How To Start Blogging

Few of my friends ask me how to set up a blog. I am not (yet) a good blogger myself because I don't post articles regularly. My blog isn't that famous as well. I mean some blogs have reached million views. While you can see I just have 12 thousand views. Certainly I am still nobody :D

However, for you who are interested in blogging I can share a few tips on how to begin. These are just some simple tips from my own experience. 

• Sign up for free blogging platforms

Unless you want to be a commercial blogger by having your own domain, you may start with free blog platforms. There are some free ones available such as Blogger, Tumblr, Wordpress, LiveJournal, Weebly, etc. I personally prefer Blogger because it is easier to set up. But it is entirely up to you what platform you will choose. If you want to go pro, you can buy your own domain. The fee is around USD 25 - 200 per year. With your own domain you can link to Google Ad and you can get side income from the ad click of your readers when they visit your blog. That's another benefit of blogging.

• Decide what you want to write

The initial reason for me to make a blog was to write about my travel experiences. However, sometimes I write about books, movies, self help and religious articles. You can basically write everything in your blog because there is a label feature. If readers just want to read about your travel experiences, they can just search in travel section. Some bloggers do make specific themes for their blog. For example, they make fashion blog, cooking blog, or DIY blog. I like blog walking and I am fascinated on how people sometimes are so creative with the content of their blog.

• Visual is important 

Not many people like to read. When I blog walk, I am usually attracted with the pictures first before I read the articles. Therefore, don't forget to put on related photos in your articles. That will attract more readers for sure.

• Consistency is the key

Don't let your blog dusty and rusty. Update it regularly. At least posting once a month is sufficient. I don't write a lot too. I write when I have desire to write. But to be a good blogger you must write regularly so your readers will not forget you. 

• Have manners too

Eventhough it's your personal blog, you must write with manners too. Don't write about sensitive issues, racism, religious attacks, and better avoid puns. Don't put adult content materials as well because who knows children will bump into your blog. Be responsible with what you write.

• Share, share, and share

After you write don't forget to share your articles in social medias. Usually I share my articles in Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. There are share buttons in every blog platforms or you can just copy the URLs. The science of social timing is important too. If you post your articles during high-activity hours, chances are people will notice more. Try to post early in the morning or after lunch time. Again, this is something I neglect too. I post when I want to :p

I hope the above tips will be beneficial for newbie bloggers. Happy blogging!