How to start a blog
Anyone can create a blog to share ideas, build a personal brand or even grow a business. It all starts with ideas and an understanding of the audience.
I personally prefer any computer that will cope with lots of graphics. Image: Unsplash.
Answer these questions before starting:
What is your purpose?
What are you trying to achieve? Do you want to inform, persuade or inspire? Do you want to create change in the world? Or are you trying to strengthen existing beliefs and practices?
Who is your audience?
You could have multiple audiences. Or a very small niche audience. Do you just want to focus on your local area? Or do you hope to create a blog that could serve people all over the world? When broadening the geographic scope, I suggest most readers should have a shared interest in common.
What are your topics?
Your blog could explore a variety of topics that serve your audience. A yoga studio may realise many followers are also interested in plant based food. An environmentally sustainable blog could bring attention to eco lifestyle along with broader global issues. You can have topics within a topic.
Alternatively, a blog could be very focused. Maybe you love making desserts. Then focus on that. Enough people will want to see ideas for how to make desserts. There are blogs for all sorts of specialisations. That being said, your unique perspective can be the fresh angle that’s needed in the world.
Be inspired
Find inspiration for the subject of your specific content. Be inspired by people, nature and your own life. Share your view about hot topics that are in social media and beyond.
Choose a platform
I worked on a few different web site platforms over the years. I learned about what works and what doesn’t go well on each. A free Wordpress.org blog is a decent basic start. A paid Wordpress.com site could be more customised, especially when you purchase or subscribe to a Wordpress page builder. Wix.com has lots of customisation but, as far as I am aware, the content cannot be easily migrated from Wix to an alternative web site platform. I did some online research and saw stories from other bloggers who eventually moved away from Wix. The benefits of a move outweighed the struggles but it was not easy. Squarespace may have a bit less customisation of the appearance but it runs quite smoothly. Some of my favourite blogs are made on Squarespace. In your own decision making process, research the options and choose the platform that feels right for your needs.
Make your content
Write some articles
There are lots of ways to write blog articles. Make lists of your favourite things (sure, like The Sound of Music). Publish recipes. Share a ‘day in the life’ or what you ate in a day. Write your opinion on a hot topic.
Here’s what I learned over many years of creating various blogs. Various people will either like or dislike your writing style. If an individual doesn’t like your writing, it just wasn’t meant for them. It will better suit someone else. That’s ok. I wish I could have understood that a lot sooner.
I personally like to at least refine my grammar as much as possible. I also usually prefer to read blogs that have strong grammar. There are exceptions though. I follow content on a subscription-based platform. It’s from a spiritual leader. The peaceful words nurture my soul. That is more important than perfect grammar. When you write your blog, your audience may prioritise grammar more or less. It is something to keep in mind.
Find your own style and voice. I like to be more direct and literal. Some individuals try to develop a personal brand, especially in the coaching space, by writing very casually. They might even use explicit language. Creative personalities might prefer lots of metaphors. I don’t try to force a style that doesn’t feel natural to me. I just write in a way that feels comfortable for me and (hopefully) potential readers.
Add images and/or videos
Multimedia can make a good blog even better. Images bring the words to life. Videos connect people on another level too. I usually stick with pictures. I use a mix of creative commons and bought images, usually photographs. Whichever multimedia you choose, be sure to use it with purpose. Even a seemingly-random meme could uplift or educate. Just know why you are selecting your multimedia.
Share your blog
If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is around to hear it, did it even happen? Share your blog and encourage people to read it. That’s the whole point.
Be inspired by life experience such as nature when you create content. Image: Unsplash.
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