How to Start a Teacher Blog

*This is an affiliate post and I will receive a commission through items purchased through the links.*

Have you been thinking about starting a blog?  Well, let me be the first to tell you, do it!  Start writing your blog.  I started because of a push from a college friend that had written two fictional books.  He encouraged me to start a blog instead of writing a novel. I received another message from a professor that was presenting professional development, and she also encouraged me to start a blog.  Within a month, I purchased my blog and began writing posts.  My blog has changed my life. It has given me a platform to document the strategies I have taught my students and has made me accountable for writing weekly posts.  Maybe you have been thinking about earning extra money with blogging, promoting your products, or starting your book. Read and research how to start a teacher blog. Blogging is a wonderful way to be introduced to the world.

Step 1-Brainstorm on Your Strengths

                To be successful in blogging, you have to have passion and content.  Brainstorm your strengths.  You may be a teacher, but your passion is parenting, your marriage, or your side job.  I wear plenty of hats. I am a mom, daughter, sister, cosmetologist, friend, and the list goes on.  However, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to write about teaching strategies.  I love teaching and reaching new heights in my career. I began reading books to be a better teacher.  I wanted to be a curriculum coach and principal, but I wanted to improve my public speaking and confidence.  I immediately went to teaching strategies.  I felt confident and knowledgeable in that field.

                What are your strengths? Are you really good at building relationships? Maybe you have the best classroom management in the whole school. Are you artistically inclined?  Are you a great baker? Maybe you are really good at editing papers?  Do you really shine at home being a great mom or wife?  Write down all your strong points and circle your passion.

                Think about your content. Do you have enough content to write about each week?  One suggestion I will give is to bookmark your top ten bloggers.  I used their blog as a guide in what I wanted for my own blog.  I wrote down the maker of their theme and researched it.  I followed two bloggers that had a YouTube channel, and they taught me what I wanted for my blog.  Research, research, research.  Make a list of the content you want to write about. Write down twenty topics you want to write about.  Believe me, you will use the list and will write on the topics within months.

Step 2-Have a Niche  

                When I began my blog, I watched countless videos about niches.  Your niche should be something specific but not too narrow. For example, my blog is not just about teaching because the topic is too broad.  I focused on teaching strategies within ELA classes. Research other blogs and write down three topics that are popular.  Think of your focus and measure if it is specific enough or too narrow. 

                How are you going to promote your blog? How are you going to get people to visit your site?  Think of your blog as a calling card to your business. Your blog demonstrates that you are an expert in your field; it supports your cause.  What makes you an expert? Is it your years of experience?  Have you taught the lesson within your blog?  Create a marketing pitch for your blog. Use Pinterest to get your posts out to the masses. Also, tell other teachers, friends, church members about your blog. I did professional developments within the district, and I joined a teacher organization to promote my blog. Every subscriber counts. Remember that!

Step 3-Join a Community of Other Bloggers

                Join a community of bloggers on Facebook or on the web.  I emailed a few bloggers and asked for help.  I didn’t get a lot of responses.  However, when I purchased courses and joined private Facebook groups, I received more support.  From my experience, you have to purchase courses to build relationships.  It worked out for me because I was able to learn more about blogging and reach out to other successful bloggers. 

                Within my first month, I reached out to my theme creator, Pretty Darn Cute.  I joined their private Facebook group and received free help from other bloggers and the assistant to the creator.  In the beginning, I needed help getting started, and the group was very helpful in correcting issues.  I also used Fiverr to get started with my blog. Fiverr is a marketplace for IT, website designers, and marketers.  The price is fairly cheap; some services begin at $5.00.  I have used Fiverr to hire independent contractors to work on my home page, images, and edit posts.  It is truly a great resource.

Step 4-Take the Leap

                Don’t wait or hold off to create your blog. Do it now.  I worked on my blog for one and a half months before I published it.  I followed the directions to start my blog and began working on it. I purchased Bluehost, a domain name, and a theme.  There are free themes, but I did not know at the time, and I purchased my theme. I love my theme, which is my blog’s layout. I remember my blog was empty and stark white.

                I began writing blog posts to make my blog look fuller. For the first three months of blogging, I wrote two posts a week.  I wrote blog posts, created pins on Pinterest, and wrote emails for my subscribers.  My focus was to have enough posts to look like an expert and keep readers on my page.  It took a lot of work, but I wanted to invest in myself and my blog.  I wanted to grow my blog business. 

                You can grow your blog business, and the most important part is to get started.  I started my blog in September 2018, and I have over 70 blog posts about teaching.  You can do it too! You can have a successful blog that can promote your business and have you as an expert within your field.  Focus on your strengths, narrow your niche, join a community of bloggers, and take the leap.  With proper planning and support, you can learn how to start a teaching blog.