Lessons Learned From The 30 Day Blog Challenge

Hurrah, I made it! This is post 30 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

I must say it was a challenge and a half, far more difficult than I anticipated. I thought it will be a breeze. I write so much and have so much information to share, how hard could it be?

Remember why I started this blog challenge?

I don’t practice what I preach enough. I say blogging is great for business – and it is! If I’m lucky I’ll get one post out per week.

It’s not because I don’t have ideas, it’s simply I do everything else before my own work – then procrastinate and say I’ll do it later…

Later never comes and my poor blog gets neglected.

What can you learn from my 30 day blog challenge?

1. Don’t dive in head first without planning. I decided on the spur of the moment to take part in the challenge. I had nothing prepared. I would have been easier for me and more coherent for readers if I followed a theme or a plan.

2. Give yourself “me” time daily to work on your business online. I didn’t realise just how much I was neglecting my blog and finishing my own projects

3. Traffic does increase with regular blogging…

4. Sharing your content and getting it out there is important

5. Commenting on others blogs helps with traffic and links

Comparing Aprils traffic to March I’ve seen:

• 23% overall increase in organic traffic
• 69% increase in referral traffic – mainly from Facebook and Twitter, but also some from blogs I have commented on and sites like Reddit and Stumbleupon
• 25% increase in visit duration, people are staying to read more
• 6% increase on email sign ups comparing March to April

It’s such a short period of regular blogging, it’s difficult to be scientific with the number crunching and put on an actual monetary value. I have had enquiries this month because of my blogging – how many actually convert to sales of my services, well I’ll know that in a few days!

What will I do better on my next blog challenge?

I found I was often pushed for time due to lack of planning and neglected to do any promotion at all on some posts.

I would also schedule in time to read and comment more on other peoples blogs. The time factor definitely played it’s part there.

Some blogs were required login on WordPress.com or other comment systems like Disqus. I did blog early on in the challenge about my account being suspended at WordPress (this is a reason you need your own domain!) and Disqus just hates me… So, I’d read without commenting to save me the hassle of trying to log in/set up accounts.

Over to you…

How did you get on? Did you finish the challenge? What benefits have you seen?

I’d love to hear how you did in the blog challenge and what you have learned.  Leave your comments below.

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