I can remember a few years ago when I first heard about blogging, I had no clue what it was and even less of a clue why I would start a blog. At that time, there weren’t the number of resources out there offering tips on blogging for beginners so I stumbled my way around until I started to take the time to learn more about what I was doing.
I’m not saying that I’m an expert, I still have plenty to learn myself. What I am is a mom who has fallen in love with blog design and blogging and I hope to pass on a little bit of my passion to those who are just starting out. Unlike many “how to blog” blogs, you’re not going to find a lot of technical jargon that you don’t understand while you’re here. I try to keep things in real terms so it’s not overwhelming. Blogging is something I have a true passion for now and I want to share that with everyone!
Why Should I Blog?
This is a question that some people ask me when I mention what I do for a living. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you why you should blog any more than I can tell you why you should become a neurosurgeon. If you love to write, want a safe place to share your thoughts and experiences, love telling people what you think of products, or want to share knowledge you’ve gained, chances are you have a reason to blog.
On the other hand, if you hate writing, can’t think of anything to type into a new post and don’t have passion for what you’re doing, blogging probably isn’t for you. Thanks to many sites out there, it seems like there’s the notion that you can easily make a fortune through blogging. While there are very wealthy, successful bloggers out there, I think most of us would tell you that it’s far from a way to get rich quick! If you’re thinking about doing it for the money and you need the money yesterday, chances are you’re going to quickly get frustrated at the lack of return on your time investment and give up.
What Should I Blog About?
Again, that’s completely up to you! If you told me that I could be a millionaire by the end of the month if I wrote nothing but articles on high fashion, I’d be about as broke as I am today at the end of the month. Why? Because I have no passion for it and I know nothing about it. If you look at that sentence closely, you’ll see that passion comes before knowledge. There’s a reason for that. You can be passionate about something you know nothing about and turn it into a wonderful blog. You may even be in a better position than some bloggers out there because you are a) writing from the heart and b) you will have to do research and write on facts as opposed to from memory or opinion.
The other thing to remember is that a blog is a living, breathing document. What you choose to blog about today may not interest you in the least a year from now and that’s okay. You’re not building a website that is going to stay the same forever, you’re building a collection of thoughts.
My first blog was about digital scrapbooking. It’s what I was doing at the time and as I began to design for others, I needed a place to share my work with others. Eventually, I returned to the “traditional workplace” and was no longer designing and my blog felt irrelevant. From there, I started a new blog about my life as a new mom and how totally unperfect I am. Oh, to have that content back! After that, I had a blog about green living, but honestly, I’m not that good at it, so I stopped blogging about it. Last year, I started blogging about my Christian journey, and somehow, it has now morphed to what it has become.
You see, you don’t have to stay on just one topic all of the time! If someone asked you to describe yourself wholly in one word, could you do it? While it’s a good idea to stay focused on a few topics at a time, they don’t always have to be the same topics.
How Do I Start Blogging?
Again with all the complex questions! The first thing you need to do is choose a blogging platform. I wrote a little bit about my opinions (again, as a mom and a blogger, not as an expert) on which blogging platforms work for different blogging purposes in an earlier post, just to give you some ideas.
No matter which platform you choose, the way to start blogging is to write. Many experienced, professional writers will tell you that taking time daily to practice writing is vital to becoming a good writer. Just as you would tell your daughter that she’ll never get to Carnegie Hall if she doesn’t practice, you’ll never get to the top in blogging (or any writing) if you don’t practice.
I’m looking forward to continuing to share what I learn along this journey I’m on! If you ever have a question, feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
Blogging is a bit like going off to college. At first, you’re scared and wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. By the end of the first month, you’re wondering why you were ever scared to begin with!
