I won’t lie to you: Cake Wrecks’ success has been more of a surprise to me than anyone. I didn’t set out to write a successful blog; it sort of happened by accident. So, with that caveat, here’s the best advice I can offer you:

1. Don’t do it for the money. Odds are you won’t make much.
2. Write about what you love, not what you think will be popular. It takes time to gain a readership, and if you don’t love your content you’ll get discouraged.
3. Do everything yourself, if possible. You’ll learn more that way.
4. Don’t spend money on your blog until your blog is making you money. There’s no reason to buy custom banners or advertising until your blog is off the ground.
5. Don’t compromise your principles. That can mean a lot of things, from the kind of language and advertising you use to what you write about. Just don’t try to be all things to all people – be yourself. Honesty and integrity will always pay off in the end.