5 Useful Things For Starting A Pagan Blog

I’ve written over 402 posts for my Pagan blog Voodoo Universe, and there are a lot of useful things I wish someone had told me before I started. Most of these are really helpful tips for starting any blog, but the Pagan factor does present some interesting challenges. We have had over 92,000 hits this year and things just keep getting better. There are posts that go viral with over 10 thousand shares, and ones that I can’t seem to give away (wait, we give them all away.) Sometimes the smallest thing makes all the difference. So here’s what I have found, I hope it is useful to you. Many Blessings and Happy Blogging!

• Everyone’s An Authority – Blogging has presented the world with a unique set of circumstances where anyone and everyone can claim authority. And while “content is king” as they say, for the most part the internet and your readers won’t be able to distinguish between the good content you are producing, and that of others, which may be of lesser quality. You are going to have to help your readers know who you are. This isn’t bragging it’s a necessity. I recently updated my bio to include the facts that my work was featured in the New York Times and the Village Voice. Your about me page should be truthful, real, and include anything that people will find interesting about you. Ultimately the real authority is Google, Yahoo, and the other search engines. Around here we call them Skynet ( like from the Terminator films,) they will rank you wherever they see fit, based on algorithms that are more mysterious than magick itself. Do what you can to stay on their good side. Most times Google will rank my social shares to google plus and twitter higher than the actual post so don’t forget to share to all your different networks.
• Everyone’s A Critic – Blogging isn’t for the sensitive. Once you put your ideas out there, especially the non-traditional ones you make yourself a target. I remember my dear friend Isaac Bonewits once wanted to make pagan clergy t-shirts with a bullseye on them. He decided enough people want to shoot us anyway, we probably shouldn’t make it easier for them. I got a comment this morning on my Youtube channel, saying we are “fags.” Haters are going to hate, and you have to have a thick skin. People will use the anonymity of the internet to voice their fears and ignorance. Be prepared. One blogger I know doesn’t even read the comments, but I think it’s important to take a look at what people say, even if it’s only evil and narrow-minded. Otherwise how are we going to help people learn the real truth about Paganism in all it’s ancient and glorious forms. In case you want to say something nice about our videos here’s a link.  
• Consistency and Discipline are Key – I know, you know, and everyone knows that life happens sometimes. However, your readers will get used to your publishing the blog. They will look forward to it and hopefully make it part of their routine. If you take a break, even if it’s only for a week or two, you will have to work that much harder to regain their attention. It’s best to have a month’s worth of posts in your pocket before you start to publish, that way when life happens, your blog won’t go dark. You can use templates and formulas if you are stuck for topics to write about. Tip- Most bloggers recommend publishing 2-3 times a week to be most successful.
• Close Only Counts In Horseshoes – I already talked about the importance of search engines. When I first started blogging time, attention, and a ton of research allowed me to rank in the top results for my key terms. But updates and paid advertisers soon pushed me onto page 2 of the results or beyond. I was upset to say the least. My editor at the time told me page 2 was good for a Pagan blog, but as they say ‘close only counts in horseshoes,’ and most people won’t venture past the first 3 or 4 results. Update, tweak and expand upon what you have done to keep your content fresh.
• Make A Friend – The word social is in social media for a reason. Read and comment on other blogs. See if you

  

  can partner with another blogger, like I have done in my video partnership with Sable Aradia. Every other week we get together to discuss Witchcraft & Voodoo. We’ve had some great conversations and it has allowed us to reach audiences we never would have alone. If you have been missing us, we will be back soon, our next show is scheduled for October 24th. This is an area where Paganism presents an interesting challenge. Many devotees of alternative religions are still in the broom closet, or being secretive about their practices. This can make them less likely to share on social media, or in other ways. Be creative and be sure to reciprocate.

If you have enjoyed what you read here, please remember to share, share, share ! And if you have any questions about your own blog, or about Voodoo please post them in the comments below, I’ll do my best to help you however I can !