My blog turns 1 this week! Yay!
I’ve got lots of things planned over the next two weeks
to celebrate this milestone for my little blog.
Stay turned for some fun giveaways,
a HUGE {wow me} wednesday party this week,
& I thought I’d post a few blogging tips along the way.
Two things I’ve learned this year is that
(1) if you build it they will NOT come
(I’ll explain that in a minute!) &
(2) if you want BIG things to happen
for your blog you’ve got to make it happen.
Before I started blogging I thought someone would start a great blog,
& readers & followers would just come along with it.
Companies would contact you to try out their products.
Bigger blogs would stop by & decide to feature you.
Not much work would be involved.
You just post on your blog, sit back & that’s it!
What I’ve learned is that even if you have fabulous ideas & great tutorials
you’ve got to do something more to help your blog GROW!!!
Growing YOUR blog…takes a lot of YOU working on it.
Here’s a few things that have helped my blog GROW along the way!
Get the ball rolling.
Nobody wants to be the first follower on a blog.
The first day my blog went live I asked everyone I knew.
(Even my brother! 
) to come follow my blog, please!!!
Good thing I have a big family & lots of friends…
because by the end of my first month I had 100 followers.
Which was really awesome! Yay!
At the beginning I also linked up to a few blog hops.
I don’t do that as much anymore,
but they are a great way to get
those numbers rolling in the beginning.
(Of course, you want people to follow YOU because they LOVE your blog
not just for a follow back.) So don’t over use blog hops.
Remember you want readers (those that come back often) more than just followers.
Link up {& link up a lot!!}.
I’ve told you this before but linking up to link parties was
one of the biggest helps to get more traffic to my blog.
In the beginning I linked up a lot! Each party & each feature
will get your blog a little more out there & a few more followers.
More people will see YOU and your awesome work.
{That’s a very good thing!} 
Comment on other blogs.
Leave meaningful comments on other blogs.
Make sure you are not a no reply blogger.
Make it easy for fellow bloggers to contact YOU back!
If you find a blog you really like tell them!
Invest in your blog design.
If you are a great blog designer…awesome!
If you are like me & need a little help that’s OK,
but that means you’ll need to invest in a GOOD blog design.
{It doesn’t have to be expensive.}
My first header {Remember this???}:
I bought my first header and buttons from a
cute little seller on Etsy called the
Simply Creative Shop for under $15.
I had Kim from 733 Custom Blog Design
design my menu bar and post tabs & that was it.
Later after I had reached 1000 followers
& had 6 months of blogging under my belt
I had Kim design my current blog design.
Your blog design is the first thing readers see,
you want it to be inviting & professional looking.
Read those {blogging tip} post.
My favorite type of blog post to read
has got to be the CRAFTY ones {of course!},
but I also LOVE reading blogging tip post!
Other bloggers are great about giving advice!
Take them up on it & read it!
When I first started my blog I read a bunch about blogging.
Buuuut remember what worked for one might not work for YOU.
There are many different ways to do things, so just do what feels right for you!
Feature others {& then tell them!}
One of the biggest boost to my blogging numbers
& traffic has been my link party on Wednesdays.
I try to feature as many as you as I can each week.
I usually feature 15 other bloggers
(if not more!) each week.
When you feature someone TELL them.
Leave a comment on their blog.
Featuring & being featured are
one of the biggest relationship
builders among bloggers.
{So do it…often!}
You can read my featuring & being featured blogging tip post here.
Be a follower {in a good way!}.
Don’t be afraid to follow others.
Blogging is the most wonderful when
we help & support each other.
If you see a blog you like, follow them.
Show your support for them!
Following someone is like giving some a big thumbs up!
You are saying “Hey, I think you are doing a great job!”
Now who doesn’t LOVE to hear that??
{Don’t expect a follow back, but most likely they will visit YOU, too.}
Reach out & be kind.
Always be kind to other bloggers.
Blog karma is real…if you are kind and helpful to others,
others will be kind to YOU!
If someone ask you a question, answer it.
If someone ask for blogging advice, give it.
If someone leaves you a
super sweet comment, say thank you!
Jump on those
guest posting opportunities!!
This one is HUGE.
A lot of times {especially during the summer time}
BIG bloggers will put a call out for guest posters. Jump on those!
Take every chance you can to get your name out there.
When you post make sure it shows your best work.
Link to 2 or 3 of your most popular post.
Make sure you link back to your blog, so others can check YOU out.
YOU’ve got to make it happen!
YOU are the one who knows best
what direction you want your blog to go.
As a craft blogger the opportunity to work
with craft related companies was one of my goals.
One of the companies I LOVED was Lifestyle Crafts.
I didn’t wait around for them to contact me.
I sent them an email & said “Hi, I’d love to work with you!”
At first they didn’t have any affiliate spots open,
but a few weeks later they contacted me
& asked me if I was still interested.
Of course, I said YES! Don’t be afraid to try
& make things happened for your blog.
Contact others…don’t be shy…the worst they can say is no!
Annnd they just might say YES!!!
Be a consistent blogger.
Make sure you blog consistently!!!
For me I try to post at least once per day
Monday through Friday. You can count on that!
My link party always post on Tuesdays at 7 pm.
I always feature others on Thursdays.
Tutorials are usually on Mondays & Fridays.
Readers know what to expect around here.
Have a schedule. (But always allow a little wiggle room!!)
If you only post 2 or 3 times a week…that’s OK.
Do what fits YOU best.
Always be yourself.
There is always going to be someone
bigger, better & more talented.
Buuut hey, there is only one YOU!
So be yourself.
Don’t try to be anyone else!
Do what feels right to you!
My niche is cute & easy crafts…
you are not going to see an entire room reveal
or see me try & sew a new dress
& you’ll never, ever see me brake out
some power tools…that’s just not me!
YOU are fabulous just the way YOU are!
Don’t ever forget that!!!
Have fun.
Blogging is suppose to be fun! Don’t stress too much!
If your numbers aren’t growing as much as you’d like…that’s OK.
Blogging is way more than numbers. It’s about sharing our talents,
finding new ideas & most of all making & building relationships.
If you are doing all that…YOU are doing just fine!
{Annnnd this is officially the LONGEST post I have ever written!}
How have YOU
helped your blog GROW???
