I’m celebrating A Savory Feast’s 1st blogiversary this week! I love to share what I have learned along the way with other bloggers. So much of what I have learned is thanks to other bloggers. Today, I’m sharing tons of posts that I read in the first year of blogging that helped get me to where I am today.
As a blogger, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of building a blogging community. I am so grateful to other bloggers who share their tips for blog growth. I never had to go it alone. I learned from posts like these, and I reached out to more experienced bloggers when I had a question or needed help.
I am sharing this list both for the new blogger and the experienced blogger looking to take their blog to the next level.
Blog Design
This post, 10 Things Your Blog May Be Missing, inspired me to create a popular posts page to help new readers get a feel for what they can expect from my blog.
I made some changes to my homepage to gain more traffic!
12 Must Have Blog Design Tips covered everything my blog needed to have! It was a great tool when I was considering a blog redesign.
My blog redesign was a huge step toward branding my blog. I took a lot of good pointers from How to Brand Your Business or Blog.
Writing & Planning
I realized how much I used the word “amazing” and started choosing better adjectives after reading about the Top 10 Words to Cut From Your Writing.
Creating a blogging binder relieves so much stress! I stay organized and plan out each month with these free printables.
Creating Quality Blog Posts is a priority for me! This post inspired me to start asking a question at the end of each post to encourage comments.
Community & Blog Sponsorship
Over the past few months, I’ve partnered with other bloggers or small businesses to host giveaways. These giveaway tips helped me get started.
I learned some things to consider before sponsoring a blog from 6 Ways to Make the Most Out of Blog Sponsorship.
Once I started offering sponsorships on my blog, these organization tips helped me keep track of emails and social media shares.
Social Media Tips
Pinterest recently changed to a smart feed. I loved these tips to help get your pins seen.
Why Bloggers Need Instagram convinced me that I needed to make time for one more social media outlet. Now, it’s one of my favorite ways to connect with my readers.
These Instagram Tips helped me get more followers and figure out what types of pictures to share.
This post about Getting Started on YouTube helped me set up my YouTube channel and start sharing videos!
Photography
I gleaned some great pointers from these food photography secrets from top bloggers.
Learning about using natural light has made such a difference in my food photography! These 5 Tips for Better Blog Photos were exactly what I needed.
These 5 tips and tools also helped me improve my blog photography.
Making Money
I’ve gotten products to review on my blog thanks to the tips in How to Pitch Companies for Product Reviews.
I learned how to write better sponsored posts so that brands will want to work with me in the future.
I make may make money with my blog, but I don’t want to sell out my vision or purpose in order to make money! This post gave me some great ways to make money and keep my priorities straight.
One of the ways I make money is through affiliate links. These ideas for earning money with affiliate links are useful even for blogs with smaller audiences.
I got some great ideas on creating a blogging income from multiple sources, such as affiliate programs, ad networks and more.
These 10 things were great for me to consider when I was thinking about blogging full time.
SEO Tips
Even if your post doesn’t show up in the top of the search results, you can dominate Google Image search results!
I improved my hits from search engines by using nofollow links in sponsored posts.
What are some of the things you learned in your first year of blogging?
Anna @ The Beauty Section says
This is a great resource for any bloggers, new and old! I will most definitely be checking out some of these!! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
These are some of my favorites! I am always reading posts about blogging. They have helped me grow so much!
Madison says
So so many amazing posts here! Definitely sharing! 🙂 Happy blogiversary my friend!
Jenna Brussee says
Thank you! Some pretty great posts from you in here.
Sarah @ 12 Twenty Seven says
JENNA! This is an amazing, crazy-good arsenal of all things blogging! I love this! Happy Blogiversary week, friend!
Jenna Brussee says
I’m so glad to hear that! These posts made a HUGE difference for me, so I wanted to be able to share them with my friends.
Gennie says
Great posts! Happy Blogiversary, and thanks for all your hard work and amazing recipes over the year! 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
Thank you, Gennie! I’m glad to have “met” bloggers like you.
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
This is so great, Jenna! And congratulations on turning 1! That’s a huge accomplishment 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
I’m glad you liked these posts. Hopefully there are some good ones for you. And thank you! I’m so excited to be celebrating this week.
Stacey Greene says
This is INCREDIBLE. When I have down time over the next few days I plan on reading all of these! Thank you SO much for sharing :] xo
Jenna Brussee says
I hope you find lots of posts that will help you. Thanks for stopping by.
Jill Hardt says
Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to reading through these. I can use all the tips I can get 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
I hope you find some good ones. I learned a lot from these posts, so I’m happy to share.
ClaireC. says
Great tips! Wish I knew all this when I started 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
Sometimes I feel that way, too, but it was great to learn as I went. I’m fortunate to have found so many helpful posts in my first year.
Lux @ Bared My Soul says
These are really practical and helpful tips! Glad I’m doing most of these. I just need to keep it up and probably give more time on planning. I’m mostly sit, think and write kind of blogger. Haha. I need to plan my articles ahead to keep my thoughts organized. 🙂 Thanks!
Jenna Brussee says
Planning my posts changed my life! It really takes so much stress out of blogging.
Vicki N-C says
Wow – 1 year! Congrats. Great posts. You are one of my go-to blogs for advice and inspiration as I start my own. Keep up the GREAT work.
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says
Congratulations on a year of blogging! This is a great list.
Thanks so much for sharing (I found you through the Blogging Better link-up).
xoxo
Jenna Brussee says
Thank you! I learned so much from these posts, and I hope you will too.
Alli Smith says
So many good tips in one place! Happy Blogiversary!
Jenna Brussee says
I love making things easy like that! Thank you.
Katie says
These are some excellent tips that you’ve learned along the way! Thanks for sharing them so we can all be successful! #comealongpondslinkup
Jenna Brussee says
You’re welcome! I hope you find some posts to help you grow your blog, too.
B. says
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Jenna Brussee says
Of course! These posts were a great resource for me, so I am happy to share.
TheAdventuresofBugandBoo says
Happy blogiversary!!! This is a fantastic selection, thanks for pulling it all together in one place! Pinning for referencing again later. =)
Jenna Brussee says
Thanks! I love having everything all organized and in one place, so I love posts like this!
Elizabeth Mayberry says
There is always something new to learn! That is why I love blogging so much! Thanks for this information!
Jenna Brussee says
I agree! I’m always try to learn something new about blogging.
MeganReablog.wordpress.com says
Pinning all these great tips! Thanks Jenna 🙂
Jenna Brussee says
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that you found them helpful, too.
The Do It All Mom says
This is some great info! I really appreciate you sharing!!!
Jenna Brussee says
You’re welcome! I’m glad to pass on these great posts.
Dana says
My reading list just got longer — thanks for the great suggestions and links!
Jenna Brussee says
These are all great posts, I learned a lot from them.
Katherine Gilbert says
Thank you so much for posting this. I will be reading these.
Jenna Brussee says
You’re welcome! I’m sure you will find lots of helpful posts here.
Elizabeth | The Blooming Air F says
Great post! Can’t wait to read into it deeper!
Jenna Brussee says
There are some great posts here! I hope you find some that are helpful to you.
Stephanie @Sustaining the Powe says
I absolutely love these! So many great resources! Thanks for sharing.
Jenna Brussee says
You’re welcome! These were some of the most helpful posts I read in my first year of blogging.
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
This is such a great post Jenna! 🙂 Thanks for linking it up to the Pretty Pintastic Party!
Jenna Brussee says
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it.
Natasha @ The Simply Luxe Life says
Handy links! Thanks for compiling them all and sharing!
Jenna Brussee says
You’re welcome! It’s nice to have them all in one place.
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
This is a great list, congrats on one year of blogging! I am about 1 year and 2 months in, it’s amazing how much stuff you learn in that first year!
Jenna Brussee says
Thank you! The first year really does teach you a lot.
Carole says
This is an excellent round-up of helpful posts! Thank you! I’ve spent the last 2 hours reading all of them – well worth my time!
Jenna Brussee says
I’m so glad to hear it! I learned a lot from these posts over my first year of blogging.
LC says
I am so greatful for your post I have been re-reading it over and over to help re-vamp my blog! Thank God I found you on pintrest! This post is very well written and so easy to find and follow any of the links you have provided. Great job! Thank you for sharing!
Jenna Brussee says
That’s awesome! I’m so glad these posts helped you as well. They made a huge difference for me!