Monday Lunch
Today’s mid day meal included a smoked salmon bagelwich made with Whole Foods’ smoked salmon and Chavrie goat cheese (my favorite because it’s flavorful but mild for goat cheese and easily spreadable).
Fishy, Fishy
Our local Whole Foods sells smoked salmon by the seafood counter in individualized portions, so rather than paying $7+ for a small amount of smoked salmon, I purchased a big hunk of the stuff that should last for two meals for only $2.30. I guess it is possible to save money at Whole Foods. Who knew?
Take a Bite
On the side of my smoked salmon bagelwich I enjoyed half of a pint of grape tomatoes. I only had one “dud” tomato that was overly squishy in the whole batch. Sch-weet!
Before we dive right into blogger-talk, I just wanted to let you know that the Fashion page was updated this afternoon.
Moving right along…
Blogging Tips for Beginners
As you guys know, offering advice about blogging makes me wildly uncomfortable because I feel like I have so much to learn. Still, without fail, some of the most common emails I receive ask me about blogging and my personal blogging tips.
Since I’ve been blogging for just more than a year, I obviously learn something new about blogging every single day. There are some things I wish I knew right from the beginning, and I figured these little tidbits might be of some benefit to those of you who are just getting your feet wet in the blogging world or have interest in starting your own blog. (I also previously posted my number one tip for bloggers, which you may see here.)
So let’s get to it!
- Think and Rethink Your Blog Name: It took me a long time to come up with the name of my blog. (You may see the story behind the name Peanut Butter Fingers here.)
PBF
Take time to brainstorm a blog name you think is catchy and that you personally adore. Having an original and intriguing blog name will likely encourage people to visit your blog if they see it pop up in the comments section of another blog or if it is discussed in another blogger’s post. A blog name like “Food is Good” doesn’t do anything for me and is not a site I would likely visit.
- Make Your Blog Name (Roughly) Match Your Web Address: Nothing is more confusing than visiting a blog one time and trying to visit it again, only to find that the web address doesn’t match the blog name at all. If your blog’s name is Food is Good, don’t make your web address www.ilikefood.com. Using a variation of your blog name (such as katheats.com for the blog Kath Eats Real Food) can still be memorable and can sometimes be even easier to remember than the whole name of a blog. Just make sure that your blog name and web address are at least somewhat similar.
- Utilize Social Media: If you have a blog, get on Twitter. Seriously. (Sarah, I’m talking to you.) It took me months to join because it seemed pointless and honestly intimidated me. Once I decided to suck it up and get on board, I realized how beneficial Twitter really is for bloggers.
PBF on Twitter
Twitter has allowed me to “talk” with other bloggers and really feel connected with the blogging community in a totally new way. Beginning a Facebook page is also helpful, as it allows those who don’t have Twitter to stay connected to your blog, especially if they aren’t daily readers.
- Buy Your Own Domain: Like many other bloggers, I started my blog through WordPress (highly recommended) and initially had the web address peanutbutterfingers.wordpress.com. What a mouthful! I was really scared to purchase my own domain, but eventually did and was so glad I made the switch. Not only is it 10,000 times easier to tell people my web address, it is a lot easier for readers to remember as well. Of course this is not a necessary step, as there are many fantastic blogs out there (like Janetha!) that still have wordpress or blogspot in their web address, but I found it to be a beneficial change for my blog and I only wish I would’ve done it earlier than I did.
- Say No to Clutter: This is another personal preference, but I love blogs that have a very clean and simple look. Don’t be afraid of white space. When I visit a blog that has stuff all over the place, I feel like one side of the blog is competing with the other side of the blog for my attention. It’s a lot to take in, and I’m less likely to stick around. I like a blog that is simplistic in nature and very easy to navigate. Make sure you have pages (the tabs at the top of the blog) where people can go to learn more about you and what your blog has to offer.
- Show Us Who You Are: Maybe it’s just me, but I like to see a quick overview of who the blogger behind the blog is right when I visit a blog. A simple small image with a quick sentence or two describing yourself or welcoming your readers to your blog goes a long way. For example, when I visit Courtney’s blog, I know right away that she’s in her twenties, lives in New York and her interests include food, fitness and fashion. Since we clearly have similar interests, I’m much more likely to explore her blog and visit again. Additionally, if you’re comfortable sharing pictures of yourself, definitely do so.
Celebrating 25!
It actually took me quite some time to feel okay with posting pictures of myself, but for me it all goes back to writing a blog I would want to read. I love seeing pictures of the blogger behind the blog. Pictures convey personality in a way words never quite can. Plus, it makes you seem real, and not like some autobot blogger.
- Don’t Blog Just to Make Money: Yes, blogs can make money, but if that is your sole motivation to start a blog, you may want to think again. Blogging requires a lot of time, effort and a serious commitment. I think it’s clear when a blogger is sincere and blogs because it’s their passion and they love writing and communicating with people who share similar interests. On the flip side, if someone is just posting nonsense and is only blogging because they want a “popular” blog, it is also quite apparent and off-putting. When I receive an email from someone that only asks me “How do I make my blog popular?” I cringe a little because I’m not sure that their priorities are in the right place. If you concentrate on producing quality content, people will want to read your blog and it will grow naturally. You can’t force-feed your blog to people. This is not saying that you shouldn’t want your blog to grow! It is only natural for you to want people to read your blog. This is not the same as blogging just to make money. It’s okay (and wonderful!) to want your blog to thrive and grow, but do it because you love blogging, not because you’re solely motivated by money. Money and increased readership can be motivating, but don’t let it be the be-all and end-all of your blog. I can honestly say that I loved blogging from the beginning when I had four readers (thanks mom, dad, Leslie and Ryan)!
Please feel free to share your tips for bloggers below!
- What has worked for you?
- What do you think bloggers should and should not do?
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Any basic advice on where to get hosted for your own domain name? I’m debating and would like to get my own domain, but don’t know who to use as a host. Thanks!
i blog through wordpress, purchased by domain through godaddy and am hosted through bluehost… but i would NOT recommend bluehost. my blog crashes quite often. 🙁
i think people have the best luck when they are hosted through a small company/person. that’s what i hope to do once my time w/ bluehost is up.
Domains and hosts are actually two different things. You can purchase a domain directly through WordPress (under Upgrades in your Dashboard) and get rid of the .wordpress.com part that way, without making the switch to self-hosting.
For self-hosting, you pick a host and transfer all your blog information there, etc, so you can do more advertising and have more design flexibility. 🙂
I usually buy all my domains through GoDaddy — there’s almost always a coupon code, and they’re really good about reminding you when the domain registration is up, so you don’t lose your spot!
Great tips! I definitely agree about the ‘don’t start a blog just to make money’ … there are a million bloggers out there, and only a few who make enough to compensate their time.
Do it for the love of it 🙂
These are great tips Julie!! I am currently eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com, but am seriously considering making the switch to get rid of the wordpress part, just to make things a little more simple. I agree with you that a blog should reflect who your are, and what you want to write about. If there’s money involved, then great, but if not, then that’s great too. I do it because I love it!
Great tips! I especially think the last one is true- blogging is a HUGE time commitment, and if someone only wants to make money off of it, they’re better off finding a part-time job! I think the most successful blogs are the ones where you can really tell that the author is passionate about what they’re doing.
I also think that being a little silly sometimes can be good. You don’t have to be crazy, but everyone has their quirks and I always like when bloggers say something a little random that makes me smile!
YES!!!! 100 percent agree. i am honestly turned off by bloggers that appear too “perfect.” i like someone who eats cookies for dinner sometimes. they’re more my style. 😉
So funny you mentioned me because finally, after 2 years, I hired Zesty to switch everything over for me and it’s in the works! I was just lazy, but it’s WAY past due. Love all your tips! And love you!
HOORAY!!! it took me quite a while too… mainly b/c i was scared of losing everything. having a professional’s help is a great idea! yay for the switch!
I agree with you about the money/popularity thing — since most “bigger” blogs have been around for years! That takes commitment.
I’m trying to be myself more — instead of trying to be like other bloggers. That was my problem in the beginning — which is also why I took a month long break! Now I write about what I want to write about, and I take days off here and there. It was too much pressure to write every day + work + everything else. (I don’t know how you fit it all in Julie!)
Great tips! Thanks!
State their name on their main page! That’s key so I know who to address.
yes!!!
Yes! And their email address so you can contact the blogger!
AGREE! Email address ESPECIALLY – what if I want to offer you a million dolllars and I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you? If it takes me more than 10 seconds to find your email address, that money is headed elsewhere! (or my time, comments, questions, compliments, or any thing else I may have to offer you)
where is the best place to put the email address?
Katie – I think there are several options, but I really like when it’s located in one of the side-columns, especially under the blogger’s photo (like Julie has on this blog!)
A lot of bloggers put it here – I think anywhere near the top of the page on either any column (some blogs have 1, others have multiple) is helpful.
Also – some bloggers have Contact pages, which share their email address and other contact info (twitter, facebook, etc.) – I understand the idea behind a contact page; but I don’t see any reason not to have your email address in BOTH places.
The way I see it, if you want your readers to feel comfortable communicating with you, then you should make it easy for them!
Thanks for the great tips, Julie! These are so helpful. I would also say value quality over quantity! Many people would like to post three times a day, but I’d rather read one or two well-written, well-crafted posts per week than three sloppily written ones per day. It may be silly, but I don’t like reading errors or poorly written entries. Thanks for these tips and for taking the time to write so eloquently and articulately–it makes reading PB Fingers a pleasure! 🙂
oh i agree with this 100%. i really like writing 3 short posts a day… but that doesn’t work for everyone. it can be hard thinking of pertinent things to say 3x a day. plus, i catch spelling errors when i rush through a post and it drives me crazy. i told my family and friends to email me immediately if they see a spelling error now!
These are such great tips, thank you for sharing them! 🙂
Thanks for writing this! I’ve been trying to come up with a good blog title for a long time now.. Haha.
Great tips! I think writing when you only have good content and not just updating to update is important, too.
Thank you for the tips! I definitely enjoyed them! I am new to blogging but I’m enjoying the learning experience and love the blogging community and all the great people I am encountering. This is definitely a good thing…..
Thanks for writing this Julie. I think that ALL bloggers — new or old — always have something new they can learn about this “industry”. That being said, I do think that my number 1 tip would be the inclusion of pictures as well. Obviously people want to see a photo of you (having at LEAST one photo on your “about me” page is necessary) but also of utilizing photos in every post (or at least 95% of them.) Just words can be boring, no matter how talented a writer you are! Photos are attention grabbing, and you’re absolutely right — people want to know you! After all, how would we all know how frickin’ adorable you are if you didn’t post photos of you and your froyo face! 😀
I agree with all of your tips. I would also add that bloggers should find their own voice in regards to their writing style and the things the blog about. I love finding new and different blogs that are unique. Who wants to read more of the same?!
Great tips. Off to write my “about” page. 🙂
Great tips!!! Now that I blog all of those tips seem totally normal and are extremely beneficial steps. I ALSO can NOT handle it when you can tell a blogger blogs because of a desire to become “popular” rather than an honest desire to share and learn from their own life and the lives of others!
Thanks for the great tips Julie! I just stayed blogging a few months ago and am always looking for things to change and improve on!
I would say to not get discouraged if you don’t get lots of views at the beginning. Actually, I constantly tell MYSELF that, as I am still new and waiting til my blog takes off a bit more. I’m also trying to keep in mind what you said about blogging for the right reasons (being passionate about what you write) is what’s important, and gaining popularity shouldn’t be the priority.
this is what I have a hard time with. it’s not that I want lots of followers because I’m not even trying to get money for it, I just wonder when people look at my blog and don’t follow, does it mean my blog sucks?? I get a lot of pageviews, but I only have 12 followers….
any suggestions??
Best blogging advice? Make your blog something you would love to read!
Great tips Julie! I’m still a new blogger and learning lots but one of my biggest pet peeves is when someone leaves a comment and then says “hey be sure to check out my blog” I feel like the only reason they are posting is to get people to go to their blog. You should comment because you have something to share or genuinely care! Besides, the name is a link to your blog. Just my opinion 🙂
Thanks Julie! I literally just started my blog and these tips are great. Off to add a few sentences about us to the front page 🙂
Julie! This is a great post and some great advice! I completely agree with the whole consistancy thing with your blog title and url address! It makes it so much easier when they coincide!
Just out of curiosity, was there ever a point in the early PBF stages before it was wildly popular where you weren’t sure about continuing the blog or thought about starting over from scratch? I’ve had mine for about a year and have periodic thoughts, mainly out of frustration with # of readers/page views, etc., about just deleting mine. I guess I’m just having a crisis of faith in it!
to be 100% honest, i really make a conscious effort to never get too wrapped up in readership. i started my blog as a hobby and try not to let it be a source of stress in my life. that being said, the only time i sincerely considered not blogging was when that one article from marie claire was published and i saw so many bloggers get attacked. it made me realize how influential bloggers can be and it scared me a bit b/c i would never want anyone to be negatively impacted by something i put on my blog. that actually inspired me to try to make it VERY apparent on the homepage of my blog that i do NOT blog everything i eat.
I know the article you’re referring to and I was pretty appalled by the poor reporting! I’m glad that you took it with a grain of salt but still took the message of influence to heart. Keep up the great work, Julie 🙂
Great tips!!! I’m going to be purchasing my domain soon, once I get things going on WordPress…I just transfered from Blogger.
GREAT move. wordpress rules all! 🙂
Thank you so much for the info! I actually just bought my wordpress site today and am working on it. If I bought my domain through wordpress do I need to go through godaddy for a better way for people to search through google and bing?
nope! as long as you have your domain set up, it should be searchable. you can also submit your blog to google by adding your domain here: http://blogsearch.google.com/ping
So exciting! I know this will take over my life(in a good way)! PS love your blog and LOVE Sadie!
Thanks for the tips Julie! Always fun to hear your input on blogging (and you are too modest — PBF kicks butt!!!)
I know it varies, but what is an average estimate for the cost of purchasing your domain name?
it’s REALLY cheap! I think i got mine when godaddy was having some kind of a promotion. i think it was around $5 – $7?
Laura – I got mine through dreamhost when they were having a special as well for 10 dollars for the entire year! I use dreamhost to blog through wordpress.org.
This is amazing, guys! Thank you!! I had NO idea it was so cheap 🙂
I especially enjoyed the tip about writing what you enjoy reading. I’m fairly new to blogging and I’m still finding my grove. I love reading lifestyle blogs like yours, KathEats, Daily Garnish, Meals and Miles and the list goes on, but I am currently “food blogging” which I also really enjoy. So I keep asking myself that if lifestyle blogging is what I enjoy reading, why am I not blogging like that? Maybe one of these days I’ll find a happy medium, I just haven’t found it yet. Any tips on transitioning from majority food blogger to lifestyle blogging? And yes, switching to self hosted was the best decision EVER!! I would definitely recommend it!!! 🙂
i would say just do it gradually! let’s just say you make a dinner that your boyfriend loves… well, say so! don’t just leave him out of it. then talk more about what you guys did leading up to dinner, etc. eventually it becomes second nature. i seriously don’t know how to blog only about food!
Maybe I can start small by doing “weekend recaps” and then slowly build that into my weekly posts 🙂 Thanks so much for your great advice! I love reading your blog and look forward to your posts!
Good tips! Even though I don’t blog myself`I love reading them and I totally agree with having tabs and a good “About Me” section. The more I can find out about someone in about 3 minutes’ time the more likely I am to return to their site.
Also, I really don’t like it when people do one post every couple days and all it is is a recap of all their food eaten. I enjoy your updates throughout the day because you have good pictures of it and everything looks appetizing, but there’s always more to the posts than JUST food. It’s especially annoying when it’s just a bunch of random, boring food with no recipes.
i’m a big fan of food PLUS content, myself. i’m actually way more interested in the blogger than their food the majority of the time.
Awesome tips Julie! I especially like the one about showing who you are with pictures. I was soo uncomfortable putting pictures of myself on my blog at first, because it seemed almost vain. But then I thought about what I like about other blogs, and pictures are my fave! They’re a must-have! I’ve gotten over it now, and I’ll post whatever.
And the name! I went through so many maybe names before I settled on mine, and I do still think it is the best fit, because I TRULY am either happy or hungry!
And I’m working on dropping the wordpress…
Thanks for being a great blogging inspiration 🙂
Random question. Is it possible to switch from blospot to wordpress but still keep all of your information? I swear I have heard this before but wasn’t sure if it was accurate. It seems like most people I talk to recommend wordpress. Also, would it be horribly bad to change your blog name after you started a blog? Sorry, lots of questions. THANK YOU for posting this though, I am a beginning and oh so confused on the best things to do many of times.
WAY back around this time last year, I switched my then-baby blog over from blogspot to a wordpress blog. It was a fairly quick and painless process, and even though it did mess up a little bit of the formatting on my earliest posts, none of the major information was lost. Hope that helps 🙂
Molly —
If you’re a newbie, I highly recommend hiring somebody to help you make the move. It *is* easy, but if you don’t redirect your old posts to the new site, you can lose some of your traffic (and those old links can lead to 404 errors, or hold pages).
There are lots of people in the blogging community that can help, and if you have a lot of content, I think it’s worth the investment.
If you’re not concerned about the old stuff and want a fresh start, that is a different story…
And your host may be able to help, too — try checking the support forums or asking your readers if they have recomendations!
Love this post! I just started blogging 2 months ago and feel like I’ve already learned SO MUCH and yet have SO vey very much to learn!
Great tips Julie! I’m fairly new to blogging and I really appreciate tips and advice from more experienced bloggers. I especially liked your point about writing a blog that you would want to read. I’ve recently tried to make this more of a priority! I literally wrote down what I liked about my favorite blogs and try to keep those things in mind and put my own spin on them. It also helps to have friends and family that will give you honest, constructive criticism!
One of the biggest things I’ve learned in the past few months is to comment on other blogs! I try not to leave a meaningless comment, but letting another blogger know that you relate to what she’s saying or really appreciated her post is a great way to make new friends and put yourself out there 🙂 It definitely took me awhile to start leaving comments, but now that I do, I really feel more connected to the blogging world!
I would love to hear about your experiences with self-hosting. I have my own domain through WP, but I really need to make the move to controlling my own site. I’m just not sure where or how.
I think what draws me in to most blogs is their realness. Even if it’s mudane and about eating pizza and watching TV. Milestones and events are fun too — but I love to get a little peek into someone else’s life.
i had seth from boymeetsfood.com help transfer my whole blog from wordpress to being hosted by bluehost. he made it SO easy. i highly recommend him!
Thanks! I’ll have to look into contacting him 🙂
love your advice!!! when i first started blogging I was definitely shy to show myself in pictures and stuff, but im bustin out all those embarrassing photo booth pics-woo! i LOVe being able to see the blogger and truly establish that connection!
I love cherry tomatoes! You had a ton of them for lunch : )
I definitely still consider myself a beginner blogger, even though I”ve been doing it for over a year and a half… I don’t know, I just don’t measure up to all you blog celebrities lol. great tips!
Hey, you had 5 readers in the beginning. Don’t forget about little old Lisa.
you’re right! i had you, tina, my mom, dad, sister and ryan. how could i forget!!! 🙂
Haha! I was going to say something similar to Lisa, but she already got us included. We love you, Julie! 🙂
I am so glad you made a post about this! I’ve never emailed or anything, but the inspiration and joy I get out of reading your blog made me want to start my own about a week ago, and I’ve been editing all week to make it perfect! It’s so awesome to hear feedback from many bloggers and help us newbies get set up the right way. I, for sure, needed some guidance lol!
I definitely only plan on doing my blogging as a hobby, and to relive some great memories and good times with family and friends. I’m glad I came across your blog to inspire me to do this. You are doing a great job, Julie 🙂
I would add as a tip to create goals and an idea of frequency, and keep yourself organized by sorting photos, keeping computer notes of what you want to write about coming up.
A part time job pays more, but this is more fun!
Those are some awesome blogging tips!!! 😀 Thanks so much!
Great post!
I think bloggers should do whatever they want, its their corner of the internets!! That being said, the one thing I think they should not do is sell out. It becomes unauthentic when you’re reading a blog and all of a sudden it is “sponsored” and the blogger is hawking products. I guess for some it puts food on the table, but for a reader its just another marketing scheme.
Thank you so much for posting this! I just started a new blog and this has been very helpful!
I agree that pictures are important! I love to see not only the person, but their personality and pictures say a lot about the blogger!
Your lunch looks yummy too!
I just started blogging and this is just what I needed.
I agree about the blog looking too cluttered if there is too much going on on both sides. I just looks really busy.
I never though about adding a picture on the front page but I will definitely have to add one.
I agree about posting pictures and an “about me” section (no matter how brief). It’s important to me to know who’s behind the blogging, and that’s definitely made me like or dislike certain blogs more. It’s pretty obvious, too, who’s blogging because they love it and have good intentions and those that are just doing it…
thanks for the great tips because I’d really like to start a blog but am nervous to start one-these are good things for me to think about! : )
All great advice! This is my first time really blogging consistently and it’s been a fun process so far. Thanks for the tips!
I agree with your tips. And there are definitely a lot of easier ways to make money other than blogging, haha. It’s a lot of work and you have to invest money in it. It’s definitely not a money tree. I blog because it makes me so happy and I would feel kind of lost without it.
I also agree that it’s great to get a sense of who the person is rather than just straight professional posts all the time. I usually respond most to blogs whose authors I really connect with.
Good list of blogging tips!!
My number one suggestion for new bloggers: DO NOT start a blog on Blogger or Blogspot. If you ever become big and want to move it, it’s a nightmare. Start on WordPress or self-hosted WordPress.
I don’t presently blog, but I can identify things that work and those that definitely do not work. Above all else, I think that good grammar, word choice, and general control of the English language are absolutely critical . . . for blogs written in English, of course. 🙂 (Julie, you obviously have a very good handle on this one.) It’s like a necessary base layer. I don’t think a blogger’s content can shine when her writing is terrible. There are a couple of “big” blogs that I actually stopped reading solely because they were painful to read. How a blog can become popular with a handful of major, obvious errors in *every* entry is beyond me. Of course errors happen, but I would think you’d want to make a conscious effort to write well if you’re a blogger. Just my 2¢.
i agree! and, on that note, please feel free to let me know of any errors you see. it drives me nuts when i catch them on my blog days later. grr.
Haha, that would drive me nuts, too! I don’t recall ever noticing errors in your posts, and on top of that, I adore your blog writing style. It’s super-conversational and your personality really shows through. That’s an art!
Thanks for the advice! I started my blog not to long ago and I love it!! I am on blogspot and I wish I wasn’t.. I dont like how the comments are set up and a few other things! Right now I only have friends and family, but every now and then I get a random reader and it makes my day not gonna lie!! But I love seeing a mixtue of food and their life!
i agree. oftentimes when i go to comment on a blogger/blogspot blog, my comment is rejected! it’s very frustrating!