People start blogs for one of two reasons. {1} ONE, they have something to tell the world. {2} TWO, they just want people to like them. If you are #2, you shouldn't start a blog. You'll be very discouraged and let me tell you why.
Very rarely do people just follow people. People follow concepts, commonalities, and stories.
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Developing Your Message
"Without a destination, you’re left to wander. And while wandering may teach you things, expose you to new experiences, even shape who you are, it’s unlikely to bring you the sense of satisfaction that you so crave. You never feel the accomplishment of reaching the destination on your journey."
Point in case. You need a focal point in your writing. The thing about blogging is that it is easy to start and easy to maintain if you want it to be. It can also be hard to start and hard to maintain if you want it to be. The world is your blogging field :) But you have to start strong. There are thousand of blogs out there that are never accessed after the first try, because their writers didn't have a focus. They didn't have direction. So let's get you some direction!
Let's start from the beginning:
{Grab a piece of paper, a pencil, and a cup of coffee.}
Q1. What are three words that describe you?
Q2. What are you naturally good at?
Q3. What things, places, activities make you excited and energized?
Q4. What is a phrase or word people use to describe you?
Q5. Do you have a story to tell?
People who blog about everyday life, burn out. You need focus. You need ambition and inspiration. So if you're gonna start a blog, why not blog on something[s] you love to do, eat, be, write, play,...the list is endless. Basically what I'm asking is:
What makes you, well, YOU?
This section is what you should spend the most amount of time on, so take the time to answer and really think through these questions. It's worth it in the long run. I promise.
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Writing About You
Every good blog I've ever read has a good, solid, explicit "About Me" page. They don't always use that title, some just say "About", others say "Start Here", while still others say "Meet So-and-So". However, this portion of your blog can be a catch 22. The grave danger in writing about yourself is that you [unintentionally] can come off too braggy, hoity-toity, arrogant, or the opposite, shy, insecure, not knowing what you're doing.
You want to be confident in who you are, [That's why discovering your niche is super important] without turning off people to your work.
Some extra tips:
-Look through old photo albums and remember where you've been and what you've always loved. Sometimes I get inspiration by jogging my memory of things I've been involved in since I was younger. I forget that singing is my #1 passion until I look back and realize how long I've been doing it. It's part of me. It IS me. So you need to find out what IS you?
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What to do now
I've said it before, your blogging style will fashion and emerge as you go. You're not going to be a pro on your first try. Use this as a starting point to figure out who you are and what information you are going to put into the world wide web.
::Remember, what goes online is permanent. P-e-r-m-a-n-e-n-t. I cannot express that enough. Know what you're writing, but don't let that stop you from doing so.::
**Take the full e-course, So You Wanna Start a Blog by clicking here.
Written by Julianna Morlet
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I started reading blogs as a resourse for my quilting. My quilting was and is an outlet for the sorrow and grief I have gone through in the last twenty months. Prompted by some very wonderful and generous bloggers. I started my own blog to talk about my journey. My blog is about finding my way back one smile at a time. Thank you for this inspirational post. I wonder somtimes the direction my blog is taking. I read so many happy uplifting blogs and mine is to say the least sad. It is however my journey and I hope through my words someone who is suffering in some similar way will be helped to see that life is not over. Thank you again. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI think your post is very informative but I disagree that people blog to get people to like them. That to me sounds really out there....to have a voice, to be heard, to express themselves..yes. To document their life and their journey like a diary, yes. Because you want people to like you as a reason doesn't even make sense to me especially when you state it as a fact..either or. Yes, to connect with others maybe with similar interests but to say there are only 2 reasons people blog is not factual at all. There are many different reasons just like there are many different types of people. When you go on a blog and represent yourself to others about a certain subject you have a responsibility to present the truth as factually as you can because there are those who are going to take whatever you say as factual because you have self-appointed yourself as an expert. I think you need to re-think your position as I don't think you meant to come off sounding as bad as you did. You have good information to share but remember...an assumption is not a fact. I'm not sure who your audience is or who you think it is but I for one don't fit into either of your categories.
ReplyDeleteI almost didn't read this based on your assumption of why people start blogs. I don't care if I have an audience as the blog is for myself-like Sam I Am said-more like a diary to document what I am doing. Your other information is good-but you almost lost me before I started.
ReplyDeleteMe too "Just Pam" and I agree with Sam I Am and she voiced my thoughts very well! :) You got my attention because I was actually shocked at what was stated and wanted to make sure I read it correctly:)
ReplyDelete