STARTING A FREE, PROFITABLE BLOG

 

How to Start a Profitable Blog from Scratch FOR FREE?

Is it easy to start a Blog? If you think “Yes, it is easy”, then you are right.  If not, you can follow my words spelled out in this post to know how easy blogging is and shall fall in line with me.

 

With the available resources, blogging can be made a career or a part-time profession to spend your leisure time in a useful manner.  In blogging, you are not only sparing your knowledge, ideas, and thoughts to others, but you are getting satisfied if someone is benefitted from your knowledge.

Table of Contents

• NICHE
• PLATFORM
• DOMAIN
• HOSTING
• CUSTOMIZATION OF BLOG SITE
• CONTENT CREATION
• PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY
• CONCLUSION

NICHE

 

It is essential that for blogging, you need to have decided upon a topic, otherwise termed a “niche”.  A niche is nothing but the terminology used to denote the topic of your passion on which you have some knowledge.

 

A niche can be your subject of interest, be it food, recipes, travel, fashion, beauty, health, technology, job market, story, biography, quotes, finance, movies, songs, etc.

 

In short, the niche is nothing but a topic of your knowledge, thoughts, and ideas, which are expressed in the form of a blog to reach the readers.

 

It is necessary to identify your interests and what you are passionate about. You should have adequate knowledge of the topic about which you are going to post a blog. 

 

You can make thorough research on the internet to collect more knowledge on your niche so that you are motivated to write about and give only factual content.

 

It is not sufficient if you to make an in-depth study on the niche of your blog, but also it is essential to conduct an analysis of the power of your competitors who already exist in the blog world and identify the gaps or areas so that you can fill up with your ideas and can prove your mettle.

 

Niche selection not only depends upon your own interest, passion, and knowledge, but also should be appealing, and fulfilling their expectations. This particular aspect is considered to be one of the vital areas before finalizing a niche for your blog post.

 

PLATFORM

 

The second step for writing a blog, it is necessary to have a platform through which you can spread your knowledge and ideas to the readers.  They are also called Content Management Systems (CMS). 

 

For example, WordPress, Blogger, Wix, Medium, Superspace, etc. can be used as the required Platform to be engaged for blogging. 

 

Amongst the above, Blogger is run by Google itself and does not charge anything for blogging.  However, if WordPress and Wix, etc. are to be used for blogging, then you may have to pay some money to get their services. 

 

I mean to say, Blogger is hosted by Google itself, wherein you will get your domain registered as a Sub-domain having an extension of “.blogspot.com”. But, in the case of WordPress, Wix, etc. you shall need a Hosting provider who has to be paid for their services. You can choose the Platform to suit your means and needs.

 

Hereunder, I give you some suggestions of Platforms where you can write blog posts:

 

WordPress

 

WordPress - Platform for Building Websites and also for Blogging

WordPress is considered to be a popular blogging platform across the globe. It is an open-source Platform that can be customizable easily with plugins like Elementor etc.

 

WordPress is known for its SEO-friendly approach and as a result, it makes ranking in search engines easy. 

 

Though there are two websites of WordPress, the renowned and widely-used website is WordPress.org and WordPress.com.  Of the two, WordPress.org enables download, installation, and set up of the said Platform hassle-free and at free of cost. It provides you complete control over your blog site.

 

Blogger

 

Blogger - Free Platform for blogging

As narrated earlier, Blogger is a free platform for blogging and is owned by Google itself. Despite its ease-of-use nature, it is not much customizable as compared to other blogging platforms.

 

Wix

 

Though Wix is a website builder, you can use it as a blogging Platform, since it has drag and drop interface also.  As the Wix platform is not much customizable and not that much SEO-friendly compared to other Platforms, it is not being used for blogging purposes.

 

Medium

 

If you have more content and stuff, you can opt for Medium which offers free blogging platform and has been focusing on long-form content. Medium has a built-in reader which enables you to reach a wider range of audience.  But the disadvantage of Medium is that it is not much customizable as other Platforms like WordPress and therefore, has limitations in having complete control over your blog posts.

 

Squarespace

 

Even though Squarespace offers blogging capabilities, easy to use, it is not widely used for blogging as it is not as customizable as other Platforms like WordPress.  However, it has sleek, and designed in a modern way that gives an attractive look to your blog site.

 

Points to ponder while choosing a Platform for your Blogsite

 

When choosing a Platform for blogging, you should consider its user-friendliness, options for customization, SEO friendliness, monetization opportunities, customer support, and forum in case of any difficulty that you may face.

 

DOMAIN

 

You will agree with me to reach any destination, you require to have an address.  Likewise, for blogging, wherein you will be reaching your readers, you should have an address which is called a “Domain”.  A domain is nothing but your blog’s web address.

The following are some tips for Domain name selection

 

• While selecting the Domain name, it should be ensured consciously that the name reflects your Niche, though not completely, at least in a part of your domain name.

• It is also necessary to choose the name of your Domain in such a way that it is easy to remember.

• You should ensure that a simple domain is picked up for your domain so that the intended users can remember it and also easy to avoid any typographical errors while searching.

• Also, the name can be short, catchy, and relevant to the Niche of your blog posts. Avoid lengthy names, establish your intention as to what your blog posts will contain, and depict your capability to provide the articles expected by the visitors.

• Numbers, special characters like hyphens, etc. which may create confusion in the minds of the users should be avoided. 

• As the name of the domain is one of the factors which impacts search engine ranking it is suggested that the niche of your blog may also be included in the domain name, if possible.

• Domain extensions like .com, .in., .au, .uk, .us, .org, .net, etc. also play a vital role in reaching the audience.  The extension with .com is widely taken by many bloggers and website owners to reach multilevel users.

• For example, if your target audience is spread over the entire globe, it is suggested that you opt for the .com domain, and in the case of the audience of select regions, you may choose a different domain extension as per your need.  However, in every case, you may have to check for availability.

• Before you choose a domain name, check to see if it's available. You can use a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap to search for available domain names. If your preferred domain name is already taken, consider using a different extension or adding a word to the end of your name.

• You must be avoiding any trademark infringement so that you do not land in any trouble.  For this purpose, there are some tools like the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), etc. available on the internet and make use of them.

 

HOSTING

 

Hosting is the place where your files are kept in safe custody.  For this purpose, many hosting service providers charge some amount of money.

 

As has been said above, Google takes care of the hosting needs whereas, in the case of WordPress or other self-hosted platforms, there arises the need for a hosting provider. 

 

There are quite a several Hosting service providers like Hostinger, Bluehost, Hostgator, SiteCountry, WordPress, SiteGround, A2 Hosting, etc.

 

Choosing a hosting provider is an important aspect where you will have to consider the speed, bandwidth offers available, SSL Certificate, cost-effectiveness, etc.

 

The following are some tips for Hosting Provider selection:

.

Hostinger

 

Hostinger is one of the most popular hosting providers and is being used by many blog sites and websites.  The WordPress platform also recommends Hostinger and they are having a variety of plans to be bought.  They revise their tariff with many offers, especially during festive seasons, and tailor-made structures with various benefits included therein for every plan.  Their control panel is found to be user-friendly. Hostinger has got arrangements to attend to customer queries and difficulties round-the-clock.

 

Bluehost

 

Bluehost is another popular web hosting company extensively used by bloggers and website owners. This is also recommended by the WordPress platform.  BlueHost offers a variety of plans during the season’s festivals. Many other features of the plans can be researched on the Internet.  Bluehost’s control panel is supposed to be one of the best user-friendly systems duly supported by 24 x 7 customer service.

 

HostGator

 

HostGator is yet another popular brand that provides hosting services anywhere in the globe.  They have plans at affordable prices and are known for their reliable services.  HostGator has a different feature called a shared hosting plan which comes at the lowest price.  Their control panel is easy to use and can be easily integrated with the WordPress platform. Above all, their customer support is also appreciable.

 

SiteGround

 

SiteGround is a web hosting provider that's known for its fast loading times and reliable service. It offers a range of hosting plans, including shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated hosting. SiteGround also offers a user-friendly control panel and easy integration with WordPress. Its customer support is also ranked at the highest level.

 

A2 Hosting

 

A2 Hosting is known for its loading speed.  They have different plans to suit your needs.  They provide excellent customer support and also have a shared hosting plan which comes at a cheaper rate.  A2Hosting offers a user-friendly control panel and facilitates easy integration with the WordPress platform.

 

However, before making a decision on choosing your hosting services provider, you should go through the reviews, value additions offered by them, and other necessary aspects and act accordingly.

 

CUSTOMIZATION OF BLOG SITE

 

Though you will have good content on your blog site, it is imperative to ensure that the site gives an attractive look and appearance at first sight.  While customizing your site, it is essential to bear in mind that it has abridged contents depicting your brand name, conveys a message to the visitor about your intentions, the purpose of this site, etc. 

 

Suppose you are gonna write blogs on the Food niche, the landing page or Home Page of your site contains some food-related images and short clippings so that your audience is well impressed and stays on to your blog site for some time and has satisfied experience.

 

It must be user-friendly and readable, understandable, and appealing in nature. 

 

It also gives an impression to the visitors about your knowledge, style, the authority that you are going to build, etc.

 

All widgets and gadgets in the blog site find a proper place so that the audience or visitors are not put into any hardship in searching for their requirements.

 

Here are some tips for Customization:

Selection of the right type of theme or template

To have a website or a blog site, it is necessary to have a decent theme.  The theme so selected must be appealing, pleasing, readable, attractive, easily customizable, and facilitates easy motivation by the visitors to your site.

 

Customization of the Header and Logo of the Site

The Header of your site, being visible at the top of the page should keep the visitor engaged and attracted so that he/she spends some time digging to know the contents.  Therefore, the landing and post pages are appealing and give the best impression of your efforts. 

The font selection, color scheme selection, and placement of your Logo, etc. should fit with your Brand or Niche. 

 

Selection of color scheme

 

You should choose the color scheme that matches the other contents and design of the page. Also, the color scheme so selected by you should fit with your Niche and is visually appealing. Mostly complementary colors are used which might work well together. 

 

Above all, you must maintain the color scheme for each and every aspect throughout the website or blog site.  Contradictions, if any may affect your prosperity in the blogging career.

 

Customization of fonts

 

The font size, font color, etc. must be maintained throughout the site as the fonts have a big impact on user experience and also in Search Engine Optimization. Therefore, avoid using too many different fonts, as this can make your website look cluttered and unprofessional.

 

Adding widgets and plugins

 

For customizing a website or a blog page, various Widgets and Plugins are put into use. They also help in designing a webpage or a blog post and add functionality and visual appeal to your website.

 

To keep your audience engaged and stay on your website, you can add some widgets like social media icons, image galleries, popular posts, archives, etc.  You can also have features like a Contact form to enable your audience to connect with you and offer their comments and suggestions for improvisation purposes.

 

Making your Site Responsive

 

In these modern days, mobile and tablet users have increased multifold and these devices act as mini-computers enabling ease of use anywhere and everywhere.  It is, therefore, important to ensure that your website can be viewed on a Mobile or a Tablet for which the necessity arises to optimize the contents of your blog and that images are made responsive, for which the theme selection plays a crucial role.

 

Testing and alteration

 

After customization of the design, you should test it out on various devices and make necessary corrections and alterations, wherever required.  These tests can be conducted by your friends and family members also who can offer better suggestions.

 

CONTENT CREATION

 

Content creation plays a major role in a blog site to give the desired result.  It should be ensured that your blog posts are informative and of some value, keeping the readers engaged and not boring.

 

You must write blog posts keeping yourself in the shoes of your audiences so that you will be better addressing their needs and expectations and also satisfy the purpose of their visiting your site.

 

There are many Keyword research tools available on the internet that can give you ideas of selection of Keywords, trends, density, suggestions, difficulty level, etc. For this purpose, you may use many websites like Google Keyword Planner, keyword.io, SmallSEOtools, Ahrefs, SEMrush, etc.

 

However, Keywords should be used judiciously at appropriate places to avoid high keyword density. 

 

It is very much necessary that your posts give clarity, crispness, up to the point, interest to the readers, assertiveness,  and contain factual statements. This will help in your blog post’s ranking in search results.

 

The following are some tips for Content Creation

 

Try to ascertain the type of audience

Before blogging, as yourself the following questions:

Who are all going to be my audience?

What are their interests?

What are their expectations?

What do they want to search for?

The answers to the above questions will motivate you to write the right type of blog which can lead you to achieve your goal.

 

Express your thoughts and ideas

After ascertaining the pulse of your audience, jump into action in expressing your ideas and knowledge. Write your blog in a simple language of your choice which should address the needs of the audience.

.

Draw an outline

 

However, you must draw a rough outline of the blog post so that you can add or delete sub-headings and points to get yourself satisfied from the angle of an audience.

 

After drawing a sketch of your blog, collect the necessary materials to be poured into the blog post and make a thorough research to have first-hand knowledge of your inputs.

 

Once the above steps are done, pen down your thoughts, knowledge, and ideas to give a factual picture to your audience.

 

At no point in time, do not supply your readers with information on misrepresented facts, or falsified points.

 

Jot down your points in such a way they are put in an organized and consistent manner to make the readers feel satisfied with their requirements.

 

Use a list of contents, tables, point-wise statements, bullet points, and paragraphs of small size to keep your audience fully engaged and induce them to read further.

 

Maintain a fixed frequency of posts, either daily or weekly, or monthly as per your capacity and capability, and create a schedule for the publication of each post.

 

Quality of content

 

In content creation, you should bear in mind that only organized, structured, and high-quality content is only published by you.

 

Your content should be clear, engaging, well-analyzed, thoughtful, and meet the requirements of your audience.

 

SEO Optimization

 

Search Engine Optimization needs to be given due cognizance while writing a blog post.  Unless your blog posts are found by search engines without any hurdle, your entire effort will go in vain.

 

Use proper keywords strictly related to your Niche should find their place in an opt and appropriate manner. 

 

Ensure that the keywords are taking place in the title, introductory paragraph,d in a few more places of your blog post wherever relevant. 

 

Avoid a high degree of keyword density, as otherwise, it may go against your achieving the goal. 

 

Enforcing the presence of keywords without relevance, justification, and unnecessary parts of your blog post will go detrimental to you.

 

Insertion of Images/Videos

 

Insertion of related visuals like images, infographics, and videos can give a better look to your blog post and keep the readers engaged and interested to stay on it.  For this purpose, there are some websites like pixabay.com, pexels.com, unsplash.com, and Google Images available on the internet where you can get copyright-free images and videos. 

 

However, make it a point you insert only copyright-free images only, or else you will attract a penalty on yourself as per policy violation laws.

 

Encourage engagement

 

I had already stated that widgets like contact forms etc. can be included in your site so that your audience gets connected with you easily.  Note down the moderated comments and give your reply wherever required. While this step will encourage your readers on the one hand, it will get you to know their knowledge, ideas, experiences, etc. on the topic of your blog,

 

There are many social media platforms available to share your content will go a long way in getting new audiences also to your posts.

 

Analysis of metrics

 

Google provides various stats about the metrics of your blog posts such as page views, experience, bounce rate et,c.  These data are given by Google Country-wise, region-wise, on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis which help you to establish your position.  For this purpose, you can use Google Analytics, which is a free tool from Google.

 

Take necessary corrective steps, if any are required, and adopt appropriate strategies so that your posts are taken forward in the Google ranking.

 

PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY

 

After completing a blog post, you cannot be complacent with what you have written.  Therefore, use various Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for promoting your ideas.

 

It is like a salesmanship art in marketing your product to gain popularity which will boost your aim to reach the mass audience by driving more traffic to your blog site.

 

CONCLUSION

 

In the present day, Blogging has been playing a vital role to keep us engaged either by writing blogs or reading them on the internet either to share our knowledge, idea, and experiences, for the benefit of humanity or to enhance our wisdom by knowing new facts on various topics. 

 

Therefore, blogging is a never-ending process and can be considered eternal.