Learn how to start a blog in just 5 easy steps. The time has never been better than now to make your dreams of starting your own blog a reality!
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. For more info, please see my full disclosures here.
I am going to change it up a bit today and talk about something I always get questions about. If you're here for the regular DIY, Home Decor, or Organization content, I promise I will be back to regular programming soon! 😉 Here are a few DIY/Home Decor posts to fulfill your needs until then! Check out DIY Chalk Paint Chandelier or my post on How to Install Shiplap the Easy Way.
I have had my blog for almost 4 years now, and it has been one of the best things I have ever done. Not only is there potential to make money with your blog, but for me it has been such a wonderful creative outlet for all the things I am passionate about.
I'm always getting questions from readers about how to start your own blog. So I thought I would take some time for those interested and talk about how you can get your own blog up and running in as little as 5 easy steps!
How to Start a Blog for Beginners
1. Choose a Name and Buy a Domain – this is the fun part, and sometimes the part that takes the most time. Finding the perfect name! I choose Life on Southpointe Drive because I wanted to write about all the DIY, Home Decor, and Organization that I create in my home which is located on Southpointe Drive. I do sometimes wish I would have gone with something that could be part of a larger brand in the future, and what if I move and I'm no longer on Southpointe Drive? So think about something that will be still relevant to your brand for years to come. A lot of people just go with their name, and that is great too!
After you have a list of some options for your blog name you will want to make sure your name is available. Sometimes your favorite may not be available so you will have to work your way down the list until you find one that you can purchase. You can buy your domain through sites like Bluehost, which is where I purchased my domain from.
2. Pick a Blog Host – You have that perfect blog name, but what do you do next? You host your site. I highly recommend using a self-hosting site like wordpress.org. You will pay a small fee for this, but in the long run it is so much better since you will always own your site and not run into issues later down the road. Don't be mistaken because there is a wordpress.COM. This is not the same thing and while this is a free site it will cause you headaches down the road. You will want wordpress.ORG!
Ok, hopefully you are following along and things are too technical for you yet. I would say this step is one of the most technical, but companies have made it very easy for you to do this yourself. So you have your name, you've purchased your domain, and you're hosted on WordPress.ORG. Now is where you decide where you want to store all of your site data. I started with Bluehost as my site host. They are great for starting out and have 24/7 customer support, which is really helpful!
3. Design Your Blog – this is the fun part! If you are looking at your site now, it doesn't look like much. Making it pretty is where all the magic happens, and trust me, you don't need to know coding or be super technical. Starting a blog in 2020 has never been easier thanks to companies like Restored 316 Designs. They walk you through every step (in beginners terms!) to get your site up and running and looking stunning. I have the Captivating Theme from Restored 316 Designs, and I love it!
4. Set-up Your Social Media Accounts – after you have your name chosen and your site up and running, it's time to start thinking about promoting your blog. This is where social media is a huge help. You will want to register for “business” accounts on all of the social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest (even though Pinterest is not really considered social media, but more of a search engine). Keep it consistent throughout all social media profiles when it comes to the name (or social media handle) that you choose so everyone can find you.
5. Create Killer Content and Set-up a Posting Schedule – now that you have your site up and running, you need to create content. The easiest way to do this when starting out, is to set-up an editorial calendar and choose how often you want to post. There really is no hard rule on how often you should be posting, but when starting out they say the more the better! I created a simple editorial calendar in excel, and I found it really keeps me motivated and on track with my posting schedule.
So you may be feeling more overwhelmed with all of this information, but I promise it's ok to feel that way. This is a very high level guide and not one that walks you through every detail, but it is a place to start. Take it one step at a time and learn along the way!
This post contained some affiliate links for your convenience. For more info, please see my full disclosures here.
