A Beginners Guide to Blogging - The Starting Point
Between Rhett and I we have been blogging for just over four years. That might not sound like a long time, but consider that the first post you can find on Problogger is September 30, 2004 which is just over four years ago and the amount of experience that Rhett and I have as bloggers combined is not that different from Darren Rowse. I have also been involved in creating websites and other web projects since 1994 so I have been working on the Internet for 14 years. I do not say that to brag, but rather to make the point that it can be hard for me to step back and look at blogging from the eyes of a beginner. Rhett gives me a rough time occasionally that my posts are to “technical”, and that might be true but there is a place for the more technical blogging posts. Sometimes you just want to know how to do something. The problem with being technical is we forget that not everyone is at that level. With that in mind this is the first of a series of posts where I will try and give you a non-technical explanation about how to start blogging.
The Starting Point
I tend to jump in to web projects feet first. Meaning I jump right in and start installing WordPress, start writing and just start going. When Rhett came to be with the idea of Epiblogger the first thing I did was read, and I read a lot. Why should we start another blog about blogging? There are so many out there. I read through a Problogger, I read through Copyblogger, I read DailyBlogTips, I read Lorelle on WordPress, I read, I read and I read. In the end we decided to go ahead with Epiblogger because in all the reading we did we decided we have a unique perspective on blogging to give to people.
The point is if you think you might be interested in starting a blog, the first thing I would suggest you do is read. Read other blogs, take part in those in those communities and start to explore what it is you would like to blog about. While you are exploring other blogs, reading and taking part in the discussions you can explore what it is that you really want to blog about. I have talked about this before, and if you are a regular reader of Epiblogger you might be getting sick of me saying it, but you need to find your passion! Great blogs are not created by keyword research, they are created because the people that write for them are passionate about their topic.
What are some blogs that you spent time reading before you started your blog? What advice would you give a new blogger about where to start blogging?
Photo Infinite staircase by fdecomite
Comments
Blog for Beginners
One of the best advice I've received in respect to blogging is 'to read more than you write' and I've followed that since by adding more relevant blogs in my niche to my readers. And that'd be the same advice I'd give to any new bloggers. Thanks for the interesting read. I've just discovered your blog today and I'll be back to learn a thing or two from you. Yan
Lee Robertson
That is an excellent point. I think it is an never ending cycle. Read, write, read some more. I know I spend a lot of time reading and it has helped me a great deal. I checked out your blog. Like the grunge look. Hope that you will take part in our community here.
Blog for Beginners
Hey Lee Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad to be part of it... Yan
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