Begin to Blog Series
I am writing a Begin to Blog Series. I have several topics completed already and thought, “What else should I include?” So, that's where I want your thoughts too!
I know many people have emailed me over the past year asking for advice on creating a blog: what is a blog, how to set up a personal blog, what blog platform to use (blogger or wordpress) and many other questions. I have many topics written already, but my goal is to put all of those great questions into a series, it would help any new people getting their feet wet in this blogging world!! So, are there any topics on getting started blogging you want me to include as I write this series?
I look forward to your thoughts to make this a thorough series!!
Hi there!
Blogging is such a great platform!
Ok….I love reading about parenthood, people’s faith and WHY they do/don’t believe, books and vintage items.
Good luck out there!
One thing I love to know about bloggers w/big followings, etc. is how much time REALLY do you spend online? with your blog? etc. What’s your “schedule”?
Amanda – good one! I have that included for sure…scheduling is a big one for me to have any normalcy!
I am so glad you’re doing this! I’ve just started trying to begin my own blog! (If you click on the link you’ll see I’m very new to this!) I would like to know some pretty basic set-up stuff…anything applicable to the blogger platform? Anything would be a help, I’m sure to us newbies. I’m so excited you’re doing this! I love your blog by the way and have been a reader for quite some time now.
Talk about finding your voice. A blog needs to sound personal. It is not a “I did this, I did that.” inject a little personality in to the blog. Let your readers know who you are and what you are passionate about.
Jill – your voice is a big one that is so important!! Thanks for adding that :)
I would have wanted to read about finding a direction for your blog in the beginning, instead of just stream of consciousness. And deciding early on why you’re blogging: money (ha!), products, fame, updating friends and family, outlet, want to help others, etc.
Amy – thanks for that suggestion too!! I felt like I was just flitting here to there in the beginning too.
I’m always interested in what helped bloggers “break though” … was it a group they joined, a certain post (or series of posts) that was popular, carnivals they participated in, etc.
Also – a good summary of some new tools – digg, stumbleupon, reddit, etc. … those seem to be everywhere now (except on my blog- ha!)
I would have (still would actually) wanted to know what platform to use (blogger, others).
What is wordpress? How do some of you get such awesome layouts? Good source for html? How you get SOOOOOO many followers? I would love to become a blogging mom (making money that is) and I have decided that to do that is to have lots of followers – but, how do you get them?
[email protected]
Heather, I’ll touch on platforms a bit…from the perspective of the two I know (Blogger and WordPress). And, I’ll offer my own suggestions on followers :)
I love that you are doing this because I am starting a savings blog listed above for my friends who always ask how I do it and where do I get my deals!!! And it isn’t even me it is people like you who run great blogs for your area. SO I’d like to run one for my area and friends to reference :)
Hi Mommy Snacks,
Just wanted to let you know that you received an award today on my site.
I received it last week from: http://iamstillstandingafterallthistime.blogspot.com/
Check it out: http://www.frombottle2box.com
-Amy
Hi, I’ve started my own blog just for friends and relatives, I’m the only stay at home Mom with time to check out all these great deals other women like you are posting and I wanted to make a place for them where they could come and see the deals I’ve personally tested out in our area. Thank you so much for all of your posts, I can’t wait to see what you have to say about blogging.
Some of the things I learned the hard way that will save a blogger loads of time and money if they invest in their blog….
1) How do you want your blog to look? 1, 2, 3, column or magazine type template.
2) What is above the fold and how that relates to capturing your audience? Size of header plays into this as well as ad placement if you monitize.
3) What you need to determine your growth, posts that are doing well, etc. In short your blog analytics and where you can get those items, how to install and read them.
4) Feedburner and why you need it.
5) Google, Google, and more Google. Determining how Google factors into blog growth and the tools they provide to help in many ways.
6) Comments (open or closed).
7) Perhaps the most important is your personal identity and how to protect yourself, your family, your email, and the business if you are not blogging for a hobby.
8) How to sign up for affiliates? Is it safe? Which do you choose?
9) How long will it be before you have an income stream if you monetize?
10) Niche! Make it small and something you love. What is that?
After attenting a blogging conference I felt overwhelmed with having to back up and redo a lot of work to be more successful. I learned so much as a blogger and I am really glad you are going to help folks get started. This year I have been following 2 of the largest bloggers on the planet and reading everything they post, looking around how they put their blogs together etc. I also follow about 10 of my favorite mom bloggers to see how they are doing things and what may work for me.
Finding your voice won’t be hard. Truthfully, talk about what you love and drill down to a very small niche about it and then have fun. If you are having fun so will your readers. :)
This should be a great series and spawn loads of conversation. This subject is going to go on until infinity though.
Ginger
Ginger – WOW!!! Lots of good topics! Thanks for the suggestions!
Hey Girl,
Some things that I still have questions about:
1. Layout… How to choose one that is user friendly and not overwhelming to readers or yourself.
2. How to promote your blog and gain readers as well as credibility.
3. Computer time vs. Family time. How to balance your two worlds.
4. How much to put out there about yourself and family.
5. Blog basic do’s and don’ts (kinda like in the back of Glamour magaizine.)
6. Blogger vs. WordPress.. Pro’s cons when to switch etc.
7. How to choose a web designer
I think that is it for now! I am sure I will add more later.
Take Care,
Jill
Wow! Just reading the comments I think this is going to be a great series. I’ve only been blogging for 5 months and I don’t even know what I need to know! Already looking forward to your future posts. :)
I would like to learn about:
1. personalizing the design of my blog
2. what RSS feeds are and if it is beneficial to add this to my blog.
3. affiliate use for generating income
4. when/if I should purchase my own domain
Thanks!
Hi Andrea,
I haven’t posted in a while, I guess I am doing fine and no questions on the sales and such, but here is something I am totally baffled by when I post pictures on my blog…sometimes they can be enlarged by clicking on them and then other times they won’t enlarge, I would like to know why or how to make them enlarge all the time.
This is great. I always wanted to know how to start a blog, but never knew how to go about it. I’d like to know some of the intricate details, like how you do the links to another site, how you do the link for us to print coupons, do you actually get paid to do a blog, if so, where does that come from. I’d like to know if this is something that would be reported to IRS (the reason I’m asking this is….I need to get a job, and since I like the computer, I thought this would be great for me….but, I actually need to do something where I would be earning a paycheck….I hope this isn’t too personal and something that is included in your series). Also, do advertisers contact you, or do you contact them? There’s so much I’d like to learn, and I think this is a great idea and very generous of you. I can’t wait to read this series.
Andrea,
I recently started blogging for my friends and family. I have gotten a few followers. I would like to know how to promote my blog.
The big thing I am trying to learn right now is how to make a button for my blog!
Thank you for all that you do! I know how time consuming this becomes, now that I am one too!
Marci
Can’t wait! I have enjoyed reading all of your other snacks – I just know that this series is going to be great! Thanks for helping the newbies like me!
I would like to know, like the others, about publicity and networking as well as finding a niche. Mine may be TOO specific.
I am so excited that you are doing this as I have been trying to start a blog for a while, but being a homeschooling mom of 4 ages 6 and under 1 in 1st grade, 1 in Kindergarten, and a 2yr old preschooler doing homeschool. Then having a sweet nine mth old has made impossible to get started especially when I don’t know a lot of how to do it. But we are now finished w/school for this year and now is the time to jump in. I am interested in a lot of the technical details of how to do things since I’m not the most computer savvy. jjrhodamomof4
I would love some basics on formatting; for instance, how do you embed a link, ie, click HERE, without the whole entire web address? I’m interested in stuff like that! I’m definitely looking forward to this series. Thanks!
I have absolutely no idea where to start, but I’d love to do my own blog. Is it possible to have a “preschool” group for bloggers??? :-)
Thanks!