Blogging is very popular now and I am sure it will continue to be popular. I can see blogging becoming even. bigger in the next few years. It is a fun way to grow a portfolio and make money too! I know many bloggers who blog full time and make a full time living wage from it. It is amazing to see these bloggers doing what was not possible many years ago. Working from anywhere you want as a blogger and earning an income is no longer a myth, but the reality for many. If you are thinking of starting a blog but not sure how to get started, this blog on how to start a blog in 5 steps will be useful for you. You should also get in touch with me if you are looking to grow your blog. I have a blog coaching service offer at the moment, so get in touch to hear more.
First step – Pick a blog name and buy the domain
The first step is to pick a blog name and buy the domain. The name you pick should give readers an idea of what the blog would be about if possible. Picking a blog name relevant to your niche(s) also helps your blog’s search engine rank too so very important. Another important bit is to get your own domain immediately. Don’t settle for a piggyback domain that ends in .wordpress or blogspot. Get your own domain straightaway so you start off the right way from the get go.
Second Step – Get hosting sorted
The next step once you decide on a name and domain format is to get it hosted. I am self hosted on WordPress and I love it. I have had no issues with my hosting. In the early days, I started off with a vanity domain, but decided to go self hosted on WordPress. I recommend this if you can afford to. Being self hosted allows me more freedom on my blog. I can have private banner ads and install plugins. Being self hosted gives me more freedom to run my blog the way I want.
Third Step – Pick a theme
Once your blog is up and running, the next thing to do is to pick a theme. There are so many free themes available so there are loads of options. I like clean themes. The very busy blog themes put me off but it depends on the look you are after for your blog. I currently use a premium theme – Elemin. I bought it some years ago and it works great for my blog. My advice is to shop around to see the options you have. My general advice is to go for a white background and a theme that allows you show off your social media platforms at the side.
Fourth Step – Publish your blog post
I see new bloggers saying they didn’t setup their blog until they had many blog posts waiting to be published. My approach was different but then again I didn’t start the blog thinking of how much money I would make from day 1. I had only one blog post of the first day and it increased on a daily basis. Having many blog posts ready before you step up your blog is good. Just make sure you don’t procrastinate and never start blogging.
Fifth Step – Promote your blog post
Now that your blog is stet up and you have blog posts published, you need to shout from the rooftops about it. Share your blog posts on social media platforms. Pinterest is really good for bringing traffic to your blog, so make sure you make the most of the amazing social media platform. Facebook is another great social media platform for bringing traffic to your blog, so set up a Facebook page too!
Are you thinking of starting a blog? What is holding you back?
These steps are legit. I took the same steps. Namecheap hosts my site, they are cheap and their services are excellent. I run a self hosted site too and I’m so glad about it. My advice to anyone who wants to venture into blogging using WordPress, go with self hosted. It is free, has thousands of options and you get to have full control of your site/blog.
Oh good Viano.
Great and very insightful.. Blog post like this was a great help to me when i was starting.. And this is sure going to help level the ground for intending bloggers. Thumbs up.
I hope so. Thank you.
You make it sound so easy and I guess it can be. I find picking a theme is what took me the longest and I still don’t know if I live mine. Oh and I agree 100 with self hosting if possible
It is hard to see how easy it is when you start initially.
I’m so happy I was naive when I started blogging. I followed all of the steps you wrote about and now I am slightly obsessed with it. It is not so easy though.
Yes it is not easy at first.
Great post! These steps are clutch and super easy to follow. I saw the comment below. How do you self host?
You just pick a hosting company and pay the fees, usually yearly. I am with WordPress.
This is a great basic outline of the broad steps needed to start a blog. It is crazy, however, how many different questions each one of these little steps brings up. So much more complicated than people think at first!
Yes Liz.
I will send this link to my son. He has been contemplating on starting a blog which would be more tech-centered. This is going to be a big help for him.
Oh good Eileen. Thank you.
Such a great and very detailed post. This could help others especially for those wanted to start a blog.
Thanks Amy.
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