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You are here: Home / Blogging / Lessons Learned From The 30 Day Blog Challenge

Lessons Learned From The 30 Day Blog Challenge

April 30, 2012 by Jan Kearney

blog challenge complete!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?

Contents

  • Remember why I started this blog challenge?
  • What can you learn from my 30 day blog challenge?
  • What will I do better on my next blog challenge?
  • Related Posts

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.

Image Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Lessons Learned From The 30 Day Blog Challenge by Jan Kearney

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Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: blogging for business, business blog, WordPress

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. ToscaSac says

    April 30, 2012 at 10:12 pm

    #1 was my biggest issue when I did this challenge in January. It made things almost miserable. That and I have standards for my blog 500 words average and other stuff. lol

    This time I had some prep together but then at the last minute I took on a second challenge the A to Z so there went most of the prompts I had.

    Still this challenge felt better. A daily requirement is more than I want to have to meet 365 so I am happy to take it in bursts. I am not sure the increase is worth it actually.

    Daily posts get half the viewership of posts that get set every few days or so.

    • Jan Kearney says

      May 1, 2012 at 12:17 am

      Hi Toscasac – your post ended up in spam 🙁 Rescued now so all good.

      I must admit, I didn’t prepare at all and that made it harder. I did plan to go back and plan the rest of the month, but best laid plans eh? I don’t confine myself to numbers of words – you’ll find anything from a couple of 100 to a couple of 1000 on here. I do go stare crazy when I start word counting!

      I agree with your pont about daily posts, it can be overkill. I think it depends on your readers and niche though. Posting for posting sake is a bit pointless though.
      Thanks for calling in and sharing your thoughts 🙂

  2. Lynette Hammond says

    April 30, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    Congratulations on completing the challenge. I strongly agree with number 2 on your list. I have been neglecting my blog and I have made a concious effort to include time for blog posts from now on. Being a copywriter means it can be a bit annoying finishing work to continue writing for myself but it’s worth the effort. I also agree with scheduling time for reading and commenting on challenges!

    • Jan Kearney says

      April 30, 2012 at 10:46 pm

      Hi Lynette, congrats to you too for completing the challenge! Thanks for taking the time to pop in here and comment 🙂

  3. Kimberly ~ Gypsy says

    April 30, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    YAY!!! Congrats!! I have 8 left LOL

    Thanks for sharing what you learned! And yes … Planning ahead is very very good! I’m still working on that one! LOLz

    • Jan Kearney says

      April 30, 2012 at 11:17 pm

      Go Kimberly! You can do it!

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

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