What No One Tells You About Blogging

When I made the choice to dedicate my time write more, work on building my brand (which I’m still sorting through TilyaRealEyes “The Educated Butler”), publishing my book, and networking, I had no clue about the amount of time I would spend obsessing about the details.  For a creative with a fluid stream of thought, bottling up my emotions into multiple blog posts is delicate.  When I read numerous social media posts about brand building, mail list, and content launching, I begin to ask myself “Am I doing something wrong?”  So I decided to cleanse my mind to tell you all what I am learning so far about what no one tells you about blogging.

The Experts

The first thing no one tells you is that the blogging industry is full of experts that have been around for YEARS!  And I do mean they have been building steadily for five or more years and somewhat already had a platform when they began.  Their platforms from corporate America, pageantry, and other connections already created a buzz, so people that have worked closely with influencers already had a captive audience.  That does not mean that in the blogging start-up market you do not have a chance.  It just means that you have to work harder to meet your mark.

Workbooks/Workshops/Webinars

In information overload keeping up with the trending concepts is overwhelming.  Lifestyle, fashion, inspirational, relationships, everyone is offering advice.  There is tons of help being offered at low and high prices.  Oddly, in start-up, investing in books, workshops, webinars, and other online content comes with an expensive price tag.  It is exciting to see gifs dancing all over your screen, then as soon as you decide you are interested, you are hit with costs ranging from free to hundreds of dollars.  These resources are helpful, but the information is recycled and tweaked to individual liking from author to author.  It is true, you have to spend money to make money.  But don’t go broke investing, take it one day at at time (note to self).

Social Media

It is up to you to separate your personal life and your business life.  Presenting your content on various sites is time consuming and confusing.  Trying to follow a content checklist to be sure to share, tweet, stumble, tumble, press, and pin is both beneficial and aggravating at the same time.  It’s worth it if your followers engage in your content.  But no one tells you that you need to recycle, update, and revise your content continuously to make it more appealing.  So next time you see your favorite blogger, note that they aren’t creating new content as often as you thought.  So your content should be consistently impactful each and every time it is shared because impressions really matter.

It Is Not Easy

In the beginning of the week, your ideas are fresh, your journals are attached to your hand, and your fingers skip along the home row keys on your keyboard as your ideas flow.  In the middle of the week none of your ideas are formulating and you think that your writing needs an overhaul.  By the end of week you are in tears because no one seems to be paying attention to your work.  It is discouraging!  But be reminded that plenty of others have felt this very same way.

I am learning that there is no true right or wrong way to launch, and that consistency is key.  Bloggers write to establish their platforms, create useful products, and produce content driven to keep their audience engaged.  No one is telling your the perfect formula for creation, because you have to do the work!

*image from wordpress.com*