So you know I have a Homemaker’s Challenge coming up, right? I had one participant, Ruth, tell me she is going to finally start blogging and she asked if I had any suggestions. Of course I do! And I am ecstatic to welcome a new blogger too! 
Blogging is the fastest growing form of media that is being used to minister to others. Churches and small home groups are now hosting a variety of events in the blogosphere and you know what, they are largely successful. Blogs allow the writer to record testimony and revelation at the moment it happens but yet, it remains online and queued in search engines for as long as the writer allows it. Because of that, it can be shared over and over again, touching life after life.
One of the first things I learned about Blogging is that there are a few things that make it much simpler to read for the reader and there are certain things that you can do to keep them coming back. I will outline them for you here and we will discuss the design aspect in greater detail next month.
How to start a blog.
- Find a blogging provider that appeals to you. Here are some to try: Blogger.com, WordPress.com, Livejournal.com, CafeMom.com, just to name a few. Almost all of these are user friendly and don’t require much technical knowledge for Blog maintenance. They are also free. WordPress.org is s my provider and personal favorite.
- Decide on a name for your blog. This is critical because you want people to remember the name. Make sure the blog title and URL are the same. This makes it easy for others to find you. For example, if you entitle your blog The Honest Woman, then your blogger address should be http://www.thehonestwoman.blogspot.com/. That makes it easier for them to find you again.
- Fill out your profile information. People like to know who they are reading about. If you are concerned about safety issues then you don’t have to use real names… just real personality.
- Choose a design template for you blog. Customize the colors and font to your liking. Add pictures and personalize it. You could also hire someone to design it for you. There are many talented designers out there to choose from.
- Write a few posts. If you are having trouble finding something to write about try this:
Quite a while back while I was scrapbooking, I began to ponder over what type of things would I want to pass on to my daughter (I do intend to have a daughter one day even if I have to adopt). Or even to my future daughters in law for that matter. This way I could give them a book of advice without ever butting in! So I began to write down topics:
- Testimony
- Kitchen Efficiency
- Revelation from bible study
- Homeschooling stuff
- Overcoming trials
- Recipes
- Family history (grandma, grandpas, etc)
- My planner, etc
My list was 3 pages long and I have only done a few of them. The rest of my blog is full of whatever I think of that day! So anyways, when I discovered blogging this was the first thing I thought of. It is a virtual scrapbook that I can pass on with all my tips tricks and anything else I can think of. Plus, I get input from all of you ladies in comments which makes it even more special. I also put special memories with pictures in there just to have that as well…. vacations, trips, etc.
- Starting building a circle of blogging friends. Visit their sites, leave comments and a link back to your blog. Then watch your blog grow! You can also add your site to different blogrolls. I have many listed in my sidebar. They will help bring traffic to your blog. Always be sure to add your blog link in your email signature as well.
- Post on a regular basis. For example, I try to post something three to four times a week. Most weekends I get behind but Monday through Friday I blog. Most of my posts take less than 20 minutes to type, upload pictures, and post. You can do it as much or as little as you like. There are also daily memes and blog hops that you can participate in. These are fun and also help to bring traffic. Set a timer on your desk if you are concerned that you will become addicted to blogging. That is the method that keeps me under control!
- Let your mind go free with ideas for blog posts and always carry a camera. You never know when a blog post will be inspired by the events of your day!
How to keep them coming back.
- Make your posts scannable. Use bullet points, numbered lists, or bold font to emphasize points. This is greatly appreciated by people who have but a few moments to spare reading posts. Making it scannable is not only pleasing to the eye but it brings the important information to the forefront and actually encourages the reader to stay a while.
- Use imagery. If you can’t or choose not to use personal photos, you should still use some type of imagery on your posts. There are plenty of free graphics sites on the web for you to choose from.
- Use creative titles. You want to ensure that they click on that link in their feed reader. A catchy title will do that. Be sure to use keywords too.
- Tackle the tough issues. Don’t be afraid to tackle the issues that make others cringe. Iron sharpens iron and asking questions that spark a friendly dialogue should be welcomed by your readers as long as they are done in love.
Do you have anything to add? Share your advice with us!
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I am glad to have come across your blog today after Heidi at Wonder Woman Wannabe linked to this post.
Thank you for the helpful tips and I look forward to reading more about your faith and your recipes. I hope you do some Cajun cooking. I am desperate for some recipes that taste good, but don’t take FOREVER.
I love your post ideas. Sometimes, I get stumped and even discouraged in writing. I lose my focus as to why I began blogging in the first place.
You’re ideas really spark the reasons behind blogging (and making sure it is something worthwhile.)
Thank you for this great post! I love your blog.
I wanted to share with your readers a New Orleans cause that is looking for help in these tough times.
headwatersrelief.org/donate
I really enjoyed your post! I am a newbie with 2 blogs going. I am a glutten for punishment LOL! I found out that I am already doing some of the things you suggested but found others that I had not thought about! Thank you! I have bookmarked you so that I can come back and go over it when there is time.
One thing that I plan on looking into is Blog Rings. I used to be in a country graphic ring and it was pretty successful for bringing others to my page. I do not even know if there is such a thing and if there isn’t there should be
I have met so many beautiful women since I started blogging last month. OH! I met some of them through (in)courage.me and some through At The Well (http://www.titus2atthewell.com) I have run across a couple of other places but they do not come to mind right now.
My Pocket Full of Prayers is for my bible studies and my bible ladies and anyone else I can get to read it LOL! I also have Pocket Full of Pennies for trying to help people save money in these hard times.
It is a hobby of mine. (http://pocketfullofpennies.com/blog
Well… I seem to have gotten carried away here
I love you!
Grandma Patty Ann
This is a great post! Thanks for the helpful suggestions.
I’ve been blogging for about a 1 1/2 years and I’ve learned some things – at least about myself – along the way:
1. Set a realistic goal on how many days per week you will blog.
2. Many blogs are specific to one topic and that’s certainly okay. But I didn’t want to be limited, so my blogs are on various topics. I also include book reviews with interviews with the author in my blogs.
3. Be open – honest – transparent. I have found that I get more comments when I’ve shared something about myself that other women can relate too.
4. Be passionate about what you write. You will stir other people’s passions too.
Sorry for such a long post!!
These are great tips, Edwina! I can’t limit myself either. I do have three main topics I tend to lean towards but I am still not what you would call a niche blog.
Amy, I’m off line for a time to regroup and pray… one of the areas I’m praying about it the ‘next’ of what God wants me to do with my blog. Your email about the changes with AWI came across the email on my phone (yes I read it although I’m off line
and I decided to pop in and was glad I found this post because I think I needed it.
I’ve never been about the # of followers (don’t like that word), readers, friends, visitors anything else other than followers sounds good to me
and I’m not about the # of comments BUT I think that’s fine for anyone else. For me it’s that I want to be sure I’m discerning the voice of GOD in the next phase. Make sense?
You said not to be afraid to tackle those issues others don’t feel comfortable about — well that’s where I am. GOD has put some things on my heart to share and He keeps taking me to Jeremiah 1. I don’t know that I’m writing to you for any other reason but to ask for a moment of your prayer time. If you pray for me for discernment then I appreciate that. I am not one to ask for prayer perhaps because I’m usually the one being asked and it’s a privilege BUT at times you need someone to be willing to pause and pray for ‘you’. Make sense?
Thanks for being one of the few I glean from in online ministry. Would love any tips you have if you pop in on my blog(s). Love you. Praying for you and your family.
Ok, I’m back off line now until…
Hi Amy, I love the post! I’m using blogger.com and I actually unhooked the box allowing my blog to be found with google.. I’ve been applying for jobs and I know they google your name and I just didn’t want them to find my blog. Do you know if it is possible to do something similar using wordpress? My hubby and I are about to move to Chile and I would like to start a new blog where we can both write about our adventures so trying to figure out if we should start a wordpress one or just stay with blogger. Btw, I miss finding the link to your comments at the bottom of your post! I usually read the post and if I have time I look at the comments, but then I have to scroll all the way back up to the beginning again (I know I’m lazy just thought I should let you know
) Hugs, Karianne 
You can absolutely do that with WordPress. In fact, I believe you can make it even more secure that Blogger.
About the comments… I hear ya on that one. I’m going to see if that can be changed with this template. I know it is the common place to have them.
Hi Amy, It’s THAT Ruth. You’ll think I am mad I’m sure, but I actually don’t want a big readership. I just loved the idea of your challenge and had to swallow my pride and start a blog to participate. The idea of people I know finding out about it scares me silly! I love writing and crafting words and thinking and pontificating, if you know what I mean. I just think that the fewer people who are influenced by it the better
. Mind you, perhaps I am just having a mid life crisis. In the space of a week I have finally purchased a cellphone, and signed up properly to Facebook as well as starting the blog. Anyway, thanks for all these pointers. I do say “Never say never” so perhaps God has a season in store when I will take them on board and run with them! Bless you and your ministry.
Just a little thought but…why not write just for the sake of writing and the pure joy that comes from it? It doesn’t have to be all about building your readership. In fact that can create all sorts of pressure. I consider blogging as a form of therapy – call me weird – I don’t care!
Oh I totally agree Fiona! I know some people have to track readership for their potential publicists or agents or maybe even for sponsorship. I know some of these blogs cost some mega bucks to maintain. It really all depends on why you do it and I must say that therapy is a great reason!
I can’t emphasize more the benefit of commenting on others’ blogs! Such a great way to build your audience. YES, it takes time, but personally, I LOVE doing it, and it builds friendships and reciprocal commenting and all. And yeah, I know you said it already, but I wanted to emphasize it.
My blog address is my name(joannesher.com), but my blog name is different – partly because I saw my personal name was available and figured it would work if I decided to change the name of my blog. I’m not changing my own name LOL. Does it really make a big difference, Amy?
Thanks for the tips – I had ALSO not thought of making a list. Might just do that!
I think that as long as you have the URL on the header or somewhere else that is visible on the site then that is fine. It is just confusing when the name of it is one thing and the URL is like BADG215@blah blah… You know?
One of my biggest regrets is that I wasn’t able to purchase the name of my blog as my domain, so I did the next best thing I could think of and went extremely short. It does have a link to my blog name though… nofse stands for Nickie of Southern Expressions…lol. I’m not very creative when it comes to names.
I’ve actually been blogging since 2007, and have never, in all that time, thought of making a list. That is a GREAT idea and a great tip! Sometimes, I just can’t think of anything to write about, then sometimes I could do four or five a day! Having a list… it’s having writing prompts at your fingertips. I’ll have to start doing this, that way when I think of something but can’t blog at that moment, I can write the topic down and come back to it later. Awesome!
Thanks for these great tips!
I love making the lists because they do help so much and I like Nickie of Southern Expressions! I think it is a great name. I had to look at it twice though because when you said you shortened I was thinking NOSE.com. That would have been funny.
Thanks for these pointers. I just started blogging a couple months ago and it’s nice to have some advice. Some days I get a little overwhelmed thinking that I have no clue what I’m doing.
Hey Erica! Just enjoy it and watch other bloggers. Ask them questions too if you have any. Most are very polite and won’t hesitate to help out another blogger. I’ll be publishing many more posts like this too.