Digital Parents Collective Blog

• No matter how small your blog, hackers will target you. Make blog security your first priority.
• Write from the centre of your heart. Honestly written words read better than words written to impress.
• Be inspired, but don’t plagiarise.
• Don’t waste words, use them wisely and beautifully instead.
• If you’re blogging and there is silence, put the laptop down and find your kids!!
• Buy good quality coffee to keep you awake for late night writing.
• Blog because you have a voice. Don’t do it for the free shit. Authentic voices trump giveaways EVERY TIME.
• See yourself in your words. If you want your readers to know the real you, write how you would speak to a friend.

• Stay true to what you want to write. Don’t write like anyone else because people want you. Write about what you want and not what you think people want to hear.
• Never give up, write for yourself, be clear about your expectations.
• Your thoughts are your toolbox – start small, and keep renovating!
• Create a facebook page to complement your blog – great interaction with a wider audience.
• Ask a lot of questions and read a lot of blogs to help get an understanding.
• Make sure you know what you want to write about, know what you want, set goals, then in six months when you’ve found your rhythm and it’s different that’s ok. Your blog your voice.
• Be yourself. Learn from others, but don’t compare.
• Write ‘to’ one reader; don’t try pleasing everyone.
• Be honest, true to your beliefs and genuine in your interactions.
• Be confident and yourself – don’t do something you don’t enjoy! Whatever you do. This always holds true.
• Don’t bother reading advice, just blog from the heart & you’ll get there.

• Prepare to be enchanted, enthralled and engaged. This world of blogging will captivate and inspire you!
• Write the blog you want to read! Be yourself! Your followers follow because you are YOU! If you panic about numbers and try to imitate more ‘successful’ bloggers, you lose your authenticity.
• Don’t be afraid to just start something up. You never know where it could take you.
• Take it easy on your self. Set goals and limits, a little bit a day is as effective as spending all day glued to the computer and you’ll enjoy it more.
• Don’t over think it, just hit publish and move onto the next post.
• Focus less on fancy graphics and plug-ins and focus more on creating your unique blogging voice and networking to find like-minded bloggers. .
• Do what you want to do and don’t be bullied into doing something you aren’t comfortable with.

• Write like no-one is reading, with your whole heart, but be prepared to back your words like they are on a billboard in Times Square. Be authentic, be yourself, be transparent!
• Engage with those who show interest in your blog.
• Write from your heart and head but honour your truth!
• Be your self, bare your soul…but like you would tell your kids “if your friend jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?” – only write what you feel comfortable with.
• RUN!!! But if you just can’t step away from the computer, grab a box of chocolates and a glass of wine and get blogging.
• Just write. Own your opinions and don’t be afraid to voice them. You are not alone. Just do it. Join in. Don’t be shy. Get out there. Write your heart out. Have fun!

• Be kind to yourself. Blogging is a journey, not a race!
• Give people something to remember about you and your work.
• It’s important and lovely to reply to comments and interact with your readers and throwing in some freebies helps too!
• Have a focus area and remain true to that. 
• To be a successful and ethical blogger stay true to yourself and remember treat others as you would like to be treated – nobody is completely anonymous!
• Blogging has karma, you’ve gotta give love to get love.
• Take Oscar Wilde’s advice, “Be Yourself; everyone else is already taken” – blog in your own voice.
• Connect with your readers and the blogging community – it’s a wonderful global village and we like to help each other.

• Trust your instincts about others and stay true to yourself.
• Don’t comment bomb! Leave thoughtful comments that show you’re engaged, not a quick note just to get your name on a page.
• Don’t be afraid to try different platforms – the technology can sometimes feel overwhelming, but if I can do it then so can you!
• If you’re knee deep in poop, have baby vomit all over your shirt, etc., blog about it! You’ll find you’re not alone and mums sympathise!
• Write. Write in your own voice. Blog your own race. Be friendly. But above all, write.
• Somebody will always dislike what you write so keep it true to yourself and don’t write it for “them”.
• Blogging takes time. It takes time to evolve into something you are happy with and time to grow. Be patient!
• As much as you try, don’t worry about stats or followers! Do it for the love of it!
• Be original.

• Promotion, promotion, promotion.
• Enjoy yourself – I love to blog because I’ve met so many others with similar interests and made friends.
• No one is you and no one can tell your story like you can. Being yourself will attract readers who are akin to you.
• Before you start blogging, get a bit of a feel for other blogs. Write down goals, what you would like to emulate, what you want to avoid. Treat it like a business plan, even if you only want to blog for fun – you will learn a wealth of information if you think of it as a possible business, and it will ensure you don’t do something you may regret later.
• Just do it, get in there, write/photograph what you are passionate about and the benefits will eventually flow.
• Don’t worry about the stats and just write what comes naturally.
• Don’t try to be like anyone else and don’t be afraid to swear and tell it like it is!

• Write, share, read, comment, share, write, laugh, cry, read, write, comment, … Click, click, click. Read and comment far and wide.
• Start with WordPress.
• Don’t bitch.
• Aspire to be the sunshine in someone’s day. A cheery little contribution in the midst of all that is dreary in the world!
• Unless you really want to maintain a blog – don’t start.
• A blog is an online journal, use it as that & don’t get caught up.
• Don’t blog in a wet towel. Just saying.
• Stand up for what you believe in.

• Create a beautiful blog, write from the heart and make online friends from miles apart.
• Your blog is your voice – readers want to hear you – no one else – be true to that voice and a sea of opportunities awaits.
• Always blog what you feel is right.
• Start that linky, comment and follow everyone, talk with authority and humour and you are good to go.
• Live it, love it – Don’t make it a chore!
• Be prepared for the long haul.
• Find your own voice and use it.

• Readers are drawn to bloggers who write with authenticity. If you can do this your blog will be an incubator for meaningful conversations and inspiration!
• Keep it real! Do what works for you because your honesty will be what your readers warm to.
• Find your own voice. It’s great to be inspired by other bloggers but you need to be yourself and write about things that mean something to you.
• Be creative, inspirational, and write about what is important to you, as it will impact everyone in their personal journey.
• Don’t write what you think people want to hear – write what you want to say. Your voice is uniquely yours. Celebrate it!
• Write what you know, don’t worry about offending people.
• Make sure images are free to use before you put them on your blog.
• Spelling and grammar is important. Helping uncle jack off a horse is entirely different to Helping Uncle Jack, off a horse!
• You can never go wrong with a blog that inspires, offers ideas, is interesting and covers topics we can all identify with.

What are your top tips for new bloggers?