If you really want to blog about shoes, you know you have some sky high competition out there that puts even those stiletto Blahniks to shame. However, if you’re committed to blogging about what you love, you can still stand out but you’ll need to follow some rules. First, you’d better be an expert in your field. This means knowing designers, materials, where to score the best deals and the basic anatomy of feet (there’s a lot more to it than you think!).
You probably have a penchant for certain types of shoes already, and that’s your foundation. However, blogging has its own best practices you need to learn. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s how to get a show blog started on the “right foot”:
- You can’t ignore SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) are “rules” that impact the rankings of websites. As a shoe blogger, your keywords and phrases are in hot demand such as “shoe trends 2015” or “best wedges”. You need to follow SEO best practices, which are always changing, and blog to include keywords organically. Get started with Search Engine Land’s tips for SEO in 2015.
- Do it regularly
Ideally, you’re blogging at least once per day. However, if you can’t commit to updating your blog at least three times per week, don’t bother. People need to rely on you as a regular, dependable source for all things shoes and if you don’t deliver then they’ll go elsewhere. Figure out your best time to blog with help from The Huffington Post and schedule your posts accordingly.
- Encourage dialogue
It can take several months to get to this point, but encourage your readers to take part in the conversation. Monitor your comments carefully, get rid of spam or abusive comments, and foster a community. A community should be the ultimate goal, not a platform simply to spout your own ideas on shoe fashion.
- Welcome guest bloggers
A great way to network and get fresh blood into the mix is to welcome guest bloggers whenever possible. They’ll provide a different voice and perspective that will keep things lively. Plus, you might be able to swap guest blogging gigs so that you can gain exposure to new audiences, too.
Blogging is much tougher than people imagine and it takes a lot of commitment to get things going. However, if your passion for shoes is strong enough, you just might have what it takes to succeed.
