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If you want to start a blog but have no idea where to start, you have come to the right place.
For many of us, we aspire to start a blog but tend to put it off because it can be too overwhelming.
May this post be your inspiration to start your blog today. This step-by-step easy to follow guide will help you have your blog up and running in no time.
When I started my blog, I watched several tutorials and had no idea what I was doing. Fast forward to today, and I love helping others create their dream blogs.
I think it’s safe to say when it comes to blogging, you will learn a lot of things as you go. The process has many ins and outs, so don’t worry too much if you don’t grasp everything immediately.
Although there is a plethora of information, I will make starting a blog as simple and easy as possible. The best part is that you won’t need to code or have advanced technical skills to see your blog come to fruition.
Fun fact about me, I was a teacher for five years. I taught second and fourth grade. I love nothing more than to turn a challenge into a simple process that will get you to the finish line.
Ok, enough about me.
Let’s break this whole process down and start with some basics.
Save this pin as a reminder 🙂
Before Starting Your Blog
Decide On A Niche For Your Blog
Your niche, in simplest terms, is what your blog is going to be about. One of the best things about blogging is that blogs can be about many different topics.
If you are not quite sure what categories of blogging there are, here are a few:
A good starting point is choosing a topic that interests you. As a writer, I learned a piece of advice long ago that stayed with me.
Write what you know.
Doing so makes it easier for the words to flow naturally. Think about what your friends and family ask your advice on.
It’s also important to be passionate about what you are writing about because it will affect the output of your work.
For example, many of my friends and family come to me for suggestions for all things personal development.
I am their go-to girl if they struggle to achieve a goal, need inspiration to get motivated, or want advice for personal development book suggestions.
To be honest, that’s how I started writing the blog in the first place. I found that if a friend or family member struggled with something in the personal development space, I always had a lot to say about it.
Pro Tips:
~ If the niche that you choose seems to be a little oversaturated (meaning there’s a lot of people writing about the topic you chose), know that that’s okay. No one else will have the same perspective on the topics as you do. You will have your own opinions and “author voice.”
~ Keep in mind that if you try and write about too many topics, it may confuse your readers. Once you have established yourself, you can venture out a little bit more, but I believe it’s better to build trust and rapport with your readers and followers first.
~ Your readers who follow you want to know what to expect. For example, when we go into the hardware store, we expect to find tools and home appliances. We wouldn’t go there to buy shoes.
~ Choosing a niche will also make it easier for you to stay on topic and help you decide what to discuss when writing your blogs.
Ok, so once you have decided on a niche, I will walk you through the ten steps to getting your blog off the ground.
Step 1- Choosing A Domain
A domain will be your website address or what you may know as the URL. If you aren’t sure what you would like the name to be, don’t let that stop you from starting your blog. You can begin by brainstorming some different ideas that appeal to you.
When I started my blog, I knew that it would also be my author platform. I frequently write for Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other media outlets and wanted my readers to find me quickly online; therefore, I just went with my name.
Depending on the niche you decide, you have the opportunity to get creative with the name you choose for your blog.
Begin jotting down some different ideas you have. It’s good to have a few backups if one name isn’t available.
Pro Tips:
~ You will want a blogging name that is easy for your readers to remember and isn’t too long
~ Try not to include numbers or special characters that will be confusing. In the long run, this could make it harder to be found.
~ Ask a trusted friend who knows the vision for your blog if they have any suggestions. We can accomplish a lot when we put our minds together.
Step 2-Choosing A Host And Plan For Your Website
Think of website hosting as a plot of land. In other words, this is where your website is going to live.
Today, I will walk you through signing up on Bluehost. It’s the website hosting I use, and when you sign up for hosting on Bluehost, you get a FREE domain for a whole year when you click here.
When I first signed up with Bluehost, I received the same benefit. It is an excellent perk when you choose them as your hosting platform.
When I started my blog, I did my best to keep expenses low until I started to get the hang of things, so not having to pay for the domain for the first year was a plus.
After a full year, you will be charged the regular amount, which is standard. However, it is still not expensive to invest in your passion.
If you want to open a new window, click here on Bluehost. That way, you can follow along with these directions. This is the screen you will come to.
Why You Should Feel Confident Choosing Bluehost
- It is one of the largest web hosts and collectively hosts over 2 million domains
- Every Bluehost account comes with free 24/7 support, and you have access to their how-to guide books
- Easy to navigate for new bloggers
- Manageable Pricing
- Reliable Hardware
- Free domain name for one year
- Free SSL certificate- This will be helpful if you plan to start an online store, as it reduces risk with customers’ credit card information.
- 1-Click WordPress Install (we will talk more in-depth about WordPress in a little bit)
Which Bluehost Plan Is Right For You?
If you only need one domain name and one website, you will be fine choosing the basic plan. I selected the basic plan when I started, and it was a great decision.
Step 3- Create a new domain name for free or Use a domain You Own.
This is the name of your blog, presented as a link. So if you decided on Travel Gal, your domain would be travelgal.com
Step 4 – Fill in all your Information
Double-check to see that all your information is correct.
Step 5 – Choose Your Package
Here you may wish to opt-in for 36 months (3-years) at a low price of only $2.95/month.
If you think the upfront cost is not in your budget, you can always choose the 12-month plan.
The only additional extra I would recommend on this page is the domain privacy package which is $0.99.
Ensure you un-check all other features as I don’t find them necessary.
Step 6 – Add Your Payment Information
The next step is to fill out your payment information. Make sure to check the little box below to say that you have read the terms of service.
Step 7 – Choosing A Password
Next, you will be asked to create a secure password.
This password is important, so make sure it is a strong password. I suggest making it different than what you use for any other log-ins. Also, make sure you write it down, as you will need it in the future.
Great Job! You now have created a new password and are one step closer to launching your blog.
Step 8 – Choosing A Theme For Your Website
Which Theme Is Right For You On Your Website?
Now you can have a little bit of fun choosing the theme for your site.
Bluehost marketplace gives you hundreds of choices. There are both free and premium website themes.
I am currently using a free theme, but it is a personal preference if you want a premium theme.
Pick one that suits your style and start building.
Keep in mind that all the images, fonts, and colors can be easily changed. The theme you choose today isn’t permanent, so don’t worry too much if you are unsure or can’t decide between a few of the themes.
Congratulations! You just built your website. It’s a big day for you 😉
Step 9 – Learn To Navigate WordPress
Now, you will arrive at a window that says Welcome to WordPress. WordPress is where you will create posts, and it will house the items of your blog.
It can be overwhelming if you’ve never used the WordPress dashboard. Try not to feel intimidated as it is a work in progress getting to know everything.
Take some time to navigate through the different items under the dashboard. I am confident you will be a pro in no time, but it does take some getting used to.
After looking through some items on the dashboard, one of the first items on your to-do list should be to create pages.
Step 10 – Create An About Page And A Contact Page
Pages will live outside your normal blog posts. You can use Pages to help organize your content. You will want to keep your website organized; doing so will create a user-friendly experience and help your readers navigate your site easily.
Underneath the Dashboard, click on Pages from the menu on the left. On the top, you will find the add new button. Click on that.
The first page we are going to focus on is the About page.
What To Write In The About Page
This page is where you can introduce yourself to your readers. You may want to tell readers how you got started blogging, some fun facts about yourself, and how you plan to deliver value to your readers.
A couple of paragraphs will do, but don’t be afraid to brag a little about yourself. Be a strong advocate as I think it’s ok to want to impress your readers. In my bio, I share how I have been featured in Forbes.
I would also recommend adding a picture of yourself. Your audience wants to see who you are. Make sure the image is clear. This may be the first time your readers are “meeting you.”
Pro Tip:
~I wrote my About section in Microsoft word first for editing purposes. You will want to make sure your About page on your blog is free of grammatical errors. Then, you can copy and paste it into WordPress.
Feel free to check my About page here for some inspiration 😊
When you’re done, click Publish.
Adding A Contact Page
The next important page is the Contact page. You can add your email on the Contact page so your readers can reach out to you if they have any questions.
Step 11 – Add Your First Post
Now, let’s practice adding your first post.
Go back to the Dashboard and click on posts, then add new. I suggest doing a test post to get the hang of it.
Once you have opened up the new post, you will see a place to add the article’s title. Then below it, you will see “Start writing or type /to choose a block.”
Since this is a test run, feel free to type something simple to become more comfortable with the layout.
Before publishing your posts, you will want to place them in a Category. Posts are usually stored in categories so you can keep related topics together.
On the right, you will be able to see the Categories tab. Click on Add New Category and give it a name.
Once you finish, click on the publish button at the top right of the page. You will see a second button to confirm.
Next, we will add the category you just created into the top menu bar of your blog.
Step 12 –Adding The Main Menu To Your Website
Next, you can create the Main Menu for your website.
The Main Menu makes it easier for readers to navigate your website. To do this, go to the Dashboard and scroll to Appearance. Then, click Menu. Here, you will find an option to create a menu for your website.
Under Add Menu Items, click on the About and Contact Page and then click Add To Menu.
Now, under Categories, you can check the box with the name of the category you created when you wrote your first practice post. Add this category to the Menu as well.
Continue to add more posts to your blog using the strategy above.
While your blog may appear bare right now, don’t let this stop you. Slowly progress every day. Remember, it takes time.
Pro Tips:
~ I recommend that you wait to launch your blog when you have at least 5-10 quality posts. Doing so will help keep people sticking around longer on your website.
~ If you plan to leverage your social media accounts to grow your blog, share your posts on them once your website goes live. I did a count down on my social media account to create hype and interest before launching my website. For example, I added a picture of myself to Facebook, and the caption read Only five more days until tiffanyhoxie.com goes live.
~ Make sure that you will be ready to launch once you have announced it to your audience. This is the first step in helping your audience have trust and confidence in you.
I can’t wait to see where this blogging journey takes you. If you have any questions feel free to email me, and I would love to help in any way I can.
I will leave you with this: blogging is not always easy, but stick with it. Even when it seems that you aren’t getting any traction or your page views aren’t increasing, keep showing up. It is vital to remain consistent. I have confidence in you.
Happy blogging,
Tiffany
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