In this article, I would like to take you back to the basics. If you want to start blogging, or if you have started blogging but you are at the start of your journey, then this post is for you.
As we all know, starting a blog has become an increasingly popular way to express creativity, share knowledge, and even earn income. That’s why I hope I can help you understand how to make your very own blog.
Section 1: How to start a blog – Choosing a Niche
Before diving into the blogging world, it’s crucial to select a niche that aligns with your interests and expertise. Consider your passions, knowledge, and the target audience you want to reach. By focusing on a specific niche, you can establish yourself as an authority and attract a dedicated audience.
However, it’s ok to experiment at first because you might think that Subject A is your Niche but as you start writing you might discover that Subject B, which can be related or not to A, is more fun and interesting to write.
It’s totally ok and don’t worry about those that say pick a niche and stick with it. Yes consistency is important, but what’s more important is that you enjoy blogging, so write about things you really love.
Section 2: Selecting a Platform
To create a blog, you’ll need a reliable platform. In 2023, popular options include, amongst others, WordPress, Blogger, and Wix. These platforms offer user-friendly interfaces, customizable templates, and cool features for managing your blog efficiently.
Many advise to go with WordPress.org or in other words, the self-hosted version of WordPress, and I am one of those, as it gives you flexibility and scalability. However, if you have the budget, a platform like Squarespace can be a better fit for you. Try a few platforms, and test their trial versions before you decide the one you want to commit to.
If you don’t have a budget start with WordPress.com. A huge difference is that you don’t need a hosting package if you sign up on the .com version. You need a hosting provider only if you decide to install it and build it yourself. The good thing is that if you want to migrate to a WordPress.Org website later on, you can easily export and import your content to your new WordPress site.
WordPress has a learning curve, there is no doubt about it. However, there are a lot of tutorials out there since it is the biggest blogging platform, so there are many users who are contributing to this community. I’m sure you will find answers to any questions you may have.
And trust me on that: once you learn the basics, the freedom it gives you, is invaluable.
Section 3: Setting Up Hosting and Domain
Next, if you go for the self hosted, WordPress.org option which I highly recommend, you’ll need to choose a hosting provider and domain name for your blog. Go for a reputable hosting service that offers reliability, security, and excellent customer support. Siteground* is one. But with some Googling, you will find a lot of options for every budget.
When it comes to domain, your domain name should reflect your blog’s topic and be memorable for your audience. Also, for the absolute beginners, most of the web hosting providers offer 1-click WordPress installation, which makes things even easier 🙂
Section 4: Designing Your Blog
The design of your blog plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining readers. Select a clean and visually appealing theme that complements your content. To begin with, I say pick a simple theme, so that you can set it up in 5 minutes, after all our goal is to set up our Blog in one day. If you go with WordPress, use one of their default themes. Don’t worry about advanced graphics at this stage. WordPress’ own themes are mobile-friendly and easy to use.
Section 5: Creating Engaging Content
Content is the heart of any successful blog. Ok, this can’t be done in one day, but you can write something today. Aim to produce high-quality, original, and valuable content that resonates with your target audience.
Use a conversational tone, incorporate storytelling elements, images, and videos and provide actionable tips and advice. Consistency is key, so establish a content schedule that suits your availability. And the more you write, the better you become. Trust me, it works 😉
Section 6: Implementing SEO Strategies
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for driving organic traffic to your blog. What you can do today, is try to have a good SEO title for your first blog post.
Research relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner and strategically incorporate them into your blog posts.
Optimize your titles, headings, meta descriptions, and image alt tags to improve your search engine rankings. If you need to do some further reading, here is an article I wrote about how you can do your own SEO.
Section 7: Promoting Your Blog
To attract readers and build a loyal audience, you need to promote your blog effectively. What you can do today is to share your very first blog post on Twitter or any other social platform you use.
Leverage social media platforms, engage with your audience, and participate in relevant online communities. There are a lot of groups on Facebook and Twitter that can help you get some initial traffic.
As you grow, guest posting on established blogs and collaborating with other bloggers can also boost your visibility.
Conclusion
The above steps are the most basic yet more important steps for starting and running a blog. It takes time, effort to build a complete blog website, and you are really never done with it as you keep on building it. It requires patience but keep blogging about your favourite subject and if you have any questions I’ll be happy to help so let me know in the comments.
