How to Stop B.S.-ing and Start a Blog
Around this time five years ago, I was dealing with some self-esteem issues and needed an outlet. So, I hopped on the Inter-webs, picked out the most decent-looking, free blog template I could find and started writing my first post, just like that. No fancy web design. No content plan. No pre-scheduled posts. Just a bunch of ish I needed to get off my chest and onto the keyboard. Back then, I wasn't thinking about readership or subscribers or even monetizing. Blogging was (and still is) a form of therapy for me. Every post I wrote came from a place of reflection, truth and vulnerability. I wasn't writing for other people to read it — I was writing for myself.
One thing I notice a lot of folks struggle with when it comes to starting a blog is...well...starting lol. Many people who tell me they want to start a blog will rattle off an entire laundry list of excuses as to why they haven't yet — from not knowing what to blog about, to worrying about whether or not people will read it, to having to make sure everything is "perfect" before launching it. If this is you, it's time to cut the b.s. and get to blogging, sis.
While the thought of launching a blog — or anything else for that matter — can be a little scary, the key to getting past that fear is to just do it. I know that's easier said than done, so here are some pointers that might help you get in blogger mode:
Write out a list of topics.
Even though I didn't do this when I first started my blog, brainstorming and compiling a list of topics you'd like to cover on your blog is a great way to start building out the framework for your content.
Draft your first blog post.
Pick a topic from your list and take a stab at writing a post on it. Once you've written it, send it to a close friend or relative and ask for their honest feedback. A huge part of blogging is learning how to take criticism from others, so starting with someone you trust is good practice.
Choose a blog template — even if it's not what you plan on sticking with.
A lot of folks get hung up on the idea that their blog has to have some fancy web design in order for them to launch it. This couldn't be further from the truth. After all, the quality of your content is what's really going to draw people in. As I mentioned earlier, I launched my blog on a free, non-customizable template. There are plenty of free and/or reasonably priced templates for you to choose from on various platforms including Wix, Wordpress and Squarespace, to name a few. As long as it's clean and has a decent layout, you can work with it. Remember, the key here is STARTING. You can always update your site with a more customized template later (like I did eventually).
Get out of your head and go for it.
Nothing is ever gonna be perfect, so you might as well just get that out of your head now. Starting a blog takes a great deal of patience, dedication and consistency, so if you want to be successful with it, stop overthinking and start blogging. You got this.
Are you starting a blog but need help getting it up and running? Book a Blog Coaching session with me so I can help you #getWRITE!