How To Start A Blog Without Breaking A Bank?

by

Blogging

Published on: 23 July 2018 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024
Start Blog

Who knew that setting up a blog is fast, easy and much cheaper than you think? Having a successful blog is the best way to extend your network. It’s one of the most efficient ways to get noticed and promote your brand.

Just follow these simple steps to set up your new blog today.

Where Do I Start?

You need to identify a web host to store your files, content, and images. You also need a domain name that is unique to you. The domain name is crucial. It should be short, memorable and easy to say and type. Web hosting services are legion, and so you might want to do some research to identify the best one. Finally, you should have a blog platform such as WordPress, which provides templates to create your blog and other support services to help manage it.

How Do I Choose a Web Hosting Service?

As you can see from this review on Mangomatter good web hosting brings many benefits, but it comes at a price. There are often multiple options with the same web hosting company, and so it pays to think carefully about your likely requirements and pick the plan that suits your purposes best.

How Much Does It Cost?

The short answer is that you can blog for free, but serious bloggers pay for a monthly hosting plan costing from around $3 to around $15. The cheapest option is great for sharing images and swapping ideas with your friends and family. If your website is linked to a business, however, you should choose a more expensive plan with extras such as additional websites, multiple emails, more bandwidth, and good support tools.

Themes and Tools :

Once you have signed up with WordPress, you have a host of themes and tools at your fingertips. Identify a niche theme to suit your chosen specialty. Don’t worry, you can always change it further down the line if your first choice doesn’t quite hit the mark. It is best to think of something quite sleek and simple so that loading your blog is fast, and search engines will easily find it. Too much clutter in the theme dilutes your message. Use the tools provided to schedule the release of posts and draft or edit new material.

How do I Structure the Content?

It is very easy to structure your blog using the ready-made format that is provided. You just enter the title of your blog in the relevant box and then add text, video, audio and links as you wish. When you are happy with the result, you press “Publish”, and your blog will go live. You can always go back and edit later.

What About Creating Traffic?

Keywords, headlines and “slugs” (post titles) should be optimized for SEO. Frequent links to social media and relevant online publications will generate new readers. Visit other sites and enter comments or posts that link back to your blog.

So just do it!

If you have great ideas for content, starting a blog is easy. Just follow these steps, and that’s all there is to it!

Read Also :

blog

PREVIOUS POST

How to choose the best affiliate programs to promote on your WordPress blog
Affiliate Marketing Types

NEXT POST

Top Affiliate Marketing Types Explained
author-img

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular

Creating A Startup Idea

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

20 Feb 2023

How to Download Facebook Videos

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

07 Feb 2019

Ecommerce Web Design

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

28 Jan 2021

wordpress-1863504_960_720 edited

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

28 Jan 2017

Follow Us

Recent

How To Quit A Job

How To Quit A Job With Professionalism And Grace? – Steps To Follow

16 Nov 2024

How to Become a Radiology Tech

How To Become A Radiology Tech? – Skills, Qualifications, Education, And More

16 Nov 2024

How To Become An Ultrasound Technician

How To Become An Ultrasound Technician? – Steps To Follow

14 Nov 2024

Reasons To Call Out Of Work

Top 9 Legitimate Reasons To Call Out Of Work

14 Nov 2024

Related

Father's Day Gift
Blogging

15 Father’s Day Gift Ideas: Celebrating Dad In The Best Way!

Father's Day is peeking around the corner, and if you're scratching your head thinking about what to get the world's greatest dad, worry not! We've got you covered with a truckload of ideas to make your old man's day brighter than a summer's sun. First off, let's get something straight. Gifts are fantastic, but what matters is the thought you put into them. Dads don't need fancy. They need to feel special. So, let's dive into some idea of fathers day gifts that'll have your dad grinning from ear to ear. 1. Stylish Dad If your father loves fashion, don't just stop at a tie. How about a men’s fashion magazine subscription or a gift card to his favorite store? For something more personal, a monogrammed cufflink set or a watch engraved with a special message can become cherished keepsakes. 2. DIY Dad - The Handyman Haven If your pop prides himself on his DIY skills, consider upgrading his workshop. A cordless drill, a laser level, or an all-in-one toolset might make his day. If he already has the tools, how about protective gear like gloves or goggles? Or even a workshop radio to jam out to while he works. 3. Tech-savvy Dad There's no shortage of ideas for a dad who's all about the latest tech. A new tablet, a high-quality dash cam for his car, or even a drone can provide hours of fun. If he's a reader, an e-reader loaded with his favorite authors could be the perfect pick. Just make sure to spend some time showing him how it all works! 4. Bookworm Dad If your dad is a literary lover, first editions of his favorite books could be a hit. How about a comfy new reading chair or a stylish lamp for his reading nook? A portable book light could be a thoughtful touch for the traveling dad. Pair any of these with a homemade bookmark for that special touch. 5. For the Masterchef Dad Got a dad who's a whiz with the whisk? Spice up his kitchen adventures with gourmet ingredients he wouldn't buy himself. Think high-end olive oils, exotic spices, or a set of premium steak knives. If he's into the latest kitchen tech, consider a sous-vide cooker or a new blender for those summer smoothies. 6. The Sentimental Dad If Dad's sentimental, go for something that captures memories or shows thought. Custom artwork of a family photo, a set of ‘open when’ letters for different occasions, or even a digital photo frame preloaded with pictures of family trips are sure to pull at his heartstrings. A heartwarming life story book for grandparents would be perfect for your sentimental granddads. 7. The Fitness Fanatic Dad The latest fitness gadgets can be a great idea if he's a gym rat. A new fitness tracker or a set of intelligent scales can help him keep track of his progress. If he likes sports, consider equipment related to his favorite activity or sign him up for a local run or competition as a fun challenge. 8. The Music Lover Dad For those dads who march to the beat of their drums, music is the way to their hearts. If he's musically inclined, vinyl records of his favorite classics, a high-quality set of speakers, or even a guitar or keyboard could be the ticket. Look for notable edition albums or box sets for an extra treat. 9. The Great Outdoors Dad A national park pass could be an incredible gift for the dad who loves the wild. For the fisherman, a new tackle box or a high-tech fish finder can make his next trip a catch. A durable hammock for those trips or even a new backpack can improve his outdoor adventures. 10. The Game Night Dad Does your dad love a challenge? Find board games that suit his taste – strategy games like Settlers of Catan, cooperative games like Pandemic, or classic games with a luxury twist, like a wooden chess set. And make sure you set aside time to play together – that's part of the gift, too. 11. The Memory Maker Dad Experience gifts can be phenomenal – a cooking class, a hot air balloon ride, or tickets to a sporting event or theater show. Even a day at a driving range or a craft brewery tour could be a hit. It’s about making new memories while cherishing the old. 12. The Foodie Dad For the dad with a palate for the finer things, specialty food items like aged cheeses, fine wines, or a basket of charcuterie essentials can be delightful. If he's adventurous with his cuisine, cooking lessons or a food-tasting tour would satisfy his appetite for novelty. 13. The Car Buff Dad Car care is vital if he always has a rag and polish in hand. Think high-end waxes, a professional detailing service, or even a driving experience where he can test drive a luxury car. If he loves model cars or has a vintage project in the garage, find accessories or parts he's been searching for. 14. The Personal Touch Dad Items that have a personal touch are often the most memorable. Engraved gifts like pens, personalized stationery, or a custom-made piece of jewelry can make everyday items feel extraordinary. Services that turn children’s drawings into keepsakes or embroider personal messages onto objects can also be significant. 15. The 'Just Spend Time with Me' Dad And for the dad who values nothing more than family time, plan a full day of activities. You can start with breakfast at his favorite diner, followed by a leisurely hike or a bike ride, and end with a movie night complete with his favorite films and snacks. The gift of time is priceless. Conclusion Ultimately, the best Father’s Day gift doesn’t come from a store. It comes from knowing your dad and what makes him smile. Whether he's into tech, food, books, or just spending time with you, there's something out there that'll make his day. Remember, Father's Day is about showing your dad how much you appreciate him. So, take a moment to think about what he loves, and you can't go wrong. Happy Father's Day to all the fantastic dads out there! Read Also: One List, Two Celebrations: How To Combine Your Wedding Registry And Housewarming Gifts A List Of First Birthday Gift Ideas For Niece 30+ Fathers Day Gift Ideas: It’s More Than Gifts 

READ MOREDetails
Know About Guest Posting
Blogging

What You Need to Know About Guest Posting in 2021

Guest posting is a type of marketing that often gets an eyebrow raise. The truth is that there are many ways to utilize guest posting – some of them are excellent tools in your marketing arsenal, and others may get you on Google’s bad side. The key is knowing the difference and using only legitimate guest posting strategies. But what does that look like? Here, we offer some pointers and helpful information from EraBright, a Black-owned advertising agency. What You Need to Know About Guest Posting in 2021 A great guest post is one that helps you, but also provides some value to the publisher and readers. Before getting started, target sites that make sense for your business. This helps your SEO strategy and avoids your link being viewed by Google quality raters as being “spammy”. How to Find Guest Post Opportunities There are many blogs out there that have a clear message to “contribute”, “write for us”, etc. These are great opportunities to contact them and find out more about their policies. If there are sites that you like and match your target, but they don’t identify that they accept guest posts, you can always reach out to them individually. Just remember that you won’t always get a “yes”. Some tips for finding blogs that accept guests posts include: Search for blogs in your market or niche Choose blogs that are authoritative and have a high domain authority/rank Choose blogs that have followers, readers, or high engagement Assess the blog’s social media Search Google for a topic and “guest post” and see what type of results you get. You may find other bloggers in your industry on sites that will also accept a guest post from you. Writing a Great Guest Post Once you have narrowed down where you want to submit a guest post, the next step is writing the content. The goal of guest posting is to bring attention to your brand, business, products, or services. Therefore, you want your guest post to be interesting and informative, and you want it to bring awareness to your brand. Look at the blogs you are targeting and get an idea of the sort of content that is published there. Take note of blogs with a lot of engagement. You can use a similar style to successful posts, just make sure you match the tone of the site. You should also choose a topic that is relevant to your brand and the chosen blog. Write your content in a way that is “evergreen”, meaning it won’t become quickly outdated. What about Backlinks? For many people who guest post, the overarching goal isn’t to build backlinks. Of course, getting a do-follow backlink to your site is an added bonus. Increasingly, websites are only allowing guest posts to contain no-follow links, which means the link won’t go back to your site. While that’s bad news for backlinking, it’s not detrimental to your goal of brand awareness. After all, you can mention your brand in the article and provide a link, and also will likely have author information at the bottom. One word of caution about backlinks – Google can penalize websites that have low authority or spammy backlinks. If the backlinks seem irrelevant, poorly placed, or low quality, it can actually hurt your Google ranking. The best way to avoid this is to choose legitimate blogs with a decent domain authority/rank, and avoid sites with a high spam score. Conclusion It seems like every year there are new guidelines and advice for how to manage digital marketing and SEO. Guest posting is one element that seems to be evolving more now than in the past, however. Increasingly, search engines are watching how sites interact and link to one another. For this reason, it is important to be selective in your guest posting adventures. Read Also: Creative Marketing Strategies to Put Your Small Translation Business Why SEO is still the digital channel with the highest ROI Effective Ways to Utilize Digital Marketing

READ MOREDetails
image001
Blogging

Bloggers, Beware! Blogging Mistakes You Should Avoid

Blogging as a career and source of income is more than just taking pictures, eating good food and writing articles. When blogging turned into a business, there are a lot of steps that bloggers need to make sure to attain success. In other words, upgrading a blog into a business is more complex than what people think. However, it can also be rewarding and fun at the same time. To ensure success in blogging, listed here are some of the blogging mistakes that every blogger should avoid. As they say, prevention is better than cure.  Read also: Doing It The Right Way: Common Mistakes Every New Blogger Commits Not using whitespace or header When a reader first visits a blog and sees a wall of pure text, they’ll immediately close the tab without looking back. No matter how amazing the ideas are, the visual presentation makes up half of the battle. Bloggers or writers should learn to break their paragraphs to avoid chunky-looking parts. Use subheadings to give the readers eyes a breather and anchor points. If possible, cut down to 3-5 sentences each paragraph. Not knowing the audience Among the common mistakes that bloggers need to avoid, being clueless about their target audience is on the top of the list. It is sometimes unavoidable that bloggers will write and create content depending on their mood without even taking consideration of the readers. Lacking knowledge about the target audience can create complications in the future. Without considering the target audience interests, the content will be useless. Before starting on writing, create an image of the audience that the content is targeting. After making an image of the target audience, do some research on the things they want to read. Researching about the audience is the smartest technique a blogger can do. Avoid posting every day After considering that blogging is a career and part of the content marketing strategy, bloggers must be knowledgeable about search engines. Because of search engines, bloggers tend to publish a new blog entry every day just to improve ranking. However, posting on a daily basis can greatly affect the engagement level of the blog. And also it can be a disservice on SERPs (Search Engine Result Page). Keep in mind that the search engine value is a fresh, informative and relevant content. If the published articles don't give benefit to the target audience, then it’ll be a waste of effort. To ensure the quality of the articles, creating a schedule when to post articles is beneficial. It can give bloggers enough time to create a high-quality and well-researched article that can benefit its readers. To fully learn about SEO, some sites offer a crash course about SEO. Visit Website for more information. It usually tackles the effect of content to blogs. Also, it includes the importance of SEO in rankings. Read also: Avoid These 5 Mistakes Before Starting An SEO Stop trying to sell something in a blog post Blogs are tools to promote products, but not as a sales method. Current and future readers usually remain anonymous when reading an article. So they can just immediately leave an article in the middle reading if it gives them pressure or threats. Instead of selling products, use the blog to validate credibility, build authority and instill trust. If the readers find the contents and the blog reliable, then they can become the sales opportunity of business. Using Inappropriate Titles Headlines and titles are one of the most important things in a blog post. Titles and headings tell the readers a good deal of the content. Also, it helps in setting expectations to the readers. A title must be compelling and are creative to attract readers. However, certain headlines don't fit to what the content talks about. Sometimes, the title itself is not compelling enough to attract people to click and read the article. Bloggers should consider human elements before coming up with titles. Let the title and headline speak for the content itself. Make it as descriptive as possible to have an impact on potential readers. Uses a Generic Logo Bloggers don't need to invest all their cash in having a custom design to complete their blog. However, bloggers should consider a personalized logo. It is one of the first few things that new visitors look at when visiting a new blog. Usually, the logo speaks for the blog itself. Takeaway Listed above are the four basic and common mistakes that a blogger should avoid. Even if mistakes are inevitable, avoiding them can help in the success and growth of the blog. It may be a little mistake, but its impact can greatly affect the business and ruin the reputation of a blog. 

READ MOREDetails