Once you have your blog up and running, you will, of course, want people to read it.  There are several steps you can take to make others aware of your content.  In this section, we will cover commenting on other blogs, marketing your content on social media, improving your SEO, and writing evergreen content.

One of the best ways to find new bloggers (and potential followers) is to visit other blogs and comment.  Some bloggers will comment back out every time of courtesy, while others, especially those with many followers, may only notice you if you consistently interact with their content.   Commenting around is a great way to gain followers because you are seeking out people who share an interest in what your blog is about. 

However, commenting around solely to gain followers is typically frowned upon.  You should comment on other blogs because you are genuinely interested in their content and you want to make a personal connection.  Try to say something substantive in your comments and show that you read, understood, and appreciated the other blogger’s post.  Writing simply, “I enjoyed this!” or “Great post!” is not as meaningful as a longer, more thoughtful comment.  

Practice your basic internet safety rules while interacting online.  Keep your personal information such as your full name, age, school, and location private.  Try simply chatting about the subject of the blog–fashion, food, video games, movies, etc.  

Also remember that you control the comments on your own blog.  You can usually choose to turn them off completely or make it so comments need to be approved by your before they are posted.  As a last resort, you can also prevent a specific person from commenting on your blog at all, if you find they are not engaging in polite and friendly behavior.  Consider adding a commenting policy to your blog explaining that you welcome civil discourse, but will not engage with personal attacks.

To drive more traffic to your blog, you can create associated social media channels on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Some bloggers also have YouTube channels or share links to their blog content on Pinterest.  The accounts you create should be specific to your blog–not your personal accounts–and they should have your branded graphics on them.  When using these other platforms, however, you should post more than links to your own content–no one wants to follow someone who does nothing but advertise.  Your followers will also want to see you sharing relevant content from other users, creating original content appropriate for the platform, and interacting with others.  If you are really serious about using social media for your blog, you can research how many times a day you should be posting on each platform and what times of the day are best for your content to be seen.  

SEO stands for “search engine optimization.”  This is the way that other people find your blog by using search engines like Google.  You want to format your posts so that search engines will prioritize your content and put it higher up in the results they show people.

There is no exact science to SEO.  However, general guidelines are that you want to think about what type of keywords people could use to find your content, and then you want to use those keywords in your post.  For example, if you are writing a blog about comics and you are reviewing the latest Ms. Marvel, you would want to include the title of the comic as well as the authors and illustrators somewhere in your post.  If you are sharing a strawberry kiwi smoothie recipe, your keywords might be “strawberry kiwi smoothie recipe” or “smoothie recipe.”  

Once you have your keywords, you want to work them into strategic places.  They should certainly be in the title of your post, which will be an H1 tag.  The rest of your post, if divided into subsections, should be using H2 and H3 tags for headings– possibly H4 tags if necessary.  You can put your keywords into one of these headings.  Also work them into the body of the post.

Bear in mind, however, that overusing keywords can sometimes hurt your SEO.  Use them where appropriate, but do not overload your post with keywords where they do not naturally belong.

Another way to increase your SEO is to internally link to your own content.  If you are sharing your thoughts about a new music video by your favorite artist, you could, for example, link to your old posts about music or videos by that same artist.  Try to keep people reading on your blog by directing them to relevant content that they may find interesting.

To increase your chances of appearing in search engine results, you can also think about what type of content you are writing.  Your blog should contain a number of posts that qualify as evergreen content–content that is always relevant and never goes out of date.  Examples of evergreen content are recipes, recommendation lists, and how-to guides.  Again, you can think of what people might type into a search engine box.  Are they looking for “YA books inspired by fairy tales” or “TV shows if you like Doctor Who?”  Maybe they want a guide on “how to make your own phone case” or “recipes for the perfect pancake.”  Intersperse your regular content with a number of evergreen posts so people will continually be directed to your blog from search engines.

Your traffic stats do not determine the success of your blog.  If you enjoy blogging, you should keep at it, even if your stats seem low.  However, there are ways that you can try to increase traffic, if you are hoping to connect with more readers.  Commenting around on other blogs, sharing your links on social media, formatting your blog posts to maximize your SEO, and writing evergreen content like recommendation lists can all help you increase your traffic.

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

Today’s internet readers are extremely visual.  To catch their eyes while they are scrolling through their feeds, you should include at least one graphic image per blog post.  In this section, we will cover the basics of graphic design, copyright rules pertaining to images, and resources to get you started designing your own graphics.

Designing your own graphics might sound intimidating, but it does not have to be hard!  Keep a few simple rules in mind.  Text should be large enough that it can be easily read.  You should only use two to three font styles per graphic.  Text colors should be easy to read.  In general, this means you should avoid using light colors like yellow for your text.  However, you could potentially use light colors if they contrast strongly with your background.  For example, you would not want to use yellow text on a white background, but you could use yellow text on a black background.

You will also want to make sure that your blog graphics are using your blog theme colors and the fonts you use on the blog itself.  This will ensure that your blog is branded across social media channels.  Additionally, you should put your blog logo or your blog name or web address somewhere on the graphic.

If you are planning to market your blog content on social media platforms, try to use the specific graphic sizes and formats appropriate for each channel.  For example, Pinterest graphics are usually vertical, Instagram photos are square, and Facebook and Twitter photos are more rectangular.  Horizontal (rectangle) images are commonly used on blogs themselves as headers for each post.  However, if you are planning to pin your content on Pinterest, you can use vertical images for your post headers and then use that same image on Pinterest.

Below are examples of a vertical Pinterest graphic, a square Instagram graphic, and a blog banner.  Note that each only uses two different front styles, the text contrasts with its background, and the blog name or series is mentioned on the image.

Once you create your graphics, you will probably want to save them as a PNG file rather than as a JPEG.  JPEGs generally take up less space, but they can be lower quality.  Additionally, the quality of a JPEG can degrade over time as it is opened and saved, but the quality of an PNG will not.

Images are protected under U.S. copyright laws.  This means the owner holds the rights to reproduce, publicly display, and create derivative works from the image.  Just as you cannot take someone else’s words and pass them off as your own, or use them without permission, you cannot take any image you find online and use it on your blog without permission.  

It is important to note that citation does not equal permission.  Searching for pictures on Google and then using an image with the words “picture from Google” or “picture not mine” does not give you a legal right to post the picture.  Even linking back to the original photographer or artist’s site does not automatically give you permission to use an image.  Unless you are sure that your usage qualifies you for a fair use exemption, you should obtain permission from the copyright holder in writing before using their work on your blog.

Sometimes bloggers search for images that are in the public domain, are listed as royalty-free, are listed by their creator as free to use, or are listed under a creative commons license.  However, different photos, even if listed as free to distribute, could still have different requirements you must meet to use them.  For example, some free photo sites might have licenses that stipulate you must provide credit in writing to the artist or that you are not allowed to modify the image in any way (ex. using a filter on it or making it black and white).  You should read licenses carefully before using any images to ensure that you are meeting all the requirements.

If you are interested in photography, a blog is a great way to show off your work.  It will also make your blog stand out, since you will not be using stock photos that many other bloggers may be using, as well.  However, if you are not interested in taking your own photos, you can search for images that are free for you to use and modify.  Unsplash is a popular photography site used by bloggers because its current license states that images can be downloaded, modified, and distributed without attribution.  Pixabay is another well-known site that has similar terms; it has clipart and vector graphics available, as well as photos.  You can do more research online to find other photography sites you may like.

Once you have your photos, you will want to use some sort of graphic design software to create blog banners and social media graphics.  Many bloggers use Canva, which offers a free and a paid version, to create graphics because it automatically sizes graphics for various platforms, provides templates to get you started, and allows you to save and download images.  Other graphic design sites are available, as well.  Stencil and Snappa are two that are gaining more popularity.  However, their free versions seem more limited than Canva’s.  Snappa, for example, currently gives free users only three downloads per month.  Do some research to see how other users review various graphic design resources to find one that will work for you.  Make sure you read the terms of service before choosing.

Graphic design may seem intimidating, but there are plenty of resources available online to help even new designers make professional-looking images.  Find the resources that work for you and then keep practicing!  You’ll be improving in no time!

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library Web site and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

Plagiarism is taking another person’s words or ideas, either in their entirety or in part, and passing them off as your own.  Just as you learn to avoid plagiarism in school, you should take steps to avoid plagiarism–purposeful or accidental–while blogging.  In this section, we will cover how to avoid plagiarism, as well as what to do if you think another person has plagiarized you.

The basic rule of avoiding plagiarism is to give credit to others, both when you are quoting directly–even if it is only a small portion of text–and when you are paraphrasing someone else’s words or ideas.  If you quote someone else directly, you should place their words in quotation marks, just as you would do for a paper in school.  If you are paraphrasing their work, you should note this in the text.  For example, you could write, “Sam, who blogs at Sam’s Snacks, writes that….”

Some bloggers include Works Cited for their blog posts, again exactly as if they were writing a research paper for school and had to format it in MLA or APA.  This is a possibility for you, especially if you are referring to works that are not available online.  However, it is also common for bloggers to simply provide a hyperlink back to the article, post, or blog to which they are referring.  Basically, you want to give your readers as much information as possible so they can follow your train of thought and trace any references back to their sources.

Unfortunately, you could potentially discover one day that your work has been taken by another blogger and is being passed off as their own.  If you do become aware of this scenario, you should take screenshots of both your post and theirs, with the posted dates visible in both screenshots.  After obtaining your evidence, you could technically pursue a legal option.  However, if you decide doing so is not worth the time, effort, or money, you can contact the blogger directly to request that they remove the plagiarized content.  (This is a good reason to have a dedicated blog email.)  If they do not comply, your other option is to contact whoever is hosting their content and ask the host to remove it.

Having your work taken by another person can, of course, affect your blog traffic, as readers who would have gone to your blog are now being redirected to someone else’s.  However, it can also take an emotional toll.  If you find out your work has been plagiarized, reach out to someone you trust who can help support you.

The writing skills you have been learning in school transfer easily to a blog setting.  Remember to use quotation marks, paraphrase when appropriate, and always cite your sources.  If you unfortunately discover that it is your work that has been plagiarized, know that you have options available to you.  But make sure that you are talking with someone you trust as you go through the process.

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

Once you have your blog set up, you can begin to write your very first blog posts! In this section, we will cover how to title, format, and schedule your posts.

The title of your blog posts should be descriptive and as concise as possible.  Let your readers know what the post will be about.  You may be tempted to write a clickbait title, one where readers are enticed to click on it to find out more.  Examples of clickbait titles are the ones you see online that read something like, “You’ll Never Guess How One Woman Doubled Her Income.”  These types of titles sound exciting, but they are less likely to show up in search engine results.  Search engines will help drive traffic to your blog, so try to make your post title something you can imagine someone typing into a search bar.

The length of your blog posts can vary widely.  Some bloggers prefer more bite-sized writings, while others have cultivated a following who will read posts that look more like novellas.  Whether you choose to write shorter or longer posts, however, you should still try to break up your text.  

Make your posts easier for readers to follow by writing shorter paragraphs and using a variety of headings, bold text, and italics.  In school, you probably learned that a paragraph usually contains at least five sentences. However, you may have also noticed that newspaper articles and online articles sometimes use paragraphs with only three sentences.  Readers on the internet seem to prefer smaller chunks of text, so make sure you break yours up.

You can also break up your text by using a variety of text choices, such as heading tags, bold text, and italics.  The title of your post will usually be an H1 tag, so begin using H2 tags to create lists or subheadings in the body of the post.  Then make smaller subheadings by using H3 or H4 tags, or even bold text.  Some bloggers also like to use bold text to draw attention to certain points or simply to break up the monotony of a large chunk of text.  Others use different font sizes to imply that they are shouting in excitement or whispering a secret.  You can play around with your text choices to create your own unique blogging style.

Images are the final important element of your post format.  We will cover graphic design in a later section.  For now, however, keep in mind that every post should have at least one image.  Some bloggers use more or they use GIFs to convey emotion.  Whatever your style, however, you should have some visual element in each post.

Scheduling posts ahead of time should be one of your most important considerations because doing so will help prevent what is known as blogger burnout.  Many new bloggers find themselves overwhelmed by the demands of maintaining a blog–writing new comment, responding to comments, designing images, marketing the blog on social media, and finding other bloggers with whom to connect.  However, you can take some of the pressure off yourself by writing several posts before the official launch of your blog and scheduling them to post in the future.  Most blogging platforms will have a built-in scheduler for you to do this.

You should think about how many times a week you want to post and if you want to put a specific kind of post on any one day.  For example, if you have a fashion blog, you might have a post every Tuesday where you showcase an outfit appropriate for work.  Every Wednesday, you might feature outfits that can be worn when going out with friends.  

You do not have to post every day.  Most readers probably follow many blogs and do not want to be overwhelmed with new content. However, you should post consistently so that your followers understand your blog is still active and so they know when to check your blog for new posts.  Posting at least once a week is a good goal to aim for.

When writing posts, think about what kinds of titles will draw in readers, as well as show up in search engines.  Make sure your formatting breaks up large chunks of text to make your posts easier to read.  And, finally, prevent yourself from being overwhelmed by scheduling posts in advance, rather than writing them right before they go live.

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

Your overall layout is the first impression people will have of your blog, so you want to make sure that it looks professional and is easy to navigate.  In this section, we will cover the basics of the blog layout, including choosing a theme, creating a menu, and filling your sidebar.

The theme of your blog includes such elements as your header, font style, and buttons, as well as the overall color scheme.  Most blogging platforms come with pre-made themes for you to use, but you should consider customizing your choice.  You want your blog to stand out from all the other blogs using the same theme!

Your theme should reflect both the topic and the tone of your blog.  That is, the theme should announce to readers what you blog about and whether you intend to write a serious, silly, satirical, or even whimsical blog.  An easy place to begin is by choosing your color scheme.  If you wish to strike a serious tone, you might choose darker, more dramatic colors.  If you wish your blog to appear more playful, you could choose brighter colors.  Try out different looks to see which you like best.  Make sure that whatever colors you choose will be easy for others to read.  Your font should contrast with your background so it is legible.  Also, a dark font color on a lighter background is often preferable to light text on a dark background.  Black text on a white background may seem boring, but it does make your blog more accessible.

Once you have chosen your color scheme, think about what type of font you want to use.  Again, the font should match the tone of your blog, but it should also be easy to read.  A calligraphy-inspired font might be good for your blog title, but not for the text in your posts.  The font should also be large enough that people can read it comfortably.  Choose one or two font styles that you like because you should be using the same fonts (and colors) throughout your blog and on your graphics and social media.  This will “brand” your blog, giving it a distinctive look others will be able to recognize easily.

Finally, customize your header and your buttons so they match the rest of your blog.  It is okay to start with whatever comes with your pre-made theme.  However, as you become more accustomed to blogging, you may want to design your own graphics to give your blog a more unique look.  We will cover graphic design in a future post.

Your blog should include a menu at the top with tabs that make it easy for readers to navigate your site.  What you include will vary based on what type of content you have.  However, most blogs have an “About” page, contact information, and categories for various types of popular content.

The “About” page explains to readers who you are, what your background is, and why you are blogging.  You want to make this page personal, but also make sure that you are staying safe by not revealing too much information.  You do not want to reveal your full name, your age, your school, or your geographic location.  You might choose to use only your first name, or even a pen name.  Instead of talking about yourself, try focusing on why you are blogging.  For example, if you start a cooking blog, you can write about when you first began cooking, what your favorite recipes are, and what you hope to accomplish with your blog.

The “Contact” page is mostly used by bloggers hoping to receive products for review.  This is completely optional.  If you are inspired to try to be the next great influencer, however, you should create an email that is specifically for your blog.  Do not use your personal email, your school email, or an email with your name on it.

The categories you place on your menu will vary depending on what type of blog you have.  Baking blogs, for instance, often have tabs that correspond to different recipes people might be seeking: “Cakes,” “Cookies,” “Pies,” etc.  You may find that you need to add more tabs as your content grows and you begin to focus more on specific topics.

Having a sidebar is optional.  However, if you do choose to use one, you want to make sure that it is not cluttered.  Sidebars with cloud tags, for example, are becoming obsolete.  Use your sidebar to provide pertinent information at a glance.  This is where you can list a brief (two-sentence) biography, as well as some of your recent or most popular posts.  You also want to add a search bar for your blog, a follow or subscribe button, and links to any social media associated with your blog.  Anything else is probably unnecessary.

Choose a theme that reflects who you are and what your blog is about.  However, you want to prioritize readability over design concerns.  If you ever decide that your blog theme no longer reflects who you are or what you are writing about, that is okay.  You can change your layout at any time and rebrand your blog for the new you.

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

In this section, we will cover the basics of starting your own blog.  Before you begin writing your first post, you will have to decide on a few things: what platform you will use to blog, what you will blog about, and what your blog will be called. 

There are various platforms from which you can choose for your blog.  Three of the most well-known platforms are Tumblr, Blogger, and WordPress.com, though other options are available.  Aspects you should consider when choosing a platform are how easy it is to use, how much you can customize, and how much you are willing to pay.

Tumblr is known particularly for being a picture-heavy platform, where many users share content rather than create it. Tumblr could be a good choice for you if you do not imagine having a text-heavy blog.  However, if you want to write longer blog posts, another platform might be more ideal.

Blogger is fairly easy for new bloggers to set up.  It is a Google product and connected to your Google account.  You can choose from a limited number of ready-made themes.  To customize, you may need some coding knowledge.  You can then customize further by adding gadgets.  Blogger is free to use, though some worry that Google could choose to stop supporting it.

WordPress.com is free to use, with the option to pay more for additional features.  The free version will give you access to a platform with a number of themes that you can customize, largely without needing to do more than click, though a knowledge of coding could be helpful. You can also add plugins or widgets for even greater customization.  Don’t confuse WordPress.com with WordPress.org, which requires more coding knowledge and so may not be the best choice for new bloggers.

There are a number of excellent blogging platforms available.  Which one you choose will be determined by what kind of blog you wish to have and how comfortable you are with coding and web design.  Spend some time researching various possibilities, reading reviews, and making sure you understand each platform’s security features, privacy policies, and terms of service.  You may also want to consider if you want to or will be able to use features such as setting your blog to private and inviting only readers you already know.

The topic of your blog is limited only by your imagination.  However, you will want to choose something about which you are passionate.  Popular blog topics include cooking, fashion, makeup, travel, photography, writing, films, and books.  Having a focus can make it easier for others with similar interests to find and follow your blog.  However, some bloggers do combine different topics, perhaps writing about comics, gaming, and hiking.  It’s your blog, so you can ultimately write about whatever you want.  Combining unusual subjects may just be the thing that makes your blog stand out, and gains you followers who also happen to like those same things. 

Your blog name should reflect what your blog is about and it should reflect your personality.  A baking blog, for example, should have a name that indicates your focus is on sweet treats.  A book review blog should have a name that is about books, not about writing, lest people mistake it for a writing blog.  If you intend to have a funny, personable style, your name can also reflect that.  You might, in that case, try to work a pun into your name.   Just be sure to do a quick search to check that the name you want has not already been taken.  Using a name that is already in use, or that is close to a name someone else is using, could result in confusion for your followers.

Spend time familiarizing yourself with various blogging platforms before deciding on one, but also familiarize yourself with blogs that cover topics you may be interested in blogging about yourself.  Doing so will give you a clearer idea about what platform and what type of content will work best for you, your unique situation, and your personal style.

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful:

You may associate blogging with the late 1990s or early 2000s, but the era of blogging is far from over.  Blogs still provide valuable platforms for individuals looking to share their work with a wider audience.  From baking to travelling to gaming, blogs connect people with shared interests and help them explore their passions.  Still not convinced?  Below are some reasons you may consider beginning your own blog.

Many people choose to blog when they enjoy a hobby or fandom and want to find others who share their enthusiasm.  You may enjoy reading or anime and so choose to start a review blog so you can talk about what you are reading and watching.  Or maybe you love makeup, so you start a blog where people can share their tips and tricks.  For some, blogging is a way to find people who want to talk about the same things, when the people they know outside the computer just aren’t as interested.

Some people like to blog for personal reasons, and are not very interested in attracting a large following.  In this case, blogging is a chance to reflect on what you are reading, watching, doing, or simply thinking.  Of course, even if you do interact with others, you can still use your blog as a chance to think more deeply and meaningfully about what is happening in your life.  Writing gives you the space and time you may need just to sit back and muse.

Blogging gives you an opportunity to try out your writing on a real audience.  This means that you will have to write regularly in order to keep your followers and you will have to consider how your writing comes across.  Is it clear? Is it concise?  Could readers be accidentally offended?  Blogging makes you more accountable for maintaining a writing schedule and trying to write as effectively as possible.

Today’s bloggers do more than write.  Bloggers may also design their own website, learn how to code, create their own graphics, and market their work through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or even YouTube.  All of these are skills that will good on a resume and transfer to various school and work scenarios.

Maintaining a blog can be a time-consuming activity, but most bloggers do it because they find some joy in it.  Choosing just the right word, creating graphics to reflect a certain mood, or optimizing posts to try to attract more traffic are challenges bloggers tend to enjoy for their own sake.  If you love to write, take photos, or design graphics, blogging could be a hobby you will come to love.

The rise of social media influencers has popularized the idea that anyone can make money by reviewing items online and convincing others to buy them.  Companies may pay for these reviews or simply send items to an influencer to feature.  However, the possibility of monetizing a blog will be dependent on what type of blog you have and how many followers you have.  Because successfully monetizing a blog is unlikely, the desire to earn money or receive free products from blogging should not be the main reason you choose to blog.

You should also keep in mind that monetizing a blog comes with certain responsibilities.  If you are making money or endorsing a product for a company you need to follow FTC guidelines for disclosures.  Rules for different scenarios may vary, but generally you want to make it explicit that you are either receiving money from posting affiliate links or that you received a product in exchange for a review.  The disclosure should appear at the top of your posts, without readers having to click to read more or scroll down, and the disclosure should be unambiguous.  Disclosure rules also apply to social media platforms where you may be promoting a product. 

The reasons each person has for blogging will be deeply personal.  However, a common thread that binds bloggers together is often that they desire to think more deeply about what is happening in their lives and they want to connect with others.  If this sounds attractive, blogging may be for you!  

The library has many sources to help you get started on your blogging journey.  For digital resources, visit the Charles County Public Library website and search under “Read, Watch, & Listen” to find our digital media service Hoopla.  Hoopla allows library patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks, and films with no wait list.  Here are few titles on Hoopla that you may find useful: