Blogging 101: Starting A Blog

Starting a blog is super easy, just remember to stay true to your own voice, and you’ll be fine. For a little extra help, follow these helpful tips and blog on!

Start With An Idea

First things first - what do you want to blog about? What are you passionate and knowledgable about? What do you want to spend your time talking about and sharing with others? Once you figure out your niche, stay focused. Make sure your readers know what to expect when visiting your blog. Most important - be original! Write your own content and don’t constantly repost someone else’s work. 

Discover Your Voice

Be genuine in what you post. It’s pretty easy to spot a fake. For first time bloggers, try and talk out loud as you’re writing. It may seem silly, but it helps to get the written word down. You can always go back and edit later. Not all writing has to be serious and heavy handed. Don’t be afraid to infuse your writing with breezy, informal chatter. A key tip to writing your own blog that cannot be stressed enough - be yourself! Don’t fall into the trap of wanting to mimic your favorite writers. Find your own voice and stick with it.

Select A Blog & Domain Name

There are many, many blogs out there, so stick with a simple name and design that stands out. Make sure that your blog and domain name match. In staying with the originality theme, make your blog name your own. Straying too close to someone else is unoriginal and messes with SEO.

Pick A Content Management System

There are many options out there such as WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Squarespace, etc. Find the one that best fits your needs based on the design templates you like and the functionality (meaning, what do you need your blog to do?). 

Grow Your Presence

Figure out how often you want to blog and create a schedule. Is it every day, weekly, or bi-weekly? Once you have a schedule, stick with it because once readers know what to expect, they will keep coming back. Engage with your readers. Responding to comments and emails that come through your blog is a great way to make connections and build relationships. 

Connect

You’ve written a great blog and have some followers - now what? Definitely take advantage of social media and make sure readers can follow you on such networks as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. To give your blog a further reach, link to other bloggers, comment on your favorite sites, offer to guest post on your favorite site or blogs that publish similar content, and follow them on social networks. 

With these few suggestions in mind, you’re ready to create your own blog. Remember, to keep it original and fresh and to have fun along the way.