This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.
You�re going to publish a post today. Don�t worry about how your blog looks. Don�t worry if you haven�t given it a name yet, or you�re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the �New Post� button, and tell us why you�re here.
Why do this?
- Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
- Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you�d like to do with it.
The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.
To help you get started, here are a few questions:
- Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
- What topics do you think you�ll write about?
- Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
- If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?
You�re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another � but it�s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.
Can�t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a �crappy first draft�. Anne makes a great point � just start writing, and worry about editing it later.
When you�re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog�s focus � writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is �zerotohero,� so other new bloggers can find you, too.