7 Things You Should Know Before Starting Your Personal Blog
There is something so satisfying about having your own little corner of the internet. Your personal blog can be a place for you to share your thoughts, learn new things and meet other people with similar interests. Your blog can be about books, fashion, travelling, self-improvement- the possibilities are endless! However,
there are a few key things to note before you start
Here's my guide to help you get started on your journey into the wonderful world of blogging!
1. You don't need to be an expert wordsmith
One of the most common misconceptions about blogs is that only professional writers with a degree in journalism can succeed at creating blogs.
In reality, blogging is a relatively easy activity for anyone to get into and can help improve your writing skills as you go along Your first ever blog article might not be something you're proud to show off, but that's okay! All you have to do is put your thoughts on paper and try to find your own writing style.
2. Find something you're interested in and want to write about
Your blog doesn't have to be about something that's popular at the moment; it can be about whatever topic sparks your imagination.
Are you a bookworm? Start a blog about all the amazing books out there, or about your experiences and thoughts on reading. Are you a lifestyle enthusiast? You could write about your interests and hobbies and share your experiences. You could even keep a multi-topic blog if you like!
What's important is that you have something you enjoy writing about, so that you can keep doing it without getting bored.
3. Choose your blogging platform wisely
If you're just starting out, you don't need to invest in an expensive website straight away. There are plenty of services which you can sign up for for free and start writing.
WordPress .com and Blogger are both good for beginners, and Medium is a great resource if you're looking for a more writing-focused experience.
It's best to think about the future when choosing which service to use. If you're planning on developing your website and spending a lot of money on it eventually, it's best to pick a service which has that option (such as WordPress .com).
4. Keep it simple
Many new bloggers get hung up on picking the perfect design for their blog. They end up spending more time worrying about fonts, colours, and introductions than they do actually writing an article!
A nice-looking blog is important, but it's better to have a simple design with regularly posted articles than a beautiful blank site.
Make sure to create a writing schedule for yourself. It's important to post regularly, but don't overwhelm yourself by trying to post multiple lengthy articles every week. Aim to post one article every week or two - you can always increase that number once you're more comfortable.
5. Research search engine optimisation (SEO)
Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO, is a really important part of blogging which many beginners overlook. It can be really frustrating when you put all your time and effort into an amazing article, only for nobody to read it!
The thing about SEO is that you don't need to be an expert at it straight away - in fact, you don't need to know much about it at all. Here are a few basic SEO tips which can help make your articles more appealing to search engines and therefore get more readers:
• Make sure to write appealing titles for your articles
• Use keywords strategically
• Make sure your articles are easy to read and well-structured with subheadings
• Write interesting introductions and conclusions
• Describe your images properly
• Make sure to link to similar articles if you have any
Take this example: Which title do you think would get more views? "How to Build a Reading Habit" or "My Little Journey into the Wonderful World of Books"?
6. Know that you won't get an instant following
When you first release an article, it probably won't get hundreds of views and thousands of followers. Getting a decent amount of traffic to your blog takes time, and it's really important to be patient and not discourage yourself. Aim to post on social media where your target audience might be. Reply to any comments on your articles and make sure to check out other blogs and respond to their comments too.
Don't obsess over your views and follower counts. Even though it's good to have readers, it's more important to improve your writing skills, finish articles, and find your own writing style.
7. Make changes as you go
You might keep writing about the same things, but eventually, you'll want to change things up. The nice thing about a personal blog is that you can evolve and grow as a writer over time, and your blog can change with you. You might start off writing book reviews, but eventually, you may want to change it to centre around one of your other hobbies. You may want to make your blog your professional portfolio or writing space. You can always make adjustments as you go - after all, your blog is your personal space, and you should do whatever makes you feel most comfortable!