5 Tips For Becoming A Blogger.
I contemplated a lot with what type of blog posts to put out during this time of ‘self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine & chill, working from home’ time period and what I thought to do was to write posts that will be somewhat helpful and posts that will bring some type of normality to what we all are facing right now. So today’s post I decided to share some helpful tips for people are interested in starting a blog.
I started blogging in April 2016 and I do not regret up to this day. When starting a blog there are things you need to think about before jumping into it.
FIRST, THINK ABOUT YOUR WHY FACTOR
NEXT, DECIDE ON A BLOG NAME/OR TITLE
- Why do you want to be a blogger? This is a key question to ask yourself. If your number one response is to get “free stuff” then you are starting for the wrong reasons and you may not get very far. As a blogger, it means you have a responsibility to be truthful, vulnerable and relatable to your audience. Becoming a blogger for free items does not show that you fall into any of those three categories. So, think about why you want to be a blogger.
- Do you have something valuable to offer others? Fashion, beauty, art, writing, etc. (some examples).
- Do you want a platform to show your talents? Writing, teaching, DIYs, etc. Think long and hard about your reason and then move on to this next step.
- What am I passionate about that I want to share with others? Cooking, fashion hacks, life tips, etc.
- Think about the purpose of your blog, whether it’s for a hobby, business or a platform that is your own. This is important.
I thought this was the easiest part before I started, but in actuality guys, it’s the hardest part. It’s important to know what you want your blog title/name to be because you have to purchase your domain name (what people will type in to find you on the web). To make it easy, just think about who you are and what you want others to see when they hear your blog title/name or type in it on the web. That should do the trick! I chose “Keeping Up With MJ” because I wanted people to keep up with me and my adventures as a blogger. I wanted to get out my comfort zone and allow people to see my writing talents (at the time) and now everything else that I’ve added to my blog!
THEN, DECIDE ON YOUR NICHE
AFTER, CHOOSE A BLOGGING PLATFORM
Keeping this part short and sweet, in my opinion, your niche is what you’re going to be focusing on. There are so many types of blogs out there and it is so important to make sure you don’t get “lost in the sauce” aka overwhelmed and undervalued. Figure out what your focus is. For me, I focus on writing (lifestyle, tips), fashion/style, beauty, and wedding. I evolved and expanded my niche over the years and I’m very much proud of it! You can and will be proud too once you figure out what your niche is!
You have to decide what blogging platform is best for you (and your pockets). When I started blogging, it was just a platform for my writing so I went with the free WordPress blogging platform. I didn’t know much at the time and I was just interested in getting myself out there. As I’m approaching 4 years next month, my thoughts and my content have evolved. I currently have WordPress Premium which allows me to do more, but I am thinking about switching to Squarespace later this year!
Some examples of blog platforms:
- WordPress.com
- WordPress.org
- Blogger
- Squarespace
LASTLY, CREATE CONTENT YOU LOVE
The most important tip to take away from this blog post, create what you love and keep it 100% YOU. It’s very easy to compare yourself to other bloggers, but remember that your audience love you and your work. The more authentic you are and real is the more they can relate and they will stick around. Add value to what you put out and it will show. When you add value to people’s lives, whether by educating them or entertaining them, they will keep coming back. Take time to plan out your blog posts and use your photos to tell your story (if that works for you).
I hope this post was helpful. In my next post, I will be sharing how you can build your social media presence (Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter etc.). I have some tips and tricks for you so make sure to tune in next time.
Stay updated by subscribing via email to my blog! Thanks for stopping by! XO MJ.
Good post… I’m currently in the process of trying to get my blogs out to more people on twitter, so looking forward in hearing possible tips you suggest that I might not currently be doing…
Sounds good!
I love this post! Some really essentials points about blogging and making that decision, having this ability and freedom to create and share on my own platforms is my favourite thing about becoming a blogger!
Sarah x
http://seethestars.co.uk
Exactly, thank you! Something about having your own thing.
Great post! I’m currently in the process of revamping my blog site and this post was super helpful!