Blogging can be the perfect way to share your style, your thoughts and what's inspiring you - but to ensure that you're not talking to yourself out there on the world wide web, here's a few tips for those of you who are just starting out.
First Things First.
What do you want to blog about? Finding your niche in the blogosphere is important - what's going to make you stand out amongst the 156 million other blogs out there? Maybe you want to report on fashion news? Or perhaps share your daily style - but what's your angle?
What's in a Name?
Start with picking a name - something descriptive, fun, something that reflects your content. But be sure to run a thorough search to make sure no one else is using it.
Once you've selected a name - you'll need a blog. There are a couple of platforms out there, the big three are Wordpress, Typepad and Blogger. Do a little research and investigate which will work best for what you want to do with your blog.
Do you have any HTML or CSS skills? This is a good question to ask yourself, as, if you don't, you'll have to use a template - so make sure, whilst choosing your platform, to take into consideration the various templates available.
You may also want to buy your own custom URL - this can cost as little as $10 a year, so I recommend snapping one up immediately.
If You Build It They Will Come:
Get creating - you'll need content to build an audience - and that content should be engaging, dynamic, and frequent, but in a world that contains 156 million blogs, fantastic content isn't all it takes.
Share and Share A-Like:
There are plenty of ways of getting people to know your blog and it really comes down to a very simple concept - conversation - getting people to get to know you online is exactly the same as getting to know people in real life - you're just using different tools.
Start a Twitter account and talk to similarly minded folks, start a Facebook page and invite your friends to follow, interact with other bloggers, on their sites or through blogger networks.
Whilst blogging can be hard work, it's a lot of fun - and it's key to remember, it's very easy to get caught up in the business and politics of blogging - but always try and remember why you started in the first place!
Kelsi Smith has been part of the fashion blogosphere for the past five years and running her successful site, Dedicated Follower of Fashion since January 2009. She is President of L.A fashion and beauty blogger collective, Two Point Oh! LA and teaches Social Media Marketing at FIDM.
