The blogosphere may seem full already, but there are tons of people who have yet to start a blog. They’ve been putting it off for so long now that they probably feel like it’s too late.
But my motto is this: as long as you’re breathing it’s never too late.
The start of a New Year is a great time to set some blogging goals along with those weight loss resolutions – if you’re creative you could combine the two and share your weight loss journey on your blog – how’s that for accountability?
Perhaps you’ve been putting off starting a blog because you believe that the market is saturated; that there’s no room for you. But I tell you, it doesn’t matter how many blogs are floating around out there.
There may even be tons of bloggers in your area blogging about the same thing, but so what – you might be the one who can do it better. And you’ll never know until you give it a try.
So what are you waiting for?
Oh yeah, I promised tips for getting started – here they are:
1. Choose and Register a Domain Name
Brainstorm and collaborate with others to come up with a great title. Now, as much as you may be tempted to get creative – now is not the time to be clever. Your domain name and blog title should be clearly related to your niche. Search engines don’t have time to figure out riddles – a clever name could cost you search engine traffic in the long run.
Once you’ve decided on a title and domain name, conduct a search to check its availability. You can do that when you’re ready to move on to this next step:
2. Secure Webhosting
Squashhost.com will let you conduct a domain name availability search before you purchase a hosting plan. You can register a domain name for free if you go with one of their plans. I don’t know how long this offer will last, but it’s a good one while it does.
3. Install WordPress
I realize this part may read easier than it actually may seem to a newbie, but honestly, installing WordPress literally takes minutes – it’s the customizations that take up all the time. If you need a step by step guide, go ahead and download the free “Step by Step Guide to a Better Blog” – find out how to access your free copy by checking the sidebar.
4. Choose and Install a Theme
Again, this is one of those things that takes minutes to install, but hours or even days to decide on what you really want. To save time, I highly recommend choosing a premium template that you can customize to make your own. If you’re not ready to pay premium prices, download a free one if you must.
5. Build Your Content
A blog without content is not a blog – decide on how often you will post and start generating some blog posts. If you’re going to post once a week, write up a month’s worth of posts ahead of time. If you’re going to post daily, write up at least four days worth in one sitting if you can. You can then edit your posts in WordPress and schedule them to publish on specific dates and times.
6. Add Your Pages
If you’re not sure about the difference between a blog post and a blog page, please take a moment to conduct some quick research – otherwise you may run the risk of having tons of content in the wrong places and could end up with a menu bar full of stuff that doesn’t belong there – believe me, I’ve seen it. Anyway, you’ll want to make sure you create an About Page, a Contact Page, and an Advertise Page (if applicable) – place links to all of these in your menu bar.
7. Join and Promote on Social Networks
I can’t imagine that there are still people who haven’t joined at least the two major social networks (Facebook and Twitter) but I’ve learned to never assume anything. So if you haven’t already done so, go ahead and set up accounts on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr, and any others you think will apply to your niche.
As you gain followers and begin interacting with others, you can then start posting links to your content as you update your blog. Don’t be spammy with it – remember that socializing online is just like socializing in person – you wouldn’t just walk up to a person and tell them to buy your book without first introducing yourself and striking up a conversation, right? So get out there, introduce yourself and strike up some conversations and then when the moment is right – go ahead and mention your blog.
These are a few tips to quickly get you started, but obviously, there’s so much to blogging that can’t be included in one post. If you need additional help, you might want to get a copy of my 10 Week Gameplan for a Top 100K Blog – you can find more information about the book in the sidebar.
About Kiesha Easley
Well written and helpful article, i’ll be sure to pass it along to any newbie bloggers :)
Very Nice Article !! According to my opinion You can create your blog with publishing some good and fresh content because effective content is the main key of success in regards to SEO. So always use a fresh content to being good in SEO.
Nice article, very schematich and useful !
I think that if you will publish some good contents, you can start your blog, also if some years have elapsed since the internet diffusion.
I would add 2 points, to keep at it to achieve your aims, and to learn and improve SEO techniques, if you have already some competences.
Twitter: voyageur-libre
says:
Thank You, you helped my to set up my blog. Hope 2013 will be a succesfull year :)
Twitter: atyqinc
says:
Hi Kiesha,
I think that it becomes more and more difficult to start a blog and get visitors to it. This is why I wanted to thank you for this blog post. But in 2013 beginners will face huge problem and it will be difficult for them to continue blogging as Google has updated its algorithm again.
Best regards, Nathan Brunner.
Nathan Brunner recently posted..How to get Unique Content for your eCommerce Website?
Blogging in today’s time has gained a lot of space and importance for those who promote their concerns online.
dating sites recently posted..Suddenly find yourself in bed with dozens of beautiful women
We hope this year 2013 can become a bright time for blogger, more idea, more creative and keep success.
Twitter: princeerafe
says:
before you start posting articles on your blog first submit your sitemap to search engines
prince recently posted..HOW TO SUBMIT SITEMAP TO GOOGLE
Twitter: princeerafe
says:
great post there but before you start posting on your new blog first of all submit your site to search engines
great post thanks keep it up
prince recently posted..HOW TO SUBMIT SITEMAP TO GOOGLE
This is good advice for newbie bloggers. I would also highlight the importance of planning before jumping right into blogging. I think that too many people make the mistake of not doing this and they end of receiving unsuccessful results.
Sabrina recently posted..Telecom Recruiter Opening at Manpower
thank you for this useful informations
Blogging in today’s time has gained a lot of space and importance for those who promote their concerns online. These steps in your article is a good guidance to give the amateur bloggers a kick start. I presume selecting a domain name and then building the content for it are the most crucial steps one has to go through.
This piece of information will be of great help to the ones who are thinking of becoming bloggers in this new year… I would like you to share a sample of how to go about blogging so that we can get a better idea to start off..
okay nice tip for beginners,Starting a blog is always a great step to make, especially right after New Year. THank you for this post.
catherine recently posted..3 methodes om snel af te vallen
Twitter: mcmohitchauhan
says:
hi Keisha
I have already had 2-3 blogs of my own in the past but none of them really worked for me, though i put in a lot of efforts.. but now i realize that i was only busy with steps 5 and 6 mainly. Never paid attention to other steps really…
But after read your tips, i’ve realized that this is the time to correct all the wrong things..
Thanks for the info….
mohit chauhan recently posted..Does Blogging Reduce Stress?
Twitter: gel23
says:
Hi Keisha,
After you’re done with the step 1-6, promoting your blog to social media like Facebook and Twitter will be a great advantage to your blog. Because these social media has the ability to promote something. Your blog is a great help for those people who want to venture blogging this 2013..
Great post! thank you so much for sharing :D
Gel Maine recently posted..What Makes Filipino the Best SEO Virtual Assistants?
Hi Kiesha
You have great information and very well said. To make your blog successful you need to create a quality contents to attract more viewers who will be your customers in the future. Contents are the most important in blogging.
Excellent post!
Jules recently posted..How To Make An Inbound Marketing Plan
Twitter: internetdreamz1
says:
I started my blog on christmas. First i was thinking there is too much competition but then i stopped thinking about all the factors, registered a domain and started the journey with blogger platform hope my blog will get success :)
and nice guide
Syed Danial recently posted..18 Fresh Creative 3D Logo Design Inspiration
okay nice tip for beginners, I also just create a site beberpa weeks ago I think this tip is useful for all my friends who wanted to create a blog and let us all make bloq beneficial for everyone.
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Or you can just find another job if you’re put off by a full market. ;)
bert recently posted..Ronde tafel Business Club bijeenkomsten Arnhem/Nijmegen
Thanks for a great article on building you blog, and well defined steps. I would add another step to the list: Contact high authority websites which are relevant to your niche, and ask them to recommend you or to link to you. Publish guest posts with your name and blog, and attract people to your blog.
Ron Kremerziest recently posted..The Impact of Technology on Society
A good headlight for most of us in 2013. And another tip i want to add is that thing you need to write and blogging from pasion and if you like.
Andrei recently posted..Fat liver diet How to clean your liver Coffee and liver
i think the most important thing is to make up the mind and commit to blogging…make a plan and be very regular to implement that plan.
Thanks for the post! Some really great ideas to things off on the right foot for the new year!
Mark K. recently posted..Penis Enlargement Exercises You Can Do From Home
Hello Kiesha, Although there are millions of blog but there are still some gaps exist, and with a good strategy anyone can become a good blogger. There are many blogging platforms but still wordpress is one the most popular and effective platform. The Steps you described are really helpful for novices.
Techallianz recently posted..The HP Envy X2 laptop
Twitter: HadleyHodgson
says:
Great tips, we manage blogs for clients but maybe I can get the motivation finally to do my own.
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Twitter: senisubmedia
says:
Great post, Kiesha! I’m definitely ready to get my new blog going and succeeding in 2013!
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Twitter: learnit2earnit
says:
I agree with you Kiesha, there is no better time than now and there is no such thing as saturation when it comes to cyberspace. You lay out some great step by step on how to get a blog up and going. Very helpful information that I will be happy to share with others.
Happy New Year to you and much success and happiness to you!
Lynn Brown recently posted..My Top 10 Keys to a Successful Blog
Thanks for sharing this detailed article, it really helps.
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Twitter: enstinemuki
says:
Hey Kiesha,
Happy New Year and glad to read your post again.
You just put up very important steps to follow especially for starters.
Hope you have a splendid blogging year this 2013
Enstine Muki recently posted..How I Made $29000+ In My First Year!
Twitter: meetuplife
says:
Thank you for sharing best practices. I think Even a newbies can promote their blogs by following the above mentioned steps. Blogging is the great way to expose and enhance knowledge.
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Excellent article! Certainly this post can be very helpful for newbie’s. A step-by-step procedure is always a great help to people who are new to learning about SEO and online business. I really hope that this strategy works even if Google changes its algorithm in 2013 because you never know what is Google up to in the coming year. Still, fabulous post and I truly enjoyed reading it!
Always change up the way you promote your blog, so you could have different places you get traffic from. If one of them shuts down, your blog will not be affected, and you could still get traffic from your other sources. Great post for beginners though.
Install theme with website content. This is a time-consuming job. Write content requires you to have an idea. Social construction is not simple. But anyway this is the best way for you to build a new website.
Mr. Anh recently posted..Happy New Year 2013 !
Twitter: Ajayudayagiri
says:
Well explained the steps to start and proceed with a new blog. I’d like to start a new blog and i will consider every step mentioned here.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for this fantastic article. It contains whole lot data which I need. I am bookmark your site by my next visit.
Twitter: faizan_ansari
says:
It’s all about passion. If you love to blog, you will keep on blogging whether you make money in the beginning or not. If you have only intention to become a blogger just to make money, you may end up with nothing. I guess all you need to have interest in the topic you are blogging about. Using tips and ricks of Professional Bloggers will always help newbies like us.
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Twitter: blogformatting
says:
Well said, Mohammed! This is the most important thing! :)
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Twitter: faizan_ansari
says:
thank you :) yes it is, because so many bloggers give up blogging in the beginning only.
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Promote with social is hard step
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Why you dont talk about Seo for blog in 2013 :)
Awesome post. Great starter for beginners. I would like to add that its vital to hire or do some SEO
to promote your website in the search engines. But again from all the factors mentioned here – the most important thin is quality content.
Don Shimoff recently posted..The Impact of Technology on Society
Greate article. Very detailed approaches. Within this article, even not IT professionals can build their own blog.
harrylu recently posted..Infinite Reach Broadband
Done till still 4. Way more to go….
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Twitter: Voyage_Way
says:
Social networks have become a key point of blogging.
Not necessarily be included reduced traffic but also the chance to break into an area where there is already a lot of competition
Blog voyage recently posted..3G en Thaïlande
Really Simple and easy tips to start a blog. I am also planning to start a blog but still in confusion what niche I should select.
Twitter: mastamilmovies
says:
belaited marry xmas :) thaz for sharing good idea to ours
Twitter: Blogonza
says:
Hey Kiesha Easley,
You have written a very helpful post for beginners. But in 2013 beginners will face huge problem and it will be difficult for them to continue blogging as Google has updated its algorithm again.
Ivan recently posted..4 Quick Ways To Increasing Visitors To Your Blog
Twitter: rancorinfotech
says:
Hey Kiesha,
Certainly useful suggestions for all “would be bloggers” :). It’s important to have easy to remember domain name with reliable hosting. Plus by adding interesting and useful content you can quickly start building loyal audience for your blog.
Aasma recently posted..Travel Portal Development
Twitter: blogformatting
says:
Excellent advice, Keisha! This should be great for beginner bloggers to start on the right foot in 2013. One tip that I recommend is not to get too obsessed if you are not finding the best domain name. I found out that people remember you and come back to your blog even if you do not have the perfect domain name.
If you get one perfectly fit to your niche, then great, but the best next one or your name will work very well too. Just go ahead and start and then figure out other things as you go :)
Delia recently posted..Conquering I cannot blog: I have no idea where to start from
good post for the beginner. I found when I started my car detailing website you can never get enough advise there is always something which you forgot or didnt know
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Twitter: mamamakesmoney
says:
Starting a blog is always a great step to make, especially right after New Years when you are inspired. I am so glad I started my blogs when I did. Now I am just working on growing them,.
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Twitter: FerbHinlor
says:
Hi kieshea, once blog is launched, from step number 5, building content is so important and it’s like working in a circle to drive traffic. This guide is so great and everybody who hasn’t started a blog will definitely learn a lot from this.
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Twitter: techtushar
says:
A bright new year 2013 coming up. Bright new ideas in mind to start a blog on a particular domain and make it a huge success.
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I did it long time ago but now my blog doesn’t have o good rank in google. so sad :(
Twitter: blogformatting
says:
May tro thinh, the best rank in Google is not necessarily the ultimate goal. You can still have a very successful blog if you are providing great information and keep your readers coming :)
Delia recently posted..2012 Top posts on Blog Formatting