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I don’t know if I’ve just been noticing it more or if it’s just become more common to talk about, but it seems like so many bloggers that I follow have been talking about “THE RULES OF BLOGGING” lately.
How to title posts,
how to leave proper comments,
the dos and don’ts of following and networking,
what kind of posts you should be writing about,
how to set up your blog design,
how to reply to comments,
and the list goes on and on and on and on….
I see these posts and I get a little concerned
{and frustrated}
of the influence they may be having on new bloggers
{like myself, I still consider myself a newbie :)}
::: Let me take the time to make one thing clear before I move on.
I’m not talking about “Tips & Tricks” types of posts.
I’m talking about “If you don’t do this then you are a terrible/unprofessional blogger” type of posts.
If you have blogging tips, please by all mean share!
It’s the hardcore “RULES” that I am referencing. :::
The reason why I get concerned is because these so called “rules” are not fair,
they are mostly untrue,
they are not the case for lots of bloggers,
and instead of helping I think they can make bloggers feel bad that they are not following such rigid commandments.
I have read these posts numerous times and every time I hear a new “rule” I think to myself,
“Well, this very very successful blogger ALWAYS titles her posts like that.
Or she doesn’t always have pictures with her posts.
Or she doesn’t keep a rigid ‘post every single day’ schedule
and yet she has thousands of followers and is featured in magazines.
So how are these rules if she seems to always break them?“
The argument for this can obviously be,
“Well, she was the exception.”
But I honestly don’t think that is the case.
I think the reason why lots of bloggers can break these so-called “rules” is because they have learned early on that the three main {real} rules to always follow about blogging are:
1. Be yourself
2. Be kind
3. Be humble
It doesn’t matter if you introduce your sponsors as “Sponsor Highlight”
or call a giveaway a giveaway
or decide to only post 3 days a week instead of 7
or don’t participate in every single giveaway that comes your way
or participate in blog hops.
It doesn’t matter!
Because at the end of the day, all you need to worry about is if you have stayed true to yourself and the mission of your blog.
And that you have remembered to be kind & considerate to those you come in contact with.
And that you understand that no matter the numbers you are no better than anyone else.
If you do those three things, then you will be successful.
Not everyone will be featured in magazines.
Or on the local news station.
But by staying humble, kind, and honest, you will gain all the respect that you deserve.
And will be successful by being known as a great friend & influencer to others.
I can talk about these things because I have been on the other side of it.
I have spent days feeling so guilty because I broke some made up, cardinal rule to blogging and feeling like a failure.
I have worked so long and so hard some nights trying to make sure I had a post every.single.day. {sometimes twice a day!}, no matter how terrible of quality the post was.
I have chosen not to post about things I really want to write about because I would hear somewhere that that was wrong.
I have neglected real life relationships for a virtual, intangible, slippery success that seemed impossible to achieve by certain definitions.
{I have since changed my definition of success :: see above.}
I have done all these things and instead of being happy I have felt miserable.
It was miserable!!
I have since realized that I AM DIFFERENT.
My blog is different.
What I want is different.
And not every “rule” is going to apply to me because I am not like everyone else.
Nor are you.
So throw out the rules!
Make your own rules to follow for yourself.
Make a mission statement to help you not lose sight of your dream.
::: Again, tips are different than “rules” in my book :::
And by all means ask for tips & advice!! I do it all the time!
But don’t let the rules get you down.
Because there are none.
And it’s about time we focus on the personal joy & happiness that comes from blogging when we do it our own way!
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I choose solitude over social scenes. Tea and wine over soda and beer. Simplicities over complexities. And chocolate over all of those things any day.
Thank you so much Megan for posting this. I’ve found myself lately wondering what happened to my blog and feeling like I haven’t been posting for me but instead for my followers and what they want to see. Actually kind of funny you posted this today since I just posted about how I’m going to make changes and “take my blog back”! Thanks for the encouraging words!
I’m a newbie blogger, and I’ve gotta be honest… I’ve seen the type of posts you are referring to, and I honestly have to catch my eyes from rolling out of their sockets. Thank you for your post. I think blogging should be about the individual. Everyone is different. What works for some, doesn’t work for all, and so-called big or “celebrity” bloggers, need to realize that.
So true! I appreciate blogs that have a vision and creativity and exude a personality that, even if I don’t know the blogger, makes me think: “Wow, I’d like to have a cup of coffee with her (or him)!” Even though there are some no-gos that make me never go back to the blog, I really don’t care about the rules that much. A blog is your place on the internet, and if people like it, super! And if they don’t, well, I think we all can live with that. You can’t be friends with everyone in real life either. xo Anja (PS Centered writing was on that “rule” list, too – ha ha! It’s good to break to rules from time to time =)
The best way is combining the personal style/taste and common so-called tips that people mostly talk about. I think those kinds of “rules” may be written for bloggers who want to monetize out of their blog. Well, if you are having fun with what you are doing with your blog, then just keep going on.
YES!!! I agree 150%. I see bloggers, also known as people, picked apart for what they’re doing “wrong” and unless you’re posting something against the law, you’re not doing a thing wrong, in my book. If you’re talking about your religion, hunting, your view on life or what darn shoe color you think is in this season – that’s a-okay. If I don’t like what I see, I can click away. THAT doesn’t make you “wrong” or “right” because who says what is wrong or right?
One person can claim #1 is right and I can say it’s wrong. There are no hard fast rules, there are, like you said, tips and tricks and they often come from bloggers who just want to help. That’s awesome and I’ve done my very best to help any new blogger, experienced blogger, all bloggers who ask for said help. But I don’t tell them what to do or not to do, what they should or shouldn’t post.
This is so awesome!!!! it is SO nice to hear this type of post about doing what we want to do and are ok with instead of worrying about what everyone says is the right thing to do. :)
Great post! I totally agree that the “rules” are meant to be broken and that some of the most successful blogs follow none of these rules. However, tips are always welcome and I agree that being yourself is one of the best tips around. If you are genuine, people will want to stay and read your blog….nothing worse than a “fake” blogger!
Thank you sooooo much for this post!! These are things I’ve been considering a lot lately since I’m just getting started and this makes me feel a lot better. Sometimes I go several days without having something that really feels right to me and I always felt like a failure. Now I feel better about doing things the way I want to do them!
This is an awesome post. I’m so glad you stated all these things. In the last year and a half that I’ve been a “sometimes” blogger, I’ve always tried to make myself better. I’ve read all these “rules” and have thought to myself many times, “Now, how can that person really get to know me when I can’t just be myself for what I am?”
It’s very frustrating and it kind of made me hold back, if you will as a new blogger.
Thank you!
I think posts like these are a good reminder that there are no hard fast rules to blogging, most of the “best practices” type posts that people come up with are often times just a list of personal preferences and what’s worked for the author, it’s not necessarily a reflection of what you should or shouldn’t be doing, especially if you’ve found that’s what works for you.
Thank you so much for this post. I have loved blogging so much and am only a year in so I am still a newbie also. This was so nice to read and so true!!!
Amen sister!!!!! :)
To me it’s so important that a blogger is themselves, when bloggers try to do all the same thing it gets boring.
So agree with this…I’ve been encountering quite a bit of snarky behavior lately and I’m so over it. Can’t we all just do whatever we want? Isn’t that the point?! It’s so competitive and for seemingly no reason. Us chicks are an impossible group.
Very well written and needed to be said!
Great post! I was a nervous new blogger not so long ago myself so I know the feeling of wondering how to do it right. But I now know there is no ‘right way’ as such, there is only ‘your way’. There is nothing worse that a formulaic blog – the whole reason I read blogs is to get to know interesting people and if they were all the same I’d get bored very quickly! Thanks for an interesting blog! x
THANK YOU.
And?
“I think the reason why lots of bloggers can break these so-called “rules” is because they have learned early on that the three main {real} rules to always follow about blogging are:
1. Be yourself
2. Be kind
3. Be humble”
Yes. 110% yes.
(I’m a bad blogger. According to The Rules – not the three main ones you listed and I quoted, the other ones – anyway. Based on those rules, I’m actually okay with that. I blog because I enjoy it. If someone likes to read it, then we’re aces. If not, I’m still having fun, so I’m really not losing out.)
Great post. Again, thank you.
WONDERFUL post… A-freaking-MEN. This combined everything I was thinking… I break all the rules too :)
THank you! Ashley for posting this! Thank you Megan for being honest and so real. I really needed to hear that. I’ve been trying to “follow” the rules and although i have gained more readers and met some great ladies, I do find it draining keeping up with them all. Thank you for reminding me where my roots are and why i started blogging to begin with!
AMEN SISTER! :) very well put!
Could not agree more. Blogging allows a diverse span of “writers” to put their thoughts out to the world. We all have our own style, screw the rules. It’s the internet – there are no rules and that is why we love it.
I love this – and Megan. I’ve always wondered about these rules – and tips are great for sure…but i think she said it best :)
YES. I agree with all of this. Great post, Megan!
I LOVE this post. As a newbie myself I always get so caught up in what I “should” be doing. This post was refreshing and I love your advice :)
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