5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Blog

Wanting to start a blog or trying to grow your blog or YouTube channel? Today, I'm sharing what I wish I knew before starting my blog in order to help you! I'm also joining some of my favourite blogging friends in a video today and they're sharing what they wish the knew before blogging, too.

Blogging (and YouTubing and Instagramming etc) as a full time job has provided me and my family with lots of opportunities, but it's also had its pitfalls and learning experiences. If I knew what I do now when I started blogging, I probably would have done things a lot differently from the start!

If you're interested in starting a blog and growing it into a business, or if you're curious to learn what it's like behind the scenes, let me share with you 5 things I wish I knew before I started my blog.

1: Consistency is key

When I first started my blog wayyyy back in 2009, I thought I could post sporadic projects (one a month, 5 a week, and then back to one a month etc) and see my blog readership grow. I've since learned that posting consistently (even if it's less posts per week or month!) helps my readers know what to expect and helps grow my blog. This is also true for my YouTube channel.

2: Not all of my blog posts have to be "epic"

Some of my most popular blog posts have been some of my simplest ideas! Not every project idea, blog post or YouTube idea has to be a giant room makeover or complicated DIY. Smaller projects and easy lifestyle tips can make for great content, too. See, for example, my gift-in-a-tin series that went viral on Pinterest! This series was so simple to put together, and everyone really enjoyed it. It still brings me tons of traffic to this day!

3: Knowing my brand is important

Even though my blog and channel is essentially "me", it's also a "brand" which means keeping things like my logo, the colours I use, my wording and the feel of my photos consistent it important for the growth of my blog and channels. I find it challenging to stay consistent with these things because I'm a creative person, however I've learned that knowing my brand and sticking relatively closely to it helps my readers and viewers know what to expect.

4: Collaborating is key

I've made so many wonderful blogging and YouTubing friends via the platforms. It's been a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people and swap ideas and share inspiration. Rather than viewing my fellow bloggers and YouTubers as competition, I've found success in collaborating with them on things like blog hops and YouTube challenges. It helps all of us grow and learn together.

5: Nasty comments happen

It's simply part of being an online creator: you're going to get trolled. You can't please everyone, and some people are simply out there to try to get a rise out of you by posting mean comments on your blog, channel, or social media. I'm a sensitive person and still can't help but feel hurt when I receive nasty comments, but now I have a method I use to deal with them - plus a fantastic assistant who fields most of them for me so I don't even have to see the non-constructive negative comments!

Watch the video below to hear more things that my blogging friends and I wish we knew before we started our blogs:

Now tell me: If you're a blogger and/or YouTuber, what is something you wish you knew before starting your blog or channel?