This is not my first blog. Almost a decade ago, I designed a blog that I was so proud of and really thought it would be the perfect addition to my new business. But even though I had a lot of content I wanted to share with the world, there were key elements I was missing that prevented my blog from connecting to a larger audience. I’ve learned a lot since then and am going to share with you six critical steps people often miss when starting a new blog.

1) Identity Mapping: Understanding Your Intersectional Identities

An identity map is a tool that helps you reflect on your personal identity, which includes your cultural background, gender, abilities, and more. By visually mapping out your intersecting identities, you can gain a better understanding of who you are, what you value, and how these identities intersect with your blog content. It's important to remember that these intersecting identities play a significant role in shaping your perspective and voice as a blogger. Below is one of my identity maps:

With this identity map, I was working through an activity where I had to cross out some of my identities. Send me a comment if you want me to share the activity.

When creating a personal identity map, consider all aspects of your identity, even ones you may not typically think of. You can include things like your religion, hobbies, and values. It's important to note that identities are not static and can change over time. Therefore, it's crucial to regularly reflect on and update your identity map.

Why is this important to creating your blog? You can do all the research you want on your potential blog audience, and spend all the money on advertising to them, but if you’re not clear about your own identity and which part of yourself you want to share with the world, your blog won’t be clear because what you're writing won’t be clear. You likely have a multitude of intersecting identities and you need to take time to sit and reflect on which ones are most important to you that align with the writing you want to share.

Knowing your personal identity and understanding how it intersects with your blog content is crucial for writing authentically and building a strong brand. It helps you stay true to your values and maintain your unique voice. It also allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper level and attract those who share similar values and experiences.

Taking the time to create an identity map before starting your blog can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your intersectional identities. By knowing who you are and what you value, you can create content that is authentic, engaging, and resonates with your audience.

2) Defining Your Purpose: Discovering Your Blogging Mission

Why do you want to start a blog? Is it to share your life experiences and inspire others? Or are you an expert in a particular area and want to teach people? Maybe you have a hobby that you're passionate about and want to share it with others. Whatever your reason, it's important to be clear on your purpose before you start blogging.

Knowing the purpose of your blog will help you stay excited about your work and maintain consistency in sharing it. When you're clear on what you want to write about and why, you'll be more motivated to keep going even when things get tough.

Sometimes, the "why" and the "what" of your blog overlap. For example, if you're an expert in a particular area, your purpose might be to teach others about that topic. However, it's important to get crystal clear on the specific aspect of that topic you want to write about. Narrowing down your focus will help you attract a specific audience and stand out from other bloggers.

Reflect on why you want to start a blog and what you want to write about. Being clear on your purpose will give you direction and motivation to keep going. Don't be afraid to get specific about your niche and target audience – it will help you connect with your readers and create a more successful blog.

3) Finding Inspiration: Learning from Established Bloggers

If you're starting a blog, you probably have a unique perspective or voice that you want to share. But before you can carve out your own place in the blogging world, it's important to learn from those who have come before you. This is something I found to really help me with my own website.

Established bloggers can offer valuable insights into what works and what doesn't in the world of blogging. However, it's important to do more than just admire the aesthetics of their blog. Take a closer look at their content and strategies to see what you can learn.

One way to learn from established bloggers is to review how often they post and how they organize their content. Do they have a consistent schedule, or do they post sporadically? How do they structure their posts to make them easy to read and navigate? These are important factors to consider when creating your own blog.

You should also take note of what strategies they use to keep readers coming back to their website. Do they offer free resources, like e-books or webinars? Do they have a newsletter that subscribers can sign up for? These tactics can be effective ways to grow your own audience. For this website you’re on right now, notice my side bar includes a lead magnet. This is one of the many things I learned from researching and learning from other bloggers.

By learning from those who have come before you, you can build a successful blog of your own.

4) Staying True to Your Values: Writing Authentically and Honestly

Writing authentically and honestly is essential to blogging success. It can be tempting to write about what you think people want to hear or to conform to what's popular, but ultimately, that will leave you feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. Staying true to your values means writing about what you're passionate about and what aligns with your beliefs.

For me, writing authentically is what keeps me going. When I reflect on my past blogs, I recognize that I wasn't always writing from the heart. I was writing based on what I thought people wanted to read. But when I started writing about what I truly cared about, my blog started to take off. You are a witness of that right now. This blog consistently grows and it’s only a few months old. I believe it’s because people responded to authenticity.

Of course, it's important to balance sharing what's important for your audience to know with what you want to share. As your blog grows, it can be easy to get caught up in the numbers and forget why you started blogging in the first place. But remember that your voice is what sets you apart, and staying true to yourself will help you stand out in a crowded blogosphere.

Don't be afraid to write about what excites you and what you believe in, even if it's not what everyone else is writing about. In the end, your authenticity will be what sets you apart and keeps your readers coming back for more.

5) Embracing Your Inner Writer: Cultivating Consistent Writing Habits

This might surprise you but there are many people who want to start a blog but don’t actually enjoy writing. That’s fine if you start with a large financial investment and can pay for a team of writers, however if you are starting with yourself and your idea, you’ve got to make time for writing.

Writing is a fundamental part of blogging, and even if you don’t enjoy it, it's an essential skill for bloggers who want to succeed. Cultivating a consistent writing habit is key to creating quality content and building a strong audience base. Even if you don't consider yourself a "writer," it's essential to make time for writing if you want your blog to grow.

One of the most significant roadblocks to consistent writing habits is the misconception that you have to be good at writing to start a blog. This belief can be paralyzing for some and can cause them to never start writing. However, the reality is that writing is a skill that can be developed and honed over time. The more you practice, the better you'll become.

If you struggle with writing, there are plenty of tools and resources available to help. Voice recording apps can be an excellent option for capturing your thoughts and ideas. You can also use websites like Grammarly to edit and revise your writing, helping you to improve the quality of your content. The important thing is to find a method that works for you and stick to it.

Ultimately, cultivating a consistent writing habit is about finding the motivation to keep going, even when it's hard. For many bloggers, writing is a labor of love, and it's the passion for their subject that keeps them motivated to keep producing content. I know for me, this blog is my space to be open and vulnerable in a way I usually reserve for my close friends and personal journals. Whether you love writing or not, making time for it is essential if you want your blog to thrive.

6) Investing in Your Growth: Prioritizing Learning and Skill-Building

When it comes to blogging, investing in your growth is crucial. It's not just about writing and publishing content. It's also about knowing how to design your website, optimize your content for search engines, and constantly improve your skills. Learning these skills takes time and effort, but it's an investment in yourself and your future success.

In my experience, learning how to blog well has been a journey. I've made plenty of mistakes and taken courses, read articles, and followed other bloggers to improve my skills. All of these experiences have helped me develop a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into blogging. It's not just about writing, but also about understanding the many elements that make a blog successful.

As I continue to build my business, I'm committed to sharing what I've learned with you. I also recommend finding other bloggers who inspire you and learning from them. By building a wider network of resources and ideas, you can expand your knowledge and become a more skilled blogger.