Part 2: How to Start a Blog and Not Be Overwhelmed

This is the second installment of a three-part series about blogging. Our last article discussed the various reasons why people start blogs and what is usually the driving force behind wanting to blog. The third post will discuss fine-tuning your blog for success.

Starting a blog may seem like an overwhelming task. There are many platforms for blogging. They range from highly customized solutions to as simple as 140 character microblogs (i.e. Twitter.)

Step 1

After figuring out why you want to become a blogger, the next step is setting up your blog. Platforms like Blogger, Tumblr, and WordPress—my preferred choice—are simple to set up. Just visit their sites and create an account. All these platforms are free, but there might be costs if you want to add custom features or design changes. (WordPress.com is FREE and hosted by WordPress, but if you’re looking to enhance your WordPress site’s functionality, consider the self-hosted option at WordPress.org. Check out my article about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.)

Step 2

After you sign up for your chosen platform, consider a name for your blog. The name should reflect who you are or the subjects you intend to write about. It plays a key role in shaping the audience’s experience and how they connect with your site. I highly suggest buying a domain name if you’re using WordPress or Blogger. You can buy domain names from registrars like Namecheap for as low as $8.95 a year.

Here’s the best tip no one told me when I started my first blog: Make sure the domain name you buy represents your brand well. If this is a business blog and you are just starting out, buy your company’s name. (If you don’t already own it.)

Step 3

Now that your blog is set up, take some time and create an author bio. Let people know who you are, what your interests are, and what you plan on writing about. Here’s the author bio I typically use:

Greg Taylor, founder of Marketing Press. Hopelessly addicted to music. Phoenix Suns fan. WordPress enthusiast since 2005. Originally from Warren, NJ, now Tempe, AZ is home.

Real simple, but from that easy two-line bio you can get a decent idea as to who I am. Since I know it’s difficult to write about yourself — feel free to steal my author bio writing format.

Step 4

Now that you have a place on the internet to call your own, customize your site page as much as you desire. Some blog customization takes HTML and CSS knowledge, and customizations are very simple and easy to do. Develop your blog to your level of expertise. If you desire more customization than you can handle, you can always hire someone to do the site customizations for you. Different blogging personas have different site customization needs, so design and develop accordingly.

Step 5

Every good blog needs a strong about page. Think about how you want your company (or your personal brand) positioned. This may be the first time people are learning about your company. Make sure you leave them feeling secure in the fact that you are the subject matter expert for your site’s topical information.

Step 6

OK, here comes the fun part — writing. Write away. Post all that your heart desires. Talk about your clients, talk about how your product or services solve problems. In the beginning, you will be bursting at the seams with all sorts of great ideas to write about and you will be tempted to post daily or many times a week. Be forewarned — this will not last forever. Most successful bloggers use editorial calendars to keep them on track and to spread their posts out throughout a specific period of time.

Blogging Tip: Schedule time to blog. You will quickly learn what days and times you are best at writing. The days and times that writing comes naturally and without struggle. Tap into that power and schedule time to blog. Trust me, it will make blogging much easier.

I’ve made this ‘How To Start A Blog’ article very simple. Starting your own blog isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Follow the above steps and you’ll be off posting to your blog in no time at all. Always remember: Write for fun, write for purpose, just write.

Still not sure how to start a blog or how to fine-tune it?

Be sure to check out the third and last post in this series where we will discuss how to focus your blog for success. We’ll talk about content strategy, SEO, lead generation, and metrics of success.

Read more: How to Update Your Blogging Strategy