Starting a blog with confidence
Confidence? At the beginning? How can I do that when I don’t even know how to start a blog?
The blogging world can feel intimidating, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by negative self talk. If you feel stuck in this space and find yourself doubting your capabilities, write down how you’re feeling. Additionally, note what you’re good at. What is stopping you from starting your blog?
You don’t have to publish every thought you have, and you may be surprised by how you inspire your own creativity. It’s time to share your thoughtful, unique voice with the world. Your confidence does not thrive on critiquing your potential before you’ve started writing. Things will work out, things won’t work out. That’s been our experience, at least. Like anything, writing takes practice. Your blog will take practice, patience, and continuous effort as you are getting started.
Back in June 2021, Khali was experiencing the blog blues. Now, almost 3 years later, she is rocking and rolling, writing for herself and others. The creative process for our blog has not been linear (not many life processes are). For example, we moved states twice since 2021. Sometimes our environment enriched our creativity and blogging felt natural. Other times, we felt our energy fueling our everyday need to exist, leaving little for creativity. Challenge yourself to embrace the seasons of change for what they are, and learn something new about yourself in the process.
Finding your niche – what sets your blog apart from the rest?
When dipping your toes into blogging, it’s essential to figure out what your niche is and establish what sets you apart from the abundance of content already out there. Think about what you’re passionate about and where your expertise may be. Once you identify your niche, add your own authenticity to the content you’re creating and watch it come to life.
When we were looking for our niche, we reflected on ourselves and what we’re already experts in. Turns out, we know we’re queer and have had many lived experiences as queer kids, teens, and adults. We feel so grateful for our queerness and acknowledge the privilege we have to live life out and proud. We empathize with what it feels like to feel unwanted by family, to be called weird for being different, and to grow, as we discover who we are as beautiful humans. Everyone is on their own journey and we are learning about ourselves each day.
So, here we are! Creating content, sharing experiences, and building community.
Navigating how to start a blog
Do you want to set up your website by yourself?
The amount of content online to set up your website by yourself is endless. Alternatively, you can seek out help from freelancers or others who specialize in website creation. You don’t have to recreate the wheel! We’re all about community here.
We tried to figure out how to start a blog twice in the past, but neither of them even hosted their first blog post. We couldn’t get past the technical part of setting up a blog, but found resources on YouTube that helped us create The Queer Coople step-by-step. Search for resources online and stay motivated! Trial and error, with a sprinkle of ambition, will get you the blog site you’ve always dreamed of. Just remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect – you’ll find your groove soon enough.
Invest in community – who is your audience?
Since the time of COVID-19, the word “community” seems to come up in conversation more and more. Many people seek a sense of community online, often to learn more about themselves, their passions, and others. It’s important to foster a welcoming space for your blog visitors. It’s empowering to feel encouraged, as a reader, to contribute to and/or be a part of a safe online platform.
While creating The Queer Coople, we knew we wanted to discuss our own personal experiences along with educating folks about LGBTQ+ topics. As we walked and talked, it became obvious to us that we wanted to focus our energy on supporting people in the LGBTQ+ community and allies; we found our audience! Considering how isolating the queer community can feel at times, we feel really excited and grateful that we can contribute via this blog space.
After your blog site is up and running, consider using social media as a resource to engage with your audience. We have been using Instagram, @thequeercoople, as the social platform for our passion projects.
Embrace change and grow with your blog
As you navigate how to start a blog, remember that growth and evolution are natural processes. It is okay to start small with one post a week and a basic website – it can always grow later. That’s part of the fun! The main thing to focus on is just getting started and creating quality content.
Stay open to learning how you can improve your post layout and website’s navigation. Take a course on SEO (search engine optimization) if you are interested in driving more traffic to your website. Dedicate time towards keyword research if you want to rank higher on Google. Learn from your experiences, explore creative ideas with others, and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. Embrace the journey with grace and see what you can create.
What you want to say matters
You can do whatever you want once you start your blog. This is your space. You can write posts for fun and use your site as a personal diary, or you can turn it into an income stream as you continue to grow. What you have to say matters, connecting with people matters. Don’t underestimate your potential or stop yourself because something has “already been done”. Add your own perspective, niche, and personality.
Blogs may grow slowly, but patience and determination are worth it. Time really is your friend (we say after 3 years of nurturing this blog dream). Don’t let the intimidation of starting your website stop you from creating something amazing. If you don’t try, then you’ll never know what it could be or who you could help.
Conclusion
Starting a blog is not just about overcoming intimidation; it’s about learning about your initial fears and turning them into a powerful source of inspiration. Consider telling someone you love about your idea to keep yourself accountable. This was a huge motivating factor for Khali when workshopping her dream of starting a blog. Elis helped fuel their motivation by writing down what Khali said, keeping the mood light, and reminding Khali that she’s a beautiful beacon of kindness and creativity.
The Queer Coople was born via our love and we are so happy to share our experiences and thoughts with folks. Let your own passion be the driving force behind your blog, along with the support of others close to you, and allow it to inspire readers everywhere.
