During the early phases, a blog was more of a personal diary, that people used online.
Later, people found that a blog was a better opportunity for sharing information. Eventually, it became an online informational website. Nowadays, it has modified to a common platform where people share their views on any particular topic. The purpose of blogging might be connecting to some relevant audience or to enhance any business.
On the other hand, blogging boost interactions and provides an alternative career for a passive source of income. Bloggers are the people who post on different topics of arts, crafting, and articles.
Starting A Blog: Step By Step
Starting a blog can really be hard for the beginners. But little they know, it is so easy that it can be started by just few clicks?
Blogging is all about interest. Usually, I blog by surfing many sites available online. Some suggest having some good content. Whereas some suggest focusing on SEO. But what we actually should do?
Here we have prepared a step-by-step guide you should consider before starting a blog. This guide consists of steps that are made by coming to a conclusion.
Step 1: Get A Hosting
The very first step to start a blog is to find a hosting. There are plenty of hosting companies in the world. But you might be confused for choosing one among the best? The thing to understand is that you should never use a free hosting. Besides, it is better to have your own hosting. Thus, good hosting is the most basic requirement before blogging. Additionally one should include a customizable site and better content with optimized keywords as well. If you don’t have some hosting, you will need to buy some. Hosting software and tools should be affordable to your business.
BlueHost is the best surrogate for those having a tight budget. Before setting up a domain name, hosting is a must. It has 24/7 expert support feature. It’s pricing far more affordable and cheaper than others. BlueHost comes up with basic to pro plans as well.
Along with different handsome plans, it offers bewitching features to customers too.
BlueHost provides a complete web hosting solution. It has free migrations for those who are not satisfied with the current host. It is recommended, to make your blog brandable if you desire to build a plethora of traffics. After selecting the appropriate plan, you will be taken to the domain section of BlueHost. Here, you can either create a new domain or input an existing domain.
Once you have filled up the details, the better next step will be domain privacy. You need to buy a domain too. We have a few paragraph about the domain below. It is quite simple if you follow up the step-wise instructions. BlueHost will install WordPress for you as well. All you have to create a password for your entrance and choose a tempting theme for your website. We will show you how to choose a proper theme too. You can change it later on.
Are all done? Now you will be hallooed with a window having the tag “Start Building”. Go around with the instructions:
- Click on “BlueHost”
- Select “Home”
- Launch you site by clicking “Launch”
- Name the blog and click on “Next Step”
Now you will be allowed to start your blogging. Significantly, you will be with the backend where you can perform Live Chat as well. Other hosting may make you install WordPress yourself. Despite, this can be a time-consuming and mind-numbing assignment.
Step 2: Find A Perfect Name
But, its monotonous task to check out a blog name for your blog. A memorable and wining name is the main agenda. Even a memorable name can be the best or worst part of your blog. Besides, the taste-enhancing ingredients for a better blog can be
Purpose
The purpose, generating leads, and goal-accomplishing should be specific. Your blog should have some proper metrics to measure your progress as well.
Presence
You have to schedule your posting plans. Further, you have to short-out list of authentic authors for your publications. And of course, your blog should be flexible enough to include incorporate video, podcasting and social contents.
Voice
You have to be comprehensible with your writing. Comparatively it may be for yourself or for any company. The main motive of your manuscript should be intelligible too.
Indeed, your audience is the sole of the blog. Knowing about your audience, you can decide your blog name that they will adore. But, don’t waste your money on buying a “fetching” domain name. Also, consider your end-goals. Some may sell their blog after holding onto for a while. Some may abandon the purpose too. It is predominant to find out the answer yourself before you name your blog.
- What does my audience care about the most?
- If they could get at least one thing from my blog, what would it be?
- How do I want people to feel when they read my blog?
- Where will I be including my calls to action – in my posts? within the header? on the sidebars?
- Why are my people going to convert into subscribers/buyers?
These questions may feel dispiriting, but they are crucial. You have to brainstorm such queries before you go on with a name. Likewise, the most general attributes for selecting a better blog name can be
A 2-word Domain Name
Combination of adjective-noun, verb-noun and noun-noun are the most desirable blog name combination for maximum impact. Our brain is built-in to remember word pairs. So, this kind of combo glue inside the mind of the audience. There are some sites like namecheap.com to help during your brainstorming. You can also use BlueHost.
Never fall for anything except a .com Domain
The temptation for domains like .net or .org is high. Yet, a .com domain is best among all. Imagine of putting tons of effort in your blog with .org domain is generating thousands of traffic with a month. But your regular repeat visitor will be unable to find your site because of automatic switching of the brain to .com memory. Albeit, if you become super successful with a .com, it will maintain the rate of success.
Flexibility and Adaptability
As soon as you start looking up some ideas on domain registrars, you realize that the simplest is already taken. At this moment, you play with word order to find out some solutions. A better recommendation would be; don’t limit yourself with simple and most obvious words. Instead, try to incorporate the above-mentioned combo that people use as a daily basis.
Consider your Competitors’ Name
If you are your beginning of blogging career, you will have no competitors. So, if you are struggling with the name, just think of something to fill up space. In the meanwhile, if you are blog-enthusiastic, you will certainly anticipate some of the popular bloggers. But when the tables are turned, it becomes a great opportunity to better understand the space. Summing up you can start the competition for audience attention.
Ask a Friend
In case the brain is pre-occupied with some other important decision. It is best to ask a friend for a suggestion. Conceptualizing a firm dream by discussing the motives with your kin one, is the foremost resolution ever.
In a nutshell, make your name short, sweet and simple with a .com domain to stand out of the crowd. To repeat, be creative, compassionate and try to create unique contentment.
Step 3: Choose A Theme
The most daunting task is selecting a proper theme for your blog. There is the opulence of WordPress themes in the market. Many feel saturated when it comes to choosing a theme. Besides, each looks better than the other. Thus choosing the perfect theme, for your blog is definitely crucial. Some of them hit the sweet spot of vision and attracts more traffic. But some may convert your all effort of blogging into irresponsive output. Hence, before buying any theme, it is supreme to limit your bucket list and be specific about your dos and don’ts.
You must be crystal clear about all the features available along with the theme. The theme must be customizable, as well. And, responsive design provides an easy to use interface for visitors. Moreover, it enables your blog to be device-compatible, not only on the laptop but on multiple devices. Overall, it is better to use a premium theme. Yet, free themes will be okay if you are tight on your budget. Additionally, be sure if your theme supports updates and guide support as well. Always remember, your theme is the face of your website. Most WordPress themes are already responsive by default but, we recommend these two if you want a better theme for your blog.
The Schema
Schema is the fastest loading, secure, lightweight and ultra-SEO friendly WordPress theme which is much responsive and fast. In the same fashion it has a clean interface that leads Google to understand your content more effectively.Moreover, schema includes rich snippets as well. It will increase your rank on SERP too. And this theme has custom options panel and widgets too. Also, it decreases your page load time and increases page speed grade. Further, it increases the social media share. Likewise, it has social media integration for social media marketing and is cross-browser compatible i.e. will work with the popular web browsers. And, it’s built-in review system will let users review your posts in the comment.
Neve
Neve is the WordPress theme, mostly used in long-standing business. It has all the flexibility of HTML and CSS and is easy to edit too. It has reliable updates and easy setup. On the other hand, it has sleek designs and is fast and responsive as well. Overall, it has a lightweight and keeps your site in Google’s good side. Chiefly, it has a library, ready to import in the website in no time. Further, new designs are added at the end of each month too. Equally, Neve commissions your online store with wonderfully designed smooth WooCommerce integration.
Step 4: Create Contents
Creating a content may be a difficult task. But if you follow the below mentioned tips, it gets easier for you to make contents that are actually a worthy and valuable one.These tips are the must-follow tips before writing a blog.
Choose a Niche
The first and foremost thing before writing a blog is finding a niche. Statistically, there are about more than 2 million blogs published every single day. Therefore, it is essential that you must accede a better niche market for your blog. Indeed, it is one of the major concerns about your blog site, else your blog may not yield much profit. Obviously, you will have to find a better niche. You can follow the following plan of action to escalate your limitations about niche:
a) Understanding about Niche
Any niche with the following boundaries is always considered best. One must understand these jottings as well.
- Consumers are willing to spend money online
- Consumers are facing problems in
- There are products that you can promote or sell
- You have a decent understanding of
To rephrase, there are some niches where you will find difficult to get consumers to part with their money. Also, you must be sure about the products in your niche that can promote or sell too. By all means, it is always advantageous to sell products that are already in the market. In the same fashion, you must be savvy enough to seize certitude of your client about the products you are selling.
b) Passion vs. Money
It has been a long time since the war between passion and money exists. At a certain landmark, it is equally confusing about choosing passion or money. You must be in dilemma either to follow, your passionate niche or money generating niche. Comparatively, you might find it more enjoyable if you will go along with your enthusiasm. But you will get busted if your blog is not monetized either.
Contrarily you choose money, that’s most of the people do these days. On the other hand, if you know nothing about or is a less absorbing niche, your content will be average and less convincing too. As can be seen, you won’t be attracting many spectators because of less-quality articles. Aa a result, in either case, you will gain less or no profit at all. On balance, it is best to stick with niches that encapsulate both of them.
Blog Outline
The great blog post comes up with a great schedule. Even the best blog’s own need to create some scrap to track the progress. Another key point, the outline need not be lengthy. Instead, it should be enough to decide on your further strategy. Evidently you can create your schedule something like:
- Planning
- Writing
- Rewriting/ Editing
- Optimizing
- Conclusion
Bind your Audience
Before you start writing, you must brainstorm about your viewer. You must be confident about who your audience will be. On the one hand, you should think about your audience’s stipulation. Resembles difficult to visualize? Well, there are plenty of resources to assist you with the most searched keywords. We will discuss it in detail. So, stay tuned!
Mesmerizing Headlines and Contents
The hypnotic headline is the best alternative. Such allures many spectators as mostly a book is judged by its cover. Even your headline is captivating enough, but your content lags may increase your bounce-back rate. It will imprint a negative impact on search engine bot, and your blog may get spammed sooner or later.
Apart from that, a short paragraph will make it easier to read. Remember, all kinds of contents are not quality content. Quality content drives the abundance of patrons to your site. Equally important, onlookers visit your blog for some specific piece of information too. Thus, it is crucial to organize your idea through subheadings and use bullet points if possible.
Info-Graphics
Human brains are virtuous at processing visual content faster than written text. That’s why infographics have proven to be a worthy element in your blog. Infographics may include pictures, videos, and presentations as well. There are tons of stunning free high-quality images source as well. But before embracing the multimedia, be assured that it is completely free. Else, you may have to face copyright penalties and other cyberlaw violence acts. Besides downloading from external sources, you can create some pieces of art by yourself using various graphics designing software. You may hire some affiliate marketers to perform your graphics portion of your blog. Overall, a good blend of text and multimedia is the perfect flavor of a successful blog as well.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
In the blogging world, there’s still quandary, whether to design considering the user’s experience (UX) or SEO. Google drives enormous organic traffic if your site is well optimized. The search engine loves content valuable to the reader, as well. And if your article is established on UX, you will get viewers from well-taste. The core contrivance is balance. You should keep a perfect balance between UX and SEO.
In the same fashion, if you desire to optimize your site, following suggestion should be implemented:
- Fit a suitable meta-tag with suitable meta-description
- Focus on the keyword density
- Use variations in keyword
- Add alt-text to images
- Create inbound links and external links
Now that you have visualized and done homework for your blog, it’s time to bring it live on the site. Start putting the content on the site and then publish it. Remember, creating a niche specific content or blog is really important.
After a definite collapse of time, you will find vast traffic to your site. Gradually, it increases the SEO page rank. Sooner or later, you will be on top of the search engine page. We have talked in detail, about generating organic traffics. Thus, stick around.
How to develop Blog Post Ideas
After setting up a platform, you have to focus on content. You have to maintain an explicit rate of posting to have some space in the search market. Sometimes, posting may delay due to lack of proper fresh ideas. We have allocated some of the highly practised procedure for generating ideas if you are stuck.
Using Q/A platforms
Q/A platform like Quora are most suitable for finding inspiration about ideas. People post different interrogation and inquiry in such shareware. This question-answer stage can be useful for getting clients and lead generations.
For instance, I search for Blog in Quora. And I was greeted with many options.
Meanwhile, I found a plethora of ideas for a blog post. If you follow up the thread, eventually you will have a wave of thoughts striking in your brain
Search Engine Trends
There are different search engines, each with a specific feature. In fact, a search engine for pictures like Pinterest provides prediction box, which assists to know about the better post. Apart from this, the search engine like Google serves with Google keyword planner (GKP). GKP extracts out keyword with the most search volume. Also, Google Trends can confirm you about your blog. It will illustrate whether your idea is gaining popularity or not as well.
Elaborate Yourself
You don’t have to save any academic qualification for talking about yourself. Neither you have to perfect any problem. Always remember, you are one step ahead of some people out there, and they need your guidance. That is to say, write about yourself about how you have reached to the level. Just brainstorm about your tough time, and how you cope with them. Eventually, decorate your experience with words in your blog.
Ask “Blog Post Bank”
If you are running low on blog post ideas, check out blog post bank. In the same fashion, you can create your personal blog-bank for future reference. Some of the suggested ideas for the bank can be:
- How-To Guide
- Top Blogs in Your Niche
- List of The Best Resources or Tools
- Best Apps in Your Niche
- Case Studies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Interviews
- Guest Posts
- Product Reviews
Use HARO
HARO is a site where professional reporters and bloggers visit for free original content. HARO stands for Help a Reporter Out. All you have to do is put your email in HARO. And without doubts, HARO will send you daily messages with a list of niches.
It is the best source for guest blogging and acquiring white-hat backlinks as well. Of the received messages, you can just skip the guest blogging and focus on blog-ideas.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are enriching with a vast source of creativity for a blog post. One can either own or be a member of any group helping people with ideas. Just like, you have to post something like “Help me out with an idea”. Indeed, you will be with plenty of thoughts from the group members.
Deal with Case Study
You can share about any case study that some of your readers have achieved. In the meantime, you can hand out a study on someone else’s blog too. Equally, you have to mention your commentary and view-point.
Expert Interview
Most probable, you can get someone with expertise in your niche. It may result to gather more information on your topics and can be able to interview him. Thereupon you can allocate such interview in your post as well. The interview can be in many formats. To enumerate, one can use Google Hangout, YouTube, or send questions through email and get their written replies for the interview.
Welcome Guest Posts
Getting quality guest posts is a better way to access free content. For the most part, nearly all bloggers want backlinks. Above all, if you provide any way to write content on your blog and send them backlinks to their blog. You will have many interested people and niche as well.
Research Your Competition
Straightaway you can look for new ideas by surfing competitor’s websites. Once you are with your project, you can continue more research on Google. Even with SEO tools, you can get enough useful information about the SEO structure of competitor. Under these circumstances, you can use GKP to learn about search volumes of related keywords to include in your articles.
Getting Organic Traffic To Your Blog
After a few days, you realize that your subject hasn’t covered much of the audience. It is prime to discern that without an audience, your blog is dead.
1) Reverse Pitch Method
Conversely, there are many strategies and instructions to generate sufficient organic traffic. Among them, the most popular is the “Reverse Pitch Method”. This method even increases your search engine rankings. It will drive the crowd from Google Search to your blog. The algorithm of Reverse Pitch Method is
a) Find a suitable Keywords for your post
Suitable keywords with average search volume should be selected. There are many keyword finding tools like KWFinder and Ubersuggest to generate a list of keywords. While writing articles most people stick to one keyword with larger search volume. Instead, one should choose multiple small volume keywords. These small searched keywords will increase search engine rank without any backlinks.
How?
The arithmetic is simple. Consider 100 keywords with an average 500 search per month. Simply, this will usher the article to 50000 audiences in a month. Within no time, Google will recognize your site and promotes you.
b) Start Reverse Pitching
During this process, one will pitch before writing content. The procedural involves pitching of content, try to get backlinks and creating content. You will have to contact other bloggers to contribute to your content. Meanwhile, you can plan for linking all the contents. To do this, firstly you need to create a list of sites that are ready for contribution. For this purpose, you can use digital marketing tools as well.
Next, ask Google for topics that do not directly compete with your post. If the post is about “blog-content” then you can Google something like “how to start a blog”. Basically, all website owners are haunting for backlinks. So, there will be chances that they will be excited about your offer for a link. Moreover, they may consider linking to your article once it’s finished. Overall, your response rate will be higher than the “Normal Pitching” method.
c) Gather feedbacks
After sufficient responses, create a fantastic article. Most important, it should be of high quality and easy to read. Simultaneously, publish your article on your site and contact all the contributors, expressing your gratitude with the finished post link. Therefore, it works like a bijou and will result in:
After sufficient responses, create a fantastic article. Most important, it should be of high quality and easy to read. Simultaneously, publish your article on your site and contact all the contributors, expressing your gratitude with the finished post link. Therefore, it works like a bijou and will result in:
- High-quality content based real values
- A better number of near-instant backlinks to it
- Rankings and traffic
2) Enchanting Niche for Blog
You may find the niche interesting, but you have to consider some cautions. Many enter in niche market enthusiastically and go blank after some article. Some get depressed because the result might not be according to your expectation. You may earn low, although you are consistent on your site since money through niche is a gradual phenomenon. Hence, you have to find a simple way to keep your spirit up and to find opportunities in a blogging niche.
a) Proper Niche Market
Well, you are ready with scrap plans, now it is time to find a proper niche market for yourself. Impotent to opt better niche ideas. We recommend you to accompany these simple steps:
i) Ask yourself
It is the most rudimentary way to generate ideas. Ask yourself about your hobbies, interests, potentials and goal for getting into niche marketing. Nonetheless, never hold back when implementing this brainstorming. You can always pollard your list of niche markets and narrow it later.
ii) Research online
Now you are armoured with yourself, the next step will be finding what other people are mostly interested in. You can get an abundance of online platforms for this. Yet the most compelling stage will be e-commerce. E-commerce comes up with different manufacture’s products and with the list of best-sellers. You will get a proposition about tech and innovative products and services as well. Don’t bother to count for profitability. Just go on adding ideas on your list.
iii) Discuss with friend
All your preparations are complete but pre-occupied? Just pay a visit to your friends, and ask what kind of stuff they prefer to buy. You might unveil some of the unthought hobbies too.
b) Checking Profitableness
Now you are with a list of your niche ideas. At this point, you have to choose the best among them to gain more. Effectively, Google Trends can come out to a better alternative. All you have to perform is, log on to Google Trends, share your niche with google, and wait for the graph. Make sure of the location, you are going to serve.
I have searched for “Bakery” with the location of Canada and get an impressive graph. Better to have selected “2004-present” to get detail of your niche. Further, you can compare all of your niches by clicking “Add Comparison” there. As I have searched for “cakes”, “pastry” and “candy”, Google showed that “cake” is of no-match. Thus, “cake” can be taken as a better niche, since it is still trending.
c) Competitor Analysis
While you are ready with your niche, you must be aware of your key competitors. For this, Google up your niche to check out what site comes up first. Then, you have to identify all the strength and weakness of the websites that are top of the search engine result. For this, you can use tools to check out the regular traffic of those sites. Similarly, you can get an SEO audit for the site with free sites. Likewise, you can sign up for their newsletter if they have an automated email campaign as well.
Next course of action can be taking some time to think about your brand to put something on the table. Finally, you will be geared to stand in the market.
d) Become Active on Niche Related Forums
After organizing every single thing, you have to find some niche related forums. Eventually, you have to become active in them. The more active you are, the more traffic you will get. Provided that, you have used username related to your site. Take the case of writing engaging tutorials and replying to other users. Get yourself to Google and just go around with some tips to increase your traffic as well. You can search for your niche related posts on Google or other discussion panels. And there you may paste your web address to divert people to your website. Of course, this is a slow process but is more effective for organic traffic.
3) Have quintessential Social Media
Everyone will endorse social media these days. Search for the perfect platform that will fit your blog content. You can choose Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ and may have an automated Email List to nurture your niche. The solitary concept is to be equally active with the social account as well.
On Facebook, you might have to create a page. Besides, you can join or create a Facebook group related to your niche or any topic that might inspire you. Once you are in the group or your page has to boost up in the market, you will be embraced as a valued member. Thus, you can share your links to content there to grow traffics.
Equally important, Google+ works the same. Yet you have to join communities to share your ideologies. In fact, Pinterest is another better substitute for the social media market. Pinterest is more search engine than social media. You can ride the waves of trending pins to generate more niches. You can subscribe the Pinterest news to update yourself. In the similar fashion, you can add at least 5-6 hashtags to the swinging relevant niche’s keywords. On the other hand, you can circulate your content by creating new pins to a few personal boards, and then group all your pins. Equally, live pinning is one of the most ignored ways to increase your traffic and engagement.
As compared to others, email marketing is the most predominant to grow your reach. When you grow your email client’s list, you can have a bridge between your site and them without spending any penny. You can send your contents and new blogs to them through emails. This will bring new content in front of your regular and new visitors as well. You can use certain tools like GetResponse for your email list management. GetResponse converts web visitors to subscribers. More importantly, such tools ensure your email camping to generates the best possible outcome. Some of them come up with autoresponders and follow up messages to the client. Some will generate analytics to track about every opened email, and all the purchases made.
These tools will help to achieve success by making your content more responsive and, all the subscribers a profitable contact to you.
Final Words:
If you are new to blogging, don’t panic and frustrate out. Keep on studying and learning. Many platforms will teach you. Balanced against, some will guide and walk with you side-by-side till you are independent enough. Try and try until you succeed. Even you will be able to throw your blog in front of thousands of audiences during the learning phase. You just need to be active in your niche.
Above all the above-mentioned steps will surely, escort you to achieve your fantasy. Sometimes you will run-out of thoughts. Cheer up and chill in such case. The more you relax and surf the net, the more you will get innovative ideas. All in all, building a better blog site will take some time. Consequently, establishing a realm will take more time. Always try to be optimistic. And yes, Rome was not built in a day!