Whether you are an individual or a company, having a blog is a great way to reach people. You can communicate directly with others, letting them in on your world of expertise, your insights, and even your opinions. You can start a blog about anything – the only limit is your imagination. If you are an individual, you can start a blog about your hobbies. Or you can start a blog (or website) that acts as a dynamic, interactive resume that clients or employers can visit and search through. Whatever the reason why you want to start a blog, follow this guide to help you get started:
1. Start with a Clear Idea
Nothing will kill a blog faster than trying to make one blog or website do and say too many things. You want to have a clear idea before you begin. You should also write down a set of goals that you want to achieve for the short term and long term. The most successful blogs are ones that fill a niche of some sort. A good way for personal bloggers to fill a niche of their own is to use their own unique personality as a selling point. The more unique your blog, the more likely you will be able to amass a dedicated fan base.
As a company, you will need to think instead about what the aim of your blog is. What do you want to tell people? You can keep them in the loop about top news in your industry. You can give them tutorials on how to use your products, and more.
2. Choose a Name
Your blog will need its own domain name. Try to keep the name as simple and memorable as possible. Complicated and long names can and will get lost in the Internet world. You want people to visit you and to remember your name so that they can find you again and can refer you to others.
3. Choose a Platform
Blogs, and in many cases websites as well, don’t need a programmer to create. There are many different platforms out there that will act as your CMS system. CMS stands for content management system. It is how you will easily be able to add media, posts, and information on pages. These platforms are easy to use because you can buy a pre-made theme that suits your needs and the niche you are going to write for.
You have several options depending on your budget:
1. You could use a free account on many of the biggest platforms out there, giving you a small amount of storage space and a free customizable theme.
2. The second tier is to purchase a basic account from these platforms. These monthly plans typically cost the same as a coffee would. You can then buy one of their premium themes and benefit from a customized domain name.
3. The third option is to purchase your domain name and subscribe to a hosting company. This means that instead of working directly with the platform companies, you work with hosting companies. Don’t fret, though! This option is best for those serious about blogging. You can easily use your favorite CMS with your hosting company, meaning that though the system you are using is the same as you are used to.
4. Customize Your Blog
Once you have a theme, you will need to customize it. The more powerful the theme, the more options you will have to customize your blog or website into something truly unique and memorable. You will need to customize your home page, what widgets you will want to use, and many other choices that depend on the theme you are using.
You should have a logo ready to go. You can get a professional to make you a logo if you are not artistic, or you can create one yourself. If you want to create a logo yourself, first sketch out the design of the logo that you want. The next step is to create that design digitally with a program of your choice. If you aren’t familiar with creating digital art, keep the design simple.
A great logo can be your blog’s name in a font of your choice. Once you are done completing your logo, you will want to delete the background. For instance, if you created your logo on a white canvas, you will want to select the white around your logo and press delete. The next step is to save it as a PNG file.
PNG files allow for negative space. This means that no matter what the background color of your website is, your logo will still look great. If you don’t save it as a PNG file, it will act as a box.
5. Create Content
No blog is a blog without content. Draft and post creative, well-written and valuable articles, images, or videos. The content you create will depend on your goals and your niche. Remember, posting consistently is key. Posting irregularly won’t help you build up a loyal readership.
6. Increase Views
This step is the part that is the trickiest. You will need to gain traffic. Focus on your niche, and creating great content, and you’re well on your way. Another tip is to interact with everyone who comes around and comments on your blog. You can also increase your visitors by setting up social media accounts and linking your blog to them. Use different channels to increase the number of visitors to your page and keep at it – you could become a famous blogger one day!
Your blog is your very own piece of the online world. As an individual, it can be used to express yourself, showcase your work, and even be used to connect with others. As a company, it can be used to provide value for your customers. Having a beautiful site, a catchy name, and great content is the key to every successful blog. Post consistently, stay passionate, and start your blog today!