Before You Jump Into This Blogging Thing

Posted September 7th, 2010 / By Tom Jamieson in Misc

There came a time in the life of this writer when I realized there were so many details in the blogging arena that I had overlooked in the beginning. Unfortunately, I initially jumped into the ring with more desire than brains. And as a result of this leap of faith (or, more appropriately, lack of good sense), I missed some of the most basic items for blogging excellence.

Therefore, I aspire to provide a basic guide to new bloggers. This is not intended to be a list of do’s and don’ts as much as advice from someone who made some mistakes along the way and hopes to help the rest of you avoid a few pitfalls of your own. This also is neither an exclusive nor an all-inclusive list; it is more informational. My goal is simply to provide some insight into the idea of starting your own blog – what you should think about, what you should look for, and how to make some good decisions.

First, do some research.

Answer the questions of what, why, where.

• What type of blog do I want to write? Casual? Professional? Personal? Etc.
• Why do I want to write? To give information? To promote my product/service? To network with others in my field?
• Where do I get my inspiration and information?
• Where do I find the best hosting service?
• Where do I find out which platform is best for my blog (WordPress, Tumblr, Posterous, etc.)?

It is essential that you answer these basic questions before you even write your first word. Unfortunately, I didn’t and so it took me a lot longer to find my way through the blogging process than it should have.

Second, read other bloggers’ content.

Find out what others write about, what their style is, and where they garner fresh ideas and information. There are many great bloggers and writers with varying methods, content, and perspectives. Read blogs on various topics and from various points of view to help you determine what approach, design, and platform may work best for you. Again, some advice I wish I had followed. While I did a little bit of reading ahead of time, I still ended up in way over my head.

Third, write some preliminary content of your own.

I’m not talking about publishing here. I’m talking about writing for the sake of writing — getting used to the art, figuring out the rules of grammar and usage, walking away from your work and checking/proofing it later. Have someone else read it, too, just to ensure it conveys what you want it to convey. Let’s face it, as much as you love and enjoy reading your own content, that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else does or that they even understand it the way you wrote it. Just read a few of my first blog posts and you’ll understand what I mean.

Fourth, establish your writing goals and schedule.

This is where you answer the questions of who, how, and when. Who is my audience and how do I reach them with my message/product/service/etc.? This is also where you decide, based on your answers to the previous questions, how often you want to write and when you will put aside time in your schedule to write. Do you aim to publish daily? Two or three times per week? Once per week? Etc. How often you would like to publish will propel your writing habits and schedule. The more often you publish, the more time you must set aside ahead of time to write.

Fifth, publish to your heart’s content.

Once you have answered all the questions (what, why, where, who, how, and when) and settled on a writing schedule, blog your little heart out. Also, I suggest using a free blogging service like WordPress.com, Tumblr, or Posterous to familiarize yourself with writing and blogging. Once you’re comfortable, then the move to self-hosting comes much easier.

Obviously, I am working on a few assumptions here. Namely, that you are genuine and are providing a legitimate good or service. There is no place in the blogging world for scammers or spammers. Plus, your audience will not accept you or your perspective unless you are authentic and sincere.
While I am not a rookie to the blogging scene, I am certainly not a pro blogger either. I guess you could say I am an amateur blogger.

For those of you who are new, let me know how I can help. For those of you who are pros, what other great advice would you pass on to those who are new (basically, what did I miss)?

Tom is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ellenton and lives with his wife and their 5 dogs in Sarasota, FL. He also maintains a personal blog, Footsteps of Faith. You can connect with him through email, Twitter @pastortomjam, or Facebook.