10 Things You Need To Know Before Starting Your Blog.

Have you ever thought about starting a blog? Do you need a creative outlet and you think blogging could be for you? Or you know someone who could benefit from hearing experiences from someone who has done it for a couple years? You have to read this!

Let’s get into it.

#10: Do not let an audience be your driving force. 
I’m pretty sure there are a few blogs that I had to be my own audience for. I don’t even think my mom got around to commenting on it or giving it one like so I could have some sort of engagement lol!
Here’s the thing though, it’s not that my work wasn’t good, it’s just that I’m writing in a world where the attention span of adults is 8 seconds or less and it takes A LOT to keep people’s attention. 

Example:
You know that text you read? You responded to it in your head, but not actually in
real life? Lol. Yeah, your intention was good, but you left somebody hanging lol.
Friends, family, and subscribers may say in their heads, ”Oh, that’s got to be a good read. Let me save the link and come back to it.” Unfortunately, they don’t always find their way back.
The intention was there, but you end up being left with a blog you worked hard on without any engagement.

I say all this to say, you have to enjoy blogging and not solely do it for the
recognition of others. Your determination and end goals have to be stronger than the
disappointment, aggravation, and frustration that will introduce themselves to you from time to time in your journey.

9) Access. Make it easy!
The easier you make it to access and share your blog, the more people will come and tell a friend! It’s no secret that this world wants everything to come quick and easy. It can’t all be that way, but access to your blog can:) Make your blog links and website easy to find and access.

#8: You have to be a sharing person.
Do you know how to share? (Real question. I know many adults that still struggle with this lol.)
Your subscribers come to your blog to receive something. What are you providing for them? Are you providing knowledge, details on where your outfits come from; how you released 50+ pounds in a healthy and pleasurable way? Whichever one it is, you have to be willing to continuously provide your audience with what they’re coming to your platform for.

​#7: Proof reading is a MUST!
I get my blogs proof read as much as possible before posting. Two pair of eyes are better than one. I’ve seen big time bloggers have quite a few grammatical errors. To keep things profesh (professional), I’d suggest getting your blog posts proof read before they go live. Besides your own personal pleasure of keeping things professional, companies that browse your work will be impressed. (I hope I spelled everything right in the post lol)

​#6) Make sure it sparks joy (In my Marie Kondo voice)
In the words of Marie Kondo, “If an item doesn't ‘spark joy’ when it's touched, the person
should thank it for being a part of his life, and then donate or trash it.”
She’s referring to items, but this same motto can be used for blogging. Do you enjoy it? Does it spark joy? If it does, keep at it, if it doesn’t, find another way to share your gifts with the world. (Find another way, don't give up.)

#5) Consistency.
We all know what this word means. However, it’s easier said than done. Try your best to be consistent. If you fall off, don’t be hard on yourself and do your best to get that consistency going again. Be kind to yourself.
​
​#4: ​Planning/scheduling is key.
Planning ahead of time always helps and relieves many people’s habits of procrastination.
Create a schedule for yourself to help keep your creation process smooth.
Example:
Saturdays: Write blogs.
Sundays: Get them edited/proof read.
Mondays: Create marketing: email blasts, social media posts, IG graphics.
Wednesday: Post!

#3: Marketing strategy
There are lots of people I talk to and through conversation they happened to say “my blog.” If they didn’t say that, I would’ve never known they had a blog! Marketing is very very…did I say very important? Very important.
You can drop GEMS, but if no one knows about it, those gems sit there unused by people that could’ve benefited from your work. Shamelessly promote yourself and your work. Blast it on all your platforms and be excited when doing so!
​Your excitement will transfer to others.​

#2: Automation
Listen, if you want to work smart and not hard, automate as much as you can. Manual work takes time and we all know how precious our time is. Automate as much as you can.

#1: Know your “why.”
I know we hear that a lot now, but it’s very significant. If your reason for starting a blog is to just get free things, reality check: I haven’t received one free thing in my 2 years of blogging. How’s that for total transparency lol. My reason for starting this blog was bigger than just receiving things.
​ Now, do I want to partner with likeminded companies soon and get paid to do it,
ABSOLUTELY. However, that didn’t show up in the first 2 years for me. So it really tested
whether or not I was in this thang to just “get” or in it to “give” as well.

WHEW!
There’s a lot more I’ve learned in this two-year blogging journey that I’m continuing, but I’ll save that for another time. If this has been helpful to you, leave a comment below and let me know which lesson resonated with you most.

Hey, remember these words if you want to start a blog:
“You don’t
have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar.
​
Now let me go back, read this and make sure I’m taking all my own advice. Byeeeee!
Xoxo,
ABnormally Ab