How to Start a Blog – The Complete Guide

How to start a blog is a question that lots of webmasters encounter. And this guide will be all about answering that.

In fact, starting a blog is one of the best things you can do nowadays. Whether you own a small business, an online shop, or simply feel like doing something new, blogging can bring lots of benefits:

1. Personal growth. Many people start a blog as a way to express their ideas and deepen their knowledge. A well-established blog can be a showcase of your skills and expertise whenever you’re looking for a job or freelancing.
2. More people will know about your brand. If you run a business, big or small, spreading brand awareness is going to be an important part of the journey. With the right execution, a blog can take your business to new heights.
3. Blogs have the potential to become a user acquisition platform. When it comes to attracting new users, many acquisition channels require you to invest a lot of money (for example GoogleAds). While growing a blog may take time, once the traffic starts to kick in, you’ll have a solid platform that can drive new sales and improve conversions.
4. Increased visibility in search engines. Blogging is one of the top ways to get more out of organic search. Remember, maintaining a steady flow of traffic is a vital part of any online project.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create and grow a successful blog that brings a consistent stream of organic traffic, starting from:

• Which blogging platform is the best for a new blog?
• How to choose the right web hosting.
• How to set up your blog and succeed.

To break the ice, let’s see what it takes to launch a blog from scratch.

How to Start a Blog (in 6 Simple Steps)

The process of starting a blog can be broken down into six steps, which are:

We’ll go over them in more detail and provide you with tips that will make your blog stand out from the rest.

1. Choose your blog niche

If you’re running a project or business, blogging about the services, products, and company goals is a great approach. That way, you’ll attract people that are actually interested in what you do. A win-win for everyone.

In case you’re looking to start a personal blog, a more extensive choice of options is at hand. The world is full of possibilities, from travel, technology,  and news, to food, music, and shoes – there are many options that you can pick as your primary blog topic.

Since it’s one of the most important steps, try to avoid rushing your decisions. Take some time to research your options, then finding a blog niche will be easier.

Ultimately, your best bet is writing about something that you like. When doing something you enjoy, the results are always better. And your audience will undoubtedly notice that.

2. Pick a blogging platform

The next step is choosing your platform. Since blogs are mostly made up of content, you should consider using a content management system (CMS).

With a CMS as your blogging platform, it will help you:

1. Set up a blog without previous coding knowledge.
2. Easily publish and create new content.
3. Allow you to focus on writing rather than technical aspects.
4. Add new features easily with the help of plugins and modules.
5. Find gorgeous website designs from libraries of free themes.

The top three blogging platforms that we recommend are:

• WordPress
• Joomla
• Drupal

Let’s look at each blogging platform in more detail to find the right pick for you.

WordPress

Holding the title as the world’s most popular CMS, WordPress is a solid platform to start your blog. It’s easy to set up, use, and requires no coding knowledge.

In fact, we use WordPress to power our blog and tutorial platforms here in Hostinger.

Joomla

Joomla is another open-source platform that powers many blogs all around the globe. It’s also one of the biggest WordPress competitors.

Setting up the CMS is quick and you can do so without having any coding knowledge. Some even argue that publishing content is easier with Joomla than it is with other platforms. But you can be the judge of that.

With an extensive collection of free extensions and plugins, Joomla is a reliable place to start any type of blog.

Drupal

One of the more advanced content management systems, Drupal, holds a special spot in the heart of every web developer.

It offers some of the best customization options when it comes to implementing complex features. Though you will have to possess the knowledge of how to do it.

If you like coding and want to have a highly flexible blog, Drupal is the perfect match.

3. Find a web host

When it comes to choosing a blog hosting platform, there are a few things to make sure of:

• How much traffic do you expect?
• How quick is the setup?
• Is there support?
• What features will help your blog stand out?
• What is the cost?

Not only that, but there are plenty of options to choose from, depending on the scale of your blog project. Let’s see what’s on the table.

Shared Hosting

One of the best places to launch your first website or blog, shared hosting can be compared to public transportation or a student dormitory.

It houses multiple websites within one physical server. All the resources (such as disk space, RAM, bandwidth) are shared among each site from a single pool.

However, the servers are neatly optimized and monitored around the clock to make sure every website is up and running at full power.

Here’s what you need to know if you plan to start a blog on shared hosting:

Get Started

Cloud Hosting

Catered towards business owners and larger projects, cloud hosting aims to provide the power of a virtual server while maintaining the simplicity of shared web hosting.

It’s a solid and reliable platform for starting a blog, as you’ll have lots of resources to handle whatever traffic is coming your way.

In addition, all the resources are dedicated to you and no one else, thus you’ll have plenty of room for growth.

Get Started

VPS Hosting

VPS, short for a virtual private server, is a unique solution that brings more freedom and control to the table.

Though if you’re not familiar with server management, this solution may be a bit tricky.

If you aim to start a simple blog only, picking another solution would be better.

But if you plan to launch many different projects, having a virtual server will let you set up the perfect environment.

Get Started

4. Register a domain name

Every website has an address and so will your blog. Choosing a domain name can be tough and there are many elements to consider.

Once you have figured out the perfect domain name, be sure to check it on a domain checker to be sure that it is available. After that, choose which extension you would like, and you’re done.

If you’re not sure which domain extension is the best for you, check out this tutorial here.

Consider checking our how to buy a domain name guide for more in-depth coverage.

5. Set up the blogging platform

Once you have your web hosting and domain name ready, you’re just one step away from reaching your goal.

Since we outlined three platforms to start your blog, let’s see how to perform the initial setup with each one.

How to Install WordPress

Setting it up is quite simple. Especially if you’re using Hostinger. All you have to do is navigate to the Auto Installer section in the control panel.

Select WordPress and follow the setup wizard.

Admin Area

To make your blog management easy, WordPress provides an intuitive dashboard.

You can access it by typing yourdomain.com/wp-adminin the browser.

Themes

In the Appearance section, you can find many free themes and choose a stylish look.

If you have difficulty choosing, check out our collection of the best free WordPress themes.

Plugins

The Plugins section offers a large library of free extensions. You can view them as add-ons that extend the functionality of your blog.

Here is a list of three essential plugins that every blog must have:

1. Yoast SEO – will let you optimize your posts easier with the latest SEO practices.
2. Akismet Anti-Spam – will keep your comment section clean and spam-free.
3. Jetpack – offers a bundle of features related to security, performance, statistics and more.

Creating blog posts and pages

The Pages section lets you create more pages on your blog (such as About us; Contact us and similar)

Meanwhile, the Posts section will be your most visited area, as all new blog posts will be created there.

For a more detailed approach, consider reading out WordPress tutorial for beginners.

How to Instal Joomla

On Hostinger, setting up Joomla is a walk in the park. All you need to do is follow the installation wizard found in the Auto Installer section.

Admin Area

Once done, navigate to yourdomain.com/administratorURL to access the Joomla administrative dashboard.

Templates

If you head over to the Templates section, you’ll be able to customize the look and design of your pages.

Modules

In case you want to manage functions or features, the Modules section is the place to go.

Here’s a short list of top three plugins recommended for Joomla blogs:

1. K2 – is an extension that aims to improve article management with extra features and enhancements.
2. EasyBlog – is another extension, which aims to replace the default article system with a more efficient one.
3. Komento – helps you manage and moderate comments more effectively.

Creating blog posts

And the most important part for every fresh blog – adding new posts. You can easily create them using the Articles section.

For a closer look at Joomla and how to use it, you may check our Joomla tutorial for beginners.

How to install Drupal

On Hostinger, you can set up Drupal with no fuss using the Auto Installer tool available at the control panel.

Admin Area

Head over to yourdomain.com/user/login to reach the Drupal admin dashboard.

Themes

To change the look and design of your blog, navigate to the Appearance section.

Modules

In the Extend tab, you can implement new features and functionalities with modules.

For every Drupal blog, we recommend these extensions:

1. Admin Toolbar – replaces the existing toolbar with a more flexible one.
2. ShareThis – lets you easily share posts to various social media platforms.
3. Image Effects – allows you to add eye-catching effects to images in your blog posts.

Creating blog posts

And finally, the Content tab is the place where you can create new blog posts, pages, and everything else content related.

For more in-depth coverage, you may check our Drupal tutorial for beginners.

6. Publish content and grow

You are now know how to start a blog using three of the best CMS platforms.

As for this last step, it is fairly simple: publish, publish, and publish!

Since content management systems let you create posts without much effort, your main focus should be posting as many good quality articles as possible.

Considering it usually takes a while before new publications start showing any notable results in search engines, the sooner you start – the better.

Ideally, we want our blog to generate traffic and grow over time. To reach that, you’ll need to think outside the box and be prepared to work hard.

Which is why we’ve prepared 10 of the best tips that will show you how to start a blog and succeed.

10 Best Blogging Tips That Will Bring Results

No matter what you’re doing, having a well thought out plan is essential. Not only will it make your work and results more efficient, but it will also give a clear vision of where you’re headed.

Most blogs generate new users through organic traffic. And the best way to do it is through high-quality posts. Hence, you’ll need to remember one golden rule: content is king.

Here are some of the top blogging tips that are sure to bring positive results:

1. Learn basic SEO

While search engine optimization may seem tricky, it’s one of the best skills you can acquire before you start a blog.

Proper SEO can put you miles ahead of the competition while ensuring that your content stays relevant and noticed.

Here are some of the best resource to learn SEO:

• 30 of the best WordPress SEO tips.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide by Google.
• How to learn the latest SEO practices (and stay sane).

2. Do keyword research

Ideally, your blog posts should use target keywords and phrases that people look for while using search engines.

Pumping out content without proper keyword research is like shooting in the dark. Even though you might hit something, you’re not exactly sure what you’ll get.

Understanding keywords, search volume, and the content that currently ranks the highest can give you a pretty good idea of the search intent. Once you know that, creating a solid blog post will be much easier.

Luckily, there is a plethora of free tools and resources that can help you. Here’s where you can start:

• Google Keywords Planner – how to start your research.
• Google Trends – helps you see shifts in the popularity of phrases and search terms.
• Answer the Public – see what questions and queries are the most frequent in a search term.
• KWFinder – free tools that let you see search volumes and other useful statistics.

3. Research your competition

New bloggers can find it difficult to set off in the right direction. Though it’s often easier with a good example in front of you.

Researching the best performing blogs in your niche is a great way to find new ideas for your own site.

First, gather a list of 5-10 blogs or websites that perform well in your niche. Then, use tools such as SimilarWeb to generate a report.

While the free version provides limited statistics, you can still see the reports on the top 5 organic and paid keywords. Once you’re done with the research, you should be able to see a much clearer view on what content your blog needs.

4. Create a content plan

Open a spreadsheet and brainstorm potential article ideas. Start with broader topics and make your way down to more specific branches. If you’re well-seasoned in a particular area, prioritize it.

Notable results will not come immediately, so patience will be your new best friend. Try to set deadlines for publishing articles and monitor your overall progress.

Aim to find the balance between quality and quantity. Then, stick to your plan and leave some time to reflect on the results.

5. Set up social media platforms

Building an online presence is important and sometimes daunting, luckily social media platforms make this task much simpler.

Firstly, social media platforms will increase user engagement. You can notify people about new articles, plans, and updates.

It’s also an amazing way to get acquainted with your readers. A crucial mistake that many new projects make is ignoring their audience and their needs.

But with Facebook and Twitter profiles in place, you can receive feedback from your readers directly. And as you continue to grow, you may run into business offers or similar opportunities.

Depending on the content that you provide in your blog, social media platforms may even attract new readers. It’s not only about gathering your existing audience. As people share your content, more and more people will be tempted to check it out.

6. Do guest posts

After you launch your blog, one of the toughest tasks will be making people notice it. Numerous competitors will stand in your way and you’ll need time to make it to the top search results on Google.

However, there are ways to make this journey less bumpy, and doing guest posts is one of them.

Guest posts is a practice that many bloggers, writers, and business owners do regularly.

The basic idea is to publish a content piece with a link to your blog on another website. The biggest benefits that you will get are:

• Boost in SEO due to links from other websites.
• A slight increase in direct/organic traffic.

If that’s something you’re willing to try, check out this in-depth guest blogging case study by Ahrefs.

7. Implement Google Analytics

Monitoring your traffic is an essential part of building a successful blog.

Knowing your audience and what they want from your site will put you a few steps ahead.

And the best tool to take care of this job is Google Analytics. It tracks your visitors, their habits, various social metrics and more.

What’s more amazing is that this software is free. This means that every web user can easily find out more about their readers.

If you plan to start a blog using WordPress, our detailed guide on how to set up Google Analytics is ready to go.

8. Submit new content to Google

Thousands of new websites are created daily. And the number of new posts and articles are in the millions.

With that much action going on, it may take time before Google and other search engines start indexing your new content. But there’s a shortcut you can take to speed things up.

Adding your site to Google Search Console will give you the opportunity to:

• Monitor your blog performance.
• Get alerts in case of sitewide errors.
• Use various testing tools.
• Access in-depth learning material.

And most importantly, you’ll be able to submit new blog posts and force Google to crawl them.

9. Build backlinks

If you want to reach the top results of Google search, backlinks are something that you’ll need to take seriously.

In fact, it’s one of the most important ranking factors that Google takes in mind when evaluating websites.

While new blogs should focus on producing content and improving existing pages, there will come a point when you’ll have multiple top-notch content pieces at hand.

More often than not, even the highest quality content may not see the light of Google SERPs if you don’t work on your backlink profile.

Luckily, there are many proven ways to get them. Here are good resources to start with:

• Beginners guide to link building by Ahrefs
• How to get high-quality backlinks by Ahrefs (case study)

10. Patience is the key

One important thing to remember is: starting a blog is a long-term investment. Just as with any new activity, you’ll need effort and time to see any notable results.

First and foremost, it will take time before Google starts recognizing the existence of your blog. Many SEO specialists claim that there’s a period of time that needs to pass before your content starts making an impact (also called Google Sandbox).

So if you really want to succeed, arming yourself with patience is the way to go. Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst, and you’ll surely get there.

Why Should You Start a Blog

Whenever you do something new, this is the first question that you should find the answer to. Why?

Once you uncover the reasons, the whole process will become more enjoyable. And you might just learn a couple of new things along the way.

Here’s some food for thought to get you started:

1. You’ll build niche related knowledge. To create quality blog posts, you’ll need to study your niche and research many new areas. During this process, you will gather valuable knowledge that can help you in the future. Who knows, you might just uncover ideas great enough to start your own online business.
2. It’s a great way to express your ideas. Do you ever have one of those days where many great ideas start flowing in, but there’s no way to act on them? Well, if you start a blog, that’s more or less taken care of. Share your insights and opinions with everyone around the world.
3. You will build a consistent stream of traffic. Many new projects and businesses often struggle to find an audience to showcase their fresh ideas or products. This can cause slowness in growth and expansion. But with a blog in place, you can build valuable traffic and convert it into potential customers or users.
4. New opportunities will show up. While the journey may be a little tough at the beginning, once your blog starts growing, you will stumble upon many new opportunities. As you establish your online presence, more and more people will join your circle. And you might just become the next big expert in your niche.
5. Show the world what you’re up to. Even in this age of modern technology, the written word is still the most powerful way to get your message across. If you’re running a side project, starting a blog may be of the best ways to showcase your achievements to the world. Using the power of the internet, you can reach every corner of the globe instantly.
6. Become the next big influencer. Every new blog post will get you one step closer to greatness. If you have lots of expertise in a certain area, blogging will help you establish yourself in the market. Build an audience, make new connections, present your ideas and break all boundaries.
7. Work towards a dream. There’s no better feeling than working your way up towards a goal. Though a lot of times, we end up not knowing because we simply don’t try. If you’re passionate about something, making a blog will give you the perfect environment to start working towards your real passions.

Years ago, blogging wasn’t viewed as something serious. But now many people have turned their blog into a solid business.

If freedom is something that you’re striving for, running your own blog is a small step in the right direction.

Final Word

Congratulations! You now know all the proper steps on how to start a blog and be successful. The only part that remains is the execution, so what you are waiting for? Go online with Hostinger today.

And if you have any other blogging related questions, inquiries, or tips, drop them down in the comments below.