“Blog” is actually short for “Web Log.” In the early 1990s blogs began as journals, meant more as an online diary than anything else.
I’m going to do a couple of posts on … blog posting. Here are the basics of creating a good blog.
- Know your audience. Before you even put finger to keyboard, think about who you’re trying to reach. What do they want to know about? What can you write that will resonate with them?
- Make your domain. If you intend to be a serious writer, you’ll probably want to invest a few dollars and get your own domain, either your author byline (www.jeshays.com) or something related to your books. Some inexpensive web-hosting services include GoDaddy, DreamHost, and HostGator. For a blog, I recommend a WordPress site.
- Customize your theme. Did you notice how my website reminds you of the Old West? I happen to have a good friend who’s a graphics designer, but even without help, you can pick and choose from the free templates available. Two things people are going to notice right away are your logo and your “about” page (you can also call this a Bio page), so be sure those are consistent with your brand.
- Pick a topic and title for your first post, then start writing. You might want to make an outline first so you have a good idea where to go. Aim to keep your posts down to around 800 words or so, and break up the text with images so it doesn’t overwhelm your reader. Tag your post with some specific keywords so the reader can browse for topics they’re interested in and end with a call to action letting them know what you want them to do next (subscribe to your email list, buy a book or leave a comment).
In the next post, we’ll dive further into what makes a good blog post. What sorts of posts do you like writing?