Contributed by Jason Sisam, MCWG Membership Director
Blog, blogger and blogging are terms we know. But we often wonder what it takes to create a blog that others will want to read. As writers, we are filled with ideas to write, and as readers, we’re inundated with information that needs an outlet.
When it comes to blogging, consistency is the key. I’ve known several who’ve started blogs, then never returned to finish what they began. I find blogging a very personal experience. It’s where I come to let my thoughts out to help others succeed in their family, ministry and life.
Helping people develop their leadership, writing and blogging skills is where my passion lies. What is your passion, and how do you begin?
Here are seven tips for starting your own blog and making it a smashing success.
1. Decide:
It simply takes the will and tenacity to blog. If you’re going to blog, you must go all in. For years I dabbled in blogging. Sure, I had a blog, but if I didn’t consistently write, people wouldn’t read.
If you’re going to blog, go all in. Decide today if it’s something you desire to do and do it consistently. I’ve often heard Michael Hyatt (Former CEO of Thomas Nelson) say, “Decide what you’re going to do and follow through.”
2. Find a Blogging platform.
With so many options in the social media space, it’s hard to know where to begin. If you do a simple Google search for “blog platforms” you’ll find 45 million results on people telling you what the best platform out there is.
I personally use www.wordpress.com. It’s simple, and it’s user friendly. WordPress is considered the gold standard in blogging. You can’t go wrong. And the best part? It’s free!
3. Sign up:
Once we have decided what we’re going to do and have our platform, it’s time to sign up. How? Glad you asked. I”m going to give you a simple step-by-step on signing up for WordPress.
– Go to www.wordpress.com
– Click “Create Website”.
– Choose Theme.
– Choose your domain name. Remember you don’t have to pay for anything. Just click on the free option.
– Select the free plan.
– Enter email address, username and password
– And that’s it! You’ve created your first website.
– Watch the video at the end of this post.
4. Write your first post:
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by what to write. My suggestion is to write a small 600-word piece about who you are. This way, anyone coming to your site the first time will get a glimpse of who you are.
I think blogging is the perfect way to be authentic and real with your readers. After all, the reason they buy your book is because they enjoyed the journey you took them on. Blogging is no different. But the difference is you’re taking them on a journey of your life. So, what are you waiting for? Write that first post!
5. Be consistent:
As writers it’s so easy to procrastinate or say, “I’ll get to my blog later.” At least for me it is. Blogging requires consistency, not necessarily frequency.
My suggestion: if you’re beginning to blog for the first time, write one post a week. This way you’ll be sure to post on a weekly schedule, and if you decide you really enjoy blogging, bump it up. But don’t go overboard. Write something that is worth your visitor’s time.
6. Just write:
If you’re feeling stressed, take a break, come back and just type. Let the words flow from your thoughts. The great part about blogging? It doesn’t have to be perfect! I often tell people, “An imperfect product/book/blog post is better than nothing at all.” You can always fix things later.
Just write. That’s what we do best. So, take the guesswork out of blogging and write. That’s all blogging is—our thoughts on paper for others to read.
I’ve created a short video for you to help you create your first blog website.
7. Watch this video.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT:
“What one thing do you want people to learn on your blog?” Share your thoughts below in the comments or on our Facebook (insert page as link) page or Twitter (insert page as link) page.
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