How To Start A Blog
So Ya Wanna Start A Blog
First off, congrats! Blogging is an extremely fun way to express yourself. It’s also extremely difficult at times. I want to stress first that I am no expert. In fact, I’ve only been writing meaningful blog posts regularly for a short time. Yet I have been in the blogging world for the past two years and have learned quite a bit. I will try my best to give new bloggers or someone who is looking to start a blog the most helpful advice I can think of on how to start a blog. A lot of people think that today’s definition of “blogging” is taking a quick photo of your outfit and posting it on Instagram. Ha! I wish. There is a lot more work that goes into it, and before you start you should know that. Yes, you can make money and get free stuff at times. No, it’s not easy or something you can immediately make a full time career out of.
How To Start A Blog
First things first. What is this blog going to be about? One of the best pieces of advice I learned from the Create and Cultivate conference is to choose a very narrow niche when you are starting out. I know there are big bloggers who share content related to food, fitness, fashion, beauty, advice, parenthood, and so on. They had to work really hard and for many years to be able to share content on such broad topics. My best advice is to start small. Stick with what you know. Don’t take on too many topics at once or I can promise you it will get overwhelming and you’ll quit. Not to sound too much like our current President, but trust me.
For example, my niche is fashion and my own personal style. This is obvious from my Instagram feed. As much as I love eating good food, you don’t see photos of my meals because that just isn’t my niche. Although I do workout (sometimes) it just isn’t something I know enough about to share with my followers, and therefore you won’t find it on my feed or blog either. I have also recently gotten into sharing real life stories like this one on my blog. This is something new for me that I have added slowly and will continue to work on.
Choosing A Place To Start
Unfortunately I can only give advice on the blog sites I have used, and I have only used two. I started on Squarespace which for me, was a wonderful place to start. They offer free services for those of you who don’t want to pay for a site just yet. They also offer beautiful templates and designs to choose from. Squarespace is also really easy to navigate for a blogger just starting out. I had zero idea what I was doing in the beginning, but Squarespace is very user friendly.
My blog is now on WordPress. WordPress is definitely not as user friendly and takes quite a bit of time to learn how to navigate. I recently had someone design my blog for me because web development is not something I wanted to take on myself. It was an investment and I am glad I waited to spend the money on my blog till I knew blogging was for me.
You also don’t have to have someone come in and design your entire site. You can look on Etsy for a cute and inexpensive blog theme like this one from the woman who did my site. There are lots of awesome themes to choose from to keep your cost down!
Your Blog Name
A lot of people spend a lot of time choosing their blog name. My first blog name, which I changed this year, was The Seaside Sailor. We lived near the beach at the time and it was a great fit. Then we moved to Raleigh. Not so “seaside” anymore. Somehow “The Middle Of The State Sailor” just didn’t have the same ring to it. So I changed my blog name to just simply my name, Katelyn Sailor. My best advice on choosing a name is pick something that you know will last! “Single Sally Blog” (hopefully) won’t stay single forever.
I also think that being your own brand is important. Therefore simply using your name like I decided to do is completely acceptable and honestly what I would recommend. I would also recommend purchasing your domain as soon as you figure out what your name will be.
Instagram V Blog
When most people think of “bloggers” they actually think of Instagram. The Instagram platform is what really launched the blogger and influencer community into the real world. While it is important to have a beautiful Instagram with a cohesive feed and high quality photos, it isn’t everything. Instagram is just a platform. Just like MySpace was a platform. Can you imagine if you were a blogger who only shared content on MySpace 15 years ago? Yeah, you’d be screwed. That’s why I think creating an actual blog website is so important. Whether you’re writing posts or sharing photos/videos, your website is a place that is yours and will never be taken away. You never know what could happen to Instagram in the future. Unfortunately it might just end up like MySpace, an obsolete platform.
Photos And Videos: Photography
One of the aspects of blogging that separates the novice from the professionals is photography. The photos you share will serve as the first impression to anyone checking out your blog or social media for the first time. They are a visual representation of you, so you want them to be good. I don’t think everyone needs to go out and spend thousands of dollars on a camera, especially those just starting out. Yet there are ways you can make your photography better and and therefore more likely to draw in an audience.
The latest Canon Rebel is the camera I started out with and still use today. It is easy to use and works great for the low (compared to other cameras) price point. The 50mm lens is also a must have if you are wanting to get into fashion blogging! Canon is a lot more user friendly than Nikon and I would recommend going with them if you are a beginner no matter what camera you choose.
I got my camera for Christmas from Kyle and my parents two years ago. Before that I was simply using my iPhone. Phone cameras are so advanced these days it’s easy to get decent photos using your phone. Lighting is so important. I still struggle with lighting but outdoor lighting is the best and what I use most of the time.
Photos & Videos: Editing
Editing is also really important. This is also something I still really struggle with. I have not yet invested in Photoshop but I will eventually. I use the apps ColorStory, FaceTune, and Lightroom on my phone to edit all of my photos. If I had any advice to give a new blogger it would be to pick an editing style or filter you like and STICK WITH IT! I am constantly comparing my photography to other bloggers, something I discussed in this post. That’s okay though, just remember that your feed is only one aspect of gaining reader attention.
Content Is King
Remember that content will always be King. Anyone (including my husband) can take an Insta-worthy photo next to cute stairs with a coy smile. As long as you work hard and are proud of the content you put out you will enjoy blogging and therefore be successful. This post is another great post about starting a blog. Brittany has some great tips and tricks! I would love to do another post like this if anyone is interested as well. I am always here to help new bloggers so message me anytime if you have any questions!
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