Good morning and Happy Humpday! Today I’m answering a FAQ regarding how and where does one begin with starting their own blog.
Though I’m still a very small-scale blogger in comparison to the industry as a whole, I’ve learned a thing or two the last couple of years about this biz that I enjoy sharing from time to time with those who are interested in diving into blogging. If you’re interested in testing the waters with blogging but just need a bit of beginner’s guidance, I hope the following information gives you a more narrow roadmap of how to get your own site off the ground.
Setting Up Your Site
Getting set up on self-hosted WordPress.org is the single best decision one can make if he/she is ready to blog consistently and with goals in mind. If you’re currently already blogging on Blogger or WordPress.com, I would recommend researching how to transfer your content on your own or paying someone to do it for you (which is exactly what I did).
If you don’t consider yourself very IT-savvy, I would recommend hiring someone to set up your website and doing your design. I was extremely hesitant to shell out money for these services, but in hindsight I’m so thankful that it was done right. My site functions much better and I’ve been so pleased with results that followed. Writing posts is simpler and brands are more satisfied with my site.
I always direct my friends and readers who are interested in doing the transfer or set-up on their own to Just A Girl and Her Blog, which is a six-figure earning blog that will walk readers through the actual process of setting up their site.
Social Media Accounts
Even if you’ve just created your blog, go ahead and create your social media accounts so that readers can follow you on the channel of their choice. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram are musts. Don’t forget to claim your blog on BlogLovin too! Snapchat is exploding in the social media and blogging world, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to jump on that bandwagon too (you can find me @whimsicalsept). I’ve said this a million times in the last couple of months, but Snapchat is by far my new favorite form of following people on social media. I crave authenticity, and I’ve found it to be the most authentic by far.
Email Account
As soon as you set up your blog, go ahead and set up a blogging email address as well that you use strictly for blogging purposes.
Use Google Analytics
Nearly every brand and website that I work with needs my stats from Google Analytics, so setting this up is a must. Tracking your stats as soon as possible will only help you.
Picking a Name
Pick a blog title carefully and stick with it. Your title becomes your brand, and changing it down the road often leads to negative results.
Social Media Groups
I’m a member of several blogging Facebook groups, and they’re so helpful for bouncing around ideas and asking all kinds of questions. My current favorite groups are Mil-Blogging Buddies (for military spouses), Blogging with Becky and Paula, and Inspired Bloggers Network.
Read Other Blogs & Support Other Bloggers
I use BlogLovin to keep up with my favorite blogs and log in almost every morning to check my feed of new posts. Not only is it helpful to connect and support other bloggers, but this is also a good way to put yourself out into the blogging community and gain new traffic and support.
Like most businesses and hobbies, the blogging world thrives on bloggers genuinely supporting other bloggers. The idea of “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” totally applies. If you read a blog post that you think your readers will also like, share it on social media (there’s no better compliment in my opinion). Pin those pinnable images. Most people will return the favor in some way which will help expose your site to new readers. By helping other bloggers grow their communities, you’ll probably end up growing your own. 🙂
And remember…
My favorite piece of advice is that there is room for everybody at the top when it comes to blogging. Hooray! Just because someone has a favorite TV show or band doesn’t mean that they’re not open to another show or band as well. The same goes for blogging. Many people who enjoy reading blogs are happy to add another enjoyable blog to their reading list.
Let’s chat!
What hesitations do you have when it comes to starting your own blog?
If you’ve been blogging for a while, what other advice do you give beginners when they ask for your top tips?
