Thursday, January 16, 2020

11 Lessons Learned Along the Blogging Road


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Can you believe it? Today we hit the 3000th blog post today on The Write Conversation. 

Yeah, me too. 

I wrote that number and then had to stop and let the reality sink in.

I had no idea what God had planned when I began this tiny blog 11 years ago.
 
There have been some detours and dips in the road, but it's been an amazing journey and I can't wait to see what the next 11 years bring! To celebrate, I thought I'd share a little of what I've learned.

11 Lessons Learned Along the Blogging Road

  • 1. Blogging isn’t about what I have to say, it’s about what my readers want to hear. The difference is subtle, but the focus is ALWAYS on our readers, not us.
  • 2. Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to have realistic expectations, not wild delusions of instant visibility. 
  • 3. There’s more to blogging than just writing. We must know how to craft a compelling title, format for reading on a screen, learn about keywords and even the basics of SEO. There’s an entire skill-set that must be learned to be a successful blogger.
  • 4. Blogging has value. Sometimes I’ve written a post and wonder what was the point. The numbers were low and so were the comments. Inevitably that was the post someone mentioned when they shared how God used this site to impact them. 
  • 5. Blogging is work. In essence starting a blog is like opening a business. We may be passionate about it, but to make it successful we have to be willing to work and put in the necessary hours.
  • 6. Running a blog is about building a community. For a blog to have an impact, it must have readers—returning readers. That means building a community of people who gather together regularly. 
  • 7. Blogging requires a commitment to excellence. We must be willing to take the time to make certain what we present reaches a certain standard. That means editing, taking time choose images that make sense, and following a process.
  • 8. Blogging is about interacting. We must always be mindful of those who comment on our blogs. If they took the time to write a comment, we can at least enter the conversation.
  • 9. An unfocused blog is an unread blog. No matter how compelling the content of a site, if it can’t be found through a search engine, it won’t be read. Sticking to a single category allows search engines the opportunity to become familiar with our content and move it up in the search ranking.
  • 10. Change is inevitable. The world around us changes, our circumstances change, even our focus changes. My blog is much different today than it was when I started—and so is my vision of what I want it to be. A successful blogger is one that is willing to embrace
  • 11. Blogging is a chance to make a difference. At no other time in history have writers had the opportunity to impact the world for good without the barrier of physical location or distribution. We are called for such a time as this and we must be willing to step up and let God use us to make that difference.

These are things I've learned over the years. I'd love to know what you'd add to the list. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

TWEETABLE

23 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Edie! Thank you for your faithful commitment to our writing community.

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    1. Lori, thank you for being such an vital part of our community! Blessings, E

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  2. Edie,

    Wow 3,000 posts shows an incredible amount of persistence and perseverance. Congratulations on this milestone and thank you for building such a wonderful body of insights for writers.

    Terry
    Get a FREE copy of the 11th Publishing Myth

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    1. Terry, thank you for all your faithful support! blessings, E

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  3. Edie,

    What an inspiration you are in so many ways! Thank you for being such a powerful example for the rest of us.

    Sue

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    1. Sue, Your words warm my heart, thank you! Blessings, E

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  4. And TWC stands out among the greats because of its focus. Congrats on 3000! Wow!

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    1. Ane, that means the world to me coming from you! Blessings, E

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  5. Congratulations Ms. Edie. You and your team of contributors have proven a tremendous help in my journey to become a Christian writer. More than the great advice given, has been the friendships and connections made. The Write Conversation is more than a blog; it is a community. I thank God for inspiring you to pursue this cause. May it, and you, continue to be blessed and you bring Him glory.

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    1. Mr. Jim, I'm so glad we've had an impact! Blessings, E

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  6. Congratulations Edie! I have learned so much from your blog and appreciate the great content you share. Thank you!

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  7. Thanks for this reflection on blogs, and thanks for all you do for this community! We value you.

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    1. Cathy, We're so blessed to have you as part of our community! Blessings, E

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  8. Thanks for your devotion to this blog. It is the ONE blog that I truly read every day. Many days it's the most diverse, interesting, USEABLE information I get all week on the craft for my journey. Here's why: several posts have completely changed my WIP, my knowledge base, or my priorities. One of Henry McLaughlin's posts caused the unexpected, untimely death of my main character's brother and a far more interting plot; a recent post changed how I will end future presentations; your lists of items (such as this one) ALWAYS add an item or so to my own list; etc. It's easy access from the comfort of my home, dependably helpful, and .... well..... free. Looking forward to the next 3,000.
    Jay Wright; Anderson, SC

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    1. Jay, your encouragement has paid such a large part in my journey. Thank you! Blessings, E

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  9. Wow! That's incredible! What persistence and dedication, and what a gift this site is to writers! May God bless you with 3000 more delightful and insightful posts, and then some!! Blessings!

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  10. Congratulations Edie! I don’t check most blogs regularly, but I always check yours! I love you!
    Blessings,
    Laurie Bower Epps

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  11. Congratulations Edie. Way to stick with it. God has really used this site and it will be fun to see what is in the future.

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  12. Edie, congratulations on 30,000 posts! That's kind of amazing! As I read your 11 lessons about blogging, I felt validated, even as I nodded my head in agreement. I've learned so much from you and your writer friends. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight with your readers!

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  13. Congratulations Edie! Thanks for mentoring and encouraging us through your blog and for modeling perseverance--3,000!

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  14. Congratulations on an amazing milestone! And thank you for all your insights in your posts. They're very helpful!

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