How to Create A Blog Website from Scratch
Starting a blog is easier than ever. With the right tools and knowledge, you can be up and running in no time. A blog is an easy way to share your thoughts with others who are interested in what you have to say.
It’s also an excellent way to learn about new things from other bloggers with similar interests as you do across any number of topics.
Blogging has almost become more popular than social media these days. Thanks to all the blogging platforms available online today, it’s easier than ever before for a novice blogger to get started.
There are some steps you can take to get started, and they are as follows:
#Decide Your Niche
Selecting a niche is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It will influence every decision you make after this point.
You should always pick something you’re passionate about. If you’re starting a blog for money, remember that your audience can tell whether or not you’re in it for the right reasons. They don’t have to love what you do, but they should respect your work and feel inspired by it.
For most bloggers, this is the hardest thing to do because it’s about answering the eternal question: “what is it that I like to do?” You need to be really clear on this point, or you might invest months into something that doesn’t interest you in the end. For example, if you like baking, you could start a blog about baking.
#Pick Your Blog’s Name
If the name you’re thinking of is already taken by someone else, it’s easy to change it later, but it is a good idea to do a quick check online first – just to be sure. You could also search if there are any Facebook groups or Twitter feeds that are already using that name as well.
If there is nothing similar out there already, you can go ahead and register your domain name (see below).
#Choose Your Domain Name
Again, the whole name thing is really up to you. However, it’s a good idea to pick something short and direct that clearly describes your blog. You can also choose a very logical abbreviation domain – you don’t want something like for thehaveablog.com. It’s much better to have something like ifyoulovefood.com
#Pick Your Blogging Platform
There are several blogging platforms to choose from. In 2022, WordPress is the most popular one. You can also check out Blogger, Squarespace, or Medium if you’re looking for templates and ease of use.
Most blogging platforms are free to use, and they allow you to create blogs quickly without learning the full coding language (i.e., WordPress). However, as evidenced by the infographic above, other options are a quick comparison of some of the most popular blogging platforms.
This should help you decide which platform to start with – but remember that once you find a blogging platform you like, there are hundreds and thousands of themes and plugins to customize your blog.
#Choose Your Web Hosting Provider
Again, this really depends on how big you want your future blog to be. If you’re looking for a low-cost option to start out with, you can go with Blogger or WordPress.com for a very reasonable price.
For bigger, more professional blogs, there are several hosting providers out there that will allow you to have a lot more functionality and control. For a small website, choose shared hosting. There are many hosting providers like Bluehost that offer affordable hosting for starters.
#Pick Your WordPress Theme/Design
Especially if you’re a newbie blogger, you might want to customize the template/theme that comes with the platform. Otherwise, your site might look a little “juvenile.” However, if you plan on adding some really engaging and interesting content, you will want to invest in a more customized design – but always remember, simplicity is key in web design, so don’t go too overboard.
#Website Design and Functionality
First, design, because it’s so important. You need to decorate your site and make sure it’s aesthetically pleasing to visitors. Having a strong design idea in mind before creating your blog is the first thing you should do when starting a blog.
Pick good photography. Visually appealing photographs on your blog can turn readers into followers and followers into subscribers.
#Pick Your Writing Style
This might seem obvious, but many people make this mistake. It would help if you had a clear idea of how you want your blog to be written. When people read your blog, they should understand what you’re trying to say (if they’re not interested in the content). Picking a writing style is important because it will influence how the reader will perceive and experience your blog content.
#Set Some Parameters
You may want to have a few pre-set rules for your blog – for example, different categories/tags so that it’s more organized and easier to navigate. You could also include all of your social media handles there as well. This way, you don’t have to repeat all of your content across multiple platforms.
#Choose Article Topics
Because your key interest is making money from your blog, you have to choose a niche that interests you, which can attract other people. Always check the competition and make sure there are not already too many bloggers in this niche. If the niche is pretty popular, you will need to develop a fresh take on the topic.
#Create Your First Post
Once you’ve set up online, you can create your site with some basic information. For example, write a few introductory paragraphs that outline what the blog is all about. Let people know what type of content you’ll be putting up – would it be informational? Funny? Entertaining?
#Write a Catchy Title
It is important to write high-quality content for your blog and make sure that each post has a catchy headline. Your title should interest your audience and make them click on the link to read more. Be creative, but don’t exaggerate, though – people are not going to believe that it’s possible to make $10,000 in 2 days with no work involved.
#Create a Catchy Tag
At the end of each post, you should also add several tags to make it easier for readers to get back to your blog when they want. This is not only important but also encouraged on most of the blogging platforms that people use.
#Post on Your Blog
Writing is obviously a big part of blogging, and it’s essential to keep a regular schedule. Just because you start off with some simple writing doesn’t mean you need to stay there, but it is important to write daily so people can see your blog’s progress. As for what they should expect regularly, consider writing at least 1 post every day for at least 6 months.
#Be Consistent
If you want to make your money from blogging, one of the most important things is to be consistent with your schedule. Add posts regularly and make sure that the quality of your content is always improving. If you make some mistakes or if you don’t have time to write – tell your readers about it. They will appreciate the honesty, and you will get some positive feedback.
#Engage with Your Audience
The purpose of blogging is to get people to follow, interact and share your content. As for what types of interactions you should be encouraging, think about ways to connect with your readers – by sharing their posts on your blog, replying to comments, and engaging on social media.
#Get Some Traffic
Even if you put up content regularly, a huge part of blogging is marketing. You need to market your blog so people are aware that it exists, and when they visit your website, they know what to find within it. This means creating press releases, participating in forums, and joining communities that are related to your niche.
It is no doubt that blogging is a powerful way to build your personal brand or online business (and make money while you’re at it). However, the trick is that the work really only starts once you get your blog up and running. So, make sure to stay consistent with your schedule so you can convince your audience that you are there to stay.
#Monitization On Your Blog
This is the best way to make money from your blog, find and select a monetization method. You can get paid by advertisers, create a premium membership, publish sponsored posts, and much more.
