Once you can define what your blog is about, the rest should fall into place. It doesn’t matter what topic you choose. It can be crocheting or knotting, drag racing to marketing, or even about yourself. It can also include a diary if you wish, or the antics of your pet or family. Anything you choose is fine. I have seen some great blogs on humor, video and even horses.
In the last two articles we covered:
Staying within your budget, which is vital to everyone.
Which blog host or web platform we should choose.
I am having a very difficult time in deciding which should be the next step. I hate it when my poor befuddled pea brain argues with it’s self. Leaves me in a bit of dilemma.
Give me a second. Don’t be getting upset and frustrated now, I will be back, just going to check something. It’s not like you are going to notice anyway. You will be able to continue reading, honest you will.
See I told you I would be back. No please don’t start your blog yet! We have a lot of ground to cover yet.
The next step would be to choose a “Topic”. This step requires some time and thought.
You have to decide what you are going to blog about. Not an easy task to do.
“Probably the best place to start thinking about what your blog should be about is to consider what YOU are about.”
You will need to sit down, with paper and pen (pencil will work to) and start jotting things down.
Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
- Whom do you want to reach with your blog?
- What do you want to achieve with your blog?
- What are my end goals with the project?
- What is your blog about?
- Do you have time to blog?
- Do you need to select a Niche?
I probably have you totally flabbergasted by now but don’t panic. It isn’t that difficult. When I started my blog I ignored everything stated above, now I am attempting to reorganize and make sense out of what I am doing.
Now, I guess we should dive in and explain a few of things listed.
Do You Need to Select a Niche?
This term had been tossed around for years. So what the heck is a “ Niche ”. A Niche is simply a group of people with similar interests and needs.
There are numerous things to consider before choosing a ” Niche ”
Is the market easily defined and reachable? Do you know where they hangout? What kind of trade journals or publications do they read? Do they have clubs or are members of particular organizations?
Is the market small enough that you will not have tons of competitors, but still large enough for you to make a good profit?
Does the market have the money to spend?
Does the group have an insane passion for their hobby or topic of interest? Do they eat, sleep, and breathe their hobby? Are they constantly seeking more information related to their subject?!
”Niche” simply means individual or distinct.
Do You Have Time to Blog?
This is the easy part. Really! It takes time to write “Quality” content. Do you need to blog everyday? The answer is ”NO”. Ensuring you update regularly is important though.
It does take dedication and time though. Hence the reason for finding a “ Niche ”
What is Your Blog About?
Your choices are endless. So dream big.
What are My End Goals With the Project?
Setting goals is a way to look to the future of your Blog.
Do not set goals that you know will take forever to get to. Sure, you can, but keep in mind that setting short term goals will take you towards achieving your long term goal.
Oh gosh, I sure that made sense to you. I think I just confused myself. ( as I reread it)
So set goals to help your blog grow. Work toward them. But, as in motherhood, work toward balance, too-don’t work so hard on them that you don’t enjoy blogging anymore!
What do You Want to Achieve With Your Blog?
This is like asking yourself “What do you want from your blog?”
Do you want to make from your blog? ( I know the answer to that one)
Do you want to create more exposure for your business?
Do you want readership?
Once you figure out what it is you want the rest should fall into place.
Whom do You Want to Reach With Your Blog?
This is the most difficult of the questions you need to address – difficult because you’ve to possibly identify the gender, age profile, profession, likely preference, demography, and so on of the target group.
The first factor to be considered is the age group.
Other factors include the gender, marital status, occupation, ethnic background, health status, income status, education, and hobbies.
I once again apologize for the length of this post. I hope it clarified a few things for you and gave some insight as to what you are able to do with a Blog.
So happy thinking and have a great time blogging.
Please return for my next step in creating your very first blog.
Mon, Feb 11, 2008, by Wendy E.
Blogging