words Al Woods
There are many reasons why you may want to start a blog. It can be a means for you to tell your story or meet like-minded individuals. It can also be a way for you to create opportunities to generate a decent amount of revenue. Regardless of the reason why you want to blog, the steps below will surely help you get started.
Think of a topic that you want to write about
The first step that you need to do if you want to start blogging is to think of a topic that you want to write about. There are many options available for you to start, so you may choose to go with an SEO blog, a travel blog or a fashion-oriented one, depending on what piques your interest. In doing so, you will find it easier to fill your page with informative content later on. Otherwise, if the niche that you pick is not what you are passionate about, then you may find it difficult to create content that you can post.
If you want to be a successful blogger with numerous followers, then you also need to consider a niche that is interesting for a majority of people. Alongside this, it will help to scope out your competitors, particularly if you want your blog to be profitable in the future. Nevertheless, you don’t have to greatly consider these things if your primary intention for blogging is to keep a journal of your personal experiences.
Select a platform that you are comfortable using
Once you decide on a topic that you are passionate about writing about, scoping the audience that you want to touch, the next step is for you to select a blogging platform that you are comfortable in using. In this case, you need to research some of the best blogging platforms that are easy to set up, particularly for beginners. This means that as much as possible, you steer clear of those that require too much coding skills. In parallel to this, you also need to consider the features that the platform offers because as your blog grows, later on, your platform must be able to scale with it.
Come up with a unique domain name
Your domain name is considered as your address on the internet. Simply put, your audience will be able to find you by knowing your domain name. Thus, you must pick a domain name that is not only unique but one that is easy to remember as well. In this case, a short one will prove to be more beneficial than a long domain name. Also ensure that it is easy to type, which means that you need to steer clear of using hyphens, numbers, or double letters. It is also a good idea if your domain name somehow reflects what you are writing about in your blog before going through the domain name registration process.
Get a web hosting account
Another technical thing that you need to accomplish to start a blog is to get a web hosting account. This means that first, you need to select a web hosting provider or a company that offers servers where you can store the contents of your blog, making it available for other people to see. There are several things that you need to consider in choosing a provider to host your page and one of these is their uptime guarantee. This ensures that your website is available at any time of the day, any day of the week.
In terms of the technical specifications of the web hosting provider, some of the things you need to consider include the database type and bandwidth they offer, as well as their scalability and accessibility. On the other hand, in terms of security measures, you also need to look into the SSL certificates of the provider, as well as how they do backups. Once you decide on a reputable web hosting provider, the next step is for you to choose a plan that they offer.
Pick a design for your blog
Your blog should be able to reflect your personality, as well as the theme of your niche. This is the reason why if you will be going with an available design template, make sure that it is customizable. This will make it easy for you to personalize it, incorporating your header and homepage support details. Play around with different color schemes until you land on one that is most appropriate for your page. Design your layout such that your page won’t look too cramped or too empty. Also, dedicate a space where you will be able to embed images or videos because these can capture the attention of your target audience, paving the way for a great first impression.
Begin writing content
Once all the technical details are out of the way, you can already focus on writing your content. In doing so, you can optimize it for the search engines to pick up your site and put it at the top spot when users enter keywords in your niche. To do so, your content must not only be original and interesting, but your grammar must be impeccable too. Fortunately, you can leverage online grammar checkers that will ensure that your content is perfect. As much as possible, update your blog regularly with new content because readers and audiences will most likely visit your site if they see new posts in it time and again. In case you want to generate a certain sum from your blog, then make sure to promote it.
In conclusion, once you identify a certain area or topic that you want to write about, then you can already begin blogging. The next steps that you need to take after this are more on the technical side wherein you need to select a platform that you are comfortable with using, picking a domain name that stands out, and getting a hosting account. From there, feel free to become creative in designing your page and writing content. As soon as your blog is filled with informative and interesting content, make sure to promote it because you may just have the chance to make money from it.
