A little over a year ago, I started publishing on this blog. I’ve been consistent with posting writing advice and keeping the information on my pages as current as possible.

It’s hard to believe that this wasn’t the first time I tried starting this blog. There was a time a few years ago when I put out a few posts, then deleted them. However, I’m glad I started again — and stuck with it. Blogging has been one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my website.

As someone that’s been blogging for a little over a year, here’s everything my blog taught me.

I’ve been motivated to write more

After starting my blog, I’ve been motivated to write more often. I tell myself “Okay, you need to sit down and work on a new post for this week.” That really helped me to focus and write consistently.

The productivity hasn’t helped just my blog posts, though. I’m currently writing a book, and blogging helped me formed a habit of writing almost every day. Being motivated to write more has also led me to read books about the craft and improve on what I know. In other words, I’m consistently striving to become a better writer.

If you’re someone that likes to write, think about using blogging as a tool to help you gain knowledge and give you hands-on practice. The more you write about a topic, the more you learn about it and internalize the information. You’ll find yourself slowly start to improve as your build your platform.

My Writing Improved

As I’ve worked on my blog, my writing improved drastically. My style and tone has evolved since my first post and I’ve tried different formats to see what sticks.

Think about it: to write a blog post, you need a direction. I always have to put my thoughts into words, and that means thinking about how I’m going to present things in a written format.

I’m proud to say that my writing improved because of this blog. I’ve seen my paragraphs flow better, my thoughts become more straight to the point, and my organization become more clear. I’ve worked on blogs for other people before this, but having my own brand and voice helped me find my own personal direction.

Keywords Aren’t Everything

As a writer, I know how important it is to have your work show up in search engines. That’s why I’ll look at what words and phrases people are looking for to try to show up in search engines.

However, I’ve learned that it isn’t just as easy as putting a single word or phrase repeated throughout your post. Google looks at other factors, such as readability, searcher intent, and the actual content on the page. If your writing is helpful and accurate, that will help you rank way more than repeating a phrase.

You’ll see this over and over again on the internet, but quality content is king.

People are looking for Posts that Help Them

When writing a blog, it’s nice to have a few anecdotes. In fact, this post is more on the personal side because it’s about some of the things I’ve learned.

However, people on the internet really aren’t looking for stories about you. They have questions, concerns, and things that they want to learn. That means all the posts that people still read on my blog are helpful and something that someone wants to learn.

It’s fine to include a few personal pieces on a blog — but I’ve learned that following the 80/20 rule helps. That means 80% of the content is targeted and relevant, while the other 20% is experimental. This has helped me focus while still trying new post ideas.

Blogging Helps a Resume (a lot)

Blogging is something I’m proud of, and so I included it on my resume. Even with a little humor here and there, my blog stays on the professional side. I’m proud of the work I’ve done over the years.

My blog sparked countless interviewers asking me about how I approach writing, find topics, and engage with my audience. All of these skills are important to digital marketing and show tangible proof that I understand my topic. I never expected my blog to be a main selling point of my experience, but it’s something almost everyone brings up!

A blog is like a built-in portfolio that helps employers learn more about you. They get to see how you creatively approach topics and organize information.

I credit my blog for getting me the awesome gig that I have today. If you have a blog, you might want to think about putting it on your resume to help stand out.

It’s rewarding

The best part about blogging is the reward! Every time someone comments or sends me an e-mail my post helped them, I’m proud that I’ve helped someone.

Blogging really is a rewarding experience. You can meet new people you wouldn’t have before, and interact with other bloggers who like the same topic you do. I really enjoy the blogging community and checking out what other bloggers are doing.

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