03 · 08 · 2010

Starting a Blog

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My two year blogging anniversary is today. Blog years are like dog years— two must be at least six or seven, right? Because it seems like forever.

When I started out, I had no idea where I wanted blogging to lead, other than that I wanted a modern sort of baby book for my kids. I wish someone had given me a few tips, because I didn’t know a thing. Here is what I wish I had known, way back then…

1. Buy your domain. For the cost of a sandwich, you can own your very own dot com. It’s so worth it.

2. Know your worth. I had no idea that bloggers could get stuff… For free! I cringe when I look at the the things I sold out for in the early days. Is some soap worth writing a whole review for? Maybe, but if it’s not, you don’t need to do it. You can say no.

3. Never promote something you wouldn’t recommend to a friend. Hyping up a movie for weeks before seeing it is not the smartest thing. And, if all you can talk about upon finally viewing it is possibly giving the star lice? It won’t be so easy to get paid. Plus, you’ll feel like an idiot.

09Oct14_NYC_43

4. Bloggers aren’t weird old men living in basements. (For the most part.) They’re people just like you looking to connect with people like them. And they can become amazing friends.

Fran, M-K, Jill
5. But, mean people do hide behind computers. Toughen up and be prepared for people to call you a bad mother, poor writer and questionable person. And, you have every right to delete those comments.

6. If you’re serious about blogging, start on WordPress. Blogger is totally fine (and free! and easy!) if you’re just in it for a scrapbook of sorts, but if you want traffic and money and opportunities, WordPress is a better option. Once you start on a platform, it’s not so easy to move. Plan ahead.

7. Begin your blog name with an A. Everything is blog-world is alphabetized and those names that are lucky enough to start with an A, B or C get the most exposure on every list. Starting with an S? Kind of sucks.

8. Every blogger feels jealousy. So and so gets this or that and you don’t. It’s a crappy feeling, but we all get it.

9. Remember why you started. For fun, right? If it becomes stressful or overwhelming, step back and reevaluate. You are allowed to do that. It’s YOURS!

10. Should you stick with blogging for a whole year (which makes you a total veteran,) read this post on what to expect on your first anniversary from Ann’s Rants. Who was smart enough to start her blog with an A.

{ 188 comments }

1 michaela :) August 29, 2010 at 8:49 pm

p.s. you mentioned buying your domain… so if I were to do that, would I do that first then start my blog on wordpress? Thank you for your advice!! :)

2 Scary Mommy August 29, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Buy the domain and then start the blog- easier that way.

3 Michaela :) August 30, 2010 at 3:31 am

hello, it’s me again! I am not sure whether or not I should apologize for asking so many questions or thank you for all your help, so consider this email a lovely merging of the two. I have now purchased my domain name, and have downloaded wordpress 3.0.1, however I have absolutely no idea WHAT I am supposed to do with that. It looks like a lot of html code or something.. So, then I looked on the website and it suggests for one to utilize a web hosting website if you don’t know what to do with all that code (that’s me!).. So, after purchasing my domain name, would you suggest that I go through a web hosting site or just set up my account on wordpress.com. Any suggestions, or insights? Thank you thank you thank you. I can’t express my gratitude for your help in this. I make a mean batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, if you would like a thank you in baked goods… :)

4 Scary Mommy August 30, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies sound really good.

Honestly, I’m pretty much no help here– I had someone else set all of my stuff up for me, so I am clueless. I bet if you google how to set up a WP blog you can get really good directions! Or, get in touch with Jen from Blue Yonder Designs- link is at the bottom of my site- she did all of my techy stuff. :)

5 Melissa (adventuroo) August 30, 2010 at 10:46 pm

Michaela and Jill-
Before I sound kinda stalkerish and creepy, let me say that I subscribed to the comments for this post AGES ago and just happened to see this in my inbox. :-)

Anyway, sorry to butt in but I may have a tip for Michaela… when I set up my blog, I used this website immensely: http://www.becomeablogger.com. On their home page, they have free videos that show you EXACTLY how to set up your blog. I had no idea what to do before finding their site and I actually watched a video, paused it and went to do what they said and kept going back and forth until I got my blog set up. Anyway, I hope that helps!

6 Scary Mommy August 31, 2010 at 9:39 am

You’re the best, Melissa! I hate not being able to answer questions well– thank you!!

7 Denise September 21, 2010 at 5:08 pm

thanks for the advice. I’ve been blogging for several months but looking to make some changes and you have a few tips I hadn’t thought of before. Starting with an A will now bring me back to the drawing board for picking my new name- sigh;(

glad I stopped by while blog hopping.

8 Cathy Coccolare November 28, 2010 at 11:49 am

Thank you! Great advice for our new blog at http://www.coccolaretights.com on fashion, flirting and fun tights!

9 Shawnnita Fairbairn January 5, 2011 at 9:01 am

Great tips! I especially can relate to 6, 7, & 8!

Thanks again :)

10 AkWonderGirl January 10, 2011 at 7:11 pm

First off I’d like to say that I absolutely love your blog! I have a few children myself and suffer from my own alternative methods of parenting. I greatly enjoy your honesty and your sarcasm on what seems to be a daily basis.:) At any rate for various reasons I’ve been researching starting a blog of my own. Recently I’ve opened a blogger page, but after reading through your advise I took the incentive to check out Word press. It is so much more fantastic! However, I have yet to open a Word press account. That being said I gathered that you got your domain from Go-daddy, but was wondering if you could recommend a good hosting service. I have been following becomeablogger.com and they give great advice, but I’d appreciate a recommendation from a seasoned blogger.

11 Scary Mommy January 10, 2011 at 9:07 pm

I use BlueHost and have been really happy with them, customer service wise. :)

12 Diary of a Hairdresser March 28, 2011 at 10:43 am

You are amazing, a lot of other “bloggers” would not be so interested in sharing their tips! I love your blog!
Diary of a Hairdresser recently posted..Queen Nipple

13 Roxanne April 8, 2011 at 4:59 pm

Thanks for your tips, they helped me get started and today . . . I got my first nasty comment! I guess I’ve arrived and . . . ouch . . . but thanks to you I don’t feel badly at all about deleting it. Thanks again.

14 Kay May 5, 2011 at 2:37 am

Thanks Jill, for the great advice. Your blog is an inspiration to me because it demonstrates what can happen when a woman is unapologetically herself. Thanks for that.

Tomorrow marks one month of posting every day. 1/12 of the way to my bloggiversary, and going strong. I can’t imagine what I’ll feel like when I get to the whole year point.
Kay recently posted..Fired Up About Arms- Part One

15 The Learner Mom (Catherine McCormack) July 20, 2011 at 3:06 pm

Hi

Just wanted to say thanks for some great posts on starting a blog which I have found very useful over the last couple weeks. I have really enjoyed reading you other posts too…you have a wicked sense of humour ;).

Regards
Catherine

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