Hi loves! Welcome back to the blog. Today, I'm sharing my personal experience on starting my own blog and brand. Ever since I started this blog in 2014, I have been amazed at the fulfillment that Stef Health Tips® has given me. More importantly, I'm very humbled by the positive impact it has had on all of you!
There have been ups and downs, failures and successes, and lots of amazing moments with this blog. Not only have I enhanced my personal knowledge of health and nutrition, but this blog has been a source of inspiration to many!
If you are interested in starting your own blog or just wrote your first blog post, you likely are very excited about the venture ahead! The initial excitement and adrenaline is amazing, but when you start to encounter the practicality of maintaining a blog, it becomes difficult. I have seen so many people start and stop blogging. If you are truly passionate about a certain topic, it's worth it to put your best foot forward when starting your own blog.
Here are a few key lessons I learned from starting Stef Health Tips® that will hopefully support you in your personal blogging!
Commit To A Consistent Schedule
Your audience and readers expect regular content from you. They want to know when they can expect a post from you and that you'll be delivering quality information. How much time are you willing to commit to your blogging endeavor? Take a look at your regular schedule and see what you can prioritize. Whether you decide to publish a new post on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, be CONSISTENT. There is always a new blog post on Stef Health Tips® every Monday morning at 6AM. This is a rule I made for myself, and it forced me to stay organized. Don't avoid writing posts for a year, and then suddenly surprise your readers with twenty new posts in one week. Stay consistent and commit to a regular schedule. Write some blog posts in advance to save for a "rainy day."
Have A Common Goal
Your blog should be cohesive and have a common goal. Think of a word or statement that will describe your blog and content. Always keep that phrase in mind and stay true to it. Your blog may evolve, and that is natural, but never lose sight of the true meaning of your passion and writing. You can experiment with new sectors of your goal, but keep a coherent theme. Health is my keyword and has provided clarity for me when creating content for this brand.
Do Your Research
Before I started this blog, I researched other bloggers that were very successful in the health arena. What makes them successful? What type of content do they deliver? What does their website look like? One of the most important things I learned about this was the significance of social media. Ironically, I never wanted to get an Instagram before starting the blog! I didn't see the point of it (little did I know how much I would love it!). Other bloggers taught me that Instagram was a great way to engage the public and attract readers. So, the @stefhealthtips Instagram profile was born!
Obtain Quality Credentials
If you are passionate about a certain topic, obtaining quality credentials is crucial to your credibility. People like hearing from an expert, and obtaining a certification or license in what you are interested in will increase the legitimacy of your advice and blog. Not only will this increase your confidence in blogging, but it will also help you deliver better content to your readers. For example, if you are interested in fitness, pursue obtaining your Certified Personal Trainer credentials.
Engage On Social Media
This may seem obvious, but social media is EXTREMELY important in today's society. When you begin your blog or brand, you want to increase traffic to your website. Social media provides an interesting and alternate way to engage your audience. Cater to what the audience wants by asking strategic questions and listening to your followers. Let them know that your main mission is to provide quality content that can benefit them!
Make A Media Kit
Blogging is an amazing hobby that can turn into a business! Making your own media kit allows you to work with organizations and brands that will support you in your blogging efforts. My media kit has helped me interact with countless brands and provide better content to my readers, all while making a bit of money along the way!
Do you have any other advice or questions about starting your own blog? Email me at stefhealthtips@gmail.com with your comments or questions.
Xoxo,
Stef