Blogging might sound easy, but it can be more challenging than you think — especially if you want to make money at it. Don’t make newbie mistakes; start your blog on a solid foundation. Here are ten easy steps to start a successful blog.
1. Choose the right niche
If you’re in the market to monetize a blog, choosing the right niche is paramount. It should be something you have a lot of knowledge about, you feel passionate toward, and there’s a decent-sized target audience out there.
2. Integrate social media
Blogs are the perfect match for existing social media platforms like Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. But if you don’t already have a solid social media presence, trying to tackle all of these as a newbie might be too overwhelming. SM management takes a lot of time.
3. Pick WordPress plug-ins
WordPress is one of the best blogging platforms because it can be free, it’s easy to use, and it doesn’t look like a boring blog template. It also comes with a variety of plug-ins. They resemble apps, and there’s probably a plug-in for everything you need. Just don’t overwhelm your site with them.
4. Commit to blogging
Ideally, you’ll be able to post a new commentary every day. At the very least, three posts per week should be your target so you don’t lose the interest of your audience. It might not seem like much work, but it certainly can be, especially if you have a lot of other commitments.
5. Embrace visuals
If you don’t particularly like to write, but you can put together great memes, infographics, or videos, lean toward your skill set. Many people would prefer to check out an infographic or watch a short video rather than read a post, anyway.
6. Encourage community
Your writing skills don’t end when you publish a blog; you need to communicate directly with your readers, too. End your posts by asking thought-provoking questions. Pay attention to what your audience has to say. Most importantly, don’t get discouraged if no comments turn up for awhile.
7. Read your reports
Google Analytics is one of the best (and free) tools to see how a page is performing. Get reports at least once a week to see your click-through rate and which of your posts are the most popular.
8. Include search engine optimization (SEO)
SEO is what makes your blog rank higher (or lower) in search engine results. Brush up on SEO best practices such as link exchanges, keyword placement, and tagging. Localized SEO might be a better approach if you’re targeting a certain region.
9. Reach out to other bloggers
Quality inbound and outbound links are part of SEO, but they can also serve as tools to connect and spread the word. Ask about guest blogging and connect with other bloggers.
10. Have solid web hosting
Even the best blogs will stumble if reputable web hosting isn’t in the picture. Don’t skimp on this step: read testimonials and make an informed choice.
Blogging isn’t easy, but if you follow these ten steps, you’ll have a better shot at success.
