Writer or non-writer, one thing people love to do is to share their thoughts. Some do it on television, some on social media or blogs, and others create a podcast.
A blog is the best avenue to share your thoughts and opinions on various things. Before you start blogging, you need to know how it works.
What is a blog?
A blog is simply a place to share content about a topic you’re passionate about and knowledgeable about. This typically includes both written and visual, sometimes audio-visual content published in an article format.
As a blogger myself, I’ll assure you that it is a rewarding way to explore your writing skills, learn new ideas, and build an online community.
The most amazing thing is that you’ll get the chance to inspire, educate, and entertain your readers. As your blog grows, you can even start making money and turn it into a full-time job.
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Why blogs?
People blog for various reasons, so before you start one, think about your primary reason.
Share your ideas
It is a form of communication where you get to air your thoughts. You can use your creativity and passion to create a space customized exactly to your liking where you can share your ideas and experiences.
To build an online community
A blog creates a space to share your story, and ideas and start conversations with people all over the world with mutual interests.
The great thing is that it has a comments section where your readers can speak with you directly, allowing you to engage in conversation and build relationships.
To sell a product online
Other people make blogs to earn some money. Blogging for business is a great way to provide more information about a product or service. Additionally, blogging does wonders for a website’s SEO.
Bet you didn’t know that you can start writing and also host some advertisements on your page. This will pave the way for more money.
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How to start a blog step by step
First of all, you need to note that creating a blog is free; you don’t need to pay a thing to start a blog. Yes, some blog websites might ask you for a fee to upgrade for additional benefits, but starting off is completely free.
Choose a blogging platform
This is the first thing to think about. There are so many you can choose from such as Medium, WordPress, Blogger, and so on.
A good blogging platform comes with features to analyze your blog’s performance and monetize your content, which will come in handy as you build your readership. To assist your choice, think about a platform that offers customizable templates.
If you’re confused, a Google search will assist you.
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Pick a hosting platform
A blog often requires a host. This essentially stores websites on a server under a unique address so that visitors can easily have access to them.
Hosting that you can use include BlueHost or DreamHost. Be careful to consider a platform with good bandwidth, uptime, and customer support. Uptime refers to the amount of time that the server hosting your website is up and running. Bandwidth is the data transferred to visitors over a certain time.
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Find the right niche
There is no limit on blog subjects. You can blog on absolutely anything! Food, music, fashion… absolutely anything!
The most crucial thing is that you select a specific topic area that will be the central focus of your entire blog and its content strategy. Most of all, think about your audience. If you are targeting young people, be careful to think about their interests. Youngsters typically love memes and relate to funny and brief content.
Brainstorm blog topics
Now you have gotten your name, now it’s time to explore the blog topics that you can write on. There is no limit. If you’re blogging about neurodiversity, it is important you write down everything that it encompasses. Remember that you also need to educate, as well as entertain.
Write down all your ideas before narrowing down topic selections. You can also come up with ideas using the topic cluster model.
Select a blog name
When choosing your blog name, you need to think hard. Do you want to name it after your name or business?
When choosing your blog’s name, you should also think about the personality you want it to reflect. Should it be formal and professional? Most importantly, choose a descriptive name that piques readers’ interests.
Set up and design your blog
The first part of the setup is selecting a template. Like your blog’s name, its look and feel will be an important part of its personality.
The most efficient way to get your blog up and running is to choose a pre-designed blog template. Afterward, you can customize it according to your preferences.
Once you’ve chosen a template, think about which pages to include. Most blogs include more than just a section to display their posts- like a contact page. When designing, make sure you use appealing colors and simple words that people can be attracted to.
Write your first blog post
Yes, it’s time to write!
Finding the right keywords is crucial for getting people to read your posts.
By targeting certain phrases with your article, you increase the chances of your blog appearing on search results pages for those queries. You’ll need to distribute those phrases throughout your post.
In the introduction, grab your audience’s attention with a captivating quote. Then, for the body, share a summary of what the article is about, making sure to grab the interest of your readers.
I would advise you to add internal links to help you improve your blog SEO. It also encourages your readers to browse your other articles.
Create an editorial calendar
Creating an editorial calendar is an important part of starting a blog. It’s an effective way to ensure you publish content consistently. Your readers want new content, and you must deliver it.
Also, think about how often you want to blog. If your main goal is to generate brand awareness, start with 1-2 new posts per week. On the other hand, if you’re primarily aiming to increase traffic to your site, you should ideally be writing 3-7 new posts per month.
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Promote your blog
At this stage, you have everything you need to start a blog. You need to spread the word about your blog. Use social media to publicize. You can send out a weekly email newsletter to engage your readers and get them to come back to your blog for more. Use multiple marketing strategies to expand your reach.
Additionally, if you’re looking to start a blog with a large readership, it is very possible. You can either advertise on your blog or write sponsored content. Make sure you reach out to companies as your blog grows. But first, you must start blogging!
Conclusion
At this point, you have all the tools and resources you need for starting a blog. Now if you have plans to do a blog now, leave this site and start creating as soon as possible.
Feel free to save this guide as a reference as you begin this new journey and happy blogging!
