|

The Ultimate Guide to Blogging

 

how to start blogging while you're stuck at home

Have you been wanting to learn how to start a blog, but you don’t know where to start, and it’s overwhelming you?

No worries! This post breaks down all the essentials for how to launch a blog!

You’ll learn all the components you need, the assets to create once your site up and going, and how to earn money blogging!

Let’s get started!

First, you’ll need a domain name and hosting plan. 

I love Siteground. It’s who I use, and their customer support is over the top!

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose your hosting plan

SiteGround has three plans and you can sign for any of them.

Here are the three plans they offer:

  • The StartUp plan is perfect for people with one website that are starting now <<< This is the one you want when you’re wanting to become a blogger!
  • The GrowBig plan is a great value for money offer, including the option for multiple websites and the SuperCacher that greatly improves a WordPress and Joomla website speed
  • The GoGeek plan is perfect for people with e-commerce and larger sites, or more geeky development needs like staging and GIT integration

how to get started blogging

Step 2. Choosing Domain

If you do not own a domain already, you can purchase one here. Or, transfer an existing over to Siteground. 

It’s all SUPER simple, and they walk you through every single step.

getting started blogging with siteground hosting

Step 3. Review and Complete

Purchase your hosting and domain, and you’re on your way!

completing hosting plan with siteground

Second, you’ll need a great theme for your self-hosted wordpress.org site!

 

Using Restored 316 for my WordPress theme was one of the best decisions I’ve made in the blogosphere!

Not only can I customize my site how I want, but their support tutorials also walk you through every step you could need.

And, if you need something else, there is a Facebook group you can ask, and someone ALWAYS knows the answer within minutes! 

Not to mention how *pretty* their themes are. 

Let’s break down all the assets you’ll need for your blog:

So, I’m going to give you a big dose of reality, real quick!

When “launching” a blog, most people think it’s one post up, let everyone know, and amazing things will happen… Right?!

Um, no….

How many blogs have you landed on with ONE post…

Did you stick around??

Nope.

You left as soon as you finished reading.

The author gave you nowhere to go, no roadmap, no call to action.

Hard work goes into building a blog. Even more hard work goes into building a GREAT blog that people will subscribe to and visit on an ongoing basis.

Before your big launch… here are a few things you need to know!

  1. Have a blog brainstorming session, followed by creating an editorial calendar.
  2. Create social media handles for every account. Just in case — Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, etc. 
  3. Have 15-20 “Pillar Posts” written, and categorized. All optimized for SEO, meta descriptions ready for Pinterest, etc. 
  4. Have a KILLER “About Me” page. This is one of the most visited pages on a blog. Be sure your contact info is the first thing they see. Followed by a compelling storyline of who you are, where you come from, why you started blogging, and what they can expect. Don’t make it wordy — rather, list it out in bullet points and images. Use a few of your posts as examples of what they can expect. 
  5. Create an amazing Call to Action for either social media or building your email list. A good incentive is always nice; such as a free download, printable, private FB group, etc

Now that you have your website “up and going” you’ll want to stock it full of content.

If you need help with content planning read this post!

Content planning will help you create a schedule for yourself, as well as keep up with trends and holidays.

What are Pillar Posts…

Pillar posts are the essential basis of your blog. They embody everything you write about, are for the reader, solving a problem, teaching them a new skill, or showing them a new trick. 

All these posts are written with a clear focal point (ONE TOPIC! The thing you want the reader to remember the most.If it turns into multiple topics, create another post.).

This post uses good imagery and graphics, and lists.

While a storyline is helpful, most people skim/scroll.

Using beautiful, well-lit photography, and creative graphics helps your readers stick around.

This also comes in handy when you get to the point of monetizing your blog with ads. 

The longer the content, the more room for ads and scrolling.

Every post should solve a problem with a solution — and be of utmost value to your readers.

You’ll need great photography for each of your posts. 

Some opt to photograph their own posts (Me! That’s me!), or you can invest in stock photography. 

Here are 5 Photo Tips for Better Blog Photography.

This is somewhere you want to spend a lot of time and resources.

Take classes online, or in person, and practice, practice, practice! 

Let’s chat on social media.

So, you may not think you need Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.

But, if you’re going to choose, choose those three.

Instagram is a great way for Micro-Blogging and sharing your world and personality.

Facebook is for when you need to share things with lots and lots of people, and hit a different demographic.

Pinterest is my favorite, and it’s an absolutely necessary option for social media.

Tailwind is a LIFE. SAVER. for not only pinning your own content plus others, but for scheduling Instagram posts.

 

 

Through Tailwind, I schedule all my pins and Instagram posts — it might be some of the best $$$ I spend each month.

If you are new to learning Pinterest, I highly recommend Jennifer Mark’s Pinterest Launch Plan online course.

It will take your pinning efforts over the top with minimal work. 

And, finally, you need to thoroughly immerse yourself in good blogging knowledge.

Abby Lawson’s Building a Framework is the perfect place to start!

Abby walks you through starting your blog from a blank screen, to a fully monetized blog, helping you every step of the way!

It even includes a 30-page workbook for you to print out and use throughout your entire process.

This is the real MVP of the ultimate guide to blogging!

 

In closing, I love blogging.

Blogging has come a LONG way since I started in 2011!

If you want to learn more about blogging here is a link to my Helpful Blogging Tips Pinterest board — it is filled with helpful tips and tricks you can use for getting started, or even for the most seasoned blogger!

One thing I know for sure is to never stop learning.

There is so much to learn and know, keep learning and always growing to be the best blogger you can be! 

 

 

 

 

 

Similar Posts

15 Comments

  1. Thank you for the great tips, Ashley! I’m just looking into Tailwind and CoSchedule now.
    I’m visiting from Brag About It link party.
    ~ Megin of VMG206

    1. You will NOT regret signing up for either! They really are time savers! {Giving me more time to enter all the fun link parties!}

    1. Thanks for stopping by Elise! Glad I could help you find some great resources!

  2. Thanks for sharing Ashley! It’s always nice to get recommendations for people who have experience with various blogging aids! Pinned to share.

  3. Great post Ashley. I have Blue Host too and have no complaints. The only tip I’m not doing is CoSchedule but only because I taking time to learn Tailwind right now. Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty

Comments are closed.