How to Start a Blog?
Does it appear that you are ready to start a blog? Aren't you?
A big congratulations that you have finally made up your mind on starting a blog.
Hanging between starting a blog or not can be exhausting and frustrating, but since you have crossed that stage, it's excellent!
Having your blog can be fun, motivating and acts as a platform that showcases your interest. However, we do have a general idea about what a blog is and the content it usually contains, but it's best to understand it properly before you begin.
In the coming blog, we will also discuss if starting a blog is a good idea, factors to keep in mind while starting a blog, how to start a blog, and how to make your blog popular.
Don't you think that would be great? So, let's begin!
Contents
What Is a Blog?
In simple words, a blog is a website where you can share information, which may include text, images, or videos. It is a short form for a weblog.
It is published on the World Wide Web and usually consists of informal entries that provide a glimpse of the writer’s life and experience.
A blog is an online platform where an individual or a group of individuals share their views and experiences with a large audience.
In the coming blog, you will read about how to start a blog business but first, let’s read if starting a blog is at all a good idea?
Is Starting a Blog a Good Idea?
When the idea of starting a blog pops into our mind, it brings with it a doubt whether it is a good idea, to begin with it or not.
To make a blog work, one needs to put in regular efforts, and even after that, there is no guarantee that it will reap what you are seeking. Therefore, you must have proper knowledge about how to start a blog business.
However, there is some risk involved with everything, and in the case of blogging, if you are consistent and determined, it will be worth it.
Let your passion flow and reach the audience and they will not only connect with you but also admire your work. Once this happens, the next step for you would be to learn how to start a blog and make money.
If you have something you want to share with the world, whether you write, click, or create, you may start with blogging. If sharing is your primary motto, you will indeed feel happy and content.
Different challenges might occur in your way to making your blog popular. If you are focused, you will smoothly sail through it all.
Blogging is an excellent way of sharing what you have inside you with the audience around the globe. It provides you with the liberty to express your views and create an identity.
There is no harm in starting a blog; there are many platforms on which you can begin with it for free! Therefore, beginning with a blog is a great idea.
Factors to Keep in Mind While Starting a Blog
So, you have finally decided to learn how to start a blog, and you are all excited about it. Aren’t you? Well, that’s great, but if you are new in this field and don’t know much about it, the challenges might surprise you.
Many people give up on their blog much sooner because they didn’t know they will have to face unexpected hassles.
It is smarter to do some groundwork before you launch your blog and start sharing your content. There are facts that you must be aware of before starting a blog. Let’s read what these are:
Blogging requires hard work
If you think that blogging is a cakewalk, stop here right now! Blogging requires hard work, determination, focus and passion for making it work.
Your content needs to be engaging, which catches the attention of the spectators. While learning how to start a blog business, knowing about the importance of content is a must.
It requires time and a lot of editing, updating and modifications to create a single post. It tests your patience and your inner strength.
You will need to do a lot of research to make sure that your content is accurate in terms of information, as it will be shared with a large audience.
It demands consistency
Would you like a blog where posting is done once in a while or the one with frequent posts? The subsequent one is your answer. To keep your blog active and going, you will be needed to post consistently.
With the increase in the number of competitors and new bloggers coming up, you must keep posting without a long gap.
The audience tends to forget quickly and may lose the link with your blog if you stop posting. Essential to increase followers and make your blog work is to continue posting relevant content. One must memorize this point while learning how to start a blog and make money.
Select a niche for better results
About to start a blog and wondering how to make it successful? It is challenging; yes, it is! Numerous new bloggers are coming up each day, and there are many already there.
It is super tough to make your mark, but still, you can do it.
The best way to stand out in the crowd is to stand out by selecting a niche that no one has opted for till now. This will instantly help you gain the attention of the readers and make you famous.
It all depends on your selection, which will help you yield the best results and make your blog famous overnight.
Monetizing it is not simple
It is not all easy to earn money through blogging, and it requires effort. If you plan to learn how to start a blog, keep in mind that you will need to work hard.
It will require you to research, create, and find the best ways from time to time to make your blog famous. Once you learn this, it will become easy to start a blog and make money from it.
You need to increase the number of visitors on your page if you wish to add advertisements to earn money. This can make possible only if you have great content coming up now and then.
It is a common belief that bloggers deserve a lot, and they do but only after work tirelessly. Starting a blog business requires time, patience, and hard work.
If you plan to learn how to start a blog and make money right away, don’t do it. Blogging needs time and patience; you will have to put in years of hard work to earn out of it.
The best way to start a blog is to do it because you want to share your content and if the making follows, wouldn’t it be cherry on the top?
If you are starting a blog for the first time, you will be unsure about many things, and that is completely fine.
No matter what you decide, take enough time to understand and think about it before you finalize anything, as it is a part of learning how to start a blog business.
Whether you make the right decision or the wrong one will increase your experience and understanding of tackling different situations. If you are a beginner, you might be hesitant to start with customized service, and that is fine.
Don’t feel hesitant to start with a free account for blogging on WordPress or others. You can easily customize it later when you get a little more experienced and are sure how to keep going.
Great content is the key
Blogging is all about the content you post, and it is everything! The better the content, the larger your following will be. When the audience sees that your posts are informative or of their use, they will never leave.
They will stay with you, which will slowly help open doors for making money through your blog.
When you see a post, no matter whether it is a piece of writing, a picture an informative video, if you `find it relevant, you instantly tend to visit their account, don’t you? This is what happens with the audience as well.
Great content attracts them and keeps them engaged.
It’s all about being social
Blogging is all about being social; it includes connecting with people and starting a conversation. It’s about knowing people who might be interested in your content and adding them.
As a blogger, it is important to interact with other bloggers whether they are related to your niche or not to increase your network.
Once you have a list of bloggers connected with you, you may help each other grow by sharing posts, links, and guest posts.
You may also consider joining a blogging community as this helps in making a presence and connecting with many others directly.
Be ready to learn
Blogging involves and includes learning a lot of new things that will come your way from time to time. You must be open to learning if you wish to grow and make your blog work.
Since it is an online platform, it will include new terminology, SEO analytics, which you will have to learn unless you are from a technical field.
Presently, there are many platforms that share information about these terminologies where you can easily read about them while learning how to start a blog and make money. All you are required to do is to grasp and practice these to make your blog work.
Don’t fake it
If you think you are smart, the audience is smarter! Whatever you do,ensure it is authentic and real. Sharing fake posts won’t last long and will have you pay a huge price for it.
The best way to attract an audience and make them stay is to share the original post which is informative.
Let your thoughts flow out, keep it as it is and express without any fear. Let the audience see the real you and connect with who you really are because this is what will really last long.
Promote it
You like sharing your thoughts, and that is why you are willing to create a blog, right? Imagine you have made a post after putting in a lot of hard work and sharing it online.
Does your work end here? What if it doesn’t reach a vast audience? This way, you are required to promote your content. Once you learn it well, the next important thing to remember would be how to make money by converting your blog into a business.
The time you have put in to create a post is the same amount of time you need to promote. Create a network, connect with online communities, share your post and let them share it too.
Spread a word about your new position and invite your folks to visit it. Promotion is the key to increase your viewers and followers.
Link building
Link building plays a significant role in increasing people's flow to your blog and helping it rank higher in Google search.
Although it requires a lot of effort and hard work, it isn't necessarily difficult to be applied. It helps in creating a network and targeting the right ones to your blog.
Creating quality content is a must for link building; once completed, you may add a link of anyone related to your content.
They will surely follow you back as it benefits them, and the chances are that they allow the connection. This is one of the most excellent tactics which everyone must be taught while learning how to start a blog business.
Choose quality over quantity
Suppose there is a blog that posts multiple times in a day and the one which doesn’t post as much but has high-quality content, which among the both will you choose. The latter one, wouldn’t you? This happens because quality comes above quantity.
Even though the quantity is less, people will love your posts and follow your blog if the quality is high. The best way is to create a quality post and promote it well in the time left rather than creating and posting multiple low-quality posts.
Social media promotion
Social media has many daily visitors and followers, which you may make use of it. If you have a blog and are also present on medial social channels, you may share your blog's link there. This will help you out in popularizing your blog.
Also Read,
How to Start a Blog?
You must have been waiting to reach this part of the blog, or maybe you just scrolled here because you don’t have the patience to know how to begin.
If you haven’t read the above content, I would say that you should read it because it will help you out in a big way!
Now, let’s read how to start a blog. Are you ready?
Choose a niche for your blog
A niche refers to a specialized section, a niche for your blog means selecting a particular segment around which your blog will revolve.
If you wish to make your blog stand out amidst the numerous ones already present online, choose a niche that is not only of your interest but also relevant to others.
Steps for choosing a blog niche?
A blog niche must be of your interest because if it isn’t, you won’t be enjoying writing it, and that will become visible in your blog.
So, choose a field which you are fond of! Once you are sure about the field, conduct market research about the same.
Go through various blogs which already exist on it and find the areas which are less covered within your field.
Try shortlisting the topics which might interest the audience and is not covered much online. Your niche is your ticket to a successful blog, so make sure that you put in the effort while selecting it.
After shortlisting the areas, ensure that there is a scope for earning a profit if you plan to monetize it.
Find a good domain name
Selecting a blog name is fun as well as a crucial part that should be done carefully. A blog name indicates what the blog contains.
Here are some points which must be followed while selecting a blog name:
To check availability, search this handy domain-name checker
If you have few names in your mind, input them to check their availability. There is a chance that the user name you have selected for your blog is already taken.
Therefore, you mustn't have only one but a few more options ready. If the blog name of your choice is available well and good, if not, be ready to modify it a bit.
Blog name must be accessible which people can remember and share with others. A blog name that is different from its content might create confusion in the minds of people.
In contrast, a blog name in sync with its content will be easy to memorize for the audience.
A blog name can be your name, hobby, or may even represent your ongoing experiences. No matter what, your domain name or blog name must be unique, attractive, yet simple.
Don't forget to follow the guidelines given for the name selection of your blog by the online platform.
These are specific points necessary for everyone to know while learning how to start a blog business.
Select a hosting provider
There are many platforms available, among which you may select the best one according to your choice and preference.
For example, WordPress is one of the famous platforms with a large base of users. It offers free and customized service to its users for blogging and has numerous add-ons and plugins.
You might ask yourself specific questions to find out which type of hosting provider you are seeking.
Some of the points that you may keep in mind while selecting the platform are as follows. You may check if it is easy to set up. As for a beginner, that is a must.
See if it offers free service in case you are looking for it. Different platforms have various layout options and themes; you may talk to the previous users to know which one is the best.
Three things which a hosting provider gives:
Ensure that the domain, server, and storage space are as per your requirements and do not hinder creating a blog of your choice.
An online platform must also have a proper support system to help you out when you get stuck.
You may further find out if it has a good customer base. By far, WordPress is the best. Let’s read other points of how to start a blog as well!
I would recommend Bluehost would be the best hosting to start the blog For the Beginner
From Bluehost, you will get:
1. Use any BlueHost link on this site to get the special Sale price of $2.75 per month. To Get the Special Offer Click on "Get Started".
2. Select Your Plan. I would recommend a Basic Plan for Newbie Blogger. Click Select to Choose Your Plan.
3. Type the Domain Name you Want to Register in the Left box and then click next to Start the registration Process.
4. Fill Out Your Billing Details For Registration Process.
5. You Will Need to Choose your Hosting Package and Options as Per Your Requirement.
- By Choosing 36- month Package, you will get the lowest monthly rate, while the 12-month package has a lower up-front cost.
6. You, Will, Need to Create Your Bluehost Account and Password
7. Install the WordPress Blogging Platform
Now the system will install WordPress automatically. Once the installation process is completed, click on the blue color WordPress button to log in to your blog's admin area.
Customize it if you want it
The decision is up to you whether you want to begin with a free blog or you wish to pay.
If you are a beginner and don’t know much about blogging, starting with a free blog is the best option.
Initially, you can experiment and browse through the details; once you know how to use it, you may switch to a customized paid version.
If you are serious about blogging and want to create the best version, you may opt for a customized blog to select from various layouts of your choice.
You can have a personalized domain name of your choice and can monetize it fully as you are the owner of your blog.
While a domain is the URL of the website, the host is a company that puts your website on the internet and makes it visible to the audience.
In customize, the selected domain name will be free of additional company names, which is generally attached in the case of free hosting.
In the paid version, you may enjoy all the services that are not shared with the free blog owners.
If you have been wondering how to start a blog and make money, opt for a paid version, the chances of earning will be more here.
Choose a good theme
Designing your blog is fun; it showcases your interests and likes. Visible appearance matters when it comes to blogging, as this is what makes the first impression on the audience.
They see first and read later; therefore, you must select an appropriate design for a blog.
There are numerous layouts offered by the online platforms from which you may choose the one that matches your style. For example, WordPress offers this great facility of changing themes with some clicks.
Right Now, your Blog might look something like this.
This is the default WordPress theme, and on the left side is a menu that helps you change its appearance.
Now, there are two options when it comes to themes:
You can either get a free theme with limited options or go with a paid theme.
I recommend you pick a theme from Generate-press to get a nice-looking theme for your blog
You may change it whenever you want to and switch to the template of your choice without losing any data. Blog design should represent both your personality and the work you are willing to showcase.
How will it look if your blog is related to flowers and you choose a template with balls? It will give a pathetic appearance to your blog; moreover, confuse the audience, making them leave.
Essential Plugins
Plugins are a piece of software consisting of a group of functions that helps in enhancing the blogging experience.
These help in extending functionality and adding features to the blogging site helping by providing better audience reach.
These are generally written in PHP programming language and are known for integrating seamlessly with WordPress.
Although having lots of plugins can spoil the functionality and security of your blog, there are several we recommend everyone look into
- Yoast SEO: The most highly recommended SEO plugin handles many SEO tasks automatically for you and makes on-page SEO tasks a lot easier.
- Contact Form 7: If you want to avoid putting your email address on your contact page, use this plugin to email you whenever someone fills out the form.
- WP Super Cache: This Caching Plugin allows your blog to load faster.
- Akismet: Required for every blog, it automatically filters a ton of comment spam which is a problem for every blogger.
- Google Analytics Dashboard: This plugin tracks the visitors to your site so you can see what people are interested in and how they’re reaching to you.
Write and publish your first post
Once your blog setup is ready, you may start publishing by posting on it.
The first post that you publish will leave a lasting impression on the audience as this will enhance your chances of increasing followers.
As soon as you start posting, people will become aware of your presence. They will start noticing you and whatever you publish in your blog.
If your blog is presentable and your first post is interesting, followers will begin powering in.Therefore, you must create your post by putting in your best efforts.
Your post must showcase your passion in an exemplary manner such that people get the feel of what your blog is going to be about. Your passion is the key that will make your blog popular and going. Therefore, it must be reflected in your work.
How to Maintain a Blog?
Learning how to start a blog business is only the first step. Once your blog is ready, the actual task begins.
To keep your blog going, you need to maintain the consistency and quality of your posts. Keep trying new things, select a niche that will make you stand out and keep experimenting with it.
If your posts are similar over a period of time, they might appear monotonous and may compel the audience to leave. Therefore, it is necessary for your posts to be kept interesting, and new versions of them are posted from time to time.
Avoiding taking a too-long break in between, your followers must be aware of the fact that you are there.
Keep posting from time to time, have a conversation with them, host competitions but keep them engaged. An increase in the number of your followers is the key that makes your blog popular.
How to Make My Blog Popular?
You want to make your blog popular, don't you? This is what every blogger dream of! Here are some of the pointers which might help you in making your blog popular.
Post
The central part of blogging involves posting, put in all your efforts to provide the best services to your audience.
Every post should be a benchmark and showcase the hard work you have been putting in it.
Keep posting regularly but don't compromise on the quality; if you feel the increase in quantity decreases the quality of posts, stop then and there.
In case you continue, you might end up losing your followers who believed that your posts were worth staying for.
They will lose faith in you and will move to find other bloggers who can provide better content. These are some of the facts which must not be ignored while learning how to start a blog.
Engage
If you are scrolling and going through different posts, what is it that will make you stop? General posts which everyone knows about aren't worth sharing.
If you wish to seize the audience's attention, you need to create content that is outstanding and new for the viewers.
Create content that will make you stop for a while because this is what will keep the audience engaged in your blog.
Select a niche that no one has opted for till now, this will instantly shower you with attention from the audience, and your followers will increase drastically.
The posts you share must contain authentic information; it must be free from any fake news as doing so will defame you badly.
Not only this, it will take you far away from your dream of becoming positively famous. You wouldn't want that, would you?
While learning how to start a blog, you should also know that sharing any information online is a matter of enormous responsibility and people from around the globe read it.
Your aim should be to create engagement and helpful content that benefit everyone instead of harming them.
When people realize that your blog is helpful to them, they will never leave your side.
Reply
If you are receiving many queries from the audience or commenting on your posts, make sure that you reply every time.
This is a decent way to connect with people and make a positive impact on them.
They feel welcomed and choose to stay with you for a long time.
Neglecting a comment or reply from the visitors might leave a negative impact even though it was unintentional from your end.
They might take it negatively and stop visiting your blog. Therefore, you must keep an eye on every reply you receive from the followers and the audience.
You may even consider their initiative as a chance to increase your network because this is what it is.
Giving prompt replies will enhance your image and make them spread positive words about your blog.
Therefore, never leave any query or comment without replying.
Content
No matter what, your blog is about making sure that you keep your passion alive. It must be reflected in your every post.
Content forms the key to attracting more and more people; therefore, it must be up to the mark.
This is one of the critical points which must be grasped while learning how to start a blog and make money.
Your content must be well defined; whatever you are trying to say must be well written and have a proper sequence such that the audience gets it right away.
What you write and what the audience reads must be the same as this will help them create a strong bonding between you and your audience.
Learning how to start a blog business is not enough. Additionally, you must be aware of these minute points, which make a big difference.
The longer is the content, the better it is considered, but then it must have a proper flow.
Break it up in small a paragraph which increases the readability and keeps the readers engaged.
It must be highly informative and of the best quality, such that people receive the best of everything.
Make use of heading and sub-headings so that in case a follower doesn't have much time to go through the entire article, he may still get an overview with the help of these.
Highlight main points in between or try writing interesting facts in different fonts, readers enjoy this kind of stuff and stay on the page for long without even knowing.
The content you are sharing must be original. This is important because once the audience realizes that the content is copied, they will stop visiting your blog.
Originality is what attracts the audience the most; this is what will help your blog gain popularity.
Creativity
Make your blog look attractive by using different fonts and adding relevant pictures related to the content.
Images enhance your content and make it look appealing.
It helps the readers in understanding the content correctly and creates a lasting impression on them.
Being creative is crucial for your blog if you wish to make it stand out.
Unless and until you share your creative streak with the audience, they won't see anything new in your work.
Creativity keeps others engaged in our work because they get to see something they haven't seen before.
Edit
Once you are done writing the content, ensure that you edit it again and again until you find it outstanding.
One mistake can change the meaning of an entire sentence which may land you in trouble. Therefore, your work must be free from any errors.
If you have been wondering how to start a blog and make money, increasing the number of followers and starting ads displayed in your blog will help you do it.
When your work is free-flowing and error-free, it will make the audience believe that you genuinely are professional in your work, and they would love to follow your blog.
Must Read,
GeneratePress Theme Reviews 2021(The Best light weight theme).
Wrap Up
It is time for a fresh beginning for you! Blogging is a way of sharing your thoughts with the world and letting them have a glimpse of who you are. Every new task seems complicated until we do it.
Although starting a blog has its challenges, the result is worth facing. Now you know how to start a blog business, it’s time to create it and make it stand out. Happy Blogging!
Hi
I am Sanjay Yadav Founder of BloggingTiger. A Blog that Provides legitimate information about Blogging, SEO, and Affiliate Marketing.