15 Things to Consider Before Starting a Blog in 2022 and Beyond
15 Things to Consider Before Starting a Blog in 2022 and Beyond
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
Whoa! You've decided to start a blog; congrats on the big decision!
But, where do you start? What should you consider before setting foot on this new venture? Worry less. In this article, you will learn the 15 things to consider before starting a blog.
Did you know that over 576,000 websites are created every day? Surprisingly, there are over 600 million blogs on the internet today. These numbers make it extremely hard for your new blog to be noticed if you don't have an elaborate plan.
Currently, there is an information overload on the internet. You might wonder where to start while blogging. Nevertheless, this article is written for you.
Check out these things that will ease your blogging journey, make your blog a success, and ensure you stay out of legal issues.
1. Blogging Platform
Before starting a blog, decide where to host it. Additionally, you need to determine if your blog will be self-hosted or hosted. Hosted blogs are relatively cheap but come with restrictions, and you don't own them.
A self-hosted blog gives you 100% control since you are its owner. If you want a long-term and professional blog, I highly recommend going for self-hosted blogs.
I personally use and recommend Bluehost Web Hosting and WordPress Blogging Software for only $2.95 a month.
2. Domain Name
Your domain name has a significant impact on the SEO of your blog. Select a domain name that is SE0-friendly (related to your niche and with keywords), avoids slang, and has 1-3 words.
Additionally, check the domain name history using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. It is critical to check the copyright records of the name to avoid legal issues. For this, visit the Public Catalog by the United States Copyright Office.
Also, select a top-level domain like .com, .net, .org, and .edu which performs better compared to other variations like .clothing, .banking, etc. More so, choose a domain name that is memorable with less than 20 characters.
3. Topic
One of the hardest things to choose while starting a blog is selecting a topic. The best topic for your blog should be a mixture of your passion and knowledge. Which topic do you have the most knowledge in, and do you like talking about it?
After selecting the topic, search if the subject is popular using Google Trends. Select a popular topic that can create revenue for you.
4. Target Audience
Consider using Google Trends to research the target audience as well. To make your blog successful, analyze the needs, wants, and desires of your target audience.
After defining your target audience, create a buyer persona, i.e., representing what your ideal customer looks like. To create a buyer persona, use the Make My Personal Tool by HubSpot.
5. Value Proposition
Ask yourself, “What value are you planning to drive into the marketplace?” Your blog should drive value and solve a problem people are facing.
Value proposition answers the customer's major question, “Why should I do business with you?” The value proposition statement shows the customer how you will deliver value and experience and acquire the value.
Therefore, your blog should have a great value proposition so that people can trust and do business with you.
6. Design and Branding
Before starting a blog, you need to determine how you will brand and design your blog. Consider how the layout and design will be. Additionally, you might decide to design a logo for your blog.
Another consideration to make is the blog essence and the design your competitors are using. The best tool used by many bloggers is the Canva Graphic Design Software. You can also use the Canva Color Generator to select the colors to use on your site.
If you don't know how to choose the right colors for your blog. Check out this Canva Blog Post.
7. Email Marketing
You've probably heard that “The money is in the list.” What does this mean? To grow your audience and revenue, combine email marketing and blogging. Email marketing has a massive 4200% ROI (Return on Investment).
One of the best email marketing software is the Constant Contact Email Marketing platform. Currently, Constant Contact is giving a 60-day free trial. Grab it. Check out this video on how to use Constant Contact.
You can also use the WPForms WordPress Plugin to create opt-in forms on your blog.
8. Blog SEO
SEO or Search Engine Optimization determines whether your site will rank on the search engines or not. Ensure you have an elaborate SEO strategy to follow, especially in keywords.
You need to research keywords related to your topic. There are numerous tools for that; try the free Google Keyword Planner.
If you are using a WordPress blog, install the free Yoast SEO plugin, one of the best SEO tools available. If you are not familiar with the plugin, check out this tutorial on how to use Yoast.
9. Social Media
Before you start your blog, create a social media strategy that will increase your blog's traffic. You can begin by opening pages on the three most famous social media platforms; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Once you set up your blog, make the social media pages active by running paid ads and sharing the blog articles on the pages.
Integrate social media into your WordPress using the Simple Social Icons WordPress Plugin. Additionally, make social media sharing simple using Shared Counts WordPress Plugin.
10. Advertising
Another huge consideration to make is budgeting for various adverts. As you are starting, you will have to invest in advertising to grow your brand.
You can use paid social media campaigns, Google Ads, or boost some posts. Also, create a plan to track the results of your ads to know which works best.
11. Analytics
One of the most hectic parts of blogging is the analytics process. This process involves measuring the traffic and the traffic's trends. If you are not familiar with analytics, enroll in the Free Analytics Training that Google Analytics provides.
Once you are familiar with analytics, incorporate the Google Analytics tool into your blogging.
12. Revenue
One major consideration is planning how to monetize your blog. Blogging is an investment that can earn you passive income every month. There are numerous ways to create revenue for your blog. These ways include running ads, selling products, or getting other bloggers to pay for guest blogs.
However, the most lucrative business model for bloggers is affiliate marketing. This business model is performance-based marketing, where marketers are paid for driving traffic or customers to a particular business.
To learn more about making money doing affiliate marketing as a blogger, enroll in my online course, The Affiliate Blogger Academy.
13. Expenses
In blogging, expenses are inevitable. You must budget on the costs to use for web-hosting, advertisements, and additional blogging tools. In addition to this, you might spend on courses and outsourcing.
If you don't have excellent SEO skills, for example, you can outsource a freelancer to do it for you. During the first year of blogging, try to invest $500 to cater to the blogging experience.
14. Blog Security
Blog security is vital in ensuring your data and customers' information is secured. The first default thing to have is an SSL certificate. Bluehost comes with an SSL certificate. Check out their 60% offer.
You should install a security and anti-spam plugin like Titan Anti-Spam WordPress Plugin. Another plugin to boost your blog security is the WordFence Premium WordPress Plugin.
Always ensure your blog data is backed up. For backup, I highly recommend using BackupBuddy.
15. Legal
The last yet crucial thing to think about before starting a blog is legal affairs. You need to have a strategy in place for protecting your intellectual property. To ensure that your blog is out of legal trouble, you should include privacy, terms and conditions, and a disclaimer page.
You might not know how to create content for the three pages, which is understandable. Use the Termsfeed Legal Agreement Generator to generate the legal content of your page. You might consider hiring a business lawyer, which will be expensive but worth the investment.
Also, avoid copyright issues by uploading original content and using free stock images. You can find free stock photos at Pexels or purchase premium photos at Shutterstock.
Key Takeaway
This article compiles 15 key things to consider before starting a blog, but the good news is, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Watch this step-by-step video on how to start a blog or check out this free e-book. In addition to this, create a WordPress blog today for as low as $2.95 using this link.
In case of any difficulties, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
Whoa! You've decided to start a blog; congrats on the big decision!
But, where do you start? What should you consider before setting foot on this new venture? Worry less. In this article, you will learn the 15 key things to think about before starting a blog.
Did you know that over 576,000 websites are created every day? Surprisingly, there are over 600 million blogs on the internet today. These numbers make it extremely hard for your new blog to be noticed if you don't have an elaborate plan.
Currently, there is an information overload on the internet. You might wonder where to start while blogging. Nevertheless, this article is written for you.
Check out these things that will ease your blogging journey, make your blog a success, and ensure you stay out of legal issues.
1. Blogging Platform
Before starting a blog, decide where to host it. Additionally, you need to determine if your blog will be self-hosted or hosted. Hosted blogs are relatively cheap but come with restrictions, and you don't own them.
A self-hosted blog gives you 100% control since you are its owner. If you want a long-term and professional blog, I highly recommend going for self-hosted blogs.
If you rush here, you can use the Bluehost Web Hosting and WordPress Blogging Software for only $2.95 a month.
2. Domain Name
Your domain name has a significant impact on the SEO of your blog. Select a domain name that is SE0-friendly (related to your niche and with keywords), avoids slang, and has 1-3 words.
Additionally, check the domain name history using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. It is critical to check the copyright records of the name to avoid legal issues. For this, visit the Public Catalog by the United States Copyright Office.
Also, select a top-level domain like .com, .net, .org, and .edu which performs better compared to other variations like .clothing, .banking, etc. More so, choose a domain name that is memorable with less than 20 characters.
3. Topic
One of the hardest things to choose while starting a blog is selecting a topic. The best topic for your blog should be a mixture of your passion and knowledge. Which topic do you have the most knowledge in, and do you like talking about it?
After selecting the topic, search if the subject is popular using Google Trends. Select a popular topic that can create revenue for you.
4. Target Audience
Consider using Google Trends to research the target audience. To make your blog successful, analyze the needs, wants, and desires of your target audience.
After defining your target audience, create a buyer persona, i.e., representing what your ideal customer looks like. To create a buyer persona, use the Make My Personal Tool by HubSpot.
5. Value Proposition
Ask yourself, “What value are you planning to drive into the marketplace?” Your blog should drive value and solve a problem people are facing.
Value proposition answers the customer's major question, “Why should I do business with you?” The value proposition statement shows the customer how you will deliver value and experience and acquire the value.
Therefore, your blog should have a great value proposition so that people can trust and do business with you.
6. Design and Branding
Before starting a blog, you need to determine how you will brand and design your blog. Consider how the layout and design will be. Additionally, you might decide to design a logo for your blog.
Another consideration to make is the blog essence and the design your competitors are using. The best tool used by many bloggers is the Canva Graphic Design Software. You can also use the Canva Color Generator to select the colors to use on your site.
If you don't know how to choose the right colors for your blog. Check out this Canva Blog Post.
7. Email Marketing
You've probably heard that “The money is in the list.” What does this mean? To grow your audience and revenue, combine email marketing and blogging. Email marketing has a massive 4200% ROI (Return on Investment).
One of the best email marketing software is the Constant Contact Email Marketing platform. Currently, Constant Contact is giving a 60-day free trial. Grab it. Check out this video on how to use Constant Contact.
You can also use the WPForms WordPress Plugins to create opt-in forms on your blog.
8. Blog SEO
SEO or Search Engine Optimization determines whether your site will rank on the search engines or not. Ensure you have an elaborate SEO strategy to follow, especially in keywords.
You need to research keywords related to your topic. There are numerous tools for that; try the free Google Keyword Planner.
If you are using a WordPress blog, install the free Yoast SEO plugin, one of the best SEO tools available. If you are not familiar with the plugin, check out this tutorial on how to use Yoast.
9. Social Media
Before you start your blog, create a social media strategy that will increase your blog's traffic. You can begin by opening pages on the three most famous social media platforms; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Once you set up your blog, make the social media pages active by running paid ads and sharing the blog articles on the pages.
Integrate social media into your WordPress using the Simple Social Icons WordPress Plugin. Additionally, make social media sharing simple using Shared Counts WordPress Plugin.
10. Advertising
Another huge consideration to make is budgeting for various adverts. As you are starting, you will have to invest in multiple advertising to grow your brand.
You can use paid social media campaigns, Google Ads, or boost some posts. Also, create a plan to track the results of your ads to know which works best.
11. Analytics
One of the most hectic parts of blogging is the analytics process. This process involves measuring the traffic and the traffic's trends. If you are not familiar with analytics, enroll in the free Analytics Training that Google Analytics provides.
Once you are familiar with analytics, incorporate the Google Analytics tool into your blogging.
12. Revenue
One major consideration is planning how to monetize your blog. Blogging is an investment that can earn you passive income every month. There are numerous ways to create revenue for your blog. These ways include running ads, selling products, or getting other bloggers to pay for guest blogs.
However, the most lucrative business model for bloggers is affiliate marketing. This business model is performance-based marketing, where marketers are paid for driving traffic or customers to a particular business.
To learn more about making money doing affiliate marketing as a blogger, enroll in this excellent course.
13. Expenses
In blogging, expenses are inevitable. You must budget on the costs to use for web-hosting, advertisements, and additional blogging tools. In addition to this, you might spend on courses and outsourcing.
If you don't have excellent SEO skills, for example, you can outsource a freelancer to do it for you. During the first year of blogging, try to invest $500 to cater to the blogging experience.
14. Blog Security
Blog security is vital in ensuring your data and customers' information is secured. The first default thing to have is an SSL certificate. Bluehost comes with an SSL certificate. Check out their 60% offer.
You should install a security and anti-spam plugin like Titan Anti-Spam WordPress Plugin. Another plugin to boost your blog security is the WordFence Premium WordPress Plugin.
Always ensure your blog data is backed up. For backup, I highly recommend using BackupBuddy.
15. Legal
The last yet crucial thing to think about before starting a blog is legal affairs. You need to have a strategy in place for protecting your intellectual property. To ensure that your blog is out of legal trouble, you should include privacy, terms and conditions, and a disclaimer page.
You might not know how to create content for the three pages, which is understandable. Use the Termsfeed Legal Agreement Generator to generate the legal content of your page. You might consider hiring a business lawyer, which will be expensive but worth the investment.
Also, avoid copyright issues by uploading original content and using free stock images. You can find free stock photos here or at Shutterstock.
Key Takeaway
The article compiles 15 key things to consider before starting a blog. The good news is, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Watch this step-by-step video on how to start a blog or check out this free e-book. In addition to this, create a WordPress blog today for as low as $2.95 using this link.
In case of any difficulties, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help.
Written by Ben Cummings
Cofounder of Sage Wave Media
Ben is the Cofounder of Sage Wave Media, LLC which is the parent company of Blog With Ben. He enjoys teaching, blogging, startups, a hoppy IPA, and college basketball. Whenever he's not blogging, you can find him cruising around sunny San Diego with his amazing family.
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