Summer is just perfect for starting your first blog! If you’re finally ready to commit, but have no idea what your first month as a blogger will look like, here are 10 things you will have to do…

#1 Register Your Blog

I personally dive into projects straight away. I believe that the timing is never perfect and if I want to achieve anything in my life- I must simply go for it.

I’m not saying that impulsive decisions will always get you to the right place, but sometimes all you need to do is JUST START.

For this reason, I wanted to make things a bit easier for you & encourage you to at least give it a go. Trust me, you will learn everything you need to know along the way.

Building career online can open so many doors for you! I feel grateful every single day that I get to do this for a living. Here are just some of my favorite things I was able to do because of my blog and I really hope it will give you some inspiration to go for this:

• In the first year as a blogger, I was able to support myself fully while completing my bachelor degree. Even when I was crazy working on my dissertation, my online business brought me enough income to pay my bills and even to celebrate my graduation with some fancy bubbles!

• I then got to travel around New Zealand for almost two months while working from the back of a campervan & making a profit!

• I got to spend some memorable blogging time in New York City pretending to be Carrie Bradshaw and writing my top posts in Manhattan’s coffee shops.

• I get to travel the world with my fiance while still making money every step of the way.

• I bought a property funded 100% from my blogging business.

• I get to live anywhere I want because of my blog.

• I get to DREAM. Seriously, this is the best part- the sky has no limits when you’re a blogger!

I think that gives you an idea!

This was definitely the best decision I have ever made!

First things first, you will, of course, have to register a blog to have a blog… Thanks, Mrs. Obvious. If you’re doing this for the first time, you might be a bit overwhelmed by all information, but lucky for you- I have an easy 5 minute solution, just follow all the steps in the tutorial and you will be good to go!

#2 Design Your Blog

So you have your blog live & active now, but it’s not looking real pretty just yet, huh? Don’t miss this step as this is very important.

In this visual era, you must take care of your blog’s design if you want to succeed online.

You have nothing to worry about! You don’t need to be tech savvy or have a great understanding of web design to make this happen.

Get yourself a Premade WordPress Theme & your professional looking blog will be ready in seconds.

Installing your blog design theme is super easy & you always get step-by-step instructions in the theme package (or you can use free installation services and have a professional set it up for you).

If you’re very determined, you can even prepare matching social media covers + post templates by using one of these Blog Branding Packages. You see, we have you covered, friend!

#3 Find Your Niche

There’s a huge problem majority of the bloggers make when they start out. They tend to blog about everything without setting a definite niche for themselves. Of course, one might say that that’s exactly what lifestyle blogging is all about, but I couldn’t agree. Even if you want to blog about your life in general, I know for sure that there are some particular areas that you feel more knowledgeable in. Setting the right niche for your blog can do wonders for your overall online success.

I used to blog about EVERY SINGLE THING and that kept me back from properly monetising my blog. I have since realised that my passion is in teaching others about establishing successful online businesses. By determining my niche I now know what content works for my audience and what strategies I can use in order to monetise my online presence.

The next time someone asks you ‘so..what’s your blog about?’ you need to give them a clear answer. Also, you have to know that running a ‘beauty blog’ is too broad and it will make your journey a lot harder. Think what beauty products really rock your world, do you love supporting organic beauty brands or perhaps you’re all about luxurious beauty products? Find your niche and stick to it!

Read more: How To Find The Right Niche For Your Blog?

#4 Get On Social Media

Being active on social media is the best way to bring the most engaged audience to your blog. I personally focus on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Facebook. However, you can definitely get awesome results from other platforms if you analyse & use them properly. It’s really up to you to decide but make sure to register your accounts as soon as possible & secure those unique usernames. At first, I would suggest focussing on only 1 or 2 platforms tho! You can add more as you go along.

Read more: Social Media Tips For Bloggers.

#5 Start Creating Content

I love using my planner & scheduling blog posts ideas in advance. Whenever a new article topic pops into my mind- I will write it down for the next available date. This helps me to stay focused on my content & avoid the blogging break-down.

Now in the early days of blogging, I admit, coming up with new topics wasn’t so simple! For this reason, I decided to help you out & came up with a bunch of ideas that you can use in the first months of launching your blog! Check out 30 Lifestyle Blog Posts Ideas or 30 Blog Post Ideas For Fashion Bloggers.

#6 Find Your Photography Style

Bloggers take the coolest shots, no doubts. Creating great images for your blog can take you from hobby blogger to a pro and as harsh as it might sound- nobody has time for bad pictures anymore! Lucky for you, there are ways!

I get questions about my photography constantly and the funny thing is- I’m not even that great at it, it’s all in the editing. Want to learn how to edit photos like a blogger? Read this post.

#7 Connect With Other Bloggers

Growing together can make things a bit easier, so whatever your niche is- look for Facebook groups, Twitter chats or forums that might be bringing like-minded creatives together. My favorite Facebook groups I mostly hang out at are Instagram Posse, Women Biz Owners & FBL.

It’s always a great idea to go ahead and spread some love by commenting on other bloggers posts, social media entries or even e-mailing those that you feel that instant online connection with. Trust me, you need friends & blogging buddies are the best!

#8 Invest

I believe the first course I took cost me around $200 and damn that was scary! I wasn’t making a lot of extra money at the time, but I just had a feeling that it’s going to take me & my blog to the next level. I’m so glad I’ve listened to my inner voice! This was a huge game changer for me. As soon as I’ve started to really invest in my blog, my business blossomed and kept growing faster than ever.

We all know by now that blogging can not just be called just a hobby anymore. With so many people out there successfully turning their blogs into thriving brands & businesses, you should make no exception and start taking your blog seriously if you really want to make money from it and eventually take it full-time. Listen, you have to go for it, put yourself out there, be yourself & keep growing daily. Take online courses, hire a web designer, research best services and don’t be afraid to invest. The sky really has no limits when you’re a blogger, but you should really be ready to hustle!

I’m not saying you should go crazy in your first month, but the least you can do is invest your own time!

#9 Plan Your Content

I always try to at least have a couple of months of blog posts ideas planned out. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I publish every single post, yet just having the ideas scheduled ahead helps me big time. The biggest problem most bloggers get to deal with is a creative block which usually comes after a month or two of active content producing. Planning your ideas ahead would help you to always have a topic in mind when those dry days come.

#10 Prepare For Working With Brands

In the last six years of blogging full-time, I had some wonderful opportunities working with my favorite brands. Not only I was able to earn some extra income this way, I also created very useful connections which helped me grow my blog and business along the way. If you’re treating your blog professionally, you should make sure to be prepared when the first brand deal comes your way.

Prepare an easy to find a contact page, create a media kit & don’t say yes to the first offer. Make sure to only work with companies that stand for who you are & always think about your audience needs before accepting.

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Are you ready to really work hard on your blog? I know you can do it! Make sure to share your link with us all in the comments!