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Do you ever feel like it’s too late to start a blog today? I felt the same exact way four years ago as I looked at the sea of amazing bloggers and endlessly admired their work! What I’ve realized through the years as a full-time blogger though, is that once you find a formula that works for you, there are enough projects, money, and opportunities to go around for everyone. It’s not too late to start a blog and stand out!It can be hard to wrap your head around this concept as you experience slow growth, but I encourage you to focus on the strategies you’re employing rather than the end result. Personally, I know how easy it is to get lost on Instagram or Bloglovin’ when you’re perusing the thousands of accounts out there with beautiful content. Everyone seems so amazing at what they do. But, instead of focusing on what everyone else is doing, why not focus on yourself? After all, you are what makes your content special…
If you’re not sure where to start, I have good news! I’m sharing 5 simple ways to make your blog stand out starting today!
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1. Dig from your personal experiences.
Nowadays, it’s impossible to capture an audience with pointless ramblings. Whatever content you publish should have substance – and the best way to find that substance is to pull from your personal bank of experiences. Your experience is unique because no two people can perceive the same situation in an exact way. That’s why there can be 10 bloggers working on one campaign or why there are tens of thousands of fashion bloggers in this world. Every perspective out there is unique as long as it’s communicated well. And if you can offer a perspective that’s genuine, you’ll be able to rile up emotions and connect with your readers on another level. This will definitely take you well on your way to standing out! The next time you don’t know what to write about or what to post, dig deep into what you see, what you feel, and what you did (or currently doing). At the end of the day, your posts and content are about you so, it only helps that you’re sharing something authentic with your audience!
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2. Talk to your audience as you would your best friend.
Another thing I see many people lacking is a real personality – and not because they don’t have one but because they’re afraid to show a real side of themselves. If you’re candid, cool, and authentic, your audience will connect with you on a deeper level. Also, don’t just focus on yourself… When you’re talking to your best friend, you want to know what they’re doing and how you can help them. You wouldn’t spend an entire lunch talking about yourself; so, treat your audience the same way. Find out what your readers need and how you can enrich their lives, and then deliver that. This is the first year I decided to start adding business and blogging tips to NJF. The response has been phenomenal, so I’m aiming to make this happen once a week. That’s a prime example of putting your audience first!
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3. Get visual.
To me, blogging is equal parts writing and visual. When it comes to the visual aspect, don’t just sit back and wait for something to become a trend before you jump on board!
If you have an idea, execute it and see how others react to it. Getting visual isn’t just taking a photo with a DSLR camera and then editing it to death. This is your chance to incorporate typography, graphic design principles, GIFs, and collage to make your posts stand out. Sure, it takes a little more time, but that could be the one thing you need to build momentum!
I tried that with my latest Coachella post (here) and Paris Travel Guide (here), and you guys really enjoyed it. Sometimes, you have to think outside the box and not just focus on what’s already been done.
4. Constantly test the market.
The thing with blogging is that everything is experimental, right? There’s no one formula for everyone to follow, which means it’s your job to test YOUR market. If you’re serious about blogging as a full-time career, you should be creating content regularly. Somewhere along that string of content, you should be testing new topics, new visuals, a different voice, or a new format (e.g. video, e-magazine, or podcast). You never know what will or won’t work. Testing new content and mediums with your audience are the best way to find out if your blog stands out!
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5. Keep your branding consistent!
You hear this all the time and I had to add it to this list because I don’t think “influencers” realize how important brand consistency is – not just to an audience but also to brands! Getting a handle on your visual consistency will remind those who come across your content that it is yours! And it’s one of the easiest ways to make your blog stand out because your audience can instinctually tie a certain style or aesthetic back to you! As you publish content on Instagram and/or your blog, think about the fonts, patterns, and colors you want to use that will stand the test of time – and those that you would be proud being associated with.
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What are some of your favorite ways to make your blog stand out?
