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Congratulations on wanting to start a blog! Unlike traditional published media, blogs provide a unique platform that enables anyone to create and distribute content that resonates with an audience around any topic.
Starting a blog can be incredibly valuable for a variety of reasons. I have benefited personally, financially, and professionally from blogging. I have also found it to be a great way of gaining confidence, increasing visibility, and encouraging self-growth.
That said, many people think that starting a blog is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! For some, it may be a tough pill to swallow, largely due to the lack of know-how, but a blog can actually be a real business!!
I’m sharing my simple checklist for starting a blog and eventually (if you want to take the leap) profiting from it! This post contains affiliate links for the software and other programs that I use for my blog business. Thanks for supporting House Fur. Are you ready to get started?
How to Start A Blog – My 6 Point Checklist
1. Select a Niche
The first task for starting a blog is selecting a niche that you want to build your blog around. Keep in mind, the more competitive the niche, the more your blog will be up-against highly-established authority sites. Below are practical tips I recommend when selecting a profitable niche.
- Pick a topic that you have passion and you enjoy talking about
- Pick a smaller niche with a high demand
- Pick a niche that can easily monetize with affiliate marketing links, AdSense ads, and ad networks
- Do market research by researching your competition
2. Register a Domain Name
After finding the right niche, the next thing on my checklist for starting a blog is getting a good domain name for your site. My advice for you is to register a domain name that fits your niche, is catchy, relevant, and easily identifiable. I personally recommend choosing a long-term “brandable” domain name.
It doesn’t matter where you register your domain name. I prefer Bluehost because most of their domain names comes with 1-click WordPress install, 24/7 support, free SSL certificate, and your domain name is free for the first year.
3. Purchase Web Hosting
A web hosting service is basically the server where your blog’s information will be stored and retrieved to your visitors. There are several things to consider before buying web hosting for your blog such as server reliability, security, availability of site backups, site loading, and site speed.
One of the best web hosting companies I recommend is Bluehost. This web host provides all the options you will need to run a successful blogging site.
Other reasons I recommend it include:
- Free domain name
- Extremely helpful support
- Automated backup
- 99% Uptime
- It is WordPress recommended hosting
4. Blog Setup and Customization
Once you are done with domain name registration and web hosting, the next thing you need to do is site setup and customization.
You need to install a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress to make your blog functional. WordPress is my first choice because it’s highly customizable and fast. It comes with a lot of themes and plugins that make the site functional.
5. Content Creation and Publish!
Once you are done with customizing your site, it’s time to publish content!
In order to be seen as an expert I knew I needed to show up consistently and give people value. When I started showing up and sharing my gifts & knowledge & talents, people saw me as an expert. I took full ownership of that expertise and moved past the €œscariness€ of visibility!
For me, this meant sharing more of myself on Instagram stories, starting the podcast, and hitting publish on the blog multiple times a week! Sharing my knowledge and gifts is how I continue to position myself as the go-to expert for plants, photography, cute doggies, & growing a business or blog! The #1 key to being seen as an expert is to do this consistently and continue to share all of yourself with the people that truly value, love, and trust you. My blog has changed my life and helped so many people!
Try to publish high-quality content that:
- Is written primarily for users, not search engines.
- Doesn’t deceive readers
- Is unique, informative, and engaging
- Stands out from others in similar niches
- Is content your audience is searching for (you can use Pinterest, SurferSEO, or Google trends to see what people are searching for)
- Use programs like Surfer SEO paired with JARVIS to help you find the best topics and compete for top ranking keywords. Need help understanding how Surfer Seo can help you, they have a great Master Class available HERE. JARVIS paired with a help SEO tool like Surfer is my secret weapon for pumping out A+ content.
6. Set Up Google Console and Google Analytics
Google Console provides you with a wide range of tools and reports to help you measure your blog’s performance and search traffic. You can also fix site issues and make your site rank higher in Google Search results.
Google Analytics, on the other hand, comes with tools that will help you track every interaction that your site visitors perform on your site. Spending time on google analytics has literally changed how I write, publish, and schedule content for my readers. I love these Google tools for so many reasons! And, best of all, they are Free!
I hope my checklist kick-starts your journey to starting your blog! If you have any questions, I’d love to connect on instagram @house_fur! I don’t bite, I promise!
Good informative blog. Thank you for sharing your experience
yay! thanks so much for reading!