The ultimate guide to blogging

Not only is blogging a fun, creative outlet, it is also a valuable marketing tool. This is due to the fact that it allows readers to get to know you or, if you have a business – your products or services. It’s clear to see that blogging is incredibly beneficial for a variety of reasons – keep reading to find out what they are.

So why should you have a blog? 

Having a blog is a great way to attract and target a specific audience; writing about topics that are relevant to your audience can help you to become established in a particular area.

What are the problems bloggers face, and how can they be eradicated?

Being a blogger can sometimes come with challenges; below, we have listed some of them and some solutions.

The Problem: Figuring out what to write about

The Solution: Focus on a topic that you have a genuine interest in and feel inspired to write about. This is helpful due to the fact that you will naturally be more passionate about the subject matter, which will come across in your work.

The Problem: Feeling out of inspiration

The Solution: Go back to the drawing board and note down a few ideas. That way, at least one of them is bound to resonate enough to write about or get inspiration from.

The Problem: Maintaining good engagement on posts

The Solution: Putting the work in through posting regularly; a good way to do this is through putting together a schedule, which allows you to plan posts and track the engagement levels.

The Problem: Tackling writers’ block

The Solution: This can be done using various methods such as: practising to write with no pressure if and when possible. Many times, when we reach a standstill at any point, it’s good to remember why we enjoy what we do in the first place and start afresh – instead of feeling like it is a chore. The benefit of this technique is that it gives you the flexibility to think outside of the box without being concerned about spelling, grammar, or even the topic. From then on, you can pick out what does resonate and go from there.

The Problem: Procrastination & Distractions

The Solution: Switching off is key as it helps you focus on the topic/s at hand. Life, in general, can come with its disturbances, which is why it’s essential to allow yourself time to focus without any external factors.

What are the benefits of blogging?

It enables an outlet – It’s a great way to process and share your thoughts on various subjects and/or tell your own personal story.

Educational aspect – The research aspect of blogging is an additional avenue not only to educate yourself but others.

Networking – May enable you to build a new a whole new platform for yourself. Through this, you can also gain recognition and relationships from their networks and followers as – experienced or inexperienced.

Working collaboratively with others is helpful in the sense that it gives you the opportunity to build a good reputation for yourself and show that you can work well with others – boosting an overall good impression for yourself.

Increases your reputability – It enhances your professional image; blogging about a topic that you would like to be viewed as an expert in can illustrate to readers and employers that you are keen and hard-working – adding to your reputation.

Source of income – Work hard and post consistently can also help when joining a community of bloggers that give you tips on how to monetise your blogging career. Considering freelance work or other flexible ways of working is also an option – depending on your goals for your career.

How can you start a blog? 

Like the start of any creative venture having a plan is vital; in this process, it’s essential to consider what type of blog you’d like and what platform you’d prefer to use; you can start by:

• Choosing a blogging platform – such as popular sites such as WordPress or Wix, which are also free to use.

A quick Google search will show you that there are several blogging sites available.

How much does it cost to start a blog?

When researching how to start a blog, one of the biggest questions are in regards to costs, luckily in many platforms, starting a blog is completely free.

You can decide at any point whether you’d like to upgrade to a variety of different plans, depending on your budget and needs.

• Finding the right niche –  this is good as it gives you the chance to develop with your specialism.

When choosing your niche, it’s important to consider selecting a specific topic area to be the central focus of your blog.

You can choose your blog niche by:

– Narrow down your interests

– Researching your audience

• Selecting a blog name and domain in order to set up and design your blog – 

As you think about how to start a blog, the question of what to name it is important.

There are three main routes you can go with your blog’s name. These include:

– Your first and last name

– The name of your business – if you have one

– A whole new name

When selecting your blog’s name, you should consider the personality you want it to reflect.

Once you decide, you should also choose your domain name. This should be the same as or at least inspired by the name of your blog.

Here are some tips on how to write a high-quality blog post

1. Know Your Target Audience
2. Valuable Information
3. Comprehensive
4. Readable & Succinct
5. Authoritative Sources
6. Easily Scannable
7. Proper Formatting
8. Call-to-Action

Conclusion

With the subjects we’ve explored within this blog the benefits of blogging in general are evident. From a holistic point of view, if catered accordingly a bloggers journey can be both an exhilarating and educational experience.