Lauren DeMoss Benson

Twenty Tips for Christian Bloggers from an Expert (not really)

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It has officially been 4 years since I started my blog.

Over the last 4 years, many people have asked me advice about blogging, and I never quite know what to say. I don’t know exactly what they’re asking, and honestly, I don’t think they know themselves. I want to tell them that they do not know what they are getting themselves into. I certainly didn’t when I started. I want to tell them that I don’t know what I’m doing! I just do it.

I guess they want me to give them tips about social media and tips for reaching people and growing your blog, but it’s so so much more than that. And, just like any ministry, if you’re just in it for the popularity and/or money, then you’re not doing it right, and you will never reap the true blessings that it can bring. And, let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of heart.

{Side note: I don’t make any money off of my blog. I never have made a dime. I am only compensated for speaking engagements. I don’t have ads on my blog because A) I don’t want them to compromise my message and B) I don’t want to be monetarily motivated to write. I want it to come from and be for Jesus. There is nothing wrong with making money from blogging. That’s just what I have chosen to do for now.}

So from now on, this is my advice for potential and new and current bloggers. So ya, it’s not exactly from an expert. It’s just me. In all its glory (or not) and for whatever it’s worth, here it is:

1. Be prepared to learn as you go. Because there are so so many things to learn, and no one has all the answers.

2. Be prepared to be more vulnerable than you’re comfortable with complete strangers.

3. Be prepared for people to know things about you and make assumptions before you meet them. Sometimes, you’ll be better than those assumptions, and sometimes you’ll be worse.

4. Be prepared to meet many strange, weird, and wonderful people, and understand their stories.

5. Be prepared to work 24/7 answering questions, emails, and direct messages laughing with people and crying with them, behind the scenes, where no one sees but God.

6. Be prepared to contact other people to help those that you can’t. No one person has all the answers, and there are many people out who are experts in their fields who have answers for people. Facebook, Instagram, and email is not the best forum to seriously counsel people who need it. Don’t be afraid to admit that you can’t help, but you can find someone who can.

7. Be prepared to take this personally because no matter what anyone says, it is personal. Your heart is written out for people to read, and criticize, and they will.

8. Be prepared to not take this too personally because no one truly knows your heart but God.

9. Be prepared to disengage from negativity and arguments. There is a HUGE different between edifying questions/constructive criticism and people who just like to pick fights and tell you that you’re wrong. (The Internet is ripe with those people.) You don’t owe anyone anything. You don’t always have to respond to negative comments. Arguing online is rarely productive. Who has the time for that anyway? “Delete” is a great button.

10. Be prepared to keep at it no matter WHO says WHAT.

11. Be prepared to remember why you started, and write for that reason and that reason alone.

12. Be prepared to know that whether one thousand people read your post or ten people read your post, that if you reach one person with a challenge or encouragement or whatever they needed and got from your heart that day or a few months down the road, it was worth it.

13. Be prepared to not compromise the truth for followers and likes. No amount of popularity is worth selling out what you believe in your heart to be true.

14. Be prepared to only do and write what God puts on your heart. If you do that, you will be original.

15. Be prepared to not compare your journey and your blog and what God has you doing, with others big or small around you. God will lead you into what you need to be doing and He will lead you to the people you need to be reaching.

16. Be prepared to not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s ok. Everyone is a critic. Everyone. You will never please them all with everything you write, and that’s ok. Some of you won’t even like this list, and that’s ok too.

17. Be prepared to lose friends, and make better friends because of what you write.

18. Be prepared to love what you do, but not be defined by it. Just like everyone, you are defined by God and what He says in His word.

19. Be prepared to take breaks when you need them. Don’t be pressured by keeping up with someone else or writing things that God doesn’t intend for you to write about. Don’t burn yourself out.

20. Be prepared for it to be one of the most taxing things you’ve ever done, and one of the things that comes with the most blessings. The biggest being just the chance to reach out and touch other people’s lives with God’s truth- it all belongs to Him anyway.

So there you have it. If you ask me my tips, be prepared to receive this list and my best wishes. May the odds be evah in your favah.

14 comments

  1. Great list! I’ve been blogging since 2009 and I participated in numerous forums before that. #9 is absolutely true! Delete can be a blogger’s best friend! I don’t have to use it, though, because I generally avoid hot topics (or even lukewarm ones) and I moderate my blog comments. It also helps that I don’t have a large audience. LOL! But, if necessary, I would not hesitate to use the delete button and/or block trolls.

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  4. So happy to hear from you<3
    That list was very helpful, I love blogs too. And especially yours! I honestly visit your page just in case I miss one. God is using you to speak into my life and this blog is a blessing for me, and has even given me a confirmation on some time topics you talk about. So thanks so much for sticking to giving us a piece of your soul, heart and mind, I love your honesty and how you strive to stay true to God, the blog is super cute and orginial!

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  5. I’ve followed your blog for awhile now and you’ve encouraged me and inspired me so much. These tips are very helpful. I just started my own blog to encourage others too, and it would mean so much to me if you could check it out.

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  6. I really enjoyed reading these tips. It makes me more motivated than ever to reach people’s hearts through the words that God gives me. God Bless x

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  7. Just i what needed to hear. I never thoughs for a second that blogging was ministry as well. My original motive or plan was to reach the world with the meassage of God’s love and now i see how i get to research, study and pray just to be able to write what the Holy Spirit is laying in my heart. It’s not easy at all because some days you have countless things to write and other days, you have more than enough to finish before you can blog. I can only say, God is the strength and wisdomof every blogger.

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  8. Thank you for sharing this list! I have been blogging for about 9 months now… I love it! But yes, I am learning LOTS of new things along the way! One thing I have come to realize is that blogging is very time consuming, but SO worth it when you see that God is using you to help other. My hope and prayer is that my blog will encourage young women in their walk with God, draw them closer to Him, and help them live lives that are truly glowing with the presence of Christ. I know that in order to encourage others to do that… my life, my heart, and my blog has to be a radiant, shining, light for Christ. It’s a big responsibility and it’s humbling when I see how un-qualified I really am! I’m excited to see what God will do through my blog in the months (and hopefully, years!) to come!
    Rebekah

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  9. Hello! How are you today? =D
    This is the first time I comment in your blog, and I have to say: I love it! I love this post, I love the way you’re sincere and kind, I love the tips!
    When I started blogging, I didn’t know exactly what I’d do. I had others blogs, but I didn’t know why I started them, you know? I was doing something that was not what God had and has to me, but when I stopped and decided to do what was right, what I knew that would come with inspiration everyday, with subjects that I found out that I love to talk, I started my current blog (where I’m blogging for one year!), and the main thing: what God had prepared me to do, that was and is to write for girls and boys about trust Him, wait on Him and wait for his best to our lifes, and about books, etc =D And I’m so happy now. I found my place in blogging, in this world of blogosphere. Now I know what He has to me with this way to talk about His love and mercy.
    As I always say: if you want to have followers (actually are friends!), you need to make this with love and with no intention to have — only — popularity or amount of followers and likes. You need to make posts and stuff with happiness, sure that it is what you want to do and be sincere with love and always put God in everything, be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
    And now, you have a new friend =D
    God bless!

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  10. This was really good for me to read😊 I love to write and journal and I am in love with Jesus!!!! So I am considering blogging for real! This post has helped me to make a spirit led, God driven decision! Thank you. I will keep reading your blog❤️

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  11. Love this! I’m planning on starting a blog this summer, so I’m definitely thankful for you sharing these tips. They were definitely helpful!

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  12. Loved this honest post on blogging! It’s just what I needed to hear. It’s all about what God has placed on your heart to do, pleasing him, and reaching for the one that needed your words most! I started blogging almost a year ago. It’s a journey and I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness in and through it all!

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