So, you want to start a blog writing about a topic you are interested in?
Maybe writing about an area of expertise, passion, or experience? Then you are not alone.
According to Truehost, there are over 13 million blogs in Nigeria. Some by established writers, and others by beginners.
So, anyone can start a blog if they want to share ideas and opinions on issues and topics that they are interested in.
But before starting a blog, you have to ask yourself if you are ready to commit to writing on a regular basis, and what kind of blog you want to have.
I remember my first blog. It was on WordPress.com, the free hosted version of WordPress, and I will admit that I didn’t commit to writing on that blog.
I was just testing things out, mostly on the aesthetics side, and then later published a few copied articles until I got bored and abandoned the blog.
That is exactly one way not to start a blog if you are serious about having a blog that will thrive and attract an audience.
So, in this post, I want to discuss a few things to consider before starting a blog, if you really want to build a thriving blog as a beginner.
If you could just clarify things before starting, you’ll have fewer issues starting and running a thriving blog, even as a beginner.
Let’s get right to it.
Your Writing Style
It is important that you understand your writing style before starting a blog, even as a beginner.
This is because your writing style will determine the blogging platform you use and your posting frequency.
Do you enjoy writing short-form content? Storified content? Long-form content? News summaries and gossip? Short idea blogs and tips?
You just have to know your writing style to help you decide how you want to launch your blog.
When I first started blogging, my writing style was more of sharing ideas, so I knew I needed something like a hosted platform, and that was what I went for.
If I was more inclined to news content, then I would launch my blog on social media instead.
Your Availability
Now, your availability is very crucial when starting a blog. You don’t want to starve your audience of content and you don’t want to pressure yourself to write even when you don’t feel like it.
When I started my first blog as a beginner, I knew I couldn’t write everyday. I wanted to have a blog where I could write whenever I felt like it, and that affected the niche I chose to start with.
If you’re a busy employee with less than 2 hours daily available for blogging, then it wouldn’t make sense to start a news and gossip blog.
However, if you are a stay-at-home mum and you spend a considerable amount of your time in the kitchen, then it would make sense to start a cooking and recipes blog.
You get where I’m heading?
Your Resources
You have to know what your current resources are and if you’re willing to commit it towards your blogging journey.
I remember helping a friend to launch her blog on the blogger platform. This friend enjoyed writing but was unwilling to commit resources towards her blog.
I remember asking her to purchase a domain name for her blog to make it look professional, but she argued that she was okay having a blog without a custom domain name.
In contrast, when I launched my blog on blogger, I couldn’t start blogging without purchasing a custom domain name and connecting it with the blog.
So, if you know you just want to focus on writing and nothing else, then you’ll be better off starting a blog on social media or on Medium.
You’re probably best suited as a hobby blogger than a professional one.
Your Skillset
The first time I started a blog, I was restless. I was so curious and excited about my new blog that I kept on tweaking the blog over and over. I ended up staying up late into the night and having a headache.
My point here is that I was willing to work on the design and interface of the blog.
Many other bloggers might not be interested in going through the stress of doing all that tinkering.
Some just want to write and publish content, while others do not have the skillset or the inclination to work on the blog.
The truth is that owning a blog might require you to wear many hats and perform several technical tasks such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), analytics, keyword research, link building, logo and favicon design, etc.
However, the platform you choose for your blog will determine if you’ll be required to perform all these tasks or not.
For example, a social media blog might not require SEO skills but will require graphics design skills.
In the same vein, a Medium blog might not require logo and facing design skills but will require you to do network research and link building.
So, you have to know where your strength lies and then find the blogging platform that matches your strengths.
Your Technical Preferences
Now, the final piece of the puzzle to consider is your technical preferences.
Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your blog and what technicalities are required to achieve your objectives.
Do you want to build a blog that is tied to your ecommerce brand?
Is your blog part of a larger group of content channels you own?
Are you building a blog that will serve as a professional portfolio?
Your answers to these questions will inform the technical requirements for your blog.
You can’t be building a brand-aligned blog on WordPress.com using a different subdomain that doesn’t reflect your brand.
In the same vein, if you want to build a blog that offers you the flexibility to design your url structure, then you can’t build it on Medium or Blogger. A self-hosted WordPress blog will be most ideal.
FAQs About Starting a Blog as a Beginner
What is the most important thing to look out for when starting a blog?
When starting a blog, you should consider your skillset and what kind of content you can produce. You don’t have to blog like other people if you don’t have their skillset. If you can find a niche and writing style that matches your current skills, then you wouldn’t struggle with blogging.
What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
WordPress.com is a free version of WordPress for beginners to try out the WordPress platform. With this, you can start a blog on a unique subdomain such as yourblog.wordpress.com.
On the other hand, WordPress.org is a self-hosted version of WordPress that is installed via a web hosting plan. With this, you can configure a blog with your unique domain name like www.yourblog.com.
Is Medium good for Starting a Portfolio blog?
Yes. You can start a portfolio blog on Medium, as long as you use your platform to share your professional experience and trajectory.
What kind of blog can I build on Social Media?
You can build a variety of blogs on social media, such as news and entertainment, fashion, motivational, comedy, lifestyle, etc. Social media is better suited for short-form graphics-heavy content.
Can I Start a Blog without Hosting?
Yes. You can start a blog without hosting. In fact, most of the blogging platforms are free to use or at least have a free tier. Medium and WordPress.com have free tiers, which you can start with before upgrading to premium tiers.
