So you want to start a blog do you? You want to share your ideas with the world? Want to make a difference, let your voice be heard?
So I have been doing this blogging thing for awhile now, by no means an expert. I have, however, picked up on a few things that I wanted to share to any one thinking of starting to write in the new year.
#1 Start Writing. I know you’ve seen it before as a tip, I know I did. In all honesty though, it is the hardest part of blogging and it will actually be the best advise to continue a blog. If you spend the time by putting thoughts together and writing or typing them out you begin to built an over all picture that you are trying to portray to those you want to share with. Writting it down allows you to look at it and when you are able to reevaluate your piece you can add, subtract or rearrange your thoughts. Being able to see my thoughts allows me to better canvey that which I wanted to share. As you continue blogging, this will help also because you won’t fade out or become a once every 6 month poster.
#2 Notes. Any given week my pockets are filled with folded sticky notes or scraps of paper with hand written notes on them. It is not because I am nostalgic for high school detention or want to ask a girl to home coming dance during Mr. Dean’s class. Rather, when an idea hits me I typically never have time to hammer out a full post on the blog. So keeping notes allows me to capture that funny moment from a call or that interesting topic of debate that arose in the station. Notes keep track of key points I feel like giving my opinion of from an article.
#3 Don’t fear the unknown. I’m willing to bet that self doubt stops more thought provoking pieces than any regulatory agency in the western world. Just because you have never blogged before doesn’t mean you dont have something to share. If you worry about details like will anyone read my post, who even wants my opinion, do I even know what I’m talking about, you will trail off before you even get going.
#4 Start small. If you expect greatness right off the bat, you will probably fail. You have to allow your self some time to find your own style of blogging. You don’t have to try to tackle and solve the world’s economic troubles in your first ever post. By beginning small you work out the kinks of what you slice of the Blog-O-Sphere is all about.
Lastly #5 Make it fun. No one likes chores and if you feel like blogging is one, you will not do it. For me, I truly enjoy what I’m writing about and always chuckle at my self when working on a post. If you can like what you are writing about or enjoy sharing your ideas, blogging won’t seem nearly a core to you and will become more a hobby.
Sometimes having the idea to do a blog is the easiest part. With these tips I have discovered maybe you will find laying will be just as easy.
Great tips. I especially like #2 and #4, and not just because of my affinity for even numbers. Its easy to start off with great ideas and a passion for what you want to talk about so don’t start with a flash and then peter out. Keep notes so you can keep your blog going, and don’t put down everything you can think of. Start small and expect little to begin with. That way you can always be pleasantly surprised with your results (visitor #s, comments, new friends etc.)!
I too have an affinity for evens, maybe that is why those are such great tips (if I say so my self) I also completely agree with an idea of low expectations when starting off. It is not a matter of being doubtful of your work, more of having exponential potential to grow…..and getting great joy when you see growing views & comments
I just started to blog. It is my New Year’s resolution. Feel free to check it out.
I read your blog religiously lol and its cool to know you started out just like I am. Gives me hope that maybe someone other than myself might care about what I have to say.