Starting a Successful Blog: My Feature in LinkedIn News

Recently I was chosen and interviewed as an expert by LinkedIn News for an article they were working on for tips on starting a successful blog. This was such an honor because while I think of myself as an expert in the field of Orthodontics, I hadn’t quite given myself that title when it came to blogging, until now.

If you ever had the thought of starting a blog but it felt daunting, this article will shed some light on how doable it is. Anyone can start a blog, but a successful one takes a lot of time and effort. Here is an excerpt from the article.

Creating a blog can be the beginning of building your brand or a way to attract a larger audience to your business and expand it. You can also monetize your blog, providing an additional stream of income for your business or yourself. 

But it is important to remember that building a successful blog takes time and effort. This is why, before building a blog, you should choose a topic you enjoy with room to grow.

Identifying your niche is critical, orthodontist and The UnOrthoDoc blogger Dr. Patrice Smith said.

“It has to be something that you have a little bit of expertise in,” Smith said. “It has to be something you are interested in, otherwise you are not going to blog consistently. Once you figure all that out, narrow down your niche and then narrow it down some more, because there are a million blogs out there. 

“Once you figure that out, write your first 10 blog posts. You can put them in word documents. and then as soon as you have your blog set up, publish all 10 so that it looks like your blog is established. 

“You don't want to drive traffic to your blog with just one or two blog posts. You want to take readers on the journey.” 

I chatted with Charles and Dr. Smith for more about how to start a successful blog.

How to Start Building Your Blog 

Choose a template, blogging platform, and hosting site for your blog after you decide on your niche.

“There are many platforms out there,” Smith said. “I use Squarespace, but one of the most popular ones is WordPress and there are other sites like WiX, Weebly, and some even blog on Medium.”

Select a hosting site after you select your blogging platform. Hosting costs generally range from $5-$25 a month, according to “Age of Influence” author Neil Schaffer.

“Some platforms already come with a hosting platform built-in,” Dr. Smith said. “I know WIX does not, but Squarespace does. For some WordPress users, some popular options include Bluehost or GoDaddy or DreamHost, but for Squarespace, mine was built-in. That is another reason why I chose Squarespace.”

Meanwhile, Charles first launched her blog with a template she found on WIX. Once her business grew, she upgraded, worked with a website designer, and they moved her blog to Squarespace.

“Start off with [a platform] that is relatable and you feel comfortable with, but then as your business grows, it is OK to invest in yourself and tap into somebody who specializes in that work,” Charles said. “I don't think the investment needs to come immediately because the problem is if [you invest] immediately there will be pressure to work to pay off your investment. 

“You don't know if people are going to be as interested in your material as you think it is because micro-blogging, i.e. Instagram is free.”

Also, consider aesthetics when choosing your blog template.

“Aesthetic is an important factor,” Charles said. “People want to click and look at what they enjoy versus if it is ugly, why would they spend their time there? I don't think you have to have the most beautiful [blog], but I think you have to give some effort.”

Keep SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in mind, too, as you build your blog. If you don’t know much about SEO, consider taking a LinkedIn Learning course, watching YouTube expert videos or searching online for the info. 

“I Googled everything pertaining to SEO even down to the title of your blog post that could be optimized to reach your target audience,” Smith said. “You can utilize keywords. So, you want to do a lot of research before you choose a blog topic because it has to be something that will be picked up by keywords. 

“For example, if somebody Googles ‘How to start a blog’ you want to have those keywords in your title. Somebody might Google how to start a blog in 2023, and if your blog title isn’t optimized for that search, then you are not going to be the one that is reached.”

Top Takeaways on How to Start a Successful Blog:

• Choose a niche you are passionate about.

• Select a blogging platform and hosting site that is easy to use and inexpensive.

• Incorporate SEO into your blog posts and use social media platforms to build your audience.

• Monetize your blog with affiliate links, digital products, and ads.

My Interview With The Black Doctor's Podcast

I recently sat with Dr. Steven Bradley, host of The Black Doctor’s Podcast where I shared my journey to becoming an Orthodontist, practice owner, entrepreneur, founder of UnOrthoDoc Candle Co. and co-founder of Dental Helping Hands.

Dr. Bradley describes his podcast as being health and wellness for the culture. Interviews with leading minority professionals of this current generation where you hear how they overcame adversity to attain their goals. Dr. Bradley is inspired by the excellence represented by his peers who have overcome so many incredible obstacles to reach the pinnacle of success. His podcast provides an avenue to organize these stories for others to listen and learn from. Discussions had are mainly on medical ethics and culturally competent care with the goal of improving health outcomes and combatting healthcare disparities.

To hear my interview with him, click the image below:

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, we are thrilled to share the story of Dr. Patrice Smith, aka "The UnOrthoDoc". As a Howard University College of Dentistry trained Orthodontist, she has done an amazing job of excelling in her field while broadening her own horizons. In addition to opening her own practice, Dr. Smith also launched her own boutique candle line. She also manages a successful blog: The UnOrthoDoc

In this episode, she talks about her pathway to the field of dentistry and her experiences at Howard. She also shares her passion for helping others that are less fortunate through the non-profit organization she started called, Dental Helping Hands. We really enjoyed speaking with Dr. Smith and we know you are going to LOVE this episode.

Dr. Steven Bradley is a board-certified anesthesiologist and medical ethicist with a passion for mentorship and increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce. As an assistant professor of anesthesiology, he combines his practice of medicine with educating medical students and resident physicians.

As the host and creator of The Black Doctors Podcast, Dr. Bradley interviews minority professionals in a variety of career paths. Each episode provides encouragement and motivation for listeners. Candid and transparent conversations enable listeners to identify with and be inspired by guests on the show.

Find the The Black Doctors Podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or on Dr. Bradley’s website. Show your support by subscribing and leaving a 5 star review!