Blogging Basics: Who ME? Start a Blog?

You might never start a blog.  Perhaps that’s never, ever been a dream of yours.  It wasn’t actually my dream either – at first.

I’ve always wanted to write short stories and novels.  I know I have something to say, I want to write, and have tons of ideas for books – plots, characters and mysteries.  But I also want to make some extra money.  I don’t want to go back into the workplace – full or part-time.  I started hearing the term “side hustles” and did some research.  Many (MOST) of the articles I read promise I can make some extra cash without having to go back to work.  Start a blog!  Sounds simple enough, right?  So I jumped in with both feet:  bought a website name, signed up with a host, picked what I want my website to look like and wrote my first article.  Voila!  I’m a blogger.  Because I want to help people with my website, I decided to start a lifestyle blog.

What exactly is a lifestyle blog?

Here’s the online definition:  “A lifestyle blog is best defined as a digital content representation of its author’s everyday life and interests. A lifestyle blogger creates content inspired and curated by their personal interests and daily activities.”

If you’re like me, you just read blah, blah, blah, boring . . . blog.  So, here’s my definition of a lifestyle blog.  It’s a glimpse into the writer’s life, allowing you to accompany them on a journey toward some goal (planning a wedding or having a baby) or some destination (planning and taking a cruise or a vacation), or . . . as in mine – planning your retirement.  During “the journey” the writer shares insights about themselves, provides tips you can use or tips that you should NEVER use (i.e. mistakes made).  You learn about processes but you also learn a lot about the writer.

Are you intrigued yet or still not convinced that starting a blog is for you?  Check out the excuses below for not starting a blog.  Then, check out the reasons why you should start one.

Why most people will never start a blog

1. It’s too hard to get started

Everyone told me it was easy to set up a website and start a blog.  And it’s true . . . for the most part.  Using tools like Bluehost and WordPress, you can get started in less than an hour.

What no one tells you is – there’s a lot of other “stuff” that goes into setting up and running your blog.  So . . . I put together a list of some/most of the products I use with mine.  (See the tab “Resources” in the menu area of the website).  I also listed some of the other products you might want to consider if you want to take your blog to the next level and monetize it.

2. It’s too expensive

Actually, it’s not that expensive.  AND there are opportunities to make money once you have a website (monetizing your blog).

3. I don’t have time

In about an hour, you can have your website set up with the basics.  Then, it takes just a few minutes a day to write.  If you write fifty words a day, you’ve written a paragraph.  Commit to writing fifty words every day.  In five days, you could have a short article written.

4. I’m not creative enough

There are several books and articles about working on your creativity.  Read.  Read a lot.  If you want to write articles, read other blogs about that topic.  If you want to write books, figure out which type of books you want to write, then read books in the same genre.

But honestly, you just need to start writing.  If you have writer’s block, pick some off-the-wall subject, like an apple, and write about it.  Maybe give your apple a name and a personality.  What would an apple do if it were alive?  How does it feel sitting in the drawer of the refrigerator or in a basket on your counter?  Sounds crazy, right?  You’ll be amazed how quickly you get into the story of your apple.

There are so many different ways to work on creativity.  Carry a small notebook with you.  Make notes about conversations you hear, things you see.  Always be thinking about whether you could build a story around something you’ve seen or heard.

5. I don’t know what to write about

This was always a hard one for me.  It’s not that I’m not creative enough once I have an idea . . . it’s getting an idea I want to commit to.  In school, when the teacher gave me an assignment to write two pages, I was ecstatic – I LOVED writing.  But when I asked about the subject, she said, “Anything you would like to write about,” I knew it was going to be a long night.  Coming up with a subject was always the hardest thing for me.  If she had told me to write about dogs, houses, grass, flowers, the sky – anything – I could have done it.  But I was paralyzed by indecision.

So, what’s the answer?   Occasionally, I’ll sit down and make a list of 20 ideas related to retirement or life or whatever.  Then, when I’m ready to write an article, I pull out the list and read through it to see what interests me enough to share with others.

Why You SHOULD Start a Blog

Okay, so you may have some talent; you may have a burning desire to write; you may just be curious about the process – like “can you really make money from a blog?”  Each of these is a reason to start a blog.  Let’s jump into some reasons why you should start a blog.

1. You have something to say

No, really . . . you DO have something to say!  Your life is like no one else’s:  your passions, your likes and dislikes, your history, your family, YOUR story!  Whatever makes you . . . well, you!

Let’s try an experiment . . . write a paragraph about why you are the most unique person on the planet.  Was there anything in that paragraph that screamed, “H-e-l-l-l-o!  People would love to hear about that quirk you have!”

Write a paragraph or two (maybe even a whole page), put it aside for a day, then read it again.  I’ve talked to many who say they could never, ever write.  But, given direction, they find they really have something to say.  Do you?

2. Your ideas are important

No one has the same ideas you do.  That can be both exhilarating and scary, right?  Choose to share your ideas with the world.  You’ll never know if they are “good” until you put yourself out there and write.  Your ideas are important.  Who else will tell your story or the story of your family if you don’t?  Who else can make the world see who you really are?

3. You like helping others

Maybe the idea of helping others is the juice that gets you going.  You can help others conquer a task that it took you days, weeks, even months to conquer.  Even better, perhaps you could help someone else succeed by learning from the mistakes you made.  What if you’re the only person who has ever planned a wedding that included cowboy hats, Chinese parasols and the Mexican Hat Dance?  If so, write about it.  Surely, someone . . . somewhere is looking for exactly that information.  🙂

4. Writing may keep you from going crazy

You have thoughts trapped inside that really want to get out.  Writing is a creative outlet for freeing those thoughts.  Put them in an article on the web or at least put them on paper.  Someone, somewhere is really going to connect with your words.  Trust me.  There’s someone out there who “gets” what you’re saying.

5. You want to make extra money

I know, I know . . . you’re the one person on the planet who has no interest in extra income.  If that is truly the case, you can still start a blog, write tons of articles and never monetize it.  Just write.

But, if you’re like the other 99% of people on the planet who would like to make a little extra cash each month, then start a blog and monetize it.

What is Monetizing Your Blog?

Monetizing your blog is simply making money from your blog.  You can do it by:

• selling ads for companies/products on your website
• getting a commission from companies when someone reading your blog visits a site based on your recommendation (affiliate sales)
• selling your own products – those you’ve created – either ebooks, courses, or physical products you’ve made (like t-shirts, candles, frames, etc.)

My Resources page (see tabs) holds the list of products I recommend for setting up and monetizing your blog.  FYI, I am an affiliate for any of the products that have an asterisk (*) next to their name.  This simply means that I may receive a small fee if you visit their site and purchase anything.  Sometimes this means you will receive a much better deal than if you visit the site on your own.  Sometimes the price will be the same – but it NEVER means you will pay more for the item just because you used my link.

Next Steps

So, what’s your next step?  Start a blog.  Go to my Resources page, click on the Bluehost link and it will guide you through the process of setting up your own website.  You will also find links to some of the products I use.  Once you get your blog up and running (seven or eight articles written and published on your website), apply to become an affiliate for some of the companies you like, sell ads, or create your own products to sell.

The main thing is . . . just get out there and DO IT!

What about you?  Do you plan to start your own blog?  Leave me a comment below and let me know where you are in the decision process.