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Starting a blog can be both exciting and challenging, especially when we aim to monetize it. Are you aspiring to start a blog and make money but have little clue about how to do it? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll explore the exciting world of blogging and learn how to start a blog from scratch.
Contents
Introduction
Despite my blogging experience more than a decade ago, I see myself as an absolute beginner because unlike my previous blog, which was more like a creative outlet where I wrote whatever came to my mind whenever I liked, this brand new blog is essentially a business venture.
To be completely honest, I wouldn’t have chosen to start this blog if I wasn’t looking for opportunities to make money online. To this end, I need a different approach altogether.
For sure I must not do things out of whim and intuition if I want to monetize my blog fast or fast enough. To start, I conducted some research to gain some basic ideas about what I needed to do. I Googled “How to start a blog and make money for beginners,” clicked the first several articles, and read them one by one.
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How to Start A Blog
I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available. It felt as if I was buried under an avalanche of information, unsure of where to begin and how to navigate it all.
“Where to start?”
“How am I going to figure it all out?”
I needed a few deep breaths and a short break away from my laptop. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale… …
In order to make sense of it all, I realized that I needed to filter the information effectively. No, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean filtering out useless information. I understand there must be some wisdom in every piece of these pieces of advice and recommendations. Their experiences are definitely worth learning from and emulating.
However, I needed to develop a model that I can cope with and that works well for me.
Steps to Start a Blog for Beginners
With this in mind, I started pulling everything together to create a framework for my action plan. Breaking it down into simple and manageable steps became my priority.
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Step 1: Preliminary Research
Over the past 1-2 weeks, I dedicated my time to researching how blogging can be a profitable online business and how to work towards that goal. Honestly, I hesitated and was reluctant to start an English blog, feeling intimidated by the task.
Consistency also worried me as it had always been a challenge for me to maintain a blog. Attempting to find an easier way out, I considered exploring the possibility of making money solely through Pinterest, but I soon realized that it would be difficult to create in-depth and meaningful content solely with pins.
Without expanding on my ideas, I wouldn’t be able to bring substantial value to my readers.
Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that as daunting as it may seem, a blog is still essential in the long run.
Moreover, with a blog, besides affiliate marketing, I can also generate revenue from advertisements and my own online store.
(I’ve learned that there are also other ways of making money with a blog, but I identify these as the three ways I’m going to focus on and develop first).
Keep things simple, as my mantra goes.
Step 2: Decide on Blog Name and Niche(s)
As an introvert, blogging under a pseudonym is a natural and more comfortable choice for me.
Before I can decide on my blog name, I need to determine how I’m going to position my blog and what niche or niches I want to cover.
The position and niche(s) should be topics that both myself and my target audience find interesting, and at the same time, I can write about confidently and comfortably.
I was initially mired in self-doubt and mistakenly thought of writing like an expert when I’m not one myself. However, it was an “AHA!” moment when I realized seasoned bloggers today were once beginners too.
Even as a beginner, I can also create valuable contents that my readers find relatable and useful.
Once I decide how I’m going to position my blog, brainstorming my blog’s name became easier.
Depending on the availability, I will choose a domain name that corresponds with my blog’s name as much as possible. Recognizing that I will use the domain name for a while and it will be how people search my blog, I reckon that my blog’s name should be:
- Short and simple
- Easy to pronounce and remember
- A name that identifies with my blog’s position and niche(s)
- Preferably words that rhyme
Step 3: Write the First Few Blog Posts and List Future Topics
As mentioned earlier, consistency is my biggest concern when it comes to blogging. To achieve success in whatever area, consistency is vital.
For example, let’s compare two individuals: A, who engages in strenuous 4-hour gym sessions but takes a month-long break afterward, and B, who exercises moderately for 30 minutes, three times a week. Who do you think is more likely to achieve better results?
Therefore, although some seasoned bloggers recommend getting a blog online as soon as the blog’s name is determined, I prefer to adjust the sequence a little.
I decided to write at least 5 blog posts to lay a considerably solid foundation before I start my blog. (In the end, I started my blog with only 3 blog posts and an “About” page written.)
Also, I brainstormed and mapped out 10-20 blog topics or ideas that I can write about once my blog is live. While I may not have to stick to these topics or ideas, outlining the scope can ensure that I have chosen the right niches.
Not familiar with writing? Feeling hesitant to start a blog because you don’t know how and what to write? Check out the essential writing tips I’ve put together here!
Step 4: Select Blogging Platform and Sign Up for Web Hosting
In the past, I hosted my blog on Blogger.com, a free platform. When I decided to start a new blog, it naturally crossed my mind to use the same free platform again.
Of course, I could, and some bloggers hold that we can monetize our blogs even on free hosting sites. However, other bloggers recommend self-hosting our blogs if we take this business seriously (and this opinion seems to be the majority).
It is recommended that we should get self-hosted from the start for the following reasons:
- Monetization Freedom: Unlike free blogging sites, self-hosted websites have no limitations on monetization. If your blog is essentially a business venture, having your own self-hosted website is crucial.
- Professional and Memorable: With a self-hosted blog, you can choose your own domain name, giving your site a professional and memorable appearance. Visitors will find it easier to locate and remember your website.
- Content Protection: When you’re self-hosted, you have complete control over your site and content. Free blogging platforms can shut down unexpectedly or remove websites without notice, risking the loss of all your content.
The third point resonates with me the most, especially after experiencing the frustrating episode of seeing my Amazon KDP account terminated recently.
Additionally, I reckon that by using a paid platform, I can worry less about the technical stuff. As I’m not a tech-savvy person, it is a worthy investment to free myself from technical worries at an affordable price.
To start a blog as beginners, the contents of the blogs should be our primary focus.
Step 5: Set Up and Design My Beginner Blog
After comparing several popular hosting service companies, I chose Hostinger to host my blog.
Besides its almost ridiculously affordable pricing plan, a Crazy Egg review ranks it as the best hosting option.
Other reasons behind my choice are: the Hostinger plan comes with free SSL, free email, and a free domain.
I chose the 48-month Premium Web Hosting package to lock in my hosting cost for the next 4 years at RM9.99 (US$2.99) per month. In fact, the actual cost is RM9.40 (US$2.87) per month as the plan comes with 3 months FREE (2 months in the US)!
Check out this post to learn how to set up and design a self-hosted blog.
Step 6: Promote My Blog to Drive Traffic
Creating great content is just the first step; promoting the blog is equally important to attract readers and build a following.
During my preliminary research, I came across some recommended methods, including leveraging social media platforms, guest posting on relevant blogs, participating in online communities, and optimizing my blog for search engines.
In the days to come, I will be testing out some of these strategies to drive traffic to my blog. I’m committed to sharing with you my experiments and how they will turn out. Join my mailing list today to receive the latest updates!