Author: Evan Hoeflich

Have you found yourself asking, “What should my first blog post be about?” If so, you’re not alone. Blogs are all over the internet, and they talk about all sorts of things, which means anyone can do it. But, getting started? Well, that’s a whole different story. You might have a thousand ideas floating around in your head that are just waiting to be put down on virtual paper. Then again, you might be a leader in your industry who wants to share your knowledge, but you don’t exactly know how to do that in blog form.

When it comes to your first blog post, the possibilities are endless, which can also make this decision a bit overwhelming. Fear not! We’ve compiled some tips to help you figure out how to write your first blog post. Before you know it, you’ll be up and running all over the internet!

What Should Your First Blog Post be About?

Let’s start by looking in the mirror. Who exactly are you? What should the world know about you? 

Since you’re just getting started, take some time to talk about who you are and why you think people should learn more about your thoughts. People connect to bloggers when they feel like they know them on a deeper level, so talk about your life experiences, and dive into the factors that drove you to wanting to start your first blog post in the first place. You don’t just want to be a nameless figure on the other side of the screen, so share photos and videos about yourself, too. These elements can help boost engagement and help people understand who you are. 

Are you still asking yourself, “What should my first blog post be about?” That’s okay. We have more tips!

Go through the five Ws: 

• Who are you? Really talk about who you are as a person and what kind of awesome information you’re going to bring to your community.
• What are you going to talk about? After all, that’s the whole reason you’re asking, “What should my first blog post be about?”, isn’t it?
• When should people expect to hear from you again, and why was now the right time to start doing this in the first place? Describe your narrative and tell your story in a way that starts from the very beginning and leads readers to the place you’re currently at.
• Where did you gain your expertise in whatever topic you want to talk about? Have you worked in your field for 20 years or do you have life experience that your readers will be able to relate to?
• Why are you blogging? This is important. If you convey that you have a point and a message to send into the universe, people will listen. If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s no reason for you to gain trust or followers. 

And then, of course, there is the how. How do you plan to reach your audience and engage with them? Can you set them up with tips and ticks that will keep them coming back for more? Most of the time, when people ask, “What should my first blog post be about?”, they’re not really taking their audiences into consideration; instead, people often focus on their own desires to get words down on the screen. When you engage with the “how” question, however, you’re more likely to connect with viewers who will come back time and time again.

Writing Your Intro Blog Post

Now that we’ve answered the question, “What should your first blog post be about?”, it’s time to dive into the logistics. 

When you sit down to write your introduction, make sure your readers know you’re an open, honest person who can’t wait to share the tales you have to tell. It’s important to come across as authentic, rather than presenting yourself as a salesman who’s just trying to peddle products to people. 

Your intro blog post should answer one main question: what you can do to improve your readers’ lives?

When you answer that question thoughtfully, you should be able to produce a blog post that’s valuable and relevant to your audience. As time goes by, you can build upon that trust you’ve initially gained by offering tips, tricks, and secrets of your trade.

How Long Should Your First Blog Post Be?

Here’s the thing: there is no hard-and-fast rule that defines how long your blog post should be. The truth is, it’s more important to say things that are valuable and relevant to your readers than it is to just fill up the page with a bunch of words nobody wants to read. With that said, you probably shouldn’t post a bunch of 200-word blog posts because there’s only so much you can say in a post that’s that short. On the other hand, you really don’t need 4,500-word diatribes every day, either. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. 

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), it’s important to make your post long enough that the search engines will notice it (and understand what you’re talking about), but short enough to keep the attention of your readers. Generally speaking, you can shoot for a post of 1,000 to 2,000 words when you’re getting started. Later, you can sprinkle in shorter or longer posts, but this range is a great gauge for bloggers who are just starting out.

What Else Should You know?

It’s vital to break up the text so your readers aren’t staring at a huge wall of words on their screens. The less reader-friendly your content is, the more likely it is to fail. Since this is your first-impression project, be sure to make your post clear and concise, breaking up the paragraphs with bullets and headers every few sentences. Most readers on the internet scan content, but they don’t read it fully. By breaking your content up into easily digestible bits, you’re giving your audience the opportunity to understand your points on their terms. They can quickly scan your blog and see which points are most relevant to what they need to know.

Have you figured out what your first blog should be about? I’d love to hear your topic and join in on your journey! Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Need additional help with your new blog? Schedule a free 30-minute coaching call with me here!

Blogging is an ever-popular activity, providing you with the opportunity to share your opinions, provide insights and advice, build a community and become an authority in your area of expertise. 

Bloggers spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard and screen, often relying on laptops to create, post and respond to blog content. With hours of activity, you need the best laptop for blogging and should consider carefully the tools you’re going to use to communicate.

Here is a closer look at the 7 best laptops for bloggers in 2021.

Before we look at different models, it’s best to consider the features and functionality you need from a blogging laptop. 

Here is a helpful buying guide for the best laptop for blogging in 2021:

• Price. You can find laptops that run the range of pricing, from a few hundreds of dollars to several thousand. You’ll need to consider all the things that you use your laptop for before making a decision. Like with many things, you get what you pay for when it comes to a laptop. Consider a blogging laptop to be a business investment and be sure to invest in a model that will be reliable, functional and usable.
• Size. If you’re carrying a laptop from the home to office to coffee shop, you want one that isn’t going to weigh you down. Portability means considering not just the bulk of the laptop but also its weight. Lugging around a laptop, accessories and computer bag can get cumbersome. Look at the dimensions and weight before making a decision, knowing that a laptop screen that’s 14-15 inches is plenty for many bloggers. 
• Battery Life. While many laptop reviews jump to processing speed and operating system, battery life is equally, if not moreso, important. You need a battery that’s going to last, especially if you end up having to work somewhere where you can’t plug in. If you travel a lot, blog outside the home or like to blog whenever the moment strikes, a long battery life will serve you well.
• Processor. Processing speed equals performance. You want to be sure that your laptop is up to snuff when it comes to processing speed. Look for laptops with the latest processing chips, such as the Intel Core i5 chipset and 8GB RAM.
• Onboard Storage. If your blogging is mostly text and not heavy on video or high-resolution photo content, storage is not a huge issue. In fact, many bloggers can make do with just 500GB. That said, if your blog is full of high-volume content with large file sizes, investing in more storage is the prudent choice. Look for laptops with 1TB of storage in order to be safe and meet all your blogging needs.
• Bells and Whistles. While the long list of features listed for every laptop model can seem like filler, there are a few things to look for when choosing the best blogging laptop for you:
  • Backlit Keyboard. A backlit keyboard lets you more easily type in the dark.
  • Carrying Case. Most laptops today come with a carrying case or computer bag. If you don’t want to pay extra money or a separate case, be sure to test out the carrying case that comes with the laptop.
  • Keyboard. Do you like the way the keys feel beneath your fingers? You want to be sure that your keyboard works with your typing style and is comfortable.
  • Connectivity Options. Does your laptop have enough USB ports for a wireless mouse, headphones and a smartphone charger? Can it connect to external viewscreens the way you need it to? Be sure that there are enough connections for the way you compute.

Best Laptops for Blogging In 2021

Here is a look at the 7 best laptops for blogging in 2021, along with their top features and functionality.

1. HP ProBook 450 G7

• Weight: 4.41 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 15.6 inches and 1366×768 display
• Processor: 10th generation Intel Core i5-10210U 1.6GHz
• Storage Space: 512GB
• Battery: 3-Cell 4WHr

This HP ProBook is a functional and easy to operate option. A major benefit is that it has the latest and greatest Intel chipsets, an anti-glare LED panel and a big screen resolution. There’s extended mousepad space below the keyboard and options that can increase the storage space to 1TB if desired.

2. Dell Inspiron 5000

• Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 15.6 inches and 1366×768 display
• Processor: Intel Core i3-6100 1.6GHz
• Storage Space: 500GB

This highly affordable device with plenty of power and a lot of storage space for the price. This is an ideal basic blogging laptop for those who are mostly writing and editing. However, it does not have the firepower to support gaming or using high-powered editing suites. It’s a good choice for bloggers on a budget.

3. MacBook Pro

• Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 13.3 inches and 2560×1600 display
• Processor: 10th Generation quad-core Intel Core i5 with turbo boost up to 3.8GHz
• Storage Space: 512GB

If your budget allows, there’s no getting past the power and performance of the MacBook Pro. There’s tremendous screen resolution, plenty of storage space, 10 hours of battery life and the Apple touches that have long popularized the line, including the touch bar and touch ID functions, graphics rendering unlike any other and reliable performance. This is what I personally use since I do a lot of video editing and run many different SEO softwares for my business. It’s an extremely powerful blogging laptop that I can rely on to get the job done.  

4. ASUS Chromebook

• Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 14 inches and 1366×768 display
• Processor: Intel Dual-Core Celeron N3350 2.4GHz
• Storage Space: 32GB

One of several models with a hinge on this list, the ASUS Chromebook has a 180-degree pivot, making it easier to work and review content. Like all Chromebooks, this machine uses Google’s ChromeOS. It’s an inexpensive model for blogging with all the basic functionality you’ll need. It comes with 100GB of Google Drive storage, which is usually enough for most bloggers.

5. HP Flagship

• Weight: 4.52 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 15.6 inches and 1366×768 display
• Processor: 7th Gen Intel Core i3-7100U 2.40 GHz
• Storage Space: 1TB

Released in 2018, the HP Flagship features touchscreen technology, which, while not every blogger’s cup of tea is a powerful feature for those that like the tactile option. It also features a large screen and a terabyte of storage. For those who want a touchscreen, this model lets you easily control apps and files with the touch of a finger.

6. MacBook Air

• Weight: 2.96 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 13.3 inches and 1440×990
• Processor:  Intel Core i5 1.8GHz
• Storage Space: 128GB

There are many higher-end MacBook models available with lots of additional features, but the MacBook Air is built with trademark Apple efficiency in mind. The most notable difference-maker here is the weight, with the machine itself less than 3 pounds. This model, released in 2019, features all-day battery life but is not as strong as other models.

7. Acer Aspire R15

• Weight: 4.74 pounds
• Screen Size and Resolution: 15.6 inches and 1920×1080
• Processor: 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7500U
• Storage Space: 256GB

The Acer Aspire R15 is a little different. It functions as a laptop and as a tablet, much like the groundbreaking Microsoft Surface. It’s a versatile blogging laptop due to the 360-degree hinge that lets it act as a laptop, tablet or display device. It features 9 hours of battery life and can be used by writers and those needing to edit photos and video.

Are you looking to start blogging or take your blogging to the next level? 

My blog coaching services helps you identify trends, improve your SEO and write content that drives viewership.

Sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation to learn more!

The web has become a very resourceful place for sharing information with the public that anyone can readily and easily access. Content gets uploaded daily from various channels and platforms. However, not everyone prefers to expose themselves personally when creating and publishing content which is totally understandable. As a result, people are increasingly inquiring about how to start an anonymous blog.

Starting an anonymous blog requires you to adhere to some important steps in order to be successful with it. To learn more about how to blog anonymously, continue reading.

Steps on How to Start & Create an Anonymous blog

If you are wondering how to start an anonymous blog, it is relatively easy, but you need to follow some critical steps as outlined below:

Purchase a Domain

The first step should be purchasing a domain domain (I recommend HostGator for their competitive pricing and quality support) but ensure that it doesn’t have your real name. However, it should be something appealing and one that you can easily connect with. You can use a domain name generator which would be of great assistance in giving you some ideas to align your name with your blog.

Design an Anonymous Email That Fits With Your Domain Name

Make sure you create a new email for your blog that matches your domain name. Note that while indicating your log-in details, you can easily expose your privacy. Therefore, refrain from using your email in the privacy policy section, contact form, or other areas to ensure that you remain anonymous.

Ensure that you set up a Secure Domain name and Web Hosting

Keep in mind that anyone can look into a blog and know who owns a specific domain name within a few clicks. Therefore, you need to keep your details private to maintain anonymous blogging. Hence, it’s worth investing in a proven system that adds an extra privacy level to your site.

Hostgator is a reliable web host to sign up for and create your domain. Upon purchasing your web hosting account and domain name, you have the option of adding additional privacy so your information remains hidden.

You can rest easy knowing that your blog is anonymous; thus, your information remains private. Note that you will probably still receive occasional spam emails and calls but in very minimal volumes compared to when you don’t have domain name privacy.

Create your Social Media Accounts

The next stage is to create your social media accounts for your blog. Remember to use an email address that does not contain your name. Also, avoid linking any account to your original identity/personal profiles.

Join Forums

Joining various forums is a great way to know what your audience would be interested in, what they would want to have, among many. Therefore, you will see the type of content that favors most of your target population. Some platforms that would be of great help include Reddit and Quora, or any other within your niche. You can also post anonymously on forums, so it’s a great way to make connections, gain additional insight and direct people to your blog.

Tips on How to Start an Anonymous Blog and Thrive

Here are some tips to keep in mind while starting your anonymous blogging journey;

Keep your Content Anonymous

You may have tried your best to keep everything incognito, but you can easily slip up if you share some personal details. Before sharing any information, it would help if you give it a second thought. Some of the elements to watch out for include; your profession, the car you own, the dog breed you have, and where you went to school. No matter how casual the details may seem, any of them may compromise your secrecy.

Note that readers are interested in the experiences and messages you share. You, therefore, need to put more emphasis on the emotions and give in-depth information on all details. Besides, you don’t have to go into specificity to ensure that your story is interesting.

Also, avoid sharing some day to day activities such as a voting exercise you participated in or a conference you attended. In case someone decides to dig into your data, they might end up discovering your identity. Therefore, be careful not to expose your location, the activities you commonly indulge in, and more.

Keep your Backend Anonymous

A majority of the anonymous bloggers who have been found on the internet is due to technical errors. Some of the elements to look out for include;

• Using your email – Avoid using your personal email since it can be traced back. Therefore, ensure that you create an email that’s the name of your blog and not your personal name.
• Registration of your URL – Remember to select private when registering your blog’s URL, to make it harder for anyone to dig into your details.
• Linkable Accounts – There are several sign-in services available online that enhance your blog. However, it would help to avoid using similar details to log-in to your blog and personal accounts.

Be Cautious on Social Media

Social media has taken over almost every aspect of our lives, but you may expose your anonymous blogging if you are not cautious with what you post. Here are some things you need to avoid;

• Liking your content or following yourself – In your blog’s initial stages, you may be tempted to like your accounts on various social media accounts. However, this is a wrong move since you risk being outed by family and friends. For instance, Twitter shows whom you follow and what you’ve liked among your followers’ recommendations and timelines.
• Connecting your email to your blog accounts – Whenever you sign up for your blog Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, use only your anonymous email address. Note that the backend of various social media platforms can lead to exposure; thus, you need to be cautious.Facebook is one of the sites that is a bit tricky to use since you need a page that gets aligned to your profile. Therefore, you need to be creative in designing a convincing name and other updates on your timeline. For instance, regardless of how cute a photo may be, avoid uploading it on your anonymous blog and personal account. Also, be cautious not to like something that would show up on peoples’ feed.

Keep Numbers Anonymous

You may overlook the aspect of sharing numbers on your blog, but it would be best to avoid sharing any real numbers. Indicating a single variable could be the lead opener towards discovering a whole bunch that eventually expose your identity.

Keep your Photos Anonymous

Photos are a significant factor that can give away your privacy; thus, you need to adhere to the following privacy measures;

• Avoid recognizable objects or locations

You may post a photo assuming that the background is a rare location, but it may be well known to another person.

• Avoid photos that you have posted elsewhere

Using the same pictures on your blog and personal social media sites like Facebook is a dead giveaway for your privacy. If someone conducts a reverse image search on such images, it will quickly expose your anonymity. Therefore, make sure you use completely new pics that you have never used in any online platform.

• Avoid recognizable people

Avoid scenarios where you show any pictures with a person who is tied to you. Remember, facial recognition is a rapidly growing technology; thus, a face without a name can be unearthed within a short time.

• Remove location tags

When you take pics with a GPS enabled camera or a smartphone, your location tags get stored in the picture’s metadata. In case a technical guru takes a keen look into the titles, especially when you are near buildings, they can quickly tell your location. You, therefore, need to ensure that your location details are off to prevent such occurrences.

Encrypt your Digital Presence

You may be using a different identity, but your location can still get exposed through the IP address. If you use a work or home computer, the information can easily leak into third parties.

You can utilize VPN to mask your real internet location, which also encrypts your internet traffic. It makes hackers’ efforts difficult if they try to figure out your region. Besides, it’s legal to use this technique but ensure you choose an option that doesn’t affect your system’s performance or throttle your connection.

Stay Offline as long as Possible

You may be used to writing directly on CMS or WordPress, but this method may eventually expose you. Note that the more time you spend online, the higher your chance of leaving digital footprints. Therefore, do all the writing, proofreading, and editing of all your posts while you are offline. You can use some text editors such as Pages, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word.

Once you have the final draft, remember to delete the files from your device to erase any evidence when someone uses your desktop.

How to Generate Traffic While Still Blogging Anonymously

When you start an anonymous blog, it isn’t easy to get traffic since people do not know you. Moreover, you are not sure when your blog will get the amount of attention you expect. However, it’s still possible to achieve this goal provided you remain patient since your primary motive is maintaining a secret identity.

Some techniques that you can utilize to get traffic to your anonymous blog include;

Participate in Different Forums

Remember that you already joined forums; thus, go ahead and be an active member. Participate by answering questions and remain honest. This can be a great strategy to drive free targeted traffic to your blog.

Create a Pinterest Account and Promote your Posts

In most cases, putting your focus on one account is a good strategy. However, a Pinterest account is a good addition in case you want to start an anonymous blog on topics such as;

• Fashion
• Style
• Photography
• Travel
• Design
• Beauty
• DIY and crafts
• Health and wellness
• Quotes and inspiration
• Food and drinks

Using Pinterest when creating the above content types increases your conversion rates and other terms of sales. Additionally, it increases your viewers and grows your list of blog followers.

Promote your blog via Instagram and Facebook

Using either Facebook or Instagram to promote your blog is an excellent and cost-effective method. It helps you grow your account while also promoting a specific article. With time, you can have a community within the social media platforms that can get instant notifications whenever you publish a new post.

Note that you need to keep your audience engaged continuously in every channel that you create. It leads to a continuous increase in your target audience.

Post on Medium

Medium is another great platform that you can post your blogs. You need to import your content, make the necessary editing, and click on publish. The tool shows the number of people who viewed your articles and how many went through the whole text.

When your article is among the top stories, it gets featured in a daily email digest, app, and website. Additionally, you can potentially get discovered by large publishers who need authors.

One significant advantage of posting in Medium is the assurance of getting legit engagements and followers. Also, you don’t need to come up with new content each time; thus, you can syndicate your existing work and still attract more people. Additionally, most of the hot topics do well on this platform on areas such as;

• Technology
• Entrepreneurship
• Technology
• Life learning
• Politics
• Culture

SEO & Create Long Form Blog Posts

Another critical step to generating traffic as an anonymous blogger is making sure you focus on SEO and also crafting high-quality and long-form blog content. Google loves comprehensive and helpful content more than ever and this could be an excellent way to rank for specific keywords. This in return will help drive targeted traffic to your anonymous blog and build your following.

Conclusion

The above guide on how to start an anonymous blog, aims at giving a clear picture of how to start a website without putting your personal information out there. You may have many reasons why you want to start your secret blogging journey, and hopefully, this piece of content will help you achieve your goals.

Remember to be consistent with your posts on various social media platforms, engage your audience in different forums and focus heavily on SEO. As a result, you will generate quality content that will boost your traffic.

If you’re interested in one-on-one blog coaching, get in touch with me here to see if you’d be a good fit for my program!