WARNING: This is a pictureless post. I know, I know. . . Hopefully, you’ll find it interesting anyway :)
I’m getting lots of emails these days asking me for advice on starting an interior decorating business and/or blog. It pains me to not be able to answer each of these individually, but I’ve found that as my business grows, I’m having to work on setting my priorities more and more each day. Some days, this means not answering every email so I can spend time with my kids in the afternoons instead of sitting on the computer. Or, forcing myself to focus on client projects when I have those one or two hours of uninterrupted quiet time after everyone here goes to bed. It’s definitely a learning process for me, and if you’ve sent me an email that has gone unanswered, I hope you understand. What I don’t respond to personally, I’ll try my best to post about on the blog.
So, I know lots of bloggers have posted tips on growing a successful blog. Some of what I say may be repetition. I certainly don’t claim to be an expert but I can tell you what my experience has been so far.
~When first starting out, write often. I was told to post at least once everyday, and for the most part I still post most weekdays. I’m not going to lie; it’s a lot of work. If you’re doing it for a hobby, blog when you want. If you are doing it to grow your business or get your name/work out there, then blog a lot.
~That being said, don’t just post to be posting. Have something to say. Readers are quick to see how much effort (or lack thereof) you have put into what you post.
~I know it’s been said 100 times on 100 other blogs, but I believe original content is key. Although there are some very successful blogs that primarily post pictures straight out of magazines on a consistent basis, I personally would rather see somebody’s real house that is decorated “just alright” than pictures of a perfect designer showhouse that has already been in a magazine. Part of this is just because I’m nosy; but I think there’s lots of other people out there that feel the same way.
~Consistent original content is alot of work. I would love to show you a new project that I’ve completed around my house every day, but that’s not real life. It takes time to do the project, photograph the project, edit the pictures, write the post–you get the idea. Keep an ear out for friends/family members who are doing projects you may be able to write about. Ask other bloggers if you can feature their work.
~Set aside a specific time to blog. Believe it or not, when I started my blog, I would wake up in the morning, get the kids settled, and then scramble to think of something to post about that day, spend way too long searching for pictures to support my post, etc. It was time-consuming and I’m sure my posts weren’t all that great. Now, if I don’t have my post done the night before, I won’t have a post go up the following morning. Find a schedule that works for you. I don’t think it’s necessary to post at the same time every day, but I like to. I have some of the same readers comment every morning soon after I post, and I don’t want to disappoint them :) (Although I’m sure they would understand.)
Some bloggers also plan their posts out weeks in advance. I only wish I were that organized/creative. I kind of have a running mental list of topics I would like to blog about, and a general idea of what I would like to cover that week. However, nothing is really in concrete. It’s all just kind of floating around in my brain. . .
~In the beginning, guest post whenever asked. It’s a great way to reach a totally new set of readers that may have never heard of your blog. If you’re blog is brand new but you have a cool project to share, approach some of your favorite bloggers to see if they would be interested in sharing your photos.
~Speaking of photos, include lots of them and work on getting the best quality pictures that you can. I know this post is an exception to my own rule, but in general, I always try to include more pictures than writing. After all, most of us who read design blogs are really just wanting to look at some pretty rooms, right?
~Get personal (or not). This one’s really up to you. Whether you want to share bits and pieces of your personal life on your blog is, well, a personal decision. If your blog is centered around design and/or your design business, my advice would be to keep the overall tone professional but let readers know who you are, what you like, etc. I think readers become loyal over time if they feel like they know you. This doesn’t mean they have to know the full names of all of your children or what you like on your pizza, but a general idea of who you are helps people to relate. Basically, people like real people.
~Invest (alot or a little) in a good blog design. I think this is really important if your blog is an extension of your business and wish I would’ve done this sooner. Even if you just invest in a professional-looking header at first, it gives the impression that you know what you’re doing (even if you don’t).
~Decide who you are and stick to it. I think this is my most important piece of advice. There are so many design bloggers out there, and I like so many of them. Ultimately, I had to decide that I was never going to be the girl who blogs about $300/yard fabrics because I’m the girl who would never buy a $300/yard fabric. I know that my audience ranges in age and tastes, and I definitely can’t please everybody. Instead, I try to write as though I’m talking to a friend who cares about all of this design “stuff” as much as I do.
I’ll plan on doing a future post on building your interior decorating business and what I’ve learned thus far.
Have a great weekend,
Great tips! I’ve so enjoyed reading your blog!
Thanks Emily, that is really valuable information.
Best wishes from Berlin, Germany
Imke
I read every word and so agree with all of your tips- I blog pretty much in exactly the same routine you do and so far so good- the thing I’m struggling with at the moment is image credit- I wish it was easier to find the original photographer rather than just the blog link- so difficult.
Great advice and great timing since I’m a new blogger.
Great post Emily! And leading by example shows us all that it works.
Thanks.
Sandy K
Your last sentence says it all: you ARE like that friend who I can steal 5 (or 20!) minutes with every day to indulge in the pretty stuff, before back to kids and bills and the dang dishwasher. Thanks for the tips and I think you are doing an AMAZING job!!!
Emily,
As a somewhat new blogger I really enjoy reading and getting advice from all perspectives. I think a lot of this advice is timeless.
What makes this post such a pot of gold, despite the lack of pictures is that these points are written out of experience and not from behind a computer screen gauging what others do or have done.
You already know I am an admirer of your work.
This blog post will be bookmarked and read many times over.
Thanks Emily
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Amazingly helpful! Have a great weekend!
I’m not a blogger, but I check YOUR blog every morning!! I appreciate you and your insight!
I enjoyed reading your take on this subject and agree with all the things you mentioned!
Great post! I am kicking around the idea of starting a blog (I hope to be a home owner very soon!) so your advice/experience is greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend!
hi emily! i totllyh agree with everything you said, and read it all even if there weren’t any pictures! :) i agree that original content is so important, at least to me. i read the blogs that show real people homes- i want to see something a real person did. i am always inspired by your projects and style, and appreciate your honesty. have a great weekend!
hi emily! i totllyh agree with everything you said, and read it all even if there weren’t any pictures! :) i agree that original content is so important, at least to me. i read the blogs that show real people homes- i want to see something a real person did. i am always inspired by your projects and style, and appreciate your honesty. have a great weekend!
hi emily! i totllyh agree with everything you said, and read it all even if there weren’t any pictures! :) i agree that original content is so important, at least to me. i read the blogs that show real people homes- i want to see something a real person did. i am always inspired by your projects and style, and appreciate your honesty. have a great weekend!
hi emily! i totllyh agree with everything you said, and read it all even if there weren’t any pictures! :) i agree that original content is so important, at least to me. i read the blogs that show real people homes- i want to see something a real person did. i am always inspired by your projects and style, and appreciate your honesty. have a great weekend!
hi emily! i totllyh agree with everything you said, and read it all even if there weren’t any pictures! :) i agree that original content is so important, at least to me. i read the blogs that show real people homes- i want to see something a real person did. i am always inspired by your projects and style, and appreciate your honesty. have a great weekend!
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Thanks for the post. I just started my own blog and is still in the very baby stage. So these tips are definitely going to help me: http://www.dvineliving.co.za
This was so helpful.The fun of blogging for use is helping new blogs out and seeing them take off.
Emily,
This post was so timely! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and advice with us! You care about your readers and it shows. Thank you again for sharing what you know!
This is a really good informative post, especially when it comes to time management. I am very new to the world of blogging and this put a realistic view on everything for me. Thank you for the really valuable advice.
Great information, thanks!! I’m really struggling with keeping up with my original “theme” of showing my personal projects. I keep postponing stuff in my house so that I can pay bills. Ha! When I do filler posts (more often lately, uggh) I feel guilty and know that I am losing readers.
Thanks for letting me know that you don’t have 10 finished posts lined up. I keep thinking that none of you ‘pros’ scramble around every day the way I do.
And I also keep thinking someone is going to stop by any day now and say “Let me design a cool header for you!” :-) But I know that is not going to happen so I need to get on it.
Thanks!! ~ Lauren
Great advice! I love your blog.
These are very good tips, Emily! I wish I’d had this sort of knowledge back in 2008 when I started; I’m sure my blog would be in a better position now! But better late, than never, right?
Good stuff Emily! Thanks for the post!
Great tips, E! $300 fabric? Nope, you’l never see me post about it either;)
Very good tips, thank you! Like you, I prefer original material and photos of real houses because I’m nosey. :)
I will say that guest blog posts seem more and more commonplace lately in blogland and I find it annoying and somewhat of an insult to readers when it happens a lot on a particular blog. I don’t bother reading them.
Thanks for sharing all these great tips and advice! It’s certainly very helpful for a new blogger like me. I will certainly keep everything you said in mind.
Thanks again!
Jessie from http://www.mixandchic.com
Great post and tips, thanks! It is hard trying to find your way with 3 kids, a business, and navigating the blogging world. I always love visiting yours for inspiration!
Great post, loved hearing your perspective on this! Continued success! Janell
Great suggestions, Emily!
thank you for this!
Hey Emily!
Love this post, as I am a new blogger. I find that my struggle is not having a mentor who blogs and gets it. I try not to chat a ton about it with friends who don’t blog (only enjoy reading them) and glaze over when I chat about getting on a blogroll, etc. I have vowed to always share what I have learned with newer bloggers if they ask! M.
http://www.interiordesignmusings.blogspot.com
Great round up of tips. As a relatively new blogger, I really appreciate you sharing!
Happy Friday!
~ Julie
Hi Emily!
What a great post! You know I have started my blog recently and I am so appreciative that you took the time to check it out.
Through your blog, I feel like can relate to you on so many levels … and as I’ve gotten my blog up and running you have been a constant source of inspiration! Thanks so much for posting these tips!
Amy (swoon-interiors.blogspot.com)
This was a fantastic post, Emily.
Thank you for taking the time to write it. It’s helpful. It truly is.
Just for fun… drop by to see my “Cool or Fool” post today. It’s a really interesting one! What do you think of building a wall in your bathroom made of IKEA vases??? ;-)
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Excellent post, Emily! I always love reading the tips from other bloggers and I enjoyed your perspective. Happy Friday!
This is a great post. I know that some of these things seem like common sense, but you just never think about them fully until someone else mentions them. What a great eye opener!
Thanks for the great tips! I’m slowly working on growing my blog & right now I try to post at least 3x/week…that in itself sometimes is difficult to do! Trying to do a daily post seems almost impossible, but I know it can be done!
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
THis is really great advice! I think you hit on everthing just right! Thanks for sharing with us!
Kristin
this was helpful, thanks for the great tips!
Thanks Emily! You’ve always got such great advice!
Meg
Great (and realistic) tips emily. What I love is your clean look to your site … It is inviting before you even read the great content!
Excellent! I agree with everything you said :) You are awesome.
Thanks for the tips Emily. As a new blogger (as a hobby not a job) its great to get some insight from a fellow successful blogger.
I so enjoyed reading your tips! What a great post for me to read today as this is something that has been on my mind a lot the past few days :)
Thanks!
Shelley
http://www.westermanfam.blogspot.com
Great advice, Emily. I wholeheartedly agree!
Thanks Emily, I appreciate your viewpoint and I plan on using some of your tips in the future!! They were all great. The first tip I wanted to use was asking you to be a guest on my blog, would you consider that in the next couple of months for me? Anything you think would be interesting, fun and affordable would be great. Thanks again! DesignSavvyofNJ.blogpsot.com
Thanks for this post! As a new blogger, this is really helpful information and great tips for me to keep in mind. I really enjoy your blog!
This is really great information!! Thank you for sharing.
Great advice Emily! I’ve been a designer for years and have just started blogging, it’s a whole new world to me!
Emily, great post! I really like how realistic your tips are – so true!!
This post is just what I needed. I closed my home decor boutique a year ago to start a design buisiness and blog. It was a hard decision but I have 3 children who are my #1 priority and could not run a shop, design and be the mom I want to be. I am so excited about my new adventure but am struggling with prioritizing importance(children excluded). Thank you so much for the advice. I have found that the design world are a very supportive group of people eager to help one another. Take Care and Good Luck in your buisiness.
I’m new to blogging and this is all great advice. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Emily for the great tips! Its like you read my mind, I am getting ready to start a blog to have a place to put all of my ideas and home projects so its not all stuck in my head! I love your blog and enjoy your posts.
Laura
Emily-
This is so helpful. It’s quite overwhelming when you are starting a blog there are so many out there; good and bad. It’s always nice to get helpful advice from someone who has successful blog. Thanks so much!
Teri
Great tips Emily, I really enjoy your blog – it is realistic and achievable. You have lovely taste and style. Keep up the great work. ;-)
I get tons of these emails…and i also cant get to all of them…great post!
http://www.madebygirl.com
madebygirl.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for this post! I just launched my blog and business two weeks ago. It as been a challenge to schedule everything and take care of my family, but I’m settling into a routine.
I have to say that I do stress out bait over mt content, but I am trying to post as much original content as possible.
Your blog has been a huge inspiration to me!
Thank you!
Thank you Emily for keeping it real, these are great tips and your blog is one of my favorites…
Cathy
Thank you so much for this.
Excellent advice, Emily. I feel like I floundered at first with alot of your points, but am finally (a year later) getting in the groove. I’ll be coming back to this post to help me stay focused on the important basics!
Enjoy your weekend!
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
Thanks so much for posting this, I’m not a designer but love to decorate, truthfully when I click on a blog that has nothing but pictures from magazines or google, I click off real fast, I feel I can do that myself. The ones that take the time to create and decorate then take the time to do the photos are my fav!
BTW I always click on your blog and stay you are doing a great job♥
Rondell
Great advice. I always have my original content. When an idea strikes, I start new post draft and save it. I have a number of drafts now. Just found your blog. It’s great!
As a newbie this post is very helpful!! Thank you!! Great tips and I will follow them all. I appreciate you writing this entry.
Great advice! As a potential new blogger (not yet), I appreciate your honesty!
Thanks for the great advice…I read every pictureless word!!
Thanks so much for the advice! I’m fairly new to blogging and it’s always great to read tips on how to improve your blogging ;)
Thanks so much for the advice! I’m fairly new to blogging and it’s always great to read tips on how to improve your blogging ;)
Thanks so much for the advice! I’m fairly new to blogging and it’s always great to read tips on how to improve your blogging ;)
Thanks so much for the advice! I’m fairly new to blogging and it’s always great to read tips on how to improve your blogging ;)
Thanks so much for the advice! I’m fairly new to blogging and it’s always great to read tips on how to improve your blogging ;)
Emily, great advice and wonderful points. Thanks for taking the time to do this. You continue to be such an inspiration.
Great post…I agree and learned something as well. I will try and post every day of the week now…yikes! I also really need someone to help me clean up my blog a bit! Thanks Emily…I really love your blog and appreciate all the advice I can get for mine!
Thanks for good info – from a new blogger:) Marcie @madebymolliesmom.blogspot.
Well said Emily! I agree with everything! I’m really looking forward to your next post on your experience with your interior design business:)
Thank you for writing this and sharing this with us. As a beginner to blogging, I have found it very useful. Thanks again.
Great, great tips. I 100% agree with all of them! Think I’ll send readers over here on my next blogging tips post…
Thank you for the advice. I have had my blog for 5 months now and I’ve noticed my viewing numbers slowly growing on a daily basis but I would like to have more. I was interested in getting a sponsor but wasn’t sure if my audience level would affect that. What do you think? I have even tried the method of asking questions to my readers when writing posts to get their attention or get them involved. Also how do make a “professional” looking banner for your blog and have companies banners posted on your blog???