I remember the exact moment I thought about starting a blog. I was sitting on my couch, endlessly scrolling through Pinterest, looking at these picture-perfect homes and amazing travel photos. A part of me felt inspired, but a bigger part of me just thought, “My life doesn’t look like that.” My apartment was a collection of mismatched furniture, and my biggest trip that year was to a town three hours away.
But then I had another thought: “What if I wrote about that?” What if I wrote about making a real, messy, imperfect life feel a little more beautiful?
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably had a similar moment. You have a passion—for cooking, for decorating on a dime, for finding wellness in the middle of a chaotic schedule—and a little voice in your head is wondering if you could share it with the world.
The answer is yes. But the internet is a noisy place, and the idea of adding your voice can feel daunting. Let’s cut through the noise. This isn’t about becoming a flawless influencer overnight. It’s about finding your people and sharing what you love.
First Things First: What Are You Going to Talk About?
“Lifestyle” can mean anything and everything, which is why you have to get specific. If you try to write for everyone, you’ll end up connecting with no one. The best way to find your focus is to stop thinking about what’s popular and start thinking about your actual life.
What do your friends text you for advice about? Are you the one they ask for easy weeknight recipes? The one who knows how to find the best flight deals? The one who can make any rental apartment feel like home?
That’s your starting point. My friend Sarah, for example, started a blog about gardening in her tiny city apartment. She was convinced no one would care, but it turns out thousands of people were desperate to learn how to grow tomatoes on a fire escape. Your unique, “un-glamorous” reality is often your biggest strength.
Giving Your Blog a Home
Okay, you’ve got your angle. Now you need a little corner of the internet to call your own. The tech side of blogging used to be a huge headache, but it’s gotten so much easier.
Honestly, for most people starting out, something like Squarespace or Wix is perfect. They’re like digital LEGOs—you just drag and drop things where you want them. If you’re a bit more tech-savvy or have big plans for the future, a self-hosted WordPress blog gives you more power, but it also comes with a steeper learning curve.
My advice? Don’t get stuck here for weeks. Pick one and start. You can always change it later. The important thing is to have a place to put your content.
Creating Stuff People Actually Want to Read (and Watch)
This is the fun part. Your content is how you build a relationship with your readers. It’s a mix of your stories, your knowledge, and your personality.
Of course, you’ll have your written blog posts. Write them like you talk. Imagine you’re explaining something to a friend over coffee. Use your own voice, not the formal, stuffy tone you were taught in school.
But let’s be real, visuals are huge. You need photos. And no, you don’t need a $2,000 camera. Your phone is more than enough. The secret isn’t the gear; it’s learning to see the good light in your home and getting creative with your angles.
And then there’s video. I avoided it for so long. My excuse? “My house is a mess!” I’d waste an hour cleaning and tidying a single corner just to film a two-minute clip. It was exhausting and unsustainable. Then a friend showed me a trick that honestly changed the game for me: a video background remover. It sounds super technical, but it’s not. It’s a simple tool that lets you digitally erase whatever is behind you and replace it with a simple color or a clean image.
Suddenly, I didn’t have to worry about the pile of mail on the counter or my dog’s half-chewed toy in the corner. I could just sit down and film, focusing on what I was actually trying to say. It’s a small thing, but it removes a massive barrier. It lets you create polished, professional-looking video content without needing a perfect, magazine-worthy home. It’s about making your real life work for you.
Getting People to Actually See Your Stuff
Hitting “publish” can feel like shouting into the void at first. Getting your first readers is a slow burn, but it happens.
Start with one or two social media platforms you actually enjoy using. If you love aesthetics, go with Instagram. If you’re all about tutorials and how-tos, Pinterest might be your jam. Share your work, but more importantly, talk to people. Ask questions. Respond to comments. Be a human.
And don’t forget about Google. Think about the exact phrases you’d type into the search bar to find an article like the one you just wrote. Weave those phrases into your headline and your post. It feels a bit weird at first, but it’s how strangers who need your help will find you in the long run.
The Last Thing You Need to Hear
Your first posts will probably be a little clunky. Your photos might be a bit dark. You’ll say “um” too much in your first video.
Good.
It means you’re doing it. The goal isn’t to show up with a perfect, polished brand from day one. The goal is to show up, period. To share what you know, to tell your story, and to slowly but surely find the people who want to listen. You’ve got this.
Oh god no more!