Do you remember how you used to find things like recipes, home decor ideas or parenting advice before blogging came around? We relied on the so-called experts: a popular cooking show chef, home decor magazines, a best-selling parenting book.
Before blogging became popular, we had fewer options to find ideas, inspiration and education. Now, we have still have all of that… PLUS oodles of content from every day people: bloggers like us.
As someone who creates blog content every week, I'm sure at some point you've felt insecure when it comes to doling out tips, advice or tutorials. It's easy to convince yourself you don't know your stuff. But whether your experience is from your career or from everyday living, you definitely have knowledge to share that's useful to others. (Yeah, YOU!)
As an example, confidence-blasting thoughts crept up as I wrote Blog Design for Dummies. I don't design blogs for a living, but I did have over a decade of design experience in other areas (print, overseeing web re-designs and managing creative teams) when I wrote it. Even with that experience, I still felt insecure at times while writing that book and wondered what I got myself into! And my most popular posts? Some of them I almost didn't publish because I thought it wasn't anything revolutionary. But you know what? It doesn't have to be revolutionary to make it a great blog post.
So I thought I'd pass along a few pieces of confidence-boosting advice for times you're feeling reluctant and insecure. Next time you're second-guessing your knowledge, remember this:
No one shares the exact same perspective.
One of the greatest things about blogging is that you could give five bloggers the same topic and they'd write about it five different ways. People love reading blogs because bloggers share tips, advice or tutorials from a personal perspective. No matter what topics you write about, always infuse a little YOU into your posts.
How do you stand out? Do you have beautiful photos to go along with your recipes? Do you organize your craft tutorials in a way that's super easy to follow? Do you share parenting advice that has readers learning and laughing hysterically at the same time? Pinpoint what makes your expertise special and roll with it.
Just because you know your stuff doesn't mean you can't stop learning.
You might feel like you're in no position to be doling out advice or ideas because you're still learning. Well, remember the experts still learn new tricks too. We all continue to learn. If we didn't, the person with 30 years of experience would be no better off than the person with two.
No one expects you to know everything so don't expect yourself to either. Always seek knowledge about the topics you write about: read, practice, go to events, attend seminars, take classes, learn from others. Hone your skills and share new things that you learn with your readers. Chances are, those things are new to them too. Which leads me to my final point…
There's always someone who knows more than you. But there's always someone who knows less than you, too.
This is the biggie. Don't compare yourself to the big dogs of your niche: the Rachel Ray of food, the HGTV of home decor, the What to Expect books of parenting. You aren't them… and you don't need to be. As I said before, you don't need to know everything there is to know about a topic in order to blog about it.
Sharing ideas or tips that might seem “simple” to you might be exactly what a reader needs to know. Sharing your perspective about a topic might be just what your reader needed to hear from a “real person” to know they aren't alone.
Instead of worrying that you don't know as much as the “experts,” remember you probably know more than you realize! And you can help those who don't know quite as much, but are eager to learn.
So next time someone tells you they're your go-to person for a certain topic or subject, don't get squeamish and uncomfortable. Just smile, say thanks and virtually pat yourself on the back.
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Hey- I'm Melissa! I'm a mom, side hustler, online course instructor, and brand marketer. I run a 6-figure blog helping online biz owners find their a-ha moments with can-do tips, tutorials, and online courses. I also work at Burt's Bees as the Social Media Strategist (yep, it's as cool as it sounds). Jump start your biz productivity with my free worksheet!
2 1/2 years on, I’m still learning. And I know I will keep learning as I go along.
And you’re oner person I learn from all the time. For that, thank you.
Thank you for this! It was just what I needed to read this morning. I often feel lost in a sea of bigger-and-better blogs out there and stopped blogging for 9 months because of it. But while I was “off” friends and colleagues often asked me when I’d get back to blogging. Even if I’m just writing for them, and offering them some creative inspiration for their day, then that’s enough for me to keep at it.
Love this post. I’ve had to remind myself that no one shares my perspective. My voice is unique and just as valuable to share.
This was exactly what I needed to read today! 🙂 Thank you so much! I know I am not an expert, and I will always probably be learning. It doesn’t discount what I know or my perspective though 🙂 Thanks again!!
“No one expects you to know everything so don’t expect yourself to either. ” – nailed it. LOVE this post!
I also find learning in a lot of blog posts that I make it a point to read different blogs daily. This is because I want to gain insight on how to become a better parent. With all the things that I have read and that I’ve read them coming from experts, I am not always confident about sharing what I know unless sharing the knowledge in my own household. I needed this tip! Thanks a lot!
Great post just what I needed to hear. I love sharing my knowledge but sometimes before I press that publish button, there’s a moment of doubt and apprehension. Thank you for reminding me that, if someone is reading my content it’s because they want to read what I have to say 🙂
I love this post. I find myself feeling insecure a lot–who am I to share recipes?! I didn’t go to school for this! But in the end, I’m just sharing what I know and I’m not claiming to be anything I’m not. I think no matter what our blogging niche is, we all have those moments of self-doubt.
What a great post. So lovely and friendly. Just the boost I needed. And you pinpoint the difference between blogging and published how-to books so well! It’s true: some of the posts I’ve enjoyed reading most were not Great Expert of the World type things but little things and I’ve enjoyed things posted by people who didn’t know 100% what they were doing much more than those that intimidated me with their superior expertise. E.g. I read a post about make-up from a woman who admitted that she’d only been wearing make-up for a few months and had no clue what she was doing: to me, she seemed to have a great clue and was much more accessible than a fashion diva! Thank you! Also, PS: saw your book in the shop here in Cambridge (UK) yesterday and was chuffed to bits. Will go back to buy it!!!!
This is something I needed to hear. I’m constantly second guessing myself when I write blog posts. “Is this a dumb idea? Will anyone like this? I’m not experienced enough to talk about that.”