What I have Learned so Far as A New Blogger

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I suck at this.

I started the new year with a new goal. I have a thriving piano studio. My husband, being the bread winner, has an amazing job that I am so thankful has kept him employed during covid. He’s my best friend and business partner.

When I came up with the crazy idea of starting a blog to showcase our woodworking and other things that I was interested in, he supported me whole heartedly. Seriously have been struggling to find my “happy” lately.

I have certainly found that there is DEEP satisfaction in cutting wood and making things. Also, sharing those things and getting comments on them feel good – not gonna lie about that one.

The idea of starting a business that has us working together (that’s how we met over 20 years ago) just brings me “happy”.

I like to think that he sees that too.

The weekends are our big time chunk that gets the builds done. During the week is for sanding, painting or staining.

It was truly exciting to get an order from my last post of the woodworking projects that I had completed so far!!!

But that’s not what this post is about. It’s about the blog progress. In a little over a month’s time, I have learned a lot.

And yet, I’m still finding that the more I read, I really suck at this.

I’m not a writer. I have written and deleted so many things even up to this point of this blog post. I have cursed and deleted.

True, I do have a sailor’s mouth mostly at home, but is that what I want to portray here? Am I being me by sensoring myself?

I felt good about writing that I felt like a bad ass completing those projects. It felt effing good. Should I pull a #FranksRedHot and tell you that I bake things and shit.?!

What I HAVE done, that apparently is on the right track, is that I have joined many social media content sharing groups that have certainly helped my numbers go up across the board.

#Pinterest #instagram #Facebook are all good. I’m not a huge fan of twitter, but I read that I should have one so I do. It has 12 followers. I suck at it. And don’t understand it – but I have more pressing issues to learn than tweeting right now.

Now I want to share with you the people and groups that I have found to help me get to the point of understanding what I DO know up to this point.

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggingbabescollective – Sasha at Blogging Babes Collective is so informative. Her website https://www.everydayshessparkling.com is loaded with FREE information as well as links to all of her favorite groups (Some of which I am sharing here with you!) I enjoy Sasha’s approach in her writing. She talks about what she has done right and wrong along the way. And she’s a great coach!! She’s all about helping. Join the collective and read her blog – you won’t be disappointed.
• Bloggers Unite on Pinterest https://www.facebook.com/groups/pinterestblogger This group has also helped bump my numbers up. There are weekly repins, comments, follows, etc. I like it – easy to do and follow along. I have found a lot of bloggers that I am thoroughly enjoying reading their stuff and pinning! I have even found myself creating boards just because I really want to follow along.
• For Instagram, I recently was introduced to this page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/igengagements Getting likes for your instagram post is super easy – everyone likes everyone’s posts. Follow for follow. What I have seen though, and it’s a large group, is that people generally don’t post for the comments days. Because you are to comment on every post (you are given a large period of time to take care of this) I think people are just not interested and want likes only. Again, whatever, It’s not my main focus for now.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/pinteresttipsforbloggersandbusinessowners This seems like a newish group. Katie, the page owner, is VERY informative and posts quite often with helpful information. She also social media promos and videos explaining how pinterest will work for your small business.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/startabloggingbusiness This group I found when I was exploring the possibility of moving my domain to another host. Heather and Pete from https://www.itsalovelylife.com truly helped with the whole transition process and the building of this new website.

These are just a few. I know I have many more bookmarked and pinned and all the good stuff.

Within all the free information out there, there is MORE information to be downloaded into your brain.

Pace yourself. I have made .02 in the past 2 months blogging. Baby steps.

I have goals and I am sticking this out. There’s so much to be read and improved upon. Every one of these groups has taught me something.

My biggest takeaway from all of this so far:

• If you think you are going to start blogging and start rolling in the dough, you are going to be surely disappointed

• Patience is everything. I have reconfigured my blog so many times already and I am still learning. I see someone else’s blog and see features that I like and want to add them to my blog. Which leads me to my next point……..
• Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone started at different times. Not everyone has the same experience level. Not everyone has the same niche. You do you. You’re good at it.

I am going to keep doing what I’m doing. Oh – here’s some numbers just for my own sake.

Facebook – 115 followers (Feb 28 goal is 130)

Pinterest – 167 followers (Feb 28 goal is 200)

Instagram – 118 followers (Feb 28 goal is 150)