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When is the right time to start a blog?
- Pick the Right Blog Topic. “What are the most popular blog topics?” “How do I come up with a blog idea?” “What should I blog about?” “How to choose blog topics?”
- Choose the Right Blogging Platform. We’ll keep this section brief: There are several free blogging platforms out there, and for what they are, and what they do, they offer solid value.
- Choose a Domain Name. Put yourselves in the shoes of a visitor. You’re browsing the world wide web, and you see a headline for a blog post that catches your attention.
- Purchase a Web Hosting Plan. If you’re not familiar with the term, a “web host” is kind of like a warehouse for websites on the Internet. You pay a small fee to keep your website on the Internet, handle all your visitors, back up your website, provide customer support, manage the security of your website, and so on.
May 5, 2024 · In the introduction, grab your audience’s attention with a captivating anecdote, a compelling quote or statistic, or an interesting fact. Then, share a brief summary of what the article is about, making sure to grab the interest of your readers. Next, write the body text, using your outline as a guide.
- How can I start a blog for free?First of all you'll need to choose a blogging platform with free user options. With Wix, for example, you can create a blog for free. You can also...
- How do I make a successful blog?First of all you'll need to define 'successful.' Generally a successful blog is one which has a large readership, and generates considerable amount...
- Is blogging still worth it in 2023?Yes, blogging is still worth it in 2023. Despite the rise of social media platforms and video content, blogging continues to be a valuable medium f...
- How to make a blogging website?There are a few steps necessary to making a blogging website. Once you've chosen your blog nice, you'll need to create your actual site. Choose a w...
- How do bloggers get paid?Bloggers can get paid in a variety of ways, including: Advertising: Bloggers can sell ad space on their blog to businesses. The amount of money blo...
- Can you start a blog as a side hustle?Yes, you can start a blog as a side hustle. In fact, blogging is a popular side hustle for many people, as it can be a relatively low-cost and low-...
- How to write a blog post with AI?AI can be a valuable asset throughout the content production process, from generating topic ideas to serving as a proofreader. AI tools like ChatGP...
- Overview
- What is a blog?
- Why should you start a blog?
- Blogging myths
- Step-by-step guide to starting a blog
- 1. Choose a niche
- 2. Choosing a blogging platform
- 3. Get a domain name
- 4. Pick a blog theme
- 5. Customize your blog
How-to
By Ruby P. Jane
Contributions from
Abigail Opiah
last updated 20 February 2023
This is everything you'll need to start your own blog
A blog is a website or portion of a website where an individual or organization writes about topics that interest them. A blog can be focused on one particular topic, such as politics, or it can be a collection of the writer's thoughts and experiences on many different subjects.
Blogs are usually updated frequently, and some even offer readers the ability to subscribe to updates via RSS feed or email. Many blogs also allow readers to leave comments on posts, which can create a community feel.
There are many reasons to start a blog, but here are some of the most important ones:
Blogging can help you find your voice
If you’ve ever felt like you have something to say but don’t know how to say it, starting a blog can be a great way to get your thoughts out there. You can use your blog to share your opinions on current events, write about your hobbies and interests, or even just document your day-to-day life.
This is probably the most important reason to start a blog : even if you don’t gain much recognition or money, you can at least share your ideas and (hopefully) inspire others.
Blogging can help you connect with others
Whether you’re looking to make new friends who share your interests or want to build a community around your blog, blogging can be a great way to connect with people from all over the world.
Before you begin, let’s debunk a couple of common blogging myths.
Starting a blog doesn’t require you to be an absolute expert or a skilled technical writer. After all, if readers want a dry shopping list of facts they can just read manuals or technical descriptions on websites. This is the difference between telling people about your favorite chocolate chip cookie and just telling them to read the ingredients on the back of a box.
People read blogs precisely because they want a personal perspective on things. If you have an authentic voice people will trust your opinion of a nearby restaurant, or the latest video game or any other number of topics, even if you don’t write like Shakespeare.
While we’re on the subject of topics, you also don’t necessarily have to be an absolute expert in your blog topic. It can helpful finding a niche (see below) as it will help your blog stand out.
There are two main reasons why people start a blog; to share their thoughts and passion and to make passive income. Whichever it is, there are steps you need to follow in order to have a successful blog site.
The first thing to starting a blog is brainstorming for a niche. Here, you need to choose a niche you have a passion for.
This first step is very important because choosing the wrong niche may mar your blogging journey. So you must choose a niche familiar to you. When choosing a niche, It is recommended to do a little research before making a final decision.
•What kind of bloggers do you follow?
•What subjects are you an expert in? If a person comes to you for help, what is it usually for?
•What kind of blog content is lacking in the industry you’re passionate about? How can you fill in the gap?
If you can’t answer all these questions yet, don’t be discouraged. Get started anyway.
The next step is choosing a platform to build your blog with. For this, we recommend using WordPress.org. It’s a content management system (CMS) with robust blogging tools and a vast collection of plugins that can help you customize the site.
Using a CMS requires a web hosting service to get the blog up and running. Here’s a list of top web hosts to launch a self-hosted WordPress blog with:
•Hostinger - This hosting company offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee and a beginner-friendly control panel, starting from $2.99/month. Our Hostinger review shows the pros and cons of their hosting plans, service, server performance, and customer support. One of the main perks of Hostinger is they have Wordpress-specific plans.
•Bluehost - A web hosting provider with great site performance and a one-click button to install WordPress. The prices start from $3.99/month. Bluehost actually caters to around two third of all online blogs. Read our Bluehost review for more information.
•HostGator - A web host offering unmetered bandwidth with all of its shared hosting plans, which start from $2.75/month along with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Check out our full HostGator review to read up on its other benefits .
Alternatively, you can use blogging sites like Blogger. This type of platform already comes equipped with blog hosting, so you won’t have to make a separate purchase.
Once you have chosen and set up your blogging platform, the next step is to get a domain name for your blog.
A domain name is like the address of your blog on the internet. It makes it easier for people to find your site. It is important to use a domain name that is relatable to your niche as this makes your blog more SEO-friendly. Once you have chosen a domain name, you can buy it from domain registrars such as GoDaddy, Hostinger, HostGator, or Namecheap.
Unlike your Blog name, once registered a domain name can’t be changed, so consider what you want to call it carefully. Ideally it should match your blog name.
When you visit most hosting sites you can type in your chosen name and they can automatically if it’s available.
If your chosen domain name isn’t available, your host may offer you the chance to buy it if it’s for sale, or register using a different TLD (Top Level Domain). For instance www.sarahjanesrecipes.com may be taken but www.sarahjanes.recipes might still be available.
When you register your domain by default your name, address and e-mail are listed in a public WHOIS database. Some hosting providers offer you the option to use their details instead, so your personal information remains private : for instance BlueHost’s “Choice Plus” plan starts at just $5.49 per month with free domain privacy.
When designing your blog, start by choosing a theme. It should be responsive and have all the features needed to function correctly. At the same time, the theme should help readers navigate between the articles easily.
If you use a hosted blogging platform, the themes usually come provided on their website.
For WordPress users, free blog themes are available in the official directory.
Third-party marketplaces like ThemeForest and TemplateMonster also offer premium WordPress themes. They usually come with perks like regular updates and customer support.
If you’re still not sure which to choose, first apply some common sense. A green, leafy theme is much more suitable for a blog promoting herbal medicines than one providing investment advice.
Remember you can return here and change your blog’s theme at any time. It’s best to get this right before your blog goes “live” though, so as not to confuse readers.
It’s time to customize your chosen theme. Here’s what you can do when modifying a blog:
Create the website pages
Depending on your preferences, the homepage can double as the blog page, though many bloggers separate the two. Other than that, you need a Contact page, About page, and separate pages for the blog post categories.
You can do this either by clicking “Posts” in the left-hand column and creating a new “static” post or choosing from the ready-made pages in your blog template.
Readers may well go to your “About Me” page before they start reading your blog. Make sure to include your reasons for starting and writing this blog. Tell them what drives you.
For “Contact” it’s best to put a contact form instead of an e-mail address. This stops your address from being harvested by web crawlers and subjected to spam. The exception to this is you’re running a business, as you may want to put your contact telephone number and physical address here.
Dec 20, 2021 · Step 1: Choose your blog topic and name. Step 2: Find the right blogging platform. Step 3: Set up web hosting. Step 4: Configure your blog. Step 5: Design and customize it. Time to set up a blog: 30–40 minutes. Time to customize a blog: 1–2 hours. Guide difficulty: Beginners. Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog: Video Tutorial.
Jan 23, 2024 · 1. Pick Your Blog Niche. A niche is a specific topic that your blog will focus on, and it’s key in determining your target audience. A strong blog niche can also help you pick the perfect blog name and develop a focused blogging strategy. Examples of blog niches include books, travel, gaming, photography, and food.
