Someplace Strange celebrated it's 4th birthday a few weeks ago. In honour of this momentous event, here is a collection of things I've learnt about Starting a Blog since I actually did the deed and pressed publish back in 2015.
Find a Name.
That describes you or what you like. Google it to make sure it isn't being used already. Choose carefully. Naming a blog is a bit like naming a child. Difficult to undo once you're done. It took three goes before I settled on Someplace Strange.Choose a platform.
There are loads of different blogging platforms. Think about pros and cons of each one before registering. Unless you're really determined, computer savvy or able to pay someone to help, you're going to be stuck with it. The two most popular platforms are Blogger and WordPress:- Blogger is simple to use. No need to worry about hosting. Basic in terms of features, but used used by bloggers of all sizes. (You can, despite what you may have read elsewhere, go pro and monetise on Blogger).
- The sky is the limit feature-wise with self hosted WordPress, but does come with hidden costs and full responsibility for everything.
Purchase a Domain.
Mine came from from I Want My Name and cost about a tenner. Don't forget to renew it each year so all your work doesn't get lost!Set Up Your Social Media
Once you've decided what social channels you want to be on. (You don't have to be on them all). It helps if your social media reflects your blog name. Unlike mine as I used the ones the ones I had before I was a blogger.Create Your Website.
This is the fun bit. Play around with the settings until you've got your space looking how you want it too. This might take a while. Or buy and install a template. Mine came from Xomisse. Once your site is finished, get a friend to have a look to get a user's perspective. If finding things on your site is hard work, people won't hang around. Write an about me page to introduce yourself to the world.Post!
Decide what you're going to blog about, then write something about it, include a picture and press publish. Write about things you love rather than what you think will be popular. Blogging when you love what you're writing and sharing about is hard. It's even harder if you don't. You're now a blogger. Yay!Maddy at The Speed Bump: "Believe in your blog. Don't get caught up in "finding your voice" or "developing your style". You have a perfectly good voice right now, use it. Anything else wouldn't be authentic and it wouldn't be you. If you've started a blog, chances are you have a story to tell, a point to make or an opinion to get off your chest. Don't get wound up trying to cultivate a personality - it will mean so much more coming from the real you."
Lisa at Mummy Gummie: "Try not to get too worried about stats. I'm quite new to blogging and found that it's really easy to fall into the trap of becoming a bit stats obsessed. Remember why you are writing the blog and enjoy it!"
Decide what things in your life you're willing to share and what you aren't. If I wouldn't share it with a friend, want Rev T or other family members or my employer to read it, it doesn't appear here.
Promote
Get your blog posts out there on your social media so like-minded people find them. I'm crap at this, so I'll just leave it here.The Kit.
You don't need fancy equipment or loads of money to blog. Just ideas and a desire to share them. I have a laptop and an iPhone. I use things I have already, talk about places I would have visited anyway or just ramble on.Be Realistic.
Blogging isn't easy - writing good posts, taking decent pictures and promoting - takes time and effort. It's also frustrating. What seems like a great idea can look terrible the next day. Or you manage to delete your photos. Or forget to take them in the first place.No one earns money from their blog, starts working with brands or gets a million followers in their first week. The big bloggers slogged for years to get where they are - and had some amazing luck. TBH, if you're just in it for the freebies and see blogging as a way to get rich quick, you may as well give up now.
Take a Break.
It's good to have a break from blogging, the Internet and go and do something else for a bit instead. I post less during the school holidays and, by the time they're over, have loads of ideas. Ideas seem to pop into my head when I'm offline and getting on with living.Beth at Life As A Mum: "Have a good few days break from blogging from time to time. Sometimes it can all get too much and a bit stressful. Having a break has helped me refresh my mind and blog better! "
To conclude ...
Whenever I offer blogging advice, there is always a disclaimer. Blogging advice and lessons - of which there are loads - are just guidelines. What works for one person may not work for another. Create what works for you, keep experimenting and learning. If something doesn't feel right or ring true, then move on.Naomi at Trips With a Tot: "Blogging is very rewarding! All the time it takes is so worth it. It is a great feeling to create, to help others, and to make friends. It makes my absolute day when someone sends me a message telling me they love my blog or spot me out and about. I’m so glad my blog is useful!"
What do you wish you knew when you first started blogging? Let me know in the comments.
Some great advice for newbies....it does take quite a lot to keep swimming and I do think it's important to take a regular break....I'll be taking most of August off hurrah! Thanks for linking this up to #coolmumclub! x
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the break :) I'm also taking most of August off. Does happy dance. Thank you for hosting each week :)
DeleteThis is a great post. I have just moved over to WordPress and am trying to do the blogging thing more seriously so gathering as many tips as I can! #pocolo
ReplyDeleteGlad it helped and hope the move went well
DeleteThanks for the tips. "Just write" is my motto at the moment. #pocolo
ReplyDeleteIt's a great tip. Sometimes you do have to get on with it and hope for the best :)
DeleteI am questioning a lot of things about blogging right now. I love your post because it is so jargon-free and will give people a really quick way in to the joys that blogging can bring.
ReplyDeleteHaving had a long break last year, the key thing to me seems to never lose sight of why you started in the first place. I started because I wanted to create something, share memories, experiences and connect with like minded people. If something doesn't fit in with that, then it's becoming easier to turn it down. People can spot a faker a mile away. I'm glad you liked the post and hope it helped a little with your own working things out process
DeleteI love this - I'm about 6 months in and recently started dealing with the 'overwhelm', but the mantra 'just keep swimming' really helped. I started off posting daily and it's now dropped down to twice weekly to suit my life, and hopefully I've found my groove. Always great to read how others do it! #coolmumclub
ReplyDeleteBadly in my case I think! But I'm enjoying myself and meeting lovely people and that's what counts :) Glad you've found your groove as well
DeleteI started mine in 2015 - believe me it took me a while to go public. But I do enjoy it so much. Sarah #FabFridayPost
ReplyDeleteIt is great fun! But a hideous time suck ...
DeleteI've been going 5 years, but this year is terrible for views compared with the last 2 years. It really does show how much work needs putting in, or just luck #sharingthebloglove
ReplyDeleteIt really seems to be a combination of work and fairy dust / luck. There is no magic formula to blogging your way to success and profit. Sorry peeps!
DeleteBrilliant advice! I wish I had read a post like this before I started, I would definitely have given more thought to my blog name. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteNames can always be changed, but Blogger won't let you change the mailing list details which is a PITA. But I'm not going through the hassle of relocating just to do that
DeleteGreat advice Nicola. I've always found my own way with blogging and not listened to the stuff about not being able to monetise on Blogger. I now know that's not true! 😉
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to #pocolo
Of all the pieces of blogging advice that gets handed out, the "you have to be self hosted to go pro" drives me nuts. There are really valid reasons for going self hosted, but that isn't one of them. Neither does going self hosted lead to better content. And is that a hosting package affiliate link you have there?!
DeleteDefinitely can relate to a lot of this. Blogging can become hard and frustrating and when it does for me the best thing is to take a break for a bit and then i come back at it refreshed and energised! #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to my summer off and there are ideas buzzing around my brain already for when I'm back :)
DeleteGreat advice! I love this list especially the part where you say "write what you love," I think this is so important for blogging because otherwise what's the point 😁 thanks for sharing with #StayClassyMama
ReplyDeleteIt sounds so obvious, along with don't lose sight of why you started in the first place, but it's easy to forget with everything else that's going on. Glad you liked the post :)
DeleteOh Wow! Happy Blogiversary! 4 years! That's Amazing achievement! I started blogging around July 2015 and I really had not idea that it would be so hard work! lol! Great advice! Thank you so much for linking up with us on #FabFridayPost
ReplyDeleteSome really good tips. Def agree to have a break from time to time. Also interacting with other bloggers is a must x
ReplyDeleteForgot to add #sharingthebloglove
DeleteIt's so true that it's good to take a break now and again. I had a recent week off posting and it was helpful. #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I'm so looking forward to August when there will be very little blog related activity at all! It really does you good sometimes to have a break :)
DeleteI wish I'd known what hard work it is and how absorbing! It completely takes over! #sharingthebloglove
ReplyDeleteIt does! Having boundaries is really important otherwise blogging is a bit like a turbo-charged garden weed - impossible to kill and growing everywhere!
DeleteGreat post - and yes, write and don't wait until it's perfect (or otherwise you'd never do anything!) Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteNothing is every perfect! There is always a typo or something ... Thank you for the lovely comment
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