How to Start a Blog When You're Clueless

Blogging is a wonderful writing venue for many authors. It is a wonderful way to express your ideas and possibly even test out your book before going to publication. I'm excited for you and I want you to know that it's totally doable. It will take passion and commitment in order to be successful, but I know that if you work hard and stay driven to your mission, you can do it!

A blog is simply a version of a website. It's your place on the web where you can share and grow your business.  It is a way to make passive income. There are tons of bloggers who make six-figure incomes which is an amazing incentive for beginners. It can provide anything from a hobby to replacing your income. There are times that blogs start out as a hobby and evolve into a full-time income. You need to realize that you must be patient. It will take some time. Don't quit your day job.

The question many people face with a blog is ... what am I going to blog about? This is a no-brainer for some, but for others it requires looking into your interests and pinpoint where you want to land. I've made my Blog Planner available at a low cost to help you in all three steps in creating your blog. As you go through the planner you will discover the heart of your blog and how you can build from there.

Step 1: Define Your Purpose

The first thing you need to figure out is your blog's purpose. It needs to be something you are passionate about. You may have many hobbies or subjects you know a lot about. This doesn't mean that you're an expert, but you know enough about your field that you can help others. Even if you don't focus on one subject with your blog, you need to know the direction you're going in. There are some blogs that have a wide range of topics, which is perfectly fine as long as you know what you're doing. 

There is a lot of inspiration you can get from simply scrolling through Pinterest and checking out other blogs. There are currently more than 570 million active blogs. That is unreal! So, as you define your purpose, you must focus on where you can land to produce high-quality content. No one will read your blog if it isn't good. It's not about how many posts you can push out, but how good the posts are. Focus on quality.

Be sure you select a topic that you're highly interested in and not just a popular subject. Successful blogging will take up a lot of your time, so choose wisely.

Step 2: Choose a Platform and Pick a Name

There are many different blogging platforms available. There are free hosting sites and those you have to pay for. Most people will tell you to start out on WordPress, but this choice is up to you. If you choose a free hosting site, the site name will be included in your domain name. Look at your budget and go from there.

After you've chosen your site, it's time to pick a theme. Hosting sites have made it easy but you will need to look at what fits you the best. Spend some time looking through and decide what appeals to you and your purpose. Choose a layout and design that looks great and fits your style. It is wise to preview the different themes to help you with this step.

The next biggie is picking a name. It is an important step because it's how you're known online. It represents you. Choose wisely. I suggest spending some time searching names of blogs with a similar interest and then go from there. 

Tips for choosing a good name:

• Make it short
• Make it easy to remember
• Make it catchy
• Be cautious of spelling, if you spell a word wrong to be cute, it could cost you by people not finding your site
• Use key words to help with search engine
• Use adjectives (funny, daring, peaceful, yummy, etc)
• Use your name
• Use a nickname

Step 3: Produce, Publish, and Promote!

It's now time to get to work. The planning stage was the easy part. An effective blogger has a mission and works at it.  The Blog Planner will help you stay focused and generate good posts. It's a must have to keep you organized and on task. As you plan your posts, I suggest looking at the big picture of where you want to go for a year. Sketch out your plans and blogpost ideas to help guide you in writing. When you're sure where you want to go, it's time to produce your first post.

I always write a post, save it, and then wait a couple of days before editing. It makes it easier for me this way because I can read it with a more critical eye. When the post is fresh on my mind I know what I'm trying to say and sometimes I'm not always clear in my writing.  A sentence may be clear in my mind but perhaps I didn't write it to where it's clear for others. Does that make sense? There are times during editing that I think, what in the world was I saying? When I distance myself from a post for a couple of days, I can see where my writing needs clarity.

When your post is edited and ready, it's time to publish. You may think the hard part is over, but it's just getting started. Promotion is the key to success. You want to create good images that match the brand of your blog. There are some free images online, but make sure they are truly free and available to use. I suggest taking your own photos or hiring a photographer. Canva is a wonderful design tool to assist in creating images for posting.

There are many avenues to go down to promote your blog. Social media is key and free! It can drive hundreds of people to your blog. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are just a few of the free posting sites. It is amazing when others share your posts and create even more free advertising. Engage with others and be social, it will be worth it.

I hope this post is helpful and encouraging. Please feel free to message me if you need help. Writing can be a lonely place at times, but you're not alone. Stay strong and keep writing!