Is blogging is still a thing? I know it used to be. However, Instagram and Youtube have changed the face of the game. One could argue that you no longer have to be a decent writer to maintain a blog and blogging has become more of a showcase of the blogger’s creativity rather than on their ability to write well. In fact, photography blogging is steadily on the rise.
The truth is that not everybody will be a vlogger or a Youtuber and we cannot all be Instagram influencers. We still need to be able to read, so I suppose blogs should still relevant. However, just like everything else, blogging is not easy. The teething period of a blog is considerably long and tough. If you want to blog, go ahead and do it. Don’t let anything stop you but ensure to do your homework well before you take that leap.
As a comeback blogger, I have some ultimate blogging tips and advice to share:
Choose your blog name wisely
One of the ultimate tips that I picked up from my blogging attempt is the importance of choosing a good blog name. While it is key that a blog name should give the audience an idea of what the blog is all about, for instance, it is easy to figure out that ‘Wholesome Cook’ is all about food recipes, at the same time, a blog should not be tied down with a name. A typical new blogger is always too eager to pick a random name, register a domain and start publishing content, only to decide later that they are no longer interested in the topics or areas they were interested in before.
To avoid going through the herculean task (i.e. changing the domain name, changing social media accounts, etc.) of changing your blog name, it is key to get it right from the very start.
Here is what I think, before you start your blog, think hard and long about your subject(s) of interest. Don’t start a cooking blog called ‘Pans and Pottery’ and suddenly decide one day that you are now into makeup. If you think you are a jack of all trade and would want to use your blog to post new recipes, show a full face of makeup and sashay in your outfit of the day, better be smart enough to choose a blog name that is not topic specific and then watch your multifaceted brand boom.
What has your blog got to say?
Another ultimate blogging tip and advice is that you must find and narrow down your areas of interest. Every new blogger has an abundance of ideas running through their heads so much so that they feel like they can write about any topic under the sun but let’s just say that you can, your blog needs to have its own niche. Having an identity means that you need to narrow down on the focus of your blog. Choose topics that you are interested in, passionate about and which you won’t get tired of writing on.
There is nothing new under the sun so if you have an idea or ideas, trust me; there are thousands of other people who have the same ideas. Therefore, it is important to do your research and figure out what blogs have a similar interest such as you. Look at the trending topics in your chosen niche and figure out how you can put your own spin on it. Think about how your blog will stand out from the rest. Remember not to limit yourself to certain topics and be ready to adapt yourself to new ideas within your chosen niche. It is also important to identify who your target audiences are and what you will want them to take away after visiting your blog.
What is the frequency of your blogging?
When I started blogging, my goal was to post an article weekly. I had a folder of articles that I had written before and I was able to keep up with my desired blogging frequency for a while until I ran out of articles in my folder and in my head. I basically ran out of steam. Many new bloggers will blog regularly when they first start out, then the regularity starts to dwindle till they don’t blog at all for months.
Apparently, successful bloggers tend to operate on a blog editorial calendar, similar to how newspapers and magazines already have contents for a 52 weeks period. A blogger has to have their articles ready for at least a month and must already be preparing what to post for the subsequent months. It is hard to do but that is the only way the blog can thrive. It keeps the readers engaged and encouraged to keep coming back for more contents.
Here is a tip – We all have out thinking moments but it is key that when ideas suddenly pop into your head, write it down somehow. From my experience, you won’t remember it exactly the way you did in the next hour.
Also, try not to set an unreasonable target for your self – someone I know once tried to blog twice a week but couldn’t keep up with it (not me, I promise). Don’t wear yourself out before you even start out.
I bet you didn’t know there are keywords to take note of
I used to work in an IT firm, so I understand the meaning and essence of SEO but I just didn’t factor that into my thought process when I started my blog. I just wrote on whatever topic came to my head and posted and would keep refreshing every hour to see how many views my article has had. Actually, it really doesn’t work that way. You can be the best writer after Shakespeare but if you don’t design a way for people to find your post, refresh all you want, your post is not going to get read.
Successful bloggers include certain keywords in their articles that they know users will use when searching. Once you figure out the keywords you need, use it sparingly but deliberately in the title as well as the body of the post. Your blog is more likely to pop up on someone’s Google search than a writer who didn’t use any keyword at all. Also, do your research on how you can improve on using keywords that are search engine friendly in your articles.
Its all about the money money money
Let’s be honest, the most common reason why people start blogging is for the purpose of making money and there is absolutely nothing wrong in that. Since I haven’t actually made any money blogging myself, all I will say is that it takes more than just posting articles here and there and putting up ads that bring money, it is the dedication and commitment over time and the ability to provide value is what they say makes a blog blow. I reckon that if you start the blog with money as the main intent, then that blog is not likely to survive. Why not just focus on what you can offer the world for free and wait for the world to start paying you what you deserve for it.
