This post was first published over at the Mommy Blogger Academy, but I wanted you guys to get it too. =)
If you’re part-time blogger you know that it’s all about making the most of your time. Like most of us, you probably count the precious seconds you have the spare for your blog and sometimes you may not have any at all– and that’s okay. You can still have a successful blog. You just have to know what works and what doesn’t… or at least what doesn’t work quite as well. That’s what I hope to help with here.
Myth #1: Link parties are the best way to promote your posts.
Link parties aren’t bad, but for the most part, in my experience they don’t help you all that much either– UNLESS you’re willing to put a LOT of work into them. Some people I know who’ve had success with them are linking up their posts at 10 different parties a week.
Think about the math here. How many views/visits do you think you get per party you attend? Chances are, it’s a handful at most. If you think that’s enough to make your traffic spike, think again.
That said, if you like linking up, by all means do it– just don’t expect it to make you a blogging celebrity. It can be a good way to promote your posts, but in my opinion it’s not the most efficient use of your time.
Myth #2: Networking requires an “All or Nothing” commitment.
We’ve talked extensively about the importance of networking with other bloggers, but here’s the thing that sometimes happens when you start networking: it becomes SUPER stressful. If you’ve gotten the memo about the effectiveness of blog commenting by someone awesome like Adrienne Smith (like I did), you might feel like you suddenly have to comment on EVERY LAST ONE of your new friends’ posts in order to network with them effectively.
Now, I know some people (Harleena Singh comes to mind) who do an amazing job at this, commenting religiously on each new post by the people in their networks. This can help you build strong relationships, that’s for sure, but don’t labor under the illusion that you have to do it all or it “doesn’t count”. Think about your relationships/friendships in real life. If you don’t talk every day or “like” every last thing they post on Facebook, will you still be friends? Of course you will!
So do your best. Visit them when you can. But don’t stress about it. The friends worth keeping are the ones who get how busy you are and love you anyway.
Myth #3: You’re going to make a full-time income.
Lots of new bloggers get really starry-eyed thinking about all the money they’re going to make when they look at the success of big bloggers like Jon Morrow, Yaro Starak or Pat Flynn. For the vast majority of bloggers, this dream probably won’t become a reality.
That said, there is money to be made blogging. If you want to learn more about how to move in that direction, I offer a free email course on blog monetization to my subscribers if you’d like to check it out. But here’s the thing– most of those big, successful bloggers aren’t just earning money from Google Ads or product reviews. They’ve turned their blog into an actual business.
By far, the most money that I count as “blogging income” comes from my freelance business, NerdyGirl Writers, where I work as an agent of sorts and find jobs for other freelancers for a small commission. If you’re blogging for money, you might want to think again– the work and financial investment you’ll put into your blog before you start to make good money may or may not be worth it. It pays to have a plan– and a good plan– if you really want success.
Myth #4: Timing is everything.
Okay… so it is and it isn’t. Here’s why I say this: As a blogger, you’re going to come across lots of articles about how to time your posts perfectly on social media, what the right frequency is, or what time you need to publish your posts.
Here’s my take on that: Being meticulous about your timing might help a little, but for most part-time bloggers, it’s not going to make a huge difference. In my opinion, your time would be better spent obsessing about something else a bit more effective, like figuring out with whom you should be networking… oh and, you know, real life stuff. =)
Myth #5: So-and-so has all the answers.
If you’re anything like me, you read a whole lot of articles about blogging. Most of what you’ll read will have similar messages, but some bloggers are pretty adamant that the way they blog or the way they market their blog is the only effective way to do it.
Truth is, the best way to blog is the way that works best for you. Longevity makes a huge difference to a blogger’s success, so whatever your plan is, just make sure it’s something you enjoy and something you feel like you can stick with. After all, didn’t you get into this because you like it? I sure hope so.
Over to You
What advice have you gotten that now seems unhelpful?