I know this isn’t the usual fare here at Raising Arrows, but I get a lot of off-blog questions about blogging itself. While I won’t take the time to go through in detail what all the business side of blogging entails, I would like to offer those of you who are interested a few ideas for growing your blog and resources I have found helpful in this journey.
{First of all, I’m no expert. I’m just a mom who has been blogging for 5 years under the name Raising Arrows, first on Homeschoolblogger, then on Blogger, and now on WordPress – self-hosted with my own domain.}
Everyone who blogs hopes others will read what they write. Even if you only write for Grandma and Grandpa back in Connecticut, you still are hoping someone (namely Grandma and Grandpa) will read your blog. In fact, I’d venture to guess most everyone hopes to grow the reach of their blog so that it is read by MORE than just Grandma and Grandpa.
Our reasons for wanting to grow our blogs will be as different and unique as we are, but when you boil it all down, you will find the HOW of growing a blog requires all the same stuff, no matter if you are looking to make money or looking to make a ministry or both!
So, here are a few basics you will need:
A blog
A design
A focus
A blog –
This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but it isn’t. In fact, I spent many months agonizing over my move to WordPress. You can grow your blog on any platform (Blogger, WordPress or otherwise), but I chose to move to WordPress because it was the easiest for my readers to navigate. A side benefit of the move was that search engine traffic grew exponentially! That is the one event I can almost 100% attribute to WordPress.
Having a domain – For years I did without a domain. I always wanted one, but frugal gal that I am, I didn’t want to pay the $10 to have one! When we decided to work a little harder on the blog, we also decided it was time to buy a domain. A domain makes the name of your blog the only thing in the address bar. It frees you from the messy .blogspot and .wordpress you are required to have if you do not have your own corner of the internet. I cannot tell you how nice it has been to be Raising Arrows Dot Net and that is all!
A design –
I did a redesign in the summer of 2009 (have you noticed by the dates on the posts I am linking to that I did ALL of this BACKWARDS?! had a design done…bought a domain…moved to a self-hosted platform… Ideally, you would do these in the OPPOSITE order of what I did!) A good design makes all the difference! It needs to speak to who you are, what your blog is about, and be inviting to readers.
You’ll also notice my header is not the only thing you see when you open my page. You also see my navigation bar, a bit of my first post, and off to the right my bio photo, a link to read more about Raising Arrows, and an easy way to subscribe to my blog. That last one is VERY important! Think about it–you want more readers, but they don’t have a clue how to stay up to date with all your posts. It’s hard to retain readers who have to search for you every time. Make it easy on them!
A focus –
I’m not necessarily talking a full-blown niche (think couponing, or baby stuff, or gardening), although, those are great and can really do well if that is something that interests you. I’m more of a “focus” blog, rather than a “niche” blog. My menu bar pretty much speaks to what you’ll find here: The Homeschooling Mother,The Grieving Mother, and Large Family Living. Those topics give me A LOT of leeway in what I write, but most everything can be related back to those 3 topics somehow. Focus is good because it keeps you on track and lets your readers know your passions.
Now for some resources to help you out:
Consulting:
If you just don’t know where to start or you need some help figuring out what to do next, then I would suggest you consider hiring a consultant. I know it may seem expensive, but I have found that you often experience much better results when you talk to someone who really knows their stuff.
Two consultants I know of are:
and
{click on the buttons to go to their sites}
Networking:
Networking as a blogger is HIGHLY IMPORTANT! What is a network? It’s a group of bloggers who get together and collaborate and bounce ideas off each other. Until recently, this has been a hard thing to find, but my friend Angie from Tiny Owl has started a Blogger Networking Database with a forum soon to follow. If you are looking to start working with other bloggers who also wanting to grow their blogs, then sign up today! (also see this post on How to Start a Blogging Network)
Learn from other bloggers:
There are tons of bloggers out there who have been more than generous to share their secrets to blogging success. Here are just a few I have found to be very informative:
Blogging with Amy (wealth of information!)
See Jamie Blog – Make Your Readers Happy
Far Above Rubies – How To Increase Traffic to Your Blog
Like a Bubbling Brook – How to Create a Basic Button and Code Box
Problogger.net (again, wealth of information)
Follow #savvyblogging on Twitter
I know this post doesn’t answer all your questions and you might even be left with more questions than you had when you started, but I hope I have given you a place to begin, some ideas to work with, and a treasure trove of resources to grow your own blog!
With that said, I will let you in on my biggest secret to growing my own blog…
PRAYER.
Yes, I spend a lot of time in prayer over this little project of mine. As a blogger AND a mother AND a homeschooler AND a Christian, I HAVE to stay balanced. To do this, I regularly consult my husband, my children, and my God.
I love all my readers. I personally think I have the best readers in the whole wide world web, but at the end of the day, it’s the people I live with and the God I serve who matter most. I will always be about the business of growing those things first.
Jamerrill @ Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling ~ says
Thank you. You just confirmed my move to Word Press. (*Hopefully, by the end of next week, the smoke will have cleared.) The resources you’ve listed are wonderful. I’ve been reading “Blogging with Amy.†I started my blog as a journal for when we were traveling and homeschooling full-time (roadschooling : ) in 2008. Now that I’m writing for other publications, and they in turn link back to my site, I see what a potential reach there is in blogging. Ultimately, the goal of that reach is to lift of Jesus. Social Media can be a ministry. Thanks again for all the tips!
aurie says
Wonderful links, and some great tip! Thanks so much for sharng!
Grateful Grammy says
Thank you for this post. I will be checking out the links you provided. This looks very helpful. You have a good blog.
Wendy Gunn says
Thank you, Amy.
You know already, I hope, how much I appreciate you:) and our growing friendship, and what a blessing your “blog-advice” has been to me. This was an information-packed post. Your last words of advice were the ones I hope everyone of us puts into practice:
“…at the end of the day, it’s the people I live with and the God I serve who matter most. I will always be about the business of growing those things first.”
To that I say a hearty Amen!
Praying for you, and grateful for your prayers, as we seek to impact the world for His glory!
Love and thankfulness,
Wendy
Harter says
A friend of mine just published a bunch of information on this very topic. You can access her information for free by visiting her website: http://www.self-publishing-coach.com/
I love that there is so much information on this topic available, and for the most part it’s all important, but touching on different aspects! Great post!
Shelley Hitz says
Heather,
Thanks for sharing about my site! Here is the link to my article about increasing traffic to your blog 🙂
http://www.self-publishing-coach.com/increase-blog-traffic.html
Debra Worth @ Happy To Be Home says
I’ve been contemplating a move, rename, and redesign but just thinking about those things scare me! We decided if I’m still doing the blog at Christmas time then I should get a redesign, and maybe even switch to wordpress and get a new name…
Amy says
It was a big move and very scary! I had been told if I wanted to move I should move sooner rather than later. While I absolutely agree with that (it would have been easier for sure!), you have to do it when you are ready. 🙂
Debra Worth @ Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes says
Yeah I’m looking into it. Still want to make the move but am scared. I plunged in and changed my blogs name and design, so that is good.
Catherine McChessney says
Great post. I’ve favorited it to come back to and really follow what you are saying for my blog. Thanks!
Harter says
I just created a working blog button! Thanks so much for this post, and for sharing those links! If you want to check out my working button, here’s the link:
http://servantwifemother.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-button.html
Amy says
Great job! As a side not, I was going to leave a comment on your blog, but I can’t because you don’t have URL/Link as an option. It just makes it easier for those of us who do not have or do not want to use the other options to be able to comment.
Many blessings to you!
Amy
Harter says
I don’t know how to do that… any tips?
Amy says
It should be in your options for commenting in your blogger dashboard. 🙂
Harter says
I checked there, but it didn’t list that option… I have it set so that anyone can comment, but there is nothing saying anything about links or URLs. 🙁
Far Above Rubies says
Excellent tips, Amy. Thank you!
Christy says
Thanks Amy! I just found your blog and loved this post. I’m in the midst of changing from Blogger to WordPress. I’m feeling overwhelmed and under-qualified! But I’m going for it, with lots of encouragement from my husband.
Cam - Bibs and Baubles says
wonderful post! Thanks for all the great info. I really needed it. 🙂
Mrs. June Fuentes says
Thank you, Amy, for the mention! If anyone is interested in Wise Woman Consulting, I would love to consult with you–and not only that but would love to give you a discount. Just contact me at wisewomanconsulting@gmail.com and I will give you 20% off the price through May only. Just mention RAISING ARROWS! Have a blessed day!
Kelly says
Hi Amy!
Do you do all your own edits and work to your blog theme? What theme do you use if you dont mind me asking?
I am fairly new to wordpress self hosted and use the thesis theme (after installing 128613 different 1s that I just didnt like everything about hehehe), I find it has tons of options, maybe too many for a newbie like me. Trying to add categories etc is a lil tricky for me. If you do not do all your own editing do you hire someone to?
Thank you so much in advance 🙂
Amy says
I do a lot of my own edits and then hire what I can’t figure out. It is worth it to have a designer set you up. 🙂