Today, I want to chat a bit about my most favorite topic ever… blogging.
There are plenty of haters critics out there who bash the world of blogging. They don’t take us bloggers seriously, and that makes me LOL. Blogging is the way of the future, it can 100% pay the bills, & if you love what you’re blogging about- it is incredibly rewarding.
That said, blogging is not easy. You don’t just whip up a little blog and all the sudden start raking in the big bucks. It takes work… a whole lot of effing work. I decided to write this post to help all those aspiring bloggers out there get started, or atleast get those gears in your head turning.
Speaking of blogging biz- be sure to check out my blogging design company, Blog-Doo. Lauryn (my partner) & I recently launched our portfolio where you can scope all of our blog magic, as well as a “Request Your City” page. We are officially planning to host some witchy two day workshops all about BLOGGING. If you want us to come to your hometown, submit your city here.
Now… for my secret stash of must-know blogging tips:
+ First and foremost… to get started you most you need to purchase your domain from GoDaddy. Then you need hosting… I personally prefer HostGator.
+ Use WordPress. Trust me. No questions, it’s the best.
+ When it comes to choosing a domain name, think out of the box but also think about branding. Think business cards/ clothing line/ even a book. Who knows where your blog will take you, you want a name that’s going to stick.
+ Utilize Pinterest. At Blog-Doo we ask our clients to create a secret Pinterest board of all of their ideas. Pin logos/headers/sidebar/colors/anything you have seen on a website or blog that you like. Once you get all that together, look it over. See if there is a theme you like. Did you pin a lot of black and white? Well then… you now know you like black and white over color. It will help you prepare for design.
+ Research, research, research! Do your part. Whatever you are blogging about, make sure you are an expert in it. You want to be a resource for people, there go-to for solid information.
+ Study other bloggers. How do they go about posting? Do they post everyday? In what ways to they interact with their readers? Don’t knock them off, but see what they are doing that is succesful and put your own on twist on it.
+ Finding your voice is one of the harder things you will have to do when blogging, but it’s super important. No one wants to read a college essay with big words. They want to hear you talk. Example: would you ever say to your friend, “These muffins are so delectably scrumptious”? No, you would probably say something more along the lines of, “Holy sh*t, these muffins are out of control!”. So, when you write, say it in your head first… like you are talking to your BFF.
+ Make yourself stand out. There are tons of food/fashion/health/mommy bloggers out there, find something that makes you stand out from the crowd.
+ People like visuals, so make sure your pictures are pretty. I am not saying go buy a professional camera for this, cause frankly- I use my iPhone a ton for my blog.
+ Utilize social media in any and all ways. Post your content on FB/Twitter/Insta and tag people that you write about. Also, use hashtags!! Don’t just use random hashtags either just to get more likes, use ones that will actually bring quality readers to your content.
+ Most of all, have fun with it. Yes, it’s a job, but it’s a job you are doing cause you like it. Don’t turn it into a chore. If you need a break, take one. As long as you are loving what you are doing, your readers will take notice!
Any questions? Feel free to ask me.
++ & if you want to purchase a thumb drive of all Blog-Doo’s secret blogging tips & tricks, e-mail Babes@Blog-Doo.com!! ++
xx, E