Businesses start blogging as a way to attract a long term audience. But the reverse is also true, with more and more bloggers starting businesses as a result of their blog.
One of the biggest challenges that most new businesses face is finding and building an audience for their products and services.
But bloggers work in reverse by building their audience first, consistently producing good content, and then looking at ways to monetize their traffic.
Our guide walks you through the basics of what you need to know in order to start a blog and turn it into a source of income. While these tips are primarily meant for those who haven’t started a business yet, they are also helpful for businesses looking to get into the blogging game.
What is a blog?
A blog is a web page that consists of regularly added content that is focused on a particular topic.
Blogs tend to take on a personal tone, unlike other publications, which helps connect you with audiences more deeply.
People start blogs for a number of reasons, some of which include:
- Sharing opinions, passions, or glimpses into their lives
- Teaching others what they know
- Building an email list
- Developing their brand as an expert
- Making money online
- A combination of any or all of the above
Starting a blog can be incredibly exhilarating, especially when complete strangers start to take an interest. But it’s also a commitment that requires a lot of time and dedication.
Whether you choose to publish daily, weekly, or monthly, it’s important to remain consistent. Not just with how often you publish, but also with the type of content you publish.
It’s very rare for new bloggers to see results right away. But don’t lose heart! Stay motivated in the early days by reminding yourself why you are doing it in the first place.
How to start a blog with no money as a beginner
The hardest part about blogging is finding enough time and ideas to keep it going. Getting started, however, is straightforward, and comes down the following 5 steps:
2. Choose a blogging platform and template
3. Choose a blog and domain name
4. Plan your publishing strategy
5. Get people to read your blog consistently
1. Pick a niche for your blog
It may seem difficult to stand out from the crowd considering how much content already exists on the internet, but don’t worry. There are two ways you can compete in this busy space.
One, by choosing a niche and consistently focusing on it, and two, by creating content that is unique, in other words, something that readers can’t easily find elsewhere.
When choosing a niche, make sure that it can be explained and talked about in great depth. This will ensure that you can continue to create content without running out of ideas.
You also need to ensure that your chosen niche attracts an audience that aligns with your monetization strategy. Ask yourself questions like, what products and services would this audience be interested in buying?
To attract the audience you want you will need to:
1. Focus on a specific location (e.g: Cape Town)
2. Niche down even further (e.g: don’t just create recipes, create recipes for pescatarians)
3. Write your content using a specific tone of voice (e.g: humorous)
4. Write high quality, in-depth posts on topics that people don’t really speak about
Once you have some idea of the niche you want to focus on, conduct a competitor analysis. Use tools like BuzzSumo or Ahrefs to see how content for your niche performs and to get ideas for future topics.
Don’t skip this last step! A competitor analysis can help you with building your brand and finding a unique voice in the space.
2. Choose a blogging platform and template
Before you even write your first line, you need to set up a content management system (CMS) and take care of your blog hosting. The choice usually comes down to either a self-hosted platform or a hosted platform.
Self-hosted platform
These platforms generally have more customisation options. But you will need to pay a monthly fee to host the site yourself. They also require some initial setup. WordPress is a great open-source platform if you are considering taking this route.
Hosted platform
The setup on a hosted site is quicker, however, some hosted sites like Blogger or Wix limit customisation options.
When choosing a platform, pick one that is easy to use and doesn’t require coding or HTML skills.
3. Choose a blog and domain name
Once you’ve chosen your niche and your blogging platform, it’s time to buy a new domain name (e.g, youramazingblog.com). If you have chosen to go with a host platform, you can register your domain name from within the platform itself. Otherwise, you can find and register a domain name through a number of different web hosting companies. Some examples in South Africa include Afrihost, Web Africa and Xneelio.
While shopping for a domain name, take the time to do some research and think about what you want to call your website before registering.
Unless you’re trying to build a personal blog or portfolio, we don’t recommend using your name as your custom domain. It’s a lot easier to build a brand when you come up with a creative name that reflects your niche.
When choosing your domain name, make sure it’s:
- Memorable
- Fun to say
- Easy to spell
- Unique
Yes, choosing a name for your blog can be time consuming and tedious. But choosing a good brand name is what will make a lasting impression and give readers an idea of what to expect from your company.
4. Plan your publishing strategy
Every blogger needs plenty of ideas to plan ahead and ensure they never run out.
Create a content calendar to help you keep track of your ideas and hold yourself accountable. You can use a simple spreadsheet to track ideas and plan your content.
Plan your blog posts at least one month in advance and publish them on a consistent schedule. This is so your audience has some idea of when to expect them.
5. Get people to read your blog consistently
Even if you don’t land a spot on the first page of Google right away, it’s important that you promote your blog. You can use tools like newsletters, social media and Google ads to do this. If you want to aim high, you can learn more about SEO and start getting good at it!
Whether it’s your first time starting a blog or if you’ve done it a million times, it’s ultimately your audience who determines the success of your hard work. So focus on diligently growing your audience and the growth will come.
Alternatively, you can hire us to get the job done for you! Contact us to start attracting your long-term audience today!
