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Blog Tips
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April 29, 2013

Blogging Lessons, The Hard Way

Blogging Tips I Learned The Hard Way by simplyclarke.com

I started my blogging venture back in December and in a few short months, I feel like I have messed up learned so many things about blogging. So, I want to share with you some of the lessons I learned the hard way in hopes to help you on your journey!

1
 Have your name somewhere on your blog. {preferably first thing in your about section on your sidebar and at the foot of each post} It is really frustrating to hunt, and hunt and never find a bloggers name.

2
Make it easy to contact you. Have your email visible via icon or on a “contact me” page. If I want to email you, I want to be able to find it quick. 
3
Turn off word verification. This is one of the most annoying things, google does a pretty good job of filtering out spam, so turn off your word verification for your comments. Its easy. Go to settings > Posts and Comments > Show Word Verification & hit NO! haha… i had this on for probably a month without even knowing it! 
4
Have Fun Post Titles. This is kind of common knowledge, but I really didn’t think about it at first. Lets face it, we all follow probably a lot of blogs, and when browsing through our reader, we typically read our “favorite” blogs and ones that catch our eye. Think about it, someone is way more likely to read “Pin the Mustache on Justin Bieber” than ” It’s Okay Thursday #5″. I think link ups are really fun, but I honestly get bored if i just see Oh, So Pinteresting #5, #12… etc.. I am way more likely to read it if it says “Floral Love” or “Top 10 Trends this Spring”
5
Reply to comments the right way. I was replying to people who commented on my blog ALL WRONG for so long, and I was so sad to find out. Read about this post, to make sure you aren’t ignoring your followers.
6
Ramp up your social media. I know that it might feel silly having a facebook page for your blog and only having 1 or 10 followers but trust me, it is better to start early. This is one thing I really regret, I didn’t create or share my social media sites until a month and a 1/2 or so into blogging. Because of this, I missed so much time building relationships. Give your readers more ways to follow you via twitter, facebook, instagram, bloglovin, pinterest and rss. Trust me, they want to KNOW you and it is easier to have a convo via twitter or facebook.

7
Live your life. Its easy in the beginning to get caught up in blogging. It is a lot of work to gain success in anything, but so important that you don’t neglect your family and friends in the process. After all, if you aren’t living your life and just sit in front of your computer, what will you have to write about?

8
Design. If you are really considering blogging seriously, I suggest investing in a good design. I know it might seem hard to justify spending the money at first, but if you are wanting to get your blog “out there”, it is really important to establish “brand {blog} recognition” early on. {shameless plug: I design blogs via Clarke Creative & would love to design yours}

9
Swap Swap Swap. Geting your blog name out their is vital. In the beginning, you may not have the funds available to sponsor other blogs, so I suggest swapping… alot. This is important because the more people see your button, the more “recognizable” it will become, thus building your “brand”

10
Dont Compare Yourself to Others. Seriously, read this post I wrote a while back. Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. You are perfectly YOU.
I really hope these lessons help you, but I know that I probably haven’t even begun to cover them all! Feel free to share your hard-learned lessons via comments: I would love to hear from you!!

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32 Comments
  • Melissa Llado
    April 29, 2013

    Great lessons!!!

    Reply
  • Noor Unnahar
    April 29, 2013

    These lessons are great . I hate the word verification !
    Noor @ Noor’s Place

    Reply
  • Michael
    April 29, 2013

    All very good lessons! And not just for beginners!

    Reply
  • Angela @LivingstonsHouseFullOfBoys
    April 29, 2013

    Great tips! xoxo

    Reply
  • Another Clean Slate
    April 29, 2013

    I need to put my name somewhere visible. I originally was going to blog anonymously but that did not last long. This is also why I hid my Facebook page! These are all great tips! I’ll be checking out your design page, too… 🙂

    Reply
  • Kayla @ Keeping Up With Kayla
    April 29, 2013

    Great advice from a sweet girl!

    Reply
  • Loris Ayoub
    April 29, 2013

    very nice lessons…

    Reply
  • Brittany Fryman
    April 29, 2013

    This is so so helpful thanks so much for the great advice
    Brittany @ everydaythoughtsbybrittany.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Rachel
    April 29, 2013

    Loved this! Amen to word verification, too!

    Reply
  • Veronica Lee Burns
    April 29, 2013

    Number 10 is pivotal!

    Reply
  • Jessica Lynn Martin
    April 29, 2013

    Wow, loved this! I am new blogger so I really appreciate this. Love your blog by the way! Xo

    Reply
  • Jana
    April 29, 2013

    I loved reading this! I think I’ve had to learn all of these lessons the hard way as well, and I’m constantly having to work on #10. I just love your blog! 🙂

    Reply
  • Amberly
    April 29, 2013

    I love these!!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!!

    amberly
    http://amberlyandjoe.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Aleshea
    April 29, 2013

    Loved all these tips.

    Reply
  • Ginny
    April 29, 2013

    Thank you! I have also found all these things out the hard way. And I loved your mention of swapping, because I didn’t know how soon I could start swapping. Any more thoughts about how to do this? Should I use PassionFruit this early on just for swap sponsoring?

    Thanks!
    Ginny
    http://www.moderncommonplacebook.com

    Reply
  • Sarah {Limited Space Organizing}
    April 29, 2013

    Love this!! Number 7 definitely hits on what we talked about this weekend and is what I need to work on! You have such great advice, love talking to you!!

    -Sarah

    Reply
  • BREI
    April 29, 2013

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  • Chania B
    April 29, 2013

    Do you get alot of spam email with it readily available for people? That’s the only thing i haven’t put up b/c i don’t want to get flooded with it. Thanks for the tips!
    ♥Chania

    Reply
  • Treasure Tromp
    April 29, 2013

    love these lessons! I just realized that my name isn’t on my front page (but at least it is my about me page )

    Reply
  • Kelly Lamborn
    April 29, 2013

    Such a great post! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  • Susannah
    April 29, 2013

    What great lessons, girl! I’m so impressed by how much your blog has grown in just a few short months. 🙂

    Reply
  • Amber @ My Life in High Heels
    April 30, 2013

    This is fantastic and so encouraging!

    Reply
  • Kenzie Smith
    April 30, 2013

    These are all great lessons!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  • cooking with curls
    April 30, 2013

    Wow, those are really good lessons! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  • Emily @ Newlywed Moments
    April 30, 2013

    These are great lessons that I think MANY of us learned the hard way! Hopefully they will be able to help some “newer” bloggers, I wish I would have read a post like this when I got started!!

    Reply
  • Amy
    April 30, 2013

    This is so helpful! I’m a new blogger, and this is great to know 🙂 Thanks!

    http://www.mysmallinfinity.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Monique McCray-Alexander
    April 30, 2013

    This a great post! Very useful tips. I will immediately begin to respond to my comments the right way. 🙂

    Mo
    Who is that girl Mo?

    Reply
  • Neely
    May 1, 2013

    Hey if you ever want to swap with anyone….I mean just saying 🙂 XOXO

    Reply
  • Logan Maack
    May 16, 2013

    This is awesome! Thanks so much for this post! It is fantastic for new bloggers 🙂

    Reply
  • Lauren ONeill
    June 13, 2013

    Thank you so much for such a helpful post! I wish I could reply on the blog so others can read it while having it send to that person’s email. Grr.

    Lauren
    7×7 Remix
    Exploring My Style

    Reply
  • Lacey Charrene
    March 5, 2015

    Newbie here! Loving the tips! Thanks allota luv!

    Reply
  • PinkSugarSweetSpice
    July 6, 2015

    Thank you so much for these awesome and extremely helpful tips! I’m just starting out and am so overwhelmed with all of the info that I feel like everything has to be perfect straight away. It’s good to see that everyone has their trial and error moments!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Marquis Clarke

Hi, I’m Marquis Clarke

I'm a modern mom of two, who strives to encourage women throughout marriage and motherhood. I embrace life as it comes with kid meltdowns, family dance parties, and snacks galore. I believe that laughter is the best medicine, simplicity is perfection, and that life is breathtakingly beautiful.

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The Sudan Crisis is at the forefront. As of last September, over 14 million people have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict - over half of them being children.

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We truly love @Splashway Waterpark so much!💦☀️ 10/10 always recommend #splashway because it’s so family friendly for all ages (toddler - adults).

Their slides are awesome. 😎 The dueling splash blasters are our favorite!

We rode so many slides this year and when we weren’t on a slide, we were in the lazy river or by the wave pool.🌊

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark #houstoninfluencer
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We truly love @Splashway Waterpark and Campground so much.💦☀️From their fun family friendly waterpark to their lively, activity filled campground. There’s never a dull moment.

You can camp in a tent, bring your RV, rent cabins, bungalows, houses, etc - they have so many lodging options.

& at their campground, you can:😎

Eat at The Hideaway
Play Bingo
Play Putt Putt Golf⛳️
Play on playgrounds
Watch a family movie 🎥 
Play life size games
Play Laser Tag
Eat s’mores
Listen to live music
Rent Golf Carts (a MUST in our book)
Go Biking or Fishing or Paddle boarding
Play Pickleball, Volleyball or basketball 🏀
&& MORE!!!

We’ve made so many awesome family memories here over the years! Highly recommend planning your next getaway to Splashway!💦☀️

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It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
  • #mms_partner ❤️🤍💙@mmschocolate Peanut Red, White, and Blue Mix are a must-have sweet treat for summer! 

From park visits to pool days, to days on the lake, these are a family favorite and have been traveling around with us on our adventures. Grab your family, head to the park and bring along your favorite treat! 

M&M’S® wants to give you savings this summer, so they’ll drop you five dollars via gift card when you spend twenty dollars! Terms and conditions apply. Go to www.dropeverythingandsummer.com for details.
@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
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4th of July Kid Basket 💙🧨 COMMENT “shop” for the link to everything! Just such a cute way to get your kids excited about the holiday. I love making these sweet memories with them. #4thofjuly #kidbasket #targetfinds #targetmom #tarhetdoesitagain / https://liketk.it/5gN9h
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I dunno how I blinked and went from 25 to 35 😳💗 so thankful for another year and excited to see what 35 feels like…. Prob the same as 34🙃

COMMENT “shop” for the link to my dress 💗

#happybirthday #hbd #summerdress / https://liketk.it/5gL2N
@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
Follow
I dunno how I blinked and went from 25 to 35 😳💗 so thankful for another year and excited to see what 35 feels like…. Prob the same as 34🙃 COMMENT “shop” for the link to my dress 💗 #happybirthday #hbd #summerdress / https://liketk.it/5gL2N
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@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
Follow
Today is #WorldRefugeeDay. 🧡🌎Did you know that number of refugees has TRIPLED in the last decade, making this one of the most urgent and escalating global crises? The Sudan Crisis is at the forefront. As of last September, over 14 million people have been forced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict - over half of them being children. @WorldVisionUSA is responding with lifesaving support—and we can help! 3 Ways to Help: SHARE this post, PRAY for displaced families and children, or DONATE using the link in my bio to support World Vision’s lifesaving work.#WorldVisionPartner
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@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
Follow
💙You can use PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long!💛🎟️ We truly love @Splashway Waterpark so much!💦☀️ 10/10 always recommend #splashway because it’s so family friendly for all ages (toddler - adults). Their slides are awesome. 😎 The dueling splash blasters are our favorite! We rode so many slides this year and when we weren’t on a slide, we were in the lazy river or by the wave pool.🌊 #houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark #houstoninfluencer
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
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@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
Follow
💙You can use my PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long!💛🎟️ We truly love @Splashway Waterpark and Campground so much.💦☀️From their fun family friendly waterpark to their lively, activity filled campground. There’s never a dull moment. You can camp in a tent, bring your RV, rent cabins, bungalows, houses, etc - they have so many lodging options. & at their campground, you can:😎 Eat at The Hideaway Play Bingo Play Putt Putt Golf⛳️ Play on playgrounds Watch a family movie 🎥 Play life size games Play Laser Tag Eat s’mores Listen to live music Rent Golf Carts (a MUST in our book) Go Biking or Fishing or Paddle boarding Play Pickleball, Volleyball or basketball 🏀 && MORE!!! We’ve made so many awesome family memories here over the years! Highly recommend planning your next getaway to Splashway!💦☀️ #houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
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First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊

It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙

🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️

#houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
@marquis_clarke
@marquis_clarke
•
Follow
First 24 hours at @splashway has been a success as always!! We’ve been coming here since 2018 (little kev was only 1!)☀️🌊 It’s so family friendly and we’ve made the best memories here 💙 🎟️ PROMO // CLARKE15 for 15% off #splashway waterpark tickets all season long! 🎟️ #houstonmom #houstontexas #texasvacation #waterpark #texaswaterpark
4 days ago
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@marquis_clarke
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•
Follow
#mms_partner ❤️🤍💙@mmschocolate Peanut Red, White, and Blue Mix are a must-have sweet treat for summer!  From park visits to pool days, to days on the lake, these are a family favorite and have been traveling around with us on our adventures. Grab your family, head to the park and bring along your favorite treat!  M&M’S® wants to give you savings this summer, so they’ll drop you five dollars via gift card when you spend twenty dollars! Terms and conditions apply. Go to www.dropeverythingandsummer.com for details.
5 days ago
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