On whatever topic you want. Not only it will give you the opportunity to create something new and valuable but it will also bring new people into your life. Blogging is far more than a hype, is a personal development tool. A very good one.
Many people think a blog is just an instrument for making money. To some extent, it is. But it is also much more than that. A blog will structure information and will allow you to express it in a different way and to a wider audience.
In many ways, a blog can become your personal brand. And if you don’t know what a personal brand is, maybe it’s time to find out: a personal brand is an immaterial version of you, working for yourself even when you’re not there. And a blog can help you create that version of you faster than any other tool.
Maybe you think your life is not good enough to blog about it. Well, you’ll never find out until you really try.
How To Start A Blog
Short version: go to a computer and start writing.
Medium version (sorry, there’s no long version).
1 Start writing
Yes, that’s compulsory, you can’t have a blog unless you write. A lot. Maintaining a blog requires an enormous amount of words coming out of you every week (if not every day). There’s a lot of discipline involved and also a lot of learning.
The good news is that you don’t need to be “a natural”. There is, of course, something called “talent”, or the ability to create vivid images and situations with ease. If you already have that, good. But if you don’t, please, do not despair. There is still hope.
You still can, by using some simple techniques, to improve your writing skills beyond your wildest expectations. There are a lot of free resources on the internet related to that. A simple Google query in the form of “writing tools” will be a good starting point. There are also forums and other resources. If you never wrote in your life, or if you think you’re not good at it, this will help in the beginning.
But after a while, as long as you keep writing, something interesting will happen: you will “find your voice”. And you won’t need advice anymore. For instance, Seth Godin writes an average of 600 words per post. Steve Pavlina goes easily between 2000-4000 words per post. Your truly has an average if 1200 words per post (which is also my hourly speed, meaning I can write between 1000 – 1200 words per minute when I’m in a distraction free environment).
You will find your own voice, but, a part from writing, there is still something you need in order to get there, and that’s feedback.
2 Connect
You can’t get feedback unless you connect with other people. If you keep your blog only for sharing personal experiences, you will end up with a public journal, not with a blog. The whole blogging thing is more complex and richer than just a basic journal. A very important part of this experience is based on interaction, on what other people are saying on, or about, your blog, on what they decide to do after they read you or how their buttons are pushed by what you share.
And by connection I don’t mean just answering the comments (if you have comments on your blog, that is). It’s more than that. It’s about reading other blogs and trying to find similar (or complementary) voices. It’s about getting involved in other blogs as a commenter. It’s about being active on social media. It’s about connecting with your readers by other media (like email, or live events).
A blog is essentially a platform, not a tool. And a very important part of this platform is connection.
3 Experiment
Now that you have the first two most important points covered, it’s time to experiment.
I find this freedom to experiment to be the most appealing part of blogging and I’m very grateful that I live in such amazing times. Only 20 or 30 years ago it was hard to imagine that you will be able to address to virtually anyone in the world by mere writing.
So, go ahead. Do all sort of crazy things. Alternate the length of your articles, alternate the days in which you post or the hours. Alternate topics (although too much of this can alienate your audience, eventually). I know I did a lot of wandering in the beginning – like eight years ago.
My first 50 articles were really bad. I can hardly read them now without the compulsive need to rewrite them (sometimes I do that). But I didn’t stop. The next 50 articles were mediocre, at best. But I didn’t stop. The next 100 were average.
And, somewhere around the article number 200, things were starting to get better. I have a few dozens of articles (out of more than 750 at the moment of writing this) that are really close to me, and that I still read with great pleasure.
4 Evaluate
Every once in a while, stop that blogging thing and evaluate. There is a world around you and it’s constantly changing. Even if you did find some magic formula that works, there’s no guarantee it will work forever.
So, take a step back, look at what works and at what needs improvement. Make it a habit.
5 Keep writing
And, of course, the most important thing: don’t stop. Just keep writing.
In time, you’ll get there. Somewhere.
This was very inspiring. I often find myself thinking “what if my life isn’t interesting enough” or “what if people don’t like what I have to say”
The best advice is to be who you are. You’re the only person like you that will ever exist, and that makes you both interesting and unique.
Say what you want to say, talk about what you want to talk about. The right people will find their way to you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just start writing. Write down everything you can think of that you want to include in your life story. At this point the order doesn’t necessarily matter; getting the memories and the information down does.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Indeed. Writing, no matter how disorganized you feel it may be, is life changing
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s possible that writing your life story could be therapeutic, offering closure on some not so bright spots of your personal history along with emotional and psychological healing. Maybe your life was just a circus act from the beginning and is funny. If writing your life story touches you while you are writing it, think about all the people you can touch when they read it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love your perspective on life GS.
Cheers 🥂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you 🙏🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I like this prospective! “The right people will find their way to you”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes when our energies are correct, everything synchronous to the energy finds it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this information about blogging. I love reading other people’s posts. It’s one of the great things I’ve discovered about blogging. The experimenting aspect of the process is something I have recently found fascinating.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blogging–It’s Good for You. Self-medication may be the reason the blogosphere has taken off. Scientists (and writers) have long known about the therapeutic benefits of writing about personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. Thank you Molly
LikeLike
In the beginning, I really didn’t exactly want a blog- I was convinced by family and friends. However, got hooked from day 1
Some tips:
1. Blog about what you love- easier to continue your blog that way
2. A writing tip- just write, don’t think about (just to get started)
3. True on the communications- interact with other blogs other than your own
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for sharing
LikeLike
Interesting to see how your blog changes over time
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks hope all in a good way
LikeLike
It really wasn’t until last year when my blog started becoming more bookish leading my own to become this book and musical theatre blog.
The main trick ended up being books, the topic I knew less about
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh I thought you were talking about my blog 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄 me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha
LikeLike
Thanks for clarifying this
LikeLike
Thanks. I love to write and need to improve my writing. If I’m to do a course to improve my writing, I’m afraid about what I might uncover or discover. I’m now excited yet reluctant to take this seriously.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Human beings seek validation from others. While the stigma of having a mental health issue that requires therapy seems to be waning as people become more accepting of counseling, blogs allow their users anonymity and a chance for feedback and support 24 hours a day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Change always makes me nervous but that my way of knowing it’s meaningful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes change is scary. But a wise human once said, “Change is the only constant”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the advice given to just keep writing! I like to schedule my blogs so I don’t end up posting multiple blogs all at once!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you schedule your posts, you know exactly how much of them you have to deliver each week.
Moreover, you also know the exact deadline date of each post. It gives you more control over your content. It allows you to write posts in advance, to plan your week ahead, and to schedule time for other important blogging routines – for example, for writing a post for guest blogging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a joy and pleasure to read and share your posts with followers, My Dear! Hope you have a great day!! xoxox 😘💕🎁🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
How do we connect to people? Why does my story not show in the reader?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice tips thank you so much ⭐
Pada tanggal Jum, 20 Agt 2021 22.05, Be Inspired..!! menulis:
> GS posted: ” On whatever topic you want. Not only it will give you the > opportunity to create something new and valuable but it will also bring new > people into your life. Blogging is far more than a hype, is a personal > development tool. A very good one. Many people” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome.
LikeLike