What’s up, Boujee Bosses, we are back with more tips! I have been getting a lot of questions lately asking about how to start a blog, so I thought I would share five quick tips on what you need (in MY opinion). Let’s jump right in!
Discover Your Niche
This is by far the most important part of blogging. You want your blog to have cohesive content, so figure out what direction you want your brand to head in. Fashion? Lifestyle? Health? Figure out a topic you’re passionate about and make sure that topic can produce consistently good content for an extended period of time. I suggest making a list of at least 25 topic ideas pre-launch to make sure there’s some longevity within your blog niche because Content is King. When you establish a good niche, the name and branding will come a lot easier to you.
Legally Protect Your Brand
As soon as you establish your niche and name, you need to trademark it. I wouldn’t recommend filing for any sort of permit or license because you probably won’t be selling anything in the beginning (and shouldn’t be), but you need to make sure your name is protected at the least because you will probably want to branch out into selling some products or services later on down the line. I waited almost a year before filing for my trademark, and fortunately had no issues, but that won’t be the case for everyone. Even if you own a domain name, someone else can still trademark it, so protect your brand! Check out my FREE Resource Guide elaborating more on this topic among other things.
Find the RIGHT Website Host
This is crucial to your blog’s success; you need a visually appealing and accessible design layout. I use wordpress.com, and the design layout templates are endless and easily customizable. You don’t have to be tech savvy with WordPress, you can literally just switch out their words and images with your words and images, or even delete them altogether if they don’t fit your aesthetic. The logistics on the backend are pretty straightforward as well. Regarding other website hosts, I hear a lot of great things about BlueHost and there is a great Black-owned host called Black Business Boom that you can check out.
Download Royalty Free Image Apps
Incorporating some sort of visuals in your blog posts is essential, but you can get into a lot of trouble if you don’t source them properly. You can avoid this problem by using royalty free image apps. I use Pexels, Unsplash and Pixabay mainly because they don’t make you go through all the unnecessary hoops that apps like Shutterstock make you go through.
Start Lead Generation with Email Service Provider
To really establish a loyal following, you need to grow your email list. Most website hosts have some sort of email list plug in with most templates, but it’s mainly just to notify of uploads. You need to invest in an email service provider to set up email sequences and automations from opt-ins. You can send out emails not only when you upload, but weekly newsletters/recaps, opt-ins, advertising, and cross-promotions for your other platforms. I was trash at this and put it on the backburner for a year until I had to set up an opt-in as a homework assignment for a branding course I took. Don’t be like me. Set up your lead generation, sis!
I hope these tips were helpful, I just wanted to give a brief overview of what bases you need to cover when starting a blog. Even if you’re not starting a blog and just wanting to legitimize your brand in general, make sure to check out my FREE Resource Guide where I give five actionable steps, share resource lists, and provide bonus tips! Let me know your thoughts on today’s post in the comments below and on our social media pages!
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