How to Start a Blog (The Right Way)
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You want to start a blog but don’t know where to start. Learning how to start a blog on your own can be very frightening when you have no knowledge whatsoever. But don’t worry, I got you covered! Through my experience, I’ve found many ways that might help you guys on how to get started.
Please remember that there are multiple strategies for creating a blog and driving traffic to it. There is no right or wrong answer in getting started. Everyone has his or her own strategies. You just have to find a way that works best for you.
It may sound overwhelming in the beginning because you don't know where to start, but I promise you if you stay optimistic and consistent, there will be results. The starting stages are always difficult to overcome. However, you just have to push through to be successful.
The guide below will help you how to start a blog as a beginner.
1. Niche and Name for Blog
When you are starting your blog, the first thing you should do is ask yourself some questions. “What do I want to be known for?” “What do I want to give my readers?” “What is my passion?” “What am I good at?” “What are some problems people have?”
Asking these questions can help you narrow down what niche you want to write about and a name for your blog.
I highly recommend not to make your niche too narrow because you might run out of ideas down the road. Just find what you love or what your passion is. You could think about mixing different niches together because some bloggers do that. Blogs do become interesting when you entwined two or more different categories. If you get overwhelmed with multiple niches, just start with one and expand on it later.
Some niches I've seen people blog about would be fashion, lifestyles, health & wellness, and personal finance.
Think about your life experiences, personal self, and hobbies. Once you've found a niche you like, you want to then name your blog. Figuring out your brand name is the first step on how to start a blog.
Now, you don't want to spend a lot of time thinking about a name because you can always rebrand your blog. When starting out as a beginner, most people tried to make their blog sound catchy and cool. Trust me, I've been there and I wasted too much time than I need to.
Just start off with a simple name that gets your niche across. Sometimes keeping it simple is the way to go! A simple yet memorable name will catch your audience's attention. Don't think so hard about it because you might lose time in launching your blog.
After you name your blog, this will be your domain (name of the website). Remember to check if your name is a trademark or not at USPTO. You do not want any copyrighted issues when you are just starting out.
If you need help coming up with a name, here is a list of name generators you can go to for ideas:
Once you have a name, the next step is to sign up for a web hosting.
2. Web hosting
A web host is a place where you build and write your blog. It stores all your information and allows you to publish it to the internet where users can access it. Most web hosting services you need to pay for (if you are starting out with little money, I recommend starting on Bluehost)
People usually picked a web hosting that is cheap and affordable when they are starting out. There are many web hosting out there that you can choose from, but most beginners use Bluehost before switching to better ones down the road.
Once you start making money and know how the process goes, you can switch to faster and better web hosting.
It is better to get a paid web hosting and not a free one. If you are thinking about scaling your blog and making money from it, you need to have the paid version. With a free version, you can't do much with it.
Click “Here” and then the “Start Building” button
Choose a Plan (I go for the Basic)
Type in your Domain Name
If you don't have a domain name, you type it in the first box. But if you do, you type it in the second box. Make sure your domain is easy to read and spell because it'll be easier for your readers.
Create your Account and Choose your Package
Make sure you fill all the important information out.
For the package information, the best deal is the 36 months at $3.95 a month, but you can choose whichever you want.
You also have the option of getting extras but you don't have to because WordPress offers free plugins.
3. Customization
Congrats on getting your web hosting set up. Now it is time to customize your blog. When you read other bloggers, they have different layouts, colors, designs, typography, and more. Every blogger has his or her unique design. I suggest you find a theme or layout that you like and personalize it.
The design of a blog can say a lot of things about a person.
Go out there and find the design that resonates with you. WordPress does a great job in offering many themes. If you don't like the themes, you don't have to use it, but you'll have to design it from scratch.
If you want to go for a feminine vibe, the popular themes are from Bluchic. This is what you have to pay, but the design is out of this world. I just like mine simple and minimal.
Your design doesn't have to be perfect because it can be changed at any time. Just set up the important things first and you can always go back and fix it. Don't spend too much time designing it because you have to think about producing content and getting traffic. I know many of you want a cute or cool design to compete with other bloggers, but it's not worth wasting your time on.
After you picked a design, I suggest getting your legal pages (Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Terms & Conditions) to protect your blog. When you are starting out, you might not have many visitors, but if you are planning to make money and have lots of visitors on your blog, you need to have these legal pages.
These important legal pages are necessary because they can protect you if someone is to sue you in the near future. I would do it when starting out because then you don't have to worry about it in the future.
It's better to be protected now than later. I don’t want you guys to get into trouble down the road. Learning how to start a blog by yourself can be intimidating and overwhelming when you are starting out with no knowledge. However, I hope my guide has helped you so far!
Whether your blog is a hobby or a business, you still want to legally protect yourself. We live in a world where people are easily sued. It’s better to do it correctly the first time.
You can get a free one like Termly, but I preferred a legit one from a lawyer. I used Plug and Law by Erika Kullberg, and it was worth the investment. I got 3 legal documents for only $97 which is a great price compared to hiring an actual lawyer
After you are done with that, you should do the header with the “Home” “About” “Blog” and “Contact” pages next. This will help your audience to navigate throughout your blog.
Once you get all your pages set up and the design layout you like, it is time to start writing!
4. Write and Publish
You are almost there! It is finally time to start writing.
Your first blog post might be exciting and overwhelming, but don’t worry, I have been there. Just take baby steps. Remember everyone has his or her own starting point. Finding inspiration for your blog can be tough in the beginning, but the more you learn and research, you'll become an expert in no time.
This was a fun but difficult part because I'm writing mostly on my own and trying to rank on Google through SEO. This takes lots of work.
Writing can take a lot longer if you go to school, have a full-time job, or have a family to take care of. What I advise you to do if you have no time is to outsource to ghostwriters or copywriters. This can help to get your blog out there faster.
However, if you love to write, you can just do it yourself. I know some people prefer doing it themselves because they want it to be their writing style or they are on a budget. Just spend about 30 minutes to 1 hour a day writing.
I personally do both because my schedule can be hectic, and to me, time is everything. I have to prioritize my schedule, so I can get most of my work done.
Once you finished writing a post, you just have to click “Publish” and it's on the internet.
After a while, you get the hang of it. Next, you can start making money by doing affiliate marketing, advertisement, digital products, and sponsored posts. I know in the beginning you might have nothing, but just start building slowly, and you'll get there. If you need more help and want your blog to become a business, you have to invest in groups or courses. I am a part of the Insiders and the people in the group have helped me grow as a person and as a blogger. If you want to grow your blog quickly, you have to invest your time and money into it.
Overall, the blogging process is self-explanatory. It's just a lot of work in the beginning. Blogging can suck until it doesn't!
5. Promote Your Blog
When you are a beginner, no one knows about your blog so there's no reading it. You have to let the world knows who you are and what you write about.
This part is one of the hardest parts because there are multiple ways to promote your blog such as SEO, social media, or paid ads. People have their own strategies, so you have to find one that suits you.
I suggest starting off with one social media and sticking with it to see if it works or not. If you try multiple, you might feel overwhelmed and it can cause burnout.
If you see no result, you should switch gears. Usually, it takes 3-6 months to see the result, so please be patient.
As long as you keep being consistent, you will get the results you want. Try Pinterest, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, or SEO.
By doing and testing things out, I know you will find the perfect method for yourself!
I hope I simplified the information on how to start a blog for you guys, and I hope you are excited in getting your blog up and running.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next post!
She started her blog, The Money Dreamer, when she realized the 9-5 job was not the lifestyle she wanted anymore. After designing for a while, she wanted a more meaningful life, which was freedom, so she decided to venture out. She took action so that she can live her dream life and decided to help people to live theirs by helping them how to save, budget, and invest.
