“Do you have a blog?”
“Blog what?”
“You know, it’s like an online journal where you write about your thoughts and stuff.”
“Why would I want to have an online journal that’s open for anyone to read?”
The idea seemed so weird to me then when a friend asked me if I had a blog. But I signed up for a Blogspot account anyway. I wrote a short post about “how I wanted to be an angel when I die” and published it on November 26, 2004.
Three months later, I closed down the blog, created another one with a different name and poured my heart out for two years.
In 2007, I finally decided it was time for me to become a “serious blogger”. I bought my own domain name, grabbed a cheap hosting package and put up a free theme I found through Google.
Back then, I didn’t know a thing about choosing a domain name, getting quality web hosting or designing my theme. I had no idea I could use my blog to gather subscribers, to earn an income or to sell products.
I just knew I wanted my own space online and I will write about anything and everything under the sun. Besides, this was the time I suddenly became a mom and I felt like having a fresh start.
My very first post:
Moving here from Blogger was difficult because my old blog chronicled more than two years of my life. Some of it I would consider the most important turning points. Leaving my old blog felt like leaving all of that history behind me and I wasn’t sure I could let go.
But I realized that is exactly what I’m supposed to do: leave the past behind.
No doubt there were great memories that I’d like to reminisce over again. In the end though, they are just that, memories that can never be returned.
I am entering a new phase in my life and it is time to let go and move on.
I am building a new home here just as I am building a new home with my new family.
I did read somewhere that having a self – hosted blog opens up more earning opportunities. So I thought maybe I could also earn a few cents from Adsense.
I jumped right in without a definite plan or goal for blogging. Later on, I realized I was definitely far from being a serious blogger and it took me quite a long time to really get it.
A few lessons
Seven years, two hosting accounts and more than 20 domains since I started, I have learned a thing or two (or three) about blogging.
And if I were to start a blog from scratch now, I am going to do things a lot differently.
I would:
Brainstorm a strategic plan to set objectives and goals for my blog.
Get a brandable domain name.
Buy quality web hosting that’s reasonably priced.
Design the look of my blog.
Create a posting calendar for all my blog topics.
Implement strategies to get more traffic.
Plan how to grow my blog more.
Whether you’re new to blogging or you want to start another blog, I think these steps will help you go in the right direction.
Do you want a blog?
I know it’s tempting to just jump right in (I know, I did) and just learn the lessons along the way. But if you want a little boost when you start your blog, it would be worth your while to create a strategic plan for your blog.
Before you go buy that domain name and web hosting, spend a few minutes crafting your blog’s objectives, your online brand and your strategy.
I say a few minutes because I’d rather you spend more time on doing than planning. If you want to spend more time planning, that’s fine too.
Take a sheet of paper or open a new text document on your computer and answer these 5 Ws and 1 H of blogging.
What you come up with will come in handy when you start building your new site or blog.
“Blog what?”
“You know, it’s like an online journal where you write about your thoughts and stuff.”
“Why would I want to have an online journal that’s open for anyone to read?”
The idea seemed so weird to me then when a friend asked me if I had a blog. But I signed up for a Blogspot account anyway. I wrote a short post about “how I wanted to be an angel when I die” and published it on November 26, 2004.
Three months later, I closed down the blog, created another one with a different name and poured my heart out for two years.
In 2007, I finally decided it was time for me to become a “serious blogger”. I bought my own domain name, grabbed a cheap hosting package and put up a free theme I found through Google.
Back then, I didn’t know a thing about choosing a domain name, getting quality web hosting or designing my theme. I had no idea I could use my blog to gather subscribers, to earn an income or to sell products.
I just knew I wanted my own space online and I will write about anything and everything under the sun. Besides, this was the time I suddenly became a mom and I felt like having a fresh start.
My very first post:
Moving here from Blogger was difficult because my old blog chronicled more than two years of my life. Some of it I would consider the most important turning points. Leaving my old blog felt like leaving all of that history behind me and I wasn’t sure I could let go.
But I realized that is exactly what I’m supposed to do: leave the past behind.
No doubt there were great memories that I’d like to reminisce over again. In the end though, they are just that, memories that can never be returned.
I am entering a new phase in my life and it is time to let go and move on.
I am building a new home here just as I am building a new home with my new family.
I did read somewhere that having a self – hosted blog opens up more earning opportunities. So I thought maybe I could also earn a few cents from Adsense.
I jumped right in without a definite plan or goal for blogging. Later on, I realized I was definitely far from being a serious blogger and it took me quite a long time to really get it.
A few lessons
Seven years, two hosting accounts and more than 20 domains since I started, I have learned a thing or two (or three) about blogging.
And if I were to start a blog from scratch now, I am going to do things a lot differently.
I would:
Brainstorm a strategic plan to set objectives and goals for my blog.
Get a brandable domain name.
Buy quality web hosting that’s reasonably priced.
Design the look of my blog.
Create a posting calendar for all my blog topics.
Implement strategies to get more traffic.
Plan how to grow my blog more.
Whether you’re new to blogging or you want to start another blog, I think these steps will help you go in the right direction.
Do you want a blog?
I know it’s tempting to just jump right in (I know, I did) and just learn the lessons along the way. But if you want a little boost when you start your blog, it would be worth your while to create a strategic plan for your blog.
Before you go buy that domain name and web hosting, spend a few minutes crafting your blog’s objectives, your online brand and your strategy.
I say a few minutes because I’d rather you spend more time on doing than planning. If you want to spend more time planning, that’s fine too.
Take a sheet of paper or open a new text document on your computer and answer these 5 Ws and 1 H of blogging.
What you come up with will come in handy when you start building your new site or blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment