Are you passionate about blogging? Do you want to turn your passion into a profitable venture? This article will guide you through the process of Start a Blog and making money online.
The first step is to learn how to create a professional blog. Blogging is an incredible platform that allows you to earn money through various means. Don’t worry if you’re not confident in your writing skills, as this platform will teach you how to create and write a blog. All you need is patience and dedication.
Blogging doesn’t require a degree or expertise in English. When I first heard about blogging and making money from it, I thought it was nonsense. I wasn’t even proficient in English and struggled to write a sentence without errors. However, one day I had a thought that I should give it a try because I would never learn something new without making an effort. So, I took the plunge and started my own blog.
Starting your own blog is the best way to gain experience in the field. Here are some simple guidelines to help you get started on creating a successful blog.
5 Simple Steps to Start a Blog
- Blogging Platform
- Domain Name
- Choose Web Hosting
- Install WordPress
- Setup a Blog
- Design a Blog
- Make Money from Blog
Choosing a Blogging Platform: When entering the world of blogging, you will encounter numerous blogging platforms such as Blogger, WordPress, Wix, Joomla, Drupal, Weebly, TypePad, and more. As a beginner, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure about which platform to choose.
In recent years, WordPress has emerged as the best platform for blogging. It offers a comprehensive site-building and content management system that sets it apart from other platforms. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 blogs worldwide use WordPress due to its reputation as a reliable software that provides a DIY tool and various other advantages.
It’s important to note the distinction between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. While WordPress.com is a free blogging platform, WordPress.org is not. To use WordPress.org, you need to purchase a domain and hosting. If you need more reasons to trust WordPress, let’s explore further.
Here are some reasons why WordPress is a great choice:
WordPress is a free and user-friendly platform that allows you to create websites and blogs without any technical knowledge.
With WordPress, you have access to a wide range of themes, both free and paid, totaling approximately 8000 options. This gives you the flexibility to choose a design that suits your needs.
In addition, WordPress offers thousands of plugins that can enhance the speed and efficiency of your blog. One popular plugin is Yoast, which provides various features to optimize your content.
If you encounter any difficulties or have questions, you can seek assistance from the WordPress forum, where you can find support and guidance from other users.
1. Select a Domain Name:
After selecting a blogging platform, the next challenge is to choose a domain name. It is important to select a domain name that is easy for readers to remember. Avoid complex characters that may be difficult for readers to recall. Choose a domain name that quickly conveys the topic or theme of your blog. For example, if your blog is about traveling, consider a name like “TheLastHolidays.” If your blog focuses on cooking or food, choose a name related to that, such as “EasyJunky.” Avoid using overly innovative names that may confuse readers about the blog’s content. Keep the name short and simple.
When purchasing a domain, keep in mind that finding your desired domain name may be challenging, as someone else may have already thought of it and registered it. Make a list of several words to consider when searching for domain names. You can choose from various domain extensions such as .com, .org, .co.in, .info, etc. Take your time to explore different options before finalizing your domain booking.
Read Also: How To Start A Blog on WordPress?
2. Choosing the Right Web Hosting for Your Blog
Like many other blogging platforms, there are several hosting sites available. Some popular options include Bluehost, Namecheap, iPage, GoDaddy, Hostgator, and Bigrock. It is important to have a hosting site in order to have full ownership and control over your blog. Without hosting, you may be able to create a blog, but you won’t have a place to store its content.
Web hosting is necessary to store the contents of your blog. If you do not purchase web hosting, Google may have the authority to delete your blog or its contents. In order to have a domain name of your choice and maintain complete control over it, web hosting is essential.
One highly recommended web hosting site is Bluehost. It is widely regarded as the best hosting site due to its various features and benefits, including:
- Money-back guarantee
- 24×7 support
- Free SSL certificate
- Auto updates
Additionally, you can take advantage of discounts when purchasing hosting from Bluehost. However, these discounts are typically available only once a year on Black Friday. During this time, you can enjoy a discount of approximately 40% to 60%. The regular price for Bluehost hosting is around $7.99 per month, but you can get it for as low as $2.65 per month during the Black Friday sale.
3. How to Install WordPress:
To install WordPress, follow these steps:
- Choose a web hosting service: You will need a web hosting service to host your WordPress site. There are many options available, such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator.
- Set up a domain name: Your domain name is the address people will use to access your website. You can purchase a domain name from your web hosting service or from a separate domain registrar.
- Install WordPress: Most web hosting services offer a one-click installation process for WordPress. If not, you can download the WordPress installation files from the official website and upload them to your web hosting service.
- Configure WordPress: Once WordPress is installed, you can log in to the dashboard and start configuring your site. This includes setting up your site title and tagline, creating pages and posts, and installing plugins and themes.
- Customize your site: You can customize your site using themes and plugins. There are many free and paid options available, so you can choose the ones that best fit your needs.
- Launch your site: Once your site is ready, you can launch it and start promoting it to attract visitors.
Overall, installing WordPress is a relatively straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. With the right web hosting service and a bit of customization, you can create a professional-looking website that meets your needs.
Tips for making money from blogging.
- Write consistently: It is important to maintain a regular blogging schedule to keep your audience engaged. Posting daily is ideal to capture their interest. Avoid posting sporadically as readers prefer blogs that provide consistent content. To increase traffic, focus on creating innovative and authentic content. Avoid using myths, fake ideas, or copying from other sources. Maintain the uniqueness of your blog.
- Promote your blog effectively: Generating traffic is crucial for monetization. Make sure your content is valuable and appealing to your target audience. Utilize popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, and YouTube to promote your blog. Additionally, consider pinning your content on Pinterest. Engage with other bloggers by commenting on their posts and inviting them to visit your blog. Focus on promoting the content that receives the most appreciation. Utilize hashtags and learn SEO techniques to attract traffic from search engines like Google.
- Monetize your blog: If your blog is created with the intention of earning money, there are several ways to monetize it. However, it is important to gain a substantial amount of traffic before implementing these strategies.
- AdSense: Sign up for AdSense to allow Google to display advertisements on your blog. You will earn money whenever a visitor clicks on these ads.
- Affiliate Marketing: Join affiliate programs such as Amazon Associate, Flipkart, eBay, or Bluehost. Once you have logged into your associate account, you will receive unique links to promote products on your blog. If a visitor clicks on the affiliate link and makes a purchase on the respective site, you will earn a commission ranging from 4% to 12% of the total purchase amount. This is known as affiliate marketing.
Why avoid starting with a free blog?
Starting a blog with limitations can pose several problems. When opting for a free blogging platform like Blogger or WordPress, you may end up with a domain name that includes your name followed by the platform’s name and extension. This type of domain name may not be visually appealing or give users a clear idea of your blog’s content.
Additionally, with a free blogging platform, you won’t have full control over your blog. The platform will have authority over your content, and if they decide to delete your content, webpage, or even your entire website, you won’t have any recourse.
Moreover, having a domain name that doesn’t suggest anything to the reader can make your blog appear less serious to them. Furthermore, without the ability to optimize your blog for search engines (SEO), it will be challenging to attract a large amount of traffic.
If you eventually decide to shift to a paid blog of your own after gaining traffic, the transition can be difficult.
My Personal Experience:
In the initial months, or even the first year, I faced challenges that made me consider quitting blogging. The lack of traffic and appreciation tested my patience. However, I realized the importance of staying calm and persevering. I kept working hard, believing that eventually, my efforts would yield results beyond my imagination. Surprisingly, my last article, which I wrote before losing my temper, received positive feedback and comments. This became a turning point in my blogging career.
From starting with zero readers to gradually gaining an audience, I began to monetize my blog. More people started requesting additional articles. If I can achieve this, I believe anyone can. Over time, I learned from my mistakes and continuously improved my writing skills.
Thank you for reading. I hope the above article on how to start a blog proves helpful to newcomers. I would appreciate your feedback, dear readers. Please feel free to like, comment, and share. Thank you!
Thank you, Sean, for providing such an excellent tutorial on blog setup. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of signing up with wordpress.com for my blog after listening to your podcast from beastlygentlemen. This tutorial couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment.
Thank you, Parveen Farooqi. If you are interested, transferring content from wordpress.com to wordpress.org is a relatively simple process. Please keep me informed about your progress.