Beginner Blogging Guide

I’ve gotten a few questions both in the past and recently on tips to run a blog. I thought it would be nice to compile a post with all the main points I think are really important in running a successful blog. I am so flattered to have been approached multiple times and I’ve always been more than happy to give little bits and pieces of advice. =) Like my uni guide, I will also be splitting this apart into smaller categories so it’ll be easy for you understand and break everything down!

With so many blogs all over the internet, it’s essential that you not only be yourself but to also stand out in some way or another! You want your blog to represent yourself at the maximum and this is already enough to be original, because you’re you and there’s no one else out there identical to you! But chances are, people will not know who you are so you need to choose a name that will give others a lasting impression of you.

♡ Choose a suitable blog name! I honestly think this is the hardest part when starting up a new concept or idea. Coming up with a name can be extremely difficult, especially if the name you decided on in advance is already taken! The name itself should just relate personally to yourself and if you know you’ll have a focus on just one particular category, incorporate that into the name. I’m personally really into puns and play on words. =P

♡ Use nice graphics and a neat layout! Making your blog aesthetically pleasing by using nice graphics and a well composed layout is essential. I know we’re told to not judge a book by its cover, but it’s so hard not to! The nicer your blog looks, the more likely people will want to come back and anticipate more posts from you. =) In terms of graphics, I use Adobe Photoshop CS6 to create and edit them. If not, you can find some off the internet, which I often turn to as well. Just make sure that you credit the sources wherever possible. There are so many choices that there is no doubt you will find what you’re looking for!

♡ Alongside using nice graphics and an appropriate layout, have a consistent theme! In my case, I layout my posts differently according to their topic so my tutorials, guides, collections/overviews, tags etc. all have a different theme to them! I think this is a great way to keep things consistent but a little different at the same time (if that makes any sense hehe). Sometimes looking at one theme every single time can get a little bland so it’s nice to change things up once in a while!

The main purpose of blogging is to write of course! I think it’s really important to adapt a nice and concise way of writing so that everyone will enjoy reading about what you have to say.

♡ Check spelling and use appropriate grammar and punctuation. This is especially important if you’re trying to maintain a professional blog. It’s also just a lot easier to read if the writing is in the correct format! =P I know that I use a lot of smileys in my posts but that’s just me being myself (see last category hehe) but I definitely want to make sure that I have no spelling errors and that the text itself is clear!

♡ Use subheadings to break your post down. This will probably only be necessary for longer posts but this a tip that would also benefit you because you’ll be able to plan out your post a little better and it also makes it easier to expand on what you want to say.

♡ Proofread your posts! I always make sure that all my posts are read at least once more time through before I press the publish button. I would never want to post something I didn’t want to say or if I’ve repeated anything, I’d definitely want to make sure it gets removed! Make sure that the final product is exactly what you would want other people to read.

♡ Use tags and categories. Picking appropriate tags will make it easier for other people to search and find your posts. Categorising is also important because it will allow other people to quickly navigate through your posts to find what interests them! If they enjoy a specific post and wish to read more about what you have to say on that particular topic, categorising will be absolutely fundamental!

It’s important that you post on a relatively regular basis. People want to read as many amazing posts from you as possible! If you make a commitment to blog on certain days of the week or fortnight, people will constantly visit your blog to see if you have uploaded any new posts.

♡ Have an upload schedule. I know that with life commitments, it’s hard to upload very frequently but I think it’s great to dedicate a time that you can spend to blog and upload. Whether it be once a week or once a fortnight, select a time most suitable for you and stick with it! A successful blog means you need to commit to it so just work around your own time schedule and find a slot that blogging can fit into perfectly. =)

Another important one is to interact with your followers and other fellow bloggers! In my opinion, the best part about the blogging community is all the amazing and incredibly talented people! I like dedicating my time to like and comment on posts as much as I can. It’s nice to both give love and return the love you receive from other people!

♡ Talk to other bloggers and engage with your followers. You can’t expect to find people to read your blog if you don’t go searching for them yourself first! Not only will you be finding new fantastic blogs to follow and read incredible posts from, they will be introduced to your own blog too. It’s a win-win situation!

♡ Leave thoughtful and sincere comments. Don’t spam other blog posts with an advertisement for your blog. This can come across as being a bit aggressive and rude so make sure that if you do decide to leave a comment, make it appropriate to the actual content of their posts! Actually read their post and leave a comment related to it.

The most important tip is to just be yourself and enjoy the glory that is blogging! Surely you would have decided to start up a blog after thinking that it would be a fantastic new hobby, and it truly is! Great decision hehe.

♡ Be genuine and true to yourself. No matter what you post and say, it should reflect your true morals, values and opinions. If you’re planning on writing beauty reviews, please do make sure that everything you say is completely honest. People are reading reviews because they want to see if particular products will work out for them so give them the help they are looking for! =) Also, don’t ever feel the need to post about something you’re uncomfortable with. Always check that it’s something you want to share for the rest of the internet to see.

♡ Have the best time of your life! If there ever is a certain point in time where blogging no longer becomes fun to you and is a chore or becomes stressful, take a break! No one will blame you if you have had a tough time or anything along those lines and just aren’t in the mood to write about anything. This is your blog and you are always welcome to take a step back from it if you want or need to!

These are all the basic tips and tricks that I can provide for people who wish to start up a blog. If you ever need some more help, feel free to leave me a comment down below or email me privately at dorkchopsworld@gmail.com. I’m always happy to help anyone who is feeling a little lost or needs some extra encouragement. =) Thank you for reading!