Hello, darlings! Welcome to my new Blogging 101 series. It took me way too long to start a blog because I had no clue where to start. After some time and experience, I am ready to teach you how to easily start a blog for beginners. Let’s get started!!
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So you want to start a blog… now what?!
If you are thinking of starting a blog, just do it! I know starting a blog may seem intimidating, but if you can’t stop thinking about it, then you need to start. You will never know what could be if you don’t try! Do not worry about what other people think. If I cared, I never would have started. I was so excited and passionate about my blog that I just published it. Now I am happier than ever.
Brainstorm!
First, think of a website name. This was the hardest step for me. I didn’t want to hate my website’s name later on. I ended up going with my middle name (Dawn) and a cute word that flows with it. A Darling Dawn sounded great, so I went with it… and I still love it!!
Next, brainstorm your niche and theme. Do you have any passions? What do you want to write about? What color scheme do you want to go with? Get a journal and write down every idea so you can get a clear picture and vision of what you want your blog to be. I went on Pinterest and made a secret board called “Blog Inspo”. I added color palettes and photo collages of the vibe I wanted! Here’s an example below of my color palette!
Pick a web host and buy your domain
Sassy Boss explained this extremely well in her blog post: “The Best Web Host For Beginners”. She wrote, “A web host is a server where your website files are stored. If your website would be your house, your web host would be your landlord and your domain name would be your address.” Such a great explanation.
The web host that I use is Bluehost, but do your own research to find what is best for you.
Next, register your domain name. I also went with Bluehost for my domain name because it was very convenient and easy to register. I highly suggest going with a .com name. People are more familiar with it and if they want to search you, they will most likely type in .com.
Pick a blogging platform
I highly recommend going with a self-hosted platform, such as WordPress.org. You have more control and freedom over your website. Also, if you are wanting to make money from blogging, then I suggest you go for the self-hosted platform so you are able to add ads in the future! If you are blogging as a hobby, then you could definitely go with a hosted website, such as Wordpess.com. Personally, I use WordPress.org. Again, do your own research on blogging platforms to find what suits you best!
Design Your Website!
Next is the fun step! Design how you want your blog to look. You can design it yourself, hire someone, or buy a theme.
Hiring someone to design your website is the most expensive option. They typically cost $1000+.
I decided to buy a theme and after some research, I went with 17th Avenue. They had the exact layout and vibe that I wanted for my blog, so it was an easy decision.
Another place to look for themes is Etsy. They have some very cute and cheap options!
Write a few blog post and launch!!
After all that work, it’s time to write a few blog posts and then launch your blog!! Promote your blog on social media (Pinterest and Instagram) and tell friends and family to check it out!
I hope this helps those of you wanting to start a blog! Remember, just start and have fun with it. 🙂
Stay tuned for more of my Blogging 101 series!
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