5 Steps To Launching Your Blog

Dress: Zara; Shoes: Alexander Wang

I’m always surprised if a day goes by without you guys asking for advice on how to launch a blog. So let’s rewind a little. I started my blog in the dark ages, and by that, I mean a time when I didn’t know that blogs could be monetized. It was the end of 2014, to be precise. I didn’t really start seriously blogging until 2015 though. I wanted a creative outlet, and a portfolio to show magazines I was applying to work at, at the time.

Fast forward to 2016, I’d quit my 9-5 at Elle to work for myself full-time, and I haven’t looked back since. To be honest, I’m so glad I started with the motive that I did: to share, to impact, to cultivate a positive community of like-minded people. I was never driven by money, I was driven by my love and passion for creativity. So now that you have a bit of background on my beginnings, I wanted to share the 5 steps you should take to launch your blog:

1. Just do it

One of my biggest regrets is not starting sooner. I’d played around with the idea of blogging in 2012, but was too scared to start it. Even when I did start my blog, I kept it a secret because I was so scared of what people would say. I was afraid that people would think I’m some kind of narcissistic psychopath, posting pictures of my life on the internet. When I did publicly say that I had a blog, sure enough this happened. But you know what, once you just do it, nothing else matters, because you know in your heart what your motives are.

I’ve spoken to so many bloggers who’ve had the same exact story as me. We all wish that we’d started sooner. So instead of worrying about what people will think, just do it. Also, remember, for every person who scoffs at you, there will be 10 who you can inspire. There are still people who roll their eyes and gossip about me, but those people will always exist. They have insecurities of their own which they are projecting onto you. Never be afraid to do something because of other people’s opinions of you. To quote Dr. Seuss, “Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind”.

2. Figure Out Your Platform

Okay, so you’ve decided to launch, let’s get into the nitty-gritty then. You have a ton of options when it comes to platforms for your website. The three most common names you’ve probably heard are WordPress, Blogspot, and Squarespace.

I personally use WordPress.org, although I started with WordPress.com. What are the differences? I thought you’d never ask:

• WordPress.com is free for up to 3GB of storage space vs. WordPress.org which you have to pay monthly to host through a platform like Bluehost; you also need to pay an annual domain registration fee
• WordPress.com only allows you to use the limited amount of themes available in their repository vs. WordPress.org where you can download and customize your own theme
• WordPress.com does not allow plugins, which limits your potential to customize your website vs. WordPress.org which does
• WordPress.com limits your control over SEO vs. WordPress.org where you can download plugins such as YOAST to boost your SEO
• WordPress.com doesn’t need any maintenance, it’s all performed by the staff automatically vs. WordPress.org where you’re responsible for updating your site

Now that you know the difference, here’s my opinion. If you’re absolutely new to blogging and are not sure if you want to pursue it professionally, start with wordpress.com – that’s what I did. It’s a lot easier to maneuver. You can always move over to wordpress.org later, if you get serious about blogging.

3. Create Value-Added Content

People say the blog/social media world is over-saturated. These days, everyone and their uncle has a blog. Does this mean that you don’t have a chance of succeeding? Absolutely not. However, you do have to be strategic. While it’s easy to post a cute outfit of yourself on your blog and call it a day, I think the content that sticks in the one that adds value to your audience’s life.

If you’re into fashion, instead of just posting pictures and simply linking to the products, do something a little more creative. Maybe 3 ways to wear a certain piece of clothing, or why you styled something the way you did, or the best swimsuits to buy on sale. Or if travel is your forte, do a travel guide of some sort instead of just posting cute pictures of yourself in a pretty place. The possibilities are endless.

You want your blog to have a loyal and dedicated readership. And the only way to cultivate that and stand out from the masses of people who have blogs is to create content that really impacts your audience.

4. Engage Your Audience on Social Media

Social media shouldn’t be thought of as a popularity contest, it should be a vehicle to further your connection with your community. Use Instagram to build relationships. Respond to comments, engage with your audience, always answer your DMs, and be personable. Don’t get it twisted, no matter how many followers you get, you’re not above anyone. There’s a big difference between celebrity and blogger.

The whole reason blogs became popular is because of the accessibility factor. Bloggers are like that BFF who you can turn to for advice on fashion, beauty, travel or whatever else your heart desires. So if this is what you want to do, make sure you are kind to and engaged with your audience. Without them, you literally have nothing. And remember, that follower count doesn’t mean shit if your community isn’t engaged. It’s better to have 100 extremely loyal and engaged people in your tribe than 1000 people who don’t really care what you have to say.

5. Perfect Your Pinterest Game

You guys, the power of Pinterest is absolutely insane. It’s an image-based search engine which has the potential of multiplying your blog readership. If you can do one thing, learn to use Pinterest. It’s the one social media platform that’ll give you the most returns.