I know there are a lot of these types of "blogging tips" posts out there already but I wanted to write something that doesn't offer the generic advice we see over and over again

That New Dress is turning 3 years old this month.  What a rollercoaster of a time it has been!  I’ve learned so much about blogging and the industry.  Mostly, in order to thrive and be successful you need to work bloody hard! Some of the hardest working people I know are bloggers.

I know there are a lot of these types of “blogging tips” posts out there already but I wanted to write something that doesn’t offer the generic advice we see over and over again.  I say this as a disclaimer as some of my tips and advice might seem harsh but if you take anything away from this post, let it be this, the blogging world is a dog eat dog and you could work exceptionally hard and still get nowhere.  It’s better to realise this now and figure out where you can improve instead of being disillusioned and disappointed by the industry, as I have been at times in the past.

I also want to note I am by no means the biggest or best blogger out there, in fact I’m still very, very small but my passion for this industry is endless.  I have thrown myself into it as much as possible and I am lucky enough to be on track to reach the goals I’ve set myself.

What Type of Blogger are you?

I think there are two types of bloggers.  Those who blog purely because they enjoy it and it’s their hobby and those that also enjoy it but want to take it that step further, they want to make a business out of it.  If you’re in the former group you can stop reading now because everything I write herein probably won’t be relevant to you.  If you’re the latter, here goes….

Hard Graft

It’s good to know exactly what you want from your blog as soon as possible because if you do want to create a business/career out of it you need to be prepared to work your arse off!  You can’t treat it like a hobby, you have to treat it like a business.  This means you need to be prepared to graft.  If you ever use the well-worn excuse “life got in the way” for posting late or being inactive you’re not going to make it; harsh but true!

Invest 

Like any business, you need to invest in it for it to be successful.  How much depends on what you want to achieve.  Blogs are getting more and more slick, so keeping your blog looking fresh and polished is important and this can be costly.  For example, you might feel like you’ve outgrown using generic templates and want a unique blog design which can be very pricey.  I use this example as that’s the next investment I plan to make.  Alternatively, you might want to up your photography game, so you’ll either need to invest in a swanky new camera or hire a photographer.

To grow and improve you will need to spend money.  Be prepared to make sacrifices to financially fund your blog.

Network

Successful blogging isn’t just about posing in front of a camera or sitting behind a laptop.  Networking is key if you want people to know your blog exists.  This often means going to events where you have to walk into a room full of people and not know a soul.  You need to be prepared to put yourself out there, even when you don’t want to.  Still to this day I get knots in my stomach when I walk into a room and realise I don’t know anyone but I push myself to talk to people and network as much as possible.

Know Your USP

The blogging industry is about as saturated as it gets, so you need to know what makes you stand out from the crowd.  If you can’t convey what makes you special then you may as well quit now!  Think about questions such as “why should people spend time reading your posts?” and “why should brands hire you?”.  If you can answer these questions succinctly you’re doing well!

Stay Focused

This one is a bit of a cliché but always stay focused on your goal.   Successful blogging is a marathon not a sprint.  Providing you are consistently producing good content, being patient and are completely focused you’ll get there.  The thing to remember is most bloggers don’t stick at it, so if you do, that’s half the battle right there!

I hope this post was helpful and thought provoking.  If you have any more questions please feel free to email me or reach out via any of my social media.  I’m always happy to share any knowledge or experience I might have.

Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress, Snapchat thatnewdress and Depop @dominiquew.

More you'll enjoy

Share this post

Don’t forget you can also keep up with me on Instagram @thatnewdress, Twitter @thatnewdress, Bloglovin That New Dress and Snapchat thatnewdress.

Previous post Next post

48 Responses to “Just A Few Blogging Tips”

  1. Thanks for sharing these blogging tips. I’ve been a long time fan of http://www.thatnewdress.com your content is always top notch. Invest is a great tip, I was blogging for awhile and doing everything myself, but once I decided to invest everything changed. Networking is another great tip, I’ve gotten some great jobs from other bloggers.

  2. I can’t agree more on these tips! I tried starting a fashion blog about 3 times awhile back ago, and it always failed because I never made it a priority and I always got discouraged, A few months ago, I started a fashion youtube channel AND blog and I MADE it a priority and I’ve been so proud of what has come out of it. I treat it like work and I get shit done — that’s the best lesson I’ve learned so far throughout my blogging journey!

    Nicole
    http://www.nicolegramcko.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Close