A blog should be started by everyone. Everyone has something to say, after all! We now consider blogging to be a very significant part of ourselves. A blog might be helpful for you no matter what you do. Following this tutorial, you can start a blog in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, the United States, India, or any other nation in the world.
Why you ought to start a blog
Having a blog is crucial when trying to earn money online. There are numerous justifications for why you should start a blog. Blogging is the most well-liked online income option if you wish to create money. Do you sell anything? A blog will educate readers about you and your offerings. Consider yourself to be a writer? Readers will find your works with the aid of a blog. A blog will help link you with your clients if you own a business. You can exchange ideas, gain recognition, and position yourself as an authority in your subject by starting a blog. Almost everyone ought to have a motivation for starting a blog.
In conclusion, everyone should start a blog! We'll show you how to start a blog in less than 20 minutes in this post. You only need 20 minutes, no more than that! Please take note that when we refer to "20 minutes," we refer to the time it takes you to create, set up, and get ready to start blogging on your blog. Your time spent writing posts and doing other things is not included. The 20 minutes in this post are from steps 5 to 7.
There is one major barrier that keeps people from trying their hand at blogging. Some people hold the opinion that starting, running, and maintaining a blog are all too tough. That is a complete fabrication. One of the simplest things to do is blog. Very simple. As simple as making breakfast and entering a car.
This post's objective is to assist you with starting your blog, and we will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to do so. If you follow through and are successful in putting up your blog and prosper, it will be our pleasure. We hope you'll tell us about your experience. Let's begin the process of creating a blog.
Choose a niche before starting a blog.
The first step in starting your own blog is choosing a niche. to choose a topic for your blog. This, in my opinion, is the most crucial aspect of blogging. The reason being that this is what will determine if you feel bored or tired of blogging. Even when you want to give up, remember this section to keep going. Your blogging life will have a meaning after this. Those that skip this step start a blog today, but burn out tomorrow.
You must seek within yourself. What inspired you to start a blog? What do you find to be your greatest passion? Do you have a thorough understanding of it? Do you consider yourself an authority? Will you be prepared to develop and learn from it?
If you choose to blog about politics, which aren't your interests, despite the fact that football is your passion, it's likely that you will burn out before the blog has a chance of being successful. Blog about finance if it is your passion. Blog about movies if that's your area of expertise. Create a news blog if you enjoy reading it. Create a gossip blog if you enjoy it.
The worst thing you can do is start a news blog because everyone else is! No! In reality, unless you have a huge budget and connections, smaller specialty blogs make more money than broad niches like journalism. Define your niche in light of your interests and passions.
How to start a blog
To start a blog, adhere to these steps.
1. Select a platform (WordPress is recommended).
The next step in starting a blog is choosing the platform on which you'll host it. WordPress will be used in this guide's examples. It is the one we advise using. Although there are many other systems available, including Drupal, Blogger, and others, we strongly suggest WordPress for the following reasons.
By far, WordPress is the most popular platform. You've probably visited several large websites that use WordPress as well. Using WordPress is CNN. Over 72 million people use WordPress. That merely signifies a vote of confidence. It also implies durability. It won't simply wane and disappear. There are many individuals on it, thus it will continue to be maintained. View the comparison between WordPress and other blogging platforms in the graph below.
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It's also vital to highlight how user-friendly WordPress is. WordPress offers a ton of free themes, plugins, and other goodies to help you get the most out of blogging.
Security is one of the most crucial aspects of blogging. WordPress is quite safe. It has a solid crew behind it that frequently upgrades the CMS.
Another crucial aspect of WordPress is its ability to be customized and built anyway you choose. No restrictions. You can attempt to construct anything! The independence is wonderful!
Please note that we are not arguing that other platforms are bad; on the contrary, we believe that WordPress is the best. When starting a blog, we strongly suggest that you utilize WordPress.
Once you have made the decision to use WordPress, there is one more problem we must resolve: (WordPress.com VS. Wordpress.com) Free WordPress or self-hosted WordPress
Free vs. Self-Hosted Blog
Don't worry; this might sound a little perplexing. At wordpress.com, you can create a free blog, and at wordpress.org, you can create a self-hosted blog. You should take into account the fact that both use WordPress yet have various variances. In order to achieve the goals of this tutorial, we advise and suggest that you choose a self-hosted blog. Never choose a free blog unless you have no intention of using it to make a significant effect.
As the name suggests, "free blogs" are things that are offered to you to use but are not actually yours. It is someone else's property, and you are simply allowed to utilize it; you cannot govern it. However, the term "self-hosted" suggests that it is your property. It is yours, so use it whatever you choose! You will always own it! You cannot lose it to anyone.
Free blogs frequently have lengthy domain names, like www.Africanboy.wordpress.com, whereas self-hosted blogs always have shorter, easier-to-remember domain names, like www.legegist.blogspot.com.
WordPress controls your material; you do not on free blogs. They can restrict what you publish and much more, but with self-hosted, you have complete control!
Due to restrictions, you might not be able to place advertisements on free blogs and earn money from them, but with self-hosted blogs, you are free to do both!
There is a severe restriction on the free version that may prevent you from personalizing your blog to your preferences! However, if your blog is self-hosted, you can personalize it however you choose.
There are more, but I think this will persuade you that self-hosted is the best option if you want to start a blog.
Do not fear; if you choose self-hosted, the CMS is identical to the free one; the only difference is that self-hosted provides you more authority and control, allowing you to maximize its potential for profit.
As we move further, we'll demonstrate how to use self-hosted WordPress to construct a blog.
2. Select a domain
Step one was deciding what you wanted to blog about, and step two involved deciding to take charge of your blogging and do the best you can with it. It's now time to choose a domain name. A domain name is just the name of a website. A domain name is www.legegist.blogspot.com. Your website's domain name should accurately describe its content. This is suggested but not required. Whatever you decide is acceptable as long as it is pleasant and simple to remember.
After choosing a domain name, you can register it with businesses like Namecheap, Godaddy, and others. However, for the sake of this tutorial, we will advise you to continue and we will demonstrate how and when to register it. Cheap domain names are available. They cost $9 a year to purchase.
3. Choose a web host.
Your website's files and all of its information will be kept on a web host. You are unable to use your domain name without a web host. Web hosts don't cost a lot of money. A host is available for as little as $2.75.
Although there are various web hosts, for the purposes of this guide, we advise using HostGator as your domain and web host registrar for starting a blog. To ensure a quick and easy transaction, we recommend them as both a domain registrar and web host.
All MakeMoney.ng readers receive a special discount from Hostgator. Use the following discount code: MakeMoneyUsers.
You can also utilize BlueHost, InMotion, and other web hosting providers.
4. Purchase a name and set up web hosting
Put your best effort forward at this point and set up your domain and hosting. We requested you to wait in step three, and now we'll teach you how to register a domain and web hosting at the same time and in one convenient location. Your blog will be available to use after this step.
Don't worry, setting this up won't cost anything. You will receive a sizable discount from Hostgator if you are a reader of our blog. Simply carry out the directive. The moment has come to start a blog.
1. To visit www.HostGator.com, click here. Once there, select "Get Started!"
After you click the aforementioned link, you will be directed to Hostgator, where you may create your blog in less than 20 minutes. View the screenshot below or click "Get Started!"
Once you click "Get Started!" you will be taken to the following page where you will see options with various plans. You only require the most basic plan at this early stage. You've got enough there. To view the guide, click the "buy now" button or refer to the screenshot below.
2. Type your domain name in here
You will first be directed to the stage where you enter your domain name. Enter the domain name that you intend to use for your blog now. It ought to be pleasant and simple to remember. It can't be a domain name that has already been registered. You will be able to see if something is available or not when you enter it and click outside the box. You can try several domain names and combinations if it is not accessible. See the screenshot below for guidance if you're unsure where to enter your domain name.
3. Select a hosting package
After entering a domain correctly, scroll down and select a hosting package. The hatching strategy is advised because it is suitable for novices. You can upgrade as your audience expands. Additionally, you'll see that the longer the term, the better and lower the discount when choosing a plan. If you choose 36 months, the cost is estimated at $2.75, therefore you'll pay $98 but the payment will be spread out over 3 years. However, if you choose a year, it will be computed at $5.95, costing you $71 and lasting a year.
The cost is $10.95 each month if you'd want to pay that way. We advise paying annually so that you may put a year's worth of payments behind you and concentrate solely on making content. Whatever strategy works for you is acceptable. After that, you create your login and 4-digit pin that you may use to get in touch with customer service anytime you run into problems. So this is how the screen appears.
4. Type in your payment information.
Entering your billing information will come after you have configured your hosting package. Your name, address, nationality, and all other pertinent information will be included in this. Enter the fields with care, and only enter correct and genuine information. PayPal and credit cards (including MasterCard, Visa, and other cards) are both options for payment. This stage can be seen in the screenshot below.
5. Extra offerings
In all honesty, you don't need these extra services right now. So, cancel them to increase your savings! Use the following code on the coupon spot: MakeMoneyUsers. That will save you money just for becoming a MakeMoney reader!
See the picture below.
6. Accept terms and conditions
Simply click the checkout now button after reading and accepting the terms and conditions at the bottom of the page. That's it. See the picture below.
Congratulations, your domain and web hosting have been successfully registered! You are now prepared to start a blog.
5. Access your account and download WordPress.
Hostgator will send you an email with all the information you need to connect to your account and install WordPress, so you might have to wait a little bit. The email will appear as seen below.
To log into your control panel, simply adhere to the instructions in the email. It's simple; just click the link and log in with your credentials.
The control panel must be accessed in order to install WordPress and start a blog.
The heading "Get Started With WordPress Today" or a similar phrase ought to be at the top of the page. To install WordPress, click it.
If you still can't find it, go down to the "Software & Services" area, where you'll find Quick install. Just click it. Then look for WordPress in the upper left corner of the page.
Simply click it and keep holding. Hold on until you are redirected to Mojomarketplace.com, which will assist you in installing WordPress through HostGator. A screen should appear requesting that you "install" or "import" WordPress. Select install. Simply follow it and enter the necessary data.
When you're finished, a notification indicating that your installation is complete and containing your login information will appear at the top of the page. Go to your WordPress dashboard by clicking the wp-admin link on the message.
Congratulations! Your blog is successfully set up! All that remains for you to do is familiarize and adapt. You have, in fact, started a blog. You can type the domain name of your blog into a new browser tab to see how it appears. Was it challenging? You now know that starting a blog is simple and quick.
Remember that you may contact HostGator support if you run into trouble trying to install something or placing an order, and they will offer you all the assistance you require. To chat with a member of the HostGator support staff, click here.
6. access your WordPress dashboard and look around!
As soon as the installation is complete, a link to the wp-admin page will appear. To access your WordPress dashboard, click it. Check your email; if you forget, it should be there. Alternatively, you may simply finish your website with /wp-admin. For instance, visit yoursite.com/wp-admin if your blog's URL is www.yoursite.com. If you run into trouble, refer to the step above and contact Hostgator for assistance. One benefit of Hostgator is that they are constantly available to support and assist.
Your dashboard will appear as follows:
Right now, you must design your blog.
place plugins
Change settings
Likewise, write your posts.
Visit www.yoursite.com/wp-admin whenever you need to log into your dashboard to post or do any other action on the blog (change "yoursite" with the name of your own blog).
Create your blog.
After starting a blog, the following step is to design it. Simply tweaking and changing the theme of your website is all that is required to design your blog. To achieve this, you don't need to know how to code. Anyone can complete it! A theme is a template from which you can create your blog.
WordPress has a ton of free themes! If you like, you can purchase premium themes from sources other than WordPress and use them on your blog, but for now, let's concentrate on free themes. They are adequate as a beginning. Point your mouse at "appearance" on the left side of your WordPress dashboard, and then click "theme" under appearance. Look up once the website has loaded to see add new. Wait for it to load after clicking on it. When it has, scroll down to view a variety of themes to pick from. Check out the screenshot below if you're still unclear.
You will be able to focus your search for a suitable theme by using the various filters that are available. At the top of the page is the filter. It can be used to assist in focusing your search. Take a look at the various themes by scrolling down. Scroll until you find the one that most closely matches your ideal. You then select "install." Check out the image below.
Click activate after they have finished installing. Check out the image below.
There you go! Your chosen theme is now available for customization. Click "customize" after pointing your cursor at "appearance" on the dashboard's left side and waiting for it to load. Visit www.yoursite.com/wp-admin/customize.php instead. (Remember to substitute the name of your blog for 'yoursite'.) From there, you may change the look and modify your themes.
There are "Theme options" for some themes that allow for further customization. Some themes don't. Point your cursor at "appearance" on the dashboard's left side to see if your theme supports it. Look under it for "Theme Options"; if it appears, click on it to further adjust; if not, your theme does not have it. Do not fret. It's all good. Simply click on modify after pointing at appearance once more. You may then make some modifications from there.
Click "appearance" once more, then "Menus" under it to customize the menu. You can build and set titles for menus once it has loaded. Organize menus as well.
if sidebars were included with your theme. Click appearance to modify the sidebar's content and all other features. Next, select widgets. The side bar can then be customized from there.
To install a plugin, go to www.yoursite.com/wp-admin/plugin-install.php or just click the plugin icon on the dashboard's left side. (Be sure to substitute the name of your website for "yoursite"). Installing the SEO Yoast and Jetpack plugins is advised.
Modify the permalinks
The use of permalinks is crucial for SEO. Your site is linked to using permalinks. If you start a news blog that will have many posts, use the post name instead of the permalinks option under "settings" on the dashboard's left side. See the image.
Refresh the default settings
Your blog's time should be updated to reflect your current location. Click "general" after selecting "settings" from the dashboard's left side. You can adjust the language settings under general to use British English instead of American English. Additionally, you have the option to modify the timezone and date format.
You have now designed a blog, created one, and modified its settings. It's time to make a post.
posting a new entry on your blog
After you've finished setting things up, you'll need to start adding blog entries.
To do this, click "add new" under "Post" on the dashboard's left side.
On the smaller text field, you enter your title, and on the larger text area, your contents. Check out the image below. Also, pay attention to the publish button. When everything is ready and you want the world to view the post on your blog, you click that button. Click on save draft if you wish to store it and return to it later.
A saved post will be available in "drafts" once you publish it at the "Posts" section.
When you scroll down and look at the right bar, you will find "Feature Image." Click on "set feature image" to add a featured image, which is the picture that will be the lead image for the article. Click "upload files" and then choose the required image from your computer when it appears.
to incorporate an image into the original message. The image will then be uploaded after you click "Add media". See the image.
while composing a post, to insert a link. To link a passage of text, simply highlight it, select the chain icon in the editing box, type the link, and press Enter. See the image.
The king of content
Your blog's content will be its most crucial component. Videos, posts, or photographs all qualify. The foundation of SEO is content. Make sure your content is of high quality. Make sure your material has an impact on every visitor by conducting professional research on your topics. Never copy and paste content from other websites; Google and other search engines will quickly catch on and penalize your blog for it. Step One is Important because of This.
Quotes and links to other articles are OK, but never plagiarize them entirely without their consent. It is awful.
Bring more people to your blog.
The key is traffic. Your blog's traffic is the number of visitors. Content is the first step in drawing readers to your blog. Search engines will eventually direct users to your website through your content. But you should also take other actions.
Make a blog page on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Another option is a Facebook group. Share links to various blog posts there after inviting friends and others to the page.
Make an effort to use SEO. You can invest in Google Ads and Facebook Ads if you have a sizable budget, but it's not necessary unless you're in a rush.
Continue to learn
It's crucial to never stop learning. Information is essential, and it is updated daily. As an illustration, we will update this post as frequently as possible with fresh data. Learn, expand, and do research.
We've reached the conclusion. You have seen how to set up a blog. Taking action is the best part! It is now your turn. Don't put it off. Better if done sooner. To begin, click this link to go to HostGator.
So, that's how you start a blog. We sincerely hope that this article has aided you in your path. Leave a comment below if you have any inquiries, observations, or topics you'd want us to discuss.
As much as we can, we'll do our best to keep this post updated.
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