Before I proceed, let me ask you this - why do you want to be a blogger? Why do you want to join the blogging race? Many are coming to the blogging world simply because of the good things they've heard about blogging.
Yes, blogging is sweet and there's a lot of benefits in blogging... there is nothing more awesome than a person getting paid for doing what he/she loves doing, right? But you might not succeed if your primary aim is to make quick bucks as a newbie blogger.
Must Read: Why You Will Never Make Money Online as a BloggerAs an aspiring or a newbie blogger, you need to learn the ropes, learn how the blogging world works before joining or proceed in the blogging race or you might end up gaining nothing...
Many newbie bloggers fail to make money with their blogs simply because the foundation they laid down for their blog is not solid.
I am not here today to preach about how to make money as a newbie blogger. But if you've not started a blog yet and you want to join the business, then this post might be helpful.
Before Starting a Blog, Make Sure You Have These in Check
Before you start a blog, make sure you know;
Which platform do I host my blog
Picking the right platform to start your blog is very important, why? The right platform helps your blogging effort much easier.
The most common platforms that bloggers mostly use for blogging are; blogger and WordPress platform.
Must Read: Top 5 Best Blogging Platforms to Host Your Next BlogThe blogger platform - is a free blogging platform owned by Google... and did I say it's a free platform? Lol...
If you are a newbie blogger and really wants to blog but don't have the money to get a "self-hosted" blog, I'll really suggest you start blogging on the blogger platform. And when you've made some bucks, migrating to a paid platform will then be the next thing to do.
The WordPress Platform - we have the WordPress.com and the WordPress.org. The WordPress.com is also a free platform hosted on WordPress server.
The WordPress.com Blog has limit to what you can actually do with it... so I wouldn't suggest you use the WordPress.com free platform for blogging (just my opinion).
The WordPress.org on the other hand, is a free open source that allows you to install its CSM to a server outside WordPress own server.
Most professional bloggers says the WordPress platform is for the serious minds. Why?When you invest money on something, you will want to take that thing serious, right?
A good domain name:
Okay! If you've decided the platform to use, having a brilliant domain name should be the next step to follow.
Hey, if you are picking a domain name, do not make the domain name too long, confusing or hard to understand.
Make it as simple and catchy as possible and I guarantee that the people are going to love it.
Must Read: 3 Ways to Drive Traffic to your Blog without Search EngineNote: Using SEO keywords for your domain to attract more views is awesome, but what's more awesome is, creating a name you truly love and want people to know you as
A good host
Picking the right host is very important... in fact, your host also determine the life span of your blog. A host determines the speed of your blog, how search engine indexes your site and lots more.
The wrong host can make you lose your efforts and traffic you are putting toward the growth of your blog. I know this because I was a victim of poor host when I started blogging newly.
Must Read: Free Hosting? Here Are the Top 5 Cheapest and Reliable Hosting Providers to Host Your WordPress BlogBefore you buy a web space from any hosting provider, first, investigate the hosting company and compare them with other reliable company... ask friends around that have been blogging for long, make research, read reviews from other blogs about the hosting provider before buying any host.
Never buy a web space from a host provider because their services are cheap, but because they are reliable.
Know your niche
Which niche are you planning to base your blog on? I'd advise you to join the niche you are good at.
If you know your way around the technical part of blogging, you can join the "HOW-TO" or "BLOGGING TIPS" niche. If you are good in other stuff, like news and or gossip, you can join the entertainment niche. The tech niche is also a wise choice, don't you think?
Whichever niche you decide to enter, make sure it's the area you truly know much about
Make sure you have what to offer
Before you start a blog, it is good to investigate what your target audience truly wants. Take a close look at those successful blogs in your niche, what makes them tick, how are they doing it... check their first ever blog post to know more about their start.
Go to your niche communities, investigate what topic and twist of story they truly want to read.
Note that this part is not easy but it will worth the effort. And also note that the best way to win is to be your self, be original
Apart from the above tips, you still need to have;
A good strategy
And make sure you have a plan B
Conclusion:Starting a blog is awesome, right? I know, but you are going to fail if your only motive is to make money the first months you create your blog.
Must Read: 4 Tools for Customizing WordPress Themes and Blogger TemplateAs a new blogger, try making your blog get that attention that it truly deserve, build a community around your blog, give your audience room to trust you and your brand before thinking of making money online...
Move with faith Back to youLook like I have said so much about so much on this post, now it's time to pass the keyboard to you guys.
What other advice and steps do you have for people wanting to join the blogging world? Please do drop your comments using the comment box below.
Do you have comments, questions and or thoughts you'd love to share with us? Please share with us using the comment box below...
Remember that your comments, questions and thoughts are highly welcomed and much appreciated.
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