HOW TO START A BLOG

Since I started blogging a little over a year ago, I’ve been frequently asked how do you start a blog. It’s a bit ironic that I will be sharing my five steps to begin a blog because I actually only started doing some of my own advice recently. When I launched MARIANNYC in May 2015, it was just a side hobby. I didn’t put 100% in my content, photos or blog posts and it is pretty evident compared to my recent posts. In a way, I feel like I’m starting my blog all over again, but that’s alright! I think one of the best lessons I’ve learned over the year is patience. It takes time to really build a platform, a following and a brand. I’ve also heard that it takes an average of 2-3 years to get the ball rolling, so just be patient with the whole process.

I’ll share my tips and advice but first I just wanted to share this work appropriate outfit. I am wearing a floral dress from Lulus and a handbag from Angela Roi. I don’t remember where I got my wedges but I think it must have been through DSW. I love this outfit because it’s very simple and chic so I can get away with wearing this to work and to an event afterwards.

And now here are my five steps in starting a blog:

1. GET A DOMAIN: If you don’t have a domain, you better claim one right now! The most popular website to buy a domain is through GoDaddy. The prices vary depending on what kind of domain you are looking for and how long you want it for. However, I thought the prices were pretty affordable and reasonable since most likely you are keeping the website for the long run.  Also don’t be surprised if your domain is already taken because it’s an issue that I know a lot of people experience in the beginning.
2. CREATE A BLOG: There are a million blogging platforms to choose from and many of them are free, so just pick one and you’re on your way to blogging! Some of the more popular ones include wordpress (that’s the one I use), squarespace (very user friendly and great for beginners) and blogger. Feel free to Google these platforms and see which one you prefer. Once you create it, you just link your domain to your blog. You can find instructions on how to do that here.
3. DRAFT SOME POSTS: You need to have content before you make your blog live! I suggest having a good amount of posts before you share it with the public. If you are writing about fashion, be sure to have at least 10-15 posts ready for display. This also goes for any other topic that you are writing about as well. You want your readers to have a good first impression of your blog and if it looks empty or lacking in posts, it’s a huge turn off. So put yourself in a reader’s perspective and ask yourself what your thoughts are if you stumbled across your own blog. Is the content compelling? Are the pictures appealing? Would I come back for more? I wish these were questions I asked myself because I definitely would’ve been more detailed in my posts instead of writing a short blurb about my outfits. But my motto in life is Now You Know. And now I know! It’s a learning process so don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way.
4. CHOOSE A TEMPLATE AND CUSTOMIZE IT: Depending on what blogging platform you have, there are usually free templates to choose from. You also have the option to customize your website including the colors, layout, fonts, etc. Play around with it and see what works for you. If you want to b be more professional, you can also look into buying templates as most of the time they are more options to choose from. I am currently also playing with my layout and will be moving from a wordpress free template to a paid one soon.
5. SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD: Once you’ve got your blog all set up and you are happy with your posts and content, share it! Use your social media platforms to spread the word about your website. Feel free to also tell your friends and family to check it out. It takes time to gain a good readership but I’ve learned that social media is key in publicizing your blog. Also check out other people’s blogs and comments on their posts because most of the time, bloggers comment back and that’s a great and simple way to get more views on your page.

I hope these tips were helpful! It might seem like a no brainer, but I think it’s helpful for those who don’t know where to begin when starting a blog. My next post will talk about how to gain more followers on social media, especially Instagram so stay tuned for that!