LIFESTYLE 9 years ago

5 Tips on How to Start a Blog

Today I’m sharing something that’s very near and dear to my heart. As you all know, I started my blog, The Chriselle Factor in 2010. Since then it’s been my baby (even before Chloe!) that I’ve worked night and day to grow into what it’s become now. Despite the sleepless nights and continual struggle of balancing work and family, I absolutely love creating content for my readers and inspiring women all around the world! I believe that confidence comes in many different forms, whether it’s arming yourself with the right scent or putting your best face forward! It’s been such a blessing for me to share with you guys all these tips and tricks to look and feel your best. But as some of you may know, running a blog (and YouTube channel) isn’t easy. So to make it easier for some of you aspiring bloggers, today I’m sharing 5 tips on how to start a blog!

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Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle

As some of my long time readers may have noticed, my blog has become so much more about styling! Fashion will always be my first love .. but in addition to styling, I’m also a beauty junkie and health nut. My blog content will always reflect and stay true to my loves and interests!

Brush Set : Jouer | Illuminating Eye Pencil : Jouer | Hydrating Lipstick : Jouer | Sunnies : Karen Walker

1. Find Your Passion

Discover what you’re passionate about. Instead of starting a blog about something you think would get big or just because, focus instead on basing it around your interests. Blogging should start from the heart, not from the desire to make money. Back when I started my blog, no one was making money. That’s why so many bloggers blew up- they were doing it because they loved it, not for the money. Things have changed now, but you don’t need a business plan to start a blog. Blog about what you love and what you’re passionate about. Readers pick up on authenticity and they will keep coming back for more. Don’t do it for the money because through hard work and authenticity, the money will come eventually!

2. Stick to a Schedule

Starting a blog might be difficult initially if you’re not doing it full-time. I think one of the biggest misconception to starting a blog is the pressure to have to post every day. But be realistic about your schedule and stick to it! If you have a full time job, know what you can do and don’t over commit. Being consistent is just as important as the content itself! If you can only update once a week, make sure you at least update once a week. When I first started, I used to just post whenever I had time or whenever an idea for a blog post came to mind. But obviously as the blog grew, I had to start planning my post content more, and creating a calendar to stick to. Especially now because I have Chloe, I need to know how my week is going to look like in advance. Since I work from home twice a week, 3 days out of the week are my shoot days and the days where I write and edit my content. It was really after I got a system down that I began to update the blog every day. Every morning from Monday-Friday, I post a new post on the blog at 6am.  The key is consistency so your readers know what to expect!

3. Collaborate

Collaboration is key. They always say that network is everything, and I can’t stress how important this is! Not only is this is how you grow your numbers, this is how you grow creatively! When I first started, I worked with people who were also starting out, so we grew together and cross-promoted each other. This is a very important step especially when you’re first starting out because it really makes all the difference to have people who can help you achieve want you want. Like having a travel buddy where you guys can just create awesome content together! Not to mention it’s great having people in your field to help keep you constantly inspired. Look for people who are in the same pool as you so that you can create a solid network around you. Having people around you to encourage you, help you, and that believe in your dream can make all the difference!

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4. Be Intentional in Your Content

I think that because so many social media platforms are now connected, it’s easy for each platform to become over saturated with the same exact content. One thing I like to do is to use different platforms for different content. For my facebook page, in addition to using it to release updates on new blog posts, I also like posting great sale items I found that I want to share with my readers. On my YouTube, I like making instructional and fun videos for wardrobe styling and beauty tips! And of course my snapchat (@chrisellelim) for real time action of my daily adventures. (Okay, but it’s just mostly snaps of Chloe.) When I release new content on my blog or channel, I like to use my social media platforms as teasers to drive traffic. I never release the full story on instagram or facebook, just snippets and teasers so that my blog will always be the destination site for content. Keep in mind, if you want a popular blog, the full content should always be on that blog!

5. Growing & Expanding

When I first started out, I would ask my friends and family to like and to share my posts. It might seem so obvious, but start with people you know! Ask your friends and family to share your blog or YouTube channel. Believe it or not, I used to ask my little cousins to share my YouTube channel with their friends! Don’t underestimate the power of your own personal network. If you take care of the people around you, that network will expand and multiply! And down the line, if you want to grow and get attention from brands, the best advice I can give you is to create quality content. Nowadays, brands will re-tweet and re-gram quality photos. If you want attention from a certain brand, intentionally tag them to get noticed! Never doubt the power of the hashtag! Hashtagging #OOTD (outfit of the day) or #LOTD (look of the day) can help generate likes, and certain accounts’ attention. And again, it’s all about being consistent and persistent!

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And there you have it, my 5 tips on how to start a blog! Share with me your tips and tricks that you like to use in the comments below!

Credits:

Photography by Karen Rosalie