Here are my best tips with all the links to the previous posts I’ve written all in one place so you can get started:
Blogger, Wordpress or Typepad.
If you’re not sure which blogging platform you should use, read this post first: 10 Tips that will take your Home Design Blog to the Next Level.
Ready to choose the Name?
Read 9 Lessons from a Two year old Blogger. If the name that you want is not available, you can add blog to the end like I did. Colourmehappy.blogspot.com was taken so my URL is colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com.
Try to keep it as short as possible without dashes, etc. You might want to have it on your business card. Although you can always buy the .com URL and transfer it to your blogspot address. My business card says colourmehappyblog.com, I have also bought truecolourexpert.com which goes to my blog. My URL will change this year anyway because I’m switching to Wordpress, so then everything will be under mariakillam.com which is currently just my design/portfolio website.
Now you are ready to start writing and will need to read this one: 10 Things Every Blogger should Know.
Determine your niche or area of expertise and write about that
If you’re confused and not sure, then just start writing. Writing will help you figure it out. Just don’t get discouraged if your number of readers don’t increase as fast as you’d like. Your readers either want to learn something or be entertained. A series of pretty pictures is usually not enough to keep them coming back.
If you don’t know exactly what your design style is, then keep writing, after a while it will become obvious by the photos you post on your blog.
If you don’t know exactly what your niche is, then keep writing. You’ll discover what you are passionate about by the posts you are inspired to write. And if you need an idea or two here are some blogs I wish someone would write.
Post pretty pictures
Beautiful images are still second in importance (besides your writing) to having a successful design blog. It is crucial that you consider each photo you post very carefully. Every photo on your blog tells a story about your taste and design aesthetic—whether it’s your photo or not.
Crediting Images
Link to where you found the image. If you find an image you like and aren’t ready to post it yet, open an email and save it in drafts with the headline of the future post in the subject line. Then cut and paste the URL into the email until you are ready to use the image. If someone has a more effective way of keeping track of the source, please post a comment below!
Advice for shooting your own Images
For photos that you take with your camera, the number one rule when shooting interiors is ‘Flash is not your friend’. It washes out colour and atmosphere and makes the room look flat and lifeless. Here’s a post I wrote on What Every Designer should Know about Photography that show a few good images of the difference between a novice vs. a professional photographers photos look like.
Kate at Centsational Girl recently wrote two excellent posts on shooting interiors here and here. Read them both and invest in a good camera, she makes recommendations on which one to buy as well.
How do your readers know if you can help them?
You need to let them know on each post, more on this here: Do you make this Mistake in your Business/Blog?
How do I make money with my Blog?
Well as you can see by the lack of advertisers on my site, I don’t focus on the advertising side of ‘monetizing’ my blog. $50 per month for a small photo ad—which seems to be the going rate on the design blogs--is simply not enough (in my opinion) to clutter up my site with ads. How I ‘monetize’ my blog is through my design and colour consulting services and my colour workshops. Your blog gives you credibility and establishes you as an ‘expert’ in your field. That is how most people make money from their blog. So don’t focus so hard in the beginning on ‘how this blog will make me money’ your focus needs to be on great content, period.
A blog without great content is pretty hard to ‘monetize’ so keep writing (have I mentioned that already?). If you still think that you will get rich blogging, read this post for a serious reality check.
This post, 6 Ways I’ve Grown through writing a Blog, will fill you in.
What to do with Negative Comments? This post outlines what I do with them and it’s personal for everyone.
Happy New Year my lovelies! Thank you for reading my blog.
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.
Related posts:
Does your Blog Header reflect your Personal Brand?
Who Else wants an Inspired Website?
Profits that are Hiding inside your Website
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