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So…you want to Create a Blog, to share you thoughts, help promote a business and perhaps even make money in and of itself, but are not sure where to start?
I have broken down a few basics to get you up and running in no time.
#1. Choose a Blogging Platform
While there are several options for creating a blog, (ex. Blogger, Squarespace) the most common and most recommended is WordPress. What you need to know is that WordPress has two formats.
One is WordPress.com the other is WordPress.org. Both are free but the dot com is limited in what you can do. It is fine for a very casual user. You don’t actually “own” the content on the FREE blogger platforms and could potentially be shut down for any reason.
If you are interested in monetizing (making money from) your blog and/or would like to have options for plug-ins (extra features to make your blog more useful and engaging) to enhance your site, WordPress.Org is the best option.
Most bloggers use this platform, WordPress.org. They offer free themes for your blog and free helpful plugins. You do have options to buy premium themes or advanced plug-ins at any time. You have lots of design options to make it truly your own space.
#2. Select a Hosting Service
If you do decide on WordPress.org, you will then have to decide which hosting service you would like to use to support your blog. A host is basically the rental space in which your blog lives.
There are various companies you can go with, BlueHost, GoDaddy, and HostGator to name a few. I personally recommend HostGator.
They offer great customer service, easy WordPress install, a FREE Domain, FREE Backup, FREE SSL (security) for your blog, and a great low monthly price.
3. Name & Domain for Your Blog
You will also need to decide on a name for your blog and a corresponding domain name. The domain is basically the “address” where your blog can be found. For example, my blog’s name is Finding The Fearless Life and my web address is www.findingthefearlesslife.com, that’s my domain name.
Keep in mind, that the domain doesn’t have to be identical to the blog name, but something close or a shortened version would be ideal.
You can buy a domain name from various sites, such as GoDaddy and NameCheap (I use NameCheap for other projects and found them very easy to use and cost-effective). Or you can purchase your domain through your hosting provider. I use HOSTGATOR and I get my hosting and domain right from them, super simple. (Domain is FREE for one year with Hostgator).
#4. Create Content & Launch Your Blog
Once you have decided on the platform, the name, and the host, you have a blog that is officially ready to launch.
Now it’s up to you to create content. You can share your thoughts, ideas, recommendations, or whatever you are inspired to write about.
If you needs content ideas, or need a little help crafting your post, you can utilize ChatGPT to help you when you are stuck. This is a FREE AI platform that can help you write a spectacular blog post.
Besides great content, your blog has to look good and be an easy read. Part of that is to have a post that is free of spelling and grammatical errors. But sometimes we miss this in our writing and proofreading, which is why an app and/or Chrome extension that I love is Grammarly.
Grammarly has a FREE basic version as well as a paid Premium Version with lots more options, to help alert you of any spelling or grammatical errors in your work.
This app works not just for blogging, but also helps you when writing your emails, posting on social media, and any other writings you may do.
Another important piece of info in regards to content creation is having a format in which to create eye-catching graphics/banners, etc for your posts. I am sure if you ask any blogger they will all recommend CANVA. Canva is a platform that allows you to create visual images to use on your blog and so much more! ( I use it for blog posts, social media, and personal creations as well, such as cards and posters.)
The more I use Canva, the more I love it! I have even created designs that I then put on mugs and t-shirts to sell.
You can do so many things with Canva, but you do have limited options with the basic version. In my opinion, the PRO version is amazing and well worth the small fee. This is just a sampling of some of the things you can do.
- Access their entire photo, element, video, and audio library, no extra cost.
- Create, edit, and save premium videos for any platform.
- Remove image backgrounds.
- Create instant animation.
- Use AI to create.
- Schedule posts to social.
- Full access to all of their premade templates.
#5. Get Traffic to Your Blog via SEO
Before you get too many posts up and running, do some research on SEO. Search Engine Optimization is an important aspect of blogging. It is what drives traffic to your site. It’s what gets people to see your blog.
A great SEO plug-ins for your WordPress site is Rank Math or Yoast. They can help guide you as you write your post in a way that will make your blog more visible to search engines. It is super important to learn about SEO if you want to drive traffic to your site. You can find videos on YouTube as well as courses that can help you learn all about it.
#6. Using Social Media
Another great way to drive traffic to your site is by utilizing social media. Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, and Pinterest. They can all drive traffic to your site, but you do have to put the work in, by engaging with your followers and engaging others as well.
When used effectively, Pinterest can be a huge traffic draw to your site. It acts as a search engine in and of itself. You create pins (Canva is great for this!) for your various blog posts and it will help drive traffic to your blog.
It is wise to read up on how to utilize effective Pinterest strategies. Ell at Boss Girl Bloggers offers a fabulous course on how to take your Pinterest game to the next level and bring visitors to your site.
Another great tip is to find a way to manage all of your social media posts. It would be ideal to have a way to create one post and have it sent to ALL of your socials with just a click. Well…I recently found this amazing site that does just that. It is Publer. I really LOVE this site/app.
You can connect ALL of your socials and create one post (tweak as needed for each platform) post or schedule to post at a later date.
They have a FREE option and paid options with additional features, such as hashtag suggestions, and unlimited scheduling & drafts as well as AI options, just to name a few. In my opinion, it is a must-have!
In Summary
Use these tips to get you started. I know it can seem overwhelming at first. But just take it one step at a time. Blogging can be a fun way to share your thoughts and ideas and even allow you to earn an income.
The above tips are the beginning basics of blogging.
Follow these 6 easy tips, you should be on your way in no time! So go for it!
Create YOUR Blog today!
Happy Blogging!
These are definitely some great tips for new bloggers starting out! It can often feel overwhelming right at the beginning, so this is a good starting point!
I hope it is helpful!
Very good post for beginners. Many struggle to find out how to start a blog.
I’ve been so much into blogging lately, I forgot what I went through at the start. It’s very good to lay down the first steps for whoever wants to take this road. And such a personally rewarding road it is!
These are all amazing tips for new bloggers and such important steps to take! I really hoped I would have known all of this before starting! x