Starting a blog for the New Year?
Happy New Year IFB lovelies! I can’t believe it’s a new year and a new DECADE. So now that it’s the first day, it seems like a good time to start something new, like a new blog? Well, in the past few years, I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking how to start a blog.
So how do you start a blog? Is it easy? For those of you who started blogging, think back… I don’t know about you, but I sat on starting a blog for years, reading other people’s blogs, browsing around, lurking, starting a blog then deleting it, my first blog was in 2004… it sucked! It wasn’t until 2007, three years later that I started The Coveted and found a subject I was passionate enough to maintain it every day for years on end.
Start anywhere
Off the top of my head, my advice is just do it. It doesn’t matter how you do it, what it’s about, why you have the need to make blogging a part of your life, but just doing it is the only way to get started. The beauty of blogging is that you don’t have to share it right away, and for most people it takes time to find their own voices, so don’t worry about it. You won’t get better if you don’t practice.
Figure out what you want
Why are you blogging? Do you want a place to keep all your inspirations, do you want to make money, or are you looking to take over the world?
Glossing over the vast majority of blogs out there, it may seem like we all want the same thing, but if you look closer at what’s really going on, there’s a lot of variety in terms of opportunities. Figuring out what you want will not only help develop your blog, it will help you get the most out of your experience.
From IFB Post: Figuring out what you really want for your blog?
Find the right platform for your blog
What platform should you use for your blog? Blogger? Wordpress? Typepad? Tumblr? OnSugar? The choices are overwhelming…
To tell the truth, I don’t believe there is a unilaterally great blog platform. And there is nothing that says that whatever blog platform you use, you’ll be stuck with forever. They all have their good points and bad points, and I don’t believe that one blog platform will make your blog successful. I do however know there are a lot of great options out there, and it’s just a matter of finding the right one to suit your needs.
From IFB Post : Finding the right platform for your blog
Familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’ts…
Ever hear about the FTC ruling? Wonder about copyright violations with images? Clueless as to what journalists are griping about when it comes to bloggers not adhering to any code of ethics? As much as bliss ignorance holds, not familiarizing yourself with the ropes can get you burned.
Helpful IFB Posts: 5 Ways to Establish Credibility, Photos you CAN use, FTC puts its foot down on blogger freebies
Develop a unique voice
Nowadays, everyone and their dog has a blog, and even the fashion blogosphere is getting incredibly crowded. So how do you make your blog stand out from the crowd? By developing a unique & personal voice. Here are some tips to help you doing so.
From IFB Post : Refining your unique voice
Build your community
Blogging is a social media tool. The key word being social, blogging really isn’t a solitary sport.
When people ask me how to get their blogs ‘out there’ I always tell them two things 1. great content and 2. participate in the community. Getting in contact with other bloggers may seem daunting at first, but believe you me, that once you do, it soon becomes one of the benefits of blogging.
From IFB Post: How to reach out to other bloggers
And browse through the IFB archives, we have loads of posts about ethics, advertising, traffic, and loads of tips!
Image by foxtongue / CC BY 2.0
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Great tips and advice. This was especially be good for someone who has never blogged before. Great, basic, non-complicated advice.
Carla´s last blog ..2009 at Green and Chic
Great post. It was this time last year that I started my blog, so even though i am not technically starting this january, a lot of these topics are still very relevant to explore in helping me define my voice and continue to find the best ways for me, personally, to keep growing as a blogger. Thanks, as always!
IdStyle´s last blog ..IdStyle File – Melissa Stewart
Great tips, nice & simple! i’ll definitely use these this year!
Megan A.´s last blog ..Starting Fresh, A Styleization for Twenty-Ten!
This is great information, thank you! And perfect timing… I just posted my blog today!
stacy´s last blog ..New Year, New Blog
such great reminders as we embark on a new year! thanks so much for consolidating! happy new year!
Meghan´s last blog ..A Year in Review: 2009
Very helpful, Thank you. Especially since I am in fact just starting out with a blog! It’s nice to see that there’s a community that supports each other.
Very helpful, Thank you. Especially since I am in fact just starting out with a blog! It’s nice to see that there’s a community that supports each other.
–www.TheVelvetReport.blogspot.com
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Lorena´s last blog ..Armand, You’re Beautiful
great advice! thank you for sharing, jennine
Vinda´s last blog ..paragon of style award. ♥
These are great tips. I just started a blog for the New Year, so this is perfect. Thank you!
Such a great post Jennine! Even though I’ve been blogging about 6 months–some of this info is still very relevant to me. Especially liked the link back to the Reaching out to other Bloggers post. Thanks for sharing!
XO Piper
DailyDivaDish´s last blog ..Fashion Inspiration: Blue Moon
How did you know blogging was a top priority this year? Thank you so much. I have been reading here for about 6 months and with all the positive, helpful posts, it really makes venturing into the blogsphere as a blogger in addition to being a reader much less intimidating.
This is a great refresher, even for those of us who have been blogging for some time! I wrote about re-evaluating your blog in 2010, if anyone is interested in any further reading.
http://bit.ly/4tLArH
Joanne Faith´s last blog ..Re-Evaluate Your Blog’s Direction in 2010!
I totally agree with making sure you have a unique voice – it’s so imperative.
I have been blogging for 6months now and am constantly learning..It’s great, I love it!!
I talk about my first time
in my final blog of the year, see what got me started!
http://karma-styleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-what-can-i-saya-hell-of-lot.html
Thanx Camillea
great post. Sometimes it takes time to find your own voice. Thanks for your tips.
Stephanie´s last blog ..Winter Wonderland
happy new year everyone…great tips!
anyway, do it something that you love to do it….passion comes first and patience in doing it…
your blog will last forever
Emmet Garage´s last blog ..Metal T for Preview
This is an AWESOME POST, very helpful and inspiring, thanks a bunch for the info
Great tips for beginners and experienced bloggers alike!
dreamsequins´s last blog ..A Letter from the Editor
A wonderful, informative guide for beginner bloggers.
I appreciate you taking the time to include all of those supporting links for additional reading on the subject.
E and O´s last blog ..spontaneous dance break: go Fish!
Wow, thanks so much for this article! I literally just started my blog much in the same way. I just finally said there’s no time like the present, so I might as well just do it and think later!
Great arcticle!
Sonia´s last blog ..Overcoated
Thanks for the article. Even though I have been blogging for 8 months now, I learned quite a bit from your write-up!
This article is precisely what I needed! I started blogging on the first of 2010 and will (hopefully) continue to do so for the remainder of the year. Thank you for the advice and encouragement!
great advice. I started my blog a couple months back but I feel like 2010 is really the beginning of what my blog could become. thank you for your awesome tips, really appreciate it.
skinny buddha´s last blog ..hold on tight to your hula hoop
Excellent advice! Going to apply it sometime soon, I’ll let you know when you can see the blog you helped inspire.
As if by magic.
Was just in da process of tappin da keyz +settin up a blog ….thanx 4 da tips.
Will b using dem.
This is awesome. We will be sure to use this information as our blog is only a couple months old. What do we need to do to become a part of this community? Please let us know.
Thanks,
SiG
from takin your advice…….I’m now in da swing of tings,thanx