Today – top UK bloggers share their BEST blogging tips
Oh I am very lucky to have some super fabulous blogging friends who happen to be some the top UK bloggers. Their blogs are, in many different ways, very successful. I respect all of these bloggers for their integrity and determination, their vision and their commitment to both blogging and the blogging community.
It’s time to discover what makes them such great bloggers and to find out their very best blogging tips.
UK bloggers share their BEST blogging tips
Ruth from Dorkymum
My tip is to blog in a way that makes you happy, and understand that that’ll be different for everyone. Some people like to blog daily or weekly, others just once a month or even less frequently. Some people love to share lots of photos, others love to write long stories in text format. Some inform, others entertain. Some like to work with brands, others prefer to keep their blogs about family life. Don’t feel pressured to turn your blog into anything other than a place that makes you happy when you look at it – if you’re not having fun you’re doing it wrong ?
Amanda from The Ana Mum Diary
My top tip is do blog about what you love. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a niche, it’s that very variety that can engage your readers and keep them interested. What they want is a consistent voice, so be true to yourself and if you love it and it fits the direction you want to go in then do it. It takes time to find a writing style so keep trying and being yourself.
Jaime from The Oliver’s Madhouse
Do not wait for content, contacts or collaborations to come to you. Its super easy to sit on the sidelines feeling dejected that the opps you want are not coming your way, pitch something unique and find a new angle and be proactive.
Chris from Thinly Spread
Stay true to yourself. An authentic voice stands out from the crowd and keeps readers coming back for more – it’s also far easier to maintain in the long run than if you are following the latest blogging trend rather than being yourself!
I also think karma plays a big part in blogging. Sharing ideas, tips and knowledge and helping other people on their blogging journey comes back in spades – holding everything to yourself, clambering over people on your rush to the ‘top’ will come back to bite you on the bum!
Why is synchronicity happening to me explains this further
I am LOVING that these UK bloggers share their BEST blogging tips so willingly – we have somuch to learn from them
Cass from Frugal Family
I think you always need to remember that your blog is exactly that – your blog. It’s your little corner of the internet where you don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules or do what you think you should be doing.
You don’t have to be active on every social media network because you feel like you should be and if you don’t want to be in blogging charts or put yourself up for award then don’t feel you have to. My one blogging rule is that if it makes me happy then I’ll do it, if it doesn’t then I won’t.
Cathy from NurtureStore
Dream up your ‘ideal reader’ and deliver the ideas, inspiration and community that she needs.
Hayley from Down Side Up
Stay true to your original motivation and voice. Don’t get sucked into comparing yourself to others. Be professional and take seriously the responsibility blogging can bring. If your blog changes one readers life, it is a success.
I think of my blog as organic, as having a life of its own. I follow its lead rather than forcing it to fit a template. It’s clunky and homemade looking but somehow that’s the appeal. I don’t plan at all, I go with instinct.
Sally from Who’s the Mummy and Tots100
Don’t confuse what someone else thinks of you with who you actually are. Your reputation is what strangers on the Internet think of you. Your character is what your friends and family and co-workers know about you. It’s SO easy to get snarked at online by someone accusing you of this or that, and it’s so hard not to take it to heart, and start to wonder, blimey, maybe I am this terrible person or crappy parent or whatever.
It took me a long time to realise that people throwing insults online are basically no different to angry old drunks with cans of super strength lager shouting at passers-by on street corners. You wouldn’t change your life or actions on the basis of those idiots, and the internet isn’t any different.
So hold true to what you know your values are and remember the only person you need to be able to look in the eye is yourself. And possibly your Mum is she’s as good a judge of character as my Mum is.
Penny from ParentShaped and Aresidence
For travel blogging, in fact any blogging I think keeping a notebook helps, note down thoughts, facts, stats, prices, places, directions as they come to you or you will forget them later. Little details whether they are what someone said or where you were can really make a post come alive or make sense to someone following in your footsteps on a journey.
Emily from A Mummy Too
As your blogging efficiency increases and traffic grows, it’s not uncommon to lose touch with the sparks of inspiration that used to form the kernels of your best blog posts. Give yourself space to be creative. Go to a coffee shop, visit friends, talk a walk, keep a journal – anything that means those moments of inspiration don’t get lost underneath all the admin.
Nadine from Juggle Mum
I’m very much a planner, so I will know roughly what I’m posting for the next few weeks which gives me chance to fill out each post with what it needs to stand alone. By stand alone I mean that each separate post on JuggleMum should have value on its own- whether that be advice, a recipe, a tip, or just for entertainment, but I don’t ever want anyone to read a post and think ‘what was the point of that!’ So I put as much value as I can into each post.
Because I’m a planner and know what’s coming up, I can use the events and meetings I go to as an effective way to generate new content. For example, in March I was on the train to London twice for two separate meetings with travel clients. Whilst I was there I interviewed each of them about what makes a good travel blogger and then I put this info into my post http://jugglemum.co.uk/what-makes-a-good-travel-blogger/ I was in London anyway doing what they needed me to do so I made sure I got something I needed out of it too – some content that enabled me to create this post! Win-win! So I guess the upshot is planning helps you take advantage of opportunities
Maggy from Red Ted Art and Life at the Zoo
Top tip – GREAT PHOTOS as BIG as possible but with a SMALL file size. xx
(short but sweet!)
Great advice across the board I am sure you will agree.
Thank you to all the bloggers involved for sharing their wisdom.
Happy blogging adventures everyone
Becky x
I hope you have enjoyed this post where we have had the top UK bloggers share their BEST blogging tips
So many great tips from so many of my blogging gurus. Thank you for including my humble thoughts as well. H x
Great tips and really good advice. I have been blogging for 2 years now and always like to see and learn from others 🙂 xx
Lovely to read everyone’s tips. Such a cool idea for a blog post.
This is so, so useful. I particularly like what Nadine said about trying to make each post stand alone. This is something which I really try to focus on. I want each post to have a purpose and a story rather than being a post for a post’s sake.
Oh I love these tips, all so brilliant, from all my favourite and most wise bloggers too 🙂 I totally need to remember that last one in particular though, oops.
Thank you for featuring my tip and it was lovely to read everyone else’s! Doing what you love is definitely the key isn’t it? That passion for what you do comes out in everything you do and every way you communicate online so it’s important to be happy and spread joy, not rubbish!
great tips and love that a key message it to be true to yourself. V important! x
Love this! Such great tips and a great post! Always inspirational to hear from other bloggers 🙂
A x
Some great tips here, I think people forget sometimes that a blog is so personal it can be whatever you want
Lovely article, Becky. Some of my favourite bloggers are here.
I am still so new to the world of blogging that it is easy to wonder if I have got the right balance or formula or if I am ticking all of the right boxes in terms of social media and content, when the theme that shines through is about writing about what you love and having your own voice, rather than get tempted to follow the crowd.
I have felt a bit ‘phwah’ this week as I have looked around at all of the marvellous blogs out there. I’ve felt a bit discouraged as to whether folks will want to read what I have to say, but that wasn’t why I started blogging…I started blogging because I hated my uncreative job and I wanted to write and get all of the words out that have been bottled up inside for so long…
So thank you DorkyMum for saying ‘Don’t feel pressured to turn your blog into anything other than a place that makes you happy ‘
Thank you, Amanda, for saying ‘Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a niche, it’s that very variety that can engage your readers and keep them interested. What they want is a consistent voice, so be true to yourself.’
Thank you Downs S’de up for saying ‘Stay true to your original motivation and voice. Don’t get sucked into comparing yourself to others. ‘
Thank you all!
You honestly don’t know how much I needed to hear that this week.
Thanks for sharing, Becky.
Lots of great tips! Love the idea of a blog being reciprocal as well – that the more you give and support other blogs, the more you get in return. I’ve found that as well! xxx
Fab tips everyone! Blog about the things you love is always my top tip as you can really tell when a blogger is passionate about what they’re sharing on their site – a blog written with love is always so much more genuine and engaging a read! xx
Excellent advice and tips! And what a great idea for a blog post – thanks for sharing 🙂