometimes we lose sight of why we started blogging in the first place. Congrats on your 1 year…I know you will be around for many more.
.-= Circle of Love and the Craziness Around It´s last blog ..Almost Wordless Wednesday =-.
congratulations on one year! great tips…ones that some of us could have used a few months ago when starting out. lol
.-= Kerry´s last blog ..Apparently Poodles Grocery Shop =-.
Happy anniversary Theta Mom. I like the rules and I hope I can implement some on my blog. I already swear by rule one.
.-= MsBabyPlan´s last blog ..Thoughful Wednesday- Combining Feminism and Home Goddessness =-.
Hi, ThetaMOM! #8 cannot be stressed enough, in my humble opinion.
I met a very nice blogger my first week. But I never returned to her blog b/c whenever I’d click over I didn’t know where I was! One day it was children’s books, the next she spoke of an old boyfriend, the third day she complained of girlfriend trouble, on the 4th day she talked about her medical issues, and on the last day I went there, she had a chicken recipe.
No, thanks, I am not your shrink. No, thanks, I will not be here as your dear diary. I have just so much time, too.
I remember thinking, I don’t’ feel uplifted or encouraged or loved or happy when I come here. I feel used. Like your sounding board.
And, so, I never went back. Blogging with the reader in mind. How do you make their world better?
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..50 something Moms Blog =-.
Once again, your comment hit the nail on the head. I agree, blogging with a purpose and with the reader in mind – keeping them engaged. And for me, a big part of this is knowing who you are – makes it easier for the readers to want to stay the course.
I love all of these!!! They are all so important…and I think for new bloggers like myself it’s helpful to read this stuff. I need to continue to remember why I started my blog and continue to write what I want! Thanks for the post and Happy one Year!!!
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Im probably an Asshole but seriously WTF =-.
Happy one year! Woot woot. Number 8 is the biggest key I think.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday-Makeup =-.
Happy 1 Year! That is so exciting! I love your 8 rules of blogging. They are good for everyone to read, veterans and newbies!
.-= Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday- My View =-.
This means a lot to this newbie! Thanks for taking the time to share what has helped you. It just shows how “Theta” you are in wanting to help others and believe me, I appreciate it!
Happy bloggiversary!
Thank you for these nuggets of wisdom. When I first started, I didn’t know where I wanted to go with my blog, and I looked to others’ blogs for inspiration but it also made me want to be like them or write like them. And when I realized I couldn’t, I was starting to get really down on myself until I decided to abandon that course and charted a new one for myself to find my own authentic voice.
It will never be as good, in my opinion, as the writers or bloggers out there I admire, but it is me. And since I’m writing for my daughter, that’s the best person I could be on my blog.
Thanks for sharing your path and for showing us the way. And again, congratulations on your first year!
.-= Justine´s last blog ..17 years later- I still don’t wash my hair on my birthday because I miss her =-.
Justine – Your comments are always spot on! I also felt that way when I was intially starting out – and quickly realized I am doing this for ME and I need to find my OWN voice.
Knowing this already, you are already there!!
Fabulous post and thank you for some great words of wisdom. I have been trying to figure out what benefit Twitter can be for the longest time but I think I finally have an idea.
For me blogging has been an amazing experience in my first four months. I have met some wonderful fellow bloggers and have written about things that have been bottled up for far too long and in writing about my life I have also realized just how very lucky I am to be the one living it.
I love that you just mentioned that right now because when I write a post about my kids or something happening in my life, it’s such a reflection of what is happening NOW and that IS such a blessing!
Wish this post had been around when I started blogging! These 8 rules are great! Blogging is definitely a full-time gig, but SO worth it. I cannot even believe the amazing people, like you, that I’ve met…who I never would’ve known otherwise!!
Can’t wait to read your 2 year blogoversary post!
.-= The Mommyologist´s last blog ..It’s Time To Pass On My Crown =-.
Happy Blogiversary! Glad you’ve settled on some guidelines you feel work for you.
Congratulations Heather. You have done a wonderful job
.-= Gen X Mom´s last blog ..From bike to car overnight =-.
Fantastic blogging rules…thank you for sharing what you’ve learned!
#7 is the hardest one to swallow, but for me, the one I really need to remember. Just like in “real” life, nobody will like you 100% of the time.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..You Know Youre a Mom When-sDaze =-.
Exactly Natalie – And the faster you recognize this, the easier it will be to swallow when it does happen. You have to remember the 99% of the peeps who adore you and let that other 1% slide.
Great info, especially for somewhat newbies like me! I still feel like there is so much to know, but I also know that I started blogging for the fun of it. Congrats on your blogaversary!
.-= Sherri´s last blog ..Summer Daze =-.
Hey there! New follower!
Thanks for the great advice. I’m in my 3rd month of blogging now and it can be a little overwhelming!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Way Back Wednesday 063010 =-.
Happy Blogiversary!!! They are great blogging rules!!
.-= Emma´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
So happy to have discovered your site. Congratulations on your 1 year blogiversary! These are excellent points – blogging is hard work and work life balance is so hard to maintain.
.-= Neena´s last blog ..10 Reasons to Start an Internet Business Today =-.
great list, heather. i always appreciate a good how to when it comes to blogging. i still feel like a newbie! i am so happy and proud of you that you’ve made it this far, accomplished so much, and tried your best to ignore all the negativity there is out there. that’s why i nominated you for most inspiring at the blogluxe awards–you continually inspire me.
.-= alexis @ depressionsandconfessions´s last blog ..proud to be a theta mom =-.
OMG Alexis – You were the one to nominate me?! Thank you!!! I CANNOT freakin wait to meet you at BlogHer!! And the whole inspiring thing – it works both ways my friend.
xo
i’m sure i wasn’t the only one. 😉
.-= alexis @ depressionsandconfessions´s last blog ..proud to be a theta mom =-.
I love what you write here about blogging. These are wonderful rules to live by. I especially LOVE #6. I think that, above all else is key.
Happy ONE YEAR! I am amazed you have only been blogging a year. Your site is incredibly engaging.
Happy blog-a-versary!
.-= Angelia Sims´s last blog ..Shy Baby Chubba Cheeks =-.
That nakes me so happy to know it is engaging Angelia! Here’s to many more together!
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..Happy Weekend =-.
This is great! I seem to suffer from Blog Makeover/Identity OCD and it is all because I need to sit down and write out the reasons I started blogging in the first place. I keep thinking – I could do this, and this, ooooo and what about this?, and maybe some of this, etc.
Thanks so much for making a great community where we can share ourselves and learn from each other.
(I feel like the “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” song should be playing now…)
.-= Real Life with Kids´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
I am soooo glad you are enjoying the community – it shows that this mission has resonated with so many women and that makes me so excited! I think this is just the beginning…
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..Happy Weekend =-.
Happy One Year Blog Anniversary!!!! So, glad that I had the opportunity to stumble across your blog.
.-= YUMMommy´s last blog ..My Weekend WrapUp =-.
I always appreciate insight from Superbloggers! And especially from Theta Mom. You are spot on here. It’s too good not to share. You’re so right about everything and I hope people will read it and pay attention.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Memoir Monday- Mr JC- Mrs Lucy- a Lizard Egg and a Seahorse or- Life is Fragile =-.