So You Want to Start a Blog? Part 2

My last post on starting a blog, "So You Want to Start a Blog?" was so popular, here are 5 more tips for starting a blog! If you want to follow these tips more in-depth with some freebies, check out my FREE "I Want to Start a Blog" course!

*Note: this post was updated April 2017.

1. Decide where you want to go with the blog.

By this, I mean that you should have a clear vision with what you want to do with your blog, whether you want to turn it into a business someday or if it is simply just a hobby where you share your interests.

Knowing from the start what you want to do with your blog in the future will affect the types of things that you post and the way you are going to run your blog in the future. And if you decide you want to turn your blog into a business someday, you don't have to start that now. Building up a blog takes time, and for everyone, the time it takes to start using their blog as a business is different.

**Another note I want to add is that if you want to blog for business, do not forget to have some authenticity in your posts. People will see right away if you are just trying to make money or if you really care about what you are talking about.



Of course, you may change your mind down the road which is always fine, but if you can, try to know the direction you're headed with your blog from the get-go.

Another part about deciding where you want to go: deciding what platform is best for your blog, like Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, Squarespace, etc. I won't go into too much detail about that but that is definitely important too. If you would like more tips about choosing a platform, check out my free blog course on starting a blog. I have a whole module on different blog platforms!

2. Start looking for inspiration for the design and feel of your blog!



So many people use puns for Pinterest, like "Pinteresting" or "Pinspired" or whatever else they can come up with, but there is a reason for that. Although having a Pinterest isn't mandatory for bloggers, it sure does help you find exactly what you're looking for.

You could find pins like the one above for inspiration. My blog obviously doesn't reflect this pin at the moment other than the peachy-orange color, but this is the feel that I want for my blog and who knows, maybe this will be the inspiration for it in the future!

3. Follow other bloggers and join other networks to make connections. 

When you first start a blog, chances are you don't really know what you're doing, nor do you know any other bloggers. And even if you know other bloggers, you probably don't have an endless list of connections.

Start connecting with other bloggers who are writing in similar niches or genres as you, whether you follow them on social media, comment on a blog post, or you email them directly.

Find blogging networks that fit you and join them. It is soooo important to be connected to other bloggers in the blogging world. It is honestly through many of your connections that you will be able to grow your following and maybe get sponsored opportunities. Besides, no one likes someone who doesn't like talking to anyone else but expects everyone to flock to them.

Some bloggers I follow and absolutely adore are: Regina of byRegina, Sarah of YesandYes, and Sarah of xoSarah. All of these people are entrepreneurs whose businesses surround helping other entrepreneurs and bloggers succeed. Nowadays, I am much more into following these kinds of bloggers.

4. Brainstorm blog post ideas. 

Whether you want to post beauty tutorials or devotionals on your blog, start thinking about the different ideas you want to incorporate into your blog. I didn't officially start using an editorial calendar to plan out posts until a few months into blogging, but before then I did have a list of blog post ideas I had written down in a notebook so that I could refer to it as needed. This is in case you get writer's block and have no idea what to do next. If you need inspiration, go to Pinterest, magazines, other blogs, or even look through different parts of your life and see what you can write about! There are so many places to look if you really think about it.

Visit Kriselle Mendoza (Livin' and Lovin' Blog)'s profile on Pinterest.

Seriously, if you ever need some ideas, you can always go to my Pinterest for inspiration. Just a suggestion. Cough. Or be like me and get deals to subscribe to all the fashion and lifestyle magazines for free. Or do both.

5. Get writing!

After reading through my first set of blog tips and this set, I can say that it is safe to say that you can get started on writing. Of course there are many other things that could go into the process of figuring out your blog, like designing your blog, creating social media accounts for your blog, and so much more, but honestly, you don't need to worry about all of that at this very moment. I say that if you're at this point, you've done a good amount of work in planning out your blog and now you get to do the part you've been waiting for, which is writing.

And if you do really want to design your blog and create social media accounts for your blog, kudos to you, you're ahead of the game! But honestly, these tips I've mentioned are exactly the kinds of tips I wish I knew about when starting to blog. I hope that they help you in some way, shape, or form.

With all that said and done, I wish you good luck on getting your blog started! I'd love your feedback if I've forgotten any tips or if these tips helped you in any way. Leave some comments below!

Also, if you have any further questions or would like to find some more in-depth content and free worksheets to start a blog, check out my FREE course, "I Want to Start a Blog!"