So You Want To Be A Blogger?

Having a consistent blog is a lot of work. From content to self-promotion, it’s a full-time commitment that can be rewarding as well. I get a lot of questions about what it takes to start a blog and my thought is that starting one is easy, maintaining it is the hard part. Here are five of the key components to maintaining a well-kept blog.

1. Have An Editorial Calendar. Even if you’re posting on YouTube, having a schedule of posts will make your content a lot easier to manage. It’ll make you consistent, which is the key to growing. Planning out the posts you want to feature, give you a clear vision of your content and it also keeps you motivated to keep steady and post in the order you created. Without a calendar of some sort, it’ll be a lot harder to remember when you want to post and even what to post. Even having a plan for your Instagram photos will help align your content. I love using the app, UNUM.
2. Stick To Your Niche/Brand. Once you have a blog, it’s best to develop a sense of style for yourself and your content. Even if you’re a multi-faceted person, keeping one clear vision will develop an audience that sticks around. Be yourself as well, it’ll show when people see your work and you want to be your true relateable self.
3. Quality Photos. If you’re reading this post, I applaud you because most people just want to see high-quality pictures that sum up all they’re looking for. It’s 100% true that a photo is worth a thousand words, and without great photos for your social media accounts, thumbnails and blog posts, people will be turned off. My best tip of advice is to work with what you have before paying hundreds for camera equipment. I film and take pictures with my iPhone 7 Plus and while it’s not the best, I still have great photos. Natural sunlight is also your best friend if you don’t want to invest in lighting just yet.
4. Never Be Afraid To Ask For Help.  Blogging may seem like it’s easy but any help can be essential to take your work to the next level. Having someone proofread, edit or watch your content before posting it can save you. So a second eye or opinion will give you insight on what you need to keep the great content coming.
5. Don’t Give Up. If you’re passionate about creating content and blogging. it’ll show in your work. It can be discouraging when you don’t get the reception you had hoped for, but don’t let that stop you. Forget the numbers, the views, and the likes and focus on the message. Once you leave the pressure of gaining 1M followers and just focus on yourself being better, the rest will follow. Someone is always watching and enjoys what you do.