What will I blog about? What free tools could I use?

I assume that in reading this post, you have decided to take the leap into exploring the great big world of blogging so let's get started!
I'd like to spend a little bit of time on this post discussing your thought processes when choosing something to write about. As I initially explained, picking a topic took me more time than I would like to admit but finally the light bulb sparked so let me make it a little easier for you.

Firstly you need to make sure you are very interested in the topic you pick? Why?
Well, firstly you will be publishing content on this topic for years to come, that is if you plan to gain a sizable following, and you want to be sure that you will still have interest in the topic years down the line.

Do you have an audience for this topic?
Using a search engine like Google to figure out whether there are people who are interested in your topic. You can also review social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to give you a pulse on people interest and participation.

Do you have any competition out there who are blogging about that same thing?
If the topic you've chosen is popular your chances of gaining a huge following are slim to none. You can search blogs by choosing the blog tab/feature on Google. If you look at the top left section of the Google homepage screen, click the more button which will show a drop down menu of additional features available by Google. Once you've clicked the word Blog, you can search for the topic you are interested in and take a look at other bloggers who are talking about about the same subject. If you find the topic you've chosen has too many "experts", use the engine to decipher whether there are topics which aren't covered much by bloggers, which you have an interest in.  If you are able to find a niche and a need that you can fill, then you on your way!

Will you have enough content?
You must make sure you are able to write on this topic for years to come and keep it "fresh" all day everyday. This is why it's so important to have a genuine interest in the topic at hand. Another tip to stay on top of current events, is to use search engines like Google News, Technorati , Blog Pulse and Yahoo News for the latest in news.


From my research I've found that there seems to be about three platforms which are most popular. The platform I'm using Blogger , WordPress and Tumblr.

• Blogger's strength lies in its ability to monetize by allowing ads to be advertised on your site, thereby earning you revenue. The catch however is that one must apply for an account with Google Ad sense as not everyone is eligible to participate.

• WordPress strength lies in its vast selection of themes and while Blogger is great for personal posts, WordPress is great for building blogs on specific topics.

• Tumblr is essentially a micro-blogging service which is great for quick upload of videos, photos and text and good for just a paragraph or two only. If you have the ability to engage with other Tumblr uses, you can follow each other and have your posts re-blogged throughout the community.

See Mahala's YouTube video discussion on the best platforms to use for blogging;




-Lespez-