How to Start a Blog

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Please welcome Guest Blogger, Anne from White Lace Cottage.

I know you will enjoy reading her post.

xxoo, Tammy 

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Hi =I am Anne from White Lace Cottage,I thought I would share

“How to start a blog,” or how I started a blog.

When I first started my blog I was on blogger.

It was a free service; the only thing I had to pay for was photo

space I take a lot of photos and soon after starting my blog I ran out of space.

I have to admit I knew nothing at all about blogging, nothing at all about

writing and nothing ,well, not much about photography.

And as much as I would like to say I figured it out all on my own,

well I would be lying.

My sweet niece helped set up my first blog.

But soon after I was playing around trying to figure things out,

and eventually I did.

It was very easy.

Editing photos was a piece of cake too as soon as I found

out about picmonkey.

One day I came to my blog and found it gone, I had been hacked.

Shortly after that I decided to get on WordPress.

There are two types of WordPress, mine is hosted through a service.

That was quite a change from blogger, and I was a bit scared and

intimidated. But it was the best move I ever made!

I am so glad I took the leap.

Here I am going on three years of blogging, and I just celebrated

my second year.

I wanted to share a few things with you if you are thinking of

starting your own blog.

1). Be your own voice.

I am who I am, I type the way I talk. I share what I truly love and my style.

Whatever your blog is about share the real you. People will love the person

you really are. When people meet me, they always say you are just like you

sound on your blog 🙂

 

2). Blog about whatever you want to share. I wanted to share my love of

decorating, and I wanted to inspire others to decorate with what they have

and embrace vintage style.

 

3). The more photos you take the better you will get. You don’t need a fancy

camera to take amazing photos, just practice. I have seen amazing

photos that people have taken using their phones! Oh, and never

use a flash, remember THIS post?

 

4). If I could do it all over again I would have started on WordPress.

Now if you are just blogging for a hobby then it does not matter. But if

you are thinking of making blogging a job then yes, start out with WordPress.

You get much better SEO using a WordPress site.

 

5). If you are not comfortable with doing technical things then get a good

techie to help you.  Janel from Savvy Sites Administration it is my go to gal.

She always responds quickly when I need her, listens well and does an

amazing job! I would not refer her if I did not think she was all that and more!

 

6). Link up and join the party.I am sure you have noticed many blogs

have link parties.That is a great way to meet other bloggers and get

yourself out there.But please be courteous.They are hosting a party and

letting you link up your post.Always make sure to link their blog to yours

and always,always thank the hostess.I can’t believe how many times I see

someone hosting a party and 300+ join and 35 actually respond to

say thank you.Remember they are helping you bring traffic to your blog so

please say thank you :-).

 

7). Make sure to join in on Facebook.Pinterest,Twitter,Instagram

and google+,and Hometalk. If you are building your blog the more

exposure the better.

 

8). When I was thinking of my blog name I wanted something that

would work as a business name.When you are thinking of a name think

of a name that describes you and what you want your blog to be about. And

get your Domain name.There are many companies out there like go daddy.

It is a small fee to pay,but no one can take your name away from you.Make

sure to do that right away.

 

9). I think this is one of the most important things to remember.Being a

part of a blogging community you meet lots of other people with the same

interests, and you make lots of friendships.I think it is so important to

support one another.I don’t like to see jealousy among other people. Always

support each other.If someone gets recognized for something show your support.

I am just as thrilled and excited to see a fellow blogger get recognized as I would

if it were me.

So if you are thinking of starting a blog, go for it. I am so glad I finally did!

I have made some amazing friends I would have never met if I had not

been blogging.

You can visit White Lace Cottage HERE