Calling everyone who has ever wanted to create their own blog! One of the questions I get asked the most is how to start a blog and if I have any tips on growth. After too many rambling responses, I’ve finally compiled all my thoughts in these 10 tips on starting (and growing) your very own blog. I might still ramble a bit, but we’re just going to let that slide, k? K. Let’s get into it!
1. Plan it out
First you’ll want to create a blog name, website domain, and your social media handles. Are you turning your existing Instagram account into your blog account? Or would you prefer to keep things separate and start from scratch? If you’re torn about this, consider your following and content. If you already have 1,000 followers, you have a head start — I’d keep ’em! But if you like to post your lunch pics and that doesn’t align with your blog, start fresh. Either way, make sure that your account is set up as a creator or business account, depending on your niche.
As for coming up with an actual blog name, get some paper and just start writing. Your name, blog subjects, things you love, what makes you unique. Look at catchy phrases that relate to those, refer to a rhyme dictionary, involve your friends and family, and then take your time deciding! When I knew I wanted to change my blog name, it took countless months of brainstorming. Details on that here! When in doubt, keep it simple (some variation of your name is always a good bet), don’t try to copy what’s trendy, and make sure it’s timeless enough that you won’t get sick of it.
From there, you just have to hope that it hasn’t already been taken and then build out your socials and website! Obviously not every influencer has a website, but I’d highly recommend it. It’s great to be able to have your own little corner of the internet that’s all yours, just in case the insta bubble ever bursts. It’s also a good idea to decide what social platforms you’re going to focus on the most. Are you a beauty blogger who will make lots of video tutorials, for example? You might want to put the most effort into YouTube and Instagram reels/IGTV and then secondarily, TikTok and Pinterest.
Now that the hard part is over — because phew, that first step is a doozy — you can get down to the fun stuff and plan out your content. Before launching anything, prepare as much as you can in advance! I’ll get more detailed about stockpiling photos in a minute, but one of my biggest tips in this post is to stay consistent. To do this, I’d start with a content calendar to keep you on track each month. I just use Google sheets for this, but there are numerous apps and programs that make it really easy! I put the date (and holiday/event if applicable), blog topic, social post and caption, hashtags, whether it’s a sponsored post, and which platforms I’m sharing to. You’ll never be caught off guard with no prepared post for fake holidays like national donut day 💀, and it will also help inspire new content and post ideas.
2. Quality content
These days, iPhone image quality has become so legit, there’s really no need to invest in an expensive DSLR unless you want to. As long as you prioritize decent lighting and editing, your photos can look super professional, all in the palm of your hand. For lighting, try not to shoot in full sun or be too backlit, and I’ve also learned to just give up if it’s getting too dark out. Occasionally you can get a vibey flash photo, but that’s rare for me. For editing, Lightroom presets make everything a no-brainer. You can buy them on Etsy or on other bloggers’ websites (always worth checking if an influencer you admire sells theirs!), and they can be as cheap as a few dollars. Then you’ll do everything in the Lightroom app on your phone, and there are plenty of helpful YouTube tutorials to walk you through it. I’d try out a few options before picking one that feels like your brand, and then stick with it. Your photos will all have a signature feel, and it will allow your Instagram feed to mesh together well.
Speaking of your insta feed, I’m a firm proponent of planning it out for a cohesive flow. I might obsess over it a *bit* too much at times, but just think — anyone that visits your profile has 6+ photos to convince them to follow you. So you want that grid to be poppin’! To do this, there are several apps to upload and plan your feed before you post. I’ve tried out a bunch, but my favorite is the Plann app. Not only can you map out your feed, but there are also tools for hashtags, stories, analytics, calendar syncing and lots more!
Another tool that I’d be lost without is Canva. I use both the desktop version and the mobile app, and it allows me to be my very own graphic designer. Depending on what your blog covers, you can design social posts, fashion collages, newsletter images, insta story graphics, and endless other useful templates. I use Canva for all my gift guides, daily deal collages, and insta story templates for blog posts/tv show & movie roundups/best sellers. I finally caved and purchased the pro version, but the free one does the trick just fine.
3. Put yourself out there
This goes without saying, but you have to try your hardest to not care what people think. Naturally you might feel like everyone is making fun of you, but I promise they’re not. Or maybe only like three of them are, but they’re either jealous or just dicks. Focus on what you’re doing and surround yourself with those who encourage you!
Putting yourself out there also goes for growing your community within the creative space. Not only is it lovely to have friends who you can chat with about the industry, but everyone helps each other out SO much. The advice I’ve gotten from my blogger friends has been worth its weight in gold! Another bonus is the more you connect with other creators, the more you’ll naturally grow your own following. If you’re worried about only making superficial friendships, believe me when I say that I’ve met some of my very favorite people through blogging. I’m talking lifelong friends that I share everything with — so just be open and patient!
As for tips on how to make these connections, it all comes back to, well, putting yourself out there. One easy way to do this is to join blogger communities such as The Blogger Union (shoutout to the DC Bloggers chapter!) or The Blog Societies. They do the hard part for you and you just have to show up to the events and be your friendly self! There are also lots of Facebook groups you can join to ask questions, sync up with others, and promote engagement. If you’re feeling a little more bold, you could take the spicier approach of sliding into the DMs of bloggers in your area and asking to grab coffee or a drink. You’ll be surprised how kind people can be (for the most part, lol)! If you’re going for this approach, it’s always a good idea to engage with them on Instagram beforehand so you’re a more familiar face.
4. Build your network
Going off of building up your personal connections in the blogger world, developing professional ones is also a must do. I wouldn’t have gotten invited to half the events or collaboration opportunities if I hadn’t joined PR lists and influencer networks! Your first step should be to Google local PR companies, and just reach out via email. Introduce yourself, your blog, include all your links, and express your interest in being added to their email list for potential events/collaborations in your area.
Next, research and apply for any and all influencer marketing networks that you think might be a good fit. These networks help connect influencers with brands for sponsorships that they might never have the opportunity to work with otherwise. Check out this article which goes into a few of the networks to get you started. By applying and creating a profile, you’re able to spread your reach and get discovered by companies instead of having to exclusively send out cold email pitches. You can also (and should) do some pitching as well, but that’s a topic for another day!
5. Develop a niche/brand
Remember when I said to think about what makes you unique while creating your brand? This part is major. The blogger industry is so oversaturated these days, and the last thing people need is another cookie cutter version of what you think they want to see. Find what sets you apart and remember your original purpose for starting your blog in the first place. It’s easy to try and compete with everyone else, but focus on what separates you and embrace it! Your followers will pick up on your genuine quirks and you’ll organically develop a following.
For example, I concentrate mainly on fashion and lifestyle (just like hundreds of thousands of others), but I like to throw in a bit of humor, realness, and self-deprecation to set me apart. Instead of the majority of influencers who are flipping a fixer upper into a Pinterest-worthy French farmhouse (jeally!), I’ll joke about my 600 square foot shoebox apartment and comical lack of personal space. If everyone is talking about a Madewell sale, I might get into what happened on Real Housewives of Atlanta last night. I get feedback all the time that people follow me for that specific reason, so I keep being myself and hone in on what makes me different. You want to have aspects of your blog that folks come to you for specifically, so being yourself will truly never pay off more!
6. Set shoot days
Now let’s chat about stockpiling content. I simply cannot emphasize this step enough! Some bloggers are amazing at getting ready daily, snapping an OOTD, and posting it that same day — but this gal just doesn’t work that way. It was really difficult for me to stay consistent until I actually put in multiple hours of shooting, editing, and writing all at once each week. Grab a buddy or your tripod (love this portable one), throw a few outfits in a bag, and knock out several shoots in a couple hours! Especially if you have a full time job, it will be such a gamechanger to put in those extra hours over the weekend or before/after work.
I try to always make sure I pick a day that isn’t too aggressively sunny or windy, then pack 3-5 outfits in the car. Changing clothes on the go isn’t the easiest, but if you can find a coffee shop bathroom or have tinted backseat windows, that’ll work! When I’m shooting with my tripod in DC I opt for a neighborhood that’s easy to walk around and find decent backdrops, such as Georgetown, The Wharf, Old Town Alexandria, etc. When I’m with a blog friend, we’ll pick a fun restaurant or coffee shop that we’ve been dying to check out, then map out a few insta-worthy spots in the area. This is also convenient because then I don’t have to harass my husband or girlfriends to check out every cute new place and force them to photograph me with my mimosa 😂
7. Engage, engage, engage
Not only should you be engaging a ton with other influencers’ content on Instagram, but also their commenters, your followers commenting on your posts, and anyone in your niche. Although you want to do this as much as possible, still be as intentional as possible with who you follow and who you’re engaging with. If you’re a fashion blogger, it won’t benefit you a ton to spend time engaging with folks in the food blog realm.
You can set post notifications for others’ instas so you don’t forget to comment, and oftentimes they’ll want to return the favor! It’s obviously important to support your “coworkers” in general, but it’s essential for your own growth as well. Leaving thoughtful comments might pique their followers’ interest, and then they’ll come to your page and hopefully, give you a follow! Then commenting back to your followers shows that you care about what they have to say, and encourages them to keep engaging with you.
A lot of experts say that engaging for about 30 minutes before you post, and at least 30 minutes after you post (both in responding to comments and continuing to engage on your feed) will help boost you in the infamous ~algorithm~. I try to do this whenever possible, but I’m also not too hard on myself if I’m attempting to live in the moment!
8. Stay consistent
I know I’ve said this in some form numerous times throughout this post, but it truly is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give. Since we went over planning and stockpiling your content in advance, determining your signature editing style, and staying true to your voice, let’s get into a few more nitty gritty tips for remaining as consistent as possible.
When you plan out your content, set a posting goal for the week and work hard to meet that goal. You can also have specific days of the week that always have the same subject, such as Wedding Wednesday if you’re a bride! That way, your followers will expect and look forward to that same routine, and it’s crucial to maintain that.
You always want to strive for quality over quantity, though, so I’d rather miss my post goal or even not share anything on Instagram for 5 days rather than post something low quality or that would throw off my “flow.” Don’t force an iffy photo to work just for the sake of posting something! But in the same breath, do always post what you love and what makes you happy. If it tanks on insta, I say screw it. Otherwise what are we even doing here? 🤣
Another consistency goal to strive towards is posting on insta stories every day, and specifically showing your face in your videos. Experts say that putting in this face time is much more likely to resonate with your followers, as they feel more of a connection to you. If possible, also do so in the first frame in the stories. Trust me, I know it seems extremely unnatural to talk into your phone, but you’ll get used to it and it’ll help significantly with follower retention. This is something I even set as a goal for myself this month because it’s not easy to do every single day. Sometimes I look rough and don’t have much to say, but then again everyone appreciates a real, unfiltered view into your life that isn’t too perfect.
9. Set realistic goals
In addition to setting posting goals for yourself, try to set realistic milestones for your growth as well. Do you want to reach 2,000 followers in your first year? Increase your overall engagement per post? Have one paid sponsorship a month? Actively set to-dos for yourself each week to work towards this objective. Create reminders on your phone to engage, observe your analytics to see what attracts the most views, and keep putting yourself out there. However, it is a careful balance of working towards growth and appreciating the following you have now. Don’t forget about them and solely focus on bringing in new folks, because at the end of the day what matters is an engaged following. Brands might be attracted to an account that has 100k followers but then only has 100 views per reel, and that doesn’t indicate a genuine influence at all!
Participating in giveaways for growth is a divisive subject, but with the restrictive nature of Instagram’s algorithm, it can be nearly impossible to grow otherwise. Now that’s not to say I recommend participating in every sketchy loop giveaway you find, ones that require every entrant to follow 85 people to potentially win a car (lolz). But if you and 5 of your blogger friends want to get together to gift someone a coffee gift card on your stories, I don’t see a problem with that! Whenever I’ve asked my followers how they found me, I get tons of responses saying it was through a giveaway and then they really loved my content. Can’t hate on that!
Make growth a priority, but don’t beat yourself up if you’re slower to grow. Celebrate milestones both big and small, and whatever you do, don’t compare yourself to others. There’s room in the creative space for everyone, so competition with anyone but your previous self is a waste of time.
10. Invest in and value yourself
Another huge aspect of growth is investing in yourself and your brand. Whether it’s time or money (and in most cases I strongly believe time is money), you’re going to have to spend it to make it. This doesn’t mean putting yourself in debt just to show the world all the beautiful things you have — please don’t do that. But you shouldn’t be afraid to invest in a new tripod, camera, ring light, or other equipment that you think will elevate your content and brand. (I have a whole blogging starter pack section on my Amazon storefront if you need some ideas!) Spend a little extra for a professional blog layout or even a graphic designer to take it to the next level. Opt for the pro version of an app or service. Purchase that online course you’ve heard amazing things about. Hire a photographer for an important campaign. Pay a social media consultant to help you out of a rut. Ideally, all of this will lead to growth and eventually translate to more money back in your pocket. If times are tight, ask your family or significant other for these things as holiday gifts!
Investing in yourself also means in self care. If any part of this blogging thing isn’t making you happy, change that! You want this to feel like an outlet for your creativity, a confidence booster for yourself and others, a way to add value to someone’s life. If it ever feels toxic or takes a toll on your mental health, it’s not worth it. I often need to take a day or two away from everything for my own sanity, and I never ever let myself feel guilty about it. Unfortunately since this isn’t a 9-5 office that closes at the end of the day, it can be tough to fully disconnect sometimes. But you must set those boundaries in order to avoid burnout and maintain longevity with your blog!
Last of all, it is absolutely imperative to value your time and energy. Don’t accept a partnership if it doesn’t make sense for your brand, or benefits them significantly more than you. Brands will try to work with you on trade constantly and offer $15 of product for an Instagram post/stories and image rights. It’s a joke and frankly, pretty insulting. Know your worth and don’t feel bad negotiating for a fair collaboration. I politely decline at least 90% of the partnership requests I receive, either because it wouldn’t be genuine to my blog, or because the compensation is unfair. Shooting, writing, editing, engaging, and being your own customer service rep all takes time and talent, especially when creating content that’s as high quality as possible. Like any business, it’s obviously very difficult to work for free. So create something wonderful with your brand and then protect it at all costs!
Blogging can be incredibly fun, rewarding, and even lucrative if you stick with it and work your ass off. It certainly isn’t as easy as the world thinks, but hopefully this lengthy post didn’t intimidate you too much! Honestly, if you’ve read through the entire thing, you probably have what it takes 😅 Just know that so many of us are still trying to figure out what works and faking it til we make it! I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means, and I still have a lot to learn. This is what has worked for me so far, but everyone is different and all you can do is try your best!
I hope this info was helpful, and as always, you can DM me on Instagram or email me if you have any additional questions. If you end up starting a blog of your own after reading, please let me know so I can follow along!
Good luck, you got this!!!
