More and more recently, it seems I’ve been getting questions like, “what’s the secret to becoming a successful blogger?” or “how do you get noticed as a blogger?”. It’s an honor to get those kind of inquiries, because it was not even a year ago that I was pulling my hair out wondering why nothing about my blog was working.
I don’t have a 6 figure in 6 months success story. I can’t tell you how to get 100K Instagram followers, how to be the next YouTube celebrity, or how to make enough money to purchase and renovate your dream house, but I can tell you that these are the top 4 things that have helped me get to where I am right now – a place where I have an authentic following that supports me and a place where I’m making enough income from my blog to be able to pay my rent and bills.
This week’s YouTube “video” has more details and specific action steps, so make sure you check that out. I say “video” in quotes because what I’m putting on YouTube was just a practice run of my voice that I recorded in my car, but it ended up being way better than the video I recorded trying to replicate it. So, sorry if you miss my face, but these tips are so important and impactful that you’ll still love the video!
Here’s an overview of the 4 things that have had significant influence in my blog’s success (but I strongly suggest listening to the video to absorb the maximum benefits of these suggestions!):
1.) You don’t get noticed, you show up
The people that support me on my blog and social media channels first and frequently are typically people I’ve met in person – like my yoga students, local blogging friends, and my grandma. Make sure that the people around you every day know what you’re up to because they’re more likely to engage with your stuff when they see it. Even though we live in a digital world, don’t underestimate the power of connecting with people face to face and what those interactions will do for your blog!
2.) You can’t be perfect
There are too many people out there with a seemingly endless budget producing perfect content for that to be your route to success. In fact, if you try to keep up with them and create at their level, you’re going to drive yourself mad! Your strategy, Gem, is quite the opposite – to optimize being imperfect. Unfiltered moments (like telling people about that one time I accidentally basically looked naked when filming something for YouTube one day – more on that story in the video) are what people are craving these days. So, whether it’s a photo that has a few flaws or a caption that talks about a moment that wasn’t your finest, make sure you’re regularly working some realness into your content.
3.) Find and connect your story
I am 100% sure there’s a reason you wanted to become a blogger. This is a hard industry to be in, and you don’t put in the work unless you have something you’re realllllly passionate about sharing to the world, which means there is some kind of story behind that passion fueling it every step of the way. To stand out, it’s your job to unearth your “why” and continue to connect it to the content you’re delivering. For me, it might look like I blog about things fashion and beauty at first glance, but really what I’m sharing with you is an outfit that helped me feel powerful on a day I felt weak, a makeup look that brought me confidence, or a pair of shoes that walked me through a memory I want to hold on tight to. Having dealt with anxiety and depression for so long, I find it’s the small, every day things I surround myself with that add up to making a big difference in how I feel mentally. That connection – between my story and my content – is what builds a deeper connection between me and my community.
4.) Ask A TON of questions
When you start building any kind of platform, not only are you providing yourself with a way to be heard, but you also create the ability to give others a voice, too. There’s no better way to get your audience to latch onto you than to get them involved with what you’re doing and allowing them to be part of your creative process. Listen to the video for suggestions on what to ask them and how to approach this!
