Blogging for the Rest of Us: A Un-Fancy Guide to Hitting “Publish”
1. Why Listen to Me, a Totally Normal Human?
Because I’m not selling a $997 “Blog Like a Boss” course.
I’m just a person who:
- Started a blog in sweatpants.
- Quit for months.
- Came back and finally figured out a workflow that doesn’t destroy weekends.
If you want billion-view hacks, go elsewhere.
If you want a realistic roadmap from idea → post → tiny-but-real audience, pull up a chair.
2. The (Un)Glorious Case for Blogging in 2025
- Search Is Still Text-First. Yes, TikTok is huge. Still, 93 % of online journeys begin with a search box. Search engines devour well-structured text.
- Authority Beats Virality. One good, evergreen post can bring traffic for years. A viral short? Fun for 36 hours.
- You Own It. Algorithms can ghost you overnight. A blog on your domain is a digital home you control.
- Low Barrier, High Ceiling. Start free on Blogger/WordPress. End up publishing e-books, courses, or newsletters—if you want.
3. Find Your “Almost-Confident” Voice
Forget “niche” paralysis. Begin with the intersection of:
- Something you know (even a little)
- Something people Google (use AnswerThePublic, Google Autosuggest, or simply friends’ questions)
- Something you won’t get sick of after Post #7
Exercise (5 minutes):
1️⃣ List three topics you rant about in group chats.
2️⃣ Pick one.
3️⃣ Pretend you’re explaining it to a friend who’s smart but busy.
That’s your starter voice—messy, honest, and perfectly fine.
4. Know Exactly Who You’re Typing To
Create one “proto-reader.” Example:
Name: Alex
Scenario: Mid-twenties, stuck between productivity hype and burnout. Googles “how to be consistent without morning routines.”
Goal: Small, sustainable habits that move life forward.
When you write, imagine hitting Send to Alex—instead of “the internet.”
5. Choose a Platform (Without a Spreadsheet)
| If You Want… | Use → | Why It Doesn’t Suck |
|---|---|---|
| Zero tech drama | Blogger or Substack | Free, hosted, quick to theme |
| Ultimate control | Self-hosted WordPress | Full plugins, e-commerce later |
| All-in-one SaaS | Ghost Pro | Built-in newsletter & memberships |
| Minimalist bragging rights | Notion + Super | Write in Notion, ship a site in 10 min |
Pick one in ≤ 24 hours. Perfection is procrastination in disguise.
6. Draft Messy, Publish Tidy
6.1 The 3-Pass Writing Method
- Brain Dump (Ugly Draft). No formatting, no backspace. 30–45 min.
- Structural Pass. Headings, bullets, remove tangents. 15 min.
- Polish Pass. Read aloud; fix clunky bits; add one image/graph. 20 min.
Total Time: ~90 minutes for a 1 000-word post. Scale up, but keep passes separate to stay sane.
6.2 Headline Litmus Test
“Would I share this in a DM?”
If no, punch it up with:- A concrete promise → “Save 5 Hours/Week With…”
- A curiosity gap → “You’re Tracking Habits Backwards—Here’s Why”
- A gentle contrarian angle → “Forget Goals; Try Themes”
7. Basic SEO (The 20 % That Yields 80 %)
- One clear keyphrase in title, URL, first 100 words, one H2.
- Semantic siblings (synonyms) sprinkled naturally.
- Images compressed & alt-tagged.
- Internal link to at least one older post.
- External link to one credible source.
Then stop. Publish.
8. Visuals & Readability
- Paragraphs: 2-3 sentences max.
- Headings every ~300 words.
- Bold key sentences so scanners “get it” in 30 seconds.
- One original photo (phone camera is fine) or a quick Canva graphic. Authentic beats glossy stock.
9. Hit Publish, Then Ship It Again
“Done” feels scary. Do it anyway. After publishing:
- Share to one channel you already use (Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit). No copy-pasta; add context.
- Email it to any friends who asked about the topic. Personal note, not mass forward.
- Schedule a follow-up tweet/post pulling a quote + link two days later.
- Archive feedback (comments, DMs) in a doc—future post ideas live there.
10. Track Metrics That Actually Matter
| Metric | Why It Matters | Green Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Time on page | Shows if people read | ≥ 2 min |
| Email sign-ups/post | Trust indicator | 0.5 – 2 % |
| Backlinks gained | Authority compounding | Any upward trend |
| Comments/DMS | Qualitative proof | More than crickets |
Ignore daily traffic swings—check analytics weekly, not hourly.
11. Common Roadblocks (and Friendly Slaps)
| Roadblock | Reality Check |
|---|---|
| “I’m not an expert.” | Perfect—write while learning. Readers love progress logs. |
| “Everything’s been said.” | Nobody’s heard your take in your voice with your examples. |
| “What if I run out of ideas?” | Questions in your inbox = infinite content queue. |
| “No time.” | Draft during commute, edits Sunday morning—45 min blocks add up faster than you think. |
12. Upgrades When You’re Ready (Not Before)
- Custom domain ( $10/year) once you’ve published 5 posts.
- Email marketing tool (ConvertKit, Beehiiv) when subs > 100.
- Lightweight monetization (affiliate links, small digital product) after consistent traffic & trust.
- Fancy theme / logo only after those steps. Substance first, polish later.
13. A 30-Day Mini Challenge
| Week | Focus | Micro Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voice & reader | Publish a 500-word “why this blog exists” intro |
| 2 | Workflow | Draft & ship Post #1 in 90 min sprint |
| 3 | Promotion | Share post in two relevant communities; collect 5 comments |
| 4 | Reflection | Review metrics, outline Post #2, celebrate with cake |
Print this table; tape it above your laptop.
14. Final Pep Talk
Blogging is not reserved for “influencers,” nor is it dead.
It’s simply unsexy work with disproportionate upside:
- Compound credibility
- Searchable portfolio
- Unexpected friendships
- Surprise revenue streams
Your first posts will feel awkward—good. Awkward means you’re doing, not just planning.
So, open that blank doc tonight.
Type the messy intro.
Hit publish tomorrow.
Normal humans everywhere—myself included—can’t wait to read what only you can say.
Questions? Victories? Cat-GIF reactions? Drop a comment or email me I answer every non-spam message.