Hi guys! Today I’m coming to you guys with a post about how to start a blog and why I started mine. Let me start by saying I am no blogging expert. I started this blog not knowing what I was doing. I was inspired by all these girls from Instagram sharing their blogging content and I thought “Hey! I can do this too”. After a few websites, googling, and teaching my self to code, I present this blog post. I hope these tips can help any of you who are just starting out.
Also, I want to take Girl Meets Gym to the next level. I will definitely be posting more workout tutorials (because according to my stats, you guys really like those), some beauty posts (because I’m obsessed with hair and makeup), and everything girly in between!
Find a blogging platform
My first blog was made on wix.com. Wix is super easy to use, but is very limited to what you can do. I built Girl Meets Gym on wordpress.org. WordPress.org (which is different from wordpress.com) gives you more freedom to do whatever you want with your website. The only problem is you have to first find a place to host your site, learn how to upload your own theme, code things, and learn to deal with all the technical difficulties (which I promise you will experience). If you have the money, hire a website designer. If your ambitious like me and like to do things on your own then you can definitely learn to build your own site. It just takes a lot of patience, headaches, and coding.
Find Your Passion
First and foremost, What are you going to blog about? What are you passionate about? For me, it’s obviously fitness and I throw in lifestyle posts here and there. It’s easy for me to post about workouts, recipes and fitness tips because it’s what I love doing. You have to blog about what you love most. When I first started my blog, I was posting about once a month. The posts were called “monthly favourites”. I was losing interest in my posts fast and wasn’t putting effort into them after a while. My blog visits were at a all time low. At the time, I was afraid to post about workouts. Last September I decided it was time to step up my blogging game. I hired a photographer, took awesome fitness photos, and I began creating content that mattered to me.My blog visits are now up and the numbers are staying consistent. Also, it’s super important to show your “personality” through your blog, Instagram and all your other social media outlets. I saw my Instagram follows go up the minute I started being myself (telling my stupid jokes and filming my Glute exercises).
Don’t Be Afraid
You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. I really had to let all my internet fears go. At first I was terrified to be ‘myself’ just in case someone left me a mean comment under one of my pics or posts. Especially being an Afghan girl, because I’m not your typical dukhtareh Khana (basically means unmarried girl in farsi). I knew my blog would stand out and make me unique because there aren’t a lot of Afghan girls who are into fitness. I really wanted this blog to make other girls like myself become active and feel comfortable at the gym. I am so happy to say I haven’t received a single mean comment (yet) and I receive so many supportive messages from people telling me they love my blog posts, which makes me really happy (Thanks friends<3)
Photos
This is probably the most important point. Take great photos. Photos are what catches the eye. When I cleaned up my Instagram and started to post high quality photos, I began seeing an increase in my followers. An IPhone is great to start with, but if you’re looking to take blogging to the next level then I highly suggest investing in a DSLR. I purchased my first DSLR in December. I’m still learning how to use it, but it’s been working for me. Also, hire a photographer. There are so many great blogging photographers out there (like my girl @photographyjaycee).
Post Often
A blog is like a baby. You have to constantly care for it. You want your blog visits to be consistent. If you want your blog to be a hit, you must post on it often. Sometimes it’s hard. I get so caught up in life or I just don’t feel motivated to post. I aim for about a post a week. Make sure your posts are well written and that you put effort into them.
I hope this post helps you with your blogging journey. Please let me know what else you guys want to see? I have a hair post in the works next!
The Comments
Jessica
Hey girl!
Thanks for your tips about blogging. I began my own blog in October and I use wordpress.org as well. I find it somewhat user-friendly but definitely does have glitches and lots of hair pulling moments.
I see your blog is easily found via Google. I typed in “girlmeetsgym” and it was the first thing that came up on the search engine. That’s where I am having issues. The only way to really find my blog is by typing the exact URL in. I can’t find it via google or by searching my blog name. Would you have any suggestions on how to get it searchable on Google?
Thanks!
Jessica
www.girlmeetsgym.me
JessicaHey Jessica!
I haven’t really done anything to have it show up on Google (maybe just luck haha). I hear there’s something called an SEO and that gives you google hits. I looked into it a little bit ago and I couldn’t figure it out. I love your blog btw especially the post 25 things about me<3