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{Smaller Bloggers} Act Big!

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I’ve learned a lot from the glimpses that some of my favorite, big bloggers occasionally give of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ of a large, successful blog. I’ve noticed a few things that show up repeatedly in how these professional bloggers handle their online presence, and it’s not what you think.

What defines a great blogger is not how often they blog, who designed their website, or how many social media platforms they’re active on. If it was excelling in those areas that guaranteed greatness, I’d be sunk. I can’t blog every day, can’t afford to hire a designer, and am nearly helpless on Twitter. Thankfully, the stuff that every great blogger does is actually small stuff that you and I can start doing today, even with our limited time, money, and experience.

1. Manage Your Inbox

With all the ways to communicate anymore on social media, we forget that email is the most personal. It’s vital that we maximize this aspect of our online presence and manage it well.

  • Like a pro…Be prompt and concise when answering emails. If you can answer that email in 2 min., do it immediately. Give yourself a 3 sentence limit if you tend to get verbose (like me)!
  • Act Big…Take the time to make yourself a nice email signature. Create a fancy one here, or keep it simple–just be sure to include all your social media links so your recipient can find you easily. Here’s mine:Trina Holden
    Blog…trinaholden.com
    Twitter…@TrinaHolden
    Facebook…TrinaRenaeHolden
    Author of Real {Fast} Food…Plan better. Cook Faster. Eat Healthier.
  • Be intentional about developing healthy inbox habits. Here are some great tips if you’ve got an overflowing inbox.

2. Manage Your Time

Whether your blog is a ministry or a business, it’s essential that you manage the time you spend on it.

  • Like a pro…When you’re blogging, blog. Keep a list of actions you need to take (“write that post”, “research this”, “contact so-and-so”) and check off that list before you lo-gin to Pinterest or chat with friends on Facebook. Don’t mix work or ministry with recreation—stay focused.
  • Act Big…Take scheduled blogging breaks. Missionaries get furloughs, executives take vacations—bloggers, too, need to step back occasionally to recharge and get perspective. A daily week off, or week-long break every few months is great. Give yourself permission–you and your vision are worthy of rest.
  • Get instant help in the time-management department with Amy’s quick book, Tell Your Time.

3. Manage Your Input

You can’t expect to grow or excel unless you are feeding yourself great input.

  • Like a pro…subscribe to a few great blogs in your niche or attend a blog conference geared toward your passions.  Be intentional about continuing to learn and don’t undervalue the importance of investing in yourself.
  • Act Big…Interact with the bloggers you respect. This blogging thing is all about connecting and relationship. Deepen that relationship by thanking and encouraging those who’ve inspired you. Your voice is not so small that they won’t hear-– everyone needs to be encouraged.
  • Go where they are…I’ve found Twitter to be a great place both to see what great bloggers are being inspired by and to leave them a short note of encouragement. If Twitter confuses you as much as it does me, check out Gretchen’s  Twitter 101 series.

Developing your online presence is a process that takes a lot of time and energy. But these are small ideas you can start implementing today to provide a strong foundation and prepare you for future growth.

What would you add to my short list of small habits for successful bloggers? What is YOUR secret, sister?

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Comments

  3. Perhaps “manage your expectations”?  It seems to me that blogging is an evolving passion.  It will change as we change .  If our expectation is to gain followers, then I have a feeling we will constantly be disappointed.  Our expectation should simply be to be faithful to who we are and who God is making us to be.
    I need to read the twitter advice.  I am hopeless in this area! 🙂

  4. That is great advice. I’d also add to remember that you are truly only writing for an audience of one: our Savior. It’s always about giving Him all the glory…whether we are talking about motherhood or even home decorating. Being His light is the most important thing to becoming a HAPPY blogger!

  5. My blog isn’t big or fancy but what I have learned is to write from my heart, be authentic and real and be disciplined. I try to write three times a week or two times if it is too much. I try for a theme, and also try to be within a season, as in holiday surrounding when I am writing. The biggest decision for me was to open my blog from private setting to public, that was really hard for me but so far it has been positive and not as scary as it seemed. Oh and sometimes guest posting for others has helped too. 

  6. This is great! I’ve been blogging for 5+ years and that’s the one thing I’ve noticed about those folks who went from hey-look-at-this-new-blogging thing to BIG BLOGGER. They acted big. They were the first one to write a HOW TO about social media or do something new. They didn’t say, “Can I do this?” or apologize in their posts for being small/naive. Act like the expert in your field–no matter how big or small it is! 

    Thanks for this!

    •  yes, yes! Act like an expert, because you ARE to at least one person who’s less experienced than you! And lead with servant leadership, reaching down to help those who seek to learn from you.

  9. These are some amazing tips.  Thank you!  I think I am doing most of this except list my social networking link ups.  But, I don’t twitter.  Gotta draw the line somewhere.

    •  You know, Lisa, your “draw the line somewhere” is actually great advice. For a long time I let myself be overwhelmed by how much I *should* be doing to be *successful*. We can’t do it all! My impact and my satisfaction with my blog both grew when I focused on my strengths and didn’t require myself to excel at all forms of social media.

      That being said, I’m attemtping to maintain the willingness to try new things, so I’m slowly trying to get the hang of twitter. 🙂

  10. Another tip I’m trying to take to heart: Following desires and bettering yourself does not equal arrogance. There is a way to live boldly AND humbly. If you think God wants you to speak up, then speak UP!

    Yes, watch your heart for ego and pride. Always! But we tend to think pride ONLY dwells in an attitude that says “look at me,” when it can as easily be in an attitude that is “too good for promoting myself on Twitter,” full of false humility.

    It’s a fine line, but walking tightropes makes us rely on the Spirit’s help.

    •  you are so right, sister! I’ve been guilty of that false humility you described. Thanks for the encouragement to walk the tightrope – great word picture!

  12. These are fabulous tips, Trina, and the comments are great, too.  Sarah, thanks for your reminder about The Audience of One.  And Rachel, I love this: “following desires and bettering yourself does not equal arrogance.  There is a way to live boldly AND humbly.”  

    I don’t have a “secret,” but I will echo #3 in saying you can never underestimate the value of “input.”  Just as the Word nourishes us, we must take time out feed ourselves good books and blogs, etc.  

  13. Thanks so much.  I’m only a week into this world, but I have already learned so much and am becoming better for it.  I don’t know that I’ll ever be big, but you never know.  😉

  15. Slow and steady wins the race.  Don’t start with too-big expectations of yourself or your blog.  Don’t try to become an overnight success doing something you can’t in the long-run.  Blog as your own schedule permits.  Learn new things, explore areas out of your comfort zone, but don’t try to be anything other than yourself. 

  16. Great advice. Also being honest with yourself is important as it comes across in your writing and readers can ‘see’ and connect with that. Simple, but big!

  17. My tip is to attend the allume conference in Pennsylvania!!! All bloggers are first and foremost people. When you share your hearts face to face with another blogger you don’t feel small you feel big!! Because you realize you are part of an amazing working organism of women. God is using each of us to spread His message! (make thunder sisters!!).

  18. These are some really great tips 😉 🙂 Thank you so much 🙂 🙂 What are your thoughts on creating a Facebook page to go along with the blog? I think I’m a “small” blogger…but I’ve been really considering this in the last few days 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂

  20. That email signature gadget was slick! Thanks for the tip! Oh, and Twitter…I thought I must be completely dense! So glad to hear it confuses someone other than just me! I think of it as “The Big Black Hole!”  It’s the place where I send stuff out and it never (ok, rarely) comes back!

  21. Love this love this love this….my biggest “frustration” since beginning to blog has been people who don’t want to guest blog or share you…Especially when I’ve offered to do so with them….I try not to let my feelings get bruised, but sometimes it’s hard…I TOTALLY agree…we sisters gotta stick together!!! 🙂

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