If you've ever read a blog post, you've been exposed to information from a thought leader who is an industry expert. If the blog post was well-written, you're likely to have gained useful information as well as a favorable impression of the author or brand that created it.
Anyone may use blogging to engage with their audience and get the benefits of organic traffic from search engines, promotional material for social media, and recognition from a new audience you haven't reached yet.
If you've heard of blogging but are unsure where to begin, the time for excuses is gone because we'll show you how to develop and manage a blog for your company, as well as providing useful templates.
Let's get this party started with a crucial question.
Depending on your topic, blogging might imply a variety of things, so let's start with this definition.
What is a blog post, exactly?
Any article, news story, or guidance that is published in a website's blog area is referred to as a blog post. A blog post often covers a specific topic or inquiry, is instructional in nature, involves various media types such as photographs, videos, infographics, and interactive charts, and varies from 600 to 2,000+ words.
Blog postings enable you and your company to share information, ideas, and anecdotes about any topic on your website. They can assist you in increasing brand recognition, credibility, conversions, and income. Most significantly, they may assist you in increasing website traffic.
However, before you can start writing blog entries, you must first understand how to establish a blog. Let's get started.
What Is the Best Way to Begin a Blog?
1. Know who you're talking to.
Make sure you have a good idea of your target audience before you start writing your blog article.
Ask inquiries such as, "What do they want to know?" What will strike a chord with them?
This is when the buyer persona creation process comes in helpful. When choosing a topic for your blog post, think about what you know about your customer personas and their interests.
If your readers are millennials trying to start a business, for example, you probably don't need to provide them advice on how to get started on social media because most of them already know how to do so.
However, you might want to provide them with advice on how to change their social media strategy (for example, from a casual, personal approach to a more business-savvy, networking-focused one). This type of modification is what allows you to create material on themes that your audience wants and needs.
2. Take a look at your competitors.
What better approach to get ideas than by looking at your well-known competitors?
Popular, well-reviewed blogs are worth studying since their strategy and execution are what helped them gain reputation. The goal isn't to replicate these aspects, but to develop a better understanding of what readers value in a good blog.
When doing a competitive analysis, you should consider the following factors:
Visuals: Look at the logo, color palette, and topic of the blog.
Copy: Examine the competition's tone and writing style to understand what appeals to readers.
Topics: Find out what topics their readers love discussing.
3. Make a list of the subjects you'll address.
Choose a topic to write about before you start writing anything. To begin, the topic might be rather broad until you locate your ideal blogging niche.
Asking oneself questions like these might help you identify things to address.
I'm not sure who I'd want to write to.
How well do I comprehend this subject?
Is this an issue worth discussing?
4. Determine your distinct point of view.
What unique viewpoint do you bring to the table that sets you apart from the competition? This is crucial in establishing the course of your blog's future, and there are several options to consider.
What makes you a credible authority or thought leader on the subject because of your unique experience?
What issue will you address for your readers?
Will you express your thoughts on current debates?
Accomplish you want to show your readers how to do something?
Is it possible to compare or exchange original research?
It's entirely up to you to select what unique perspective you'll take on certain themes.
5. Give your blog a name.
This is your chance to be creative and come up with a name that tells readers what to anticipate from your site.
Keep your blog's name simple to pronounce and spell.
Make a connection between your blog's name and your brand message.
Think about what your target market is looking for.
Make sure the name you come up with isn't already in use, since it may reduce your exposure and cause people to become confused while browsing for your material.
6. Register a domain for your blog.
A domain is a portion of the web address nomenclature that someone would type into a search engine to discover your website or a specific page of your website.
The domain for your blog will be www.yourblog.com. As long as this domain name does not already exist on the internet, you may call it whatever you like between the two periods.
Do you want to give your blog a subdomain? If you already have a culinary company at www.yourcompany.com, you might want to start a blog at blog.yourcompany.com. On other words, the subdomain of your blog will be in its own part of yourcompany.com.
Some CMS platforms have free subdomains, which allow you to host your blog on the CMS rather than on your company's website
Most website hosting providers charge extremely little to host an original domain – in fact, when you commit to a 36-month contract, website charges may be as little as $3 per month.
Here are some of the most popular web hosting providers to consider:
GoDaddy
Bluehost
DreamHost
iPage
HostGator
7. Select a content management system (CMS) and set up your blog.
A content management system (CMS) is a piece of software that allows users to create and maintain websites without having to write them from the ground up. Domains (where you construct your website) and subdomains are managed by CMS platforms (where you create a webpage that connects to an existing website).
A self-hosted WordPress website on a hosting platform like WP Engine is another popular alternative. After you've decided on a CMS and a domain or subdomain for your blog, you'll need to choose a web hosting service.
8. Personalize the appearance of your blog.
Customize the design of your blog once you've set up your domain name to suit the topic of the material you want to create as well as your brand.
If you're blogging about sustainability and the environment, for example, green may be a hue to consider while creating your blog.
If you already operate a website and are writing the first post for it, make sure the article matches the website in terms of design and content. There are two ways to accomplish this:
Logo: This might be your company's name and logo, and it will remind readers who is publishing the information on your blog. (How extensively you brand your blog, on the other hand, is entirely up to you.)
"About" Page: You may already have a paragraph about yourself or your company on your "About" page. The "About" section of your blog is a continuation of this higher-level declaration. Consider it your blog's mission statement, which supports your company's objectives.
9. Compose your first blog entry.
The only thing left to do is add content to your blog after it's up and running. While the style and layout are entertaining and practical, it is the content that will entice your readers to return. So, how do you go about creating one of these interesting and informative articles?
How to Write Your First Blog Post
Now that you've mastered the technical and practical aspects, it's time to compose your first blog article. No, this isn't the place for you to introduce yourself and your new blog (i.e. "Welcome to my blog!"). This is the subject I'll be discussing. My social media handles are shown here. "Would you mind following me?").
Start with "low-hanging fruit," such as writing on a very particular issue that only serves a small portion of your target audience.
Isn't that counterintuitive? If more people are looking up a term or a topic, you should get more readers.
That, however, is not the case. It's doubtful that you'll succeed if you select a broad and popular topic that has already been covered by significant rivals or well-known companies.
Let's have a look at how this works.
1. Pick a topic about which you are enthusiastic and educated.
Choose a topic for your blog article before you start writing. To begin, the topic might be rather broad. If you offer a CRM for small-to-medium firms, for example, your piece can focus on the necessity of utilizing a single platform to keep your marketing, sales, and support teams in sync.
Why?
Your trustworthiness has yet to be proven. You'll want to demonstrate that you're a thought leader in your area and an authoritative source before teaching people how to accomplish anything.
For example, if you're a plumber, you won't publish a piece like "How to Replace the Piping System in Your Bathroom" on your first post. You'd start by writing about current faucet settings or recounting a specific success story about salvaging a faucet before it flooded a customer's home.
You might start with one of the following four categories of blog posts:
5 methods to fix a leaking faucet (Listicle)
10 Faucet and Sink Brands to Consider Today (Curated Collection)
SlideShare Presentation: There are five different types of faucets to choose from when replacing your old one (with pictures)
According to a new survey, X% of consumers do not repair their faucets regularly enough.
A solid subject brainstorming session should assist you come up with topic ideas if you're having difficulties coming up with them. My colleague leads you through a great approach for converting one concept into several in the piece I've linked to. You'd "iterate off existing ideas to come up with fresh and appealing new topics," much like the "leaky faucet" examples above.
This may be accomplished by:
Changing the scope of the topic
Changing the time frame
Choosing a new target market
Taking a positive or negative perspective
A new format is being introduced
Let's look at some initial blog post idea samples if you're still lost.
Ideas for Your First Blog Post
A [Niche Expert] explains the difference between [Niche Topic] and [Niche Topic].
A Marketing Expert explains the difference between SEM and SEO.
A Car Mechanic Explains the Difference Between Sedans and Coupes
A Professional Baker explains the difference between baking and broiling.
The Top 10 [Niche Tools] for [Niche Activity] and the Worst
The Top 10 Best and Worst Fiction Writing Software
The 10 Best and Worst CRMs for Prospect Nurturing
The 10 Best and Worst Cross-Country Family Cars
8 [Niche Activity] Common Errors (and How to Avoid Them)
8 Nonfiction Writing Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Correct Them)
8 Common Salmon Broiling Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
8 Common Car Maintenance Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
9 Proven [Niche Activity] Tips
9 Proven Techniques for Troubleshooting Plumbing Issues Under Your Kitchen Sink
9 Proven Nonfiction Bestseller Writing Tips
9 Proven Car Maintenance Tips for Do-It-Yourselfers
Why did we (I) go from [Niche Tool] to [Niche Tool]? (Comparison)
Why Did We Make the Switch from Pipedrive to HubSpot? (Comparison)
Why did I make the switch from Microsoft Word to Scrivener? (Comparison)
We Switched from iMacs to Surface Studio for a Reason (Comparison)
Which [Tool] is Best for You? [Niche Tool] vs. [Niche Tool]: Which [Tool] is Best for You?
Which Call Software is Best for You? Zendesk vs. Freshcaller: Which Call Software is Best for You?
Which is Better for You: Air Fryer or Convection Oven?
Which Sports Car Is Better for You: Mazda Miata or Toyota Supra?
The Ultimate [Niche Activity] Tips and Tricks Guide
The Ultimate List of Novel Writing Hints and Techniques
Tips & Tricks for Baking Macaroons in One Place
The Ultimate Compilation of Solo Traveling Advice
Do you like to see some real-life blog post examples? See what your first blog post may look like depending on the topic and audience you're aiming for.
2. Choose a term with a low search volume to optimize for.
Using Google to find a term with a low search volume (we recommend sticking to about 10 to 150 monthly searches). These themes have less competition, which should make it easier for your new blog article to rank.
You may either have a regular brainstorming session or do keyword research to come up with a theme. We choose the latter since you can see how many people are searching for that information.
Don't be put off by the phrase "keyword research." It isn't just for marketers; it is also for new bloggers. It's also really simple to accomplish.
To get a head start on your keyword research, figure out what your blog's basic theme is.
Let's pretend you're a plumber. "Plumbing" might be your broad, high-level topic (67K monthly searches).
After that, enter this term into a keyword research tool like:
Ahrefs
Moz
Ubersuggest
Wordtracker
A list of similar keywords will display when you put this term through the program. Scrutinize the options and pick one with a lower search volume. We'll use "under sink plumbing" as an example (1.4K monthly searches).
Use the keyword research tool to look for that term once again. Take a look at the terms that are similar. Look for one with a smaller volume of searches. Repeat the process.
We'll use "plumbing troubles under kitchen sink" as an example (10 monthly searches). That is the subject of our first article.
3. Google the phrase to figure out what your audience is looking for.
You've chosen your topic; now you must determine whether a blog post will satisfy the user's search intent.
What exactly does that imply?
If you search for "plumbing troubles beneath a kitchen sink," you could find a tutorial, a graphic, an article, or a product that can help you solve the problem. You're good if they're searching for the first three — that can be handled in a blog post. A product, on the other hand, is not the same as a blog entry, and it will not rank.
What's the best way to double-check search intent?
Look up the word on Google and see what comes up. You're good to go if other articles and blog posts rank for that phrase. If all you can discover are product pages or listicles from prominent media, you'll need to come up with a different topic for your first article.
Take the phrase "under sink plumbing bathroom" for example (30 monthly searches). Because it had a low monthly search volume, it seemed like an ideal match.
We found product carousels, product pages from Home Depot and Lowes, and guidelines authored by major magazines when we Googled the topic. (At least for now, stay away from issues that have already been covered by large periodicals.)
4. Look for questions and words that are linked to the issue.
You've got a very unusual topic that only a few people have ever heard of. It's time to fill in the blanks by talking about relevant or adjacent issues.
Make use of the following resources:
Answer the Public: Enter your keyword into this tool, and it will provide you with a list of questions that are connected to that topic.
Google: Your best buddy is Google. Look under "People also ask" and "People also search for" while searching for the phrase. Make sure to mention such themes in your post.
These keyword research tools indicated in step one can also be used.
5. Come up with a working title for your project.
To assist you concentrate your writing, you may come up with a couple other working titles — in other words, variations of tackling that issue.
You may limit your topic to "Tools for Fixing Leaky Faucets" or "Common Causes of Leaky Faucets," for example. A working title is precise and can help you start composing your piece.
Isn't that reasonable? In this example, the topic was most likely "blogs." "The Process for Selecting a Blog Post Topic," for example, might have been the working title. "How to Choose a Solid Topic for Your Next Blog Post" became the final title.
Notice how the title changed from topic to working title to final title? Even if the working title isn't the final title (more on that later), it still gives you enough information to focus your blog article on something particular rather than a broad, overwhelming topic.
6. Make a rough layout.
For both the reader and the writer, blog postings can contain an overwhelming quantity of information at times. The key is to structure the information in such a manner that readers aren't overwhelmed by the length or volume of information. This structure can take a variety of forms, including sections, lists, and suggestions, depending on the situation. It must, however, be organized!
7. Create an introduction (and make it captivating).
Let's go through how to write an introduction again.
To begin, seize the reader's attention. They'll stop reading (even before they've given your piece a fair try) if you lose them in the first few pages — or even phrases — of the introduction. Telling a tale or a joke, being compassionate, or gripping the reader with an interesting fact or statistic are all methods to achieve this.
Then, explain what your post's aim is and how it will help the reader with an issue they might be having. This will entice the reader to keep reading by demonstrating how the content will benefit them at work or in their personal life.
Here's an example of a good introduction:
“Blink. Blink, blink, blink. It's the dreaded cursor-on-a-blank-screen scenario that every writer dreads, whether amateur or professional, aspiring or seasoned. And, of all times, it tends to strike us the hardest when we're attempting to write an introduction."
8. Fill in the blanks in each area of your outline.
The actual drafting of the material is the next — but not final — phase. Of course, we must remember that.
You're ready to fill in the blanks now that you have your outline or template. As required, elaborate on all points using your outline as a reference. Write about what you currently know and, if required, perform more research to obtain additional information, examples, and statistics to back up your views, with correct attribution when using outside sources. When you're doing so, make an effort to obtain factual and intriguing data to include in your post.
You're not alone if you're having problems putting sentences together. Finding your "flow" might be difficult for many people. Fortunately, there are several tools available to assist you in improving your writing. To get you started, here are a few:
Power Thesaurus: Stuck on a word? Use the Power Thesaurus. Power Thesaurus is a crowdsourced service that gives users a variety of word alternatives from a community of writers.
ZenPen: If staying focused is a problem for you, try this distraction-free writing tool. ZenPen is a minimalist "writing zone" that allows you to get words down quickly without having to worry about formatting.
Cliché Detector: Do you have a sneaking suspicion that your writing is a touch cheesy? Make a list of situations where you might be able to help.
9. Make your first post public and promote it in any manner you can.
You probably don't have a social media following as a new blogger. Fortunately, you don't need a large following to develop a promotion campaign.
A promotion strategy is a blueprint for how you'll generate, distribute, and engage with social media content. It enables you to share your business, or in this example, your content, through social and digital technology. Having a great promoting plan gives your audience more options to locate your blog content through various marketing platforms.
If you need help, reach out to us. We’re happy to help get your blog started.
________________________________
Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Red Bank, NJ, Westport, CT, and everywhere in between. We service businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing, social media, and consultations.
Contact: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com
Phone: NJ: (732) 802-6205 // CT: (203) 429-9671