10 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started Blogging


In a little under two weeks, I will be celebrating four years that I have had this beautiful blogger space, better known as Through Jam's Eyes! It is SO hard to believe that four years ago, this blog was just an idea and now it is a fully functioning site. I'm no where near where I want to be and I have so many ideas for where I want this page to evolve to, but I have accomplished so much and that is for sure something to be proud of.

When I started Through Jam's Eyes, I honestly had NO IDEA what I was doing. I sat down in front of my computer and started Googling everything like crazy! I had no one I could go to and ask for advice, no one I could bounce ideas off of. It was just me, my computer, and google! As time went on I learned more things and as I established myself as a Nashville blogger, I was able to meet so many amazing people in this space and I have learned a lot from them as well. If blogging hasn't done anything else for me, it has introduced me to a network of super creative and motivated individuals that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart!


So today I will be sharing '10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging' in hopes that it will help someone starting out on this blogging journey step right on over some of the mistakes I ended up making. Even if you aren't just starting out, maybe I will share something today that you haven't thought about and it will still help you in some way! I am forever learning new things, so this list could probably be updated weekly or monthly, haha!

So here we go!

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging
1. The Faster You Get Serious, The Better
No one is going to take you seriously if you don't take yourself serious. When I started, I really just wanted to see if I could do it and once I proved to myself that I could, I got way too comfortable where I was instead of pushing myself to do more and being serious about making my blogger space into a business. I'd say I really didn't get super serious until the end of last year and I regret it!

2. Everyone Isn't Going to Understand
Don't be offended if your family and friends don't understand you and what you're trying to accomplish. It used to REALLY bother me that I didn't have a lot of family/friend support, but I had to come to the realization that to them, it can really just seem like I'm posting pictures and writing in a virtual diary. That's why meeting and networking with bloggers/creatives in your area is SO important. You will be each other's biggest supporters!
3. Stay Consistent... Seriously!
Consistency is KEY y'all. I cannot stress that enough. People have short attention spans (I am people. People is me.), so you really have to grab people and keep them! If you take a hiatus, you have to understand that some people might not stick around. Planning ahead and brainstorming with your blogger girl tribe will REALLY help you beat the rut that can come from creative blocks. Anytime I have had creativity blocks, that's why my consistency lacked.. so I'm trying my best to stay on it!

4. Make Sure You're Passionate About Your Niche
When you choose your niche for your blogger space, make sure it is not trendy or something you kind of like. When I started Through Jam's Eyes, it was a "style blog", and while I do LOVE expressing myself through my personal style, that is not something I am passionate about. I am more-so passionate about traveling, helping others, and more of a lifestyle feel so that is what my blog has evolved into and I am having a much better time with it!

5. You Will Need to Invest a Few COINS to Be Successful
You have to spend a little money to make a little money. You can't really take a shortcut with this one guys. You will need to spend money on advertising, photo-shoots, blog domains, etc. More and more expenses will come up depending on the stage you're in with your blog. Just be prepared to spend and make sure you budget and make it make sense for you and your lifestyle.


6. Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest
This is something I am STILL learning about y'all! (Any pointers will be GREATLY appreciated). But seriously you need Pinterest in your life! You should pin your posts, your pictures, and everything else multiple times on multiple boards in order to get more traffic to your page. Again, I am still trying to figure this one out, but I know it is important!

7. Pay Attention to Your Photo Sizes
Woooh y'all.. so this one is kind of embarrassing for me, haha! So it took me forever to figure out the right size my photos should be on my page in order to look good! I mean, just look at how terrible this post looks! The photos are not the same size, and they are grainy, and just a mess! It is from my first year, so like I said I really had NO IDEA what I was doing, but you guys just make sure you get your photos to the right size and best quality.

8. When You Can, Ask for Help
When you have someone you can go to and ask for help or advice, DO IT. Don't be afraid. Some people will be more receptive than others (I've had some bad experiences where people have been kind of rude), but you'd be surprised that a lot of people are actually very happy to help! I know I'm always ready and willing to help anyone who asks me because I like to see other's succeed! Just try it, the worst that can happen is someone ignore you or not be helpful. Then you can just shake it off. :)

9. Realize That Blogging Can Be a Full-Time Job
So blogging is a job! I don't care what anyone says, it is legit a job and you have to set aside time to produce good quality content. Sometimes your nights will be long and you may have to say no to plans on the weekends if you need to plan good quality content. Not understanding this can be another reason consistency lacks because you end up feeling overwhelmed like you don't have time. Make the time!

10. FIGHT the Comparison Game Like the Plague! 
This may be the most important one of all. DO NOT compare yourself to other bloggers, creatives, and social media influencers. If you do, you'll want to quit every other week. Your journey is not the same as anyone else. What is for you is for you.. period. Focus on yourself and your own growth, no matter how fast or slow it is, produce good quality content, and success will come to you in the way it is supposed to be for you. If you have to unfollow people to not compare yourself to them, then do it.
 
If you're a blogger, what is something you wish you had known before starting your blogging journey?

 

Thank you so much for reading! xo

16 comments

  1. I so wish that I would have known some of these things when I was starting out!

    xo,
    Madison | madison-fichtl.com

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  2. I totally agree with all of this! For me it was that I wish I took it as a business much sooner!

    www.rdsobsessions.com

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  3. Anonymous5/28/2019

    This is such a great list! I love learning about others' experiences!

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  4. Number 5 and 6 are big ones for me!! Definitely wish I had read this before starting!

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  5. Completely agree with you about everything. Although I still suck at Pinterest. You look great tho'.

    ❥ tanvii.com

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  6. Love this post and totally agree with these! I think it's so important to be passionate about what you're blogging about!

    Kileen
    cute & little

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  7. Happy blog anniversary! These are such good tips to learn!

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  8. All of these are so true! I would add that it's important to be patient. So many people think they're going to be an overnight success or "make money" right away and it just doesn't happen like that. Which brings me to another point...do it for the right reasons :-)

    Lizzie
    www.lizzieinlace.com

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  9. Loving this post, babe! starting your own blog is def. a scary and big thing to do! But you nailed it without even knowing all of this info!

    xoxo Sarah

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  10. This was some VERY good information. Thank you for sharing your truth. Michelle/pretty4one

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  11. Such useful tips that I think all of us bloggers agree with for sure! Great post for newbies!

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  12. Such great tips- I needed to be reminded of a lot of them!!

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  13. such important things to remember as a blogger!

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  14. Anonymous5/30/2019

    #2 and #5 are hard ones to grasp at first but I definitely agree with you!! It was discouraging at first when friends or family didn't seem to fully support the blog but now that they've seen the fruits of my labor they understand!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

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  15. Such great tips! I agree consistency is key!

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  16. All great tips! I wish I would've started taking it more seriously earlier too.. like when I started in 2014!! But it is such a great community and I couldn't imagine NOT doing it!

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Through Jam's Eyes