Do you want to start a blog like this one: www.minhandlife.com?
Are you thinking about starting a blog but don’t know where to begin?
This guide is for you! In this post, I will walk you through the process of starting a blog from scratch. I will cover everything from choosing a blogging platform to setting up your website. By the end of this guide, you will be ready to launch your very own blog! Believe me, it’s not that overwhelming!
Are you thinking about starting a blog but don’t know where to begin? This guide is for you! In this post, we will walk you through the process of starting a blog from scratch. We will cover everything from choosing a blogging platform to setting up your website. By the end of this guide, you will be ready to launch your very own blog!
You may also want to bookmark this guide to come back to it later if you’re not ready to start today.
Step 1: Choose a niche for the Blog
Before you can start a blog, you need to choose a niche. A niche is a topic or subject that you will write about on your blog. When choosing a niche, it’s important to consider what you are passionate about and what you know well. It’s also important to choose a niche that is popular enough that people will actually want to read your blog.
There are many different ways to find popular niches for blogging. One way is to use Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool. This tool allows you to enter in keywords related to your proposed niche and tells you how many people are searching for those terms each month. Another way to find popular niches is by using Google Trends. This tool lets you see how popular certain topics are over time. You can also use social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to see what topics are trending.
Here are a list of common profitable niche ideas to get you inspired:
Lifestyle – This is a broad category that will give you the flexibility to talk about many different things on your blog related to your lifestyle.
Travel – Travel is a popular subject and one that is highly researched online.
Health – We all want to live a longer and healthier life.
Weight Loss – A large portion of the population of the US is overweight. Many are looking for motivation and inspiration to help with this issue.
Fitness – We are always looking to get in better shape. This is a passion and a hobby for many.
Inspiration and Self Help – The search for self-improvement is constant. If you like sharing motivation and self-help ideas, this niche could be for you.
Pets – People love their pets and they also love to network with other pet lovers online. There are plenty of opportunities to focus on specific breeds or types of animals.
Investing & Personal Finance – If you are an expert in this area, maybe you could show others the way!
Technology – Whether it is the newest phone, flat screen tv, or new tech gadget, there is an endless supply of material to discuss in this niche.
Beauty & Fashion – I’ve found that you either have it or you don’t in this niche. If you have it, you probably already know it, and you should seriously consider sharing your knowledge with the rest of us…lol!
Personal Finance – Money makes the world go round, and if you’ve got an interest in money (who doesn’t, right?), you may want to consider this niche
Real Estate – Residential, Investment, Commercial, and Mortgage related-niches are perfect for a blog…especially if this is your business! Not only can you generate great leads this way, but you can build your authority in the process.
Crafting or Artistic Niches – Are you the type that can create? A niche in crafting or art could be perfect for you to showcase your talents and show others how to do the same
Food – There are endless possibilities for food blogs. Things like eating out, specific types of foods and diets, recipes, baking, and so much more. People always are always interested in food!
Business – Are you an expert in a specific area of business? Why not start a blog about it? This is a great way to find new clients or build authority in your specific field.
Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to move on to step two!
Step 2: Choose a Blogging Platform
There are many different blogging platforms that you can use to start a blog. The three most popular platforms are WordPress, Tumblr, and Blogger. Each platform has its own pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the one that is right for you.
If you want more control over the design of your blog and the ability to add custom plugins, then WordPress is the best platform for you. Of all websites (including e-commerce) and blogs I’ve created, I always picked WordPress over other platforms for several reasons:
-Wordpress is the most affordable platform
-Wordpress is a self-hosted platform and you have complete control over your “assets”, unlike other platforms
-There are thousands of beautiful themes designed specifically for WordPress
-It is very easy to find a freelancer to know how to tweak WordPress at a good rate, rather than other platforms like Showit, Wix or Squarespace..
However, WordPress can be a bit technical and has a big learning curve. If you’re not comfortable with code or working with technical things, then you might want to consider another platform.
If you want a simple platform that is easy to use and doesn’t require any technical knowledge, then Blogger or Tumblr might be a better option for you. These platforms are great for people who just want to start blogging without any fuss. However, they do have some limitations in terms of design and customization.
Step 3: Choose a domain name
The next step is to choose a domain name and web hosting. Your domain name is the URL or “address” of your blog (e.g. example.com).
It is important that you choose a catchy blog name because it will be the first thing that people notice about you, and remember about you!
This is how to pick the best name for your blog :
- Make sure it’s easy to spell, say, and remember.
- In your name, don’t put hyphens or numbers in it (this makes it harder to spell and remember)
- Try to pick a name that has the.com ending (avoid endings like .net or .org as they are less common and harder to remember)
- Check to see if the social media handles that go with them are available.
- Make it about the niche and relevant keywords
- Something that can grow with you (think long-term)
- If you want to make money from your blog, you should act like you are.
- Use your own name when you’re not sure.
Step 4: Get hosting
The last step is to get hosting and a domain. A web host is a company that stores all the files for your website on its servers. This is how your website “lives” on the internet. Once you have found a web host, you can buy a domain name from them or from a third-party vendor (like Namecheap)
If you purchase your domain name through a third-party company, you may anticipate paying between $15 and $20 for it.
However, if you sign up for web hosting with Bluehost, you will receive a free domain name.
I definitely suggest Bluehost for site hosting and use them myself (along with a large number of other bloggers). They offer some of the most affordable hosting plans available, making them an excellent choice for novice bloggers while still providing solid service and excellent customer care.
Bluehost has been kind enough to offer Harmony With Money readers web hosting starting at $3.95 per month (usually $7.99 per month), along with a free domain name.
Click here to get hosted with Bluehost!
Here are the detailed steps to set up web hosting with Bluehost:
1. Click the “Get Started” button on this page
2. Select your Hosting plan
When it comes to which plan to choose, I think the basic plan is best for new bloggers.
I’m on the plus plan because I run a lot of different blogs. Otherwise, I might go with the basic plan.
3. Set up your domain name
This is where you’ll put in the domain name that you came up with before.
What if I haven’t chosen a name yet? There’s a good chance that you haven’t chosen a domain name for your blog yet. Wait a few minutes, and this offer will show up on your page:
4. Create your account
5. Select your package and pay
Selecting a hosting plan here is what you’ll do next
A 12-month plan costs $3.45 per month, which is cheaper than the $4.95 per month for a 36-month plan. Which one should you pick? You may be tempted to pick the cheaper one – which is the 12-month plan. But remember, it is more pricy if you renew the second year, and you won’t have this DISCOUNT price anymore.
Therefore, I recommend sticking with 36-month plan to lock in the best rate!
What about the extras that come with the package? Site backups and security are among the optional services you can purchase.
I don’t think you should use any of these, because there are free WordPress plugins that do the same thing (Which is another reason why I love WordPress)
6. Good job! You’re done now!
Check out, and you’ll be sent to your Bluehost account. This is where you can start setting up your blog for the first time.
Your blog will be run on the WordPress platform, and it will be called that. Bluehost does all the work for you, so you don’t have to do anything.
That’s quite a lot for today. In the next post, I will show you how to find the right theme and install it.
Until then, happy blogging!
P/S: What would you say if I told you there’s a way to get instant access and learn everything about blogging?
The answer may be as close as your email inbox! Sign up for my 7-day Blogging Course today, for FREE. (You’ll also have a chance to receive a surprising gift from me)
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