Blogger Recognition | Blog Award

Maggie, from Dreaming of Guatemala, kindly nominated me for the Blogger Recognition Award. Maggie started her blog only at the beginning of this year, and she has already reached over 1,000 followers. Probably because she’s sweet and kind. She posts yummy recipes, devotionals, and updates about her life. As she says, her blog is considered Christian lifestyle. She’s currently finishing her last year of being homeschooled, and she doesn’t mind sharing what she’s interested in. This October she is planning to write every day. Check out her blog and fall themed posts 🙂

Now, onto the award…

Blogger Recognition Award

A blog award given from blogger to blogger to encourage and acknowledge the hard work and effort that goes into creating their blog.

As I do most things, I going to elaborate a little more on my answer than how some others may have.

How Peeking Beneath started…

This blog originally was titled, “Peeking Beneath the Rock,” as you can see the picture was one I used (considered) for this blog.

Originally, I started with my main blog, Inside Cup. Inside Cup is Christian orientated, but primarily focused on devotionals, worship, and bible study. Currently, only Fridays are the one day out of the week that do not have any set weekly posts.

I have a huge passion for discussion and understanding. I also have a life haha. I didn’t want to divert my main blog between multiple ideas and categories. I wanted, and still want, Inside Cup to be fairly consistent in content with direct focus on Christ, and our walk with Him.

So, I thought by creating a second blog, this one, I would be able to talk about other topics. Topics like my school experiences, memories, personal updates, and heavily focus on my love of writing. I’d be able to share multiple posts but not bombard one particular blog daily. I started this blog (at the time of writing this) last year, November 3rd, 2016.

This was my first post, Our Small Voice Within. I’ll cover this in my advice part of the award, but this was a strong post. I’m proud of it. Currently, it still has no likes or comments (we’ll talk about this 🙂 ).

How Is The Blog Doing? 

The award does not cover this, but I want to answer this for those curious. I have about a month before reaching my year mark for this blog. I am still under 100 followers. This is completely okay. My main blog was the same way actually, I didn’t reach 100 followers till after the first year. Not everyone is going to sky rocket immediately.

In short, making a second blog was a good decision. I am still very much trying to figure out what kind of schedule I would like for this blog. I have a better grasp of what material I cover lifestyle, inspiration, and writing being top three. But because this is my second blog, a lot of people don’t know I have two blogs. To which I’ve worked on just having a small line at the end of posts of my main blog to let people know if they are curious, “If you would like to read more, check out my second blog.” And I do the same for the posts on this blog as well.

My Advice For New Bloggers

First off, check out my series Blog Customize Settings (Pt. 1) there are 5 parts total, and I go over all the customize settings. You need to know this. Check out both posts on What Not To Do As A Blogger as well. I was once new, that’s why I wrote these posts for you 🙂

1. My first piece of advice relates to what I talked about when I wrote my first post.

Don’t let lack of feedback or views determine your writing’s worth.

Just because people don’t know of you doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. You may not have figured out how to be a successful blogger, but that doesn’t mean you have a bad blog. I see a lot of writers and bloggers struggle with this. I’ve been there, and sometimes I visit back.

Even though my first post wasn’t well received, this is common when you start blogging. I know it’s a good post, and it’s important you also understand that. Not everyone is going to look at every post you wrote when they follow you. You can always reblog when you have a larger audience, or reference a post you want to encourage others to read by leaving a link in a blog post you write.

Admittedly, it’s hard. You started up a blog because you want to make a difference (hopefully). You want to reach out to others, it isn’t just about getting feedback on your writing. If that’s your only aim for your blog though, sit down and have a cup of humility tea.

Understand this is not all about you, and it isn’t all about me. There’s a reason why it’s called the blogging community. Be willing to go out of your comfort zone and meet others. Find blogs you like, and follow them. Comment about what THEY wrote about. Connect to your life, share your thoughts about the post. Be willing to be happy for others’ accomplishments, not just your own.

2. My second piece of advice is crucial for your blog, at any given time, but especially the beginning.

Know the purpose of your blog.

Why are you writing? Who are you writing for? What is your blog about?

Where is your source of inspiration?

What got you started or what pushed you to start a blog/to write? 

We go through our lives wondering what is our purpose. For me, I know writing is my purpose that God has given me. I believe my blogs are part of that purpose.

I use my experiences to write about, and to reach others. I find things that are helpful to me, and I want to share that with others. These passions are reflected in my blog posts, and the overall feel for my blogs.

You need to do the same. Discover the whys, what’s, how’s, where’s, and maybe when’s of your heart and passion for writing. Have 3-5 MAIN categories. Think of boxes with labels on them. Toys, pencils, and paper, for example. Toys will go in the box of toys. Pens in the pen box, etc.

How does that work with a blog? If your blog is about food and traveling that’s at least two categories. But you could have separate categories of your food. Posts dealing with restaurant food is one category, and posts dealing with your own recipes can be a separate category.

Tip: Sometimes you will change and adapt. But at least have a sense of which direction you will go when you start.  

My Nominations (Congrats, everyone!) 

Through Ink And Image

Showers Of Grace

Simply Megan Joy

The Buttercup Lamb

My Way Home

Elline Andreana

The Daily KC 

Super Pinay Mom 

You are full of it

Teen, Meet God 

The Rules:

• Write a post to show your award

• Give a brief story of how your blog started

• Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers

• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog

• Select 15 (or less) other blogs you want to give the award to