Tag: blog writing tips

Is Blogging Right For You?

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I originally wrote this article for Medium but it got no engagement whatsoever. I posted it on March 25, 2024. As of late, I am finding Medium to be a bit dead. The only reason why I still post on there from time to time is to stay active so I can still be a part of the Medium Partner Program (MPP). If you are already a Medium subscriber and want to support me, reading my article will earn me a few cents. The following article, er, blog post, is basically the same as the one I wrote for Medium. I am replacing Medium with blogging for the purpose of this blog post.

♡ Medium Article: Is Medium Right For You?

Photo by Bench Accounting on Unsplash

(っ◔V◔)っ Serious Question: Why are you here?

Maybe you joined this writing platform for superficial reasons that were similar to mine. Perhaps you saw it as a way to earn some extra money or to expand your reach to an existing audience. Maybe your friends are also bloggers and you wanted to join in on the fun! It could be a combination of reasons.

(っ◔V◔)っ No seriously, what is the actual reason for being here, and when was the last time you logged into WordPress, Medium, etc.? It might be time to get real with yourself.

If you’re anything like me, you may have logged in to check your stats and see if anyone is actually reading your content. That’s why I logged into Medium earlier today because let’s be real. While I may not be as active as I would like, I realize that I serve a greater purpose on this platform and that I do have a voice, no matter how small it may be, and so do you. There have been many times when I have questioned which writing platform is right for me, and at the end of the day, it ultimately boils down to four things that you should consider.

Medium, WordPress, etc. might not be for you if any of the following apply to you:

✤ You are impatient.

✤ You want overnight success.

✤ You want your article to go viral article every week, month, etc.

✤ You don’t know why you are here.

✤ You get demotivated by not seeing significant results in a few days.

I understand that nobody wants to hear this, but this applies not only to Medium but to any personal blog, website, or social media account. Anyone striving to gain traction, popularity, and success really needs to evaluate their purpose and their “why.”

Photo by energepic.com: https://www.pexels.com

👉 Feeling frustrated? If so, here’s what you should do instead.

1. Have a plan from the start.

To attract readers and gain exposure, it is essential to have a solid plan and consistently follow through with it over time. While I may not be an expert in marketing techniques, it is crucial to stay mindful while navigating the constantly evolving digital landscape. Without a long-term vision, achieving lasting success may prove challenging. A clear vision establishes meaningful goals and helps steer decisions in alignment with your values, offering a roadmap during uncertain times.

2. Have a strong vision.

Having a strong vision is necessary for success in any endeavor. Stay determined and persistent in pursuing your goals, as each step brings you closer to your dreams as long as you keep moving forward. Without commitment to your vision, you will miss out on growth opportunities in al areas of your life.

3. Learn as you go.

Although I don’t have a detailed plan for what I hope to accomplish in the years to come, I am continuously learning and adapting over time. What sets me apart from many other writers is my relentless drive to persevere, even in the face of obstacles, rather than giving up too soon when challenges arise. To prove my point, I have been blogging consistently for 8 years, although infrequently, but I haven’t quit yet! Furthermore, I highly recommend checking out a similar article I wrote about the dangers of dabbling.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ CONCLUSION ♥

It’s normal to feel stuck when creating content for an audience, whether you’re writing articles for Medium or creating new social media content. The important thing is to persevere and stay dedicated to your goal, even when you’re facing a mental block. Remember, any effort put into writing is better than none. Focus on conveying your thoughts in a meaningful way; that’s what really counts in the end. Keep pushing forward and don’t give up. Take it from someone who is a professional procrastinator without a set schedule for writing and uploading blog posts.

Buy Me a Coffee ☕💕

Because I don’t run ads on WordPress, I don’t have the ability to make money from my blog, www.sereneluna.net. If you’d like me to write more blog posts like this, you can support me on Ko-Fi with a small donation or by buying me a coffee for $2.00 CAD.

Link: https://ko-fi.com/sereneluna#paypalModal

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I Tried the Medium Subscription Trial

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The reason why I am including this article as a blog post is because it is more of a review, if anything. I also wrote a Medium article called “That’s It! I’m Getting a Medium Subscription!” which I didn’t share on the blog. Lately, I haven’t been as active on Medium and the traffic on that platform has been virtually non-existent. That being said, I still see the advantages of writing for that platform.

The following post was first published on Medium on October 19, 2023. It is worth mentioning that if you use the following link to read this article and you are already a Medium subscriber, I will earn a small commission. It might be only a few pennies but it’s better than earning nothing at all. This article is behind a paywall on Medium but I want to make it available for everyone to read.

♡ Medium Article: I Tried the Medium Subscription Trial

♡ Medium Article: That’s It! I’m Buying a Medium Subscription!

Photo by Ola Dapo on Pexels.com

(っ◔V◔)っ Serious Question: Was the Medium subscription worth it?

Here’s What I Think 🤔

Things started off well, and I was enjoying the perks that come with having a 1-month Medium subscription trial. In the beginning, it was all fun and games. However, the fun didn’t last long. It took me about a week to realize the importance of putting in effort and dedicating my time to this platform if I wanted to make the most of my subscription and get my money’s worth.

It should come as no surprise to you that engaging with others can foster genuine connections. That doesn’t sound too hard, right? Well, unless you dedicate several hours a day to interacting with your readers and engaging with other writers on this platform, the algorithm won’t show favoritism towards you, regardless of whether you have a subscription or not. Having a subscription simply makes the grind a bit easier, as you don’t have to deal with the annoying paywalls.

So, what’s the problem? For starters, Medium doesn’t cater to casual users. Like any other social media platform, it rewards active participation.

During my time on this platform, I noted that the the people who succeed on this platform seem to share a few common traits:

♥ They post consistently.

♥ They post multiple times a week.

♥ They have multiple streams of income.

♥ They engage with others.

We Are Not the Same 🙅‍♀️

I clearly do not possess these traits, nor do I want to. And that’s perfectly fine. Thus, I realize that I probably won’t reap the same benefits as those who are part of the Medium Partner Program (MPP) and have an active Medium Subscription. I am still a part of the MPP, even though I don’t have a Medium Subscription, because I got in on it at an earlier time when a subscription wasn’t required to qualify for the MPP.

In the end, I didn’t end up getting the Medium Subscription for $7 CAD/month. I know that some people may dislike the fact that I am earning a commission without having to “pay to play.”

But don’t worry, there’s no need to be envious of me. The earnings I make from writing for Medium are not something to be jealous of. On a successful month, I earn around $0.20 USD, sometimes even less! So, rest assured that I’m not making a fortune or fueling my caffeine addiction through my writing on Medium. Initially, I was optimistic about being able to earn enough for a cup of coffee, but now I have my doubts.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Who knows, maybe I will get a Medium Subscription eventually. If I were to get one, I would prefer a monthly subscription rather than a yearly one, but I don’t think a monthly subscription is an option. If you’ve been following me on Medium, you might have noticed my brief absence. It’s true, I took a break from publishing new articles around May 2023. My biggest concern right now is potentially being disqualified from the Medium Partner Program due to being absent for several months. I constantly remind myself to write, even if it’s just a mediocre article. I understand that this may not be my best work, but perfectionism is not something I need to worry about right now.

When I’m not writing, my attention is captivated by my passion for creating cute digital art for print-on-demand (POD) designs. I have my own shop on Redbubble, where you can explore the digital art that I made. Ironically, I opened my shop around the same time my writing habit took a nosedive.

👉 Follow me on Redbubble: @sereneluna

Congratulations! If you managed to read this entire article, you are undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind individual — a majestic unicorn in your own right! 🦄💕 Did any of my points resonate with you? Do you have a Medium subscription? I’m curious to know about your experience. I have so many questions. Feel free to join the conversation below and I will try to reply to you within the next 24 hours.

Thanks for stopping by!

13 Reasons Why I Unfollowed Your Blog

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The blog title is somewhat of an exaggeration and should not be taken literally. I wanted to create a similar blog post as the one I wrote some time ago, titled The 6 Most Annoying Types of Blogs. If you’re having trouble finding the blog post or just want a link, then I’ll make it easier for you and provide the link below ↓ I am experimenting with new formatting in the WordPress editor:

The 6 Most Annoying Types of Blogs

To Unfollow or not to Unfollow, That IS the Question.

Before anyone gets too worked up over my title, there’s a good chance that I didn’t unfollow you. Even if I happened to unfollow your blog, it could very well be attributed to WordPress’s quirky behavior. Okay, let’s say I did unfollow your blog. If that’s the case, then I would really appreciate if you kept reading in order to gain a better understanding of my thought process prior to unfollowing someone on WordPress.

Also, It’s important to keep in mind that the strategies outlined in this list aren’t limited to WordPress blogs, but they can be applied to other popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to name a few. I believe that this subject is closely related to the problem of annoying blogs, as it’s typically one of the main reasons why people choose to unfollow someone. Below ↓ I want to show you 13 Things that bloggers do which may prompt someone to unfollow them. Please note that the following list is in no particular order. Let’s get started, shall we?

13 Reasons Why I Unfollowed You on WordPress

1. You complain too much. I get the sense that your life sucks: there is too much bitching, whining, or complaining. If you see me constantly trying to give you advice, that means I want to help you. But seeing the same shit over an over and over again tells me that you don’t listen or you aren’t willing to take advice from anyone. I’m likely to unfollow your blog if the content is predominantly negative, so it’s best to keep things uplifting.

2. You teach me stuff that I already know. I am sure you put in a lot of effort and research into writing your blog posts. Though, if you seem to be replicating other people’s work and not contributing any originality in your blog posts, then it’s evident that your writing style does not fit my preferences. It is nothing against you, but this is simply my view.

3. You did the research but the execution sucks. Your blog posts have a lot of merit and you have raised some excellent points that I hadn’t considered before. Your blog posts look professional and well-crafted, and it is clear that a great deal of effort has gone into creating them. However, the execution of the content could be improved; you seem to be missing some very important and obvious points which could be key takeaways for readers.

4. You’re always trying to sell me something. It’s obvious that you’re putting in a lot of effort to persuade me into buying something and your marketing strategy is quite apparent. Unfortunately, not many bloggers have the expertise to incorporate ads tastefully without it looking too spammy. I will be sure to unfollow/unsubscribe if I see posts from bloggers that are trying too hard to make a sale.

5. You didn’t proofread first. Grammar and spelling errors are unfortunately all too common, which can a pet peeve for those who take pride in their work and expect the same of others. The lack of interesting visuals and creative writing style can also make the content appear visually dull, leaving a less-than-favorable impression on the reader. This is why it’s so important to be diligent in proofreading your work and use images where appropriate to add another layer to your writing.

6. TMI seems to be your niche. I’m already at my limit when it comes to the number of personal diaries and oversharing posts about sexual encounters, erotica, and other topics that fill up my feed. I have already chosen a few blogs that provide me with interesting content, but adding any more would just be too much for me to handle.

7. You’re obnoxious. That can range anywhere from inappropriate content like sexually explicit (see point #6) to questionable lifestyle choices. Controversial content is OK but keep it classy, please. I am not even bringing politics into this. If your moral compass is completely different than mine, then we’re not on the same vibe! ✨

8. You’re not being authentic. The inauthentic nature of content is painfully obvious, and it can be very tempting to try to fit in with the crowd. It’s always best to make sure you are staying true to your own unique voice and perspective. In the blogosphere, being yourself is much more valuable than blending in with everyone else.

9. You write like your age. I want to make this perfectly clear. I’m not saying that I don’t follow tweens and teens on WordPress, because I do. There’s a 14-year old entrepreneur who I follow on #Twitter, for example. I prefer to follow blogs and social media accounts with professional writing styles, regardless of someone’s age.

10. You post ++++ times a day. In my opinion, posting several times a day is too much for me. There are already quite a few bloggers who share multiple posts per day that I follow and have developed strong relationships with. My reader is already oversaturated with this type of content, and I feel that it would be best to avoid saturating it even more.

11. Your blog posts look like FB statuses. If I come across yet another blog post that is void of words and/or only contains pictures, I will unfollow you and move on. Keep the status updates for Facebook where they belong, and please don’t expect us to make the effort to click on a title that eventually reveals nothing but a post with no words. Nothing frustrates me more than when people post without any real purpose or value.

12. You’re too indecisive with your blog. What do I mean by this? You jump from one domain to another, constantly changing your blog’s name in a way that makes it confusing for readers to keep track of – either by making it unrecognizable or changing it too frequently. This can make it very difficult for your readers to keep up with who they are following, and can be a huge detriment to building an audience. Make up your mind and stop being so wishy-washy.

13. Your blog isn’t user-friendly. It seems like your blog’s link may be broken, or it is not properly optimized to be user-friendly. This makes it difficult for readers to leave comments, and as a result, many visitors may have stopped commenting on your blog posts. If you don’t use WordPress hosting services, your blog may not meet the standards needed to keep current readers engaged, potentially leading them to become frustrated and unfollow your blog.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

If you are a blogger, regardless of your level of experience, it is essential to understand how to engage with your readers in a meaningful manner. Even though you are the owner of the blog or website, this does not give you full freedom to post whatever content you want, that is, if you wish for people to remain loyal followers. Rather than posting any kind of content, it is wise to curate useful and relevant content that resonates with your followers while maintaining a level of professionalism and friendliness.

I’d like to make it clear that the reasons I’ve listed are not necessarily representative of everyone else’s reasons. It’s likely that my list looks very different than yours does. If this blog post taught you something or made you think about the way you go about blogging differently, feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ I will try to reply to your comments on my days off.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

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I’m Keeping My WordPress Premium Plan

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Yes, that’s right. I’m not leaving WordPress and I renewed the Premium Plan a few days ago. I was lucky enough to find a coupon for 50% off the Premium Plan and ended up only having to pay $63.00 CAD after tax! If you have a Premium Plan and are interested in taking advantage of this offer, please DM me. The coupon is only good for users who already have a Premium plan. 💻

Whenever I compare WordPress to a self-hosted site, I still conclude that WordPress is the best option for me. It’s no surprise that WordPress is popular because of the vibrant, caring online community that supports it. Even if you decided to host your own site instead of using WordPress, you wouldn’t get that same feeling of being part of a larger community. Yes, I know that WordPress is overpriced for what it is but it’s the community of bloggers that keeps me here. You can read my thoughts about WP Plans and what I like or dislike about it, here:

♡ Related Blog Post: Blogging Fatigue

Regardless of whether you stumbled upon my blog, or you are already a member of the WP community, it is important to be courteous, kind, and respectful of those around you even if you disagree with their opinions. Please don’t be a little b.i.t.c.h. in the WordPress community. Because when you are, it becomes less enjoyable for everyone else.

The online world is already filled with criticism and naysayers. Individuals who don’t like you will always find a way to talk or write about you. It is never been easier to ignore these people because, like they have always done, they’re likely still lurking in the shadows of cyberspace 👀 If I left WordPress, my voice would be silenced, and I would be doing myself and everyone else a disservice. Her name is not mentioned for privacy reasons, but if she’s reading this and recognizes herself in these words, then yes–I am talking about you.

My Voice Will Not Be Silenced

You see, I still have a lot to say; hence, I am not going anywhere. Writing is very therapeutic for me and it helps me make sense of my thoughts and complicated emotions. And I know that there are some people who will disagree with me, but I also like using the Medium platform (follow me on Medium @sereneluna) because it is a great way to share my thoughts with the world. But it is not always easy to use and navigate, whereas WordPress is much easier to use. That’s why I will continue to share [most] of my articles on both platforms.

Furthermore, I have no intention of making my blog posts private because I aim to make all of my content easily accessible. Understand that I am not monetizing my blog content (I make $0 from this blog) so it’s a labor of love. I don’t need to blog for a living, so instead, I do it out of the kindness and generosity in my heart. Instead of putting up paywalls on everything, that’s what Medium is for 💁‍♀️ One way or another, I will find a way to pay for my blogging expenses so that I can continue to provide my readers with quality content.

Dear Readers, I Love You.

I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of my loyal readers for sticking around with me for all of these years. If it wasn’t for your dedication, my blog would never have grown into something so special and I am forever grateful that you have been there through the ups and downs. Something needs to change in order for me to keep going with this blog, but I am looking forward to what the future holds. I know there’s a lot of pressure to be perfect and keep up with social media trends but I don’t want to fall into the trap of being fake. That’s why I want to stay true to myself while also finding creative ways to show my personality. I really look up to bloggers who are able to write controversial blog posts and put out a clear message when they know some readers will disagree but they do it anyway because they are following their own truth. Only a small handful of bloggers come to mind, which I can count on my fingers.

This might be hard to hear (er, read), but I’m gonna be 100% honest with you. You can’t deceive yourself that everything is fine when it isn’t – I won’t lie and say “everything’s fine” when that is not the case. Sometimes my blogging may stop for a few weeks, but I can assure you that I have no intention of neglecting this account. I am not going anywhere, and I still try to find time to read your blog posts when I get the chance. I will admit that I read a lot fewer blog posts than I used to, and try not to get caught up too much in the blogging world these days.

(っ◔◡◔)っKey Takeaway: So I guess I am stuck using the WordPress Premium Plan for another year, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

P.S. If you’re interested in following my stories on other social media platforms, you can find me here. I do not actively post on Instagram and if you try to send me DMs there, I probably won’t reply. Twitter is where I primarily post updates about my personal life, especially my cat! 🐈‍⬛

Instagram: @serene_hilz

Twitter: @serene_hilz

Medium: @sereneluna

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

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The 6 Most Annoying Types of Blogs

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Earlier this week, I received a lovely notification from WordPress that sereneluna.net turned 6 years old! 🥳 Admittedly, I didn’t do much with my blog until Spring 2019 and at that time, I had approx. 20 followers. Since having a quarter-life crisis in Spring 2019, I started taking blogging more seriously. It didn’t take long to realize that writing is a therapeutic outlet for me. I know that I am still a newbie blogger, but it feels really good to have people that are interested in my writing. I’m so grateful that anyone reads my blog, and I really hope that my follower count continues to grow! 🌻🌻

What Makes a Blog Annoying?

If you have been blogging for a while, you’ll know that blogging can be hard work. The worst part about blogging is that there is always a risk of your content being ignored. You’re constantly coming up with different ideas to create compelling and high-quality content for your audience. Despite all of your hard work, there is no way to know for sure if you are doing the right thing. The worst part about blogging is that it’s not easy to keep your readers engaged. However, there are some things you can do to make sure your blog posts are not too annoying. Below ↓ I want to show you 6 types of blogging styles to avoid which can be annoying for your readers. Please note that the following list is in no particular order. Let’s get started, shall we?

The 6 Most Annoying Types of Blogs

1. Blogs with no images. A blog without pictures is not engaging for the reader. Adding photos helps increase readability and breaks up the text, so go ahead and add some pictures! Increased readability may be due in part because readers don’t need to read as much text, which is often more difficult and time-consuming than looking at a picture. It’s also possible that readers are better able to remember the information shown in pictures than those seen only in text.

2. Blogs that are poorly written. Sadly, poorly written blogs are a problem that is not going away. The problem is not just the content but also the formatting and organization of the blog. It is not surprising that a poorly written blog is more likely to have lower engagement rates and fewer shares across social media platforms. As a result, this can lead to less traffic and less visibility in search engines. Okay, so how do you spot a poorly written blog? For starters, poorly written blogs usually contain a lot of spelling and grammatical errors, which can make the blog difficult to read and ultimately discourage readers from returning.

3. Blogs with no information about the blogger. Bloggers who do not have an “About” section can be sort of mysterious. It’s clear who’s behind the text that was posted, but one can’t help wondering about their motivations for doing so. These blogs might be interesting in some ways, but they will not have a built-in audience, Furthermore, these bloggers may end up having more difficulty getting their posts shared. Blogs with an “About” section are better for building an audience, attracting more followers, and reaching more readers.

4. Blogs that lack original content. There is a trend in social media to share blog posts that have been written by other people. This is being done for many reasons, but most commonly it is to build traffic for the author of the post and/or to share a person’s opinion on a topic. The problem with this practice is that it discourages original content from being created and shared, which could have consequences for the blogger down the line. Personally, I have unfollowed bloggers who do this because I think it is a lazy and unnecessary practice.

5. Blogs that are written like a diary. This blog is usually just a list of random things that this blogger has done during their day or week, such as what they ate for breakfast or what they watched on TV last night. This type of blog is not helpful to anyone and honesty, nobody cares that you had chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone and your boyfriend had vanilla frozen yogurt. Please keep in mind that your audience is not limited to yourself. I follow a few bloggers who write a lot of diary-style blog posts, but it doesn’t bother me because these bloggers have been blogging for years and I know what to expect from their work.

6. Blogs with too many ads. Bloggers who create blogs that have too many ads in them are trying to make money off of the people who visit their blogs. This can be annoying for other bloggers because a lot of advertisers are targeting these types of blogs, which could mean having to scroll through the endless amounts ads just to see what their original point was. A lot of bloggers who create blogs with too many ads in them are trying to make money by posting the “sponsored content” that they are given by their advertisers or sponsors. Some bloggers or non-bloggers might feel this way because they believe these blogs are being made for the purpose of making money.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Whether you are just starting to blog or you have been blogging for a while, it can be a daunting task to come up with fresh and engaging content. If you want to have a successful blog, don’t let these 6 common blogger mistakes get in your way. Sure, I could be a bit too cynical, but I hope that you enjoyed reading this blog post nonetheless. If this blog post taught you something or made you think about the way you go about blogging differently, feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ I will try to reply to your comments during my free time.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

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