Alicia Tenise

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November 18, 2014

Blog Tips: Should You Start Your Own Blog?

One of the coolest parts about blogging is that my friends and family (and a few strangers as well!) are now asking me for blogging advice. I’ll forever be flattered that people think I’m doing a decent job at this whole blogging thing.

Without a doubt, the question that I most frequently get asked is “should I start my own blog?” Long story short, I say maybe. Blogging is without a doubt one of the best hobbies I decided to pick up. It’s opened a lot of doors for me and I’ve been able to meet a lot of amazing people and learn a ton about the social media world in the process. Read on to figure out if blogging is or isn’t right for you!

DO start a blog for the right reasons. As some of you know, bloggers get some pretty nice perks from time to time. From gifted items to media previews and monetary compensation for sponsored posts, it is possible to make your blog a profitable business. While there’s nothing wrong with striving toward this goal, make sure you start your blog for the right reasons. Do it because you love crafting posts, not because you’re driven by money and product!

DON’T expect to become an overnight success. You’re going to have to put in some work to gain a following. I love looking at bigger blogs as a source of inspiration, but don’t be intimidated by these major players — these folks started at the same place you did: from scratch. Work on creating high quality, original content and using social media strategically to promote your blog and you’ll start seeing some results over time.

DO have original content. While there’s nothing wrong with a reblog here and there or a round up of links to your favorite websites, make sure you’re creating your own original content. Take your own photos. Come up with your own blog post ideas. Establish your voice. This is what is going to set your blog apart from the rest!

DON’T be afraid to network. My friends and family love my blog, and I enjoy sharing my posts with them. However, if you want to take your blog to the next level, you’re going to need to network with other bloggers, companies and potential readers. Commenting on other blog posts, joining blogging communities, engaging with bloggers and businesses on social media are a few ways you can network and build your following.

DO be prepared to use social media. Yes, you need to be on social media if you’re a blogger. Like, have to be. It is incredible how much traffic social media will drive to your website. I highly recommend using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as promotional tools (note: these platforms may or may not work for you. It’s all dependent on your niche and audience) . It’s a little hard to manage your social media strategy at first, but over time you’ll get into a rhythm. Make sure to tag any companies/brands you’re mentioning in your posts — there’s a chance that the company will either notice you or share your content with their followers!

DON’T feel you need to stick to one topic. A lot of people say to me that they’re not 100% sure what direction they want their blog  to go in, but they know what topics they want to write about. Some topics really compliment each other (ex. fashion and food, etc), so don’t feel the need to limit yourself. I started blogging only about fashion, but now that I know my audience and their interests a bit more, I’ve expanded and have talked about food, fitness and local events as well. Your content will evolve over time, don’t think you need a perfect content strategy for your blog right off the bat!

DO have fun. From time to time, I feel uninspired to create posts and would rather lie in bed and not have to deal with it. However, at the end of the day, I know I still love blogging and would feel a little incomplete if I left the digital world all together. Some of you might feel the same as me, others might consider blogging a chore. If you are no longer having fun blogging, it might not be for you. That’s okay! It’s not for everyone. Different strokes for different folks.

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Filed Under: Blogging

Comments

  1. Meredith says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Great post & solid advice. Often people don’t realize the work that goes into blogging – I have a few friends who make 2 posts and then quit. But when you really find a groove & get into it, the rewards you get from being a part of the community make it worth it!

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      I have so many of those friends too — being consistent is the hardest part! Thank you for stopping by!

  2. Hannah A says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Thanks for the tips Alicia! When I started my blog I thought I would just do the typical lifestyle blog, but after a month I’ve realized that I like doing food and DIY posts the best! These are awesome tips!

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Isn’t so exciting to develop your content over time? Keep up the good work girl! Thank you for stopping by!

  3. Malonda Rose says

    November 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Thank you Alicia for the tips. It will help me a lot.

    http://www.malondarose.com

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad I could help someone out!

  4. kayla paxton says

    November 18, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    The idea of branching out with my blog on my personal instagram and twitter is so daunting! For some reason I can’t stand the idea of letting people I went to high school with know I have a blog!

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 18, 2014 at 2:54 pm

      It is super scary, I totally feel you! I didn’t let my friends/family know I was blogging until like a year after I launched it. Do it at your own pace — you might be surprised at the people from high school who become fans of it!

    • kayla paxton says

      November 20, 2014 at 4:04 am

      Thanks for the support! I actually linked my blog to my instagram after this post settled with me for a bit! I even used a #bblogger hashtag! Look who’s branching out!

      • Alicia Chew says

        November 20, 2014 at 1:35 pm

        That’s AMAZING! I hope all your Instagram followers fall in love with your work!

  5. Taylor Yates says

    November 18, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Excellent tips! I think that it is sooo important not to limit yourself to a category of posts. I’ve been all over the place and in the process realized that my humor, not my topic(s), is the common thread that links my posts.

    Xo,
    Taylor
    acupoftay.com

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      AND your blog posts are so hilarious (I wish I was as witty as you/sharp with my writing!) Thank you!

  6. Megan says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Fab tips!! Blogging has completely changed my life and I couldn’t agree more with this post. It’s more rewarding than I ever could have imagined, but you absolutely have to be in it for the right reasons. You hit the nail on the head!

    xo Megan, Lush to Blush

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:34 pm

      Awww this means a lot, Megan. Thank you! I completely agree. One of the most rewarding experiences of my life!

  7. Cherri-Ann Smitj-Jones says

    November 19, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Thank you so much for this, Im new to blogging and Im trying to figure out how to grow my readership. This really helped. Please check out my blog.
    http://www.bermudianbeautyblog.com

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      I hear you! Good luck with all of your blogging ventures!

  8. Stephanie Silv. Lui says

    November 20, 2014 at 7:08 am

    Great tips !! Thank you for sharing xxx

    http://stephlui.blogspot.com

    • Alicia Chew says

      November 20, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you! Hope this was useful!

  9. Simone Foster says

    November 25, 2014 at 1:59 am

    Thanks for the great tips. As a relatively new blogger, there have been times when I do feel I need to up the ante and also to push myself to achieve more in such a short spate of time. At the moment taking my own pics, doing my own videos ( including backend editing), managing my social media sites etc all seems too much for a one woman show – but hey, we gotta start somewhere right.
    Simone xoxo ( http://www.yourstylearchitect.blogspot.com)


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