A friend wants to get started and write a blog, and so asked me for advice.
I wrote a clear, straightforward version of my advice over on MidnightDBA.com. I think I’ll annotate it here with additional thoughts.
Yes, write a blog!
First, understand that everything has been written about before. There is nothing new under the sun. EXCEPT for your perspective! So don’t feel like “Oh, I can’t write about XYZ because it’s been done to death.”
Never mind that….write what you want to write.
This is absolutely true. In my personal life though, I have a million and one thoughts, and no real way to categorize them other than “Hi, this is me and the things I think.” So that hesitance I’m trying to stave off for my friend? I’m past it in my professional writing, but not so much in my personal writing. Thus, this meta-blog.
Consistency builds a blog audience
Second, everyone always says that you need to be fairly consistent in order to get an audience. They’re right.
If, like me, you write for three months, then let it alone for a few months more [glances nervously at the last substantive blog post here], you won’t get/keep an audience.
The only reason I have a consistent audience, is that I’m obsessive about Twitter, where the vast majority of my tech audience hangs out. Everything else is really just bonus content….it’s not ideal, but it’s how it has worked out.
Also truth. (All of this is true.) In my non-professional writing, I don’t have enough focus or consistency to build an audience. That’s sort of fine, though the situation is at war with my overall “Everyone should really hear all the great thoughts I have” philosophy I hold.
More for your audience
Third, an audience won’t magically appear. You must write, and you must also post about it somewhere.
Instagram is good, Twitter, is good, Facebook is good, LinkedIn is good….and hashtags are your friends. If you decided to make a blog all about organization, you’ll want to use stuff like #organization #bulletJournal (or whatever you’re writing about).
Hm, I forgot to mention that you can set WordPress up to auto-post to FB, Twitter, etc. Well, this is more conceptual advice, not techie advice.
Where to write a blog?
Fourth, platform! WordPress is great. There’s a free version that’ll get you a URL like “YourName.Wordpress.com”, or you can go for a paid account and get something like YourName.com.
I couldn’t tell you much about other platforms, as I’m a WordPress girl. Perhaps other bloggers and commenters have additions….
But wait, there’s more!
Are there other, cooler blog platforms out there? WordPress has actually kind of pissed me off with its “you must use blocks instead of just writing like you’re in a Google Doc, hah, suck it loser!” attitude.
You need a brand
Fifth and finally, branding is important. Your name is okay as a blog, but it’s not as memorable as things like, oh:
- MidnightDBA.com
- CaptainAwkward.com
- UnfuckYourHabitat.com
- Youtube.com/DeadMeat
- Youtube.com/HowToADHD
And so on. Those sites and channels are each run by one or two people, but they’ve chosen a name that’s really memorable & has to do with what they’re about.
So yes, you can go with something like YourName – I mean, John Scalzi (author) gets away with scalzi.com just fine – or you can figure out what you want to write about (more or less), and figure out branding based on that.
Again, truth. “WeOwls” and “JenSmellsPeaches” aren’t particularly memorable, but again, I’m not focused enough in my personal writing to pick *A* brand. (Did you see how fast BasicBulletJournal.com came and went? I rest my case.)
That’s it for now! I don’t want to overburden you. But I will clearly talk about this forever and ever and ever and ever….
We Owls 