Way back in 2012, I started the food blog that would eventually help me land multiple job opportunities. I was in high school at the time, sharing recipes from my baking and pastry classes and posting photos taken on an iPhone 5. Looking back, I cringe thinking about the content in those posts. See, in the early 2010s, you could post anything on your blog with no rhyme or reason. With a quick pin on Pinterest, it would easily garner thousands of views. No high-res images with alt-text. No SEO best practices. Not even sharing it on Instagram made much of a difference.

Blogging back in 2012 was a much simpler time. However, being able to start my blog so early also meant that I got to roll with the punches. Not only did I learn how to blog, but I learned how to do it successfully. Here are a few things I have learned from my early blogging career that allow me to grow my clients’ audiences today.

Branding is everything.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the past seven years is the importance of sticking to your brand. Think of a company that you love. Do they have beautiful photos that have a unique style? Is their voice consistent within each post or caption? Do they have specific colors they use in their branding? It’s all intentional! The easiest way to grow followers is by having eye-catching, meaningful content that readers can pinpoint straight to your brand. In fact, it’s one of the first steps I take when I meet a new client. By choosing the colors, photography, and writing style that matches their company, it’s easier for me to create content that will attract new readers and make people want to press that “follow” button!

Having a social presence is key. 

In the digital age, it’s essential to have a strong social media presence. However, that doesn’t mean you need to utilize every social media platform. Instead, take a good look at your audience and find out which platforms they visit the most. Then, create appropriate social media pages and use them to reach your audience! Social media is a great way to advertise your blog, share your content, and engage with your readers.

Pick one or two topics you want to focus on.

When I first started out, I wanted to blog about food, travel, fashion, beauty, and crafting amongst other topics. While I applaud the ambition of my youth, I have learned along the way how unrealistic this method of blogging can be. I like to tell my clients that it’s best to whittle down their list of interests to one or two topics. Focusing on specific topics helps you find your niche. Additionally, your readers will always know what to expect from your content, whether it’s on your website or Instagram. Can this be challenging when you have a lot of interests? Yes! But, while that one picture of your dog is super cute, it probably doesn’t belong on your Instagram page if your niche is making the best pho in town or selling high-end beauty products. Save those photos for your personal accounts, and stick to the content your readers expect to see on your website.

Create an online community.

However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t show off your personality! Readers love getting to know what goes on behind-the-scenes, especially for small businesses. Featuring the people behind the company is a great way to connect with readers and make them feel like part of the community. Whether it’s sharing something relateable on Instagram Stories or demonstrating a new product on IGTV, I like to encourage my clients to connect with their followers in a variety of creative ways. Doing so builds trust, establishes you as an expert in your field, and fosters an online community that will look to your website or social media pages whenever they have a need. And if you can tie that back into a blog post to encourage readers to engage with more of your content? That’s a huge bonus!

Let Muse Group help you become expert content creators!

Establishing your brand, finding a niche, and creating a social presence are all vital steps in the blogging process. If you don’t know where to start, that’s ok! Muse Group is here to take your brand to the next level. We will walk you through each step of the creative process, and before you know it, you will have a loyal following of dedicated readers who represent what your company is all about! Give us a call today, and let us get your brand on the table.