If you think it’s time to start a blog but have doubts, this article is for you.
When you create a blog to make money, you actually start a business on the Internet. You think through a plan, invest in a platform, content creation and promotion, and use various monetization tools.
By publishing useful and SEO-optimized articles, you attract visitors from search engines and convert them into subscribers. You can make money on your blog in different ways: posting ads, writing paid reviews, earning from affiliate programs.
How to start a blog
You can publish your first article in social networks or on a blogging platform at any time: you just register, write and click “publish”. If you decide to create a blog site, however, the steps to the first publication will be more.
1. Think of a name
The name should be well remembered and you like it. Then people will be easy to find your blog, and you – pleasant to work with him.
2. Choose an engine for your blog
It’s more convenient to blog on engines that are designed to do just that – WordPress, for example.
WordPress has convenient tools for publishing and commenting on posts, organizing rubrics, SEO optimization, a large selection of templates. If you need help with installation, it will be easier to find an expert, since WordPress has a large community.
You can choose engines Drupal, Joomla. But since they are created for other tasks, will have to make adjustments to the blog, such as setting categories of articles, page display posts added. This is not always convenient and requires more programming skills.
3. Buy a name for the domain and choose hosting
Think of a domain name and check its availability with registrars. Next, choose a hosting. Hosting is a remote server where your blog files will be stored. Sometimes when you buy hosting, the domain is offered as a gift. Find this out in advance so you do not miss the opportunity to save money.
4. Set up your blog
Now you need to install and set up the blog engine. If there is no experience in installation at all, doing it yourself will be difficult. Where to go for help:
- watch a YouTube video on how to set up your CMS;
- write to the hoster;
- ask the advice of a friend with experience;
- hire a freelancer.
5. Write and publish your first article
Choose a topic, plan an article, and write your first post. Before publishing, edit the article and check the logic of the story. An article is easier to read when it has a clear structure: a title, an introduction, the main part with subheadings and conclusions.
6. Show the article to readers
For a blog post to be seen by people, it needs to be promoted. Post a link to the article in social networks and invite readers to express their opinion, share the article in thematic groups and forums.
Summing Up
It’s a laborious process to create and maintain a blog. But the benefits of blogging are also tangible: new skills, communication with your audience, income from advertising or selling services.
If you want to increase your blog’s audience and monetize it in the future, set up a newsletter subscription form right away and start collecting email addresses.
Bio: Jean S. Hartley is a professional writer for a custom writing service. For 6 years now, she has been helping students learn to write correctly, and also assists in preparing for exams.
