Social media is great for staying in touch with people, but
what if you have more to say than a Facebook or Twitter post can accommodate,
or if you want a larger audience for your thoughts? A blog is ideal if you want
to be able to write lengthy pieces on topics that interest you, and the good
news is that starting a blog has never been easier. Continue reading as we walk
you through the process of setting up your new blog.
1. Decide on a topic or topics to blog about
The great thing about blogging is that it provides you with a
platform to express your thoughts on absolutely anything under the sun - or
nothing at all. Your blog could be a journal-like space where you tell everyone
what you've been up to in your daily life, or it could be a place where you
write detailed opinion pieces on a topic that's close to your heart. Whatever
you decide to blog about, this will be your personal internet space to do
whatever you want with.
At this point, it's a good idea to consider why you're
starting a blog and what you hope to achieve from it. Some of the reasons you
might want to start a blog are as follows:
Establish yourself as an authority - a blog allows you to
demonstrate your expertise on a specific subject, which can lead to a slew of
unexpected opportunities. Established bloggers, for example, are frequently
asked to contribute their thoughts to journalism pieces, television programs,
and so on.
Make money - There are several ways to make money from
blogging, which we'll discuss later in this post.
Activism - blogging can help you raise awareness and
contribute to a cause that is important to you.
Attract potential employers - blogs are an excellent way to
demonstrate your knowledge of a specific subject or your enthusiasm for topics
related to your career.
Appeal to university admissions tutors - If you're applying
for a competitive university course, blogging intelligently about it is one way
to demonstrate your dedication to it, which will look great on your UCAS form.
Of course, you may simply want to start a blog because you
enjoy writing, which is perfectly fine. But it's critical to understand why
you're blogging because it will influence everything from the look and feel of
your blog to the type of content you post on it.
2. Choose your blogging platform
WordPress.com is arguably the best platform for new bloggers
because it makes editing posts simple and offers literally thousands of free
themes to make your blog look professional. Blogger, Medium, and Tumblr are
also popular options, and while Weebly and Wix are primarily aimed at those
looking to create a website for business purposes, they can also be used to
create a blog.
If you want more control over your blog, such as a larger
selection of themes and plugins, you should try WordPress.org, which provides
more flexibility while maintaining the same user-friendliness as WordPress.com.
Unlike WordPress.com, WordPress.org is a content management system that must be
installed on your web hosting platform. This is usually simple because most web
hosts offer a '1-click' install, but it still requires a bit more technical
knowledge than the alternatives.
Your blogging objectives will determine the platform you
use. For example, if you want to reach as many people as possible with your
posts, Medium's built-in audience may be appealing, whereas bloggers with a
younger target audience may choose Tumblr, which is more popular with younger
readers.
3. Choose your domain name
When you first set up a blog on platforms such as WordPress
or Blogger, you'll be given a domain name that includes the platform name, such
as '[YourBlogName].wordpress.com.' However, these look a little sloppy and are
more difficult for people to remember, so it's better to get your own domain
name.
Choosing a UK domain gives your blog a trustworthy feel and
informs readers that you are located in the United Kingdom; it may also help
your website rank higher in UK search results. Furthermore, if you purchase a
UK domain, you have the option to protect your personal information; this means
that if someone looks up your domain name in one of the many domain look-up
services available, they will not be able to find out your home address.
There are numerous domain registrars where you can purchase
your own domain to personalize your blog, but you may have to try a few
different names before finding one that is available.
4. Choose a web hosting company
Web hosting is similar to renting a space on the internet to
display your website. Most beginner blogging platforms include web hosting, so
you won't have to pay extra or go through the hassle of finding a good hosting
company.
If you self-host your blog, you'll have a plethora of
hosting options (if you search for your domain using our search tool, you'll
notice that most domain registrars also offer web hosting). A good hosting
provider will be able to pre-install your preferred platform (such as
WordPress) on your domain, removing the need for you to do anything technical.
5. Choose a responsive web design
You don't need any design skills to create a beautiful blog,
thanks to the thousands of pre-built designs - known as 'themes' - that provide
an easy template to work with. If you search Google for themes for your chosen
blogging platform ("WordPress blog themes," for example), you'll find
a plethora of options. You'll frequently see examples of websites that use each
theme so you can see what it might look like once you add your own content.
The basic functionality of each theme is similar, but
depending on what you're writing about, you may prefer a particular layout. If
you're blogging about photography, for example, you'll want a site with
prominent photo features, such as a large slider on the homepage. If you're
starting a lifestyle blog, a more magazine-style layout might be best.
6. Start Blogging Immediately
You can start your blog with a single post, so once your
blog platform is ready, you can begin writing your first post right away. If
you want your blog to have a little more content before you share it with the
world, you can add a 'About Me' page or write and publish a few posts before
you start sharing your work on social media.
7. Promote your blogs on Social Media
Unless you're writing purely for yourself, you'll want some
readers, which means you'll need to share and promote your work.
Once your blog is established, you will begin to receive
traffic from search engines. SEO can help with this, but sharing your blog
posts on social media each time you upload one is a good way to start getting
visitors to your blog right away. Using relevant hashtags on social media will
help to broaden the audience for your posts and, as a result, your blog.
8. Developing your blog website
If you're serious about growing your readership, you should
plan your content ahead of time so you can be consistent about when and what
you post. Making a content calendar will allow you to plan an interesting range
of topics and avoid having posts on similar topics one after the other. It's
also useful when you have time-sensitive topics you want to write about, such
as posting something to coincide with an event like Earth Day.
As previously stated, knowing a little bit about search
engine optimization (SEO) will help boost your blog's search engine rankings,
which should help bring in more readers.
Another way you could develop your blog as it grows is to
monetize it. There are numerous approaches to this, the most common of which
are:
- Earnings from advertising
- Earnings from affiliate links
- Collaboration with brands to promote their products or
services in exchange for cash or free products (influencer marketing)
