Well folks, this post will stray a bit from my usual review style to address something that it seems many of you are interested in: how to create a spiritual blog. There is a big question in many minds of exactly how to go about doing this, and the short answer is really simple- sign up for a free blog and then put your spirit into it.
The longer answer is a bit more involved, and I'd like to draw on the much more credible minds of some professional bloggers and the wide world of the Internet for details. I will also put forward my experience and what I look for in a blog to review (which you might want to remember is completely subjective).
Here's what I'd like to discuss:
- Why you want a blog
- How to create a blog
- What makes a blog "spiritual"
- What to expect
- My experience and what I look for
Why do you want a blog?
As my friend Sol Lederman says, "I quit my job to have more time to myself, became a professional blogger, and now have even less time than before." Blogging takes dedication, commitment and some kind of self-described passion. Think of it as an online journal which you can choose to keep to yourself, or share. Most of the blogs that I see or hear about are from those of you wishing to share who you are, your experiences, your beliefs or even to teach. Some of you have begun to blog not about current writings or thoughts, but about past journalings and stories. But the desire to blog for the majority of bloggers seems to stem from the desire to be heard on some level (even if it is just the cavernous blogosphere) and perhaps even interact with those who visit your site.Some things to consider:
- Do you want a public or private (invite only) blog?
- What is it that you want people to "get" from your blog?
- What type of reader do you want to attract?
- How much passion will you express?
- Is your passion sustainable?
Most people feel like they wouldn't have anything important to post about ... of course sometimes that's true but for the most part I think people would genuinely surprise themselves at how much they really have to write about ... once they start. Getting started is the hardest part. -Kim Wencl
How to create your blogNow for the easy part! I have created several blogs in my blogging lifetime and each one takes time and thought but is essentially easy to create, even if you think you are technically ignorant! I use Blogger as my web host and blogging software, but many also use Wordpress or other online blog hosts. Most of these are pretty easy to set up and all have tutorials for you, but there are a few differences I think are notable. Blogger seems to be a better platform for the beginner who just wants to get a blog started. There are plenty of "widgets" to add in (those fun things you see on the side of a blog) and navigation is simple. Wordpress, on the other hand is slightly more challenging for the newbie, and more suited to those that may have a bit of coding or computer experience. Navigation is not as easy as in Blogger, but Wordpress offers a wider variety of widgets and more opportunities to customize.
Here are a few tutorials:
- How Stuff Works
- About.com
You may also want to scout around the Internet for other information that might be more suited to what you want to do. There is plenty out there! But there are few things to keep in mind when creating your blog like ease of navigation, presentation, theme, social networking, analytics and ads. Don't forget to set up an RSS feed (try Feedburner). I would suggest exploring different blogs and when you find one that you like, imitate! Chances are, if you like it, others who come to your blog will as well!
What makes a Spiritual Blog?The benefits of creating a spiritual blog, as opposed to a spiritual website are notable. Spiritual websites tend to be static, meaning they don't change frequently, so they are better for stores and spirit
ual products or services. (Please see my site Spiritual Market Reviews for more information on these!) Spiritual blogs, on the other hand can get up close and personal on a variety of levels, not excluding marketing a product or service. They can be the running commentary that your mind has as you try to meditate, or the love you feel for your child, or customer testimonials of your intuitive reading service. OR, it can be all of the above plus some!
But here is something to remember: A "spiritual" blog only has to be "spiritual" to you. With that said, there are a few things that personally, I think help a blog fall under the "spiritual" category. These aren't really much to go on, so you might need to think on this a bit more...
- The blog does not necessarily have a religious affiliation, or if it does, it is not dogmatic or overly narrow in thinking.
- It expresses an exploration of a very personal, very moving emotional, physical, mental or spiritual healing or path.
- It aligns with other blogs that are considered "spiritual" in the blogosphere.
What to expectYour blog most likely won't be a success overnight. If you want a highly trafficked blog, then you need to market it. I know, that seems to contradict the ways we "spiritual folk" like to think, but I can assure you, it's quite true. On the Internet, in order for the world to find you and marvel at what you're saying, you need to scatter your breadcrumbs. Start building some credibility in the blogosphere by writing posts, commenting on other blogs, linking back to other blogs and helping Google find you. Many spiritual bloggers just have a knack for "getting found" but when I "find" their site, it's usually because they've done a couple of key optimization tactics that have drawn me in. And once you get found, word spreads. The spiritual blogosphere is a friendly world!
Here are a few links on helping others to find your blog:
My experience and what I look forHaving reviewed quite a number of blogs of all shapes and colors and diverse messages, I can only see one common thread among them all: the authors have found a way to connect with themselves through blogging, and through that have connected with others. This doesn't usually happen overnight; a blogger begins a blog, and then somewhere down the road finds his/her voice. Which leads me to the first thing I look for-
how many posts does the blog have? If it is a new blog, chances are the blogger is still mulling over post material and checking analytics every hour. My policy is usually about 3-6 months of blog posts.
As I peruse a blog, if I notice mistake after mistake in sentences such as simple misspellings or grammatical errors I get a bit perturbed. Not to say I dont mke my fare share of them myself, but unless I see some pretty amazing posts I may just pass that blog up. Remember, there is a spellchecker built in to most blogging software!
The posts themselves (as you will see if you've perused my blog) vary from highly talented authors, to intellectuals to heartfelt expressions and all of these are perfect because they have defined the flavor of the blog. The words, the tone, the phrases, the stories all make up a unique scent that identifies the author in the crowded blog universe. The more the author pours themself into their blog, the cleaner the blog's fragrance. At the risk of taking hyperbole too far, I suppose it is kind of like pheromones; bloggers got 'em, and only the readers who can smell 'em will clamor to their screen.
When I land on a blog, one of the things I want to have happen is for something in the blog to touch me, hold my hand, punch me in the stomach, put me into an alpha state or make my big toe jump. If it doesn't do that to me,
do I think it will do that to others? If not then I usually make a call to move on. If so, I look to see what the consistent theme of the blog is, and how it is interwoven in the posts.
Speaking of consistency, most bloggers don't seem to have any trouble with regular posting, UNLESS we're in a dry spell. Nevertheless, regular posting is very important whet

her 3 times a day or every two months.
Last but not least...There are other bloggers out there who write about well, writing, blogging and posting and do so with a "spiritual" bent. If you are new to blogging, or want to improve your writing I would suggest a visit to
Slade at Shift your Spirits. You may find or know of others out there as well, and please do leave a comment with the information! If I have left something critical out, or you have questions, let me know and I'll add to the post! Good luck and happy blogging!
Photo credits-me and all from my yard! Taken of my back slope, my son, and my patch of four-leafed clovers.