We’ve all been there. The excitement of a New Year approaches and we begin to think of all that is possible. This is your year, the year you will get fit, organized, and finally start that blog you’ve been lusting over since 2010. Don’t let this year be like other years, take the bull by the horns and start blogging today. Now, thanks to advanced technology, YouTube tutorials and Google, blogging is easier than ever.
Want to know exactly how you can get started in 5 easy to follow steps that will have you running the blog of year dreams in no time? Rather it is travel, food, gaming, or something completely off the grid; let this year finally be your year! So, without further adieu, here are the 5 easy steps to get you on your way to blogging in 30 minutes or less.
Step 1 – Select a Platform
Blogging is on the rise, with more people than ever jumping in on the fun. For this reason, there are tons of platforms out there, all with their own way of functioning and all with their own set of plugins, add-ons, and templates. Out of the tons of platforms out there but, here are the top 3.
- WordPress – Everyone living in the modern world has heard of WordPress rather than passing or when dealing with technology. To date there are nearly 100 million users of the platform, for both business and personal purposes. There are a ton of layouts to choose from making it perfect for newbies and those that may be a little technically challenged. With WordPress, a well-designed blog is just a few clicks away and easy to modify at any time.
- Blogger – Not far behind WordPress is Blogger, a company owned by the all-mighty Google. With Blogger, it is really easy to upload photos and start writing; literally its almost instant. Though there are not as many choices for themes, it is fairly easy to get creative on this platform and create the look you’re going for.
- Tumblr – This platform was used as more of a way to share photos and create memories that are shareable with friends. The cool thing about Tumblr is it is super quick, easy to use, and can have you blogging and sharing photos and experiences in no time. There is almost no techy language or applications to add, just a simple ready to use platform for whatever type of blogging you’re in the mood for.
Step 2 – To Pay or Not to Pay
When choosing a platform, another thing to consider is rather you want to go the completely free route or pay. Though we all want to start off for free (this is a super attractive opportunity) there are a couple of perks for paying a little up front; some that you’re sure to benefit from in the future as well.
1) Your Domain Name
First of all, think about your website. A free version usually comes with a lot of bulk, making it difficult to share. Some might not mind this at all but, if you’re wanting to spread your blog around and make it one that all will be anxious to read, the title and domain and pretty important. Just one quick example, your domain name with a free version will have the platform name in it, usually at the end. It will look something like: mycoolblog.wordpress.com.
2) The Limit Does Exist
With a free blog, you’re limited to your creative thinking, with some only allowing a certain number of photos and videos to be uploaded. If there was ever even a small thought about earning some extra cash off of blogging, forget that with a free platform, as you’re not able to monetize it. Not to mention the fact that with a free blog you are not the owner, allowing the web host to have the power over your blog.
Step 3 – Hosting
We are kind of assuming here but, surely, you’ll want to go with a small initial investment and begin with a paid blog. Even if you don’t start with one, you can always switch to start creating your blog the way you want it by owning your own space online. Choosing a host is simple and it’s cheap with the average falling around $15 per year. WordPress has its own hosting but other platforms don’t, making this an essential step.
Step 4 – Designing
Now for the fun part! The design. Now, we said you could create a blog in around 30 minutes but, those that are super creative and love to try new things, this part could take a little longer. There are templates but still, you can change so many things including layouts, font size and type, and even color scheme. One of the top expert tips from experienced bloggers is to actually draw out your ideas before trying to execute them online. What do you want your blog to look like? How can you make it work the best for the message you’re trying to send? What are the color schemes you were hoping for? All of these are what you’ll need to take with you to the drawing board to create your masterpiece.
Step 5 – Keep your Thinking Cap on
There are tons of resources out there when it comes to creating and maintaining a blog. Think about your first blog as a starting off point, learning as you go in order to constantly improve and make it exactly how you always envisioned it. There are a ton of extras and added opportunities that come with blogging, including affiliate programs and ways to monetize to actually make money off of sharing your passions.
What are you Waiting For?
You should not have any more excuses, as a matter of fact what are you doing still reading this? Go! Make this year your year and start sharing your experiences and stories with the world, with just 5 easy steps and less than an hour of your time. The world is waiting to read it.
