Start Your Blog with These 5 Steps

Want to create something meaningful? Why not start a blog? Why not become a blogger?

If you're looking to start blogging but don't know where to start, you've come to the right place.

First of all, let's see what a blog is. A blog is a website that focuses mainly on written content, also known as blog posts. You can write a blog on almost any topic.

To become successful as a blogger, there is just one requirement. No, it isn't being a good writer. You must have a passion for your topic. The key is to keep it personal. Most people read blogs to gain a perspective from others. So stay true to yourself and your opinions.

Starting a blog is much easier than you think. Here is your guide to starting a blog in 5 steps:

1. Pick a blog name: Choose a good name for your blog. It needs to give the user some information about the blog's contents. For example, if it is a food blog, ensure that the audience would understand that just by reading the blog's name. If you aren't sure of what to name your blog, there are plenty of naming tools online that can help you. Confirm that there are no other blogs with the same name before finalising yours.

2. Get your blog online: Your blog needs to be somewhere on the internet for people to find it. To get your blog online and running smoothly, you need blog hosting (also known as web hosting) and blogging software. More often than not, these come as a package deal. There are both free and paid sites available to host your blog.

3. Customise your blog: Choose a simple theme that goes with the message in your blog. Most sites offer free blog theme templates. Opting for this is easier as there is no coding involved. You can always tweak the template with in-house tools to suit you better. You can add your logo and social media handles to customise it further.

4. Write & publish your first post: Now that the set-up is done. All that's left is to start sharing your thoughts with the world. This is where it gets real. Choose an attractive title and write some quality content - make sure it is interactive and not too dull. Most importantly, be yourself and share your views freely. Keep it original, and don't forget to proofread it.

5. Promote your blog: After you're done publishing your blog. The next step is to get more people to read your blog. This can be done with proper marketing. The first step is to alert your inner circle. Share your blog on social media too. Commenting on other blogs may also lead their audience to check out your blog. Collaborate with other bloggers to increase reach. Always engage with your audience by replying to their comments. Remember to post regularly so as not to lose your audience.

   To improve your written content, check out the various free online courses by Glow & Lovely Careers (formerly known as Fair & Lovely Foundation).