by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28
Blogs rock! You can connect with your audience, show editors and agents that you are serious about writing, and share what’s on your heart with others. Blogs are worth the investment.
Last month, we looked at why we should start a blog, what we should write about, and how often. If you missed Part 1, check it out here: How to Start an Inspirational Blog, Part 1.
This month, let’s talk about the following:
- blogging platforms
- the sidebar on your blog
- the length of your posts
Which Blogging Platform Should I Choose?
Once you know that you have time to blog regularly, and you have chosen your theme, it’s time to pick a blogging platform.
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The free blog
Free is usually good, right? It’s possible to get started without having to pay for your blog. You can start with WordPress.com or Blogger. These companies will host your website (blog) for free, and they are easy to use. I started with Blogger and enjoyed it for several years. Later, I started a blog with a different theme and used WordPress, which is the one I’m using now.
The main drawback for a free blog like this, is the issue of copyrights. If the company that is hosting your blog feels you have violated someone else’s copyright, they could shut down your blog. Check the Terms of Use to be sure. This happened to a faculty member I met once at a conference. She didn’t violate anyone’s copyright, but it still happened. So just beware.
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The “independent” blog
My family wanted to feel free to use excerpts from our books and compilations on our company’s website, so we chose the independent option. I’m about to create a new website for us that will use WordPress software, and we will pay iPage to host it. This arrangement is a WordPress.org option. If you want WordPress to also host your blog, choose the WordPress.com option, but know that they might shut down your blog.
WordPress is an excellent option, but it’s not the only one. My writing friends have blogs by Wix, Medium, and other platforms. Do a little research, and see which one is right for you.
What Should Go in My Sidebar?
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“About Me” block
This is important stuff, and it needs to go “above the fold,” that is, where your audience will easily see it (before they scroll down). In the “About Me” box, let them see your face so they can connect with a person—you! Include your headshot, a little about yourself and your site, and a link to your “About Me” page, so they can learn even more.
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“Subscribe” block
This is important stuff too. Give viewers the chance to sign up to receive your blog posts by email, and make it easy on yourself by using a newsletter service like Mailchimp (for free). (I’ll have another post down the line in this series about how to insert a sign-up form into your sidebar and connect your blog to Mailchimp. But you can always “google” those instructions.)
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“Categories” block
Grab their interest. For every blog post, select a “Category” for it—a heading that identifies its theme. In your sidebar, it’s possible to list the themes from your blog, so viewers can click on a category and see all those related posts. Pick categories that your target audience will be searching for online. Their search may land them on your blog.
Additional boxes in your sidebar could be:
- a link to your Facebook page or group
- a list of your latest tweets on Twitter
- a “tag” cloud (keywords from your blog that appear in the sidebar like a little cloud)
- the front cover of your book
- an award seal from a writing contest
- graphics showing which blogs you contribute to regularly
How Long Should Posts Be?
It’s harder to read online than on paper, so consider your target audience and aim for 500 to 800 words. How much time do they spend online? Will they sit still to read a longer post?
Which blogging platform do you use, and how well do you like it? Or which one are you thinking about using? Comment below, and happy blogging!
Next month, I’ll share an outline for Bible-based blog posts. You’ll be able to adapt it whether your goal is to write devotions, short Bible studies, or Christian living posts on your blog. See you then.
Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She recently started The Lighthouse Connection, a monthly writers’ newsletter including writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities.
In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at her blog, Winning the Victory, and on Facebook and Twitter.
The Conversation
Thanks, Katy. I’ve used WordPress.org for several years with no problems, but I learned some tips from your post.
Thank you, Jeannie! I enjoy your blog. May God continue to bless it!
Hi Katy,
Thank you for this post! You’ve included a lot of good points.
I went to my blog site on WordPress yesterday, and was told I didn’t have a site. I’ve been with WordPress since around 2012, I’ve written 900+ blogs, and now, it’s all gone. To say I am upset, is an understatement. So I will definitely be looking into some of the other sites you mentioned!
Blessings,
Edwina
Thank you for your comment, Edwina, and I’m sorry it took this long to reply. But I know we’ve talked since you commented. I hope things work out with the new site. 🙂
How’s this one?
https://saintjohn316.blogspot.com/p/inspirational.html
🙂 🙂 🙂
Hello, Doug,
Thanks for reading the post! I didn’t see your side bar, but I saw what’s in your menu and footer. The menu itself looks like a tag cloud, but I think that’s in the footer, right? Have you thought about an “About Me” for your sidebar? Thanks again!
Katy,
Thank you for sharing. I just created a blog on Wix. Do you feel like that was a mistake? (I took advice from blogger friends.) I have not yet created a newsletter. I am still very new to this writing world.
JL
Hi, Jonna! I am not familiar with Wix, but I did a little searching. I do have writer friends who use it. I just looked up reviews about Wix, and it appears to have similar features to WordPress. I took a course on WordPress, so that’s why I’m using that to create a new site for my company.
A few things to remember – the less expensive versions of Wix have limited storage, so the pictures on your site need to be jpeg files that are small and at 96 dpi. Only the top two tiers of paid plans have the capability for a store. WordPress lets you have a store for less money.
Also, customers can’t use PayPal to send payments through your web store. Please email me at adventurewriter@hotmail.com, and I can send the link to the reviews I found. Thanks for reading and commenting! I am cheering you on as you tackle the writing world. There are so many great blog posts on this site, so I am glad you have the Blue Ridge conference as support and encouragement. (And writing friends.) The Facebook group is great too!