ShoeString Startup

You can blog and won’t cost a cent!

One way to market your shoestring start up business is to start a blog. Oh I know, everyone is doing that – but there is a good reason. Having a blog can help you find new customers or reach out to your present audience. In my case, I can write out concepts and get them down on paper before my holding next Entrepreneur Workshop.

Blogging is a great venue to meet new people, (online and eventually in person) and connect with like minded people around the globe.

So, as promised. Here are the three steps to get your blog started on a shoestring budget. Yep, that means zero money.

1. Go to your local library and sign up for free internet access. (This is also a great tip for when you are on the road without internet access) You should be able to schedule time to use one of their computers.
2. www over to Wordpress or Blogger to sign up for a free blog. There are many other options for free blogs – but I’ve personally used both of these know how easy they are to get started.
3. Write and publish your first post.

Is it really that easy? Yes, but the world is full of dead blogs, and people who write only occasionally before they heave a great sigh, give up and shut down their blog – usually with a sorrowful goodbye post. Getting started is the easy part. Maintaining and promoting your blog takes a bit of effort.

If you follow through with these next three steps, you’ve got a better chance of staying the course.

1. Write everyday. Get up in the morning, set a timer, say for 20 minutes or so and write. Go back and edit it once then publish. If you obsess over your writing you may not actually do it. Writing every day takes a bit of discipline and the first step is just to get it done. Your writing will get faster and better over time.
2. Read great writing in your field. Visit other blogs and leave comments. Follow a few bloggers who write like you would like to write.
3. Don’t check your stats. I wish I could follow this tip. Really, checking your stats gets obsessive and you can easily waste a day weekend figuring out where your traffic comes from. When the urge overpowers you to check stats, write about it instead.

When you are serious about blogging, go read Darren’s series on problogger.net. Thirty-one days to a better blog.

Oh, and don’t forget to have fun! As I tell my kiddo and all her friends, that is the most important rule when going to the party. (She’s only three).