Hey Beautiful

I am back with another post. Something that has always been close to my heart. While am at it. I might just give it a specific name. How about Blogging 101 With Kymmiee. I like the sound of that for now. Anyways where was I? Oh Yes, I will be sharing with you Bits and bobs on Everything Blogging and content creation related. Yes YouTube included. I have had this in the back of my mind for quite sometime and I was thinking to actually start this series valentines next year after my 2 year mark blogging. I was overwhelmed and I needed to do it now. Ha! Passionate much. I am having dinner in bed as I write this, so you should know how committed am.

This particular chapter on my Blog will cover from the basics of blogging like how you to can become a blogger. Either as a hobby or a career. To the major parts like the keyword markers, search Engine Optimization (SEO), ALT links and everything in between. Blogging has been a learning curve for me and am excited to share my experience, answer your question and most importantly, hold a guiding hand to the Newbie bloggers all over the world. Blogging has its challenges, I have conquered some quite well and others are a learning curve. All in all I want this to be a fun learning process for both.

I know MissKymmiee for the most part has been a fashion segment, but I want to diversify to something that I have grown more passionate and in all honesty the back bone of misskymmiee as a whole. Hence the New Re-branding from MissKymmiee to MissKymmiee Creatives. I think that qualifies as a detailed introduction.

Lets get into action. By breaking down blogging. In its core Blogging involved a personal web log. But as the innovation kept growing just like many things in the internet. It has turned into a marketing tool and even better it ventured to be a business on its on. The question that confuses a lot of people, myself included ( at least in the beginning ) What is the difference between a blog and website? Especially with people using them interchangeably. I will break it down in the simplest terms.

Blogs can be updated frequently. Exhibit A: Misskymmmiee.com gets updated with new content every Monday. Wednesday and Friday. Which isn’t the case for websites. (For most, you just set it and forget it.) Secondly, Blogs allow room for reader engagements, in the comment section, while websites do not. The two alone make a huge difference between a website and a blog. A blog can do a job intended by a website but not vise versa.

Question: Why is Blogging important:

– Search engines loves the blogs because they are SEO tools and are more favored due to the updates.

– Blogging provides a room to keep your customers updated, which allows a room for engagement and in turn allowing you to make money.

– A blog allows you to build trust and rapport with your prospects.

– Blogs can allow you to make money.

Don’t worry if you can’t find the time to fully commit into writing. The good news is that you don’t have to write it all. You can have guest-writers or hire freelancers. Another option is to curate content from others or do an alternative post, such as using video.

Question: what are the Disadvantages of Blogging:

This is not to scare you but rather to prepare you. What others don’t know is that, blogging isn’t rainbows and unicorns. Its hard work. When you take blogging seriously, you have to give it your all. Unlike the 8-5 where you can switch off from work mode. It can consume you 24 hours if you don’t have a working schedule.

• Its Time consuming as hell. I am writing this at 01 AM like I said.
• you have to be constant creating contents. In order to create a following you always have to stay connecting.
• Payoff isn’t immediate. It takes time, for some months and for some it make take years. That’s why you need it to be a passion above all your other reasons.

Yeah Lets get into the good stuff, Shall We! How to start a Blog.

How To Start a Blog: 1. Know your motives.

Just like anything else, you need a reason for starting blogging. This will take you a long way especially on days when creators block kick in. (Believe me, its bound to happen.)  You need to revisit the whys to get some emotional consolidation and what not. There are a million reasons why people blog, irrespective of the categories they cover. Others blog as a source of income, others want to educate and inform others on various topics, others want to entertain others. Whatever your reasons are for blogging, pick your poison and make sure there is passion driving you to do it. If its anything other than passion is the reason you want to blog (am talking fame or money) then my darling you will be gravely disappointed. It’s not an over night success as you may have been brain washed to believe.

How To Start a Blog: 2. Pick a Category and a name:

So since you still keen on reading then am sure, you believe blogging is for you. Congratulations. on to the best part, What type of blog do you see yourself running. They are a million and one types out there. And no you don’t need a specific category to start blogging but it would do you some good in the long run. Trust me. Before I really considered myself a fashion blogger I was a love and advise writer for a minute there *cringes so hard*. There are about 10 popular types of blogs out there. Try to identify with one, here are some just to mention. The Rogue, The guest host, the crush dummy, the niche, the giver, guide blogs, the homer, tell-all blog, the personal brand and enterprise Blog. What do all those mean? and how to relate…

I Will break it all done along the way, this is just for introduction sake. After knowing what category or categories you fit in, then the name will come by naturally. The mistake that most people do is rushing to name a blog without proper thought. It’s expensive to change the name. Trust me am a victim. Try to go with some name that wont put you in a bubble.

How To Start a Blog: 3. Pick your platform.

The good news is that starting a blog or adding a blog to your existing site is relativity easy and affordable. There are free blog options such as WordPress.com and Blogger, or even the most generic tumblr and instagram could work. But to retain control and professional image, consider investing in a domain name and hosting, and installing WordPress or other content management system on your host. Most web hosts offer this. But make sure your heart is in it and you have given it some thoughts. I would advice to get a domain and hosting on the go if you are sure about your decision. You get so much control and a better foundation in the beginning. However, Don’t This is not a must I know a lot of successful bloggers who run on free web hosts.

Once your blog is up and running, you need keep it active with new content to grow your platform. While your blog can compliment an existing business, it’s also a great way to add additional income. You can promote other companies’ products and services in affiliate marketing. You can offer advertising or feed ad networks on to your blog. If you have a service business you’re promoting with your blog, you can create your own information products to compliment it.

How To Start a Blog: 6. Go Social.

How To Start a Blog: 7. Start Creating and Publishing.