Are you an aspiring blogger, entrepreneur, or small business owner looking to jumpstart your online presence this year? If so, starting a WordPress blog today could be the best way to help you achieve your financial goals for the future. In our fast-paced digital world, it has become essential for individuals and businesses of all sizes to carve out their own spot on the web, and having a blog is an invaluable tool for succeeding online.
This guide is a great place to start but having the support, coaching and curriculum laid out in a clear way is imperative. My recommendation is to get started with Blog Growth Engine to get the training to execute what I lay out below.
Let's jump into the details but know that the Blog Growth Engine program is the world's best program to get you the training needed if you're serious about starting a blogging business.
What is blogging?
Blogging is a type of internet publishing that has existed since the 1990s. It involves writing and publishing articles, stories, or ideas online. Initially, blogs were used as online diaries or journals where individuals shared their personal experiences and thoughts with others.
However, blogging has evolved over time into a powerful tool for businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals to share their knowledge, expertise, and opinions on various topics. Now, blogging can be a powerful way to earn passive income online and build digital assets for years.
Today, more than 600 million blogs are available on the Internet, which cover a wide range of topics. From fashion and lifestyle to technology and politics, blogs have become a go-to source of information for many people worldwide. In addition, blogs have become an excellent platform for creating a following and engaging with people who share similar interests, especially with the increasing use of social media.
In addition to its popularity, blog content has also changed in terms of the way we consume information. With the increase in mobile and smartphone usage, blogs must be optimized for different screen sizes and devices. Moreover, the rise of video content and podcasts has also led to new bloggers experimenting with different types of multimedia content to attract and engage their audience.
Blogging has come a long way since it first began, and it continues to be a helpful tool for sharing information, building communities, and creating value on the Internet. If you are wondering how to start a blog in 2023, now is the perfect time to start working on this important digital asset with the help of our 9-step guide.
How blogging is different now than in the 1990s
Starting a blog today vastly differs from when blogs first started because how we consume content has changed dramatically. With the increase in mobile and smartphone usage, blogs must be optimized for different screen sizes and devices. This requires more work on the part of the blogger, including making sure all images are high-resolution and that text is easy to read on smaller screens, as well as loading at lightning speed for the best possible user experience.
In addition, there has been an influx of new content types, such as video, podcasts, and even live streaming which has changed how people consume information online. As such, bloggers must think creatively about engaging their audience with multimedia content, such as videos or podcasts, alongside traditional written posts.
Bloggers today must also be aware of SEO (search engine optimization) best practices and utilize social media channels to build their audience if they want to run a successful blog in this competitive space. Any new blogger must know how to start a blog by building a network online and working from the ground up to create a high-authority site that their readers will recognize and trust.
With so much noise in the world now, it takes far more effort for a new blog to stand out from its competitors than when blogging first began in the 90s. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as believing in the "build the website, and the readers will come" model anymore, and this is true for all businesses today.
Now that we are in a new digital age with massive amounts of information being created and shared every day, it takes significant effort to create something that can show up and rank higher than all the other content available. Simply signing up for a free domain name and using a free blogging platform will no longer attract readers from search engines. Once you get your content in front of people, it will still need to be helpful and readable to stay relevant and get clicks and shares.
What opportunities exist for bloggers today?
The current state of blogging is still strong, despite the rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In fact, with the popularity of niche content and influencer marketing, there are many opportunities for both new and established bloggers to make money blogging.
One opportunity is the ability to create specialized content that targets specific topics and audiences, allowing bloggers to establish themselves as experts in a particular field. For example, a blogger specializing in fitness can create content focusing on yoga, weightlifting, or other areas within that niche. This can attract a dedicated following and help attract brands wanting to work with a personal blog in that industry.
Another opportunity is the rise of influencer marketing and affiliate marketing. Companies seek expanded ways to reach their target audience through authentic voices they trust, and a personal blog writer can help fill that gap by recommending and reviewing products for a commission. Bloggers can earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and other monetization strategies by creating content that resonates with the brand's message and target audience.
Also, a new blogger can use fresh content to launch products or services, such as digital courses, e-books, and coaching programs. With a dedicated following, bloggers can leverage their influence and expertise to create and sell products they make themselves.
So how do you get started blogging today? And how can you make your blog successful quickly?
Keep reading to see the real-life steps to start a blog today. This guide will take you through the entire process, from choosing your niche, setting up a domain name and hosting service, creating content, and building an audience. With this information, you'll be ready to start blogging in no time.
Step 1: Find Your Niche
Choosing a blogging niche that resonates with you and provides value for others can feel like putting a 1000pc puzzle together to create a complete picture of your personal brand. You will need to find the right balance between who you are and what you can provide to others to help you succeed. Below are some steps to help you choose a blogging niche that is broad enough to attract an audience and specific enough to showcase your passion and personal interests.
What is a blog niche?
A niche is a specialized area that you focus on as a new blogger. It can be broad or specific, depending on your interests, industry, and the audience you want to target. When you start a blog, you want to have a focus and vision for your blog's success, and choosing a niche area will allow you to quickly brainstorm blog topics and build your blog content from the niche you pick.
Tips for picking a blog niche:
1) Identify your passions and interests
Consider the topics you are naturally drawn to and interested in. Do you love fashion, tech, travel, or cooking? Make a list of potential topics that come to mind and evaluate the possibility of extensively writing on these topics. If you could talk about it for hours, you could probably write about it too.
2) Leverage your expertise, knowledge, and network
What topics do you have expertise in? Do you know a lot about cars, fitness, or marketing? What kind of contacts and resources do you have to draw on? Many blog post ideas will come to you more naturally if your blog's niche is centered around the leverage you already have. This leverage could come from personal or professional experience as well. If you have worked in finance for many years, then you could be helpful to beginners and write content on financial advice.
3) Research the demand for your niche ideas
Once you have a list of potential niche ideas, research the market for those topics using free or paid keyword research tools. Using keyword research in your niche selection gives you an idea of your niche's popularity and the potential audience size you can obtain within that niche.
4) Research the revenue potential of your niche ideas
You can know a lot about different types of paper and how it's made, but how can you make money from that online? Be sure to have a monetization strategy in place before you choose your niche, and work backward from there. For example, if you want to blog about healthy food, you will need to research what product you could sell or promote within your blog's content to help you make real money from your blog.
5) Evaluate your competition
Look at the other bloggers and websites that cover your desired niches. Evaluate their content, audience size, engagement rate, and monetization strategies. This can help you understand your competition and how you can differentiate your content from theirs. Can you create something better than what is currently out there? Then maybe that is your best bet at making a successful blog for yourself.
6) Choose a broad niche that resonates with you
Based on your research, choose a broad niche that resonates with you. There is absolutely no way to pick a niche once and get it 100% right from the start. Your content will change and adapt over time to what is relevant and new. During the 2020 pandemic, travel bloggers had to find new ways to earn commissions and income through their blogs, and there is no way to predict what will happen in the future. So don't stress too much over your blog niche in the first few months.
Make sure that it is something you are passionate about and would enjoy writing about for an extended time, but give yourself room to cover a few different areas of your overall blog topic. This will allow you to evolve your brand and niche over time to become better focused on what your audience is asking for and also helps you pivot if your niche becomes outdated or irrelevant over time.
7) Refine your niche over time
As you continue to create content, you can refine your niche to become more specific and targeted based on audience feedback and engagement. Doing this can help you become an authority in your niche and attract a dedicated following online. Once you build an audience, use the feedback to help you create better content, and keep that going to help you write better and more refined blog content.
Bottom line
You should use all these areas to determine the best blog niche for your new blog. It can create a blank document on your computer and write your thoughts for each item listed above. Write all the areas of each niche idea down and whether you can see the pros and cons of each one for yourself, based on the tips above.
Many new bloggers skip past this critical step because they want to get it over with quickly and start creating blog content. However, if you don't find the right combination of passion and experience to pick your perfect niche, then you may not have a focused content strategy when it comes time to start thinking of blog post ideas.
Step 2: Pick Your Blog Name and Domain
Once your blog niche is pinned down, it is time to start creating your blog from scratch, and the first step is picking your unique domain name. With just a few clicks, you can be well on your way to becoming one of those successful bloggers you've read about online.
What is a blog domain name?
A blog domain name is the web address that people type into their browsers when they want to visit your site, and it usually ends with ".com." It's also a crucial part of your blog's identity, so choose a name that reflects your brand and content.
Tips for Choosing Your Domain:
Choosing a domain name for your personal blog can be crucial to its success. Here are some tips for choosing a domain name that is memorable, brandable, and relevant to your blog's niche:
1) Try to keep it simple
Don't overcomplicate your domain name; pick simple spelling and pronunciation. Never use special characters such as hyphens or numbers in your domain name because they can make it look spammy or tacky to readers. Instead, try to stick with a simple domain name that you could quickly tell someone if they asked to look up your website during a conversation.
2) Use personal branding
You want to stand out from the competition and be memorable to your audience. Consider choosing a domain name that reflects your brand and is unique to you. Many modern blogs are named after their creators, who choose to title a blog after their favorite nickname or even their full name to make it more trustworthy and personal for their readers.
3) Choose a .com extension
The .com extension is the most common and recognizable. It is also the most trusted and respected extension among users. Choose a .com extension at the end of your domain name. If the .com is unavailable for your chosen domain name, continue to tweak the name slightly until you find a .com extension for your website.
4) Use keywords (if necessary)
Incorporating keywords related to your blog can help your domain name appear in search engines like Google. However, ensure to stuff only a few keywords into your domain name and make it sound awkward. This is only necessary if you want to start a small niche site and is recommended for something other than blogs focused on a personal brand.
5) Keep it short
A shorter domain name is often more memorable and easier to brand. Aim for a domain name that is between 6-14 characters. Your new blog will need to be easily remembered, and the shorted you can make the name, the better it will be to remember.
6) Avoid trademarked names
Avoid using trademarked words or copyrighted materials in your domain name to avoid legal issues. It is also essential to do a quick check to ensure you are not infringing on someone else's copyright. Once you've settled on an available name, you can register your domain name with a reputable domain platform such as GoDaddy.
Why Use GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is a top choice for registering a domain name due to its reputation as a reliable and highly respected domain platform. With over 20 million customers worldwide, GoDaddy provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners to purchase and manage their domains.
Additionally, GoDaddy offers affordable pricing and a wide range of domain extensions to choose from, including the popular .com domain. Furthermore, GoDaddy provides excellent customer support with 24/7 availability via phone, email, or live chat. Overall, GoDaddy is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to register a domain name for their blog or website.
Step 3: Get Your Blog Online (Web Hosting)
Now that you have your domain name registered, you are ready for step three, setting up your website with a hosting platform. Bluehost has an excellent hosting plan for any new WordPress blog. With its user-friendly dashboard and affordability, it has become a top choice for many bloggers. Before we get into the details of what hosting to choose. Let's discuss what hosting is for any beginners out there who may still need to learn this.
What is Website Hosting, and Why Do I Need It?
Website hosting is a service that allows individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible on the Internet. It involves renting space on a remote server where all of the website's files are stored and served to users who request them.
When a user visits a website, their browser sends a request to the server where the website is hosted. The server responds by sending the necessary files to the user's browser, displaying the website content. Website hosting providers manage the servers, ensure they are secure and running smoothly, and provide several tools and services to help website owners manage their content, files, and other resources.
Website hosting can come in different forms, such as shared, dedicated, cloud, and more. The type of hosting you choose depends on your website's needs, such as the level of traffic it receives, the amount of storage and processing power required, and the level of customization you need for your site.
Why Should I Use Bluehost?
Bluehost is a popular web hosting service that is an excellent choice for those setting up a blog. Bluehost is one of the most reliable web hosting providers, with an uptime of 99.99%. This ensures your blog is hosted on a stable platform and always available to visitors.
If you are on a budget, Bluehost is an excellent option because they provide reasonably priced plans that include all the necessities to start building your website right away. Many bloggers start by paying less than $3 per month for their website to be hosted through Bluehost.
Bluehost's platform is easy to use, even for beginners, with a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage your blog easily. This includes the ability to install WordPress with just one click. The popular hosting company also has a team of experts that are available 24/7 to help you out if you run into any issues.
Their top-notch customer support can be reached through phone, chat, or email at any time of the day.
They also offer a range of security features that protect your blog from malware, spam, and other threats. This also includes a free SSL certificate for your blog, which is essential in ensuring that all data being transferred to and from your site is secure.
All of these reasons make Bluehost an excellent choice for beginners and experienced bloggers alike. By choosing Bluehost, you can ensure that your blog is hosted on a stable platform with robust security features and resources to help you manage your site easily.
How to Set Up Hosting Today: Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up hosting on Bluehost is a straightforward process. Here are the general steps to follow:
1) Go to the Bluehost website and click on the "Get Started" button.
2) Select a hosting plan that meets your needs. You can choose from different packages, including Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Dedicated Hosting.
3) Connect your new GoDaddy domain name with Bluehost.
4) Fill out the required information to create your Bluehost account. This is a simple, straightforward process to complete your required purchase.
Once you have completed your purchase, you will receive an email containing your Bluehost login details. Congratulations, you now have hosting set up for your blog.
After registering and logging in to your Bluehost account, you can install WordPress, one of the most popular blogging platforms.
Here's how to install WordPress:
1) Go to the Bluehost home screen and click on "Install WordPress" under the "Website" section.
2) Choose the domain name you want to use with WordPress.
3) Fill out the setup information form, including your website name and admin login information.
4) Click on "Install Now."After completing the installation, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard to customize your blog. Before you make changes, move to the next step of this guide to ensure you set your website up with the best possible chance of success.
Setting up hosting on Bluehost can be done in just a few steps. By registering an account, choosing a hosting plan, and installing WordPress, you can create a blog that is secure, reliable, and easy to manage using the WordPress platform in step four below.
Step 4: Design Your Blog Using A WordPress Theme
Setting up a WordPress theme for your blog is a crucial step in creating a visually appealing and engaging website. In addition to installing a free theme, you can also purchase premium themes from third-party websites. Premium themes offer more customization options and advanced features but require a small investment.
What Theme Should I Install on WordPress?
The theme you choose to install depends on what you are looking to accomplish with your new blog. There is a multitude of themes available for the WordPress blogging platform (both free and paid) to browse through. However, spending a significant amount of time stressing over which theme to choose is not recommended when you are so close to getting your new blog up and running.
Instead, consider installing a highly customizable theme with better performance for your website. There are two main WordPress blog theme recommendations that almost all bloggers agree are solid, high-performance packages for a new website. These two themes are Kadance WP and Thrive Themes.
Kadance WP is one of the best free WordPress themes available for a self-hosted WordPress blog. This theme has an insane amount of customization that can be done to it and has a flawless look and feel. Google search engines love the speed at which this theme loads, making it a great choice for both experienced and beginner bloggers.
Benefits of using Kadance WP:
Kadance WP theme is one of the most versatile WordPress themes available and offers many benefits for website owners.
- Responsive design: The Kadance WordPress theme is designed to be responsive, meaning it looks great and works across multiple devices and screen sizes.
- Easy customization: Kadance provides an easy-to-use interface with powerful customization options that allow you to quickly create unique websites for your business or personal needs.
- SEO friendly: The Kadance themes come with built-in SEO capabilities, making them ready for search engine optimization from the start. This theme choice is also one of the fastest-loading themes available on a free plan.
- Cross-browser compatible: The responsive designs provided by Kadance WP are also cross-browser compatible, enabling them to work across various web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc., without any issues or special tweaks required.
- Great for affiliate marketing and blogging: Kadance WP is ideal for affiliate marketers, as it has a built-in design with monetization features. Additionally, the theme comes packaged with blog page templates, making it easy to start a blog from scratch.
Overall, using a Kadane WP theme can provide webmasters with a range of benefits that help make creating and maintaining their online presence more straightforward than ever before.
Watch the video below for a quick tutorial on installing Thrive Themes on your WordPress blog.
Thrive Themes is an excellent WordPress theme for a beginner who wants to make a small investment to build a highly-customizable website on day one. It is perfect for anyone who wants to sell courses or offer services through an eCommerce store through their WordPress website. The theme can be installed in minutes and provides the ability to include all kinds of marketing templates and designs into your website.
Benefits of using Thrive Themes:
Using Thrive Themes for WordPress websites provides a range of benefits to website owners. Below is a roundup of the most important benefits of the WordPress theme.
- Easy customization: Thrive Themes provide an easy-to-use interface with powerful customization options that allow users to quickly create unique websites for their business or personal needs.
- SEO friendly: Thrive Themes come with built-in SEO capabilities, making them ready for search engine optimization from the start. This is very helpful for beginner bloggers who need an SEO boost from day one.
- Security: Thrive Themes are designed to keep your website safe and secure with strong security measures, such as secure coding and regular updates.
- Speed and performance: Thrive themes use optimized code which helps to improve website loading times and performance levels, ensuring that visitors have a great user experience when visiting your website.
- Customizable eCommerce designs: The Thrive theme store has a wide selection of eCommerce designs that can be tailored to fit any website's needs. This makes Thrive Themes an excellent option for anyone who wants to sell their own products, such as online courses or consulting services.
- Support: Thrive offers excellent customer support through its team of knowledgeable experts who can help you with any questions or issues you may have regarding its products or services.
Overall, using Thrive Themes for your WordPress website has many advantages which can help take your online presence to the next level or give you a leg up right from the start.
Watch the video below for a quick tutorial on installing Thrive Themes on your WordPress blog.
I recommend evaluating which of these two most popular themes is best for your content strategy and blog vision. Once you decide on an article, you can begin the process of installing it onto your WordPress website and start building your WordPress blog.
Both themes maintain great reviews and are highly recommended by bloggers and website developers. With either one, you can be sure to have a high-quality website up and running with minimal effort in no time.
Step 5: Write Your First Blog Post (Link Bait Post)
Ready to write your first blog post? When you start blogging for the first time, you may be wondering how to get started writing your first few blog posts and what will help you rank on search engines to help you start obtaining free traffic to your new WordPress blog.
is where a high-quality link bait post comes in to help you generate tons of blog topics to write about, build free traffic from Google and other search engines, and give you a chance to build backlinks to your site with more ease. (I'll discuss building backlinks in more detail once we get to step 8)
Tips for Writing Your Link Bait Post
A Link bait blog article is designed to be shared widely on social media and other blogging platforms, with the goal of attracting links from other websites back to your blog. Some tips for writing a link bait post include:
1) Choose a compelling topic
The topic of your post should be unique, interesting, and engaging enough to generate interest and discussion among your audience. Because you just started a new blog, you will want this first blog post to include a topic that will reflect the niche you are targeting.
2) Write a catchy headline
The blog post title is the first thing people will see, so it should be attention-grabbing and give readers a reason to click. Catchy headlines usually include some type of "numbered idea list" or "how-to advice" that draws readers into the blog article and makes them want to read it.
3) Make it useful
Offer valuable information or expert-level insights that readers can't find anywhere else. This could involve sharing unique data, new research, or expert advice. Remember, you should focus your entire blog idea around your experience and expertise; this is your chance to start providing that to your potential audience.
4) Include visuals
Posts with visual elements like images, infographics, or videos tend to perform better and get shared more frequently. You can create these yourself using a graphic design tool or use ones you find online (just be sure to properly cite the source).
5) Write with your audience in mind
The content should be tailored to your audience's interests and needs. Consider their questions, concerns, or pain points and how your content can help address them. For example, if you want to write about how to make money blogging, start by discussing the steps to start a blog and provide insight into your own blogging journey for your audience.
6) Use social proof
Including social proof, such as quotes from experts or testimonials, can help add credibility to your post and make it more authoritative. If you don't have any testimonials to use, consider linking out to relevant sites in your article to give your readers a chance to learn as much as possible from your link bait post.
7) Promote your post
Once you publish your post, promote it widely on social media and other relevant channels. This will help generate more exposure and allow you to attract other blogs to link back to your WordPress blog. Link building is a critical part of the success of any new blog, and starting with a link bait post that makes other blogs want to link back to you is the most crucial aspect of this first blog post.
Bottom Line
Creating your first link bait post requires careful thought and can be a great way to start building organic traffic to your website. Don't worry if you don't see a lot of traffic right away, as you will have plenty of opportunities to network and promote your new blog posts as you become more experienced in the blogging journey.
Step 6: Write Your First Transactional Post (Best Of/Listicale)
If you are still on this blogging journey with me, the next step in the process is to write another new blog post, except this time, keep the idea of potentially making money with this article in the back of your mind.
Writing your first transactional post is pivotal to helping you achieve success and make money blogging. If you chose to start a blog because you desire to make money with affiliate marketing through your WordPress site, then now is the time to start putting that plan into action.
How to write your first transactional post
A transactional blog post is a perfect way to start making money blogging with affiliate marketing. This new blog post should have a "roundup" or "top list" of a specific product related to your blog's niche.
For example, if you are creating a health blog, you would want to list out the "best health apps" for your readers and provide details on each app to help your audience decide which is right for them. This is a great way to provide value to readers and make commissions simultaneously.
1) Start with a product you know well
The product line you choose to write about should be one that relates to your niche and that you can easily discuss without doing much research. This allows you to offer the right recommendations for different needs based on your experience with each product.
2) Roundup the top 10-15 options available
The next step is finding around 10-15 different options that provide additional solutions and are at various price points for your audience. This will help round out your article and provide the most benefit to both beginner and expert readers.
3) List out the pros and cons of each
Everyone loves a good pros and cons list to help them visualize the benefits and drawbacks of choices. If you list a pros and cons section on each product option for your readers, they will be likelier to make an informed purchase using your affiliate link.
4) Give your audience more information on the benefits
Always explain why you recommend a product and what it can do to benefit your readers' lives. This will help establish your presence as an expert on the topic and help your readers visualize the helpful product in real-life situations.
5) Include links to the products for readers to make a purchase
Your blog design should include a button to click through to a sales page on the website you are an affiliate for. This will allow you to earn commissions on purchases made from your blog posts and help you begin making money blogging.
Bottom Line
Writing a transactional blog post is essential to the blogging process. Not only does it allow you to make money blogging, but it allows you to provide your readers with valuable information and solutions that can help transform their lives. Follow these steps, and you'll be well on your way to creating a successful and profitable blog.
Step 7: Build Topical Authority With Supporting Articles
Now that you understand the importance of writing product-focused content, you can begin to structure the rest of your blog post ideas around this theory. For example, imagine you own a brick-and-mortar business, and you need to get customers into your store. How would you attract the right customers and get them to make purchases?
The answer is that you create authority around your product, you explain to customers why the product is a great use of their hard-earned money, and you market your brand as a reliable, trustworthy source of information.
The same applies to blogging, except you need to create digital authority around your digital business. In this example, your first transactional post is like your very own business that you are marketing to an online customer base.
Each transactional post you write is like an individual business that you need to build up by writing supporting content. The supporting content can come through 3-5 separate articles written strictly for informational purposes for your readers rather than with the idea of making money from these articles.
How to build authority for a transactional post
First, you will need to write supporting content around the product you are promoting. Returning to our example of "best health apps," you would need to consider writing content discussing "how health apps help you lose weight." This will give your readers more information on the product and why it benefits them to purchase it.
Using this strategy has double bonuses because you not only establish your authority to your readers, but you also establish your authority on this topic to search engines like Google. Writing these technical/informational blog posts for your WordPress site will give you a deeper range of keywords on the topic you chose. Google will then see your website as a better source of information for this product and begin to rank your content higher, causing you to achieve higher traffic to your blog pages.
This is a critical step that many new bloggers miss when they are just starting out. The best thing you can do to help your search engine optimization strategy at this point in the blogging journey is to start building these informational blog posts to help you become the expert in your blogging niche.
Step 8: Link Building 101
Link building is the next most important part of building your SEO strategy and can be a great way to drive traffic and increase the visibility of your new blog. Here are some tips on how to get started with link building:
1) Research relevant websites
Look for websites in your niche that have good domain authority and would be willing to link to content on your blog. This is usually done by offering to write free articles as guest posts for their website in return for a link back to your website as payment. It's a trading of services that can result in higher ranks for your website long-term.
2) Create high-quality content
The content you create should be well-researched, informative, and engaging. This will make it more likely for other sites to link back to it. Remember the link bait post you created in step five? Now is the time to start promoting that post and finding bloggers willing to collaborate and link to that post on your website. Others may simply see you in search results and link to you from there because your content is relevant and helpful; this type of organic link-building is great to have.
3) Establish relationships
Reach out to influencers and other website owners in your niche with whom you could establish mutually beneficial relationships. Collaborating is so much more than transactions and swapping links 1-1 links with other bloggers. You can discover that many bloggers need your help and vice versa, and create a network of people you can count on for what you need.
4) Participate in forums
Participating in relevant online forums can help you build connections with potential partners interested in linking back to your blog's content. You can join social media groups and online courses and even use websites such as HARO to build backlinks to your website.
5) Paying for links
Links are one of the most important factors in achieving a high domain authority online, and many beginners choose to pay for backlinks instead of taking the time to guest post on other blogs. This is a quick way to start building up authority and obtaining backlinks for your website. However, there is always some risk involved when exchanging cash for services online, and you should ensure you have high-quality link-building partners to work with before handing over any cash.
6) Monitor competitors
Keep track of what your competitors are doing so that you know where they're getting their links from and which types of content are generating the most links for them. You can do this by using a research tool such as Ahrefs to see precisely where competitors are obtaining their links and reach out to those sites to see if you can work with them for a link as well.
7) Use tools
Take advantage of link-building tools such as Ahrefs or Majestic that can help you find quality sources for links more quickly and efficiently than manual research would allow you to do. These tools are pricey but can save you valuable time when starting out as a new blogger.
Bottom Line
Getting started with link-building involves researching relevant websites, creating high-quality content, establishing relationships, participating in forums, monitoring competitors, and using link-building tools. By following these tips, you can begin building high-quality links back to your new blog's content and help improve its visibility in search engines.
Step 9: Monetizing Your Blog
Now that you've created a blog, built up its authority and visibility, and started building links to it, it's time to start monetizing your blog. This can be done through many different methods, such as displaying ads on your website or offering services/products related to the content of your blog.
Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs are a passive way to make money blogging because they let you put ads on your website that other companies pay you for. You can also sell products and services related to your blog's content.
You can start small with an Amazon Associates account and promote almost any eCommerce product through the Amazon website. The commissions are minimal, but you will be bringing in money almost completely passively, so there is not much reason not to.
The next step in affiliate marketing for your WordPress blog is to search for affiliate programs from specific brands you want to work with. For example, if you want to promote computer products, then you would look for an affiliate program to join with brands such as Apple, Samsung, or Dell.
These types of affiliate marketing programs will offer much higher commissions and can become sponsors or partners with you down the road. So you definitely want to start small and work your way up to more elite affiliate programs as you grow your blog's traffic and domain authority.
Email Lists (Email Marketing)
Email marketing programs can be a profitable tool for bloggers. These programs enable bloggers to send promotional content about products and services that are likely to interest their audience. For each purchase made as a result of their promotion, bloggers earn a commission.
Email marketing is when you build up a newsletter subscription for your readers to stay up to date with current trends in your niche. Once you have subscribers, you can begin sending newsletters to them containing your newest posts and recommended products for them to check out.
This will lead to more direct sales for you as well if you decide to create any digital products, such as courses or consulting services, in the future. Many successful bloggers state that they wish they had started an email marketing campaign from the time they started their blog instead of waiting until later.
If you want to start an email marketing strategy right away, it's a good idea to do some research on the different types of newsletters you can create and the different ways to grow an email list. There is a lot of room for creativity with email marketing, and it can be a fun way to stay in touch with your audience and what they are looking for.
Informational Courses
Creating courses is another good way to make money blogging. People can buy the course you create and sell, and you will get paid for it. This helps you earn money from your blog, and you get to keep 100% of the profit, not just a small commission percentage.
Informational courses are taking over the Internet, and these days there is a course for just about anything. Every day people are purchasing more and more content that teaches them new skills and helps them develop a more profound knowledge of their hobbies and interests. Why not capitalize on this trend and create your own course for others to use to better their lives?
Consulting
Offering consulting services is a great way to make money blogging because people can pay you for your expert advice on a topic. You can create different levels of packages and even build a consistent client base to help you bring in recurring revenue each month.
Consulting is a great way to earn money online and get paid to solve problems for other people. Specialized, educated consultants can charge upwards of $2,000 for top-tier coaching programs or ongoing consultations for a specific set of time (for example, an 8-week consultation package at 1hr per week).
The key to starting a consulting business is to know that you will not be running a passive income business, so you should charge a high rate for your time spent with each client. This way, you don't end up working for free or end up getting burned out from the stress of having to keep up with an overbooked schedule.
Bonus Tips:
Tips and tricks on how to start a blog and make money quickly
Starting a successful blog requires careful planning and dedication. So I put together a short list of some of the best tips to help you get started with your blog faster.
Start by picking a topic you are passionate about and that your audience will find interesting. This will make it easier to create content and keep up with current trends.
Create a self-hosted WordPress blog, and use a highly recommended theme to get started faster. Kadance WP or Thrive Themes are the top two options currently.
Analyze other successful blogs in your industry are doing, so you can understand what works best and leverage their strategies.
Quality is key when it comes to content; create well-researched, informative posts that offer unique insight into topics related to your niche.
Use SEO techniques such as keyword research to ensure that your blog posts get noticed by search engines and potential readers.
Once you write a few blog articles, start guest posting on other websites to build up your credibility and domain authority with backlinks.
Collaborate and network with other blogs, join forums and groups and use websites like HARO to help you build link authority on Google by obtaining backlinks.
Don't forget to work on a monetization strategy such as affiliate marketing, email list building, consulting, or course creation.
How NOT to start a blog: Common mistakes beginners make
When starting a blog, there are several common mistakes people make. Below is a list of some of the most common pitfalls to avoid.
1) They don't have a plan
It's important to have a strategy when you start a blog from scratch, so you know what goals you want to achieve and how you will reach them. If you don't have any vision for your own blog, you may end up getting overwhelmed and giving up. Be sure to follow all the steps in this article and do research on topics you aren't familiar with to ensure you have the best chance at a successful blog.
2) Ignoring SEO
Without proper SEO techniques in place, it can be nearly impossible to gain free traffic from search engines. Make sure you do keyword research and optimize your posts for search engines. Blogging is a competitive space, and new bloggers can't just "wing it" with SEO anymore. You will need to take deliberate steps to get your blog posts in front of the audience you want.
3) Not participating in link building
Building your domain authority is almost 100% connected to the number of backlinks you are able to obtain to your blog. You want to have high-authority sites referencing your site to give it credibility on Google and other platforms. This is a massive part of SEO strategy, as the higher your domain authority is, the higher you will rank for the keywords you are targeting.
4) Focusing on quantity over quality
Creating high-quality content is more important than churning out dozens of posts with mediocre content that won't get noticed or engage readers. Focus on creating pillar content first (link bait articles) and then create informational and transactional articles as well. It can speed up the blog writing process by using optimization tools or AI writing software to help you write high-quality content at scale.
5) Relying solely on social media
Don't rely too heavily on social media to promote your blog post. It's best to start with other strategies, such as SEO and link building, to gain free traffic to your blog. Once you start to see your numbers rise up and you start to get some cash flow, then you can focus on paid social media content.
6) Not having a monetization strategy.
Before you write your first blog post, you should have an idea of how you can earn some income in the future with the content you are creating. Whether this is affiliate marketing, digital products, or email campaigns. Be sure to have a strategy you will implement as soon as you are able to.
7) Giving up too soon
Most bloggers give up on their website before they even make their first $1. Giving up too soon can be one of the biggest blogging mistakes, as it takes time to find success. There is no "get-rich-quick" formula for blogging; it can take months or even years to see results. So don't give up too soon.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can create an effective strategy that will help you reach success with your blog. Be sure to follow the advice of this realistic 9-step guide on how to start a blog with a self-hosted WordPress blog, a highly-recommended WordPress theme, and begin with writing your blog content with the strategies laid out in this blog post.
If you choose to start a blog using the strategies in this guide, you will see success with your blog content rankings and may even begin making money faster than you expect. Free search engine traffic is the goal in your first few months. You will want to see your Google Analytics account (or Google Search Console) showing at least a few clicks and some engagement with your content from Google search results.
Final thoughts on How to Start a Blog in 2023
Anyone can start a successful blog with dedication and hard work. The key is to have a clear plan in mind, research the right blogging platform, and find the most reliable blog hosting service that fits your budget. Once you have done this, create content regularly and promote it across various social media channels to reach potential readers.
With consistency and patience, you can start seeing results over time which will help grow your blog into a successful venture. Good luck! Now that you know how to start a blog in 2023, go ahead and get started today. Take advantage of the tools available online and create something amazing that the world has never seen before. Everyone has a unique perspective, and you can begin sharing yours today with your brand-new blog. Thanks for reading this article on How to Start a Blog in 2023.
FAQs
Bloggers make money through a variety of sources, including affiliate programs, email marketing campaigns, courses, and consulting. Some bloggers also generate revenue from advertising or by selling their own products.
Starting a blog with no money can be done by taking advantage of free resources and platforms available online. You can research different blogging platforms to find one that fits your needs and is also free to use. Some popular examples are WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr.
Look for reliable blog hosting services that provide free or inexpensive plans and have good customer service. If you need an affordable domain name, consider registering it with a registrar like GoDaddy. Use pre-made themes or custom design tools to give your blog a unique look while staying within budget.
Starting a blog can be a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with an audience. Before starting your blog, decide what you want it to be about. Consider researching topics that interest you and those which have the potential for growth in the future. Start with a self-hosted WordPress blog and a high-quality WordPress theme to get your site up and running.
You will want to choose a reputable blog hosting service such as Bluehost to get your new site up and running with just a few clicks. In your Bluehost account, you can automatically install WordPress and set up your site security options. Once you set up all the technical stuff, you will need a content strategy to help you start writing blog posts for your new WordPress blog.
You can use this blog post as a point of reference while you are in the getting started phase. Just simply bookmark this page and come back to it when you need to get to the next step of your blogging journey.