Blogging 101: 7 Steps To Get You Started

Okay, so we’ve discussed whether or not you should start a blog and the questions to ask yourself before you do. Now, that you’ve decided to move forward, what do you need to know?

I’ve been at this for over two years now (technically three, if you consider tumblr), went in completely blind and have learned a ton, the hard way. Below, some basics to save you some trouble and get you started.

1. It’s All in the Name

You need something catchy, memorable and, most of all, you. You want something people will easily remember. Same goes for social. First, you should have the same name across all platforms. Make your brand stronger and it easier for people to find you. Stay away from underscores (_), multiple letters, numbers… too hard for people to remember. It should also be fairly self-explanatory. If it’s a cooking blog, that should somehow be reflected in the title. Same goes for DIY, fashion or any other niche. If you have a mommy blog or social account, your name should not be “@_traceeey239_” First, that tells me nothing about you, your blog or your business. Second, I will never remember that and, therefore, won’t remember you either. It’s a lot like naming a child, think about introducing yourself and your blog or business to people, what are you proud to say or call it? Does it roll off the tongue? Does it hook people? Is there a good story that goes with it? If it’s hard to say, you have to spell it, repeat it, explain it, don’t do it!

2. Where Will You Call Home?

Now that you’ve got the name down, where will it live? If you’re still deciding if this whole blogging thing is for you and want to test it out for a bit before fully committing, it’s not a bad idea to start soft with a tumblr (like I did) or free WordPress blog. Try it for a few months and make sure you like it, you’re committed and can devote the time. But, once you know it’s for you, I strongly recommend buying your own domain name, getting on WordPress and investing some time and money in the beginning (so you don’t have to go back later and fix a ton!) to make it right. Have it stand out, speak to you, be easy to read. Do some customizations, get some branding. Much like your home, your site speaks volumes to who you are and what you’re doing. Mine took a long time to develop and wasn’t cheap but I can’t tell you how many compliments I get on it. Or how many brands aren’t sold on working with me until they visit my site and that seals the deal. There’s tons of successful bloggers out there with sites that look like crap. So, it’s absolutely possible to succeed without one but would you want to associate your name with something like that? I sure wouldn’t!

3. Get Your Elevator Pitch Down

Now that you have a beautiful, unique site and an actual address to give to people, you need to be able to sell it. In a short amount of time! You’ve basically got 30 seconds to hook someone. Intimidating? Yes. But it’s far more intimidating being in front of people and stumbling over your words. You just lost a potential reader or collaboration. Practice in the mirror, the car, shower, talking to your friends, husband, mom, dog, baby… Whoever, wherever. Get. It. Down. The more confident you are, the more likely they are to “buy” what you’re selling.

Here’s mine: “Nat’s Next Adventure is a lifestyle site featuring fashion, food, travel, trend-spotting, motherhood, must haves and more but it’s also the first choose my own adventure blog of its kind, giving readers the ultimate say in what I do from what trip I go on, party I plan, to how I decorate my home. You choose, I do.”

The second part is the hook and every single time elicits intrigue and questions. You want to keep the conversation going, for them to be interested in what you’re saying, to have comments and questions. If I just stopped at lifestyle site, yawn, the conversation would’ve ended there. There’s tons of lifestyle sites. What makes me different? Why would they want to read? Or work with me?

4. Content, Content, Content

They say, for a podcast, you should have 3 banked before you start. I think the same rule should apply for blogging except double or triple it. I wouldn’t “launch” until you have many quality posts prepared. The last thing you want is to spend the time (and money) getting this thing going, tell people about it and then have no reason for them to come back. You want them to become intrigued, addicted even, early on. The more content you have off the bat, the better. Give them a reason to keep coming back each day. Soon, it’ll part of their routine.

5. Be Yourself

I know I sound like a mom (guilty!) sending her kid off to school here but it’s so important- and true. And this is blogging 101, after all. 😉 If you’re trying to be someone else or compete with others out there, it will fail. Guaranteed. Maybe not immediately. But, eventually, one of two things will happen: people will see through it- and you- or you’ll burn out. Or, worse, both! If you’re not truly passionate about what you’re writing about, photographing, covering, we won’t be about reading it. If it feels formulaic, forced, redundant, why would people want to come back? I still struggle with adding more of my personality as I sometimes lean towards more professional (bad corporate life habit) but it’s so important. Readers want to get to know YOU, flaws and all (not who you think you should be or they want). The more flaws and quirks, the better. Cause we’re all weirdos. So let your freak flag fly and you’ll find your tribe.

6. Promote Your Passion

This sounds gross. And, much of the time, it is. It’s the part I dislike most. Promoting myself- yuck, as my daughter would say. But it’s an integral part of the process. After all, if you don’t promote it, who will ever see or find it? You can have the best blog in the world but if no one’s reading it, no one’s reading it. In order to build your community, you have to get word out there. Even once you have, you need to alert them to new posts and happenings. People are busy, they forget, need reminders and incentive to click on a new post, head to your site, check out your social. So whether it’s a weekly newsletter (building your email list is extremely important as you own- and can quantify that) or it’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or, my personal fave, Instagram that’s your jam, stay active and on it.

7. Be Neighborly

This one took me awhile to do and I kick myself for not getting on it sooner. I was in such a bubble with a new baby, building a site, still consulting for my TV gig, I just didn’t have the time, so it took me awhile, like this year, to start befriending other bloggers, attending events and becoming more social in my new industry. And it’s made such a difference. We help each other out, support one another, comment, invite… It’s really made all the difference, if only for not feeling alone in this weird world of blogging. The bonus is more opportunities (and followers) have come my way. So it pays to be neighborly!

Do you have blogging or social media questions? Ask away! Would love to help. Or, if you’re interested in more one-on-one mentoring, email me at hello@natsnextadventure.com.

 For q&a’s about blogging from some of the top bloggers, click here.