Are you thinking about starting a blog, but you’re not quite sure how to get started? The good news is that you’re not alone. The better news is that we’ve put together a post full of excellent resources you can use to help you get started. We do provide affiliate links to products that we stand behind and use in our own blogging (read: we receive commission from any sales made via our product links in this post…transparency is important to us).
Ask Yourself Why You Want To Blog
Are you blogging for fun? Blogging to generate leads for your business? Blogging to establish yourself as a writer? Perhaps you’re chock-full of helpful advice you want to share with the world. It’s really important to figure out your motivation for blogging because it really does make a difference in how you approach your craft.
In blog-speak, we often ask bloggers what their niche is. Niche is just a fancy-pants word for determining what topic your blog covers. If you want to learn more about niches, check out this really in-depth look at determining your blog’s niche.
Can you really make money blogging?
The simple answer to this question is yes. You can make money blogging. How much money you make, is really up to you. If you plan on monetizing your blog, you must be prepared to put the work in to make it happen. There are so many ways to monetize your blog and ProBlogger’s Make Money Blogging post has a great list to help you learn how.
Getting started can be overwhelming, but ProBlogger, our favorite blog-gurus, has a great guide to get you through your first week of blogging: ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week Of Blogging.
Determine Your Blog’s Platform and Claim Your Real Estate
With so many blogging platforms to choose from, it’s easy to get stuck deciding which one to use. We are proudly powered by WordPress and wouldn’t have it any other way. WordPress is pretty much the gold platinum standard when it comes to blogging (and even website building)…with tons of customizable themes, plugins, and a super user-friendly interface, we know it’s what you want.
Go behind the scenes with us and see what WordPress is all about! We’ve got easy to follow video tutorials to get you started.
Once you’ve figured out which platform you want, you need to find your blog a home. You can opt for free-hosting through WordPress.com, or you can buy your own domain and hosting.
Thinking about themes? We’re powered by StudioPress. Genesis is an SEO ready framework that’s easy to use and powerful to boot!
If you plan on monetizing at some point, buying your own domain and hosting, is a must. Nothing says serious, legit blogger like you.com. We use NewBlogHosting for our sites. You can use coupon code “military” to save 10% on your hosting and domain name.
Don’t forget to claim your fame on social media, too! Grab your social media real estate on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and other sites!
Get Down With OPB (other people’s blogs)
The best way to learn more about blogging is to see what other bloggers are doing. Study their habits. Notice how often they post, how they’ve organized their sites, how they interact with their readers, and, if they’re monetized, study their PR and Advertising pages. Read their About Me page.
Basically, blog stalk them.
Reading and commenting on other blogger’s posts is a great way to reach out and make new friends and connections. Bloggers are a tight community, and we like to pay it forward whenever we can. Chances are, if you take the time to read and comment on their blogs, when you launch, they’ll return the favor and maybe help spread the word about you.
Just Write
Start writing. Heck, you don’t even have to have a blog to start writing. Open up your favorite word processing program or go old-school and grab a notebook. Whatever you do, start writing. Jot blog topic ideas down. Outline an editorial calendar to keep you on track. Just write.
Say It Loud, Say It Proud
Sometimes you’ve just got to say it. If someone asks you what you do, say it: “I’m a blogger.”
And then they’ll look at you like this:
Picture from darkuncle‘s flickr feed.
Do you have any burning questions about getting started on your blog? Ask them below.
Are you a veteran blogger with tons of advice? Leave your best tips below!
I love this advice. Thank you for your mentorship as I began my journey. I wish I had more time in my day for more social media/blog stalking. Someday…..
I’m so glad you found it useful! We’re honored to be part of your blogging journey.
Great article on getting started as a blogger! I guess my biggest peice of advice – find your own voice and style. Don’t be afraid to be you. I know many new bloggers try to be like A-list bloggers thinking that will get them notice by the PR companies/brands. For many , it just won’t work. (unless your style is similar to the person you are trying to emulate )
Don’t be afraid to be YOU — let your personality shine through.
What great advice! It is so important to have that authentic voice!
My advice would be that it’s hard to become anonymous after the fact. Think long and hard about how much you want to share about your personal details. It’s one thing to have a unique voice and write about your life, but once you share personal details (name (first or last), where you live, names of spouses, children and friends etc) it’s hard to undo it. Be sure you are taking of stock of how much of yourself you want readers to know and consider that at the beginning of your journey. It’s best to be conservative at first. You can always opt to share more later, but it’s much harder to unshare what you’ve already posted.
That’s a great point, as well. Once it’s out there, it’s out there for all eternity…better to start off easy and loosen up as you go.