How to Start a Blog (Part 2)
Interested in starting a blog? Want to give your current blog a fresh start? Have thoughts to share about your own blogging experience? Welcome to my mini-tutorial. Part 1 was yesterday. Today, I’m discussing the first thing to do in starting a blog:
Decide what you want your blog to be. This is important because once you know your goals, you can be much more purposeful and effective in starting your blog. You may not have a perfect idea of how everything will be, of course. Growth and change happen. But giving it some consideration can help immensely. Here are five questions to help you determine your direction.
- Who is my intended audience? I see three main options: a) people who know you, b) a specific, more general audience (e.g. “Episcopalians” or “dads who like to cook”), or c) anyone at all who’s interested.
- What kinds of things do I plan to write about? If you’re writing for people who know you, you may just want to keep them updated on your life. If you’re writing for a specific audience, you’ll want to keep most of your entries targeted to that niche. And in general, but especially if you’re writing for anyone and everyone, you’re going to want your own specific style and subject matter to draw people in and keep them interested.
- How much time will I devote to blogging? There are two angles to this question. The first one relates to how much time you have for blogging. Some people can’t cram in more than half an hour a day. The second angle considers how much time you should spend blogging. Maybe you could easily spend three or four hours a day on it. But is it going to suck you in and waste time you should be devoting to things in the real world? Setting both goals and limits for this aspect of blogging is important from the get-go.
- How much money will I devote to blogging? If you want to do everything for free, you definitely can. If you’re looking to go the more professional route, you’re going to have to sacrifice some cash. The caveats with money are similar to the caveats with time - how much money do you have to spend, and how much money should you spend? Again, goals and limits are important.
- What are some blogs I admire? Now that you know who your intended audience is, and what you want your subject matter to be, you should look for role models. These aren’t people you’re going to just mimic - you need your own stamp of individuality. But you can learn a lot from an enjoyable, successful blog that has an established readership. Some of my blog role models are Beauty from the Heart, FlowerDust.net, Girl Talk, The Purple Cellar, Radical Womanhood, and Unfurling Flower. I learn so much from them besides how to blog, but the way they blog has given me lots of ideas and inspiration, and helped me envision my goals.
If you’re considering starting a blog, or are wondering how to give your blog a boost, it’s great to think about these questions. In part 3 tomorrow, I’ll talk about choosing a name and a host. Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas!
Filed under: Books/Writing on March 26th, 2008
Maybe you’re going to mention it later, but related to your third point, I have found that frequency of blogging is very important. A while back, Tim Challies did a similar series (I can try to dig it up for you, if you like), and he made an excellent point about updating regularly, or at least consistently. Maybe you have a half hour every day you can spend writing up something. If so, keep it up. Maybe you can only set aside an hour a week. If so, be consistent in using that hour each week. I find that I am less likely to read a blog that updates only sporadically.
Yes, great point. Planning ahead to be consistent is important. I do plan on talking more about that later, too.
I absolutely love blogging. I really wanted to do something ‘worthwhile’ but when I started xanga, I found that I was spending more time just keeping in touch with friends. So it is definately a good idea to have a purpose and to follow it.
Anna, great thoughts and I look forward to seeing what else you have to say! Even though, as the name of my blog suggests, I am perhaps in a different season of life than many readers to this site, I really glean a lot from your blog regardless and think you have so much wisdom. In other words, I find your blog is definitely one that I find a great model! Thanks!:)
Thank you, Susanna. That’s really sweet of you. I definitely love reading your blog as well!
I definatly find that it is good to set a time aside to blog - and stick to it. When I first started I spent more and more time thinking up things to write about and writing them, and more time reading lots of other blogs.
I realised I was spending more time on the internet than doing other things that I should be doing. So I drastically had to cut back on my internet time.
It probably would have been easier if I’d worked that out at the beinging.
Great advice, Anna. It’s always nice to see some pointers for those who are just getting started.
I must say, I was honored when I saw BftH mentioned in your “modeled-after” section. *shakes head* We don’t deserve that!
Thanks for your heart–which shows through so clearly in your writing. Keep up the great work on your site!