Over the weekend I received an email from a reader who wanted to know how to start a blog. I’ve found that I’ve been getting more and more emails like this.
Just when I thought everyone in the world had one, I’ve discovered that are still people who don’t, simply because they don’t know where to start.
Rather than keep repeating myself, with each new email inquiry, I’m going to answer the question here – as briefly, yet as thoroughly as I can.
How to start a blog: The Technical Aspect
1. Secure web hosting. If you’re planning on being viewed as an authority, then you’ll need to get serious about blogging, skip the free platforms and host it yourself. You’ll thank yourself for this later.
If you’re not ready to pay full price for a year’s worth of hosting – you can try shared WordPress hosting for a fraction of the cost while your blog is in the developmental stages. You’ll need to upgrade once your site grows and gains higher levels of traffic.
2. Register your domain name. You should be able to do that through your hosting company.
3. Install WordPress – some hosting companies will do this for you, so ask around to save yourself a step. Then be sure to choose a professional-looking theme, or get someone to customize a Thesis theme for you. Feel free to contact me for help with this.
4. Install the necessary plugins – don’t go crazy, install the ones that are most important to you. Too many can slow down your site. Read 25 WordPress Plugins to Keep Blog Visitors Engaged.
I highly suggest getting the Scribed SEO plugin – it simplifies SEO unlike anything else. It analyzes your content and tells you what to do to ensure you rank for specific keywords. I’ve found that posts that are 100% optimize often rank highly even when the competition is high.
5. Make sure you set up the 5 Essential Pages.
How to start a blog: The Writing Aspect
6. Decide on what you will blog about.
7. Decide on your categories. Read 5 Tips on Using Categories and Category Pages Effectiviely
8. Focus on producing 10-20 posts before launching. Make sure you have at least 1-2 posts for each category. Write blog content that is engaging. Use vivid details and remember that people learn better when they are engaged and entertained.
9. Try to publish at least 3-5 posts per week.
How to start a blog: The Social Aspect
10. Make sure you have accounts at all of the following sites:
- Facebook – be sure to start a fan page for your new site.
- Blog Engage
- Blokube
- Blog Interact
- SERPd
- BizSugar
11. Make sure you get out an comment. Make sure they are authentic comments that demonstrate that you have read the entire post. Try to add something new to the discussion. Try to stand out from all the other commentators. Be sure to address the author by name.
Check out this list of 400 Do-Follow CommentLuv Blogs
12. Continue to educate yourself on blogging. I recommend:
- ProBlogger‘s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog.
- For step by step guidance for set up, you may want to get A Step by Step Guide to a Better Blog.
- For more in-depth tips on promotion, get The Ultimate Blog Promotion Guide by Kristi Hines.
- See my list of Blogging Resources for more tools and useful links.
Of course this list has been organized by steps, however, this doesn’t mean this steps have to be completed in this exact order, but they will help you start a blog and create a good foundation for your blogging activities. I highly suggest subscribing to our feed via email, if you haven’t already, so that you’ll receive more blogging tips to help you continue to develop your site.
About Kiesha Easley
And they keep failing and not understanding what happened. Thanks for sharing Keisha! Like you, Kiesha, I fall into the trap of assuming everyone knows how to start a blog by now.
Eddie Dickerson recently posted..Cancer Tattoos Tumblr
Hi thanks for sharing this as a blog virgin I have picked up bags of useless tips. Will report back when I launch my architecture blog!
This reminds me when i started blogging. At first i used Blogger.com and didn’t pay much attention to traffic and SEO. However in the long run, i learned that these aspects are important if you want your blog to be successful.
Twitter: chowdhuryrahul
says:
For a new blogger, with very little experience about Web Hosting, and Scripts, its better to Use Blogger as their Blogging platform, and after gradually getting experienced they can move to WordPress, and WordPress has that feature to import the previous posts from a Blogger blog. In case the Person has experience about Servers and Scripts, then the choice is obviously WordPress!
Rahul Chowdhury recently posted..3 Must See Infographics about Google, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress & Blogger!!!
This is such a great post with awesome advices that for sure I’ll follow. Thanks a lot.
I would check out SavvyOnlineIncome.com. They have a good post that shows how to start a blog in less than 10 minutes. Hope this helps.
Twitter: Brad_Harmon
says:
Isn’t it amazing that with all of the blogs started every day there’s still a huge percentage of the population that have never even read a blog? Like you, Kiesha, I fall into the trap of assuming everyone knows how to start a blog by now. This is a great guide for someone starting down that path for the first time.
Brad Harmon recently posted..Don’t Let Your Website Be Held Hostage
Twitter: seommotips
says:
I recently started my blog Bivori and I found I voilated your #8 tips. But I think its OK. Till the world knows I have a blog, I make up that 8-10 posts.
Nice tips Kiesha, and you have put forward lots of resources.
Suresh Khanal recently posted..The Secrets of How I Got Custom Facebook URL Just in 15 Minutes
Well I agree… start a blog is easy at beginning but after a bit u must have always the right inspiration!
Twitter: pdarchitecture
says:
Great post, I am a bit off topic here, (but may be a great idea for a new blog topic), setting up a stand alone blog has been surprisingly easy using blogger and wordpress, but have you got any tips on how or where to start getting a blog template from that can be added to an existing website. I have an architectural website for New Build Home Designs and Home Extensions, and have a seperate ‘blogger’ blog http://www.pdarchitecture.blogspot.com linked to the website but I like the idea of including a blog on the main website but have no idea how to get a template to put into my website which allows me to have a page on the website perform like a blog and accept comments etc…. – I do maintain and add to the website myself, so I am not completely clueless but I often need the help of templates etc.. for adding new functionality
i have a blog, but i think it’s so difficult to write every day and have the ispiration to write!
amsterdam recently posted..Voli Low Cost Amsterdam
Hello Keisha,
I think that everyone who wants to start a blog should at first take a bare blog (wordpress preferably) and then just start with some basic plugins.
After he should start writing and add plugins as he goes, in order to understand what those plugins are for.
I know some bloggers that just start to cram their blogs with plugins and they don’t know what any of those plugins do.
The social aspect, should be something easy for any blogger, because a blog is something social.
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Hello Dear,
I accept you are successful in this world of blogging.you are really genius.
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I tried to leave a comment but for some reason it didn’t go through.
Great article! A comment and question
Comment: On “Writing” I have found that adding images or videos helps make the article more captivating, even if it is just there to help with breaking the monotony of the layout.
Question: what do you think of purchasing the domain separately versus through the webhost?
Thanks for the post!
Nice post! Very detailed and structured. Two comments: what do you think of the merits of purchasing the domain separately from web hosting? Second comment: “The writing aspect”: I would say as much as possible include images or videos with your blog posts. I have found that it makes the layout a bit more interesting and visual aids add flavor. What do you think?
Thanks for the post!
More and more people want to start a blog these days not knowing how much work it involves. I’ve helped countless friends and only 10% still have it online. It’s just not worth the effort, maybe i’ll simply direct them to you article next time.
Maria Pavel recently posted..Government Grants For CNA Training
My first blog was started as the online diary – I was going to post my thoughts and ideas. I invented some name for myself and express my ideas as I wanted to do it.
Step by step I decided to have some professional blog for other purposes.
Starting a blog is not a problem – keeping it read by visitors is more complicated and difficult.
hi Kiesha, very nice post for new bloggers. Good guaidance on how to maintain a blog.I like your point #12 to Continue to educate yourself on blogging.If you continously educate yourself then you will become a good blogger.
waterpearls recently posted..Yes- Anyone Can Make a DVD Movie from a Flip Camcorder
Thanks Kiesha,i really appreciate to this post.
that is such a great post.
Dedicated hosting is a must! I know a lot of people start out with free hosting and when they consider going serious, it’s often a case of lost posts or some other mishap. Do yourself a favor, you’ll save trouble along the line.
Phil recently posted..Easter in Croatia
This is a lovely post! Not only is there some really great material to chew on, with links to some other really great stuff, but it’s just so beautiful all in one place and easy to reference!
Thank you so much for this. Yes, I, too, thought everyone and their grandmother had a blog, but even though I’ve been blogging since ’98, a lot of this was for personal blogging, and it definitely is different when blogging for a particular goal or profession, rather than blogging just for just. =)
Thanks again!
Delena
Delena Silverfox recently posted..Betadvisor Free Trial Coupon
I’ve been a fan of WordPress for years, so I definitely agree with you on using that software. However, I think one should have an idea on what they’re going to blog about before they even think about doing anything else…
Kids Craft Blogs recently posted..2 Smashing Hammer Props for Thor- God of Thunder
I’ve had my blog for over four months now. I don’t have everything. Some of it I can’t afford right now but most of it is because I just didn’t know.
Thank you.
WOW I think I’ve got a complete resources here. Thanks for sharing Keisha! You are very generous. I don’t wonder why you are successful in this world of blogging. I am now on my way to check out those you have mentioned there. Regards, Kira
kira permunian recently posted..SEO for Quality- Relevancy and Authority
Hi Kiesha,
Thanks for providing such great information. As a blogging newbie, I really need it! (Looks like I have a lot more work to do, LOL.) I started my blog on WordPress.com–I think that was a great way to test the waters to see if blogging was really for me. I would definitely recommend the same route for other newbies. I’m completely non-technical, but I was able to move the blog to WordPress.org pretty easily.
-Marianne
Marianne Worley recently posted..Are You Speaking the Same Language as Your Customers
Twitter: BrankicaU
says:
Hey Kiesha, great list :)
Not only there are people without a blog but there is even a worse “category”.
There are those who keep starting blog after blog without ever trying to learn what it takes to build a successful one. And they keep failing and not understanding what happened.
I think we should all go back to basics from time to time :)
Brankica recently posted..Things every beginner blogger must do to avoid failure
Twitter: mark_harai
says:
Hi Keisha, this is a great list for beginner’s. I need to check out some of the social communities you’ve listed, as I haven’t heard of some of them.
Thank you for the invite to your contest. As you are probably aware, I’m a bit new to blogging/writing, so I think I just need to hone my skills for while before trying to compete with real writers : )
I am super excited about our connection though, so hopefully there will be many more conversations in the near future.
Thanks Keisha!
Mark Harai recently posted..Breaking Free From Mediocrity and Familiarity
The social aspect of blogging is also one of the most important things to keep in mind when promoting your blog. Some of the social media sites you mention are ones I’d never heard of, but will be sure to have a look at. Thanks for posting the list of DoFollow blogs, too!
Petra recently posted..Von Web 20 zu Social Media
Hi Kiesha,
Great post, as always. However, if I might make a slight clarification/update: the website BlogEnable is, at the moment, no longer accepting new users unless those users have an invitation code. I am personally encountering this frustration while trying to sign up for the site. If anyone has an invite code they’d like to share, I’d be very grateful. :)
-j.
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Joe,
I’d be happy to send you an invite! Let me know if you haven’t received it within the hour or so.
Wonderful! I just got the invite. Thank you so much! :)
-j.
There are a lot of questions to answer in the process while starting a blog. The first and essential question is: Should I go for a hosted solution or my own domain?
This question should be answered with Yes, if you expect your blog to grow and want to build a brand in the long run.
The early bloggers have learned from their own experience. Now there are numerous sites, articles, expects who can give them a hand.
When I first thought of starting my own blog, I never thought of those. All I think about is how I could have a good page rank.
I got my hosting package from Bluehost since they are recommended by wordpress.org. I don’t know anything about hosting so I just grab the first one in sight. My first domain also comes from them.
Anthony recently posted..Chicken Coop Designs – Proper Planning and Preparation
Hey Keisha
Good guide for beginners! (Quick note – the ‘scribd’ link goes to a page on Adsense – love the 400 Blog links with comment luv too!
Paul
paul wolfe recently posted..Method Writing For Bloggers and Content Marketers
#12 is definitely the most important once your blog is up and running. Blogging technology and strategy continually evolve, and as a blogger you will always want to be evolving with it.
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