what you should know before you start blogging
After 5 years of starting my first blog, there are a few things I learned along the way that I wished I knew. So I made a list of five things you should know.
Finding a host site
This step was honestly the hardest. Finding a host site that suits your style, budget and brand are actually harder than you think. When I decided to finally make my blog in 2016, I started with Wix. It’s a great hosting site if you like customizing every aspect of your site.
I am currently using Squarespace. It fits exactly what I want. It’s cohesive, clean, and does not require a lot of work because there are already templates that are ready to use.
As a new blogger, I would recommend Wix because it’s free to have your own website and it’s super easy to use compared to WordPress and Squarespace.
invest in a photographer
Have you heard of the saying “You need to spend money to make money?” Well, this is one of those times. One thing I noticed after I started taking professional pictures was the amount of exposure I received. I received more comments and I was reposted more often from other pages. There have been a few times I sent my Instagram page to a brand for a collaboration and they accepted because they saw that I took my work seriously.
It does not cost a lot to get yourself a photographer, you just have to take the time to research local photographers in your area.
Quality over Quantity
When I first started out, I thought posting at least three to four times a week was required of me. Now, I take my time to do my research by making sure what I write is accurate and informative. I want to give great quality to my audience yet still being consistent. One piece of advice for you is that if you are not consistent as you’d like to be on your blog, use that opportunity to be consistent else were like your Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Take your time
When I moved to Canada, it was hard to refocus my attention on my blog so I ended up deleting it. In the back of my mind, I still wanted to blog, a place I could journal and express myself creatively. Rebranding doesn’t just start with a new site. it includes a new name, logo, colors, and content. You have all the time in the world to get to the place you want your blog to be. I gave myself a deadline after deadline. Eventually, I stopped because I felt I was putting too much pressure on myself. You know your blog is ready when all you think about is finally going live. Take time to create because you never know what new ideas will come when you least expect them.
Have fun
I always thought I needed to have something unique and specific about my blog. A niche of some sort. A specific topic my blog is known for. But the thing is, it’s my blog and I have different interests. At blckfemme, I plan to do things the way that I want not the way it’s usually done. Enjoy yourself and the journey it leads you to. You’ve already done the hard part, which was finally deciding to go live.
