Blogs have become the go-to source for many in the information age. For better or worse, millions of bloggers now flood the internet and cover almost any topic you can think of from politics to art, lifestyle to philosophy and beyond. Blogs are more sophisticated than they were in the early days of the internet, but they haven’t changed in the sense that you still need to appeal to your audience. You may have already read about the basics, but it’s time you have a few tricks up your sleeve. Here are the essentials you need to know to get your blog off the ground in 2017.
How to get your Blog off the Ground?
Own It
In order to have a successful blog, you need to be bold. Unfortunately, many capable bloggers shy away from the craft because they feel like they have nothing good to say, or that what they want to say has already been said. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While it is true that there are hundreds or thousands of blogs that are similar to yours, what makes your blog unique is you. Don’t be afraid to make your voice heard. Your individual brand is what is what is going to make you stand out. Don’t be afraid to produce the content you care about. Do it with passion, and you will find an audience who enjoys what you enjoy.
Market Yourself
Besides stepping up and owning your content, you also have to be willing to advertise yourself to friends and strangers alike. For some, marketing to close friends and family is much easier than marketing to strangers, while others find the opposite is true. In order to be successful, however, you need to be willing to do both. Don’t hesitate to expose your brand new blog to the world on your Facebook, Instagram, or other social media outlets. As you grow, you can learn more about SEO strategy, which is a more technical way of giving your blog more exposure on the web. Another excellent way to market yourself is to inquire about guest posting on another person’s blog. Find a related blog or a blog that covers a wide breadth of topics and create a post based on your niche. You will likely catch the eye of readers or viewers who may have never seen your content otherwise.
Diversify Your Media
It’s your blog, so have fun with it! Experiment with different media forms to add interest to your blog. Depending on the content you are producing, you may experiment with different images, videos, live content, and more. One of the keys to an interesting site is to break up big blocks of text with bite-sized pieces of media. When was the last time you clicked a link, saw a wall of text, and actually decided to read the whole thing? Sure, some people will, but for the casual browser, this may appear like more trouble than it’s worth. For instance, live streaming is an excellent way to connect with your audience in real time. Conduct a live Q&A with your audience where you can choose to answer questions about yourself, or live stream whichever activity relates to your niche. Another growing avenue is the use of drones. If you have a travel blog, outdoorsman blog, sports blog, film blog, or virtually any blog that can do with some creative filming, drones are the way to go. There are plenty of cheap drone options available that have cameras or are GoPro compatible so you can create videos with added creativity.
Don’t Be Afraid To Make Mistakes
Behind every blog is a human being and human being make mistakes. If you are a perfectionist, you may struggle to feel like your posts will have unsightly blemishes and that your picture-perfect vision will somehow be ruined with your own content. Don’t go down this road. Every blog, from start to finish, contains mistakes. Not every political post will be philosophically sound and not every product you endorse will be as great as you once thought it was. Even the smallest mistakes such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling can be a stake in the heart of some bloggers. Do your best at the time, and you will only get better.
Your blog should be your passion, so make it fun. Put yourself and your ideas out there to make your blog the best it can be.
