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8 Tips on How To Build a Personal Blog

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.

Have you ever thought about starting a blog? Want to share your words with the world, but just never knew where to begin? Trust me, we’ve all been there at one point, which is why you now have 8 ~awesome~ tips on how to build a personal blog. So, let’s get started.

 

1. Figure Out What You Want to Write About

Are you interested in beauty and fashion? Maybe into DIY and recipes? The first thing before starting any blog is to figure out what you want to write about. This is the most important step because if you are not passionate about what you are writing about, then you tend to not keep up to date with your blog posts and your blog ends up being left in the dark (which is no fun). So find your interests, maybe you want to review the latest Riverdale episodes or want to start a blog on your favorite outfits, it’s up to you!

2. Blogger or WordPress?

This decision is entirely up to you. Blogger is a Google platform, which is convenient if you have a Google account because everything is connected – your Google Drive, Gmail, everything, which can help when uploading photos, reaching out to people, etc. On the other hand, WordPress is what is most commonly used by bloggers. It is easy to use and they offer a lot of templates/website options, which can help with Tip #3. Although both are great, it is simply up to you and what your preference is.

 

3. Decide on Your Brand

This tip is crucial because you want your readers to associate your blog with something. Think of clean layouts and aesthetically pleasing templates, which can draw more readers as well as keep them wanting more. Although your content is the most important part of your blog, you don’t want to forget about the aesthetic and the way you portray yourself. You can find a ton of templates on Etsy or even WordPress, the possibilities are endless.

4. Join a Blogging Community

There are a ton of blogging communities out there, which can be helpful when first starting out. Communities like Blog Lovin’ or Bloggeries can help get more readers on your blog, but also introduce you to a bunch of new blog websites, which can help inspire you and your future blog posts. Plus, finding people that have similar interests as you and write about similar things can be fun and exciting and a great way to meet people.

 

5. Start Writing

Now that your website is all set up and you have joined some communities for inspiration, it is time to get writing! This is an obvious step because if you weren’t writing, then you wouldn’t have a blog, but keep in mind that this part should be fun and not stressful at all. You are writing about what you’re actually interested in so it should be exciting and an enjoyable experience.

6. Plan a Schedule for Your Posts

Once you have a few posts under your belt, it is important to decide how often/when you are going to be putting out your posts. Many bloggers post once or twice or maybe even three times a week depending on their choice. This is up to you and the type of schedule you have. A fun option is to come up with seasonal blog posts. For example, if you are writing a beauty blog, you can write a special post once a month dedicated to your top beauty products for that specific month. Posts like that make it more enjoyable for you and can be informative for your readers.

 

7. Share Your Posts on Social Media

Share. Share. Share. This is crucial when trying to start a blog. I know it can be scary first having the world read your writing, but if you want people to read your content, you need to get it out on social media. Sharing the link on Facebook or Twitter can help your blog reach a wide variety of people and introduce new followers to your blog.

8. Get Your Name Out There

Writing a blog shouldn’t be about doing whatever you can to become famous. If that is your plan? Then that’s great. If it’s not? That’s fine too. The whole point of a blog is to reach out to an audience and find those out there looking for something to pinpoint their interests. You are joining a community with over a million members so it can be tough getting your name out there and getting people to read your blog, but don’t feel discouraged. If you try, then you are bound to succeed.

 

Originally from Southern California and now living on Long Island! I am a self-declared sushi addict who enjoys good music and good people x (p.s. if anyone knows how to survive an east coast winter, please let me know!!)