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Want to start your blog, but you are new to blogging? This article contains everything about ‘How to start a blog for beginners’.
It was October 2023 when I first launched my blog. Just like you, I am researching how I can start my blog and make money. I read many blog posts and watched many videos, but could not find one that was comprehensive enough. Hence, I decided to write one article where I include all the must-haves before you launch your WordPress blog.
You will learn everything about how to start a blog for beginners on WordPress blog, how to make your blog legal, how to choose your WordPress blog website templates and many more. There will be a how to start a blog checklist at the end for my action-takers.
This post is the ultimate guide on how to start a blog for beginners.
1. Know your WHY
Before embarking on your blogging journey, it is essential to understand your “WHY.” This is the driving force behind your blog. Your “WHY” should be personal, powerful, and unwavering—a motivating factor that keeps you going when the going gets tough. Blogging isn’t a walk in the park; it requires determination. If you can’t define your strong “WHY,” I wouldn’t recommend blogging for you.
For me, my “WHY” is simple. I wanted to build something of my own, to break free from the confines of corporate life. I knew that if this didn’t work out, I would never leave the dreaded 9-to-5 job. In a world where everyone’s playing the same game, my goal is to rise to the top. What about you?
2. Set your commitment level and objectives
Once you have identified your “WHY,” the next step is to determine your level of commitment and set clear goals. Your commitment should align with your goals, ensuring that every action you take contributes to achieving your short-term or long-term objectives. But first, establish your commitment level. Think about how much time you can realistically devote to your blog each week. Be honest with yourself. It is okay to challenge yourself but avoid setting unrealistic commitments that could lead to procrastination.
With your commitment level in mind, it is now time to establish specific short-term and long-term objectives. Make your goals detailed and measurable, including relevant key performance indicators (KPIs). Here’s an example for you.
3. Develop a blogging roadmap
Based on your goals, create a detailed action plan that outlines the steps required to reach those goals. This roadmap is your “how”—the strategy for achieving your objectives. Think about what it will take to achieve your goals and plan it out.
4. Choose your blog’s niche
Selecting your blog’s niche is an important decision. While some suggest going for a trending or profitable niche, I beg to differ. Why? I believe that true sustainability in blogging hinges on having an endless well of content to draw from. I did not want to write about topics I had no interest in. That could lead to a loss of passion and a lack of value for my readers. I wanted a niche that aligns with my interests, my knowledge, and my journey.
For me, the niche of Arts and Crafts was an obvious choice. It is my passion and my happy place. Self-employment, on the other hand, is my current journey. As I learn and grow, I will always have content to share. Analytics is another area where I have expertise, and I can draw from that as well as I journey through self-employment.
Can you see how it all comes together?
From my research, beginning with a single niche can give your blog a boost in Google’s rankings. This is because Google’s algorithm can more efficiently process and scan your blog posts and content. As your blog gains traction and attracts more views, you will be well-positioned to explore monetization options, such as partnering with ad agencies.
My suggestion is to take the approach that you are most comfortable with. I am inclined towards a long-term perspective. It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in the blogging world. In the end, what truly matters is consistently delivering valuable content and when you do that, Google will recognize and reward your efforts.
5. Decide your blog’s name
Your blog’s name is your brand, and it is going to be everywhere – in your emails, on social media, on your website, and even in your business name. Take time to think about your goals and how you want your readers to perceive you. Consider your niche and come up with a name that sticks.
Some might advise against overthinking this, but my recommendation is to do just that—overthink it. I like to think from a long-term perspective. The last thing I want is to change everything later when I could have set it up correctly from the start. When it comes to your brand name, changing it later means dealing with the headache of unavailable social media handles and a lack of alignment with your brand. I would rather spend more time on marketing strategies and content creation that could grow my blog.
Here’s how I came up with “The LILI Path.”
My blog’s vision is to empower everyone to find the courage to live their dream lives. My objectives are rooted in sharing the wealth of knowledge, experience, and insights I have acquired with my readers. This vision perfectly embodies the essence of “Love it, Live it.” With this in mind, my next step was to turn to ChatGPT for some brainstorming.
After considering several options, I shortlisted two potential blog names: “The LILI Way” and “The LILI Path.” These options resonated with me on a personal level. To make the final decision, I checked the availability of the domains and the social media handles. Surprisingly, both options were open for the taking. I then consulted a few friends and ultimately settled on “The LILI Path” as it felt like the perfect representation of my blog’s journey.
6. Claim your website domain and social media handles
After choosing your brand name, the next step is to set up all your accounts and claim your name to ensure no one else takes it. I secured the following:
- Bluehost domain
- Tiktok
- Threads
- Linked In
PS: I didn’t complete the setup of these accounts immediately. I took my time over the following days and weeks. The goal here is to claim your name on all platforms you will likely use in the short and long term, ensuring consistent branding.
For those wondering, Bluehost is a web hosting company that allows you to have a self-hosted website. From my research, many bloggers recommend starting with a self-hosted website from the get-go, with WordPress being one of the popular choices. This is essential for future endeavours such as applying for ad agencies or affiliate programs. The hassle of transferring everything from one platform to another is a headache I wanted to avoid. So, I went with a self-hosted website from Bluehost, opting for the Basic Hosting Plan, which costs me 37.18 SGD for the entire year. You can get yours here.
Note: You will need to subscribe to the monthly subscription for the WordPress hosting even if you already purchased the domain from Bluehost. This was confusing for me when I initially set up my blog.
7. Establish your brand identity
This is the fun part, especially if you have a creative soul. Here, we have to set up our branding materials to prepare for your blog’s launch:
- Logo
- Banner
- Color Palette
- Fonts
Think about your blog positioning and personality. These elements will appear as your website logo, icon, and across your email and social media profiles.
Of course, for The LILI Path, I designed the logo as a self-taught artist. You can have yours created by a professional designer, or you can design one of your own on Canva.
When it comes to selecting a color palette, I found Coolors to be an excellent resource. This free platform automatically generates color palettes for you. Here’s what you can explore within this platform:
- Upload and generate a color palette based on a mood board or picture you like.
- View palette variations.
- Adjust colors to accommodate color blindness.
- Fine-tune the palette based on hue, saturation, brightness, and temperature.
As for fonts, I recommend choosing from Google Fonts to ensure compatibility across various platforms.
8. Make your blog legal
Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert. Please do your research.
Next, let’s talk about the not-so-exciting but necessary legal aspects. Coming from a business background, I knew the importance of legal coverage, even if it is not my strong suit. I didn’t want to make unknown mistakes that could cost me dearly. So, I did some research to figure out what my blog needed in terms of legal documentation.
After my research, I opted for the starter legal bundle from Amira, which covers terms and conditions, a disclaimer, and a privacy policy. Her legal templates are incredibly user-friendly. She provides clear instructions on where and how to make changes to personalise the documents for your blog. Setting them up took me less than 15 minutes.
Amira also offers various legal templates catering to a wide range of individuals, from entrepreneurs and freelancers to bloggers and coaches. If you are in the research phase or looking for comprehensive coverage, her website is worth a visit.
- Browse her Legal Store
- Explore the Blogger Legal Bundle
- Discover the Starter Legal Bundle (This is the one I got)
She also offers a free legal guide, allowing you to delve into the details and conduct your research before making a purchase. In case you have any queries, reach out to her dedicated team. I was pleasantly surprised to receive answers to my questions in less than 24 hours.
For me, the decision to make this purchase was a no-brainer. I would rather invest in the peace of mind that comes with legal coverage, freeing up my mental energy to focus on other essential aspects of my blog, instead of constantly worrying about unintentional legal missteps. Whether you are launching a blog, a user-generated content platform, or a business, dedicating some time to understanding the legal landscape is important. If you would prefer not to get bogged down by the complexities, consider investing in the expertise of someone who knows the ropes.
9. Choose your WordPress blog theme
Now it is time to make your website look polished and professional. While WordPress offers built-in themes, they may not always meet your needs. First impressions matter, and I believe that investing in a professional-looking website that aligns with your brand can make a significant difference. This is where I was ready to invest.
Here’s what I considered when searching for website themes:
- Budget: I wanted something within my budget of 60 USD. It is important not to overspend at the start; work within your budget.
- Range of Website Pages: The theme should offer a wide variety of pages to cater to all your needs.
- Blog + Shop Capability: My long-term goal included selling my products, so having an e-commerce feature was essential to avoid changing themes later.
- Landing Page Layout: The landing page should match your vision to avoid spending extra time on edits.
- Instruction Manual: It is a plus if the theme comes with clear instructions.
- Demo Page: Review the demo page to get a feel for the theme.
Here are a few channels that might be useful as you search for your website theme:
- Etsy – Here’s a tip: if you find a theme you like, try to look for their website. Sometimes, the theme may be available at a lower price on their official site. Additionally, you might chance upon other themes that are not listed on Etsy.
Once you have settled on your preferred theme, it is time to proceed with the setup process. Many themes come with comprehensive instruction manuals. If you would like a bit of extra assistance, some websites offer support for an additional cost.
In my case, I opted for a website theme from 17th Avenue, and I must say, it looked stunning. The provided instructions were exceptionally clear and straightforward to follow. I didn’t even need to reach out to the support team; I had my website looking beautiful in no time.
10. Create must-have pages for your blog launch
With your theme set, it is time to create the essential pages for your blog. These include:
- Blog content: I prepared around four blog posts for launch to ensure I had at least one per category. You can start with fewer if you prefer.
- About Me: Keep this section concise and do not spend more than 1 hour here; readers are generally more interested in your content than your life story.
- Contact Me: This is a channel for potential clients, partnerships, and readers to reach out to you.
- Legal Pages: If you purchased templates as I did, these should be relatively straightforward to create.
11. Implement Website Analytics (optional)
This step is optional. You can set it up after your blog goes live. However, given my background as a digital analyst consultant, I prefer to have access to my website analytics right from the start. Hence, I chose to implement it before the blog’s official launch.
If you are interested in finding out how to implement this for your WordPress website, read here.
12. Go live
You are set, time to GO LIVE!
What’s next? After your blog goes live, there are several key things to keep in mind:
1. Refine Blog Aesthetic and Design
If you encounter minor bugs during the website setup or have small improvements in mind, it is better to address them after your blog is live. Remember, SHIP IT – done is better than perfect. Perfection isn’t the goal; getting your content out there is. Going live and attracting views take precedence over minor tweaks that may not significantly impact your return on investment.
2. Write blog posts consistently
Going live is just the beginning. To gain visibility and rank well on search engines like Google, it is essential to maintain a regular posting schedule. Aim to publish at least 1 to 2 blog posts per week, or follow a consistent schedule. This practice not only boosts your ranking but also keeps your audience engaged and returning for more.
3. Explore Marketing Channels and Strategies
If you are looking to monetize your blog quickly, one approach is to enable ad displays on your website. Securing a Google AdSense account should be one of your short-term goals while you work on increasing your website traffic to meet the requirements of larger ad agencies.
My recommendation is to focus on 1 or 2 platforms where your target audience is most active and that provide the highest ROI. For my blog, I chose Pinterest. Depending on your level of commitment, dedicate time to engage with your audience and direct them to your website.
4. Upgrade your blogging skills and knowledge consistently
In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, it’s crucial to maintain a learning mindset. Continuously enhance your knowledge and skills, striving to become better at blogging, search engine optimization (SEO), and marketing strategies. The more you know, the more efficiently you can achieve your goals.
Resources for you: The Beginner’s Guide to Blogging | Beginner’s Blogging Bundle
If you have read this far, you are an action-taker ready to embark on your blogging journey. To help you get started, here is a checklist:
A simple mantra to carry with you – Love it, Live it. Embrace the adventure and live your best life to the fullest. Happy blogging!
This post is all about how to start a blog for beginners.
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