My Blogging Blunders (and How You Can Do Better)

The Time Commitment of Blogging: Is It Worth It?

Introduction: The Real Deal About Starting a Blog

Hey everyone! So, you're thinking about diving into the world of blogging? Awesome! It's a fantastic way to share your passions, connect with others, and even potentially build a business. But let's be real: it's not always sunshine and rainbows. I've been blogging for a few years now, and I've definitely hit my fair share of roadblocks (and maybe even a few brick walls).

I'm writing this because I wish someone had given me the real story when I was starting out. I'm not going to sugarcoat things. There were times I wanted to throw my laptop out the window and take up competitive cheese sculpting instead. But I stuck with it, learned a ton, and now I want to share my experiences – both the good and the very bad – to help you navigate your own blogging journey.

Remember, blogging should be fun, educational, and maybe even inspiring. It's about finding your voice and sharing it with the world. But it's also a process, forged in the fires of trial and error (and sometimes, yes, a little bit of smoke!).

Section 1: The Early Days – When My Website Went Up in Flames (Literally)

Let's rewind to the beginning. A few years ago, I had this grand vision: I was going to build a website, launch a business, and become an overnight internet sensation! (Spoiler alert: that didn't happen.) My first attempt at building a website? Let's just say it was a disaster of epic proportions. Imagine a digital Hindenburg – a fiery crash and burn so spectacular, you could probably see the smoke from space.

But I'm stubborn. I knew there had to be a way to make this work. I dove headfirst into the world of website builders, determined to find one that wouldn't leave me bankrupt and pulling my hair out.

The Website Builder Gauntlet: A Cautionary Tale

Here's the truth about website builders: they all promise the moon and the stars, but many of them have hidden costs, confusing interfaces, and customer service that makes you want to scream into the void. I went through a few before I finally found one that clicked. Here's a breakdown of my experiences, so you can hopefully avoid my mistakes:

• Bluehost: The Case of the Missing $300

  My experience with Bluehost started out promising, but quickly devolved into a customer service nightmare. The biggest issue? Their outsourced customer support. While I'm sure there are capable representatives, I consistently struggled to get clear answers to my questions. The language barrier was a real hurdle.

  The real kicker, though? A year after I painstakingly closed my account, they withdrew $300 from my bank account. When I contacted them, they claimed they couldn't help me without a six-digit PIN that I supposedly should have kept after closing the account. They even confirmed the account was closed, yet insisted I had to reopen it to verify my identity!

  Ultimately, I had to go through my bank, file a fraud claim, and get a new debit card. It was a massive headache, all because of Bluehost's inflexible and unhelpful customer service.

  It is also a fact that there are many unresolved compliants that Bluehost has yet to address. For instance, in a recent BBB (Better Business Bureau) review, there are over 2,711 complaints that have been closed in the last 3 years, while 1,149 were closed in last 12 months as of 11/29/2023.

• GoDaddy: Security Superhero, Website Builder... Meh

  GoDaddy was a mixed bag. On the one hand, their security features are top-notch. I really appreciated their focus on things like SSL certificates and DNSSEC (Domain Name Security Extensions).

  Quick Security Tip: DNSSEC is often turned off by default. It adds cryptographic signatures to your DNS records, verifying that the data is authentic and hasn't been tampered with. This helps prevent nasty attacks like DNS spoofing and cache poisoning, which can redirect your visitors to malicious websites. Always make sure to manually activate DNSSEC!

  While GoDaddy excelled in security, their website building tools felt outdated. The templates were clunky, and I found it difficult to create the modern, visually appealing website I was aiming for.

  GoDaddy Studio: A Hidden Gem: However, I still use GoDaddy Studio (their photo editing tool) to this day. It's fantastic for image enhancements and creating social media graphics. Definitely worth checking out, even if you don't use their website builder.

  WordPress: The Powerhouse (with a Price Tag)

  WordPress is the king of content management systems (CMS), and for good reason. It's incredibly powerful and flexible, with a massive library of plugins that can add almost any functionality you can imagine.

  The Plugin Trap: Here's the catch: many of the best plugins are premium, meaning they cost money. And those costs can add up quickly. Before you know it, you could be spending hundreds, even close to a thousand, dollars a month on plugins alone.

  While there are plenty of free plugins available, they often have limited features. To unlock the full potential, you'll likely need to upgrade to the paid versions. And don't be fooled with the cost of WordPress. If you are just starting out, WordPress has free blogging options, yet there are limited features; however, you can upgrade to their starter package that only cost $4 a month, and even a pro package that cost around $8 a month.

  I also purchased Elementor, a popular page builder for WordPress, for around $100. It's a powerful tool, but the learning curve is steep. Be prepared to invest a significant amount of time learning how to use it effectively.

  For beginners on a tight budget, WordPress can be overwhelming. It's a fantastic platform, but it's best suited for those who have the time and resources to invest in it.

  Squarespace: My Savior (and Why I Love It)

  Finally, I landed on Squarespace, and it's been a game-changer. It's not perfect, but it strikes the right balance between ease of use, functionality, and affordability.

  Why Squarespace Works for Me:

  • Beginner-Friendly: Squarespace is designed to be intuitive, even for those with limited technical experience.

  • Beautiful Templates: They offer a wide range of modern, visually appealing templates that are easy to customize.

  • Coding Flexibility: For those who do have coding skills, Squarespace allows you to inject custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This gives you a lot of control over the design and functionality of your site.

  • SEO-Friendly: Squarespace makes it easy to optimize your site for search engines, with built-in tools and features.

  • Third-Party Integrations: It's simple to integrate with services like Google AdSense and Google Analytics.

  • Schema Markups: Using schema markups are great for any blogger trying to climb to the top of SEO. With AI assistance, it is simple to formulate the correct codes to install to your Squarespace settings, which gives your website the ability to be viewed and read by major search engines, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

  • Simplicity and Savings: Squarespace gives you monthly or yearly options for using their platform, which ranges from around $23 to $65 a month. All the tools you need come already installed on your website.

  The key here is simplicity. Squarespace makes it easier to manage the complex aspects of running a website, without sacrificing functionality.

Section 2: Beyond the Website Builder – Essential Blogging Tips

Choosing the right website builder is crucial, but it's only the first step. Here are some other essential tips I've learned along the way:

• Consistency is King (or Queen): One of the biggest mistakes new bloggers make is being inconsistent. It's better to post once a week consistently than to post five times one week and then disappear for a month. Create a realistic posting schedule and stick to it.

• Content is Still King (or Queen): While consistency is important, the quality of your content is even more crucial. Focus on creating valuable, engaging content that your target audience will actually want to read.

• SEO Matters: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is how people find your blog. Learn the basics of SEO, like keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.

• Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, answer questions, and build relationships with your readers. This is how you create a loyal community around your blog.

• Promote Your Blog: Don't be afraid to promote your blog on social media, other websites, and forums.

• Don't Be Afraid to Experiment: Try different types of content, different writing styles, and different promotion strategies. See what works best for you and your audience.

• Be Patient: Building a successful blog takes time. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Keep learning, keep creating, and keep connecting.

• Use Social Media: Social media is an important part of blogging. It has become a new norm, for most people, to find products, advice, and other forms of information simply by following specific influencers, hashtags, companies, etc.

Section 3: Understanding SEO

The topic of SEO will most likely create another blog, yet there are simple things you can do to help your blog become optimized for any search engine. Here are additional tips.

• Backlinks: Backlinks are also important for SEO. A backlink is a link from another website to your website. Search engines see backlinks as votes of confidence, indicating that your content is valuable and trustworthy.

• Mobile Optimization: In today's digital landscape, a significant portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices. It's crucial to ensure your blog is mobile-friendly.

• Website Speed: Website speed is a ranking factor for search engines. A slow-loading website can frustrate users and lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your SEO.

• Analytics and Monitoring: Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website's traffic, user behavior, and other key metrics.

Conclusion: Blogging – A Journey of Research, Time, and (Yes) AI Assistance

Blogging is a process. It's not something you can master overnight. It requires research, planning, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt. You'll need to spend time gathering facts, crafting compelling content, and understanding the technical aspects of running a website.

But here's where the modern world offers a helping hand: AI tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, and others can be incredibly valuable assets in your blogging journey. They can help you:

• Brainstorm ideas: Stuck on what to write about? AI can help you generate topic ideas, outlines, and even entire drafts.

• Edit and proofread: AI can catch grammar and spelling errors, suggest improvements to your writing style, and ensure your content is clear and concise.

• Add details and facts: AI can help you research and incorporate relevant information, expanding on your existing content and making it more comprehensive.

• Optimize for SEO: AI can help you identify relevant keywords, optimize your meta descriptions, and improve your overall SEO strategy.

• Create Codes: AI is capable of creating specific codes, like javascript or Schema markups, to enhance website funtionality.

Using AI doesn't mean you're "cheating" or taking shortcuts. It means you're being smart and efficient. It's about leveraging the tools available to you to create the best possible content in the most effective way. Blogging takes time and dedication and using AI simply give you more time to dedicate your time to your family and other important matters in life.

So, embrace the journey, be patient, learn from your mistakes, and don't be afraid to use all the resources at your disposal – including the power of AI. Happy blogging!