How to start a blog

I’ve been getting a lot of questions through recently about how I started my blog, so I thought it might be a good idea to write a post with some tips and pointers for anyone thinking about starting their own!

Choose a name with longevity

I decided to change mine after about a year of blogging and it was an absolute nightmare getting everything switched over. Think of something that will represent you for years and years to come. Share it with a few close people for advice but not too many people. Too many opinions are usually counterproductive!

Choose your hosting platform wisely

I started on Blogger but once I got more serious about blogging I wanted to go self hosted, which meant I had to switch to WordPress. It was a bit of a pain getting it all switched over and I do still find WordPress harder to work with than Blogger. There are lots and lots of very successful blogs on Blogger so just go with the one that you feel most comfortable with. Keep in mind that Blogger is more basic and doesn’t have as much scope for web developers to code it to your specific wants in the future. If you want your own domain name, that’s easy enough to do as well and also a great idea. I’m with GoDaddy.

Choose a template design that reflects your personality

There are so many free templates out there that look great or you can pick up a reasonably priced one on Etsy. Chances are you will change your mind on your design at some point and want to freshen it up. A nice, clean, responsive design that works on all devices is the best way to go. If you’re getting really serious there are lots of designers and and illustrators out there that can custom design things for you. Again Etsy is good for finding those sorts of services, or Instagram.

Set up separate social media accounts

It’s easier to have separate social media accounts, from your personal ones, for your blog. It looks more professional and is much easier to manage. It’s often a good idea to have the same profile picture for them all as well because it makes you easier to find.

Engage in the blogging community

Whether it’s a beauty, fashion, parenting, lifestyle or anything in between blog you are thinking of starting, one of the best things you can do, to get yourself out there, is to engage in your blogging community. Us lot in the ‘parenting community’ are a very friendly bunch and are always happy to help each other out, whether it’s through a retweet or a linky etc.

Post regular content

In the beginning, it’s often quite a good idea to post your content on specific days so people know when to expect something new to read. It also gives you something to work towards and you’ll quickly have some established content on your site which will look good to those stumbling across your blog.

Don’t compare yourself to others, but do take inspiration

There is no point comparing yourself to others, We all have our own style and that’s the beauty of blogging – it’s open to everyone. It is a great idea to take inspiration from other blogs that you love though. Be sure to follow all your faves and engage on their sites and social media accounts…but don’t link dump. Nobody likes link dumping!

And the most important one…

Enjoy it

You can make a living from blogging (although I work full time and just supplement my income with what I earn through blogging and YouTube) but it shouldn’t be all about that. You should be doing it because you genuinely love and enjoy it. It shows through your writing when you genuinely enjoy what you are talking about so people will be more likely to engage with your content.

Hope that helps. I’m thinking of doing some more posts in this series, such as tips on starting a YouTube channel, tips on blog photography etc so just let me know if there’s anything specific you would like to know from me.

I can’t promise I’ll be a big help, but I’ll try my best!