(I might be filming a video on this... also on starting a YouTube channel! Make sure you're subscribed to my channel to stay tuned!)
M Y S T O R Y
Why Did I Start A Blog?
Here's my story. I love filming videos, and since I go to an arts school, I am surrounded by creative individuals. Unfortunately, I am not a major in the arts, I am a collegiate student. I found YouTube as my creative outlet to share my ideas. I needed someplace to dump my innermost thoughts and connect with my viewers on a different level, rather than sitting down and talking for a 20 minute video. Surprisingly, I love sitting down and expressing my thoughts in words. Don't get me wrong, I love filming, but sometimes it's good to try different mediums.
A D V I C E O N S T A R T I N G A B L O G
What Content Should I Post?
This should not be a question of "what SHOULD I post?" because like most creative mediums, there is no set way of doing things. You do you. But. The content you do decide to post should reflect your own style. I'm not telling you that you have to do this. But defer from posting things that are popular and get the most attention. Instead, write about the things you love and that you'd want to share. Your individuality is what stands out to viewers!
Choosing A Platform
This section is pretty brief, but I did go through a few sites before starting my blog. I looked at websites such as Blogger (a.k.a. the one I'm using now), Wordpress, Wix, and Weebly! These are the main ones that I was familiar with at the time. Also, nothing is set in stone! You can always change up your blog design or link, even after you've published your blog!
↠ BLOG DESIGN
I personally chose Blogger because it's linked to my email. I also designed my blog on a blank canvas, using a "clean, simple theme" as my guideline. If you prefer to use a template to make your blog set up easier, I would recommend Wix or Weebly, as they have really nice templates!
↠ LINK / ADDRESS
All websites will allow you to set up a custom domain, for a cost of course. If you choose to go with a free plan, most websites will add a subdomain to your blog address. For example, my blog is livelaughandcreate.blogspot.ca. The ".blogspot.ca" is the subdomain. Wix is "(account username).wix.com/(blog name)", Weebly is "(blog name).weebly.com" and Wordpress is "(blog name).wordpress.com".
Posting Schedule
Agh... I'm really not the person to ask for advice on a posting schedule because if you follow me, you'd know that oftentimes, I disappear from the internet for weeks every month or so. But as for my blog, so far in 2017, I've kept up with a pretty good schedule of posting every Wednesday. A posting schedule is not a must, but that doesn't mean posting every 3 months in a year. If you are hoping to reach a certain audience, frequent or at least consistent posts will help you to reach that audience. No one will stay updated with an inactive blog.
Good Quality Photographs
Personally, I don't want to be reading through a long essay. I feel like photos give blog posts that little extra something! You DO NOT need to hire a professional photographer. If your blog is really starting to grow and you find yourself struggling to find time to take photos for your blog, feel free to do so. That will also save you time in editing too! As for the actual "taking the photo" process, most of my photos are taken with my iPhone 6! And I like to edit them on VSCO Cam and Snapseed. But by all means, if you have a DSLR or any other professional camera, take advantage of that quality!
Reaching An Audience
Like you would starting a business, social media is a huge platform for getting your name/blog out there! DO NOT comment on others' posts promoting your channel/blog. By that, I mean don't comment "Check out my blog! *insert link*". But follow other blogs, and you can reach out to other creators asking if you'd like to collaborate! Another way to get your name out there, COLLABORATIONS! Kind of like a domino effect? If you put off a good impression onto the person you're collaborating with, there's a chance that they'll refer you to others!
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If you guys have any other questions regarding advice on starting a blog, leave them in the comments below and I'll try to answer them all in my advice video!
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