“Don’t write what you know—what you know may bore you, and thus bore your readers. Write about what interests you—and interests you deeply—and your readers will catch fire at your words.” ~ Valerie Sherwood
If you are a writer or a blogger or both, there is the constant need to be able to put your thoughts into the best possible words. You want your writing to be impactful, to be helpful, to be understood and ofcourse you want it to spread far and wide. In other words GROWTH is what we are aiming for.
The pressing question I get asked a lot is HOW we can make our blogs grow without breaking our backs in the process.
Ask any blogger/writer and they will tell you its hard work to grow our blogs. There will be stories of late nights and less sleep and sometimes even exhaustion. I have been there too. Infact the writing isn’t as hard as the ‘putting it out there’ to grow is.
There are a few loving ways I have adopted to make sure the blog grows constantly at a steady speed. I’m all for slow and steady not fast and furious.
5 Positive ways to Lovingly GROW your blog:
- Write from your heart:
“Dont write because you want to say something, write because you have something to say.”~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
The heart knows what it wants to convey. Dont let other people, other writers or bloggers ever EVER affect the YOU that is right there in your heart. You might think emulating someone might get you a super blog, but that emulation can’t be consistent…and without consistency a growing blog can come to a standstill. You want your readers to know YOU through your message, not someone else’s. - Be honest:
“All stories should have some honesty and truth in them, otherwise you’re just playing about.” ~ Nigel Kneale
I have heard the ‘honesty is the best policy’ so many times when I was growing up, not realizing it had so become a part of me. Writing/blogging is in my opinion an art form. And no art is created by faking it. You can’t fake art! When you write from the heart, honesty becomes as paramount as the air you breathe. An honest sentence from the heart touches another heart so directly and so so deeply. That connection with the reader is what will make your blog grow. - Put yourself in your readers shoes:
“Walk a mile in my shoes is good advice. Our children will learn to respect others if they are used to imagining themselves in another’s place.”~Neil Kurshan
As writers we write what is in our heart, but the way you write it should be for the readers. Each person who comes to your blog, your writing, will be a unique individual who will only keep coming back to read your writing if and only if he/she connects with it. For topics to write, think about the topic and then put yourself in the readers shoes and think how you can fine tune it further to make it more connectable for the reader. - Connect with like minded folk:
There are social networks cropping up everyday. A good social network is one in which you have friends and colleagues who teach you something new everyday. Networks are like bands of best friends…you support each other, listen to each other, root for each other and like in life you even cheer for each other. You give more than you get, which makes growing together all that much more fun. I invite you to come join my social networks and I’ll introduce you to everyone I know. Hand in hand we WILL grow. - DON’T do it for money:
Add monetary gain as your first and only goal and all your so called ideas come spiraling down to the floor. The crash is mind boggling to many. Many bloggers wonder where they went wrong. When your goal is completely selfish, no amount of growth can come from it. When every article you write is to sell something or make some cash, the reader sees through it. You have to assume that the reader who is coming to your blog is intelligent and smart. You can certainly add ‘making money’ to the long term goal, but your first love should be ‘your purpose for starting the blog’ in the first place. Growth will happen, we just need to go at it the passionate way.
What is Heart Centered Blogging?
Heart Centered Blogging is now a monthly column on Positive Provocations.
Heart Centered Blogging simply means to blog with Love, completely. In this column I’ll share my personal experiences and give you first hand info on how you too can become a Heart Centered Blogger.
I’m opening myself up more to answer any questions you may like me to address about Heart Centered Blogging. Lets put the LOVE back in blogging! I know there is a lot of technical stuff that goes into making a blog, but here in this column I’ll share what I feel works to touch a readers heart and soul, not just tickles their fancy.
What are YOUR thoughts on this topic?
Do you have any questions, queries or thoughts to share about the above 5 positive ways to lovingly grow your blog? If you’re a blogger, what is the most challenging part of the whole process…according to you? Do share your thoughts and comments in the comments below.
With Immense Love & Gratitude,
~Zeenat~
Counseling Psychologist/ Spiritual Counselor
Motivational Speaker/Naturopath
Holistic Healer/Writer
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*Positive Provocations* 
This is such an important message. Thank you for this, Zeenat. In the early days of my blog, I remember sometimes rushing to get a post published on the day that I’d committed to; but I felt disappointed because those rushed posts came from my head rather than my heart. These days, I dig deep for the content that I will offer to my readers. If it doesn’t come from my heart, it doesn’t get published. I’d rather miss a deadline than to post something that isn’t filled with my love and overflowing with bits of me. Your words here are a beautiful reminder of why this is so important…and so rewarding. Thank you.
Hi Nea,
You are a heart centered blogger hands down! I have seen you grow over the past 3 years and love where you have come….
I’m much like you…no deadlines, only when the heart desires to say something it will come out in a post 🙂 Oh the joys of blogging….
Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts here.
Much Love~
I love the way you unabashedly embrace growth…in a slow and steady way. Every point you’ve made resonates for me, but I especially appreciate not just what you said but how you recommend keeping your reader in mind. I also love what Nea said about writing from her heart. I eagerly look forward to this column every month now! Thank you for showing us a true and authentic way.
Darling Sandra,
So happy these hearty blogging ways of mine resonate with you.
I kind of feel like as bloggers we must must and must LOVE our readers and out their needs in mind while we write.
I eagerly wait to write this column..cause I feel like I have so much to share and to give back to this community of loving bloggers.
Thank you for all your love and support over the years darling.
Much Love to you~
Thanks Zeenat,
This helped me see that I have lost my heart & true voice in my blogging; as I’ve started to focus more on how to grow it, make money, etc.
Brad
Hi Brad,
I think its important and very healing that you are ready to accept and correct your approach. I am not saying this is the only way that works….but this has definitely worked for me.
Keep money in mind…but focus on content from the heart. When you come from an honest place, growth is inevitable.
If you need any more help on anything specific do email me. I’m always happy to help.
SO Much Love to you~
Thank you Zeenat.
From emailing you & Joy about growing my blog, I’m realizing the first step may be to create more clarity about my blog, regarding the niche & purpose.
I appreciate your offer to help & will followup as I’m more clear. Thanks.
Enlightening and empowering Zeenat. If we listen to our heart so often the true message we have to share will emerge.
This post is a good reminder for me as I set myself the intention for MARCH to get my blog back on track
with love
from my ♡ to your ♡
Darling Suzie,
I have a goal I so badly want to get at by the end of this year…and believe it or not..i know all the past years of blogging is going to get me there. When that dream goal of mine materializes….it will be time to party 🙂 But for now I focus on growth too…. 🙂
May we both grow by leaps and bounds.
Much Love always~
Zeenat,
I love your message. I love writing from the heart. When I do I get the highest responses on my blog.
Great advice from someone who does write from the heart!
xoxo,
Angela
Oh Angela,
Youre too sweet 🙂
You are so definitely a heart centered blogger!
And seeing from how your blog is flying high….you are so so on the way to greater things.
Thank you for your loving comment here and for all your love and support.
Much love~
Hi beautiful Z,
Wonderful article and wonderful comments! If one wishes to grow a heart centered site, one may just joyfully open their heart..the rest follows..as you shared so beautifully in this article! What we focus on grows, so if we focus on the joy of sharing, we grow joy; if we focus on the struggle of growing, we grow struggle…may we all magnify the joy of sharing and allow our heart smiles to radiate:)
Darling Joy,
We are growing love when we blog with love! I do love how beautifully you shared your thoughts here. When we allow for love and BE love all else radiates love naturally.
Sending you lots of love~
🙂 Zeenat, what a heart-warming post. Blogging has to be personal. And the heart is the best source of inspiration, always. Writing about what triggers our passion is the best approach. And of course, carrying on the conversation with all the lovely people who come over and comment. I cherish the community I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with, over the years.
I love your points. Nothing compares to slow, steady growth as we make some life-long connections.
Hi Vidya,
To think of it … We met online and now it feels like we know each other forever. If that’s not love what is?
Its simpler and easier to blog from a heart centered honest space rather than be sucked into the statistics of it all..
I too cherish the communities and people I have come to knwo and love over the years.
May this connection we have last a lifetime…
Much love~
I completely identify with the late nights, lack of sleep and exhaustion. I’m doing whatever it takes to get my message out to the world, one reader at a time.
Blogging has definitely been a journey for me. My mission has always been to help others. Initially I had a lot of fears about revealing the real me. I wrote about the lessons I learned without revealing too much about myself. I’ve learned better. Now I try to be as transparent as possible because that’s what allows my readers to connect better and, hopefully, learn more deeply.
I like to write about whatever I’m dealing with at the moment as it’s fresh in my mind, along with how I’m working through the issues. And, as I’m writing, I think about how others may see and approach the same issue so that I can write in a way to connect with them.
Thank you for reminding all of us to stay true to ourselves as that’s the fastest path to success.
Dear Paige,
The blogging world and world at large would benefit tremendously if we were all lovingly transparent. The WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) framework should be adopted by all.
I’m happy you are an authentic soul..who shares her heart openly.
May your blog grow and grow and grow..
Much love~
Dear Zeenat,
tons of love and wishes to you once again, you have won the hearts of people as your messages touch deep into our hearts especially these lines —
“And no art is created by faking it. You can’t fake art! When you write from the heart, honesty becomes as paramount as the air you breathe. An honest sentence from the heart touches another heart so directly and so so deeply.”
Darling Swarna,
I’m so glad you like what I share here and that it touches your heart.
Thank you for your kind words and for your loving comment here.
Lots of love~
Oh Zeenat, this is just the post I needed…..you really made my day!thanx a ton.Even I am thinking of starting my own blog and just couldnt think of a way to proceed and your 5 positive ways are definitely gonna help. Definitely every person with a passion for writing writes from the heart but it should be in a way so that the readers can relate with it.Also I agree with you on the monetary part,earning money through the blog never ought to be prioritised.I simply cannot imagine how you put everything here so simply,the world starts seeming brighter and the path ahead seems simpler. Reading your post,I am sure, one who is not even a writer,will feel like writing anyway…..loads of love!
Sweet Priyanka,
You are too kind! Thank you for all the compliments …I’m blushing 🙂
Its great that you want to start your blog. I can’t wait to see what amazing beauty you start sharing.
If you need any more help just email me.
Much love to you always~
Love your perspective 🙂 magic & fulfillment happens when one grows from a heart centered place. it’s easy to get distracted by the statistics & analytics and that sends the blogger in the wrong direction.
Lovingly grow your blog 🙂 Love it!
Hi Aileen,
So happy you’re with me on the magic and heart blog growth!
You will not believe it…but I don’t remember the last time I checked the so called statistics of my blog. I just know its growing..I let the universe hendle the numbers part 🙂
Loved your comment here.
Much love~
I have found it’s even easier to actually write really good stuff by following these guidelines as well. I teach and mentor, guide and coach people and dogs, sometimes together, sometimes completely separate from one another all the time.
When I started writing about how to do it, and even more than that the lessons I learned myself from it as well as the joy I see when people actually grab onto a new habit or realize that they can in fact go for a dream they’ve always thought unattainable, the joy of got even greater while putting it into written words.
Hi Jt,
Youve truly found your calling! I can feel from this comment how much you enjoy and love what you do. Its amazing that when we put all that experience down into words….especially our blogs….the words go so far and wide and the effect of that is truly marvelous and ever growing.
May you and your message grow and grow!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts here.
Much Love~
Excellent points. Thanks Zeenat!
Thank you Mehmudah! So glad you liked the points mentioned here. I see youre a blogger too! Expect me on your side of the blog-o-sphere soon 🙂
Much Love~
Zeenat…
As a newbie solo blogger, you message is extremely helpful. When I started Awake Create a few months ago, I did so to test the waters. I was naive enough to think that it was all about the writing and connections. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by the emphasis placed on marketing, a sort of race to get the most subscribers, etc. I work at centering myself and writing from a place of telling stories. Most of the time it works. I am lucky to have taken a writing course with James Chartrand who hands down teaches the craft of writing, the discipline and practice it takes to improve, and years that it takes to become a fine writer. Without her guidance, I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t have dipped my toe into the water.
I am in the process of exposing more of myself as I begin to feel comfortable in this arena. I love the challenge of it. And it feels wonderful to be participating in such a giving community. You are one of the loving and open supporters. I am grateful for your presence. Much love…Fran
Darling Fran,
I really cant believe you started just few months ago. You seem so comfortable in your blog skin already. Wow!
And that writing course from the finest of the finest means I need to take a lesson from you my dear. I definitely need writing lessons 🙂
Instead of exposing..I much rather prefer unfolding myself through writing…
I wish you immense success in your blogging growth. I wouldn’t worry about marketing…pretty soon your readers will do the spreading far and wide for you 🙂
Lots of love to you~
Hi Zeenat, I love your thoughts here. I have been told to make my site into a huge sales funnel, with content that funnels to my services, but I could not do it. The writing on my blog is not connected to the business side of things. The topics may overlap at times, but I prefer to write what I want to share from my heart. Blogging from the heart makes me vulnerable, and I fear changing directions or growing in different ways, but I know fear only creates resistance and suffering, so it’s best to embrace my current truth and flow with it.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful perspective!
Dearest Lynn,
Dont fear….just go with your hearts direction. Its the best guide.
Business only flourishes when you are happy doing what you do my dear.
As for growing in different directions, i think its great that there is so much inside you that you want to offer to your readers. My personal motto for this year is Transparency completely and totally.
Its easier to Be You than to control you. Let loose darling, there is immense satisfaction is transparency.
I would love to help you in anyway you like….email me..and we will clarify those doubts.
Lots of love to you~
Thank you Zeenat.
Who knows…maybe one day I’ll venture off and create a blog? At the moment it is prime importance to pass my IATSE Journeyman test + another work related test.
I enjoy this community. For me it’s like being back in college. Totally like being creative with my comments. Feel if I can evoke other’s perspectives in a positive way, present interesting and truthful experiences, add humor to some one’s day, add love to some one’s day, that my small contributing comments are done in the right spirit.
I have total respect for all the bloggers that I have followed. I do realize that my comprehension of the work involved is fractional at best.
Maybe contributing in the background for some one’s blog would be more my calling??
Don’t know really what is down the road regards this post and me, but for the moment let me share this comment that I left at another site yesterday before reading your post:
‘One can look at life as that of a journey traveled by wagon. The course of the trip has continual side trips along the way. As wooden wheels break down, parts are salvaged for the upkeep of the working wheels, so that the journey can proceed. A journey not as much in search of financial success, or fame, but more so a journey that allows the passenger to enrich and be enriched along the way.
One does not have to necessarily ‘quit’ any aspect of the life’s journey, but can reserve that which has already formed their own unique vehicle. When one enters new unexplored territory presenting yourself honestly to the native inhabitants is of prime importance…if the wish is to be newly enriched, and to likewise enrich from one’s own developed heart.
At the end of the journey it is not as important to say that you were successful with this or that, but rather that you are able to take one last deep content breath at the end…’
“When you write from the heart, honesty becomes as paramount as the air you breathe.”
Here’s a song to listen to along the way:
Dear Rand,
You know you are my star commenter!!! I hope you know it…cause when you share you share from the heart. I do wish one day when your heart so desires you start a blog, even if its just a digital diary. Think about it 🙂
Your comments a always so beautiful that they many a times render me speechless….and that aint an easy task 😉
SO glad you are part of this Positive community I cherish.
Thank you!!
Much Love~
Zeenat!
What great advice! It’s so true that my best posts are the ones that come from my heart and interest me intensely. The ones that I think readers might like but I’m not too interested in are just OK.
Each of your tips are wonderful. I think what helps me is the connection with the like minded bloggers. And remembering that money is the not the main point. I think I’ll print out your 5 suggestions and pin on my bulletin board to remind me.
Thanks so much!!
PS Loved your quotes with each tip, too.
Dear Betsy,
I am so glad these heart centered blogging points resonated with your heart in some way.
I do cherish my like minded connections with other bloggers so much. So much learning from each other na.
Oh I have got to get a look at that bulletin board of yours..who knows what other treasures are there.
Thank you for your loving connection and comment here.
Much Love to you~
Wow Zeenat, these are such beautiful tips.When we write from the heart it shows. For me when I have really dug deep, I am always “afraid” to hit publish. But those are the posts I do connect most with my readers.Very interesting.
Veeh
Hi Veehcirra,
Ahhh the still get those butterflies in my tummy before I hit publish! Yup to this day….just before I hit publish…I have those excited and fluttery butterflies in my tummy 🙂 I agree…its the best indicator that yes we are coming from a heart centered and very transparent space.
I’m so glad you are a heart centered blogger.
Thank you for your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
Zeenat: Great post. I loved all of these suggestions. I really thought what you said about writing from the heart is such an important one and great advice. I think you are so right that you are always better off to “just do you” when it comes to writing and if you can find your way to show people your heart, you really can create some powerful writing. I see you do it here all the time:) Great post.
Hi Sibyl,
Lovely seeing you here! 🙂
Heart centered blogging and living is really all about ‘just do you’ 🙂 Youre so right, when it comes from the heart it can be immensely powerful.
Thank you for your loving comment here and for all your support.
Much Love~
Zeenat, writing from the heart is the single most important thing a blogger can do. Otherwise why write!?
My most popular blogs have been when I have been raw, vulnerable and totally open. When my father passed away a few years ago, I blogged about what I was going through – and those posts were not only therapeutic for me but also had many people commenting and helping me through my journey.
So the key is be yourself, be open, be vulnerable and be human.
Dear Arvind,
Oh so so true..why write at all when its all superficial and not serving any purpose…
I love how you say raw, vulnerable and totally open…those are the qualities that make for the best blog posts and for the best books too!
I know how much I was touched when i read that post after your fathers passing.
May we all become heart centered bloggers…
So Much Love~
This is such a lovely reminder. When I feel too tired to write, it is a reminder that I am perhaps not coming from the heart. It makes a huge difference when my writing comes from a place of deep caring. It’s not always the easiest thing to achieve – with the cacophony of advice and deadlines all around – but it’s surely a sweet spot. So glad to find your blog!
Hi Sarah,
Lovely seeing your bright smile here 🙂
Oh deadlines never work for me. I’ll decide and then only and only when my heart makes me write I write and publish …I’ve now come to an understanding with my heart and let it have its way…cause any other way of writing just doesnt work for me.
May you find your sweet spot everytime you sit to write.
Thank you for your lovely comment here.
Much Love~
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