63 In Blogging/ Design

How to Start a Blog: Branding your Passion

How to Start a Blog: Branding your Passion

This post contains affiliate links. This means that Aloha Lovely may receive a small commission if you decide to purchase any of the linked products or services. Please know that we only recommend products and services that we personally use and trust. Mahalo.

My first attempt at blogging was back in 2008. I had just had my second daughter and was still on maternity leave. My haphazardly launched “mommy blog” lasted about 12 weeks. Once I was back at work full-time, doing the mom thing and preparing for our next military move, the blog fell to the wayside. In hindsight the timing wasn’t right, nor the subject matter.

Now 9 years later (yikes!) I am celebrating almost 18 months into my new venture, Aloha Lovely. I’m still trucking along more encouraged than ever to turn this side passion into something amazing. I’ve learned a few things over the past 18 months and wanted to share my experiences. I’ll be working on a series of blog/brand type resource posts ranging from social media strategy to how to take amazing blog photos. So lets go brand your passion!

Step 1: Identify Your Passion

Ok, so why do you want to start a blog? There are many different types of blogs out there ranging from lifestyle, fashion, food, travel…you name it. What is your passion? How do you think you could share that with other people and why do you want to share it? Some people just love to write and be a part of a community. Other people look at a blog more long term, as a way to make money doing something they love. You need to figure out what your focus is and build upon it.

How to Start a Blog: Branding your Passion

Step 2: Brand Your Passion

Once you have identified your passion and potential subject matter, you need to brand it. Coming up with a name for your blog as well as logo identity are all things you need to figure out before starting the more technical steps of setting up your blog. A lot of bloggers use their names as their brand identity and that is an easy go-to and totally fine. Other bloggers associated their brand name with the type of content they will be focusing on, which is another smart approach. Make sure that as you are brainstorming, that you are checking to see if your blog name options are available as domains.

I came up with Aloha Lovely as a variation of “Hello Beautiful”. Since I curate lifestyle content based on the island of Oahu, it gives the reader an idea of what to expect. Basically all things that I feel are lovely, whether fashion, design, food or island adventure.

How to Start a Blog: Branding your Passion

Once you figure out your name you can either design your logo yourself or source it out. I use Adobe Creative Suite in my 9-5 life as an Art Director, so I used Adobe Illustrator to create my logo. There are many free products out there as well and one I have heard about repeatedly is Canva. If you are looking for interesting fonts to use in your logo, check out DaFont. My general advise, just keep it simple.

al-logo-01-sm-01

Step 3: Figure out the Framework

So you have a name and a logo, now it’s time to set up the basic structure of your blog. I personally use Bluehost for my domain registration, blog management and WordPress integration. It’s a very easy one-stop-shop to use. Check it out for yourself here.

Bluehost Home Landing Page

It’s really affordable and I think offers a pretty intuitive pathway to setting everything up. If you click “get started now” you’ll come to the next page which offers you a few different packages. I recommend the basic package to start out with, at $3.95 a month it’s less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks. This also includes one domain. It’s great to have your domain and hosting all in the same place.

Once you select your package you are taken to a page where you can select a domain name or use one you already own. It will let you know if what you choose is available or not, although you should already know at this point ๐Ÿ˜‰

Domain Name

After this step you are prompted to enter some final information and voila! You’ve got your blog. Well, almost. The next couple of steps involve getting set up on WordPress.

Log in to your Bluehost account and scroll down to the “Website” section. Click on “Install WordPress”.

Screen Shot 2017-07-30 at 1.31.20 PM

On the next page, select the domain on which you want to install WordPress and fill in your site name and admin info. When you’re ready, click “Install Now”. Bluehost lays out some pretty simple steps as far as getting WordPress set up, it shouldn’t take you more than 10-15 minutes.

Step 4: Develop Content

Now this is really just the very beginning of getting your blog going. Before you go live I suggest you have at least a few posts published on your site. You want people to be able to click around a bit and have a great first impression of your brand. Remember, you’re branding your passion. So be passionate!

Figure out how you will organize your content, what your top menu will consist of, and write an “about” page. I suggest creating a visual experience for your audience as well. Be sure to mix in relevant photos or graphics with your copy.

You should also sign up for social media accounts for your brand. I suggest Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest as your core social platforms. You need ways to promote your content and each of these platforms has their own strengths. I actually started an Instagram account before I even launched my blog, almost like a prelaunch for the brand. Visual content is so valuable for a brand there is really no reason not to start early and build a following.

Here are my accounts if you wanna take a peek.

Instagram: @alohalovelyhawaii

Twitter: @julieestrella

Facebook Page: Aloha Lovely Hawaii

Pinterest: Aloha Lovely

Well thats it for now. I tried to keep this starter post very simple. There are a lot of pieces involved when building a brand and launching a blog and I intend to dig deeper in upcoming blog themed posts. I hope this post was helpful and if it only inspires just one person to brand their passion, I’ll be happy. Much Aloha!

Questions? Feel free to ask in the comment section below.

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How to Start a Blog: Branding Your Passion

 

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63 Comments

  • Reply
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  • Reply
    Kimberly
    August 22, 2017 at 4:13 AM

    Great tips for getting started. I’m a brand designer so I spend a lot of time doing this for myself and others. The most important part is to definitely be passionate about you do since you will spend so much time working on it! Great share!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 22, 2017 at 8:42 PM

      Thanks Kimberly! I think passion is really the key to longevity too!

  • Reply
    Fi Morrison
    August 21, 2017 at 7:49 PM

    Great tips, thanks for sharing! I am 11 months into my blogging journey and I wish I had these tips at the start to avoid lots of hassle to begin with. I love how you chose the name of your blog based on your location and your niche, it fits so perfectly!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 22, 2017 at 8:40 PM

      Thanks so much Fi!

  • Reply
    Nicole Banuelos
    August 18, 2017 at 6:48 AM

    Such great tips! And Canva is awesome, I use it for my pins! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 18, 2017 at 6:53 AM

      Thanks Nicole!

  • Reply
    andrea
    August 18, 2017 at 5:53 AM

    And you picked out BlueHost – that’s what I have too ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply
    Rosalie
    August 17, 2017 at 1:34 PM

    Such a great post – it’s so important to have passion and write what you love ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply
    Megan Acuna
    August 17, 2017 at 10:13 AM

    Nice guide! Branding something you’re passionate about is hard work but it’s so much fun!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 18, 2017 at 5:48 AM

      I agree, you gotta have some passion to want to put in the work.

  • Reply
    Tanvi Rastogi
    August 17, 2017 at 10:01 AM

    This is such good practical and useful information. People starting now have so many great resources like this to learn from.

    โฅ tanvii.com

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 18, 2017 at 5:48 AM

      Thanks Tanvi!

  • Reply
    Tara
    August 14, 2017 at 8:36 AM

    this is amazing, excellent job and so thorough! I wish I saw this when I started!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 14, 2017 at 7:49 PM

      Thanks so much Tara!

  • Reply
    Shannon
    August 12, 2017 at 12:51 PM

    Ah man, I wish I had seen this a couple years ago when I started my blog!

  • Reply
    Amy Blake
    August 12, 2017 at 1:39 AM

    Awesome post! Writing about what you love is key!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 12, 2017 at 6:31 AM

      Absolutely!

  • Reply
    celeste
    August 11, 2017 at 10:03 AM

    Thank you for sharing these tips with us. It really helps to hear what others are doing. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 11, 2017 at 5:48 PM

      Thanks Celeste, Aloha!

  • Reply
    Tia Cox
    August 11, 2017 at 6:58 AM

    Couldn’t agree more, love your photos!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 11, 2017 at 5:47 PM

      Thanks so much Tia!

  • Reply
    Stacey
    August 9, 2017 at 6:49 AM

    Such a thorough and great post! It can be an overwhelming and challenging experience! Thank you for laying all out for us.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 9, 2017 at 8:19 PM

      Thanks Stacey!

  • Reply
    Britt | Sweet Tea & Thyme
    August 8, 2017 at 4:49 PM

    This is so inspirational and such great content for beginner bloggers!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 8, 2017 at 9:56 PM

      Thanks so much Britt!

  • Reply
    candy
    August 8, 2017 at 10:56 AM

    All new bloggers should read your post and this would help them tremendously. Hard starting out and this would be very helpful.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 8, 2017 at 11:01 AM

      Thanks so much Candy! I hope it helps someone ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply
    Alison
    August 8, 2017 at 7:07 AM

    This is great information & super helpful for new bloggers! I think we all start off blogging having no idea the actual time commitment it will be!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 8, 2017 at 10:51 AM

      Totally. A continuous time commitment!

  • Reply
    Torche' Nash
    August 8, 2017 at 5:26 AM

    Thanks for the information! As a new blogger, it’s always helpful for me to gain more insight from other bloggers who have more experience.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 8, 2017 at 6:20 AM

      Its a never ending learning curve! Thanks for stopping by.

  • Reply
    Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder
    August 8, 2017 at 5:03 AM

    So glad to see how excited you are about blogging ๐Ÿ˜‰ Keep it up!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 8, 2017 at 6:20 AM

      Thanks Natalie! Aloha.

  • Reply
    Geneva B. On The Go
    August 7, 2017 at 6:04 PM

    Great advice. I have started several blogs over the years and only now I figured out that I need to focus on my passion, otherwise it’ll just be a waste of time.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 7, 2017 at 8:31 PM

      Totally agree Geneva!

  • Reply
    Brian Ell
    August 7, 2017 at 4:10 PM

    Nice tips Julie. I like how you approach it from the perspective of building our blog as a passion. That’s the best approach. It ensures we will be in it for the long haul. Monetary gains will not be the one and only priority.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 7, 2017 at 8:31 PM

      Yup! Money should follow the passion. I think people can see if you have passion or are just looking to make a quick buck ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Reply
    Yolanda
    August 7, 2017 at 11:14 AM

    I also started blogging twice before figuring out what I could figure out what I could write passionately about. I know now it is key to sticking with out. Great tips here for newbies.

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 7, 2017 at 8:28 PM

      Much Mahalo Yolanda!!

  • Reply
    Christina
    August 7, 2017 at 11:08 AM

    This was useful! And,totally jealous! I would kill to get stationed in Hawaii!!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 7, 2017 at 8:28 PM

      Thanks Christina! You need to get out here, it’s an amazing place. Aloha!

  • Reply
    the sophia diaries
    August 6, 2017 at 12:50 PM

    These are all amazing tips for sure! I never heard of bluehost until it was toot late but maybe in the future xD

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 6, 2017 at 4:26 PM

      Thanks Sophia! Never too late to switch things up. Aloha!

  • Reply
    Maya Maceka
    August 3, 2017 at 3:20 PM

    Honestly, these posts are always so helpful! I’m sure you will be helping out a LOT of newbies with this one… Pinned!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 3, 2017 at 7:46 PM

      Thanks Maya!!

  • Reply
    Caroline
    August 3, 2017 at 5:09 AM

    This is a great guide for beginners! As a blogging newbie there is so much to learn and I’m still trying to figure out my branding. I invested in a logo and am busy working on my content before launch. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 3, 2017 at 7:44 PM

      Thanks so much Caroline! There are so many resources out there, just tried to keep this really basic. Aloha!

  • Reply
    Christine
    August 2, 2017 at 10:42 PM

    I too started a blog that fell by the wayside but two years on and now I have found my passion and my voice. I’m almost 6 months in and I love it!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 3, 2017 at 7:40 PM

      That’s fantastic Christine! Keep it up!

  • Reply
    Bria @ Tendril Wild Blog
    August 2, 2017 at 9:59 AM

    I love how you gave a bit of your backstory and explained each step in developing a successful blog. You can’t just decide you want to start a blog and then launch it 10 minutes later – there’s actually a lot of behind-the-scenes action that happens. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Also, your logo immediately caught my eye – it’s gorgeous!

    Recharge Your Batteries to Relieve Stress

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 2, 2017 at 8:16 PM

      Thanks so much Bria! There is so much to do before you can even launch. This is just my version of scratching the surface I guess. Aloha!

  • Reply
    Jessica Lam
    August 2, 2017 at 8:32 AM

    This is a wonderful guide for new bloggers โ€“ short and sweet, and very well-written! PS I love your blog name!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 2, 2017 at 8:12 PM

      Thanks Jessica! There are so many resources out there, mine’s just adding to the mix. You never know what voice will help you learn.

  • Reply
    Andrea
    August 2, 2017 at 7:59 AM

    I wish I had this read before I started my blog!!!!!! This is a fantastic resource! Thank you for sharing it! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 2, 2017 at 8:12 PM

      Thanks so much, hope it helps in some way ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply
    Harmony, Momma To Go
    August 1, 2017 at 12:37 PM

    I need a new logo- I don’t think I can do it myself though!!! I had a blog back in 2010, it lasted a year! It’s hard work!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 1, 2017 at 8:21 PM

      Such hard work! I either have too many ideas or not enough, lol.

  • Reply
    Robin
    August 1, 2017 at 12:05 PM

    Hi love your blog! I had a blog, but so time consuming I had to give it up to do my real life. lol… but I enjoy reading them!

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 1, 2017 at 8:17 PM

      Thank you so much! Yes, so time consuming. I’m trying to get more strategic and better with time management. An ongoing battle!

  • Reply
    the adventurer
    August 1, 2017 at 11:24 AM

    You are so inspiring! I have been following you for over a year now (not sure the exact time) and I have loved everything you have shared with us and seeing you and your blog prosper and grow =o) Keep it up!

    https://dreamofadventures.com/

    • Reply
      julie@alohalovely.com
      August 1, 2017 at 8:16 PM

      Awww, you are just the sweetest! Thank you so much for the support and encouraging words!! Aloha girl!!

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