The most common question I get asked about blogging would be, “How do you start a blog?” For this particular post, I will show you how to start a successful blog (a professional one) in easy steps. If you know how to click a mouse and use the internet, you will do this. Do not be afraid if you have never done this before or feel you are too technologically challenged to do it — because you can do it. How do I know? I’ve technologically challenged myself — yet I still did it. But you have the advantage of not making the same mistakes that I did by learning from my mistakes.
Picking A Topic
Pick a topic you know about or like a lot. Pick something you’re passionate about. You don’t even need to be an expert on a subject to blog about it! You can even blog about things you hate as long as you’re passionate about it. Some blogs have “how-to” tutorials, some have photos, animations, cartoons and videos as their content. The most popular blogs are non-fiction and “how-to” blogs. Blogging about something you know a lot about or love will encourage regular posting — therefore people will most likely return -nd reduce your writer’s block. Doing What You Love, Know Or Hate Is Great, But Is There A Market For The Topic You Want To Blog About? Do a Google search or use Google Keyword Tool to find out if people are searching for your topic and related terms.
Google Trends helps to find out how popular a search term or word is. Market Samurai is a great tool that I use to analyze the topics and markets I want to get into. Forums are also a great source of information to find out what the market needs. Users there might tell you what information or product they are looking for or willing to pay for. Or you can ask on the forums for what people are after.
Choosing a Blog
Which is Best: WordPress or Blogger?
Call me biased because I’m using WordPress but I’ve used both of them, and WordPress has impressed me the most — don’t hold it against me almighty Google. WordPress has better and more plugins to make life easier and I am all for it because I’m so lazy and technologically challenged. Now before you rush off to signup for an account with WordPress, if you are planning on making money out of your blog or if it’s for a business, you would want to look professional. URLs such as yourwebsite.wordpress.com/yourentry doesn’t look professional and it’s difficult to remember.
To get a free blog with WordPress.com, you are telling your audience that your blog is just a hobby. For example, you need a hosting provider to host your domain to get your own URL or domain, such as YourWebsite.com. Hosting packages usually cover the registration of the domain. Okay, I’ll admit a little secret: w didn’t even know what a hosting provider was or what it did. When I began Yes, those words technologically challenged comes into mind.
Hosting Providers
I have used quite a few hosting providers, and there are some good ones out there. So far, the ones I like have to be Bluehost and Siteground. I use both of them. Bluehost offers fantastic, 24 hours online support. I’ve had some lame newbie problems in the past, and they have always been there to help me fix the issues — without making me feel like a noob. Bluehost support is fast and reliable. Their prices are pretty average. Not the most expensive but not the cheapest either. But you will definitely get good support from them, so they are a Godsend for someone new to blogs and websites.
Siteground is cheap and cheerful. The prices are cheaper than Bluehost, but for a good reason: their support is elusive to say the least. If you’re confident with websites and blogs, then support doesn’t really matter. To get hold of a Siteground customer service rep online is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And Siteground has slightly fewer features compared to Bluehost. But what they lack in features, they make up for in price and overall performance. If you are on a shoestring budget and want affordable hosting, Siteground is the way to go.
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