Wednesday, August 29, 2012

#9: Create a Blog

People don’t give bloggers enough credit. Many think of blogging as such a mundane task that isn’t given much thought… while others may view it as a mere hobby without any meaning whatsoever. Of course, as a blogger, my response to viewpoints like those is that blogging is an art. It’s something you’ve got to make your own before you can even begin to appreciate someone else’s blog.

So, if you’ve ever considered creating a blog (and you’re up late anyway), then why not? Simply diving into a blog may sound like the first step, but if you do that, you might end up just staring at a blank page the entire night or write a bunch of nonsense.

Courtesy of flickr.com

Consider utilizing the following tools as you begin your blogging journey:


Discover your Passion


What do I love? What am I interested in? These are questions that you should ask yourself before sitting down in front of your computer to start typing. For instance, if your passion is helping younger people and providing counsel, well then maybe a blog filled with advice for troubled teens can be something to consider. If you love staying up late, how about a blog dedicated to providing fun/productive late-night suggestions? (Hmm... that sounds familiar...)


Determine your Audience
Who exactly do you want reading your blog? Is it solely for women? Maybe targeting African-American women? What about the age group? What interest(s) must your readers have?

Be sure to question the direction of your blog and think about its goal. Knowing who your target audience is, will help keep your writing focused. A blog that's too obscure and all over the place will cause many readers to sway.


Have a Unique Plan
I threw in “unique” because you can have a plan, but if it’s not original in some way or define who you are, then reading your blog might as well be a waste of time.

If you have an interest in cooking, for example, a blog of recipes might be the first thing that pops into your head, but take a moment to think. There are plenty of prospective chefs and culinary geniuses out there that have the same idea.

THINK.

How can my blog stand out in the midst of countless other blogs with the same subject matter?


Find and Create a Blog Site
There are various free blog sites to choose from. From Blogger, to WordPress, to Tumblr, there's a blog site for everyone. I chose Blogger because it seemed be pretty simple to use and looked a bit more professional than Tumblr (I registered for all three, and Blogger has always been my favorite).

Once you find a site that suits YOU, take the time to make the blog reflect who YOU are. Change up the theme and put some color in the background. There are usually numerous templates to choose from to spice up the look of your blog. Switch up the fonts and sizes and add some color to make things pop. You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but if it looks soporific, then your reader will move on quite quickly.


Publicize your Blog
flickr.com
Having a blog is of little advantage to you if it’s not made public for others to see. It’s ok to use your blog as a platform to build a portfolio for prospective employers, but what about finding an audience first?

Publishing your post on Facebook and/or Twitter will allow for a lot of feedback. You will develop blog followers and be provided with various comments on your posts. Seeing the comments will encourage you to continue writing and sometimes certain responses will provide you with innovative ideas for your next post. 


Don't Be Afraid to Hit a Nerve
Yes, there will be comments that make you second guess your post or maybe your entire blog, but think of it this way: Tons of comments that question your post, means that you've hit some kind of nerve that gets everyone talking. The more they talk, the more popular your blog becomes. This often comes up with opinionated bloggers who may have something to say about politics, media or just life itself. When you're unafraid to hit the nerve every once in a while, you'll be surprised how many new hits you receive in a single week.


Be Consistent
So you’ve created your blog and you’re posting the link to your most recent post on Facebook. That’s great… but what good is it if your “most recent” post was written two months ago?

KEEP WRITING!

This is key, because so many bloggers get excited during the first few blog posts and the next thing you know, a month goes by without any updates. What about your listed blog followers? What about the followers you have that you had no idea was following your writing? Don’t leave your readers hanging. Keep your blog fresh.


Get Inspired
flickr.com
Everyone has experienced writers block at some point. It's when you want to write more, but the mental juices just aren’t flowing like they were the day before, or even an hour prior! So you feel stuck, fresh out of ideas... just staring at the blank page. Look, you’re never really out of ideas, but if you feel like you are or simply feel uninspired… well then, GO GET INSPIRED!

Set yourself free from the bondage of your desk and chair! Close the laptop cover and go somewhere. Go outside and smell the fresh air... or rainy air... or humid air... an air that isn't familiar. You need to be outside so you can witness that little kid across the street to fall off his bike and bravely get back on, so you can continue you inspirational blog... you need to smell the BBQ grill from the neighbors next door, in order to continue your blog of recipes... you just need to be in a new setting so inspiration can hit.

  

WHY create a blog?
Because it’s a chance to express yourself like you’ve never gotten a chance to do before. Have fun with your blog! Don't take it too seriously and don't treat it like it's of no importance either--a balancing act will help make your blog stand out as one that is always an enjoyable read.

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