What is a blog, you ask?
When it comes to the internet, most people think of social media, watching movies, or playing games. But what about blogs?
What are they, and why should you care?
If you happen to be like me before 2017, I thought a blog was a place where people shared their daily online diary entries and feelings. I was wrong.
I went on to start my first blog – Money Life Wax – which I eventually sold in 2021, and very quickly, I learned that a blog is just a marketing medium. Starting a blog can be very lucrative when you implement a strategic plan and produce great content.
This blog post we will discuss everything you need to know about blogs and why they’re a great business idea too!
We will also talk about how you can start your own blog and some important factors to consider. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced blogger, read on for all the information you need!
✅ Want to see how blogs change? This feature is cool: Wayback Machine Internet Archive
What exactly is a web log (blog post)?
Table of Contents
A blog is a type of website that allows people to share their thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics.
Think of blogging as an alternative way to share information and market good and services. Most blogs are updated regularly, and visitors can leave comments on each post.
One of the main reasons why people blog is to attract visitors to their website (using search engines). By sharing interesting or thought-provoking content, bloggers can encourage others to visit their site and learn more about what they have to offer.
Running personal web pages or personal blogs is not the only application for blogs. Many businesses use blogs as a way to connect with their customers and promote their products or services.
Some use blogs as online diaries where they share their daily experiences, while others use it as a platform to share their opinions on current affairs or to promote their businesses.
In addition, many people find it enjoyable to write about their personal experiences or share their opinions on various topics. Whether you’re interested in sharing your ideas with the world or connecting with like-minded individuals, starting a blog can be a great way to do it.
Blogging has become an increasingly popular activity in recent years, and it seems that everyone from celebrities to stay-at-home moms has a blog.
What is the purpose of a blog?
For many people, blogging is simply a way to share their thoughts and experiences with the world. Others use it as a platform to promote their work or business. And still, others see it as an opportunity to connect with like-minded people and build a community.
Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that blogging can be a powerful and rewarding activity. In addition to providing a creative outlet, it can also be a great source of information and inspiration. So whether you’re looking to share your life with others or simply want to document your thoughts and musings.
Personal web pages have been around since the early days of the internet.
What makes a blog different?
A blog is a specific type of website that is organized in reverse chronological order, with the most recent posts appearing at the top of the page.
Many blogs are personal in nature, offering a glimpse into the life and thoughts of the writer. However, there are also blogs devoted to specific topics, such as gardening or technology.
While personal web pages were once the only way to share information online, blogs now offer a more user-friendly format for sharing thoughts and ideas. In addition, the use of RSS feed and other Syndication technologies allows readers to easily subscribe to their favorite blogs and receive updates whenever new content is published. As a result, blogs have become an increasingly popular way to share information on the internet.
Types of blogs
Now that we have a better understanding of what a blog is let’s take a look at some of the different types of blogs that are out there.
Personal blog
These are the most common type of blogs, and they offer a glimpse into the life of the writer. Personal blogs can be about a wide range of topics, from the writer’s hobbies and interests to their thoughts on current events.
Personal finance blog
A personal finance blog such as Wealth of Geeks or Parent Portfolio is a blog that is designed to talk about aspects of finances to share tips with readers. Most personal finance blogs make money with affiliate marketing and offering courses. New blog posts each week help grow personal finance blogs which happen to be a super competitive niche in blogging!
Business blog
Many businesses use blogs as a way to promote their products or services. By providing helpful information or insights, business blogs can attract new customers and build brand loyalty.
Fashion blog
Fashion blogs are a popular subcategory of personal blogs. As the name suggests, these blogs focus on fashion, style, and beauty. Often, fashion bloggers will share their personal style tips and tricks, as well as their recommendations for the best clothing and accessories.
Technology blog
Technology blogs cover a wide range of topics, from the latest gadgets to software reviews. Technology bloggers often have a deep understanding of their subject matter, and they can provide valuable insights to readers.
Food blog
Food blogs are another popular subcategory of personal blogs. These blogs typically feature recipes, restaurant reviews, and tips for cooking at home.
How do you start your own blog, and what do you need?
Quick tips for starting a blog:
- You need hosting, a domain name, and WordPress
- You can get all three for less than $3 a month with Bluehost Hosting
- I like Bluehost because you get everything you need in one, including support, themes, hosting, and your domain name.
Starting a blog can be a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world. However, before you can start sharing your voice, there are a few things you need to do.
First, you need to choose a topic for your blog.
This can be anything from your personal experiences to your observations about the world around you. Once you have chosen a topic, you need to come up with a catchy name for your blog.
This will be the first thing that people see, so make sure it’s something that will grab their attention. Next, you need to find a web hosting service that will host your blog. There are many different options available, so be sure to do some research to find the best fit for your needs.
Here are some of the best web hosting services in the market:
- GoDaddy
- DreamHost
- HostGator
- Hostinger
- WIX
- Bluehost
Some offer free domain names with their hosting plans, while some don’t.
You also need to select the hosting plan that suits your requirement. For example, if you are planning to host a high-traffic blog, then you need to select a hosting plan that offers unlimited bandwidth and storage.
Once you have found a web host, you can sign up for an account and start creating your blog. The first thing you need to do is choose a blogging platform. This is the software that you will use to write and publish your posts.
There are many different options available, so be sure to find one that meets your needs. Some of the most popular blogging platforms are:
- WordPress Website
- Gator
- Ghost
- Blogger
- Web.com
- Squarespace
- Medium
- Tumblr
If you are the type who prefers a free domain name with their hosting, then you can go with WordPress website or blogger.com. These two are the most popular free blogging platforms. However, if you want more control over your blog and don’t mind paying for a domain name and hosting, then you should go with a self-hosted WordPress.org site.
Once you have chosen a platform, you can start creating your content for your target audience. This can be anything from a lifestyle blog, reverse blog, travel blog, articles, videos to photos. Be sure to share your content with the world wide web and your target audiences.
What should you write about on your blog?
There are a few things to consider when deciding what to write about on your blog. First, think about your interests and areas of expertise. What topics do you enjoy writing about? What do you have a lot of knowledge about?
Once you’ve identified a few potential topics, try to narrow down your focus even further. What are some specific issues or problems that you could address in your blog posts? For example, if you’re interested in fashion, you might write about the latest trends, how to style certain items of clothing, or where to find affordable fashion.
By narrowing down your focus, you’ll be able to produce more targeted, useful content for your readers.
Here are some additional blog niche ideas for things you could write about:
- Business – starting a business, tips for small businesses, business news
- Finance – personal finance, investing, financial news
- Political blogs – focus on politics, voting, elections, current events
- Technology – Gadgets, computer tips, app reviews
- Health and fitness – workout routines, healthy recipes, mental health
- Food – cooking, restaurant reviews, food news
- Travel – destination guides, travel tips, hotel reviews
- Home and garden – DIY projects, home improvement tips, gardening tips
- Education – study tips, educational news, career advice
- Entertainment – Movie reviews, TV show recaps, celebrity gossip
- Sports – sports news, athlete interviews, opinion pieces
- Lifestyle Blogs – lifestyle news, fashion tips, relationship advice
- Other bloggers will use their success, personal lives, or even group blogs to start blogs!
Keep in mind that it’s important to choose a topic that you can commit to writing about regularly. Once you’ve found a topic that meets all of these criteria, you’ll be well on your way to starting an engaging and successful blog.
The benefits of blogging.
Blogging has become an increasingly popular way to share information and connect with others. There are a number of benefits associated with blogging, including the following:
1) Blogging can help you to connect with like-minded people.
Whether you’re blogging about your passion for gardening or your thoughts on current affairs, there’s sure to be a community of people out there who are interested in what you have to say.
2) Blogging can be a great way to share your expertise and build your credibility.
If you’re an expert on a particular topic, writing a blog can help you to share your knowledge with the world. This can lead to opportunities such as speaking engagements or consulting work.
3) Blogging can be a fun and creative outlet.
If you enjoy writing, photography, or video, blogging can be a great way to express yourself and connect with others who share your interests.
Whether you’re looking to connect with others, build your credibility, or simply have some fun, blogging can be a great option.
4) Blogging can make you money
We will share in more detail here in a second, but YES, blogging can be very lucrative. When I started my blog in 2017, it took me two months to make my first affiliate commission ($20), and I grew my blog to make over $1,000 a month in three years.
I was able to sell my blog for a nice sum of money in 2021.
Some bloggers make WAY MORE and WAY FASTER but at the end of the day it takes work and strategy to make money with a blog, more on that below:
How can you make money from your blog?
Doing what you love and earning money from it sounds like a dream come true. And for many bloggers, it is! There are a number of ways to make money from your blog, including the following:
1) Sell advertising space on your blog. This is a great way to earn money if you have a large and engaged readership.
2) Sell products or services through your blog. If you have a product or service that you think your readers would be interested in, you can promote it on your blog and earn a commission on every sale.
3) Offer consulting or coaching services. If you’re an expert in a particular area, you could offer your services to clients through your blog.
4) Write and sell e-books. If you have knowledge or expertise to share, you can write an e-book and sell it on your blog.
5) Writing sponsored blog posts. If you have a blog with a large readership, you could earn money by writing sponsored blog posts for brands.
Whatever route you decide to take, be sure to consider the needs of your audience and the overall tone of your site before selecting a monetization method. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to find a method that aligns with your goals and provides value for your readers.
Best Blogging Tools:
When it comes to blogging software and blogging tools, there are things you need, and there are things you don’t! I will make this very simple by providing you with two lists.
- List One = Things you need for your new blog
- List Two = Things I use for my blogs
Blogging Tools You Need:
- Hosting service (Bluehost, Siteground)
- Domain (A domain will come with your hosting service)
- Email service (ConvertKit free option or MailChimp)
- Google Search Console & Google Analytics (connect with Monster Insights)
- Yoast SEO Plugin
- Ninja Contact Forms
- Canva – for designing graphics for your new blog posts (Get Canva here)
- SEO Surfer – for keyword research, blog writing, and blog content strategy (Learn more about SEO Surfer here)
This list is pretty simple and should get you started with your new blog. I use every single one of the above and a few more…
Blog tools for Scale a Dollar:
- Grammarly (my grammEr(jk), grammar sucks!)
- Ahrefs for keywords and strategy
- Link Whisperer for better internal linking
- Google drive for freelance writing
- Paypal for invoicing
- Virtual assistants and freelances for writing and other tasks (Most successful blogs sub out writing and tasks for their blogs!)
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – a brief introduction to the wonderful world of blogging. We hope this article has encouraged you to start your own blog, and given you some ideas about what to write about.
The benefits of blogging are many and varied, so there’s no excuse not to give it a go! If you need help getting started, our team is more than happy to assist. Thanks for reading!
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