I started Oui In France at the beginning of June last year as a way to document my expat journey, share my life with those I left behind and connect with others while doing something I love — writing. This past year of blogging has been rewarding, eye-opening, a learning experience, a networking tool, and most of all, FUN! But what have I learned from a year of blogging?
Read on!
What I’ve learned from a year of blogging
Although this isn’t my first blog, I am still somewhat new to this blogging game and am by no means an expert.
But I am a blogger and have learned a few things along the way:
Plan out your posts and keep to a schedule.
Even if you only have a loose idea of what you want to write about, get your ideas on the screen ahead of time and stick to that schedule. Readers expect posts on certain days, so do your best. I post twice a week and missed the mark twice in the past year and am still working on the schedule thing. Have no clue what you want to write about? Just write something and see where it goes…
Use spell check.
Most blogs have built in spelling/grammar checkers, so use the tools you’re given. I don’t claim that my blog is typo-free, but I do my best to proofread because readers shouldn’t have to sift through a bunch of mistakes to understand your message. And it’s just more professional to not have typos. So check your work! Then check it again! This goes double for bloggers who blog for a living and work with brands. Even if you have the best ideas, if you make silly mistakes in your writing, you risk sounding unprofessional.
It takes time to find a voice.
I struggle with this and wonder if the real me comes through enough in my blog. And if I said things the way I want to say them. This post on mistakes while speaking French, the pharmacist who talked about my vagina and quitting your job (and others) definitely had a whole lot of my real voice, but I worry that if I’m too much like my real-life self on my blog that readers might be offended or stop reading. What do I mean? Not saying I’m controversial or curse every 2 seconds in real life, no, just that it takes time to align your written voice on your blog with who you are in real life. Does that make sense? Once you get to know the real-life Diane pretty well, you might think I’m more reserved, inappropriately funny, sensitive and ? than the blog lets on… I think this comes in time.
Ask for help.
The blogging community is vast, diverse and mostly friendly, so don’t be afraid to contact someone who might be able to help you. Whether you need blogging help, have follow up questions about something in a post, or just want to say hi, go for it! (But please don’t forget to say thank you!) Oh, and speaking of help, does anyone know of a WordPress plugin that will let you embed short audio clips in the post without forcing open a new window?? Desperately need to record a few things for an upcoming post that’s been in the works for, ohhh, eight months!! I’ll be forever grateful.
Write about what you like.
It’s your blog, so don’t let other bloggers, brands or what you think you should be writing about direct your content. My blog doesn’t stray too far from France/expat topics, travel, my dog and general goings on in my life, and if I want to write a, oh I don’t know, fitness blog, I’ll start a new one. Whatever you do, remember that being your authentic self will keep your blog real and readers will know if you’re fake.
Get out there and DO something!
Finding inspiration for a post doesn’t always come easy, but if you’re in a rut, just go do something. Anything. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store or a walk around town, there’s something that will spark an idea. You won’t know until you get up off your couch!
Alright, so I’ve shared what I’ve learned from a year of blogging. What blogging lessons have you learned? What kinds of posts are your faves?
As a new blogger this post was very helpful to me, thank you! Especially the part about “get out there and do something!” I have to remind myself to continually do this, to branch out and let life lead me where I least expect it! Thanks – @AntKristi
So happy it helped! Taking a walk is twofold for me — sometimes I’ll see something on a walk that will give me an idea for a blog and sometimes just walking to clear my head and think a little will give me an idea. Win-win!
So I’m very new to blogging (albeit my second attempt) but I’m learning how enthusiastic and supportive people can be! I didn’t tell people about my last blog, which made it hard, this time all my friends and family know and are really supportive (and have awesome ideas for it!) x
Hi, yes the community can be really great, for encouragement, advice, etc. Checking out your blog now!
Hi, I happened to come across this post and really enjoyed it. 🙂
I have been blogging for some time now, though not on anything in particular. Just a few days back, I put together all my learnings about writing and blogging in a post.
So it was nice to read a different perspective on the same topic.
Cool, happy to have you here. Thanks for checking out my blog. Heading over to yours now!
Oh, I completely agree that you need to write about what you like in order to truly enjoy blogging and have longevity in this hobby! And planning, writing, and scheduling posts ahead of time works perfectly for my schedule!
Thanks for weighing in. Gonna check out your blog now 😉
Great advice! I will be blogging one year the first week of August, so I am getting close to the same anniversary of blogging. My voice has changed and I still wonder who my readers are, but it has been a year of excitement, joy, challenges and fun.
Yup, having fun is the most important part, so as long as you have that, you can’t go wrong!
Congratulations on a year of blogging! It’s not always as easy as people think it is.
I’ve been blogging for three years now and sometimes I like to read old posts in order because I can actually see my ‘voice’ beginning to develop throughout time. It’s kind of cool 🙂
Thank you! Definitely not easy. I have a few posts that I know will piss people off but my voice comes through in an authentic way. Prob won’t ever publish them but at least I know what types of posts will bring out that voice. And congrats on 3 years to you — that’s not an easy feat either!
Not everyone is going to agree with me and that’s okay. It’s also okay to block/ban/delete the people who are abusive in their disagreement. It’s okay to share my own thoughts while welcoming new POVs. And it’s my blog and I can post about whatever I want, I can take on which reviews I want, and I can take a break when I want 🙂
Happy Blogoversary
I am not a blogger, but a reader and retired editor of newspapers in the US. Travel to France often and just found your blog and I think you should worry less and practice what is called “free writing” – even if you took a walk with your adorable dog and noticed a beautiful statue or fountain in a place or park – it is a slice of your life to share. Or something funny at the pharmacy is too. I believe a writer’s Point of View (POV) is as distinct as voice and you can go wherever it takes you. I will continue to enjoy reading from California and be in Paris in the spring. Invite adversity. It is liberating. You, your dog and husband are charming.
Hi Marcia, thanks so much for stopping by! I’ve written a few posts on crazy pharmacy happenings and other more reflective posts in what I’d say is my “real” voice during my second year of blogging and think I’ve done better with writing from my own voice, or at least balancing it better instead of writing what I think I’m supposed to write. I appreciate your encouragement 😉 All the best for 2014!