The ONE Thing I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

Blogging is an ongoing learning process. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or expert, there's always something new to learn every time you write a new post and click Publish. 
Back in the fall, I wrote a post about the 5 things I wish I knew when I started blogging. There's all sorts of blog advice out there that covers all aspects of having your own space on the Internet. These tips range from what social platforms to use, what kind of design works best, how often to post new content, and everything in between. I've heard a lot of these tidbits and can vouch for many of them myself.

  But the ONE best piece of blogging advice I've ever gotten, and the ONE thing I wish I knew from day one?

Follow other bloggers, and be active and social with other bloggers.

It sounds obvious, but these are seriously two of the most important aspects of having a blog and being a blogger. It's like making friends at school: you don't make friends just by doing your own thing and expecting others to come to you. You've got to contribute to what others are doing or talking about and keep the interactions going. I'll admit that it took me over a year to really get involved and avidly follow new bloggers. But once I started, I realized how vital that is to growing my blog and being a successful blogger. 
Following other bloggers helps you refine the vision for your own blog, too. I find a lot of inspiration from the bloggers I follow (and my blog friends), and I hope they find the same in me. Sometimes I see something I like on another blog, and I like to try something similar myself. We all inspire one another, whether we know it or not!
The best ways to be social with other bloggers are to comment on their posts and interact with them outside of their blogs. I love leaving comments on my favorite posts to let the writer know that I loved it, and to respond to what they said. Nine out of ten times, the blogger will respond, and boom, you've got a new connection. For me personally, if someone new comments on a post, I check out her profile to see if she has a blog, too. And if she does have a blog, I'll definitely read a few posts and add it to my reading list. 
My blog friend (and blog role model) Neely from A Complete Waste of Makeup said it so perfectly in an earlier post: "You have to be social and help others to expect them to help you." 
Following and learning from other bloggers is easily one of the best things you can do for your blog, if not the best thing. Follow in and outside of your niche; you never know who you will meet or what you can learn from them! 
What's the one thing YOU wish you knew when you started blogging? Who are your blog role models? Give them a shoutout in the comments!  
 

9 Things to Consider When Rebranding Your Blog

Lately I've had some big blog things on my mind...like a rebrand, or a blog facelift! Sure, I used to play with my design a lot, but this time, I'm thinking about some larger changes that I'd love to explore and implement on the blog. When my creativity starts flowing, new ideas start forming, and I just can't help myself...I have to see where they take me! It's exciting, and I'm not gonna lie, it's a little overwhelming, too.
When I started making my list of plans, I realized how much goes into a rebrand. I did a mini rebrand way back in my first year of blogging, but nothing like what I'm thinking about now! Whether you're doing a full overhaul and rebrand, or just giving your blog a little facelift, there are lots of things you'll need to think about. Here are 9 things you should definitely consider when planning to rebrand your blog!

1. Design and layout // Whether you're keeping the same color scheme or choosing a new one, design choices are super important in a rebrand. This includes but is not limited to: colors, fonts, symbols, embellishments, elements...anything that contributes to the aesthetic of your blog. Making your blog look nice is a top way to attract readers.

2. Platform and domain // This is one of my biggest points of contention in my own process. Right now I'm on Blogger, and have been since I started. While WordPress and I aren't the best of friends, I know tons of people who use it and love it. Squarespace is another option I have to explore. Whatever I decide platform-wise, I would love to move to my own domain and get rid of that "blogspot" in my URL. I hope that, once I have some money saved, I can literally own my blog by the end of the calendar year!

3. Rename // No worries, y'all -- A Thought and a Half will remain the name! But for some people, a rebrand means a complete overhaul, name and all. A fresh start is good for you sometimes, right?

4. Tag line // As much as you need to think about your blog's title, you might need to consider a new tag line, too. It's like a slogan for your blog that gives your audience a brief glimpse into what they'll be reading. Be creative and catch their eyes! 
5. Content strategy // Is your content changing in any way (see below)? Are you shaking up your content calendar and post frequency? Do you want to open up to guest posts more often? The #1 blogging rule--at least my #1 blogging rule--is to be consistent, no matter what I do or how often I post. Whatever your new strategy is, stick to it and own it!

6. Theme and subject // Are you a food blogger looking to branch off into fashion? Is "lifestyle blogger" a little too broad and you need a more specific vision? I'm sticking with my same theme, but I would like to incorporate some more blogging and social media-related content.

7. Social media presence // A rebrand is a great time to launch a new social media page for your blog, or to push for more traffic on another page. I'd love to grow my Facebook page, so that'll be a big focus for my rebrand.

8. Time frame for rebrand and launch // For me, my rebrand won't happen until after graduation and I've had time to wind down from school and focus on the blog. I've got a little while before I get too deep into it. Plan and schedule your rebrand and launch on a time frame that works for you. Don't rush it! 

9. Keeping your readers updated // Communication is key! Update your readers along the way so they know when big changes are coming, and know to be patient if some of your new elements are up and some aren't. You can post update posts with little sneak peeks and teasers to help build buzz and excitement so readers can tune in for the big debut!
Rebranding your blog is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. There's so much to think about, but it's always worth it in the end. If you're happy with it, then your readers will be happy, too.

Have you ever rebranded your blog? What was the hardest part of the process for you? Would you add anything to this list?

Blogger Etiquette

Etiquette is everything. Various situations call for different types of etiquette, but it's still there. Blogging is no different. There's a set of unspoken "rules" that comes with starting a blog and getting involved in the blogosphere. Some of the "rules" are common sense, but others, well, some people need to be reminded of them more often! 
Here's my best collection of blogger etiquette. 

Remember the adage, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"? That applies to blogging, too. Keep snippy comments to yourself. Nothing ruins a post like a nasty or uncalled-for comment. 
Related: pick your battles, just like in elementary school. There's always going to be that one person who leaves a nasty comment. Most of the time, it's not worth responding to them. Just ignore them, unless it's really degrading or upsets you that much. Save your energy for writing your next awesome post!
If you get comments, do your best to respond to each comment, even if it's just, "Thanks for reading!" If you take the time to respond to your fans, they're more likely to keep coming back and sharing your posts. As an avid reader and commenter myself, it's nice to feel noticed. Keep the conversation going, even after your post ends.
Related: when replying to your comments, always thank your fans for reading. It's like saying "thank you" for a gift. 

Reciprocate the love. As Neely said, "You have to be social and help others to expect them to help you." Couldn't have said it better myself! This is so important, especially when you're trying to grow your blog.
Never comment asking for likes, shares, follow-backs, giveaway entries, etc. It looks needy, not to mention unprofessional and not genuine. 
I have no experience with entering contests or giveaways, but don't expect a follow back from the host just because you entered the contest or giveaway. It's not always possible for the host to follow every single person who entered, if at all. (Thanks for this tip, Heather!)
And most importantly... Be a blog cheerleader. Support your fellow blog friends. We're all on the same team, and teammates support one another all the time.  There are so many more blogger etiquette "rules," but these are the most important. At least I think so! 
What would you add to the list? What are your biggest blogging (or general social media) pet peeves? 

Battling Blog Post Anxiety

You know when you write an awesome post and you just can't wait to share it? It's the second-most frustrating feeling as a blogger, only behind writer's block and feeling like your well of post ideas has run dry. I like to call it blog post anxiety: the feeling of wanting to share your super-wonderful post right away, but knowing that "right away" isn't always the best time to post and share. Does anyone else ever feel this, or is it just me? Maybe it's just me. 

So what do you do about it? How do you combat blog post anxiety? The simple answer is to wait and be patient. I know, I know, easier said than done, but that's really all you can do. Sometimes I will go ahead and publish the post, but wait to share it on social media. 
Your next question is probably, "So when do I share my blog posts on social media? How long do I have to wait?" Well, that depends on several factors. There are good times and bad times to post on social media. Of course, these times might differ for everyone, depending on your target audience(s). Here are the most common best and worst times to post on social media, and the ones I go by when posting for myself on my favorite platforms. 

Facebook: The best times to post on Facebook are early in the morning, between about 6-8am before people leave for work, and from 2-5pm during the "afternoon slump." People get distracted and tired in the afternoons and sometimes need to peek at social media to give themselves a little break. The worst time for Facebook--and across the board, really--is late at night, specifically 10pm-4am. No one is online then to read your content.
Twitter: Aim your tweets for 1-3pm on weekdays, mainly Monday through Thursday. People are always checking their social media during their lunch hours, so it's a prime time to grab them. They're less active on Twitter after 8pm Monday through Thursday, and after 3pm on Fridays, so schedule your content for more popular time frames. 
Pinterest: Most users go to Pinterest when they're daydreaming. When do you have a tendency to daydream the most? In the afternoon slump at work or school, right? Or later at night when you're procrastinating? It makes sense, then, that the best times to post on Pinterest are 4pm and 8-11pm during the week. Avoid dinner time and overnight times. Again, no one is online during those times, so your content won't be seen.
So yes, sometimes you have to hold off your blog post anxiety for a while. But there are enough platforms and social networks that maybe you won't have to wait so long. Waiting to share your content on social media, and learning the best times for YOU, tends to be difficult. Once you find the best patterns and times for you, everything gets much easier.

The above information came from Fast Company and Media Bistro.
When do you post on social media? How do you handle blog post anxiety?