If you are considering starting a blog, you need not look further than the information you will obtain here. Those of us who learned the hard way when starting up will offer invaluable advice to those intend on starting a blog and making the best of it. Everyone wishes they had known a few aspects when starting out. However, you have the luck of learning from the best and avoiding the mistakes that would have cost you a lot of time and money. Fortunately, setting up a blog is easy and the steps are the same whether you are learning how to start a blog, how to create a fashion blog, food blog, lifestyle blog, or business blog, among others. Here are a few things to know before you create and build a blog. Make the most of the tips detailed here for the very best of results.
1. Determine Which Blogging Platform You'll Be Using
WordPress is the best platform to start your own blog as it is both free and easy to use. Although started in 2003 as a way of setting up blogs, it has grown to be the home of most websites with over 60 million websites using WordPress. It has a lot of flexibility and is trusted by many top organizations. Unlike other platforms, you can customize the platform as you need in the settings sections. Other two popular free blogging platforms are Blogger and Tumblr - as they are also easy to use when it comes to setting up and running your own blogs.
2. Name Your Blog
The first step is to create a domain for your blog. Ensure the domain name relates to the topic you are going to write for favorable rankings on search engine results. Also, make it short and easily memorable. Seek a hosting service that is both affordable and helpful for your needs. Although you may simply change the name, later on, take time and create a name that your fans and potential fans will find easy to remember and associate with your service. Avoid complex names as they only serve to reduce the rankings in search engine results.
3. Reserve/Purchase Your Domain Name
Among the best platforms for blogging are WordPress and GoDaddy both of which offer very useful tools at incredible prices. They allow you fully own your domain name rather than simply making it a subdomain of another site. Taking full control of the content you post on the site goes a long way in keeping your fan base. Also, they come at very reasonable price points to enable you to make the most of their services without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that the services you want will determine the prices you pay, but most are very affordable and reliable platforms.
4. Determine What You Want To Do With Your Blog Design
Designing a blog is very important especially when it comes to finding the theme that will match with the content you plan on getting online. The good news is that there are many tools that will help you choose the theme you need and even apply it. You do not need to be an expert in web design to have the right theme for your website. The themes for most websites are even free of charge. You just need to know how to go about it well to choose the right one. The hint is that the theme will have a name that will enable you to make the right choice.
5. Write, Write, WRITE!
If you do not have a passion and drive for your blog, you are better off doing something else. The internet is full of information and pieces on the same topic you will be writing about. For your blog to stand out, you have to connect to the audience in the best way possible. Avoid writing in a laid back moment. Let the world know you are the go-to guy for information on a certain topic. Make sure it your passion and not just trying to copy other people. Have good content in the ABOUT, CONTACT, and the content pages.
6. Social Media
You can harness the power of social media by having accounts where you can gain fans, followers, and friends with whom you will share interests and direct to your website for further content. You will need to have really great content to draw their attention and make them be willing to click your links and read further content from it. Ensure you have content and accounts on the major social media sites to spread your reach as far as you can. With modern gadgets simply opening the links in the same tab and app as the social media page, you need not worry about users being pesky about switching apps or browser tabs.
7. Create an RSS Feed
Having the ability to subscribe to your content will take you to better places with your fans and reviewers alike. You can use Feedburner to allow your fans subscribe to your content to keep abreast with the latest you share on your blog.
8. Promote
No matter how great your content may be, you will need to promote your content on as many platforms as you can. Focus on the content rather than simply giving people reasons to click. You will likely find a fan once, and you have to deliver on your promise each time. They will have their own reason to come back a second time rather than having to be convinced a second time. Make sure the promotion does not make the blog appear cheap or desperate for visits. You need to create value for yourself.