Blogging has rapidly become one of the most popular ways of communicating as well as spreading news and information on the web. There are millions of blogs you can find these days and the number continues to rise every day. If you are thinking of starting a blog, it is definitely a great idea because it is undeniably an excellent way of expressing yourself. Not only is blogging an excellent way to share information with others, it can also make you a better write. Most importantly, blogging is an easy way of making money, which makes it worth the time and effort required.
The problem is how to get started? There is so much information on the web and everyone is telling you to do different things. Therefore, it is easy to get confused. The process is actually quite simple and easy to implement. Here are some steps you need to follow to have your own blog:
Step 1: Select your blogging platform
The first thing you have to do is choose where you want to blog. If you have done some research on blogging, you know what WordPress is. It is one of the biggest blogging platforms in the world and comes with countless add-ons and plugins that give you the freedom of changing the layout and design of your blog. There are other options like Tumblr and Blogger, but WordPress is the most popular as it is free to use, easy to setup, offers great functionality and numerous features. You can click here to learn more about blogging platforms.
Step 2: Deciding on hosting
Hosting is the next decision to be made. All blogging platforms give you the option of setting up free blogs, which is great, but they have downsides too. There are plenty of limits on such blogs and rules that need to be followed. You cannot have your own domain name and your blog is not even your own properly. Self-hosting, on the other hand, gives you full ownership and doesn’t levy any limits in terms of bandwidth, content or customization.
Step 3: Design your blog
Once you have made up your mind about getting a free blog or a self-hosted one, it is time to focus on the design. Again, a self-hosted one is recommended because it gives you greater variety in terms of design. You can add plugins and add-ons as per your preference. If you have opted for WordPress, you will also find numerous options in terms of themes and you can opt for any of them that appeals to you. Bear in mind that the design is a reflection of you and your personality so it should be chosen carefully for the right impression.
Step 4: Make use of resources
You may have absolutely no experience in the world of blogging or social media or may have some; regardless, you should know some basic rules before you begin. Blogging is a competitive field and even small mistakes can set you back. Take advantage of resources available online and learn the ins and outs before you start publishing.