It really seems like everyone is trying to start a blog of their own these days. And while it might seem easy to just start a blog, only a very small percentage of people actually stick with it.

Blogging takes a lot more work than the average person thinks, so it’s easy to become discouraged and give up right away.  Here are just a few things to keep in mind before starting, especially if your goal is to become an authoritative source of information.

Set a Goal

The first thing to consider are your goals. Now, this might seem like a really simple step, but it’s actually the most important one. By defining what your goals, you can set yourself up for success and know what  success means for you.

Sit down and brainstorm a plan of attack. What do you ultimately wish to get out of it? Where do you see your blog in the long-run?

Consider things like your time commitment. Is it going to be a full-time or a part-time thing? Is this something that you want to eventually turn into a business and monetize? Give yourself a visual roadmap, but also know that your goals will probably change over time.

Needless to say, make sure that what you’re doing is in line with what you want to achieve.

Your Niche

What are you going to write about and what types of content do you want to create? This is a really big decision, considering it’s going to determine the overall direction of your blog.

When brainstorming your niche, pick something that is sustainable and promises an endless amount of information. You want to pick something that you can continuously create content on over time.

While focusing on trendy topics may prove successful in the meantime, you don’t necessarily want something that people aren’t going to read in six months.

Let’s also not forget about passion, as you’re going to be more motivated to stick with it.

However, make sure that you don’t limit yourself. You want to pick something that’s broad enough that you can write different things, but also something that’s not so broad that your blog lacks focus.

Site Functionality

What do you want your site to do and how much control do you want to have over customization? If you want to just build a basic blog with simple features, then a drag-and-drop site builder might be perfect for you.

But if you really want full customization, with features like order management, then it is best to build your site on a more specialized platform. A self-hosted CMS may provide enough features depending on what you’re looking for.

There are a ton of platforms and blog hosting options out there. But the key here is to do your research beforehand and explore all of the available options so you can make a well-informed decision. 

Added Value

Why should someone visit your blog as opposed to someone else’s? When you determine what’s special about what you bring to the table, this is when you can really market yourself as a blog and know what makes you unique.

For example, don’t just make a traditional recipe blog; host the occasional Q&A video and answer common questions about any given recipe. Do this on a monthly basis and readers will grow fond of this feature. Come up with something that can truly act as your blog’s signature.

Furthermore, rather than just marketing yourself as a food blogger, get a little bit more specific. Maybe you make super easy recipes that are great for busy moms on the go.

Hone in on your target audience and determine what’s special about what you bring to the table.