Blogging 101: What I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Started Blogging

It wasn't until 2011 that I launched Freelance Lady. Since then, I've learned quite a bit about the blogging world. Had I known then what I know now, I could have increased my chances for success early on. Lucky for you, however, today, I'm sharing some of the tips that I wish I would have known prior to starting my blogging journey.

I truly hope that some of these tips prove beneficial for you.

Blogging Groups Are Excellent Resources

I didn't join my first blogging group until 2014, which means that I spent a full three years going into the blogging journey halfway blind. When I was first introduced to blogging groups through my lovely friend Dawn over at Kupana Wahines Corner, I thought that I had found blogger heaven. After joining the group, I not only got to know some amazing people, but I also learned more about the blogosphere in three months than I had in all of my three years blogging.

At first, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge I was receiving. As time progressed, I learned how to implement some of the techniques into my own blog, and therefore, experienced a substantial increase in blog readership.

Trust me. Blogging groups are your friend!

Making Money is a Never-Ending Process

When I first started blogging, I wanted to make money, but it was not a priority. When Freelance Lady was launched in 2011, the main goal was to provide people like myself with the resources needed to start working from home. Working from home damn near saved my life (as far as finances are concerned) and I wanted to pass it on to others. About 5 months in, Freelance Lady blossomed into more than just a work-at-home blog, and as my readership increased, I decided to start focusing on monetizing. Hey, we all need to make money one way or another.

Little did I realize just how long it would take to actually make money. I didn't make my first $100 from Google Adsense until three years after the blog's launch. Even today, I struggle to bring in a $20 paycheck from the blog alone. With that said, if you think you're going to start blogging and raking in thousands of dollars shortly after, you're going to be disappointed.

Posting Regularly is an Absolute Must

There were so many lulls in my blog posts when I first started blogging. It was actually quite pitiful. If, today, I had stopped by my blog (as it looked back then), I would not have stuck around. I'm all about fresh, original content and long ago, Freelance Lady just didn't have it. Not to mention, there wasn't much personality at all.

Post regularly and create engaging titles and you'll attract visitors.

Treat Your Blog Like a Business

If you truly, truly want success, you're going to have to treat your blog as if it's your job or your business. That means staying focused on blogging, social media marketing, and other blog-related tasks for at least 3 hours per day, 5 days a week, investing money into it if need be, and treating your readers as though they are your consumers.

Don't slack. Keep your business running like a well-oiled machine.

The above tips may seem easy, but to new bloggers (as I once was), that information is absolutely critical. Knowing those four bits of information will help make your blogging experience less stressful and more lucrative.