How to Start a Blog Part 2

In our previous instalment, we discussed how to start a blog, one of the fastest growing methods for sharing information on the internet with a chosen audience. Once you have chosen a name, platform, and host for your blog, you can get creative with design and theme elements that fit your writing style. These will include the layout of your blog, the background, and images you will use and what the static pages will look like. 

Writing and publishing your very first post is the next step and if this is your first time, you may be nervous about what that looks like. Recalling the suggestion that bloggers should be connected to their topics with personal knowledge and understanding, your first few posts are most likely to be centred on your areas of expertise and the parts of your personality that make you interesting and unique. But what happens after that?

Creating Content

Your content, the stories you tell, will be the primary way you engage your site visitors and keep them returning to your page for more. Each of your posts should be appealing, interesting, and informative. The length will be determined by you but keep in mind that people aren’t on your page for snippets—they are looking for something with length. You should feel comfortable mixing up the tone and the topics for variety but be sure to include the following:

• An attractive title to encourage “clicks”. You want your reader to be curious. Be sure to elaborate on your topic in the first paragraph to be clear about your subject and deliver a hook, or something that will keep your visitor reading.

• Break it up. As mentioned above, readers want something lengthy to read, BUT they will skim over long paragraphs and you will lose them. Keep paragraphs short, leave space in between, use lists or quotes to separate or draw attention, use titles and subtitles. 

• Involve your reader. At the end of your post in your final thoughts, pose a question or call-to-action. The question should not be rhetorical or ‘closed’ (yes or no)—ask them to participate in the discussion with a related answer. Ask your visitor to engage with you by replying in the comment section of your post. A call to action is slightly more complicated and can be discouraging so be careful not to overuse it. This may be a request to sign a petition, click a link, or get involved with your material in some way. Responding to these comments and answers can boost engagement and readership.

• Be Yourself. This should go without saying but NEVER plagiarize—you will be found out! Feel free to acquire topic ideas from others, but your content should always be your own. Fill your blog with opinions, stories, facts, ideas, and content that belongs to you alone. Use your own photos in your posts. Use a photo editor to manipulate your pictures to make them even more engaging. Proofread everything you post—and consider an app that catches grammar and spelling mistakes to help you.

Choose the interval at which you will submit blogs (weekly, bi-weekly) and stick to it. You cannot build followers if you wait months between posts, and it helps people to know when to expect your next installment!

Promote your Blog

Once you’ve started your blog, the next step is to get readers. Start with your friends, family, and coworkers. Ask them to follow your blog and for help building your following. Be grateful for their help. Social media is one of the easiest methods of promotion and has the potential to send you viral, but don’t spoil it. Ensure you have accounts with the top social media sites and post links for your new content, but also ensure that you are engaging with readers, posting other content, and are active in blogging communities. You can start to create an email list, with your visitor’s permission, to notify them of when you have new content posted. 

Practicing optimization on your blog posts is a whole other level of promotion. This process includes the use of certain phrases, using categorization, header tags, and permalinks. Check out some of our other blogs on SEO optimization for more information and reach out to us at Van Patter for more help on this topic.

Monetize

While providing information to others, sharing knowledge, and attracting visitors is reason enough to start a blog, there are ways to make money from your blog that you may not have considered. Selling your own products and services is an excellent way to boost income. Selling affiliate products or earning a commission from a product that readers learn about from your site, can be very lucrative but you must disclose that you are an affiliate on your blog. 

Expanding your products to include videos or e-books for sale can make you a great income with very little in overhead costs. Did you know that e-courses are one of the most frequently purchased digital products? Perhaps you have a skill to share that you could package as a course for sale. Once you have a significant following, selling memberships and advertising space are two other options you can consider. Keep in mind that it takes an average 6-12 months to have enough followers to start making any regular income from blogging. 

At Van Patter Group, we understand the countless ways that blog writing can promote and boost your business. Reach out to us today to learn how to attract quality visitors to your site. We would be happy to help you get started!