Beginners Guide To Blogging:
Many people starting a blog think it is an easy way to make some quick money, which is why so many people give up quickly and do not succeed. Starting and maintaining a successful blog is a challenging endeavor, make no mistake about it.
It requires dedication, creativity, and a lot of hard work. You will face obstacles along the way, such as writer's block, lack of engagement, and the constant pressure to produce quality content but it is important you keep going and be consistent and patient.
By consistently posting quality content, you WILL attract and retain readers. But it will NOT happen quickly. As I have mentioned before, you need to give your blog 12 months before judging it.
You need to be realistic and set step by step goals and have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and to set achievable milestones along the way. For example a few goals I always used to set myself at the beginning were:
Short Term Blogging Goals:
Have at least 100 posts on the site at the 6 month mark.
Remember, you will not get much traffic from Google for at least 6 months, and then hopefully it is then an upward trend for you. But this is not set in stone, but you need to give it time for Google to trust your site. You want plenty of content on the site for Google to love for when this happens. Blogging once a week just isn't enough at the beginning.
Reach out to at least 20 blogs a month to offer guest posting on there site.
Start with smaller blogs because the bigger sites will charge. Don't worry about the traffic from the website, you just want the backlink! Anything else is a bonus.
Join at least 5 forums and communities
Join communities and forums in your niche, you don't have to post too often but try and gain some trust with your knowledge, be helpful and put your link in your signature.
Patience is crucial for long-term success in blogging. Don't become impatient and expect instant success. Stay committed to your goals and continue working towards them, even when your progress is slow. Remember that blogging is a long-term game.
You still want to set up a blog? Good, just follow this guide.
Step By Step Beginners Guide To Blogging:
Choose a niche:
Before you start a blog, it's important for you to decide on a
specific topic or niche that you want to focus on. This will help you attract a targeted audience and establish yourself as an expert in that area. Consider your interests, expertise, and what you're passionate about when choosing your niche. Do not start a blog on a subject you do not know anything about because someone told you it is an easy way to make money!
Do Keyword Research:
There are ways to do keyword research for free. You don't want to be writing about things that no-one searches for, you want to write about things you are passionate about and have knowledge in but also things people are searching for.
Select a blogging platform:
There are several blogging platforms available, but the most popular ones are
WordPress and
Blogger. WordPress is more customizable and offers more flexibility, while Blogger is more beginner-friendly and easier to set up. I always start with Blogger, and when the point comes I need more options I just move it over to Wordpress.
Choose a domain name:
Your domain name is the web address of your blog (e.g.,
www.marketing-father.com). It should be brandable, easy to spell, and relevant to your niche. Try to choose a domain name that reflects your content you'll be sharing on your blog.
Register your domain name:
Once you've chosen a domain name, you'll need to register it with a domain registrar. There are many domain registrars available, such as
GoDaddy or
Namecheap. Compare prices and features before making your decision.
Set up web hosting:
If you go with an option that requires web hosting, you need to choose a reliable web hosting provider that offers good uptime, fast loading speeds, and excellent customer support. Some popular web hosting providers include
Bluehost,
SiteGround, and
HostGator.Install blogging software:
If you've chosen WordPress as your blogging platform, you'll need to install it on your web hosting account. Most web hosting providers offer a one-click installation option for WordPress, making it easy to set up.
Customize your blog's appearance:
Once you've installed WordPress or your blogging platform of choice, you need to choose a theme for your blog. Themes control the overall design and layout of your blog. There are thousands of free and premium themes available, so take your time to find one that suits your style and branding.
Start creating content:
Now that your blog is set up, it's time to start creating content. Plan out your blog posts and start writing articles that are informative, engaging, and relevant to your niche. Aim to publish consistently to keep your readers engaged and coming back for more.
Connect your blog to Google Analytics and Search Console:
Once everything is set up and you have some content, connect your website to
Google Analytics and
Google Search Console. Google Analytics can be as basic or advanced as you need it to be, it has a number of options and is very powerful. And Google Search Console you can manually submit your pages to be indexed, and look at your rankings and impressions, and see how many people click through to your site, plus more.
Promote your blog:
Once you've published some content on your blog, it's time to start promoting it. Share your blog posts on
social media platforms, reach out to other blogs and offer to
write guest posts and engage with communities in your niche via forums.
Starting a blog may seem overwhelming at first, but really, starting is the easy part, don't try and over think it. Remember it is a marathon not a sprint. Patience is the key. Provide valuable content, post regularly and market your blog, and give it at least 12 months before making any judgement.
