The 2013 Minnesota Blogger Conference was on Saturday.  155 bloggers from around the state came together in one room to talk about and learn about all aspects of blogging.  The range was quite extraordinary!  There were a couple of people that have been blogging for 12 years, while over half of the room had been at it for less than 1.

I got to hang out with my boy Eddie Bashaw, got to meet Kate from Kate in the Kitchen, and chatted with a friend I hadn’t seen in over 20 years!  That alone was worth it, but there was so much more going on.

If you want to get started blogging, here are some of the key ideas to set you off on the right foot.

• Authenticity trumps perfection every time.  Be yourself.  Use your own voice.  Don’t try to be someone else because you are not someone else.
• Know why you are blogging and always measure decisions about your blog against that “why.”
• Don’t be too quick to want a ton of traffic.  Learn the ropes while you’re living blissfully in obscurity.
• If you get to the point where product reviews, sponsored posts, and guest posts are a possibility, do your homework.  Make sure that you are only sharing the trust your readers give you with people who deserve it.
• Start with “Why.”  It’s about beliefs.  Process is a good thing, but why you do it and how you got there are more important than the “what”.

Blogging is a great way to share your expertise, tell your story, and keep people informed.  All you need to do is get started.  If you are ready to take the leap and start, here’s a free 20 minute video tutorial from Michael Hyatt to get help you get your self hosted WordPress site set up.  Then all you need to do is write.