I started Red Shoes. Red Wine. in 2015 with the vague purpose of broadly sharing information, travel adventures, costume/cosplay builds, and really anything I felt like writing about. Why? Because I do a lot of fun things worth sharing. The downturn in 2014 hit my energy industry hard and I felt a creative gap in my life needed to be filled. I began blogging as a hobby, and ended up blogging about my hobbies. Red Shoes. Red Wine. is for me, but I’m extremely proud and fulfilled that this blog has benefited others as well, whether it’s planning a cruise, being inspired to start running, needing that step-by-step costume tutorial, or needing a simple recipe for canning jam/jelly/marmalade. And today I’m sharing how to start a blog of your own in 8 easy steps, whatever your “why?”.
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How to Start a Blog of Your Own
- Why?
- Pick a name
- Set up hosting
- Use a site builder
- Design, design, design
- Download plug-ins
- Write
- Always remember your “Why?”
Why?
When I started blogging, I needed a creative outlet. My “why?” was sharing travel adventures, food & wine, costume builds, DIY home improvements, and other random things from my chaotic life. I have friends who guest blog on Red Shoes. Red Wine., friends who want to start a blog but don’t know how, and friends who absolutely should blog because their lives are really interesting or they’re incredibly talented. Do it!! Being a blogger is not odd or taboo, particularly for those of us who work a 9-5 job. If you want to blog about parenting, fashion, traveling, costuming/cosplay, recipes, or share your journey in life, there’s a place in the blogosphere for you. The most important thing to consider is “why?”.
Pick a Name
Once you’re at peace with “why?” to start blogging, you need to name your corner of the universe. Short, easy to pronounce and spell, and simple but memorable names are king. I love chianti and sangiovese but those are hard to pronounce and spell, so I simplified my love for chainti to just Red Wine. The Red Shoes is a nod to my favorite color and my snarky grandmother who is my hero (fun fact: I launched on her birthday). Thus Red Shoes. Red Wine. was born. I checked for redshoesredwine dot com availability (via Bluehost), as well as @redshoesredwine handles for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and I jumped on them immediately. So do that, and do it now!
Set up Hosting
I purchased my dot com and site hosting from Bluehost, which I had read was user friendly and compatible with WordPress (very appealing to the not-so-technologically-inclined old lady such as myself). I prefer simple, and that’s all I needed. I paid a lump sum for two years of hosting, and regularly renew thereafter. It’s so easy to use I probably only log in once or twice a year, and that’s only to confirm renewal or to add a new email address for a guest blogger. I’ve had no issues and firmly stand by the service.
Use a Site Builder
WordPress is blogger fave, or so I’ve gathered from the bloggers I talk to at workshops and conventions. There is a difference between free and paid WordPress, so if you think you will EVER want to make a single dime blogging, start from day one with WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com. That way YOU control ads and all content, forever.
Design, Design, Design
Designing is the fun part. Design a logo (I made mine in PowerPoint using an outline of my late Pomeranian, Dana, so she will continue to be my shadow wherever I go), pick your colors and most used fonts, download WordPress themes, collect your favorite pictures, and just have fun!
Download Plug-ins
WordPress has easy to use plug-ins that can be added for building newsletter subscribers, posting your real-time Instagram feed on your site, “Like us on Facebook,” and so forth. Depending on your “why?” and your style, you can use plug-ins to do just about anything.
Write
Have a glass of wine, and/or tacos, and just start writing! Bring your blog to life with your voice and your content. Decide on a frequency, or keep it random! There’s no hard and fast rule, just do your thing!
Always Remember Your “Why?”
From time to time, you’ll need to remind yourself why you started your blog in the first place, and stay true to it. Maybe your situation will change as your life changes and stories grow, but always remember your “why?”. This will help prevent sell-out and burn-out. It’s that simple, so keep it that way.
Any questions?
