6 Steps for How Beginners Can Start a Blog in 2022
So you are thinking about starting a blog, right? That means that we both have something in common. Blogs are an easy way to be creative, get your thoughts and ideas out into the world, connect with new people, and even make some money (once you get up and running).
I took several hours of my time to do some research online to compile some steps that are suggested by other blogging and YouTube channels on how to get going. This is what I learned…
1. Decide how often you will create a blog post and STICK TO IT
There is no point in going through the effort to start a blog if you cannot figure out how you might work your writing, posting and creating into your life. It is okay to take some breaks here and there, but time and time again, I heard other creators say that ‘being consistent is key’...and this consistency was creating a blog post at least once a week when you’re getting started
2. Consider different genres and niches that are appealing to you
There are SO many possibilities for what you can write about - you might as well choose a topic you are passionate about so that your interest and energy can shine. Many creators talk about ‘niching down’, meaning selecting a topic area and then getting more specific as you continue on your creative journey. An example of this would be if you are someone who really likes to cook, you may start with writing about cooking anything and everything, and then eventually ‘niche down’ to a certain style, taste or theme like ‘$5 dinner ideas’.
In the beginning just put the emphasis on writing on topics you are passionate about - you will find that you develop your own style and preferences for the topics you choose to write more about. At the same time you will be growing your audience of readers who will offer feedback on what content they like to read and click on.
3. Select a domain name
Choosing your website name can take a bit of time and that’s okay! It’s important! It’s all about you, what you like, what might be catchy…and then what is actually available. You can check if the domain you are thinking about is available using free sites like Google Domains (domains.google.com). Plunk in a domain idea and then in seconds you will know whether it is available and there are many, many, MANY different domain endings you can choose from, but from what I learned, using a “.com” domain is the best choice for trust and recognition from your future audience.
You may find it helpful to compile an album for screenshots of domains that you search. This will help making the final choice a bit easier as you can easily delete any that just don’t seem like the right fit for you after you have put together a bunch of different options.
4. Remember your socials
Think about which social media platforms you may want to consider using and some tools you will want to search for name availability. You may want to do this about the same time as when you are trying to decide on your website name.
The most common social platforms that are highly recommended by other creators are Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. You don’t need to take a deep dive and sign up for all of them, but you will want to consider how you may want to let the world know that your blog and website are up and running. Oh yeah, and remember the importance of an email address as well.
5. Choose a website host provider
Depending on your skill and comfort level with website design will influence which hosting provider you will choose. If you are someone like me where you do not know a lot about website design, you may like Squarespace (this is the ‘easy peasy’ route). They have a lot of templates that are ready to go and you can modify them to suit your personality, style and needs.
If you have a bit more knowledge about website design, you may want to register your domain with a company like bluehost and then you can host and create your website through WordPress. You may want to choose to purchase a design that has already been created within WordPress if you do not know how to start a website from scratch.
6. Post your first blog!
I’m sure there are lots of other things you can fuss around with when getting started, but remember not to get too lost in the weeds. The important thing is to get these basics sorted out and then just…start….writing! Things do NOT need to be perfect from the start and you will refine things as you go.
Here are some helpful YouTube channels that I followed to get some tips to get started - some of these creators also have discount codes for bluehost, Squarespace or WordPress: Ali Abdaal, Mia Brox, By Sophia Lee
