Things you should know before blogging
During my college days, I wanted to have a website where I can
write and post my personal experiences. But I don’t know where and how to
start. I was thinking maybe the website cause so much money that I cannot
afford it. When I graduated and started working in the corporate world, I was
browsing the net and landed on a website where you can create a free website
for your blog.
Blogging is free
Yes, you read it right. Blogging is free. It is one of the
things that you should know when planning to start a blog. I thought that
making a website could cause so much money, but it is not. There is lots of
blogging website that you can choose from. Most of these websites have free
themes and templates depending on your style. If you want to upgrade your
website, then that is the time you pay for it.
How to start a blog
I started blogging about my personal experiences. I
remembered my first post was about Halloween trick or treat. It was the third
time my family attending a mall Halloween event. On the blog, I shared who I
am, what we did, and what outfits we wore. My blog is an online diary.
What language to use when blogging
Blogging using a universal language (English) is a plus
because it will help you reach a wider audience. It is also okay to use your
native language when writing a blog. There are no certain rules about it as
long as you are confident in what you are writing.
Should a blogger be good in English?
If you want to have a wider reach of audiences, I suggest
you use the universal language, English, and you must be good at it. To tell
you frankly, I’m not good at that language. I only use Basic English words when
writing an article. If you have the same concern as mine, don’t worry, you can
always ask a family member or a close friend to proofread your articles before
posting them.
When I was starting a blog, I asked help from my mom to
proofread my article. If she saw incorrect spellings, wrong choice of words, or
off grammar, she would instantly correct me. If you are shy to ask your family
or friends, you can also try using free software or apps that you can find on
the net. It will help you reconstruct paragraphs and give a word suggestion
that fits the tone of your article. As I have mentioned above, if you are not
yet confident using a universal language, use your native language instead.
Remember that it is your blog, and you can do whatever you like.
Write anything, everything you want
This statement is true. You can write anything, and do
everything you want on your blog. You can share your personal experiences like
hobbies you like, places you have visited, the food you tried, things you
learned, and many more. If you wish to plan on sharing some entertainment or
political news, make sure that you did some research and gathered the correct
information. By doing these, you will avoid negative comments from your
readers.
Look for your tribe
Don’t feel alone with your blogging journey. There are many
communities on the net that have the same interests as yours. When I started
blogging, I came across a community on the net where they also like to blog. I
registered for their workshop event and met a lot of bloggers around Mindanao.
During the workshop, I discovered that there are lots of blog niches. You need
to choose the right one for you.
After that workshop, I joined the community and became a
member and later an officer. I attended some brand events, learned new tips and
strategies during the community seminars, and gained new friends.
Make evergreen content
As a blogger, we wanted our audience to read our article.
From the time we posted it, we had this kind of attitude that we keep on
checking the blog statistics and became conscious of the numbers views. I’m
guilty about this. These are true, and most of us bloggers are doing this. But
did you know that to increase the audience to your blog, you must have a good
quality article or what they called it as the evergreen content?
Evergreen content is search-optimized content that is
continually relevant for a long period, and an example of this content is the
“How to” guides. Writing this kind of topic will improve your search engine
rankings. It will also continually drive more traffic to your site.
Look for the right blog niche
Every time I attended blogging seminars, the speaker would
always ask, “Have you found the right blog niche for you?” This question haunts
me because I am personally undecided about what my true niche is. I like fashion,
beauty products, arts & crafts, doing DIY tutorials, and food. I fall into
a Lifestyle niche where I can share things I like. However, having one niche
will help you focus on what article you would like to share with your readers,
just like Mae Alexis of Nanala Cove website, who is into fitness. She trains
people on when to take care of the body and have a healthy lifestyle.
Having a fixed niche will also help you collaborate with the
right brands aligned with your blog goal. You would probably be thinking, “I
only have a small follower. How will I get collaboration with brands?” Most
brands do not look at the number of followers. Instead, they are looking at the
quality content you have. Read Paul Burke, a Director of Business Operations,
Groupshop, shared how brands can win in the decade of micro-influencers.
So there you have it. These are the things you should
consider first before pursuing your blogging career. I hope this experience of
mine will help you guide your blogging journeys.
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