How to Start a Blog

If you were to sit with almost any blogger, they’d tell you that everything started from a passion that they wanted to share with people. With this post, I want to share what I’ve learned in my journey as a blogger and hope to inspire you to follow your dreams. Maybe you’ve been thinking about what it’d be like to start writing about something that you love and publishing it on a blog, but you’re worried that your website will get lost in the midst of the thousands of blogs that are already established. Take it from a girl who started blogging for fun and found overwhelming support and success; all it takes is that drive and a few little tips to start!

Blogging Platforms and How To Start a Blog:

Being a blogger may seem glamorous but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a successful blogger. One misconception about starting a blog is that you need to be a website designer, or hire one, in order to build a nice website. That is so not true! Thankfully there are so many host platforms that can help you build a website fast and with little technical know-how. Personally, I like WordPress because it’s the easiest platform to work with and you can find some gorgeous templates. When I thought about how to start a blog, I found that WordPress was so user-friendly, but there are also great forums that are accessible through a quick Google search to learn everything you need to know. You can use WordPress for free, but if you spend a little bit of money, you can establish your own domain name and get a nicer layout. There’s always room to move to a paid membership once your blog gets more attention, so it’s not absolutely necessary to pay if you’re unsure about whether or not you want to dive into blogging full force. Some other popular platforms to start blogs or websites on include Wix and Blogger– these make building a customized blogging site so simple and quick. If you’re not tech-savvy like me, consider hiring someone to build your website for you. That way, you can customize your layout and make your vision come to life.

Vision:

Once you’ve decided what your blog is going to look like, it’s time to refine your vision. What is it that you want to be known for? How can you turn something that you love into words and put your own unique spin on it to capture readers? What’s different and unique about your blog? Don’t rush into writing your first post until you answer these questions for yourself. What’s fun about blogging too is that you don’t have to be Shakespeare to write; what people are looking for is a personal touch and perspective on things they already care about. That being said, you do want to be careful about your spelling and grammar, as well as keeping your opinions unbiased.

How To Name A Blog:

Naming your blog can be hard because it’s the one constant thing that will represent your brand, so be careful and think hard before you come up with a name. I learned from my mistake of naming my blog something I didn’t really care for, and I decided to rebrand and change the name of my blog. It can be a risky move, but thankfully it worked out well for me.

Be Social:

You really have to put yourself out there and represent yourself as a brand in order to gain a steady and loyal following. That means engaging in popular social media platforms with your followers, fellow bloggers, and the media. Don’t be afraid to share your content and share it often. Ask your family and friends to share your posts on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site because this is how people can discover you. You also never know who your friends are friends with

Consistency:

You also want to ensure that once you’ve created a focus for your content, you’re consistently posting however many times works with your schedule. You don’t have to post every day, but if you begin by posting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you need to keep it up.

One trick with WordPress: you can schedule your posts to publish on certain days if you have them written ahead of time. Readers will stick around if you’re posting well-written, consistent, and interesting posts, and be sure to share them on social media as much as possible with engaging photos and summaries. Make a commitment to yourself and your readers, and stick with it. They are going to help make you successful. That being said, don’t be discouraged if it takes some time to build up a readership; that’s how it is with everyone when they’re starting out!

Camera/Equipment:

If you’re going to be blogging about something that’s strong on visuals; say, fashion, beauty, hair, etc, be sure to invest in a good camera. Your images are one of the easiest ways to get noticed, and they can also make you look unprofessional if they are not great quality. I use the Canon G7X when I’m on the road or traveling, but I use the 70D or the 5D otherwise.
If you have a good camera, you may even want to start vlogging! It’s another great way to connect with your readers or subscribers and give them an intimate glimpse into your daily routines. I find it so rewarding and it’s the best part for me. I also have a YouTube channel that drives some traffic to my blog, and sometimes my content works with the videos I post. On each platform, you can find unique things and so it helps me share more information with more than one medium!

My Goal As A Blogger: 

For me personally it’s important to connect with my readers. I truly consider my subscribers my  friends and I love love love it when my readers comment because then it becomes more of a conversation as I always do my best to comment back. For me it was important to create a platform and build a community where we can all have a place to share our ideas, opinions etc.. that’s why I suggest thinking hard about what your goals are and what you want to get out of blogging before you start so that you’ll have a clear vision as to where the blog is going

Advice On Blogging:
One of the most important pieces of advice I can give you, aside from all these logistical and social aspects, is to do this for YOU. Don’t do it to become famous, don’t do it to become popular, and don’t do it because everyone else is. Readers will be able to see through it, and they would much prefer to see your passion and your enthusiasm shine through your blog. I started my blog because I love the artistic and creative aspects of beauty and fashion, and I wanted to share my opinions, tips and tricks as a professional makeup artist and also have fun with fashion and lifestyle posts. I am so grateful for the way I’ve been supported by you guys, and I fall in love with what I do everyday even more. Believe in yourself and your message, and you never know where it might take you!

Good Luck Loves!

sona