So many of you have e-mailed me and tweeted me asking how do you start your own blog? How do create one, do I need a programmer, what should I write about? These are questions many of you ask me daily, but have no fear is less complex than you think and easier to promote partly due to social media.
I’m a huge advocate in starting your own blog to further your business, expressing your feelings, promoting your products now in days we can’t seem to give a brand or personality credibility without googling their website. I want to teach you the process which in the end will help you become more noticeable, more marketable and accessible to your fan base. From creative to marketing, writing skills, blogging can teach you lots of valuable skills.
>Here is a process I would like you to follow:
Brainstorm
Starting a blog is like starting a business: you don’t just get an idea and decide to launch it the next day. You need to think things through first.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
What are you so passionate about that you’ll potentially write about every day?
What makes your blog different? Unique content is key when trying to attract a mass audience
Is there an audience out there for what you’ll be blogging about?
Do you want to make money or is this strictly about drawing an audience or furthering your business/career?
Do you have the time?
When I started Lorensworld.com I had a vision, but first I had to answer the questions below. I began by researching other blogs whom I thought would be a competitor to Lorensworld.com, what kind of content will be posted, who will be my audience and demographic. Once I had these questions answered I partnered with my web designer to go over the schematic of the site. This process may take longer than you expect, but just remember organization is key.
Practice
There are two major blogging platforms out there: Blogger WordPress and Joomla.
But here’s the best part: they’re all free.
The free version of WordPress isn’t as robust, but it’s all you need to get started. And don’t worry, if and when you decide to move on the next level, WordPress makes it a smooth transition. also, don’t worry if you don’t have a graphic designer all blogs offer free templates that you can manipulate yourself is that easy.
Why is practicing for free such a big deal? Because most blogs die pretty quickly. Eventually, people realize they aren’t as passionate about the topic or the idea of blogging after a month or so. So practicing lets you get started without spending any money — it’s kind of like the ten-second rule only this one should last at least a few months.
Make Time
“If you want to be a good writer you have to do two things — read a lot and write a lot.” —Stephen King
Same goes with blogging. If you thought all you’d be doing is writing, you’re wrong. And guess what? You’re going to need a LOT of time to do the reading and writing it takes to set up your blog.
Set up a routine where you have a couple of hours a day to work on this. Trust me, you’ll need every bit of that time and then some. For me, the mornings before I go to work are the best time: it’s quiet and my brain is ready to roll.
Some tips:
Take a notebook with you wherever you go to jot down any ideas you may have about stuff to write about.
ReadProblogger, Copyblogger, and every blog related to your niche that you think is good. Every day.
Write three posts a day if you can. The more you write early on, the quicker you’ll find your voice.
Use Creative Commons for images — they make a big difference.Network like crazy: without a community you’ll have nothing.
Take it to the Next Level
So you went through all the steps and three months later you’ve got a blog you’re still passionate about. But you want more. More flexibility, more features, more everything.
Now is the time to buy your domain name. If you want a theme that isn’t free, now is the time to do it. Want to hire someone to create a custom logo? Get creative, sometimes students are your best advisors because they are fresh, modern, edgy and Free. Most students are trying to build their portfolio so if you find someone that is willing to work with you at no cost use them and learn from them.
I know this last step is pretty vague — it could be a long post of its own — but once you’ve gotten to this point you should have a bunch of people that you can ask for help. That’s how I learned: by asking questions.
Now you’re basically starting your own business. Success doesn’t necessarily mean money, but it should mean you’re getting what you want out of it. You should be learning new things, your writing should be getting better, and you should be getting to know new people in the space.
This is why you decided to start your blog in the first place Click here to find out more! “Was this helpful? Do you have a blog? Drop me a note I want to see them.
