Making The Jump To Writing Your First Blog

Most of the blog posts I write make the assumption that you have been blogging for a while, and understand the basics. However, for those of you who are just passing through to decide whether a blog is right for you, here is my perspective.

If you’re new to the world of blogging, let’s get the basics out of the way first. At first look, a blog is an online space where you can write about what interests you, in the hope of it also being interesting to other people. You probably already follow and admire some great blogs, so you understand just how powerful it can be to generate a following through your writing.

The problem is, when you first think about starting a new blog, it can be daunting. What the heck do you write about? What if no-one is interested? What if you can’t commit much time to updating your posts? Let’s answer some of these questions.

What should you write about?

There is no one answer to this. There’s no way I can find to determine what works and what doesn’t for a potential blog. While we understand that some of the top blogs out there deal with subjects such as celebrity gossip or technology, we also know that people who simply sit and journal their day-to-day lives are doing pretty well too.

In order to make a blog work well, you really have to think more about what you are interested in, than what other people may be interested in. This may sound strange, but think about it. If you identify a gap in the blogging market for financial service advice, but you hate figures, your blog is going to come across as flat, false and fake.

However, if you have a secret passion for keeping chickens, you can write with a huge amount of passion. Passion invites passion. The chances are, your chicken-keeping tips and funny stories will attract two sorts of visitor. The first is the ardent chicken-keeping enthusiast. The second is the visitor who comes along to you by mistake, and likes reading your posts because you are passionate.
So. The first rule? Write what you love. Don’t try and create a blog just because you think it will work, but also do some keyword (phrase) research!

What if I don’t have time to update my blog?

There’s a simple answer to this one. If you don’t have time to write your blog, don’t start a blog. Unless you have enough spare capital to pay someone else to do it for you. That was easy – on to the next question!

What if no-one reads my blog?

There are a few reasons why you may not attract traffic to your blog. It could be poorly written. It could be hidden away in a dark corner of the net, and need bringing out in to the light. It could be boring! Or you could be in a non-profitable niche.

If this happens, change the way you operate. Follow a great blogging guide that teaches you the right way to do things (you know where that link will take you!). Enhance your writing skills to make it more readable. Publicize your blog by being a busy guest blogger and commenter on other peoples’ sites. I’ve not met a dedicated blogger yet who can’t get their ‘baby’ noticed through hard work and effort.

Convinced yet? Get out there and get blogging! You’ll be glad you did.