Are you looking to start a blog? There are some things that you have to consider before starting your blog.
For example, what type of content do you want to post on your blog? What is the goal for your blog? And how will you find time and money to create content on a regular basis?
In this article, we will explore these questions so that by the end of it all, you’ll know exactly what steps need to take place for success!
What is a blog?
A blog, which is short for web log, is a type of website where you can share your thoughts and ideas with the world. You can write about anything that interests you — from food to fashion to travel. And unlike traditional websites, blogs are updated on a regular basis (usually daily or weekly) with new content.
This makes them perfect for someone who wants to share their thoughts on a daily basis.
Should you start a blog?
If you are thinking of starting a blog, then before we get into the details about how to start a blog, let’s talk about why blogging might be right for your business.
Here are some reasons that I think are important:
Business Model
Blogs help create an audience!
When someone follows another person on their social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, they are really following the person behind it.
They may not even know who you are!
However, if someone follows your blog and likes what you write about then there’s a good chance that they will follow your social media accounts to learn more about you. This is how I’ve been able to grow my social media following to over 50,000 in a little under two years.
Brand Awareness
A blog can help increase brand awareness for your business. When you write about topics that are related to your business, people who are interested in those topics will start to see your company as an authority in the space.
And when they’re ready to make a purchase, they’ll be more likely to come to you.
Credibility
A blog can also help increase the credibility of your business. When you share your thoughts and ideas on a blog, it shows that you are an expert in the field. This can help attract new customers as well as existing ones.
Now that we have talked about some of the reasons why you should start a blog, let’s move on to the details about how to do it!
How to start a blog
Now that you know some of the reasons why you should start a blog, let’s talk about the details about how to do it.
1). Choose Blogging Niche
What is a niche?
A niche is what you are going to be blogging about. It is a specific topic that you can share your thoughts and insights on with the world.
When you are starting a blog, it is important to choose a niche that you are interested in and knowledgeable about.
That way, you will enjoy writing content for your blog and be able to share valuable insights with your readers.
How do I find my blogging niche?
There are a few ways that you can find your blogging niche:
Read a lot
The best way to find your blogging niche is by reading, reading, and then some more!
By searching for blogs in the space that you want to compete in (or at least write about), you can learn what topics are popular.
You will also get an idea of how other people have set up their blog so it will make it easier to start one yourself.
Social Media
Another way that you can find your blogging niche is by searching for it on social media platforms, such as Facebook groups or Twitter chats.
These spaces are filled with people who love sharing their thoughts about specific topics and will be happy to tell you what they are interested in learning more about!
I’ve found some of my best blog post ideas by participating in Twitter chats.
Brainstorm
If you are still struggling to come up with a niche, then try brainstorming.
Sit down and write out a list of all the topics that interest you and then narrow it down to the ones that you know the most about.
From there, it will be easier to come up with blog post ideas and attract an audience.
Once you have chosen your blogging niche, it is time to move on to the next step on how to start a blog!
2). Pick a blog name
When you are starting a blog, you will need to choose a name for it. This can be difficult because you want to make sure that the name is unique and represents your blog well.
Here are a few tips for choosing a blog name:
- Make it memorable – You want people to remember your blog name so they can easily find it when they’re looking for your content. To do this, it is best to keep the name short and memorable so people can easily search for it on Google or remember what it is when someone mentions it!
- Make a domain – If you really want to make sure that the name of your blog sticks with people, then go ahead and purchase the corresponding domain!
That way, people can easily find your blog online by typing in the domain name. - Be creative – Don’t be afraid to get creative with your blog name! You want it to stand out and represent you and your brand well.
And it don’t knock your head off the wall trying to come up with something fancy. Take a look at TheBestinKenya.co.ke.
It is one of the best review sites covering everything in Kenya. And their name does it justice by communicating what the blog is all about.
For your blog name, think in that direction.
Once you have chosen a name for your blog, it is time to move on to the next step to start a blog.
3). Choose a blogging platform
What is a blogging platform?
A blogging platform is where you’ll be doing all of your writing, editing, and publishing. Some platforms are free to use while others come with a bit more cost attached (but also have extra features).
What should I look for in a blog platform?
When choosing the best blogging platform for you, there are three main things that you should consider:
- Ease of use – The platform should be easy to use, especially if you are new to blogging. You don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out how to write a blog post or add an image!
- Functionality – The platform should have all the features that you need to create and publish your content. This includes things like an image editor and social media buttons.
- Cost – The platform should be affordable for you, either because it is free or comes with a low-cost subscription plan. This will help to ensure that your blog is easy to run without costing too much money each month!
There are two types of blogging platforms;
a). Self-hosted platforms
This option is ideal if you want to have complete control over your blog. This means that will be able to pick the domain name and use it on any web server, so there’s no monthly cost for hosting.
However, this does mean that you will need some technical skills in order to set up a web host and install the software.
b). Hosted platforms
This option is perfect for those who don’t want to deal with any technicalities and just want to start blogging.
These platforms are hosted by the company, which means you don’t have to worry about anything.
However, they typically come with a monthly cost, and you are limited in terms of what you can do with your blog (such as not being able to change the design).
You can start a free blog on OLITT now.
Once you have chosen a blogging platform, it is time to move on to the next step on how to start a blog.
4). Customize your blog
This is where you will be able to make your blog your own!
You can change the colors, fonts, and header images to match your brand or personal style.
You can also add widgets and plugins to give your blog extra functionality (like social media buttons).
Don’t forget to write a bio and about page so that people know who you are and what your blog is about.
This is also a great place to add links to your social media profiles so people can follow you on their favorite platform!
Add pages to your blog – you may also want to consider adding pages like a contact page, privacy policy, or disclaimer. This will help to make your blog look more professional and trustworthy.
Once you have finished customizing your blog, it is time to start writing content!
5). Start Publishing content
Now that your blog is all set up, it is time to start publishing content.
You can write about anything that you are passionate about or find interesting. Be sure to share your posts on social media and engage with your readers in the comments section.
The more content you publish, the more people will visit your blog and the more engaged they’ll be.
Be sure to keep your content fresh and interesting, so that people will want to come back for more!
What type of content should I create?
There are a few types of content that you can create:
- Blog posts – These are the standard type of posts that most bloggers write. They are usually around 1000 words long and cover a specific topic in depth.
- List posts – List posts are popular on the internet because they are easy to read and provide information quickly. Lists can be about anything, from the best products of the year to tips for living a healthier life.
- How-to posts – How-to posts are great because they teach people how to do something. They can be about anything, from how to make a perfect pancake to how to start a blog.
- Guest Posts – Guest posting is a great way to guest post on someone else’s blog, which will help to drive traffic back to your own site. You can also guest post on sites that have a similar audience as yours in order to target people who are already interested in what you are doing!
The most important thing when learning how to start a blog is to just start writing and publishing content.
If you find this step challenging, who said you have to do the writing by yourself? Consider hiring professional content writing services to handle the workload.
6). Promote Your Blog
Now that you have got some great posts on your blog, it is time to start promoting them in order to get more traffic. Here are a few ways to promote your blog:
- Post original and engaging content – The most effective promotion is word of mouth! If people enjoy the content that they read, they’ll be more likely to share it with their friends.
- Use social media – Social media is a great way to share your content with a large audience. be sure to post it on all of your social media platforms and use relevant hashtags so that people can find it easily.
- Submit your posts to article directories and other blogs – Another great way to get traffic to your blog is to get links to your site. Article directories are a great way to do this because they will help you build backlinks and boost your rankings in search engines like Google!
Start an email list – Email marketing is another fantastic promotion tool that can help to drive traffic and increase sales over time. Sign up for software like Aweber or MailChimp to start collecting email addresses from your readers.
There are a lot of great ways to promote your blog, so be sure to try out a few and see which ones work best for you!
Once you have started promoting your blog, the traffic will start rolling in and you will be well on your way to becoming a successful blogger!
7). Monetize Your Blog
Now that you have got a great blog up and running, it is time to start making money! You can make money in a variety of ways when you are blogging.
How much will I earn?
The amount of money that you will be able to make depends on how big your audience is and what types of ads they show. You can expect to make anywhere from a few dollars per month to a few hundred dollars per month, depending on how successful your blog is.
What are the most common ways to monetize a blog?
The most common ways to monetize a blog are by displaying ads, selling products or services, and writing sponsored posts.
- Ads – Ads are a great way to monetize your blog because it doesn’t require any extra work from you. The ads are already on the site, so all that you need to do is generate traffic and wait for them to start making money!
- Products or Services – Selling your own products or services can be very lucrative if done correctly. You will want to make sure that whatever you are selling is something that your readers actually want and need in order to ensure the greatest success.
- Sponsored Posts – A sponsored post is an article written by a blogger who has been paid to promote or review a product, service, company, or website. It is great because it allows bloggers who may not be able to afford to advertise to still make money from their blog!
There are a variety of ways to monetize your blog, so be sure to experiment and find the ones that work best for you!
Blogging can be a great way to make money if done correctly. Just remember to focus on creating quality content that people will want to read, and you will be well on your way to success!
What are some other ways that you can think of for monetizing a blog? Let me know in the comments!
Final thoughts on how to start a blog
In conclusion, if you are looking for a way to make money online in addition to your day job, blogging can be an excellent choice.
You don’t need any special skills or training to get started, and there are a variety of ways to make money from your blog. Just remember to focus on creating quality content that people will want to read, and you’ll be well on your way to success!