There are so many reasons to consider starting a blog. Perhaps you want to explore your hobby online and share helpful articles to inspire others. You might be looking to create some kind of side hustle you can easily do from home to earn some extra cash on the side. You may want to completely replace your career with blogging. You may even have a traditional business and be looking for new ways to engage with customers and be more present in search engines. Whatever your motivation, there are quite a few things that can help you set up your blog and get the ball rolling. After over eight years of blogging, here are my top 5 tips for starting a blog:
-
Get a Great Business Name
Choosing a great business name is one of the most important steps you’ll make when starting a blog. If you’re making a blog for an existing business, you may be able to skip this step or you may prefer to use a different name for your blog. But if you’re starting fresh, you’re going to want to spend some time finding the perfect name. If you’re completely stuck for ideas, check out this helpful business name generator that allows you to quickly come up with business name ideas in seconds. This is the one step I suggest people spend a bit of time with, because you want to find a name that you’re going to like for a long time. Be sure to check if the domain name is available, as well as any social media handles you might want to use before committing to anything. With so many accounts already made, it can be hard to find original ideas that haven’t been already taken, but this tool makes it a lot easier.
-
Be Consistent
When you first start blogging, it is fun to make new posts and wait for the traffic to come. From the beginning, it is a good idea to have a blogging schedule. How often do you want to post? I personally always suggest aiming for at least two posts a week, especially when you’re just getting established. If you’re looking to write much longer posts, then you may prefer to release them once a week or every two weeks. To enhance your traffic and engage your audience effectively, consider hiring a professional content writer. An expert possesses the skills to create fresh, engaging, and informative content that resonates with your readers, ultimately boosting your blog’s appeal.
-
Invest in Hosting
While it’s possible to start a blog on someone else’s site, the best thing you can do is purchase your business name as a domain and upload your blog there. Not only will the web address be a lot shorter and easier to remember, it also looks much more professional. If you want your blog to be tied to your current business, or to become a business venture for you, then having it look as professional as possible is very important. You can find a bunch of different hosting options online, but Godaddy and Bluehost are two of the most popular options.
-
Be Clear About Your Goals
It’s important to be clear about what your goals are before you even get started. Are you doing this as a hobby, without any concerns about income down the line? Perhaps you want to make a career of it, allowing you the option to work from wherever. If you’re thinking about monetizing your blog somehow, it’s a good idea to think of what strategies you would like to implement before you even get started. If you’re interested in affiliate income, you’re going to have to focus very hard on traffic. If you’re wanting to work on brand partnerships, then you may have to focus your energy on growing your social media accounts. Working backwards from where you want to be will ensure you’re focused throughout all the different stages of setting up your blog.
-
Don’t Neglect Social Media
Social media is such an important part of blogging as it allows you to interact with your readership, alert them to a new blog post, and can lead to a sense of community. Many people with blogs choose to create private Facebook groups, allowing a special space for their fans to connect. Others focus their attention on their Instagram page, establishing themselves as an influencer. While it is possible to blog without social media, you’ll be giving up an opportunity to really engage with your readership and it may be harder to grow your audience without it.
Blogging is so fun for me, it honestly doesn’t feel like work. Whatever your motivation for setting up a blog, I hope these tips help you get started in the right way. Happy blogging!
