You want to bring in extra income to become financially independent but have no idea how to start a blog.
This guide will help you get your blog up and running in no time at all.
Creating a blog is one side hustle that has the power to totally change your life. There are many stories of people who started a blog and were able to quit their 9-5 job due to the income that the blog is producing.
You can make money to supplement your salary and to help you become financially independent. Your success will depend on what you put into it.
Starting a blog is not a get rich quick scheme…….
It takes work and dedication to create a blog that people will want to read. The great thing about building a blog is that there is a low barrier to entry. It takes very little money to start a blog compared to starting a brick and mortar business.
Starting a blog can be an exciting journey, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a beginner. Fortunately, with the right platform, starting a blog becomes much easier.
In this easy to follow guide, we’ll walk you through the process of starting a blog using WordPress. WordPress is a popular and user-friendly content management system that allows you to create and customize your blog to suit your unique needs.
So, let’s dive in and learn how to start your own blog effortlessly!
Hosting
First, you’ll need to select a hosting provider.
A hosting provider is a service that stores your blog’s files and makes them accessible on the internet.
Look for a reliable and reputable hosting provider that offers good customer support, uptime guarantees, and one-click WordPress installation.
SiteGround is the one I have used for years and it is very affordable and easy to use.
WordPress
WordPress is the number one content management system out there today.
I would suggest you use it since there is so much support and helpful blogs out there that you can find the answer to any question you may have.
Many hosting providers offer one-click installation, making the process quick and straightforward.
With SiteGround it is very easy to install WordPress.
STEP 1: EASY WORDPRESS INSTALLATION
First, you’ll need to install the application for building your website, in our case – WordPress. When you log in for the first time in your Client Area, you’ll see a welcome message and a button “SET UP WEBSITE” which will take you directly to the installation process.
On the next step, select Start New Website and WordPress as your application of choice.
Finish the installation process by choosing whether to add extra services, such as SG Site Scanner, which scans your website every day and alerts you immediately if your website has been hacked or compromised with malicious code.
At the end, click on Finish and wait while WordPress is being installed.
STEP 2: CHOOSE A THEME
Once the WordPress installation has finished you will be prompted to the WordPress Starter wizard. Simply click on Start Now. You can choose a theme from a wide selection of free SiteGround-curated, modern and professionally-designed themes.
Note that the theme will come with pre-filled sample content, enabled by the intuitive drag-and-drop page editor that SiteGround provides by default. This will help you easily visualize how the actual content would look like before you substitute it with your own website copy.
STEP 3: ADD PLUGINS TO EXPAND FUNCTIONALITY
Once you get the right design for your site, on the next step you can add some useful plugins such as:
- Contact Form – so your website visitors have an easy way to contact you;
- WooCommerce – transform your site into an online store;
- Google analytics plugin – to help you monitor your website traffic;
- Grow Subscribers list – a plugin that will help you to capture your visitor’s emails;
When you’ve made your choice, click Complete. In minutes, your new website will be ready with the content and functionalities you have added. Just log in your site from http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin and start adding content using the custom WordPress dashboard.
For any other web host follow the instructions provided by your hosting provider to install WordPress on your domain.
Done.
It was that simple…….
Customizing Your Theme:
After installing a theme, you can customize it to reflect your brand.
WordPress provides a user-friendly customization interface where you can modify your blog’s logo, colors, fonts, and layout without any coding knowledge.
The best advice I can give is to start writing some posts and see what it is like and then you can learn to customize your site.
This is the fun part.
Personally I use the GeneratePress theme. I have used many themes over the years and GeneratePress gives you so many options to change things to the way you like.
Some themes restrict what you can change. I like to have a lot of control over my theme.
Installing Essential Plugins:
Plugins enhance the functionality of your WordPress blog. Along with the ones mention above there are 3 you should immediately consider.
Essential plugins like:
Yoast SEO – This is the number one plug-in for SEO and is a powerful tool that can help you make your site search engine-friendly. Being ranked in Google’s search engine is the number one goal for your blog in order to bring in readers.
Akismet Anti-Spam – this plug-in helps to block all the spam comments that you will get. And you will get them. It is a must have for all bloggers.
Jetpack for security and performance optimization are a must have for every blog.
Auto Responder Plug-in – It is very important to start growing your email list right away. This will help to keep readers coming back when you send them emails everytime you create new posts. It is also a great way to monetize your blog by creating courses and emailing the latest course you are releasing to your readers who may also become buyers.
Creating Compelling Content
Planning Your Content Strategy:
Develop a content strategy to guide your blogging efforts. Define your target audience, brainstorm blog topics, and create an editorial calendar to maintain a consistent publishing schedule.
Crafting Engaging Blog Posts:
Write informative, engaging, and well-structured blog posts. Incorporate relevant keywords to optimize your content for search engines. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to enhance readability. Add multimedia elements such as images and videos to make your content visually appealing.
Promoting Your Blog:
Publishing great content is not enough; you need to promote your blog to attract readers. Utilize social media platforms, email marketing, guest posting, and search engine optimization techniques to increase your blog’s visibility and reach a wider audience.
Summary
Starting a blog on WordPress is a fantastic opportunity for beginners to enter the blogging world. With its user-friendly interface, vast customization options, and extensive plugin library, WordPress provides an ideal platform to kickstart your blogging journey.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to create an attractive and functional blog that resonates with your target audience.
Remember, blogging requires dedication and consistency, so keep creating valuable content and engaging with your readers. Embrace the learning process, and your blog will grow and evolve over time.
Happy blogging!