Three things I wish I knew before I started blogging!
I'm going to tweak it a little and talk about things I wish I knew when I first started out!
1. I wish I knew what www.picmonkey.com was!
PicMonkey is a FREE site where you can crop, edit, write on, do anything you could imagine to a picture, as well as create cute collages! It's perfect if you don't have photoshop, but still want creative pictures for your posts. Both these are examples of what you can do with picmonkey!
You definitely don't need a fancy expensive program to get creative!
2. It takes TIME.
The first 100 followers are truly the hardest to get. I cannot stress enough how you should spend your first few months of blogging creating real connections with other bloggers. The followers will come in time! I didn't get 100 followers until maybe 4 or 5 months into blogging. But my best bloggy friends? Most were made in those few months when we were all getting the hang of it! Everyone likes seeing that GFC follow count go up. Even if it's not why you blog, you know deep down it makes you kind of happy. By all means, celebrate when you get new followers! But especially in the first months, do not get discouraged if the numbers aren't rising. Just keep following new blogs, commenting, tweeting, networking, joining link ups, etc. It will happen!
3. Big bloggers are people too.
I used to be so intimidated by bigger bloggers. They seemed to have it all figured out, the perfect look, cute buttons, fun ideas, and tons of readers and comments. Sometimes I was even nervous to comment on their blogs! God forbid they click to my little blog and think I'm not "good enough." I realize now that I'm crazy, but I wouldn't be surprised if some newer bloggers feel the same way! So, what I wish I knew was... big bloggers are real people too! Don't be afraid to email them and ask for advice. If you don't understand how to do something, ask! Bloggers get to where they are in the community by being a part of the community! Sure, some might be more personable than others, but I would bet 9 times out of 10 they would be more than happy to help you out! You just might make a super awesome new best friend. :)
What do you wish you knew? It's never too late to learn some new tricks! :)
I love picmonkey! I was intimidated by big bloggers too but so far every time I comment they always email back! It took me a little while to start commenting on yours but I'm glad I finally did :)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better my friend! Good advice too! Those 100 are very hard to get that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteOff to network!!!
xo
Pic Monkey is the best...and I didn't know it for a loooong time!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice - will definitely have to go check out Pic Monkey!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!! And glad to call you on of my bloggy besties from the beginning :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis post is great. And yes, those first 100 are the hardest...but most of my close bloggy friends were made in the first 100. I still try to connect with a lot of people though.
ReplyDeleteI'm still afraid of bigger bloggers! Haha.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. =D
Looove picmonkey!
yes! i wish i knew all of this too! especially that "big bloggers" actually aren't celebs ahaha
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much for this post! I'm new to blogging and didn't know what picmonkey.com was. Gonna have to check it out. I try to ignore the GFC count, but you're right, you can't help it. And now, I may look to you for future blogging questions. ;-) Following!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my world?
Michiko @ www.theressomethingaboutmichiko.com
I agree with all of these! I'm almost to 100 Bloglovin followers, and it's so exciting - but it took a lot of time!
ReplyDeleteAnd I only just discovered picmonkey...so happy I did!
Love this link-up :)
<3 Kiersten
Just found out about pic monkey! lovvve it!
ReplyDeleteYou have described my feelings almost to perfection!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being my first follower, you rock!
xoxo
love your tips! ... wish i would have known who much i would like it...i would have started sooner :)
ReplyDeleteI JUST started blogging...like last week, and really appreciate this post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI still haven't learned the collage stuff...I should start! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteI totally need to learn how to edit photos - I don't think I'm very good at it haha.
ReplyDeleteThe Adventures of Teresa & Luna
Even though I have photoshop and all the 'fancy' stuff... PicMonkey just makes it all easier :) I go that route more often than not!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with #1! It makes editing photos so much easier :)
ReplyDeletePicmonkey.com has been a life saver for me!! As much as I want Photoshop I can't bring myself to kick out the money for it when picmonkey has met my needs so far.
ReplyDeletePinkmonkey is so easy and way less frustrating than photoshop! It's my go to when I don't have the time for the frustration of photoshop.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit, I mainly wish that I'd had a better grasp on how to keep myself interested in and motivated to write. There are a ton of gaps and stuff in my early blogging, and while there were often valid reasons, just as often, I was just bored or didn't feel like making the effort. Getting older has made me a lot more willing to put in effort, and it's been good.
ReplyDeletexo
Sue
Thanks for #2!! I started out in January and am not even to 10 followers yet...haha...but I haven't been the most faithful blogger (and haven't figured out the networking thing yet). I'm doing it more to get my thoughts out, so that may be why, although now I'm wanting to actually make some friends. So...we'll see what happens!! :D
ReplyDeleteWell I definitely didn't know about PicMonkey! Thanks for the introduction, can't wait to use it!
ReplyDeleteI love your new url! And your favicon is happy and bright, love it. Great advice today. Your right, the numbers do matter :) I am slowly, but surely climbing the hill at 75. I'll get there one day! I will join your link Wed. Love it!
ReplyDeleteCortne
cocoinmagnolia.com
This is probably a really silly 'new blogger' question, but if I want to join in on the Wednesday 'I Can't Believe' series, do I just copy the button and put it on my blog??
ReplyDeleteThanks for humoring my inexperience! Want to make sure I do it correctly!! :)
Seriously though Pic Monkey is the BOMB! I love this site! Thanks for linking up and sharing your wisdom :)
ReplyDeleteI did not know about PicMonkey! THANK YOU!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love picmonkey!! favorite especially for watermarking pictures!!
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