Hello, everyone! A couple weeks ago, I talked a little bit about some of the things I’ve picked up on my photography journey. Today, I wanted to talk about blogging. Are you thinking of starting a food blog, or a blog about something else? You should do it! There are practically no barriers to entry, and there are so many channels to help you connect with your audience. Several folks interested in starting their own blogs have contacted me recently, and I thought it may be helpful to share some of the steps I took to develop Miss Cheesemonger.
Find your niche.
What is your blog about? Do you want to start a food blog? Or do you want to go broader and create a lifestyle blog? Do you like writing about orchids? Or do you like writing about social justice? There are so many possible topics for a blog. Before you start, write out on a piece of paper what you would like your blog to be about, who you would like to read it, and what you would like to say about your topic. It can be as broad or as narrow as you would like, but I find having a clearly defined vision of who my audience is is particularly helpful, especially in the early stages.
As you start writing, you might find you have a hard time saying exactly what you want to say. That’s OK! Your voice will develop in time.
What are your platforms?
Now, where do you want to put your writing? What social media platforms are going to help you reach your target audience (and who is your target audience?) ? Many blogs (including this one) are completely customized with a unique domain name. However, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of hosting a website and buying a domain name, other blogging platforms, like Blogger and Tumblr, let you get started with less fuss (but fewer customization options). You can even write without having your “own” blog on sites like Medium.com.
Any of these options would work. Just see what suits your style.
Consistency is key.
Being a blogger means more than just writing your weekly blog post for the Internet to consume. More often than not, it also means developing a social media presence on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, Snapchat, etc. Each social media platform operates a little bit differently, so you will need to create content that suites each one. Here’s where the consistency comes in. For instance, when I create content, I know that around one blog post, I can create a certain number of social media posts. I need to schedule those posts in advance so that no social medium is left without new content for too long. Around the blog post, I can fill in the gaps with other content—what I fill those scheduling gaps with depends on the platform.
I try and post my own original content at least once a day on Facebook, once or twice a day on Instagram, once a day on Instagram stories . . . you get the idea. You need to constantly put yourself out there in the online world. Reposting other people’s content can sometimes help, but I’ve found that people want to see YOU and YOUR CONTENT.
It helps to have an editorial calendar and backup content at the ready so you’re not constantly scrounging around for content ideas and blog posts. I keep my editorial calendar on Google Calendar.
There are lots of tools out there to help you schedule your content on different social media platforms. Viral Tag, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer are just some of the options out there.
To help you create content, you can find design elements (like fonts, stock images, and illustrations) on sites like Creative Market and Etsy. If you’re writing a food blog, make space in your cupboards for props like plates, napkins, and silverware!
I have written a bit about photography already (My Photography Journey and Improve Your Food Photography With These 7 Tips).
Think of your Internet presence as a pet! You have to take care of it regularly for it to thrive.
Find your voice.
Posting content consistently is important, but so is its quality. Make sure you’re putting out content you are proud of. Additionally, hopefully, you will develop a cohesive, unique visual and written voice to distinguish you from the crowd. Folks love consistent style and tone! It helps them identify with you more easily, even if your idea of “consistent” is actually jarring and full of surprises. That’s a style, too.
Don’t be afraid to let yourself shine through in your work! All of your idiosyncrasies are what make you memorable, and your audience will love you all the more for them.
Engage!
It’s one thing to put out a ton of great content. It’s another to grow your community and create a real connection with your audience. I always respond to comments on my social media feeds, and I respond to as many emails as I can. One time, thanks to Google Translate, I even managed to have an email conversation with a home cheesemaker in Russia! If you remember that the goal of all of this blogging is to connect with real people, then you will be in good shape. When you create your content, events, newsletters, downloads, videos, or whatever else you’re cooking up, remember that a lot of real people can potentially be watching you!
Now show me your blogs! I want to read and follow you! Leave a link in the comments below!
It’s my work to create great content for you. Do you love you see? Here is how you can support me:
PHOTOGRAPHY! Let me bring your food projects, business, and products to life. Let’s create something beautiful together! See my food photography portfolio. Or see my portrait portfolio for portrait work. Contact me to start brainstorming!
BUY through my affiliate account links at Amazon.com (where you can get nearly anything under the sun), the French Farm (where you can find delicious and beautiful French products for the kitchen, and get free shipping for orders over $75), and Taza Chocolate (maker of some of my favorite Mexican-style chocolates). Bookmark these links for later! You can purchase anything through them, not just what I recommend to you, and I will receive a small percentage of those sales at no extra cost to you! Everybody wins!
