Starting your own blog is like building a home. It’s an investment for yourself. It’s one that becomes a safe space where you can invite friends and family to visit. It’s where you can have open conversations and express your feelings on a variety of topics. Most importantly, it’s a place where you can be yourself and no one can judge you.
Some people visit your blog because the title or topic intrigued them, but most are there because they are interested in what you have to say about the topic. Whether it’s a business blog or personal archive, authenticity is a key factor for how successful your blog will be. Readers are expecting your content to be genuine, reliable, and relevant.
Begin your blog quest by following the six steps below:
1. Set a purpose
Setting a goal for your blog is essential. Determine what exactly it is that you want to talk about. Identify your intended audience and what you would like for them to gain from reading your content. Think about your potential call-to-actions (CTA). CTA are a turning point where visitors can turn into subscribers or potential customers. Everything you do should be based on the purpose and goal you determine in this step.
2. Start creating your content
Ideas are great, but now it’s time to bringing them to life. Outline a list of topics that you want to discuss and get to writing! There are so many options when creating a blog, you can incorporate images, links, videos, podcasts, and more. Be sure to reference original sources and give credit to artists and authors. Develop your brand voice, feel, and style in order to begin building consistency and reliability with your audience.
3. Identify a platform
Begin researching different platforms and decide which one you’re most comfortable with. Look up videos on YouTube or TikTok on the pros and cons of each. Most blog platforms offer everything you need in their free version. However, if you want to go the extra mile, request a trial period before subscribing to any premium versions. Some popular blog platforms are WordPress, Weebly, Substack, Mediun, Wix, and even LinkedIn. However, feel free to do your own research and see what meets your current needs.
4. Develop your identity
As you work on the blog content, you should also be thinking about a blog name. Having a name will help you when you’re rolling out your brand and building credibility. A blog name can be something as simple as your name, social media handle, or a combination of topics you’ll be talking about. Be sure to check that your potential blog name is not already taken. You want to be authentic and personable as possible. Don’t get carried away with this step. Always refer back to Step 1 to remember the actual goal of the blog.
5. Ask for feedback
As you begin writing, it’s important to gather opinions and feedback on your content. Send your drafted blog post to a select few family and friends (max 3) and ask them for their honest feedback. See what reaction they get from reading your content and ask how willing they are to return to your blog in the future. Only take their advice if you agree with it. While it’s important to be open-minded, it’s also important to firmly stand ground on the goal you developed in Step 1.
6. Content over creativity (at first)
The biggest mistake that amateur bloggers make is to focus on the look of their blog. The more time you spend stressing about the presentation, the less time you must focus on content production. Be patient and take your time. You’ll have a chance to add creativity but focus on building a genuine blog and following first.
Start inspiring
Like any investment, launching your blog takes time, hard work, and commitment. Get started on your long-anticipated goal and begin rolling out your “home”. You may never know how much your blog can inspire the world. Best of luck!
If you have any questions or need any additional assistance, please feel free to reach out to me personally.