How Do I Start a Tech Blog?

Look at All the Platforms Out There

My mistake when I started my website was not looking at all the platforms out there. I hopped on the bandwagon like everyone else who told me to go to WordPress because it was the easiest and best platform out there.

I ended up working 90+ hours a week because I did not know why I was getting so many error messages. I am a very tech-savvy person, but with running a website, I did not know what I was getting myself into.

Each platform has its own unique styles, features, and integrations with other companies. Make sure you check all of them out first, or you will spend a lot of time, money, and frustrations moving between platforms, which I have done over the years.

It took a lot of copying, which was brutal.

Establish Your Area of Thought Leadership

Thought leadership is the expert insight you bring to your tech blog, right? It's the unique compendium of knowledge you have—based on data, experience, and foresight—and that you can reasonably communicate with an interested audience. It's also, often, the stuff that's obvious to you but is actually unknown and valuable insight for others.

When starting a tech blog, then write what you know. Do so within a consistent topic area so you have multiple articles looking at that one topic from different angles. This is how you form your reputation as an expert in the tech world.

Develop a Detailed Content Plan

Before you write, it is an excellent concept to plan out your content strategy. Developing a detailed content plan can help you stay organized and focused on your blogging goals.

Determine what topics you favor covering, what your target audience is, and how often you may post new content. You can brainstorm content ideas by making a list of potential topics and ideas for your blog. You can draw inspiration from tech industry news, customer questions, or your own experiences with technology.

Once you have a list of potential topics, organize them into a calendar. You can use a spreadsheet or project management tool like Asana, Trello, or ClickUp to map out your content plan and assign deadlines.

Don't Ask Your Developers to Write Your Blog

It's fine to get input from your dev team. After all, they probably know the subject better than anyone. But writing is usually not their forte, and you don't want to add stress and distract them from their core focus.

Rather, find a blog writer or agency that can reliably handle your subject. Be sure they are versed in SEO as well because that will help your blog skyrocket.

Create Visual Demonstrations

Create visual demonstrations in your blog. This may comprise photos or videos, for example. You might review a new product or create product usage content, which makes the most sense if there's a visual reference. Adding these forms of content will make your blog easier to read and will add a creative element.

Remember, Your Topic May Be Entirely New to Your Readers

As a tech blogger, it is your responsibility to cater to your audience's needs and provide them with valuable insights and information.

Even if the topic seems basic or obvious to you, it may be entirely new to your readers.

Tech is growing every month—so there is always something to learn and this growth is creating specialization. For example, 20-odd years ago you used to know everything about building websites (deployment was as simple as FTPing some files!)—but now not only are people split into front-end and back-end, but there are specialties within those areas.

Talking about topics familiar to you is essential to providing value to your readers and establishing yourself as a reputable source of information in the tech industry.

Be Consistent With Your Writing

If you're starting a tech blog, the single best tip I can offer is to be consistent with your writing. Consistency means committing to a regular posting schedule, whether it's weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

This will help you build a loyal readership who can expect new content from you regularly. It will help you establish a routine for yourself, which will make it easier to come up with new ideas, stay focused, and avoid procrastination.

By being consistent, you'll also improve your writing skills and be able to track your progress. So, set a realistic posting schedule and stick to it, even if it means sacrificing some leisure time.

Don't Get Too Technical

Explaining tech is very much a balancing act. You need to get detailed and industry-specific information across in simple terms. Opt for non-technical terms and steer away from jargon so it's easy to digest. Remember, your audience is searching for an answer and typically won't have the same level of technical knowledge as an expert.

Investigate Your Metrics

It is my view that you should make use of analytics tools to track the success of your blog and determine the posts that are most liked by your readership. Based on the results, make adjustments to the content strategy and the general quality of your blog.

Make Your Voice Heard

I think you'll find that your blog gives you a great outlet for expressing your creativity while also providing useful information and entertainment for your readers. The more you write for your blog, the more practice you'll get at expressing yourself in writing, and the more you'll develop your voice.