Three Steps to Take Before Launching a Blog

Launching a blog can be a daunting task. Back when I started mine in 2010, I didn’t think about all the factors that weigh into a successful blog and definitely would re-do a few things if I could! I would’ve done some research, fully developed my content strategy and focused on content that could actually be useful to readers beyond my personal diary.

Since then, I have learned a few best practices and gained tips along the way for the best steps to start a blog and it really starts with these three steps (plus a bonus step!)

Step 1: Consider your Focus and Topics

The first thing you need to do before you overwhelm yourself with the logistics and technology of blogging is first determine what topics you want to cover and ask yourself? What am I passionate about? What can I teach people? What do people ask me for help on all the time?

Sometimes these questions may not align with what you want to talk about, but you have to make sure there’s some alignment and cross over between what you actually like doing and the demand for it out there. So f you find yourself loving food recipes and regularly get asked about your meals, maybe food blogging is a great option for you. And maybe you don’t want to limit yourself to one niche and that’s okay too. Start more broad and figure out what you like from there. You’ll be surprised once you actually get going what you actually want to cover on a blog.

Step: 2 Complete a Competitive Analysis

Once you have an idea of topics of interest you’d like to cover, the next step is to do the research on what’s already out there. My favorite way to research and analyze? The SWOT framework. This allows you to perhaps research bloggers and measure their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This will give you an idea of what best practices are out there, where the room for growth is and provide learnings for you to apply to your own blog.

Step 3: Find Your Blog Voice

Once you’ve selected theme areas, conducted your research and re-evaluated your blog topics, start thinking through what you want that blog to sound like. And think about your unique angle. You might be a fashion blogger, but what kind of fashion and what’s your focus? Instead of just a “fashion blogger” maybe you’re a “midwest budget fashion blogger.” The more specific the better and the more you can differentiate yourself from the rest, the better.

And you’ve just got to experiment! Try different types of blog posts, writing, videos, etc and find the space you’re most comfortable in. You’ll find your voice and it will evolve as you go.

Step 4: Join My Blog Essentials Course

I launched the blog essentials course recently to help individuals who want to start a blog, but don’t know where to start, and those who may have started one, but have lacked consistency and confidence to keep it going. I’m running a promotion right now where you can use code HALFOFF for 50% off the course, making it just $125. The course is filled with downloadables from worksheets to guides and many videos to review the course material. Plus you can ask me any questions you might have in the private Facebook group!