My blog turned two in February this year, and it’s been an exciting ride, to say the least. There have been ups and downs, and there have been more downs than ups, but it’s been an experience that I have enjoyed, and I will continue to strive to improve and grow.
There are some things that I have learned along the way that would be good to share, especially if you are thinking about taking the plunge and starting to write online.
1 Chose your Platforms
There are many platforms that you can choose from to start writing online. I started with my WordPress blog and solely posted there, and then I added Medium to my arsenal later. First, I publish all my blog posts on my website and Medium using the import tool.
I also share my post on my social media accounts. This is an excellent way for you to promote your posts if you have a following already on sites such as:
– Instagram
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Linkedin
There are others, such as YouTube, that you can repurpose your posts for and make into a Video, but at the moment, the above are the ones that I use to share my content.
2 Capturing Ideas:
Half the battle with writing online is to keep creating ideas for article and post to write about, and I still struggle with this to an extent. I often find that many thoughts come to me when I am out walking the dog. There is something about the fresh air that sparks the creative juices.
This is where Apple Notes comes in. I have a note pinned to the top of my navigation bar where I list all of my ideas. Some of these ideas stay unchecked and never leave this note, but it’s a great way to make sure you are capturing your thoughts and ideas. This is where all my blog posts start in this list; they then get moved over to Notion (more on this in a mo).
3 Content Calendar:
I can’t stress how important it has been to have a content calendar, and this is where Notion comes in. Notion is where all my ideas get moved across and scheduled for posting. In my content calendar, I capture a few things that I find helpful, such as
– Blog Post Name
– Keyword
– Tags
– Uploaded to Website
– Uploaded to Medium
– Medium Publication (who I have submitted to)
– Curated (specific to Medium)
– Date
My content calendar constantly evolves, adding and removing, so it is refined to what I need/want to keep track of. It also helps to keep me accountable for posting, and there is nothing quite like having a date to spur you on.
4 Research:
Whether this is Keyword Research or research in our Niche, it’s a critical writing component. Keyword Research will help you generate more ideas based on a keyword you are looking at, and I have found this helpful at times.
Researching what you are writing about or your Niche is vital for me. Make sure you know what you are talking about to build that trust with your audience to build a community. This can be time-consuming, but I find that I am already doing it without knowing, signing up for newsletters, and reading blogs and Medium posts from other bloggers in my Niche. I have also found RSS readers helpful in catching up on the latest and greatest.
5 Consistency:
You have probably heard and read this a thousand times before. It’s true, though; being consistent is needed to be able to grow writing online. If you are not getting content out there, you will never be able to grow your audience or create a community.
Being consistent doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to be posting every day. It would be best if you committed to what you see as achievable, this could be posting twice a week, but you make sure you show up. This might take a bit of time to work through. I have found a lot of writing online to be trial and error.
6 Start a Newsletter:
This is similar to having your own website because you own your email list. If, for instance, Medium or Instagram (not saying they would) went out of business, you would lose that platform for sharing your content. With a newsletter, you are creating an email list that you can use to share your content directly with your audience.
A newsletter is a great way to share content on a more personal level, and if you choose to, you can monetise it at some point.
7 Keep Learning:
A fundamental way to make it writing online is to keep learning. I have learnt so much over the past two years from other creators and have joined communities that are so supportive.
There are many free resources out there that you can learn from, signing up for newsletters that offer free ebooks etc. Please make use of them and try out the things you think are best suited for you.
I would also recommend that if you can invest in yourself. Sign up for paid courses to help you improve and grow.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a challenge learning to write online, especially as someone who is not the best at spelling and grammar. But the takeaway is that you can learn. Trial and error play a significant role in the online writing journey, and you will find your way.
I hope that these seven takeaways help you on your existing journey or if you are starting. Remember to keep learning and showing up.