What are you most passionate about? Food? Traveling? Natural health remedies? Being a great parent?
Even if your interests aren’t exactly mainstream, there’s sure to be people who share your passion. Trust us—there are entire blogs dedicated to illustrated Twitter typos and anime food.
If everyone’s been saying you should start a blog, now is the perfect time to dive in. Whether you want to earn some side cash or just write for fun, here’s how to start a blog in 5 easy steps.
1. Pick Your Niche & Domain Name
If you’re not passionate about your blog, you won’t stick with it. Pick a niche you love and go with it, no matter how usual (or unusual) it may be.
Next, you need a catchy name for your website. Stick with .com and try to limit your domain name to 2-3 words that tell people what your blog is about. Avoid numbers and hyphens, as these are more difficult to remember.
2. Choose Your Blogging Platform
Wondering how to start a blog for free? If you’re doing this solely as a hobby, a free platform like Wix, Blogger, or Tumblr should be sufficient for your needs. They’re easy to use and you can create a basic, attractive site with just a few clicks.
What if you’re hoping to turn your blog into a business someday? Those free sites won’t be enough to get you into Google rankings, so you’d be better off jumping right in with a WordPress site.
3. Sign Up for Blog Hosting
After you register your domain name and pick your blogging platform, you’ll need to choose a company to “host” your site. Think of a hosting company like a virtual landlord who rents space for digital properties (like your blog).
Some of the big names in hosting are BlueHost, GoDaddy, and HostGator, but there are others. Expect to pay between $5-$10 a month for basic hosting services.
4. Pick a Theme & Customize Your Site
Now that all the boring stuff is done, it’s time for the fun part—actually creating your site! Start with a pre-designed template or WordPress theme and customize it to match your blog’s brand.
Select the colors, fonts, images, and layouts that match your blogging voice and will appeal to your audience. If you’re serious about turning your blog into a business, consider hiring a branding agency to give your site a more professional appearance.
5. Write (And Publish) Your First Blog
Once the framework is up, it’s time to create your first blog post.
Choose a topic you love and can write effortlessly about. It should be something you’re personally familiar with or something you’re happy to research. Present the information in a way that’s uniquely yours, perhaps adding some images or infographics to accompany the text.
When you’re ready to launch it into the world, take a deep breath and hit “Publish.” Congratulations! You’ve just started your own blog!
How to Start a Blog: Now You Know
Whether it’s a food blog, lifestyle blog, or something wildly different, there are few creative projects that bring as much satisfaction as blogging.
Use the tips listed above and you’ll soon be on your way to launching a blog of your own.
Now that you know how to start a blog, what’s next? Browse our site for more great articles like this one.
