How to Create Your Own Blog

Hey everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely day, wherever you may be! For today’s post, I thought it could be helpful to share some tips on how to create your own blog! I first started blogging back in August of 2019, and I have continued working on it ever since. It is something I am very proud of, and as a writer, I love having a space to share whatever is on my heart. Before creating my blog, I put a lot of thought into what I wanted it to truly be, and I’ve learned so much along the way. Please keep in mind that I am certainly not an expert and I do not know everything, however through my own research and experience as a blogger, I believe that these tips may be valuable to you.

Make a plan

Before ever creating my blog, I thought long and hard about what I wanted my blog to look like, what I wanted it to be about, and who I wanted it to reach. There are so many questions you need to ask yourself before you start. I had been wanting to create my blog for a long time, but I only started to seriously think about it in early 2019, so I made a plan for myself. I thought about my own passions and what I believe to be my purpose in life. I truly feel that I was born to write and to help others, so that was going to be my top priority. I was also at a point in my life when I really recognized the importance of self-love and confidence. I knew that it was a journey that I was so happy to be on, and I wanted to share that with others. After so much planning, over thinking, and dedication, I started to create my blog, Compass to Confidence, where I would share my passions, give tips, and inspire people to become confident.

Pick your niche

When I began researching about how to create a successful blog, I remember reading up on “niches” and how this can help you find your true audience. Well, I had a different idea for my blog. I have so many interests and passions, and I knew that I did not want to create a blog that was only about fashion or fitness; I wanted to share it all. The only downside is that by writing about multiple topics, rather than one or two, it could be difficult to attract a large audience. I understood this, and I knew that it might hinder my chances of having a successful blog, however I am still glad that I made the decision that I did. I am able to write whatever I want, and this is what makes me happy. I know not everyone who checks out my website will be interested in beauty or health, but I believe that there is something for everyone. Although this is the direction I decided to go in, I would recommend picking your niche. I would try to narrow it down to one or two topics, making sure that they are things you can write about frequently. However, if you’re like me and you are determined to write about multiple topics, you definitely can (as long as you understand how it may affect your blog).

Pick your hosting site & register your domain

The first step to actually create your blog is to pick a hosting site and register your domain. There are a variety of hosting sites out there, such as Wix, GoDaddy, or Bluehost, to name a few popular choices. I chose to create my blog with WordPress and I registered my domain through this site (most of the time, your hosting site will help you register your domain). Once a year, I have to pay not only for my domain, but also for my hosting site, and there are different plans you can choose from (such as basic, business, etc).

Think about spending some money

If you’d like to take blogging seriously, you may want to think about spending some money to enhance your blog. Most of the time, if you choose to create a blog that is completely free, you are very limited in your options, and your overall site may not look exactly how you want it to. Also, there are many widgets that will not be available to you. You really do not have to spend a ton of money, but if you hope to create a successful blog, this may be the right step. If you want to create a blog simply as a hobby, and it is not something you want to take very seriously, then spending money may not be your priority, and that’s ok!

Keep your site simple & user-friendly

If you were to go to a website where you couldn’t locate the menu, there were too many pop-ups, and it was overall difficult to navigate, would you choose to go back to that site? Probably not. Think about your readers. It is ok to make your website your own and to have fun creating it with different widgets; you just don’t want to go overboard. Your website can be aesthetically pleasing and professional while simultaneously being user-friendly. At the end of the day, your readers want to see your content, but if it takes them 20 minutes just to find your latest post, there is a good chance they won’t be subscribing to you.

Create a blogging schedule

From the very beginning, I decided that I would share a blog post at least twice a week. I like to post every four days, and I try to change this up often. For example, if I share a post about fashion, then my next few posts are most likely going to be about a different topic (such as travel, entertainment, or beauty), though it doesn’t always work this way. If you are sticking to your specific niche, the same rule applies. People want to see something different, so do your best to plan out your posts, and don’t be afraid to get creative and try new things! I feel that creating a blog schedule will really help to keep you on track. Successful bloggers post frequently and they are always coming up with new ideas. I like to jot down a ton of ideas in my phone and I plan out blog posts for the months ahead. By doing this, I give myself time to plan out my posts, to write them, and to take photos/videos for them. I recommend having a planner for your blog as well!

Create eye-catching content (photos, videos, etc.)

This is something that I am still working on, however I would say that I have definitely gotten better with it! Taking great photos/videos will help attract your audience, plus, it makes your blog look more professional. You do not need any fancy equipment, especially if you are just starting out. Using your cellphone should work well! If you have great editing skills, then you can also use this to enhance your photos. You can stick to a theme, or change things up often. I like to change the photos on my homepage every season, and I stick to a certain theme with these photos as well.

Promote your blog posts

Social media is a fantastic way to promote your blogs. I share each new post on all of my social media platforms. By doing this, I can reach more people who have similar interests. I also try to utilize the different tools on social media such as Instagram reels, hashtags, and stories. I also like to look at my analytics (for my social media and my website) to see where my followers are coming from. I really like to plan out my posts ahead of time by figuring out the best way to promote my blogs.

Write for an audience

This is something I was able to learn pretty quickly, but I feel that many writers who are just starting out may struggle with this. As someone who has been writing in journals her entire life, I knew that when I started blogging, I needed to know how to write for an audience. I feel that through writing, I am always able to help myself, however it my goal to inspire and uplift others. I have found a way to not only write for myself, but for my readers as well. Something I like to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t always get too personal, and you should remember that most people will read your blog because of how it will benefit them. As a blogger/writer, you should ask yourself: what can my readers get out of this post?

I really hope that you found these tips helpful, and I highly recommend creating your own blog! It gives you the space to share your writing, no matter your interests/passions! Make sure to do your research ahead of time, and plan, plan, plan (just don’t over think too much like I did)! It does take a lot of effort and time, but if this is something you truly want to start, then you should definitely go for it! Thank you so much for reading!

Celebrating One Year of “Compass to Confidence”

Today makes one year since I started my blog, Compass to Confidence! I seriously cannot believe how fast this past year flew by! I remember how nervous I was to create this blog in the first place, let alone announce it to the world. I had never shared my writing with anyone before then. I felt that it was personal and private. While I do still keep some of my writing to myself, I’ve felt more joy by sharing it with others. Being able to help people through my writing was and is always one of my biggest goals. And as silly as it may sound, it feels like a dream come true.

Like many young girls, I kept a journal. I would write about my days, my friends, and whatever popped into my head really. As I got older, I started writing about my experiences as well as important lessons I was learning in life. I very quickly realized how much writing helped me emotionally and mentally. My journal was a safe space for me to comfortably share any and all of my thoughts and feelings.

Before creating my blog, I had a vision of what I wanted it to be as well as what I wanted it to look like. I did some research on blogging as well. From the get-go, I planned on writing about many topics. Based on my research, this was not the best decision for me to make, however I went against the advice of sticking to a specific niche. I wanted to write about my interests, and I have more than one that I am passionate about. Fashion, health, beauty, travel, and entertainment. These are the things I wanted to talk about (as well as some personal writings found in the “Grab a Chair” section of my blog). The reason many people advise to choose one niche is because these are the blogs that are more likely to be “successful” and to gain a loyal following. Well, I decided to go with what I wanted to do. Even if that means that this blog will never take off, I will still be happy sharing my writing with whoever would like to read it. In its own way, no matter what happens, this blog with always be a success to me.

When I first started writing for my blog, I realized that I was no longer my audience. Anyone in the world could be reading my words. While I still wanted to keep my writing personal, I’ve had to learn how to transition my writing from “How is this going to help me” to “How is this going to help my readers?” While people may be interested in my personal life, I think many people would like to read things that not only interest them, but are written for them. That is where I come in, sharing my own tips and advice through my passions.

Although it may seem like I do not have my own niche, I think I’ve come to realize that I absolutely do; it’s self-love. The whole reason I created my blog in the first place was to help others gain self-confidence while simultaneously being on that journey myself. I want to uplift and inspire others. I wanted this blog to become a place where women could come to receive advice, motivation, and a little bit of a self-love boost. Not only did I feel that making this all about self-love would help others, but I felt that it would help me too. This blog has brought so much joy and confidence to my life. And I want myself and my readers to walk hand in hand, so we can guide each other in the direction of self-love. I have been on my own self-love journey for quite a few years now. I’ve seen the beautiful effects of loving myself and what it has brought to my life. Everyone deserves to know this feeling, and I hope that by being a self-love advocate, I can inspire others to start that journey to confidence as well. Once you start loving yourself, everything around you will change for the absolute best. It starts with that first step.

By sharing my passions, giving tips, and inspiring others to become confident, I have crossed an item off of my bucket list, reached a major goal of mine, and followed my dream. I have been connected with some incredible women through social media, and they have been so very supportive of me. It is such a beautiful and powerful thing when women support other women, and I am grateful for all that blogging has brought to my life.

One thing that I have always loved about reading other people’s words is the way it resonates with me. I always hoped someone would read my words, and it would have the same effect on them. I always get so excited to share new blog posts, so much that I constantly talk about it to my loved ones. I really try to share my best writing on my blog, and I am proud of each and every post that I share with you. I’ve grown so much since I first began blogging one year ago. I am very proud of how far I’ve come, and the fact that I chose to share my writing with the world despite being a bit fearful and nervous.

I wanted to share this post with you to celebrate one year of Compass to Confidence, and to say thank you! Thank you to my loyal readers who come back to read every new blog post, and thank you to those who stop by occasionally. If you’re new here, welcome! I hope that you will stick around and walk alongside me on this beautiful journey. I’ve had a passion for writing since I got my first journal, and that spark I had as a little girl has turned into the biggest and brightest fire. It’s a dream that I will never put out. I want to let that fire burn and burn for the rest of my life. It is a passion that I refuse to let go of or give up on. I have many plans and goals for my website, so I hope that you will continue to come back every week for more fresh content.

Thank you so much again. You don’t know how happy this blog has made me. And I can’t even begin to explain the good that has come my way because of it. Here’s to another year of blogging!

(Shoutout to my loved ones. Your support and love means the absolute world to me, and I hope that you are proud of me and where I am headed. I love you guys!)

If you find that your compass points to confidence, I hope that you will choose to follow it. Thank you for reading! Until next time!