So you want to run a successful blog but you are totally new to the process. It can be overwhelming to start a blog, especially if you are a beginner.
In the beginning of any process, there are so many questions. Which platform should I choose? How often should I blog? How do I grow my audience? The process can seem absolutely daunting.
This article, however, is going to give you all the tips to set you up for success!
Choose A Topic
Choosing a topic is what will define and shape the content, look, and feel of your blog.
Start with what you know.
This is key as you will be creating a lot of content for this topic, so be sure it’s a topic that you have a lot of passion for and are overall in love with. Think about your passions.
If you know a great deal about photography, start writing about how to shoot pictures. If you know a lot about an instrument, write how to play.
Writing about something that you are passionate about and know enough to build an entire blog around is what will make your blog enjoyable for you.
Choose A Platform and A Domain
Okay, if you’re serious about blogging you need to choose which platform you’re going to use and domain.
A domain is the web address name that your blog will show in the web address bar. Some platforms offer to buy your domain for you when you upgrade to certain plans. You can also buy your own domain through sites like Godaddy.com and pair the domain later.
There are a good amount of platforms and all of them have good features.
WordPress
WordPress offers a plan where you can get started for free and you can upgrade to a personally owned domain name later. The different plans allows you to get more out of your blog, if you plan on monetizing or using different features to get your more visibility on the internet later on. However, you can just start a blog for free at the moment.
Wix
Wix is great for its visual design and options in terms of creating an aesthetically pleasing site. Wix gets more in depth in terms of selling services, if you’re ready to turn your passion into a passive income.
Bluehost
Bluehost is another platform that has awesome designs and they give you their domain as you sign up. There’s subscription involved, so check out your options and financial capabilities.
Choose Your Design
Based on what you want to write, your theme will define this style for you. A couple of these platforms will either ask you or allow you to choose what kind of blog you’re trying to accomplish. Whether it is a portfolio of your photographs or if you’re more text-oriented, there is a style uniquely for you.
Take your time to figure out which look feels right for you. Having a more visually appealing website will catch the attention of your readers and make them want to come back to your page.
The theme of your blog will also help you be more excited about coming back to your website. There are a lot of website designs to make you feel like you’re a blogging pro, so don’t be shy and pick one that you love!
Plugins For Your Blog
Plugins are features that are added (hence plugged in) to your website to help gain more visibility on the blogosphere.
Google Analytics and Yoast SEO, are just a couple that will allow you to see how your blog posts are doing and what you need to infiltrate to make them more popular. These are good insights to have so you’re not aimlessly blogging, unsure what is working and what isn’t.
Google Analytics shows you what kind of keywords people are typing into search engines. This way you can center your blog posts around what kind of content people are looking for in your niche.
Create Valuable and Compelling Content
A way to make your blogging unique is not just to ramble off with thoughts but create content that people are going to want to read.
If you’re a beginner blogger, start posting about two or three times a week. This will grow traffic and get more people interested in your blog. Think about the keywords you use throughout your blog and this will be specific to what you are blogging about for example:
- How to shoot with a point camera.
- Things to consider before buying your first guitar.
- How to move through a political conversation.
Be sure to publicize and reach your audience on wider platforms through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Think about what kind of content that would empower and make your readers able to take action by the end of your post. Think of free pdfs, info-graphs, and other kinds of content that gives your reader more than what they came to your blog post.
This will give your content more value and will establish a relationship with your readers and will make them want to come back to your blog. Remember consistency is key, readers will want more of your content so be sure you are giving it to them!
Monetize Your Blog
Once you’ve built your blog and built up an audience, there are plenty of ways to make money while blogging. Depending on the topic and industry of your blog, there are different methods you can use to make money online. The steps you would take for monetizing a food blog won’t be the same as those for a self-help blog. Find what works for you, whether it’s ebooks, online courses, affiliate marketing, or even selling your own original products.
Start blogging!
Now that you know what you will post about, what platform you choose, and how often to post, you are ready to start blogging. Remember to stay educated on blogging tools so that you can keep your blog alive and thriving. Happy blogging!