Problem 1: My layout is ugly and doesn’t look professional.
A lot of bloggers out there offer custom blog designs for a REALLY good price! They have done some lovely templates for other bloggers usually have a library where you can see their old work.
If you don’t want to pay for a design, then you can always tweak your current one. My blog started as a free template and I’ve basically edited the crap out of it. I’ve chanced the header, changed the nav bar, changed the colours, changed the size of the side bars and main content section, I’ve added a ‘date’ stamp to my posts, I’ve taken out some images that were in the template and more. It did originally look like this when I first installed it, but as you can see I’ve changed the bits I hate about it, slowly over time.
Pinpoint what you don’t like about your blog and change it. There are tonnes of tutorials out there. If you want neat and tidy social media buttons, rather using the ones provided by the social media websites dotted all over, then find a tutorial on how to make customer social media buttons and follow it step by step.
It can be so depressing seeing all those beautiful blogs out there, but it’s so much easier than you think to create your own header or mess with the size of your titles. Just google how to do it and you’ll find it!
Problem 2: My photos are not as good as other bloggers.
DSLRs are LOVELY things to work with and do make your blog photos lovely. If you know how to use them. But good blog photos don’t have to be a direct result of a DSLR! I took my first blog photos with my iPhone. You can actually get some really good photos with your phone or a point and shoot if you know how. You can Google tips for good photos on blogs and come up with tonnes. Or visit Emma and sign up to her newsletter, it’s a quick 5 day course to give you simple tips that just work.
Top three tips for beautiful photos:
- Use natural daylight
- Have clutter free backgrounds. I simply take most photos of products on my living room floor in front of a massive window. I also take instagram photos on my phone there too.
- Keep all images the same size! It just looks nicer when all your images are the same size, try to get them the same width of your text too, this is sometimes hard but I’ll edit 2 or 3 photos together if they are not wide enough so they are all the same width!
Problem 3: I’m running out of ideas for posts.
If you’re still struggling, there are tonnes of tags you can do out there, such as ‘what’s in my bag’ or ‘favourite skincare products’.
You can even set yourself certain days to do certain posts, like ‘What I wore Wednesday’ might be a weekly outfit post, ‘Foodie Friday’ may be a day you post about what you ate that day. There’s ‘Throwback Thursday’ where you post an old photo or tell an old story. The list is endless of things you can post, with tags or themed days of the week. There’s also monthly posts such as a roundup of your month, your top products, your favourite outfits, the famous ’empties’ posts. You could even link back to another bloggers post that you’ve found inspiring and give your thoughts on it. There’s your top 5 perfumes, the top 5 products you want to try, your top 5 bloggers or blog posts in a month…
Unless your niche is REALLY narrow, there is no limit to what you can write about!
Tip: Every time you see a post that inspires you or you find interesting, make a note of it and do your own thing with a similar idea.
Tip 2: Ask other bloggers to guest post for you – giving you some content to put on your blog as well as giving them a chance to introduce themselves to your readers. Guest posters do tend to promote their own post on your blog and social media too, so it’s great for traffic and linkbacks!
Problem 4: It’s too time consuming
I’m spending too much time trying to keep up with Twitter, Facebook, intstagram and commenting on blogs that I don’t have time to actually write. Everyone says I should promote and I just don’t even know what I should do for the best.
I’ve been there. Yes, blogging is time consuming. Ask yourself what you want from it.
If you’re blogging as a hobbie, then the second you find yourself finding blogging a chore then you need to take a break for a few days, or even a week.
If you are wanting to improve your blog stats and take your blog to the next level, you need to take a planned approach to how you use your time.
Writing posts:
I always plan my posts ahead of time using an editorial calendar. It’s not as fancy as it sounds – it’s just a calendar that let’s me enter what post I plan on doing when, and to move it around if I need to change things. I then plan when I am going to write each post around my work schedule.
Promoting posts:
Think of how you are going to promote and how you are going to do it. Is it through commenting on other blogs? Then set aside a set amount of time to do so. Is it through social media? You can schedule tweets etc in advance all in one go so you don’t have to worry about them.
There is a rule I’ve heard of, that you should spend 80% of your time promoting your content and 20% of your time writing it.
It’s different for everyone. I think initially, you need to focus on creating content until you have at least 20 blog posts written out, then focus more on promoting. When you are getting visitors to your site, switch your focus to a 50% content creation and 50% promotional model. Like I said, it is different and this is just what works for me – experiment and find what suits your lifestyle and your audience.
Problem 5: I’m not getting enough followers or traffic.
We’ve all felt this. You need to work on your SEO techniques, work on your Google PageRank and most importantly, get loyal readers that will engage and value your blog content.
Final Word:
Do not be passive when it comes to blogging, get yourself out there and drag those readers back to your blog. As soon as you start investing time and new ideas into your blog, you will start to naturally feel more motivated to spend more time growing something you’ve invested so much into.
Everyone feels in a slump at some point. The trick is to pull yourself out of it and keep going.
Further reader:
A great article, I have been through all of these as a blogger and I do have to get into a certain frame of mind to write a blog and this can happen at any time of the day!
Justine x
Great post, loads of tips thank you!x
Hello from Spain: interesting analysis. I do not think your blog has an ugly design. I believe that to succeed in the blog we have to spend time our blog and visiting other blogs. I think being in too platforms (Twitter, Facebook, intstagram) is no more guarantee success. People who visit the blog not interested visit Facebook. Keep in touch
Very well written Corinne, I think this post will be very informative and useful for many, me first as Im struggling a lot in the 4th problem, even after more of 2 years of blogging lol!:) Kisses! xo
interesting Corinne! thanks for sharing, dear!
Great recommendation and very helpful I use Samsung phone for my photos so you are correct no need for high end if you know how to take the images.
http://tifi11.blogspot.com
Yup, if you know what you’re doing you can still take great pictures. I take most of my makeup/face pictures with my iphone!
This is a fantastic blog and has really inspired me. I have been struggling over the past couple of weeks, but Im really going to up my game and really try to improve. Thanks for all the advice
zoea2812.blogspot.com
Nice post… 😉
The Lunch Girls
This is really helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. I keep having doubts about my blog name…numerous friends of mine seem to connect the word ‘boudoir’ with sexy pictures :/
Eh, I guess it does have that connotation in some contexts! As long as you like it, you should keep it!
Great post hun. I struggle to find the right balance between promotion and writing so thanks for discussing that! It does get easier as time goes on!
Now I don´t care about this ; In the past I was very worried about traffic and followers but now I try to be myself, to post what I want and breath…relax and take concience that my blog is just one of the millions that exist today . I am not in a race and I don´t live on my blog, it is my passion but not my obsession.Kisses:)
That’s a great outlook to take =) Sounds like you really enjoy it!
This is so helpful. I was off ill for a few days and really lost my energy and drive to blog. It’s hard sometimes but these are really great tips so thank you! xxKaty |
Great post,I definitely need to spend more time promoting my blog! Thanks for the advice xx
great job on this post dear.I AM ALSO ON: Instagram @kennydaily, Bloglovin and Facebook (i follow back, just let me know your links)xoxo
Great post hun, I’ve totally been there too, as you know. I hate the promotional side and would rather be off taking pictures. But I do love blogging, I don’t think I’ll give up any time soon 🙂
thepersephonecomplex.blogspot.co.uk
Literally every blogger can relate to this post, I really value all your tips and for taking the time to put this post together.
Meg | Meghan Silva’s Blog
Great post, I’m totally new in the blogger world, so I really appreciatedAll your tips.Wonderful xoxoNew post.
Excellent advice Corinne! We’ve definitely all been there (at least several times hahaha). It should be fun. If not, definitely take a breather or break.
Love this tips, I have been in a bloggin slump and thought what could i do? and then you wrote this post. Woot! Thanks for the ideas! Definitely helpful!
Xo,
Kirstie
As always great tips and good pearls of wisdom Lucy x
Yep, I guess everybody feels that way sometimes and it is true, sometimes it’s a big question of whether it’s worth a while..
Yeah, I’ve asked myself that question many times!
Great post! A question I have had is what about other peoples blog buttons? Are they free to take an advertise? Especially if you like their blog. Know any great sites for making buttons or banners? Rachel xo
Great and inspiring post to read Corinne! Blogging has changed so much ever since I started 5 years ago and it’s true that we need to invest our time and effort if we want to grow our blog and have loyal readers and not just “followers..” 🙂
These are great tips! I know the natural daylight would help the quality of my photos immensely, especially with coming closer to showing the colours of outfit pieces better. The clutter free is a little harder for me. It’s true I have often not blogged as much because I wanted to keep to my blog’s main stated genre, but I’ve done off-topic posts before and it would be probably a good idea to mix it up a little. Planning ahead helps with the time consuming part some. Now if I could just be a bit less wordy… You’ve really studied this a lot! Your blogging advice is very helpful.
You write awesome posts! xx
Nice post,kisses.
=)
This is such a helpful post! We all go through blogging slumps, I only write when I’m inspired. <3
Tara x
Such a great post! Thanks for the helpful tips!
Thank you for this! I’m definitely in a blogging slump way more often than I should be. I love it, but I just can’t keep up with it!
Have a great weekend 🙂
Beautifully written been through all those issues myself but I am out of it now x
Really great post, I definitely need to work on my SEO.xx
A great article that will be heaps of use to all bloggers. I think it’s something that we all go through from time to time.
Great tips 😀
I always find my slumps come when something happens in life like moving house or having a baby. After taking a few days off I find it hard to motivate myself again. Which is a shame as when I do write I love it!!
Louise x
Confessions of a Secret Shopper
It can be hard getting back into the swing of things!
This was really helpful. I also been through a few of those. especially ‘ running out of ideas’ but like you said. reading other blogs will help you get ideas. not by copying but by changing it a little and make it your own!
Yes, there are so many topics you can make your own or add your own style to!
i love how when i first discovered your blog, it was just a really cutesy/funny adorkable blog(!) & now you’ve like, transformed into this superexpertawesome blogger-person!! :’D i’m glad to have witnessed this evolution & super proud of you!!! OHMUHGUH ♥
I think I’m in some sort of slump right now as all of these things apply to me! I’m working on it though, good things await as of July! On a side note, I really like the dress in the post you linked showing your original template 🙂
Really great post! I have just recently fell into “the slump.” I need to start using a notebook. You have some really great ideas!
Also, Noor gave me a fabulous new blog makeover and I love it!
thanks for the tips, I am struggling with the getting enough ideas for content at the moment