How-To: Start A Blog
Want To Start A Blog?
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
I have over 10 years of experience in blog design. It started way back in junior high school when I created my first blog, a community blog for a popular massive multiplayer online (MMO) game. Some of you may be familiar with Club Penguin — anybody? A lot has changed since junior high – I now own a digital marketing company helping entrepreneurs to develop their brand’s online presence.
The system however remains the same!
So Where Do We Begin?
If You’re Blogging For Business, Here’s Some Things Worth Consideration:
- What Topics Will I Focus On?
- Am I Passionate About This Subject?
- What Is The Competition Like?
- How Will I Get Paid?
Keyword Research
Choosing A Web Hosting Provider
Shared Hosting: This is generally the most economical option in which your website will be hosted on the same server as other websites.
1&1 – Shared Hosting
Blue Host – Shared Hosting
Dream Host – Shared Hosting
FatCow – Shared Hosting
HostGator – Shared Hosting
WordPress Hosting: This is an excellent option for bloggers using the WordPress content management system. Generally these plans offer faster page load times as well as automatic back-ups and updates.
1&1 – WordPress Hosting
Blue Host – WordPress Hosting
Dream Host – WordPress Hosting
FatCow – WordPress Hosting
HostGator – WordPress Hosting
Liquid Web – WordPress Hosting
Servously – WordPress Hosting
WP Engine – WordPress Hosting
Dedicated Server Hosting: This option is usually most appropriate for larger enterprises with heavy traffic.
1&1 – Dedicated Hosting
Blue Host – Dedicated Hosting
Dream Host – Dedicated Hosting
HostGator – Dedicated Hosting
Liquid Web – Dedicated Hosting
Registering Your Domain Name
You will have options when it comes to creating a domain name. If it’s a personal blog, it could simply be your name if you wish! If you’re blogging for business, you’ll want to decide whether you want to create a brand or if you want to identify the subject of your content. For example, Twitter is a registered trademark of the social media website. While the word “Twitter” is not a real word identifying any particular subject, it is easily recognizable by almost anyone who has access to the internet thanks to successful marketing of it’s social media platform. In contrast, this site how-to-start-a-blog.com was not created with a brand name in mind. We simply wish to reach anyone searching online for help starting a blog and our domain reflect that.
1&1 – First Year Only $0.99
Domain.com – Domains Only $9.75/yr
HostGator – Domains Starting At Only $12.95/yr
Setting Up Your Website
Choosing A Theme
ThemeIsle – WordPress Themes
StudioPress – Themes for WordPress
Customizing Your Blog With Plug-Ins
AppPresser – Build Mobile Apps
WP Forms – Drag & Drop WordPress Forms
Making Your First Post
Hopefully you’ve gained some value from this blog post. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below or send me an email.
Likewise, let me know in the comments below once your site is up and running. I would love to see the end-product!
Good Stuff! Thanks so much for your help!