How to Start a Blog: A Beginner’s Guide
If you are wondering how to start a blog, I have some tips that will hopefully make it easier for you. It took me a lot of reading and some time to figure it all out, so I would like to share what I have learned. At first, try not to think about the whole picture. Breaking it down into clear steps is better.
Choose Your subject
Pick a subject you’re really into or know a lot about, something you can write about consistently. Popular topics include lifestyle, travel, food, personal finance, wellness, and tech.
Pick a Blog Name and Domain
- Choose a name that’s easy to remember and shows your topics.
- Click the link below to check if the name is available or if someone already owns that name.
- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company-name-availability
- Register a domain (like com) with a domain provider.
Choose a Blogging Platform
(this is software that helps you create your website without dealing with coding and technical skills)
- org – This is very popular; it allows total control, and you have full ownership of your site and data.
- com, Wix, or Blogger – These are much easier for beginners, with lots of free options, but they limit the flexibility of control. The ownership of your site and data is bound to the Terms of Service of WordPress.com.
- Canva Websites – This is great for simple, visually appealing blogs without coding, but it currently has no e-commerce capabilities.
Get Web Hosting (if needed)
If you use WordPress.org, you’ll need a hosting service to store your site’s files. Make sure you get an “SSL” certificate, or sometimes it’s called “TLS”, when you buy the hosting plan. This is a security feature that helps you from stopping hackers.
Checklist
- What is your subject?
- What is your blog name?
- Have you bought your domain name?
- Have you chosen/bought a blogging platform?
- Have you picked a difficult username and password for your accounts?
Design Your Blog
- Install a theme that is clean and mobile-friendly.
- Customise colours, fonts, and layout to match your style.
- Limit your colours to 3 or 4 and choose readable fonts, and keep it consistent across your site.
Install plugins
Plugins are handy tools that can help you run your blog in different ways. There are loads of different plugins. Some are free, and they all include a description of how they can help your website. Some examples are below.
- Elementor website builder – This is good for building website pages.
- Cookie notice GDPR – this helps with privacy laws.
- Yoast SEO – This is good for SEO, which you will learn a bit more about below.
- Litespeed cache – Makes loading your pages quicker.
- Akisnet Anti-Spam – spam protection.
- WPForms – Helps you make forms on WordPress.
Add Legal Pages
- About me – it is a good way to tell your readers about you, about your blog or business.
- Contact me – this will help your readers to contact you.
- Cookie policy – how you use cookies.
- Disclaimer – it is used to specify to the readers that you are not responsible for any harm or misuse of information by the third party.
- Privacy Policy – it will tell the reader what kind of information your website stores from them.
- Terms & Conditions – these are the general guidelines for the use of your website.
- Refund and returns policy – Essential if you are selling anything on your page.
Checklist
- Have you designed your blog?
- Have you installed plugins?
- Have you added legal pages?
Plan and Write Content
- Make a content plan with topics and how often you will be posting.
- Write valuable, engaging posts that help your readers solve problems or share insights.
- Break up text by using headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs for easier reading.
- Make sure to use royalty-free photos or take your own to avoid copyright issues.
Optimise for SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
- Use keywords naturally in titles and text.
- Don’t forget to add meta descriptions and alt text for images.
- Add links to other posts and credible sources.
- The topic of SEO is massive. I haven’t fully got the hang of it. But below is a link that could help you… and me!
- https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo
Promote Your Blog
- Add social media handles for the ones you want to use. Don’t try to do all the social media sites, as it will become overwhelming. Start with 1 or 2, get the hang of them.
- Share your posts on social media regularly.
- Join online communities related to your topics.
Stay Consistent
- Post regularly, engage with readers, and update old content to keep it fresh.
Checklist
- Do you have a plan for posting?
- Are your posts optimised for SEO?
- Have you added social media pages?
- Are you posting consistently?
Monetise (Optional)
Once you have steady traffic, you can earn through ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling digital products. You will need loyal readers and credibility before you can do this. How long it takes to start earning depends on a lot of factors, but after around 12-24 months, you could be earning if you have quality content and good SEO.
With a lot of patience and consistency, your blog can grow into a creative outlet—or even a source of income.
If you have set up a blog, please let me know in the comments section if you have any good advice! It’s a massive learning curve for beginners!
