TWIFT | Lifestyle | 5 steps of creating a successful blog

5 steps of creating a successful blog

how to start a blog

There are many cultural phenomenons in the 21st century and blogging is certainly one of the most influential. Without any sarcasm, blogging has made so many new ways not only for sharing experiences but also for new marketing strategies. So if you see yourself as a person who is ready to cope with big amounts of information and you are able to write a badass text then these 5 steps may help you start something awesome.

how to start a blog

1.Find your niche

We are all good at different things. Find the thing you are best at. The theme where every little detail is interesting to you and you know so much about it that you can literally speak about it all day and in the end still feel excited. Even if you don’t know yet what is your “field” these questions will help you find it. 

Start with identifying your talents and skills. Be honest with yourself on this one because the answers to this will cascade down to the next set of questions. Recognize the difference between those pursuits you are good at and those you wish you were good at. Put all judgment aside in this step so you only focus on talents, not whether those talents will take you anywhere.

Just think about what do you enjoy doing? If your heart and brain aren’t in the same place, then they’re in conflict with each other, which means you’re in disequilibrium. When this happens, it feels as if your heart is telling the brain “this just feels right” but the brain is saying, “No, do this — this makes sense!” The balance will come when you truly have fun with the things you do. Take a look at your list of talents and skills. What of these can bring you such joy? And what can be eliminated from the list? 

It’s awesome to do what you love, but as we live in a society you must keep in mind that a huge part of your success depends on people’s needs. This is where doing a little market research will help narrow down exactly what competencies to focus on. Check out sites that offer demographic information to get a better idea of who, where and how much to explore this talent.

And the last question that you should ask yourself is “From the above needs, what will people pay money for?”. Make sure you know what a good decision looks like before taking the plunge toward action. Be honest with yourself. You may just love the game of football but with a 140-pound frame, you’ll be in for a bit of an uphill, and painful, battle.

Answering the above four questions shouldn’t take you longer than 60 minutes if you know yourself well enough. If not, it may take longer, and that’s fine. Take the time to identify what’s important now so you don’t get lost later.

how to start a blog

2. Find the best blogging platform that suits you 

Here are some examples that can help you define what’s the best option for your blog. It depends on your niche and the goals you have for your blog. 

WordPress.com

Price: Free

WordPress.com stores your site’s content for free on their servers. However, this means users receive a limited version of the WordPress software. Still, it’s a nice choice for hobby bloggers who don’t want to invest money. It’s also a good option for people who plan to upgrade to a self-hosted WordPress blog in the future.

Pros:

•No set-up costs.

•Simple to use; no coding or design knowledge required.

•Hundreds of themes to choose from.

Cons:

•Functionality is limited unless you pay for upgrades.

•It looks less professional.

•You do not technically own your blog, which means you have little control over advertising revenue. It also means WordPress can suspend your site at any time.

•Your site comes with .wordpress in the domain.

WordPress.org

Price: Free software; Approximately $3 per month for hosting. 

A self-hosted WordPress blog is one that uses the WordPress software on a third-party server. With it, you can install plugins, edit your HTML code, and more, giving you full control over your website while making it look more professional. A self-hosted WordPress blog is usually the best way to go for anyone willing to invest a couple of dollars per month. It’s ideal for business owners, professional brand builders, and any blogger looking to expand their site’s functionality and professional appearance.

Pros:

•User-friendly with full control and customization options.

•Access to over 1,500 free themes and 20,000 free plugins.

•Search engine friendly options.

Cons:

•Hosting on a third-party server can require some technical knowledge, but most hosts (like •Bluehost or Hostgator) offer quality technical support.

•Due to its popularity, WordPress is vulnerable to security threats.

•Start your Blog with Hostgator today and get a 60% discount

Blogger

Price: Free

Since Blogger is owned by Google, you’ll have access to Google tools like AdSense, Analytics, etc. However, Blogger is not nearly as flexible as WordPress.org. This platform is great for hobby bloggers and brand builders who don’t want to invest any money but may want to make some money through ads. Since it is easy to use, it is also a great platform for beginner bloggers just learning the ropes.

Pros:

•Completely free and easy to use.

•Can place AdSense ads.

•Access to HTML code, so there are more customization options.

Cons:

•Fewer themes and storage space than WordPress.com.

•You cannot self-host, so your blog is dependent completely on Blogger’s current offerings.

•Your site will have .blogspot in the title.

Tumblr

Price: Free

Tumblr is easy to use and is a very social platform. This is the perfect place for bloggers who like the idea of “reblogging” posts. Its platform is best for microbloggers, so it’s perhaps not the best place to start if you are looking to develop long-form content.

Pros:

•Unlimited storage.

•Approximately 1,000 themes to choose from.

•HTML and CSS access for customization.

Cons:

•Backing up your blog and importing your content from other platforms is difficult.

•There are very limited plugin options.

•It is tough to monetize.

WIX

Price: $4.08+/month

WIX is a good website option with blogging capabilities that is ideal for businesses. With its ecommerce functions, WIX makes building your entire ecommerce business website simple, although full control over your online shop is somewhat limited.

Pros:

•Unlimited bandwidth.

•Ad integration.

•Easy to use.

•Domain registration options.

•Up to 20 GB storage.

•Hundreds of professional-looking templates.

Cons:

•More expensive than a self-hosted WordPress blog.

•Ecommerce tools aren’t very advanced.

•Limited customization options.

Any of the free options is ideal for novice or hobby bloggers who don’t want to invest any money while the paid options are better for business blogs. Choosing the right one comes down to how you want your site to function. Which platform do you think you’ll choose?

how to start a blog

3. Select the best plugins for your blog

You can use only a few plugins on your site, like “Google Analytics for WordPress” and “Yoast SEO”. They take just a few seconds (literally a few seconds, it’s just a click of a button) to install once you’ve started your blog.

how to start a blog

4. Write compelling content

In a world full of shitty information people are craving for something fresh and really original. So be creative. Do the research, use your imagination, be honest and voila. 

Don’t be afraid of getting personal. Through sharing personal stories, you give readers a chance to relate to your business on a personal level, which helps build brand affinity.

Learning how to tell a story is an art. Once you master this skill, the quality of your blog posts will improve. A great story will keep your readers on the edge of their seats. 

 Just make sure to give people the content they need. Reviewing products and services is another great way to drive traffic to your blog. Not only are product reviews a trusted resource online that will draw traffic, but they are also a revenue stream for bloggers.

If you want to monetize your blog instantly, this is a smart move. By linking to product pages through affiliate links like Amazon Affiliates, you can monetize a blog almost entirely on product reviews. Make sure you go niche since this provides the greatest platform for credibility and expertise.

Remember, your niche. 

how to start a blog

5. Have fun and enjoy the process

If you are not, then please stop doing it and find the thing that fulfills your soul and body. 

Related Articles   Related Articles    Related Articles   Related Articles    Related Articles   Related Articles    Related Articles   Related Articles