Blogopolis 2015: Steadfast Blogging

When Nuffnang invited me to give a 10-minute talk about steadfast blogging, I was super excited and yet super nervous at the same time. I mean, how can you talk about something you’ve been doing for almost 4 years in 10 minutes? Ang hirap lang di ba? I know fo’ sho’ I’ll blabber & chika my way given I talk a lot when I’m nervous. So I opted to quickly summarize what I’ve learned 4 years after I gave blogging a chance.

Like any other blogger, I started blogging because I felt like it was something that can be fun and be an extension of who I am. A few months after I gave birth to lil’ Ms. GJG & like any other first time moms, I was eager to try different products for my baby & myself. Soon, friends would ask me for recommendations so I figured why not write about my finds as reference? Eventually, the blog evolved from a personal one to a lifestyle one. Where I share part of who I am, my family, products & services I’ve tried and everything else in between.

So what is steadfast blogging?

A steadfast blog is one that is firm or in a steady pace. At least this is how I describe it. Like a gear of car, I think a steadfast blog is neutral. Where it has the capacity to shift to first gear, second gear and so on when it needs to be. So last Saturday was Nuffnang’s Blogopolis 2015 and here’s what went down when I went to Dusit Thani Manila for my 10-minute chikabelles! Hihihi.

Mandatory photo the moment I arrived at Blogopolis. Medyo calm, cool and collected pa ako dito.

At the holding area where my fellow speakers & I eat our way out of nervousness! Heehee. Photo grabbed from Nuffnang.

I’m part of the second segment along with these amazing men who have established their own brand/identity in the vast world wide web. Abe Olandres of Yugatech, Jeff Lo of Pinoy Fitness, Josh Villanueva and yours truly.

My super awakard & nervous smile minutes before I went on stage.

So here’s what I talked about during my 10-minute spotlight.

There are 3Cs you should keep in mind in order for you to have a steadfast blog.

CONTENT

CONNECTABILITY

CORE

CONTENT

We all know content is king so make sure to always have good quality content because it’s something your blog needs. If a blog is the ship, then content is the fuel. If you are overwhelmed with so much ideas on what to put on your blog, you can start by thinking on what you’re passionate about, what’s the purpose of you blogging? Ask yourself if what you post is beneficial not only for you but for your readers as well.

Whether you’re focused on having an entertaining or informative blog or both, having good content is always the way to do it. If a blog is the ship and the content is the fuel, then your unique voice is the helm or the wheel. Don’t be afraid to let  your voice be heard and inject your personality into your blog. If you read my blog, you’ll notice how I like using beki terms- keri, go, push, achieve, laveeeettt! I even like adding perky words and add a bit of laughing with matching heeheehee and hahahaah plus 🙂 😉 😀

Commit to schedule so that your readers would know when you’ve got fresh content. If you think posting in the morning, noon or night will help you get more readers then it’s your job to know which works. In my case, I randomly post in the morning, noon and night because some of readers are early birds & go to work early, some read during lunch break and others prefer to visit my blog at night before going to sleep. Now if you have a lot of time in your hands, you can post on a daily basis but if not, three times a week will do. I post on a daily basis because I dedicate a day for fashion, a day for food, a day for family, a day for events and a day for finds. This way, each category gets a spotlight weekly on my blog.

Remember that people will most likely visit your blog when you’ve got new posts. Eventually, people who visit your blog can be your loyal readers. They’ll keep coming back to your site if they know you regularly update it.

CONNECTABILITY

No matter how vast we think the world wide web is, it is still small world. There will be times that it can be challenging to create original, quality content because your blogging mojo goes on hiatus. It’s alright. Your blogging downtime is the perfect opportunity for you to get inspiration over the Internet. Sometimes, you need a little spark to ignite those ideas and connecting through blog hopping is a good way to mingle online with your fellow bloggers.

Another way to connect is to create your blog’s social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Social media can greatly help boost your blog’s visibility in different platforms, making it easier for your readers and fellow netizens to share your content. While you’re at it with your social media, go ahead and mingle with your followers and the people you follow. Post photos of the products you’ve discovered & services you’ve experienced, especially if it’s pleasant. Not only are you informing your followers, you’re also paving way for brands to connect with you-which can eventually lead to a partnership or collaboration.

And of course, nothing beats engaging not only online but offline as well. Being an introvert, I shy away from social gatherings because I don’t really feel comfortable being part of a big crowd. But blogging has given me opportunities to meet wonderful and inspiring people. So much so that some of them have eventually become my friends not only online but offline as well.

CORE

Core is described as the central and essential part of anything. While it is easy to compare yourself with others, it is important to focus on yourself, particularly your core. If you catch yourself comparing your blog to others, ask yourself “Why did you start a blog in the first place?”. Blog because you want to, not because of anything else. The perks of getting invited and receiving products to try are nothing else but perks. Being a blogger doesn’t really entitle you to anything, save for your  personal opinions which you can freely share on your blog or social media channels.

In most cases, you and your blog are one, especially when it comes to online identity. So be sure to represent yourself and your blog well both online and offline, for these both go hand in hand. As I said, you cannot entirely disconnect who you are online from who you are offline, unless you really intent to have a different persona online. This goes out to most personal blogs, so its more crucial for bloggers in this category to be consistent. For consistency plays a crucial role in having a steadfast blog.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to grow along with your blog. For there is no stopping in learning and we continuously do so. Expect that as you learn, you find ways to improve yourself and hopefully, your blog. Embrace opportunities for improvement and at the same time, let your moral compass guide you. Check yourself before you post anything (status, Instagram photo or a shout out on Twitter) and again ask yourself if it’s beneficial not only for you but for your readers/followers as well. Remember to stick to the reason why you started blogging in the first place and you’ll never be misled or sidetracked from your purpose and passion when it comes to blogging.

These three Cs have immensely helped me become a steady blogger and have a steadfast blog. I don’t really let the pressure of increasing blog visitors, social media followers, wanting fame & fortune get me, because I really love blogging and it has become a part of me that I don’t think I can put to a halt. It grows along with me and evolves as I get immersed and involved with this little project of mine that called Go Jackie Go.

So to everyone who feels lost or who wants to start a blog, I hope you pick up a thing or two from my quick talk during #Blogopolis2015. To everyone who tagged me on Twitter and Instagram thank youuuuuuu! Salamat ‘coz surviving talking in front of a large crowd made me realize that I really, really love what I do. Thank you Nuffnang for the opportunity, for the chance to share what I know. Keri ko naman pala chumika in front of a large crowd. To the audience, thanks for making me feel welcome! 😀

The only post-talk photo I have. With fellow Nuffnang bloggers Victor Basa, Jeff Lo of Pinoy Fitness & Tippy Go of Googly Gooeys.