How to start blogging in six steps (Platforms SEO and much more) |
Ready to learn how to create with a blog? This guide will help those of you. From hosting to SEO, take these 6 steps to set up your blog up and running.
The fact is that blogging ought to be a part of your marketing strategy. This is a proven method of attract new customers and also share your experience with the world.
Yet every time you get up and attempt to get started on your path towards blogging success You are flooded with questions.
What platform should I use?
What is the cost?
What topic should I write about?
What can I do to get readers to click through my articles?
What is SEO?
This is enough to make your head turn. That's why we created this step-bystep guide to starting your own blog.
Beginning a blog with success is hard work, but the benefits to your company and readers are well worth it. And with the right information and the right tools at your side, you'll be able to create a blog that both users and yourself will love.
Let's get started How do you decide what to blog about?
One of the easiest ways to monetize your blog is to use digital products. Sell for nothing now!
Step 1: Select the blog's topic.
One of the greatest benefits of blogging is the ability to create a blog on almost any subject in the world.
People are in love withblogs. 77% of web users visit blogs and internet users in the U.S. spend three times more time on blogs than they do on emails. Therefore, if you're a fan of a topic, chances are there's an crowd who shares your passion and would like to learn more about it.
Here are just a few instances of blog sites that are successful, and their niches:
Daniel Bogan's blog for web developers, Uses This It is devoted to conducting interviews with creators of different kinds on the tools and methods they employ to make their work.
In her blog, Kaleigh Moore shares her expert insights as a writer-in-residence to eCommerce & SaaS companies.
Scientist and neuroscientist Stefanie Faye Frank uses her blog to "translate complex concepts in science into a language that is used in everyday life".
What do all of the above blogs have in common? Specificity.
Instead of writing about general freelancing, Kaleigh talks about writing on her own subject. Instead of providing travel advice for groups of any size, Queenie focuses on advice for solo travelers like herself.
To find your own specific market, try using the Passion/Profit Matrix.
The Passion What are your feelings about getting to get started on this? If you hate working on something, its profitability isn't a factor since you're likely to leave before you get there.
Profit potential:Do people already spend money to solve this problem? It is also possible to imagine "profit" here as curiosity or search traffic. Have people been looking into this issue?
( Download your own copy of the Passion/Profit matrix .)
The right product idea -or niche you can use for your blog -- falls in the upper right quadrant, which is the intersection of high passion and profit potential.
Once you find that sweet area, content marketing consultant Ryan Robinson recommends you ask yourself the following questions to confirm your ideas:
Are you interested enough in this blog niche? Choose a niche you feel lukewarm about just because it's profitable.
Does there exist a market to this blog niche? Also Are there any products or services aimed at the same audience? If you want to make cash blogging, you'll require a paying audience.
What niche is likely to continue to be popular for long time to come? It can take time to create a popular blog, so choose a topic you can write about over the long term instead of a seasonal fad.
When you've chosen what you want your blog to be, you'll need to figure out the location where it will be hosted.
Step 2: Pick a blogging platform
Starting from Tumblr and Blogger up to Medium and Wix There are many blogging platforms on the market.
With around 70 million articles published on the platform every month, WordPress is by far the most popular option. Over 28 million websites utilize WordPress, compared to 4 million of Squarespace's users. Squarespace.
But, Squarespace can be more accessible for novices, particularly if you don't have any programming experience.
Here's how the two platforms compare when it comes to features, customization as well as cost.
(A quick reminder (A quick note: The prices listed throughout this article are accurate as of the date of writing.)
Squarespace
For first-time website builders, Squarespace is an easy-to-use platform that does not require any programming knowledge. Its drag-and-drop interface has a less of a training curve that WordPress.
But, the straightforward block interface does come at the price of customization and flexibility. Squarespace provides fewer styles of themes, plugins, and themes as WordPress as well as doesn't provide nearly the same blogging features.
In general, Squarespace is a website builder, which includes the basics of blogging, but is not more than a platform built with bloggers front-of-mind.
How much does Squarespace cost?
Along with the 14-day trial for free, Squarespace offers four different pricing plans . Prices range from $23 to $65 per month, paid monthly and $16-$49 each month, paid annually.
They come with unlimited storage as well as a free domain name for the first year, and unless you require an e-commerce feature The lower two levels are sufficient for running your blog.
WordPress
WordPress is an online content management system (CMS) built by bloggers. It comes with pre-built templates and tools to support blogging. This includes:
Post scheduling
Editing
Management comments
Multi-author advantage & Multi-lingual setting
Technical SEO
WordPress also has a large collection of free and paid WordPress plugins specifically for bloggers and hundreds of completely free WordPress themes that are specifically made for blog sites.
Then, what's the condition?
When it comes to building your own custom website or blog, WordPress has a steeper education curve than Squarespace, making it harder to grasp for new bloggers. It doesn't have a drag-and-drop feature, and you'll need a basic HTML skills to completely personalize your WordPress website.
Don't let that put you off, however. The process of setting up a simple WordPress blog does not require any hacker tech skills. In fact, because WordPress is so well-known it is a wealth of resources for free to help you learn the basics of.
What is the cost of WordPress cost?
WordPress is free in and of itself However, you will need to pay for website hosting, a custom domain name, themes and plug-ins.
According to blogging specialist Ryan Robinson , the starting investment for a WordPress website runs between $150 to $200. But, the recurring expenses with WordPress are likely to be less than using Squarespace.
Squarespace Vs. WordPress: Which should you select?
This is a comprehensive breakdown of the most significant distinctions between these two platforms:
While the learning curve for WordPress is steeper however, the options for customizing your blog are practically infinite. Squarespace is a website builder. WordPress is an CMS created by bloggers.
All of this keeping in mind the above, WordPress is the better blog hosting choice for creators and bloggers looking to create, grow, and eventually monetize their blogs.
Next up, let's talk about how to start your blog with WordPress.
Step 3: Set up your blog
For you to set up your WordPress blog online and operating You'll need two items:
A domain name
Web hosting plans
The domain name you choose is the address where your blog and website reside. If your site is your home on the internet the domain name you choose is your web address.
Create your domain name your blog's name when it's in use. Avoid creating confusion to your clients by choosing an unrelated URL.
However, what happens is the best option if you don't own a website orblog name?
Take business mindset coach Becky Mollenkamp as an example. Becky's blog as well as her digital services are focused on sharing her personal experience with others in order to assist them succeed.
Becky has become her name and brand. Therefore, it is logical for her to utilize beckymollenkamp.com as a business and domain name.
If you're stuck you can try a domain name generator such as Lean Domain Search or Nameboy . You enter keywords, and the name generators provide you with a variety of names to choose from.
After you've found the ideal name then you must register it with a website hosting service.
We recommend Bluehost . One of the most renowned web hosting companies in the world, Bluehost offers free domain registration in the initial year for each hosting plan. Their most basic plan starts at $2.95/month.
If you're prepared to pay some more money, Bluehost also offers managed hosting accounts for WordPress sites.
The Managed Hosting plans start with $19.95/mo.
As an alternative to Bluehost, Siteground hosts more than 2,000,000 domains and is known for having some of the best customer service in the industry. Starting at $4.99/mo, Siteground is slightly more expensive than Bluehost's basic plans. But if feel like you may require tech support frequently, they may be the right choice.
After you've selected an hosting company, you can set up your blog in WordPress. This means installing WordPress on your blog selecting and setting up plugins, and finding the right theme and installing it.
If hiring a developer is out of your reach, I recommend these in-depth tutorials from WPBeginner , the largest Free WordPress source:
How do I install an WordPress theme
Be aware you're WordPress blog does not have to feature the most luxurious premium theme or the most shiny plugins in order to make great blog content. The only thing you need is that it works, so you can start creating and publishing your blog posts.
Step 4: Start writing
Open an entire new document, then begin writing off the ideas in your head and then hope that it will be the most successful.
Some people really do work most effectively this way.
It's not me. people. If you're not either I'd like to introduce you to my blogger BFF, outlining.
The process of drafting your outline saves you time, helps you stay organised, and can help you plan your content so that it makes sense for your readers. You can jot your outline in pencil, or use Google Docs, Dropbox Paper and Microsoft Word.
Here's the way that you can use the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) recommends writers outline their writing:
Brainstorm:List all the ideas that you would like to incorporate in your post.
Organise:Group related ideas together into sections.
The Order:Arrange your ideas into subsections.
Tag:Add headings and subheadings in your article.
The team responsible for content employs this template for defining every section of our blog articles:
[Header title]
Main Theme:
Stats:
Case Study:
Examples:
After you've created your outline, you're ready to begin writing, even if you don't be ready.
Write down your thoughts and start now.
Don't pressure yourself to find exact words or to avoid spelling mistakes in all circumstances. It is always possible to go back and revise your work later. But the most important thing is to continue writing. Sooner or later, you'll have a piece that's ready for editing to create a stunning blog post.
This isn't to say that writing is the fastest method, but.
Blog posts typically take about four hours to write.
Amanda Nielsen of New Breed Marketing told Databox , "You can reap a wealth of SEO benefits when you transcribing your videos. If you're able to do so you can create a transcription written as well as a blog to promote the video."
Don't have time to transcribe the videos you make? Try an on-demand service like REV or an automated transcription tool such as Sonix .
When you've written your blog entry (whether from scratch or repurposed -- it's time to edit.
Coming back to your work after a few minutes or time off helps to bring you back to your perspective. This means that you're less likely to miss tiny mistakes.
You can also use an application like Grammarly However, it shouldn't never fully replace a person-to-person editor -- even if you're self-editing.
Grammarly helps you identify spelling and grammar mistakes, provides synonyms for frequently used words, and provides tons of helpful tips for free.
Grammarly's AI occasionally misses mistakes (or detects errors when there's none) So, make sure to go through your file in depth. Better yet, let someone else read it for you.
Finally, you're ready to publish your very first blog entry -- and plan out a schedule for the remaining.
The creation of a schedule for publishing helps to keep you accountable. I don't know how many times I've attempted to create a blog for my personal use and written one article, but never published the next.
The good news is that you don't have to create new blog posts each day (or even weekly) to have a profitable blog. When it comes to blog posts, it's about quantity over quality. Longer, more in-depth, and well-researched blog posts do better.
HubSpot reports that the ideal length for blog posts for SEO is between 2,100 and 2,400 words. A survey by Orbit Media found that the majority of bloggers who write 3000+ word articles report "strong performance".
According to Jay Baer of Convince and Convert told Orbit Media , "Blogging was once a newspaper on the internet: lots of short stories, that were regularly published. Today, it's a web-based magazine: a few longer posts published less frequently."
5. Optimize your website to increase search engine optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization can mean the difference between a decent blog with just a few readers and a stellar blog bringing in visitors by many thousands.
Optimized content shows up higher in the search results for pertinent words and phrases. The more optimized your content, the easier for people who are new to discover it on the search engine.
And given that Google's organic search accounts to the majority of the internet traffic , grabbing the first place on the results page matters. The top five results on any Google search are responsible for 67.6 percent of all clicks .
Plus, SEO can play a big role in how profitable your blog is. Bloggers who earn over $50,000 annually have a tendency to rate organic and unpaid Google traffic as the most important way to market their blogs.
SEO can be much less costly than traditional marketing -- and also more efficient. It was found that a Databox study revealed that 70% of marketers agree that SEO is superior to pay-per-click advertisements for driving sales. That's the reason why more than 64% of marketers are actively investing time into SEO.
It's a good thing the fact that launching a blog now will help you get ahead in your competitors in the SEO game. Websites with blogs have a greater chance of 434% of achieving a high ranking on the search engine results page (SERP).
The best part is that if you run a WordPress blog and you are using the Yoast SEO plugin, Yoast SEO plug-in can help you improve your blog's content directly from the WordPress site editor.
Here's how it is done:
You enter the phrase or keyword you would like your blog post to rank for.
Yoast checks your web content to determine if you're using the keyword enough and in the right spots, such as headers.
Yoast allows you to see how your article will appear in the Google search result page.
On the side, Yoast generates and applies schema.org structures and organized data that "helps the search engines to determine what each part of your site is about, who it belongs to and what the connections between everything".
It is also possible to make use of keywords research tools, such as Ahrefs' Keyword Generator to find out what sort of content your reader wants. They also tell you how difficult it is for websites to rank with a specific keyword and how often keywords are searched for throughout the month.
This will help you find your ideal key word .
What does all of this SEO look like in action?
If I'm a mom with a full schedule that is struggling to keep the budget of my family, I may search for a term such as "budgeting for busy moms".
The featured snippet for the search "budgeting for busy moms" illustrates the article of Simplified Motherhood. This is a website which helps moms who are busy to stay on top of their finances.
If you can optimize your blog with a keyword search that you can increase the likelihood of appearing on the first page or a couple of results. Your audience will be more likely to come across your blog, read your site, and once they trust your expertise to purchase your digital items.
For more SEO tips and techniques, check out these resources:
All in all SEO is essential for bloggers. It's certainly not the only method to increase your readership.
Step 6: Grow your audience
Blogging is a two-way street: Starting a blog could help you expand your readership, while marketing to your followers will help grow your blog. Companies with blogs produce around 67% more leads as compared to those that do not have one.
Three of our favorite strategies for bringing in new email subscribers as well as blog readers.
1. Collect emails with opt-in forms
Trainer and developer Reuven Lerner uses his blog to grow his email list by including an opt-in page on his blog.
Create a compelling call-to action (CTA). Provide a compelling reason that they should subscribe to your email list -such as "Teach me more Python!" from Reuven's instance.
Set expectations. Let your customers know what you'll provide them with and when they'll be contacted by you.
One of the most effective ways to turn blog visitors into customers is by offering them something valuable in exchange for their contact information.
2. Incentivize subscribers with lead magnets
You give them their email address, they receive valuable material. It's a win-win situation.
Lead magnets show potential customers how they should feel confident in you. The best lead magnets are useful, relevant information that is targeted towards your particular target audience and their needs.
To create a content upgrade:
Identify the content of your website that draws maximum traffic.
Include the content on the page that is relevant.
Turn more readers into subscribers.
If you're in need of a space for your digital downloads, whether they're digital items to sell or lead magnets -- you should take the time to look into . Test it at no cost now.
Forms for opt-ins and lead magnets are excellent ways of turning blog visitors into subscribers. But beyond sharing your blog's content on social networks How do you gain these blog followers in the first place? Our third and final tip has you covered.
3. Guest post on different blogs
Guest posting can be a wonderful method to connect with a wider audience, especially when you post on a more established blog.
Here are some of the most important benefits of blog guest posts :
Increase backlinks.
Enhance the authority of your domain (a search engine ranking score).
Drive traffic to your own web site.
Increase the visibility of your brand.
It's likely the reason 60 percent of bloggers publish anywhere from one to five guest blog posts every month.
Before you can create a guest blog post, you need to pitch it. In order to pitch it, you need to discover blogs within your niche that accept guest post submissions.
These are a few websites to get you started:
A list of more than 200 sites and blog currently accepting guest posts
List of 150+ web sites that will allow guest blog on.
Many well-established websites that allow guest posts usually have pitching and writing guidelines for you to follow, like these from Practical Wanderlust's website. .
Once your pitch is accepted After your pitch is accepted, you compose your article after which the blog posts the guest article. Then you can post the link on your social media followers and email list to give your post more exposure as well as refer traffic.
When you have a larger audience then you're able to make money from your blog. Check out these resources on monetization to start turning profits:
It's time to get bloggin'
Starting a blog isn't always straightforward. If you're willing to put in your effort and make use of the appropriate equipment and tools, a blog could enable you to connect with new customers as well as share your experience and increase your profit.
For a recap, here are the six steps to follow in order to begin your blog:
Select a subject and a niche for your blog. Choose something both of you and your followers are passionate about.
Pick a blogging platform. Squarespace and WordPress are the top two choices, but for the ability to customize and features for blogging, WordPress is a clear winner.
Start your blog. Select and sign up for a domain name and get a hosting package.
Start writing your first post. Utilize an outline for inspiration, then make a calendar of your publishing for yourself to be to a certain standard.
Optimize your blog for search. SEO is the primary method that successful blogs gain traffic, and it lets the ideal audience locate you and your content.
Expand your reach with leads magnets, opt-in forms and guest post. After you've built your email subscriber list and readership, you can monetize your blog.
Now that you have all this information about blogging now, you're on your path to becoming a successful blogger. Now get out there and start writing.