Ever since I was in High School, I always wanted to start my own blog. However, I didn’t know where to even start. What did I want to write about? Were my peers going to judge me? Was anyone even going to read? Well, after growing up a bit and COVID-19 giving everyone more free time than we knew what to do with, I finally started the process of making the blog I always wanted- and it was so much easier than I was making it out to be! I have compiled my top five things to do if you are thinking about starting your own Blog.
- Find Your Niche
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Even though this sounds easy, it can be hard to hone in on what you really want to write about. Think about what interests you and what you feel would keep you motivated to continue writing regularly released blog posts. You can make this as broad or specific as you like! For example I love to write about a wide array of things regarding my personal life or life in general so my niche is lifestyle.
- Find a Good Platform
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I would argue that this is one of the most important steps in creating your Blog. You need to find a good host website to have as your blog’s platform. This is where you will design your site and post your stories. I personally recommend Squarespace because they have so many designs already made that you can choose from OR you can make your own from scratch. Along with that, Squarespace has so many great tools to help you if later on you plan to build your Blog into a shop or something bigger!
- Start Branding
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This is the fun part! Come up with the name for your Blog and begin designing your site to fit the name and your theme. Most blog platforms you use make this step super easy and fun!
- Purchase Your Domain
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If you’re anything like how I was before I started my blog, I had no idea why this step is important or what a domain really was. Your domain name is basically the website that your audience will go to- the URL to be exact. If you do not pay for your domain, your website will show up as an automated domain that is random OR it will have whatever platform you used name after the name you chose for your site. If you end up using Squarespace, they have multiple domain payment options that start at just a $16 fee. While purchasing your domain does not have to be the first thing you do after getting on your blog platform, it should be something you think about doing fairly shortly after it is created!
- Start Promoting
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Now that your website is all set up, it’s time to share it with the world! It’s good to start small with just close family and friends but don’t be afraid to share it on your Social Media accounts. In fact, I recommend starting a new Instagram or other social media account specifically for your blog. Not only does this keep things more organized and aesthetically pleasing to your audience, but it opens up more doors for who sees your blog!
Remember that this should be something you do because you find it fun and are passionate about it. Don’t let fear of what others think get in your way because I promise the outcome of creating something you love overrides the power of fear. You got this!
If you want to check out my own Blog, head to www.alwaysmaura.com or follow @always.maura on Instagram!