What I'd Tell My Daughter if She Wanted to be a Blogger

1) Have a purpose. Write out your reasons for blogging and review them often to make sure your posts reflect your purpose. This also helps you determine when it's time to let go of your blog and invest your time elsewhere or whether you're starting to compromise in your writings.

2) Be gracious to your visitors and followers. You belong to Jesus, and that truth should flow out of your responses and your treatment of those who read your blog. I've felt many a cold shoulder from other Christian women bloggers who were theologically precise but a bit lacking in the love department. Don't let this be said of you. When a new visitor leaves a comment on your blog, always take the time to visit hers and leave encouragement.

3) Comments aren't an indication of the quality of a post. We all want affirmation of what we're saying. I've seen over 80 comments on a post about getting an AARP card in the mail and have noticed only a few comments on brilliant posts that sharpen and challenge. The truth is most readers find it easier to comment on insignificant and everyday things than to weigh in on deeper matters. (And some bloggers just have LOTS of friends. :)) While feedback is encouraging and spurs us on, it shouldn't become the focus.

4) Be sincere. If you say you're going to pray for someone, do it right then, or write down the name and be faithful to pray. Don't follow other blogs just to get them to follow you (this flies in the face of marketing logic, I know, but this goes back to knowing your purpose). Comment sincerely, avoiding flattery.

5) Be generous in promoting other bloggers and encouraging others to read their work: Jealousy often abounds on Blogger and Wordpress, but as Christians we blog differently. Promote the blogs of other Christians, and encourage them with good words.

6) Keep your blogging in perspective: Consider your other God-given responsibilities and make sure you're not neglecting your priorities and getting caught up in reading endless blogs and checking for comments.

7) Remember your words are there for a long, long time. Would you want your future children to read them? Would they make your future husband proud? At the core, do they honor the LORD? Don't be afraid to pull a post when you've erred, but also remember that your hitting the delete button doesn't mean your words aren't still floating around somewhere.

8) Small and true is very good. You'll quickly discover the temptation to have lots of followers. But there's nothing like having a faithful few around, those who really love you and pray for you and encourage you and set you straight when they need to.

9) Beware of internet disagreements battled out in the comments section. Yikes! I've witnessed some ugly ones, and I'm sure there have been times I should have just kept my mouth shut, too. Suddenly, we strip away the charity and humility we're supposed to be clothed in, and anything goes.

10) Watch out for people-pleasing, fame-desiring tendencies that cause you to compromise the Truth: When I first started blogging, I frequently read the blog of a young woman who was passionate about many things, especially honoring God in all areas of her life. She spoke hard words and received much criticism. She gradually threw off the unpopular posts for tamer topics that didn't stir much controversy. You want to speak the truth IN LOVE, but guard against a concern for offending people (because the truth of the gospel IS offensive) that leaves you spineless at the keyboard.

11) Don't leave backhanded comments: Like one I recently read, "I don't like your blog, but this was a good post." Why not, as a Christian, just say, "Great post." To add the former is simply a way to get a dig in at someone, and that's not Christ-like at all.

12) Some people just won't like you and many will often misunderstand you: They might not like you because you're a Christian or because you have blue eyes or because you have four children instead of two or because you use exclamation points in your posts. Get over it, and remember your purpose. Also, we all read posts with our own set of prejudices. That means we'll sometimes misunderstand what a blogger is saying or want to add in all the exceptions to the blogger's post, etc. Clarify yourself if necessary, but don't get caught up in trying to explain every detail of every post.

13) There might just be one: You just never know who you might encourage that day. What if your words helped one Mama love her calling a bit more or speak to her children more kindly or keep pressing on in teaching her children? What if your firm admonition reminded her to re-focus her priorities and your transparency renewed her wonder of God's grace?

14) Be authentic: Not as in a blogging exhibitionist, but rather, are you the same women at home that you are on your blog? Do you tell young ladies to respect their parents while you dishonor yours? Do you counsel other women to make their families a priority while you neglect your children to get blog posts done? Be consistent. Be authentic. Ask your family. They'll answer honestly.

15) Above all, honor God: Remind all who read of Christ crucified, the good news of the Gospel. Speak of His grace and mercy. Be thankful. Encourage. Edify. Say the hard but true things. Don't let your blog become an idol. Be ready to let it go when it's time. Fear God and not man.

With love,
Trisha