How To Start A Blog For Beginners

Do you want to learn how to make a blog? I’m glad you’re here because my mission is to help you start your blog today.

I am here to help you throughout the entire process so you never feel alone. By the end of my guide, you will have a fully functional blog you can share with the world.

The blogging platform you will learn how to use is open source. This means that it is free to use for personal and business purposes. Out of the over 150 million websites online, around 60 million of them were created using this same blogging platform.

Benefits Of Blogging

With each passing year, more and more people are using the internet. There is no better time than now to take action and start your blog. Here are some benefits of blogging:

1. MAKE MONEY – Learn to blog and you can open yourself to a new opportunity for generating income online that might one day replace your day job.
2. IMPACT LIVES – Whether it be for personal or business. A blog can be read and shared an infinite number of times.
3. GAIN CREDIBILITY – Establishing yourself through a blog can be a great way to jumpstart your career and build authority in any industry.

Getting Started

In the next few steps of my guide, you will learn how to make your own blog from start to finish. I will teach you how to get a domain name, set up web hosting, and learn the basics of using your blog.

Here’s what to do next:

1. GO TO STEP ONE – I will be by your side the entire time, guiding you from beginning to end. Just take it one step at a time.
2. CONTACT ME IF YOU GET STUCK – If you run into any issues with the setup process, contact me by email.

Step 1 – Starting A Blog

The whole process will take around 15 minutes from beginning to end. By the end of this guide, you will have your own fully functional blog that you can share with the world.

Creating your first blog can be really simple with the right guidance. I hold your hand through the entire process. Everything is laid out in an easy-to-understand format that anyone can utilize within an hour to start their own blog. If you get stuck, I am always just one email away.

1. CLICK HERE to get 4 months free and save $120 with WPEngine. On the “WordPress Hosting” section on the left side and tap on the “Buy Now” button.

2. Confirm your plan selection and account information, then click on “Continue To Payment”.

4. Confirm your payment information, read/accept the terms, and click on “Pay Now”.

5. A confirmation email will be sent to your email. Click on “Activate Your Account” to setup your WPEngine account.

6. After you setup your WPEngine account login. Go to the Add a site section, select the “Start With A Blank Site” option, then click on the “Next” button and complete the steps.

At this point, you now web hosting paid, and blog successfully set up. Now that your blog is live, in the next step, you are going to learn how to use it.

Step 2 – Blog Platform Instructions

Now that the blog setup is done, you are now one step closer to becoming a blogger. The proceeding steps below will teach you how to effectively use your blog.

LOGIN TO WORDPRESS

Whenever you want to log in to your blog, all you need to do is type in your internet browser http://YOUR-WEBSITE-HERE.com/wp-login.php. Replace “YOUR-WEBSITE-HERE” with the name of your domain name.

Now, using the username and password that you created in the last step, sign into your blog.

After you sign in to your blog, you will notice you have a left sidebar with a ton of different options. Any modifications you want to make to your blog can be made through the functions on the left. Below, I will walk you through each function.

POSTS

Writing a post on WordPress is similar to using Microsoft Word. If you know how to use Microsoft Word, you can use WordPress. Even if you don’t know how to use Microsoft Word, it is very easy to learn. Just write your post, give it a title, and press publish. It is important to note that you can even write all your posts in one day and schedule it to automatically be published on a later date.

MEDIA

Navigate your way through “Media” > “Add New”. From here, you can drag and drop your pictures from your desktop to the box on your website.

To make changes to your pictures, go to the library option of the media tab.

PAGES

To create a new page, navigate to “Pages” > “Add New”. Pages are pretty much like posts. Generally, you will use this option for setting up a static page that doesn’t regularly become changed. Like an about me page, contact page, privacy policy page, and etc.

COMMENTS

When people post comments to your blog post, this is where they will show up. You can edit, approve, or delete them here.

APPEARANCE

To add a new theme, click on “add new” and drag and drop your theme. If you have a custom theme, you can install it easily here with a few clicks. Or you can download one of the thousands of free themes from the predefined ones.

PLUGINS

You can type and search across the thousands of great plugins available on WordPress. Plugins are used to make your blogging easier. From plugins for social media widgets to contact forms. There are plugins for almost everything you want to do to your blog. All you really need to do is search for something, install, and activate the plugin. Be careful though too many plugins can slow down your site.

USERS

If you have a team of writers, this option is perfect for adding new users with certain restrictions.

TITLE

To change the title of your blog, navigate to “Settings” > “General”. Do not modify the WordPress Address or Site Address.

Step 3 – Learn To Use Your Blog

For people looking to create a simple personal blog and understand how to use it, you are done. But for users wanting to take blogging to the next level and turn it into a business, keep on reading.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

The point of this step is to help you take blogging to the next level. I will show you how to write a captivating blog post. I will show you how to capture the audience with breathtaking titles. I will show you how to not be like the millions of boring blogs out there that have no authenticity.

To ensure your success in being able to produce stunning blog posts and start making money from your blog, you should check out these next few steps. The steps leading up to this part of the guide have been setting up your blog and learning the basics from writing to design. It’s time to take it a step further if you want to start a successful blog.

LEARN HOW TO WRITE GREAT BLOG POSTS

Before you write a blog post, you should at least know what you’re going to write about. Sometimes winging it and writing what you feel like writing is fine, but sometimes you need to do market research to see if there are people actually looking for this topic.

MARKET RESEARCH

My favorite tool is SEMRUSH. There is a free option that works just fine. There is also an option that is paid. In the beginning, the free option is just fine for you. All you need to do is visit SEMRUSH and type your keyword. You will get all kinds of related keywords and more.

ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL BLOG POST

1. Identify Your Audience

Let’s use this blog as an example. The target audience is people who want to learn how to make blogs. There is a market for it because according to Google trends it is searched A LOT. So this blog was made to help those people.

2. Write A Killer Blog Title

A blog title is the first thing people see when they visit your blog. If you post your websites on search engines and social media, the title, a great title, is what is going to bring the people in.

3. Write Content That Is Worth Reading

Once people visit your website, you need to have captivating content that benefits the readers. This blog for people learning how to create a blog. The content is all about this. If you have a fashion blog, you should have content that relates to fashion.

BLOG POST OUTLINE

CREATE GREAT CONTENT

Use Google trends.

Good Market To Blog About
According to Google Trends, Fashion is a steady industry throughout the years.

Bad Market To Blog About
According to Google Trends, The Vhs industry is declining, and people are searching it less and less each year. Makes sense because with Blu-ray and DVD, not many people are looking to buy VHS anymore.

The article title is the first thing a visitor sees when they visit your blog. It is the first thing they see when they are going to visit you from social media or other websites. You only get to make a first impression once. So make it count.

Examples of good titles
“7 Timeless Quotes That Will Blow Your Mind”
“Homeless Man Is Given A Second Chance”
“The Secrets Of An Ex McDonald Employee”

Examples of bad titles
“Blow Your Mind With These Quotes”
“Homeless Guy Got His Second Chance”
“Secrets From An Old McDonald Employee”

The key to writing great blog titles is just to use emotional words that make people feel a certain way. Look at the examples above and notice the differences. You can get a pretty good idea.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BLOG POST

The reason you optimize your blog post before you publish it is so search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo can find and rank your content higher.

You are going to spend time creating great content for your readers. But what is the point of all that hard work if they can’t find your posts.

Optimizing your blog posts will help search engines find your content and hopefully rank it better than your competitors so that more people can see your post.

Step 4 – Marketing Your Blog

Congratulations, you’ve set up your blog and equipped yourself with the essentials! Now it’s time to ensure your blog doesn’t remain in isolation. In today’s digital landscape, simply having great content and design isn’t enough to draw a crowd. You need to actively market your blog to stand out from the vast sea of online voices. Let’s dive into effective ways to bring your blog to the forefront:

1. Leverage the Power of Social Media

In today’s digital realm, social media emerges as the beating heart of online engagement. When pondering where your potential audience dedicates their virtual hours, it’s a safe bet that platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are among their favored destinations. These digital landscapes serve as bustling hubs where connections are nurtured, content finds its wings, and meaningful conversations unfold.

2. Create Engaging Visual Content

Visual content, such as eye-catching images and infographics, can greatly enhance your blog’s appeal. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are perfect for visually oriented niches. Craft visuals that resonate with your audience and encourage them to share your content with their networks.

3. Collaborate and Network

Building relationships within your niche is a fantastic way to gain exposure. Reach out to other bloggers, influencers, or businesses that align with your content. Collaborative posts, guest blogging, or cross-promotions can introduce your blog to new audiences.

4. Harness the Power of Video

Video content has exploded in popularity. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and even Instagram Reels offer creative avenues to present your content in engaging ways. Whether through tutorials, vlogs, or storytelling, video can give your blog a dynamic edge.

5. Invest in Email Marketing

Don’t underestimate the potential of building an email subscriber list. Encourage visitors to subscribe to your newsletter for regular updates. Sending out valuable content directly to their inbox can nurture reader loyalty and keep your blog fresh in their minds.

6. Stay Up-to-Date with SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) remains a critical aspect of driving organic traffic. Optimize your blog posts with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and internal/external links to ensure search engines recognize your content’s value.

7. Tap into Online Communities

Forums, online groups, and Reddit communities can be goldmines for connecting with your target audience. Participate genuinely, share insights, and only promote your content when it’s truly relevant to the conversation.

8. Experiment with Paid Advertising

While organic methods are great, consider allocating a budget for paid advertising campaigns. Platforms like Facebook Ads and Google AdWords offer targeted approaches to reach specific demographics.

9. Consistency and Quality Above All

Remember, maintaining a consistent posting schedule and delivering quality content is the foundation of successful blogging. Your readers should look forward to your posts, and that trust will only grow over time.

Conclusion

Your journey in the blogging world has only just begun. By adopting these strategies and adapting them to your niche, you can elevate your blog’s reach and make a lasting impact. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so keep experimenting and learning from your experiences. Stay true to your voice, and as you continue to provide value, your blog’s influence will steadily grow. Onward to a thriving blogging journey!