You’ve landed here because you are looking at how to start a blog. And what an exciting journey to start!

I began my own real blogging journey after the birth of our first child. It was a way for me to connect with like-minded people, be creative and really do something I loved. Which involved working in programs and systems #nerd.

Whether you are looking at how to start a blog for monetization, as a creative outlet or as an add-on to your current business, you are in the right place. By the end of this post, you will know the exact steps you need to take to start a blog.

Fair warning, I fully intend for this post to be extensive. So, it might be worth it to save this page or grab yourself a pen and paper, to take notes.

So let’s not waste anymore time and dive into everything you need to know on how to start a blog today.

I partner with awesome companies that I believe will help my readers. When you purchase a product through one of my links, I earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read more about this in my disclosure policy.

What is a Blog?

A blog is simply a website where an individual or a small group of people write and share information on a topic or topics, in an informal fashion.

Oftentimes, people think of blogging as someone that shares their personal stories, similar to that of a journal. However, if you are looking to start a blog that makes money then treating your blog as a journal is not the route to take.

When you create a blog, your primary goal should be to help other people. People turn to the internet to find solutions to their problems.

And that is where you and your blog come in.

There are blogs on almost every topic imaginable. Everything from finance to fitness to camping to parenting to crafts, you name it.

So, when you are looking at how to start a blog, think about the areas in your life that you enjoy and know well. Or that you are wanting to learn more about.

Then think about how you can help other people. That either want to learn more about your topic or are just entering that space.

Why Start a Blog?

Learning how to start a blog is pretty freaking awesome. Especially, if you are not going into it simply for the money. Sure, the money is a bonus, a big one.

But, what is really rewarding is being able to help other people. And sharing your knowledge with the world.

That’s where the real joy comes in.

It’s also a great way to connect with like-minded people and build relationships with people, all across the globe. And some of these relationships can end up spanning years.

And finally, blogging can be a way to make money online and work from home. Like any business that you start, there is never any guarantee that your blog will make money.

But, here’s the good news. Blogging is real and so is the money you can earn from it. There are blogs that bring in everything from a couple of bucks a month (or less) to over $100,000 per month.

It’s hard work and takes time, dedication and consistency. However, it could pay off big time, if done right.

Who Should Start a Blog?

Blogs can be powerful and I believe they are underutilized, in many industries. But, when it comes to who should start a blog…

The answer is really anybody that wants to share their knowledge and expertise, with the world. And while you don’t have to be an expert, it does help to have some interest in the topic of your blog.

For example, if you have young children and enjoy making new crafts, you can start a kids craft and activities blog. To give other parents ideas on what to create with their children.

If you enjoy finance, you could start a blog on money saving tips, the stock market, credit cards, banking, getting out debt, etc.

If you enjoy camping, start a blog on camping tips, equipment or essentials needed for a successful camping trip.

Love cooking and have awesome recipes to share with the world? Start a food blog.

If you are a professional service provider, start a blog answering common questions that people have and recommend products that you love.

Like I mentioned above, there are blogs on just about everything. It is all about finding what you love to talk about. And something you can talk about for years to come!

Step 1: Identify a Niche

Ugh. I remember when I started my first blog, everyone would say “what’s your niche”, “identify your niche”, “you need to understand your Avatar”.

I would just sit there and yell at my computer “WHAT THE HECK IS MY NICHE?”, “Just tell me what my niche is” and “what in the world is an Avatar?” I actually laugh about it now. Because I was that confused.

But, here’s the thing, it is super important to identify both your niche and Avatar.

Trust me, as I am someone that ignored the advice from people before me. It is SO much easier to have these two items narrowed down, before you start your blog.

What is a Niche?

When you are first learning how to start a blog, the first decision you will need to make is determining the niche you are in. And what exactly is a niche? It is essentially the topic of your blog.

This blog that you are on now is all about blogging and everything I have learned in the online space.

Therefore, my main niche is blogging and online business. With that said, this can be rather broad. So, I have done something called “niching down”.

I don’t just help people with blogging and web design. But, I help them save money by DIYing it themselves with the best tools and in a way that requires little to no code.

Having determined a niche allows me to focus strictly on topics in these areas only. I am not jumping from, say, parenting tips to blogging to finance tips.

I know that when I sit down to write a blog post, the areas that I am to write on. There is no stress in trying to find enough content to cover five different broad topics.

What is an Avatar?

An Avatar is another way to say your target audience. If you have ever taken a Marketing class, then you know it is important to understand your customers.

This is so that you understand your customer pain points and can properly identify with them. Thus, making it capable to market to them in a way they can connect with.

The same holds true for your blog. You want to identify who you are speaking to. So that you can build relationships with your readers that are trustworthy and reliable.

And keep in mind, if you try to speak to everyone, oftentimes, you end up connecting with nobody. Therefore, take a few minutes and identify exactly who it is you are trying to help.

Is it moms? Dads? Parents of young children? Parents that homeschool? College or graduate students? Med students? Vegetarians? Women/Men over 50 (or whatever age)? Artists? You get the point.

Once you can narrow down your ideal audience, the better off you will be. And, the better you will be able build lasting relationships that could potentially span years!

Step 2: Purchase a Domain Name

Once you have narrowed down what your blog is going to be about and who your target audience is, it’s time to make it official.

Time to get that domain name!

A domain name is the address at which your website sits. It is essentially your address on the internet, where people can come to explore your website and read your content.

The domain name of this website is allielynn.com.

When it comes to determining your domain name, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The spelling should be easy
• It does not have to be “memorable”, per say, but better if it is!
• Keep it to 15 characters or less
• Avoid special characters ( – _ )
• Check trademarks (you don’t want to build a website with trademarked words)
• If you can’t find an available domain name, you can always use your name
• Don’t stress too much about your domain name, it’s much better to actually just get started

Where to Purchase a Domain Name

Contrary to what you find across the internet, I actually recommend purchasing your domain name and hosting separately.

We have not yet come to web hosting. However, I want you to know that there are a number of hosting companies that offer a free domain with a hosting package.

This is praised amongst many of my colleagues on the web. It is advertised as a way to “save you money” in your first year of blogging.

But, it is always wise and best practice to keep your domain name and website hosting separate. It’s also generally cheaper, in the long run (especially through the domain name provider I recommend) and gives your website more security.

The provider that I recommend for domain names is NameCheap.

Brief Review of NameCheap

As you can see from the screenshot below, .com extensions start at the low price of $8.88. They also renew at this price (no crazy increases after the first year). And they come with free Whois Privacy (a way to protect your personal information from the public).

To search for an available domain name, you will simply type a domain name in the “Register a domain name to start” field.

For this example, I typed dogleashes.com. When the results were returned back to me, I am shown the below screen.

As I expected, this domain name has already been taken and was registered in 2002.

It is very common for domain names to be unavailable. Either because somebody is actually actively using it or it was purchased because someone plans to use it.

There are also, what is known as domain name flippers, where they purchase domain names at a low price and then try to sell it for a profit (typically over $1,000).

In any of these cases, it means we can not purchase this domain name and now must search for a new one. It can become increasingly frustrating trying to find the perfect name for your website.

Oftentimes, you’ll have to get creative. Look up synonyms to words you’d like to use or possibly even use your name, if it makes sense.

Once you find your domain name, it’s time to purchase website hosting.

Step 3. Purchase Website Hosting

There is no how to start a blog guide that is complete without website hosting. And choosing your website host is more important than you will initially realize.

Website hosting is what actually brings your website online. This is where the files and data for your website will be stored so that it functions in the way you intend.

It can also be thought of as renting a piece of land, but on the internet. Just like you can’t have a house without land, you can’t have a website without hosting.

Where to Purchase Website Hosting

If you were to search the best website host, you are going to come across thousands of posts on the “perfect” website host.

I know that there are two very popular companies that are often brought up. I was even a customer with one of them for years.

But, there were some important features that they lacked and I knew from the beginning I wouldn’t be with them forever.

So guys, when I say I have been on the hunt for an awesome starter hosting company for years, I mean it. I wanted a company that provided fast hosting, website backups and was affordable.

And, I really was starting to think that such a company did not exist.

Then I came across NameHero and they changed everything. All those features I was looking for? Yep, they have them and really awesome tutorials to get you set up the right way.

As you can tell from the pricing below, they are super affordable, especially when you are just starting out. The Starter Cloud is going to be great for beginning bloggers

However, if you do not have your blogging niche narrowed down 100% or you are interested in starting multiple websites, then definitely go with the Plus Cloud. As someone that changed niches more than I count, believe me, it’ll be worth it!

Step 4: Install WordPress

WordPress is our content management system. This is where we will be writing our blog posts, designing our pages, interacting and commenting with our visitors and performing various other tasks.

The good news is that to install WordPress, it generally is as simple as clicking a button.

It takes just a few minutes for everything to get connected. And then you are ready to start designing your website and creating your content.

Out of all the steps it takes when learning how to start a blog, this should be the easiest ?.

Step 5: Install a Theme

The website theme is what is going to allow you to design and style your website. WordPress does come with hundreds of free themes to help you get started.

However, if you do not have coding skills then I recommend starting off with a premium/paid theme and builder. Believe me, it’s worth the money in the amount of time and frustration you will save.

The theme and builder that I recommend, hands down, is Divi by Elegant Themes.

Why I Love Divi by Elegant Themes

• It comes with the Divi Builder, which allows you to build a website utilizing drag and drop.
• It comes with a lifetime and UNLIMITED usage of their theme (use this theme on as many websites as you’d like!)
• They have awesome support through their blog, YouTube channel, forums and backend support.
• There are professional website designers that use this theme (and charge $$$$), so you know it’s good ?
• The theme also comes with two additional plugins to help your blog.
• You don’t need any code to design your blog. However, you also do have the ability to dig into some code, if you decide to venture into that.
• They’ve got over 15,000 reviews on Trust Pilot with a 97% 5-star rating!

Cons to Divi by Elegant Themes

While I could talk on and on about how much I love Divi, it does come with a couple of shortfalls. And, I want you to be aware of these.

• First, Divi uses something called short codes. This means that if you decide to change themes, in the future, your website will be left with a bunch of codes all over it. Which, will make it a little more difficult to redesign your website than if you used a theme without short codes.
• Second, because Divi uses short codes, websites tend to run slower. However, with the right hosting (see step 3), this problem can be minimized greatly, or completely eliminated.

The Takeaway

Personally, I believe the benefits way outweigh the risks, when it comes to the Divi Theme by Elegant Themes.

I love the fact that you can install this theme on as many website as you want. And, that once you own it (by purchasing the lifetime fee), it’s yours to use forever!

Usually, people that choose to go with Divi stick with the theme for years, if not indefinitely. There really is no reason to go with any other theme, if you don’t want to.

Step 6: Install Plugins

Plugins are utilized in a way to expand the usability of your website; they are like a power boost for your blog.

For example, if you are starting a food blog, you will want to allow your readers to print your recipe in a nice format. Because WordPress does not have this functionality built in, you will need to install a plugin to help with that.

There are literally thousands of plugins to choose from. Everything from scheduling plugins to security to SEO. If there is a functionality you need, there is probably a plugin for you. And the great thing is that many of these are free to download and install.

However, when it comes to plugins, you do want to proceed with caution.

It’s important to note that you should only install plugins that you absolutely need. Plugins are known to bloat and slow websites. They also can open your website up to hacking, if they are not properly maintained and updated on a regular basis.

You will know a plugin is great, if it has the following features:

• Hundreds/Thousands of 5-star reviews
• Thousands/Million+ downloads
• It has been recently updated
• It is compatible with your version of WordPress

Always looking for these features before installing a plugin will reduce your risk greatly. And will help keep you from installing a plugin that may cause more problems than it’s worth.

More on How to Start a Blog

Step 7: Write Blog Posts

Before officially launching your blog, it is a good idea to have at least five to ten blog posts posted and ready to go. Some of these blog posts will take a few days to create, while others may be able to be whipped up within a day.

When it comes to writing blog posts, there are a couple of things to take into consideration.

First and foremost, you will want to write blog posts on topics that people are actively searching for. The quickest and most surefire way to find this is by using Google Keywords. You could also use other methods, such as Pinterest, Ask the Public, Google Trends or regular Google search.

The next thing to take into consideration, is that you want to create posts that interlink together.

For example, a kids activity blogger could write a post on how to make DIY play dough at home. They may also choose to create a post of the best ways to incorporate play dough into everyday play. Then, these blog posts could be recommended to one another and linked together.

By creating blog posts that are related to each other, it keeps your readers on your website and clicking around. Which is great for SEO, overall website health and acts as a way for your readers to get to know you better.

Step 8: Write About Me Page

Did you know that your “about me” page will become one of your most visited pages on your blog? This is where new visitors will come to learn more about you and how you can help them.

Take your time creating your “about” page, share a few fun facts about yourself, be vulnerable and personable. Talk about what it is that you do and what people can expect from you on your blog. Make this as clear as you can to your readers, so that have a clear understanding on if you can help them or not.

Step 9: Design Blog

Here comes the fun part! Getting to design your blog. In this step you will be designing your home page and creating a layout.

When it comes to designing your blog, there are a lot of factors to consider. Color schemes to use, fonts, logos, homepage layout, about section, etc.

If you do not have a design idea in place, then I recommend visiting blogs that are similar to your niche. Note what you like about their blog and what you would change.

You don’t want to copy the blog that are you are reviewing. But, rather use them as a way to generate ideas for your blog.

Next, would be determining your color scheme. Deciding on this prior to starting your design process, will help save you time in the long term.

There are a number of ways to find a color scheme that works for your ideal branding. For starters, you could run simple searches across Google and Pinterest.

And then, of course, you will want to use nice, high quality images on your homepage. If you are using your own images, that is great! Just be sure they are not pixelated or low-quality.

You can also find awesome stock photos at the following places:

• AdobeStock
• DepositPhotos
• 123RF
• Styled Stock Society
• PixiStock

Step 10: Drive Traffic to Blog

Now that your blog is designed and equipped with your blog posts, it is time to start promoting your blog. When learning how to start a blog, this can prove to be one of the most difficult steps.

But, driving traffic to your blog is essential to the success of your blog. Without an audience, you essentially have nothing. So, while this step can be scary it is crucial to the process.

One of the best ways to drive traffic to your blog is through SEO or Search Engine Optimization. The great thing about SEO, is that it is sort of like a “set it and forget it” model … to an extent. And, it is a free means to which to get readers to your blog.

However, it can be difficult to do SEO correctly, especially in the beginning. And it can take months for the search engines to actually pick up and start ranking your blog posts, so that readers can find your website.

So, one of the next best things to do is to utilize Pinterest. Pinterest is often confused as a social media platform, but it really acts as a visual search engine.

At the very beginning, Pinterest can be an excellent way to drive traffic to your website, for many bloggers. Pinterest is how I managed to grow my email list to my last blog to over 7,000 subscribers, within months.

Other ways to get traffic to your blog include sharing with your friends and family on social media, participating on Quora, connecting with other bloggers, utilizing other platforms (such as YouTube), etc.

Step 11: Set Up Email Marketing

Email marketing is an essential part of running your blog. While I recommend starting an email list right away, you may also choose to wait until you understand exactly what it is your audience needs from you.

There are many different platforms that you can choose to run your email marketing through. I recommend starting with a free platform until you are able to monetize your blog, in which then you may want to upgrade.

There are a few email marketing softwares I recommend. They include:

• MailerLite – Free for up to 1,000 subscribers and allows 12,000 emails per month. Includes the ability to create automations under the free plan.
• Flodesk – $19 per month for unlimited subscribers and emails, through this link only (otherwise $38 per month). They are currently in Beta and do have limitations. However, unlimited subscribers is basically unheard of in this industry! Read my review of Flodesk here.
• ConvertKit – Starts at $29 per month and comes with advanced tools and analytics. A favorite in the blogging community. They also do have a free plan, but it is missing key features.

Final Thoughts on Starting a Blog

Starting a blog is a marathon and not a race. It’s challenging, fun, frustrating at times, but overall it’s so worth it. If you are even slightly thinking about starting a blog, there is only one day better than today … and that was yesterday.

Even if you ultimately decide it just isn’t for you. That’s A-OK. The great thing about blogging is that it’s so affordable to start (read here about estimated total cost to start a blog) and it exposes you to the online space. You are going to learn A TON.

There are people that initially entered the blogging world that later became consultants, for platforms like Pinterest. Now, they run their blog alongside their consultant company. Others who fell in love with marketing and now teach business owners how to market their brands.

Learning how to start a blog opens your eyes to so much and has the ability to take you many places. But, you’ll never know if it’s for you or not, unless you get started.