To understand how to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger, you need to consider two things.
First, why do so many bloggers fail?
Second, how can you avoid their mistakes?
There are so many new blogs being created every single day, yet the vast majority of them simply wither and die.
New bloggers fail so easily when they don’t learn how to build a following.
And the basis for building a following is to first build a good blogging reputation.
Focus on that, and you can then move on to more advanced levels, like developing a good brand and marketing strategy.
Why bloggers fail
If you are like most new bloggers, you probably struggle to build a following.
You can have your blog set up and it looks so great.
Of course, you write the best content you can muster up.
And you do all the essentials you’ve been taught, like checking your SEO, grammar and spelling.
Everything looks stellar to you.
So you hit the publish button.
Then walk away.
And wait for people to start coming to your blog and following it regularly.
But it doesn’t happen, right?
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It seems like nobody cares about the blog posts you work so hard to publish.
This is why lots of new bloggers fail early on.
They either get burned out and start doing a careless job of blogging, or they quit altogether.
Yes, folks I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
The number one reason bloggers fail
I think the main reason many new bloggers fail is that they get too focused on their own blog.
And it takes a lot of time to write good content.
I get it.
It takes a lot of time to design things to look good, and add in things like banners and widgets.
Sure.
But you can’t stay in that little blogging bubble and expect people to find your blog.
You need to build a following, and you need to do that right away.
Build “Content Upgrades” + “Landing Pages” Into Your Blog Posts, Seamlessly & Fast
Most new bloggers try to build their following by publishing good content for their readers.
That’s great.
But as a new blogger, you don’t really have any “readers” yet.
So you need to get some people to your blog.
But how?
How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
New bloggers tend to forget about all the other bloggers around them.
They focus on publishing good content, and trying to appeal to potential readers.
But they don’t interact with other bloggers.
Well, it turns out, that is a big mistake.
Because the fastest way to build a good reputation as a new blogger is to connect with other bloggers.
Blog hopping
That means, you need to start “blog hopping.”
Find out who the good bloggers are in your niche and hop on to their blogs.
Leave comments there.
I’m not talking about one line comments, like “great post” or “I really enjoyed reading this.”
You need to leave meaningful comments with your own input in on the subject.
That’s how you build a reputation.
The art of blog commenting
When you leave a one-line comment, the blogger and her audience won’t even hardly notice you.
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But when you leave a comment that adds to the discussion, then they stop and notice you.
And, they may even venture over to your blog to see more of what you’re about.
In this way, you start to build a good reputation among bloggers.
And remember, because you are doing this on good blogs, you are building your good reputation with their audience, too.
Always be helpful
You have to always remind yourself that it is not all about you.
It is about other bloggers, too.
It’s about your blogging niche, and interacting with other bloggers in that same niche.
But don’t just do it because it’s a good blogging tactic (which it is).
Do it because you’re genuinely interested in what other bloggers are doing and writing about.
The joy of blogging
And have fun with it.
Make blogging a joy, not drudgery.
I always like to visit Ryan Biddulph’s blog because he has such a joy for blogging.
Most of the really good bloggers have that joy.
It’s really important to cultivate.
When you enjoy blogging, you will attract a crowd.
You see, you really need something inside of you to get excited about when you are reading other blog posts.
You have to feel that energy inside of you to want to share it with others, especially those who follow you.
Bloggers fail when they don’t have that internal ability to share other bloggers articles with a passion.
Learn from other bloggers
Plus, it helps you learn more about how other bloggers are building their following.
And it helps you develop better content for your own readers and follower..
Think of this.
You don’t know all the answers.
You may be an SEO expert, but what about all the other components that go into your blog?
You want to share that to your readers.
So you share other blog posts in your niche.
Your readers benefit from it.
This is what makes you a great blogger.
How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Remember guys, blogging is a two way street.
You have to give with all your heart in order to receive.
Develop the mindset and passion to help others.
This is done by connecting with other bloggers, and sharing their work and ideas.
And, it’s the fastest way to start building your own reputation with other bloggers, and with their audiences.
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So how do you go about building your blog following?
Do you connect often with other bloggers?
Or do you have additional ideas of how to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger?
I’d love for you to leave me your comment below.
And don’t forget to share this article on your social sites, too.
Thanks!
-Donna
Hi Donna,
it is really important for a new blogger to do blog comments that show his knowledge and the curiosity to learn. Social media makes a great impact on the life of a blogger to connect with its readers and other bloggers. Thanks for sharing the post 🙂
Twitter: ErikaMohssenBey
June 13, 2019 at 12:48 am #
Hi Donna,
I think blog commenting is important to build a reputation as a new blogger. It is good to learn from others and it can also give ideas for content.
I saw in groups these days that many only share the posts in social media. Blog commenting and reciprocity.takes time, but it is better for new bloggers to connect and get known.
Thanks for this helpful post
Erika
recently posted.. Why Even A Small Business Needs To Be Present Online
Hi Erika,
I always tell people that blog commenting on people’s blogs will eventually bring reciprocity to theirs. Indeed, it takes some time, but it is so worth it because one will attain regular readership.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Affiliate Marketing for beginner bloggers
Twitter: MrsPaznanski
May 24, 2019 at 1:04 pm #
Hi Donna,
I published a post recently on branding strategies. These are good ideas to brand your new blog.
Janice
Hi Janice,
Thank you. I do believe these ideas will brand your blog quickly.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Affiliate Marketing for beginner bloggers
Twitter: mgntcsound
May 24, 2019 at 3:50 am #
Hi, Donna! This is certainly one of the most important aspects of blogging. What are your thoughts on creating social media accounts like Instagram to promote the blog and notfy the audience when new posts are published? I know the social media platforms fairly well but I’m quite new to blogging on a dedicated website and my worry is that people read it, like it but then forget about it since they can’t subscribe.
All the best,
Cristofer
Hi Cristofer,
After a new post is published, it is a great idea to share it on social platforms. When it comes to Instagram, it is a wonderful way to notify folks what you have published. Get creative and do a short video on the topic to promote it.
I wouldn’t worry about people subscribing. If they choose not to, and like your articles they WILL return. They will put you on “Feedly” or something else they use to come back to you when you have a new article to share.
Every time I publish a new blog post, I Tweet it, put it on Facebook and my FB page, also share it on Pinterest. These are the three social platforms I find my readers are hanging out. Trick here is find out where your readers hang out, and post it there.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Affiliate Marketing for beginner bloggers
Hi Donna,
Good post. But here I want to ask a question, such as once we start as a blog, sometimes we don’t have the idea of a post, which is why many novice blogs quit blogs. Do you have any solutions to find posts on the basis of regualr?
By the way, this article will really helpful.
Thanks for sharing this article.
Hi Ritika,
The answer to your question is only what I find done myself. I carry around my phone and/or a notebook. When I get an idea I put it in the notebook ….just a few lines so I won’t forget. Then things start accumulating. I choose one of the ideas and run with it to write a post. The ideas can come to me when I’m out and about or reading other blogs and comments. People are hungry for information. Share what you know!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Twitter: TheWebEngr
May 16, 2019 at 11:49 am #
Hi Donna,
Hows it going? Believe it or not this is my second blog comment in at least a good 8 or so years when I eventually burned out of blogging myself and concentrated on the web development side of things and making blogs/websites for clients across the globe (yes including Ryan’s blog, although I don’t really like the design much anymore and wish I could give it an upgrade).
I am now a brand new blogger and have decided to blog again about the web development industry, my main source of income is still developing websites and themes for clients but as I am so very passionate about the industry that I want to add value and share what I have learned over the past decade with other bloggers and help them build the best possible blog going.
So to share my two pennies worth and to add some value here I will share the following:
Reputation means a lot. I collect reviews on Clutch, Trustpilot, Facebook and Google. and I think all bloggers should setup to collect reviews as well. Most of my reviews though are from clients I have built websites/blogs for they sharing their experience of working with yours truly. I think all bloggers who want to gain traction in the blogosphere should also setup free review sites like I have.
I am a great believer that less is more and a fast loading, beautiful blog with a great consumer UI is a must. All the blog themes I make are custom ones and I aim to make them load in 2 seconds or under. I have come across so many blogs that have 30+ plugins on so called “Premium themes” like Divi that take ages to load.
I have clients now that still have 20 plus plugins to extend the functionality of their blogs who have hired me to speed up their blogs as there loading in 30+ seconds but who refuse to let me build them a custom theme because I am too “Pricey”. I think a few bloggers are stuck in their ways and are afraid of change or think that getting a bespoke theme will somehow make their blog worse or slower when in act to polar oposite is true.
My new blog only has 5 plugins and the rest of the features I have built into the blog theme itself, thus nipping in the bud the the need to add multiple plugins to change something or add more features. After all I would not be a good developer if I just downloaded a premium theme from Themeforest or elegant themes and added a bunch of plugins to it.The result of this is my custom theme has less than 1000 lines of CSS code (compare that to the 16200 for divi) and a total size of 612KB making for a fast loading site that’s elegant and good on the eye for my readers.
I could go on and on about the drawbacks of using premium themeforest themes that are used on thousands of blogs and the virtues of custom built bespoke ones but I’m afraid I might alienate a few of your readers here who may love their themes already, but seeing the amount of requests for help I get to my inbox, on Facebook WordPress groups and other sources do get me frustrated at times.
I feel that there is not enough exposure for the freelancers who build custom sites from the groundup and I think that the likes of themeforest and elegant and making competing in the marketplace virtually impossible so setting up a blog about the industry can eventually compete against the faceless companies that sell to the masses like amazon. That’s my mini rant over Donna and Ihope I have shared some value here to your readers.
All the best
Phillip Dews
Phillip Dews recently posted..My Fake Reviews – And How I have dealt with them.
Hi Philip,
So great that you are blogging again. With so much knowledge that you have, it is imperative that you share it with others. Not give away the farm per se, but snippits of what you have learned along the way. People are hungry for the information you have to share. Plus it will give you a chance to reach more clients, especially bloggers. Oh that money thing….If they are not willing to pay the price for an expert, move on. I know it from my own business that people who don’t want to pay to play stay stagnant.
Blogging is a business and folks need to see it that way so that they can hire those like you, to speed up their blogs. The DIY kind of people spend so much time and energy on the back end, and skip the most important part and that is to share their knowledge of a particular niche.
Oh yes, when it comes to plugins, I’ve seen many with 20 or more which just slows down their blogs or even worse breaks them. I too am a firm believer of less is more when it comes to plugins as well as the look and feel of our blogs.
Thanks so much for your excellent comment here. It is appreciated.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Donna WOW!
As a relatively new blogger, this post is a real eye-opener. I never appreciated the “off Blog” marketing a blogger has to do.
I understood the power of building a tribe of Social Media not so much on my blog.
DAM , that has been a big miss for me …
To this point, all I have been doing is sharing my posts the Social Media, I am definitely going to start blog hopping and value commenting on other blogs … you can see I have started here!
The other tactic I have been using is to create a facebook live based on my blog post and link that back to the post.
I would be interested to see what you think about this approach
Off to read more of your posts
Thanks
I also share a copy on Medium and link back to my post to help promote my blog as a whole.
Hi Lee,
Indeed, spend time on social media but not too much time nor spread yourself thin on too many platforms. Pick two and be there every day. I love your tactic of doing a facebook live based on your blog post and link it back to the post. It works so well. You can also use that FB live video in your post as a good add on.
This approach works so well. I do it myself and see great results. You can also do little things like “Lumen” videos (just look up lumendot com) whereby you put content from your blog post in – just a bit – and it will create a nice video for you. Fun stuff!
-Donna
P.S. Do you share your FB Live videos with Youtube? Just a thought…to get more exposure.
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Twitter: glennshep
May 15, 2019 at 7:48 am #
Hi Donna!
This post is essential reading for anyone who wants to get real traction with their blog.
As I was reading through, I found myself nodding in agreement and saying to myself “This is what I am always saying myself” in response to practically every statement you made!
In fact, just yesterday I hosted a coaching webinar on which I covered this very subject. I often get asked things like “Does blogging still work?”, “Is blogging still relevant in 20xx?” and “Do people still pay attention to blogs?”. My answer is always the same – I resounding “YES!”.
BUT…
With the proviso that it is done correctly. And, when I want to give people an example of blogging done correctly, yours is often one of the ones I send them to. In fact, on the webinar yesterday I actually used this very post as an example! So don’t be surprised if you see yourself getting a few new followers.. 😉
One thing that is real stand-out point to me is where you mentioned the number one mistake that causes many bloggers to fail, which is that of getting focused too much on their own blog.
What I tell people is, between blog posts, aside from going in to reply to comments or perform essential maintenance, you shouldn’t spend any time on your blog. Once your post is publish and shared, step away from it! You need to get yourself out there and give value where your audience is hanging out. And mostly, especially when you’re just starting out, the place your audience is hanging out isn’t on your blog!
A fantastic post as always, Donna. I hope you’re keeping well. Have a great rest of the week! 🙂
»Glenn«
Glenn Shepherd recently posted..Are You Suffering from this Potentially Deadly Business Disease?
Hi Glenn,
I first want to thank you for mentioning my blog in your coaching webinar!
Indeed, the number one mistake some bloggers make is getting so focused on their own blog. From making content perfect to spending so much time on SEO. It can take hours or days….Make sure you have a good SEO plugin like Yoast and when the green lights go off…publish it. Then spend more of your time blog hopping whereby you leave great comments (as you did right here) and people will start noticing you.
Spend time on about two social media platforms and no more. Keep reinforcing your blog post by a nice quote, a video or a short note on Facebook until you write your next one.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Hi Donna,
Blogging for newcomers is tough as they need to build a good trustable relationship with the influencer besides creating quality content. And yes the blog should have a Target Audience focusing. This blog is really helpful, already answered a few questions I was looking for. Hope it will help my business to grow.
Thank you for your informative blogs, it helped me a lot. Kindly do share your thoughts on affiliate blogging. How can I start doing affiliate blogging?
Regards
John Smith
Hi John,
So great to know that this blog has answered a few questions you were looking for. Keep on going and your business will grow.
As for my thoughts on affiliate blogging…I would say to do a “review” on a product when creating a blog post. Show the pros and cons …be as honest as possible and share how the product has helped you and/or others get something done. I wouldn’t do it every week, but a percentage of time. Other than that give some helpful content, especially leading up to an affiliate product you may have in the works.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Hello,
This is a timely article for me. For the last 8 years, I have worked in technology & I have a well-rounded and in-depth skill set. Recently I left that industry and moved into the editing. About four months into that, however, I ended up in a situation where I am creating websites for a group that is involved in marketing for indie authors which is my target market for editing.
I am working on four websites in fact and they fall within the scope of what you talked about in your experience above. I have always been the type of person you described, and could not be any other way, I would get too bored with life. I could not imagine being the type of person that became content in mediocrity.
Thanks
Hi Erfan,
Oh can I relate to you not imagining being the type of person that became content in mediocrity. I can see from your experience you have shared that you are a true entrepreneur. And that, my friend is an exciting way to live.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Twitter: NikitaSEO
May 5, 2019 at 10:21 pm #
Starting a blogging journey can really become a journey of a lifetime or a complete disaster that won’t last longer than teenage relationships. I do agree with you that while pursuing the magic “quality content” goal novice bloggers tend to forget that it is no longer relevant if no one can see and appreciate your efforts. Go outside your comfort zone and make yourself recognizable in the eyes of accomplished authors. Good luck!
Hi Nikita,
You said it when you wrote to go out of your comfort zone and make yourself recognizable. We have to do this by visiting other bloggers, commenting on their posts and sharing them on social media. Reciprocity is a wonderful thing!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why should you start a niche blog?
Twitter: ravishingravism
May 3, 2019 at 1:22 pm #
Hi Donna,
The biggest and easiest way to build reputation is by doing two things at the same time. One is create quality content with the focus on targeted audience and second is to build influencer relationships with the industry leaders.
When it comes to blogging you should not always do mistakes to learn from them, but you should learn from the mistakes of others.
Glad you have shared it today!
Gaurav Kumar recently posted..Your New Restaurant Needs a Point-of-Sale System
Twitter: 9javar_
May 6, 2019 at 4:41 pm #
Wow, this is Very huge Donna,o reading
i just built a new blog for my self, and for the past 3 weeks i have been addicted to articles published here.
i find this article very interesting, especially the word Blog Hopping.
i decided to to take a step, this is my first time commenting.
Hi Gaurav,
So true, creating good content and focusing on a target audience is crucial to build a good reputation. Also, as you mention, building influencer relationships with leaders in your niche will get you further than you expected.
Thanks so much for your input.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: lisalisathom
May 3, 2019 at 12:47 pm #
Hi Donna, great advice here! I recall even though I visited blogs that were similar to my niche, it didn’t guarantee any reciprocity. I was a little discouraged at first but then when I branched out to different blogs with various niches, it became more fun. And bonus, more people returned a visit to my blog as well.
So, I’m not sure the reason but it seemed that many of the divorce blogging women viewed me as competition instead of a ‘connection’?
In any case, it took a good year before I had a tribe. Now what it takes is perseverance and being around the blogosphere on a regular basis. This is easier said than done though.
Always nice to pop over and see what you’re up to, Donna! I go away inspired to continue my work after a visit here. So, thanks as always for your valuable tips and reminders.
lisa thomson recently posted..The Special Needs Divorce what You Should Know
Hi Lisa,
So good to see you.
Indeed, you can’t stay in one niche if its not working. I would think the divorce niche would have plenty
of folks in the same niche. Good to know that you branched out and developed your own “tribe.”
That’s always a great way to go.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: JitendraBlogger
May 2, 2019 at 7:23 am #
Hi Donna,
Amazing post as always. But here I would like to ask a question like once we get started as a blogger, sometimes we don’t have post ideas and that’s why many newbies bloggers quit blogging. Do you have any solution for finding post ideas on a regualr basis (free ways)?
By the way, the post is really going to help newbie bloggers.
Thanks for sharing this post.
Hi Jitendra,
It is quite difficult at first to come up with ideas when you first start blogging. The best advice I would give is to pick a niche that you love. Start reading everything you can in that particular niche. Engage with other bloggers in that niche. And most importantly write write write….every day, write something and eventually, with practice, you will write with ease. Carry around a notepad with you because most of your ideas will come when you are not in front of a computer. You can be taking a walk and an idea for a blog will hit you. If you don’t write it down, it will be lost. To this day I still use a notepad for blogpost ideas.
Blogging not only comes from the brain, but from the heart. The more you open yourself up to your own perceptions of your niche, the better you will become.
Find some quiet time is another way to get ideas. With so much going on in our world, it is difficult to take time for ourselves. Do it at a certain time every day, even if it is for ten minutes at first. You will see that the more relaxed your mind is, the better ideas will flow.
Hope this gives you some incentives,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: ChrisDeeWaard
May 1, 2019 at 2:42 pm #
Hi Donna,
Blog hopping is still a great way to connect with other bloggers and their followers. I’ve had a few people visit my blog as a result of seeing my comments in your blog, as well as some others. I’ve made some friends along the way, also.
As you know, I wrote a post about this subject a while back, and it is still as relevant today as the day I wrote it.
Have a good rest of the week,
Chris
Chris DeeWaard recently posted..Blog Commenting. A Powerful Traffic Generating Strategy
Hi Chris,
I love that post you have done…just read it again because commenting is the backbone of your blog. Yes, people will notice a good comment when you leave it on someone’s blog and be attracted to what you have said. They will give a peek at your blog and eventually start becoming a loyal reader and commenter.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Hi Akash,
I would be delighted to do a guest article on blogginglabs.com. I just read your last article and realized I need to do some work on my speed score lol. I thank you for that.
I think that wherever you are from Twitter to Facebook, if you are consistent, there will be good connections to be made. I prefer Facebook for myself. Maybe it is because I have already made so many good connections there….like you!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: itsaakashpatel
May 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm #
Hi Donna,
You are welcome to do a guest post on BloggingLabs.com. I just checked your site’s mobile and desktop page speed and it really needs a major improvements.
As I believe that good page speed helps you to get more traffic from search engines. My next article on BloggingLabs will help you to improve your site speed and if you want me to guide you how to achieve 80-90 score for your blog then let’s connect over email and I would happy to help you.
Regards,
Aakash
Aakash Patel recently posted.. Why You Should Focus On Page Load Speed in 2019
Twitter: vishwa328
May 1, 2019 at 9:47 am #
Hello Donna,
Blogging is certainly needs patience and time. To build you reputation and authority you have to create a flow of quality content that resonate with your users. Blogger outreach is very important as it help you to connect with other like minded bloggers. Blog comment and guest posting is a great way to connect with bloggers. You are right, Posting one line comments don’t make any impact. Your comments should be authentic and relevant to the topic. Thanks for sharing these helpful tips and insights. JUst share it on my social networks.
Take care and Have a Great Day 🙂
Vishwajeet
Vishwajeet Kumar recently posted..5 Proven Ways to Grow Your Blog Traffic
Hi Vishwajeet,
As with any other business, blogging takes time and patience.
When it comes to comments, it is important to be authentic and relevant to the topic as you mentioned. Otherwise you will find yourself in the spam box if you just say…” great post ” lol.
Thanks for your input,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: ryanbiddulph
May 1, 2019 at 8:44 am #
Thanks Donna for that shout out.
I love blog hopping to your blog too buddy; what a simple way to get inspiration. Visit your blog and soak up these successful blogging tips.
As newbies you want to create on your blog then do a bunch of connecting on other blogs. Rep builder for sure, plus you make friends and amplify your success through leveraging.
Hi Ryan,
It is so important for a newbie to create their blog and then start connecting with others. Reciprocity is a wonderful thing! Plus, through this one can make close connections and even friends.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: MosClement
April 30, 2019 at 5:07 pm #
Hi Donna,
The need to connect with top bloggers in your industry can never be overemphasized. Yes, it works incredibly well because these pro bloggers are people who will help you reach the height you want to attain in your blogging career. Connecting with them involves sharing their post across marketing channels and engaging with them on their blogs and social media.
I love that you highlighted the need for blog commenting. Commenting on blogs will help you get noticed quickly, which will, in turn, open the way for a possible guest posting opportunity on authority sites. Your tips are fantastic, Donna.
Moss Clement recently posted.. TOP 10 SEO LEAD GENERATION STRATEGIES THAT’LL ENHANCE YOUR CONVERSATION RATES
Hi Moss,
It is so true that connecting with top bloggers in our field works because these are the people that will
help you reach your blogging goals.
And yes, commenting on blogs sure does help us get noticed and great for reciprocity.
Thank you Moss,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How to build a good reputation fast as a new blogger
Twitter: itsaakashpatel
April 30, 2019 at 3:08 pm #
Hi Donna,
First comment on your blog. This is really an awesome guide. I would say when it comes to increasing your blog’s traffic and authority you have to make a real connections in your industry.
This is the best way to gain attention to your blog. We are connected on FB from long time. Recently, I started my blog and following your tips.
I would love to have you on my blog blogginglabs.com
In 2019, Twitter and Facebook would be best platforms to make new friends & build strong relationships. Your thoughts?
Regards,
Aakash
Aakash Patel recently posted.. Why You Should Focus On Page Load Speed in 2019