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Blogging today is a different ball game compared to what it was in the past. Gone are the dreamy-eyed early generation of bloggers. They have now been replaced by the hard-nosed, analytics-driven professional bloggers for whom blogging is serious business.
At Flexidollars, our team of top gun digital experts, channelized all their digital knowledge and experience and put together a comprehensive, step-by-step, guide for the aspiring, young blogger. This guide is a systematized approach on how to start a blog and populate it with great content. We will also guide you on how to market your blog and make money from blogging with minimum investment.
Behind every successful blog, there is a well-defined niche of opportunity. A blog niche is essentially a carefully selected subject matter, which will be the focal point for your blog content development. Your niche may be as varied as music, art, travel, health & wellness… just about any subject that you are truly passionate about. So, first things first, before you start a blog, zero in on your niche.
If you Google ‘blogging platforms’ you will get a wide range of viable options. Blogger, Medium, Ghost, Tumblr, Wix, Weebly… well, it’s a long list folks!
So, let’s cut through the clutter.
If you are truly passionate about blogging, and are willing to put in the effort and discipline that is required to transform it into a truly great blog, then this is a no-brainer.
The best blogging platform for you is WordPress with Bluehost hosting.
WordPress is a customizable, Content Management System (CMS), an open source (free) blogging platform, which you can host on any web hosting service provider of your choice. For the truly passionate blogger, who wishes to start a truly kickass blog, we recommend WordPress with Bluehost hosting as this combination packs a potent punch!
A WordPress blog is very simple to set-up and publishing new blog posts regularly, can be done easily without any fancy HTML editing software.
Across all the top blogging platforms, only Bluehost delivers a stunning average uptime of 99.97%. They also ensure fast page-loading speed, which is key to retaining visitors in the blog.
WordPress offers responsive blog themes, which will automatically adjust to screen sizes of any, every device, ensuring optimal user experience.
WordPress is a free, open-source blogging platform. So when you start a blog, you only have to pay for hosting the blog. And Bluehost offers the best packages and deals to suit any and every type of blogger.
Bluehost has an excellent team of experts who provide 24/7 customer support to bloggers across the world.
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Every serious blogger has to research, brainstorm and create a shortlist of domain name alternatives. While generating brand name alternatives, keep these 3 key pointers in mind.
A good blog domain name should ideally be within 6 to 14 characters max.
Driven by the desire to stand out, many a blogger tries to get clever/cute with their blog name. And end up with a name that confuses the visitor. A good blog name must clearly reflect what the blog is all about.
Avoid both numbers and hyphens to differentiate, as it’s tougher to communicate such names orally.
Next, you have to check if your domain name is available. You can check for you domain name availability here…
https://www.bluehost.com/domains
If the domain name you want isn’t available, do not get disheartened. It’s is a very common phenomenon, faced by many an aspiring blogger who desires to start a blog, as there are millions of websites on the Internet today. All you have to do is work out variants of your preferred domain name or look at completely different alternatives, as well.
Then, all you have to do is get your domain name registered. Domain names can cost anywhere from $10 to $40 a year. You can also get your domain registered at BlueHost.
Once you sign up with Bluehost, choose your hosting plan and register your domain name, you are now ready to install your WordPress Blog on Bluehost.
Installing your WordPress Blog on Bluehost is a simple process…
Very important – Note down your blog URL, username and password.
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This is the ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ phase!
This is when you, as a blogger brimming with ideas, gets the opportunity to transform your vision into design.
WordPress offers a huge repository of both free and paid design templates. Team Flexidollars has put down a few valuable tips that you should follow during the theme selection process.
If you are a first-time blogger with a shoestring budget, looking to create a smart blog, then we suggest that you start with a free theme, But, once you get the blog going, do move to a premium (paid) theme, as it gives you a superior digital presence.
But if you have the financial resources to start a compelling blog, then it’s a no-brainer. Go for the paid, premium themes.
Resist the temptation to go for a bloated theme. An agile, lightweight theme ensures quick, fast page loads.
Most WordPress themes are mobile responsive. But still, please test it thoroughly on different mobile devices to see its visual impact for yourself.
Please ensure that the theme you select is designed to work with all WordPress SEO Plugins.
Always check the developers support policy. Good premium themes offer at least 12 months support and updates, with an option for annual renewal.
WordPress offers a huge array of Plugins for just about any and every functionality that you need, when you start your blog. Choose your Plugins wisely, as too many Plugins can bloat your blog and affect its upload speed.
Congratulations! You now have a Kick-ass Blog in Place!
But, before going Live, please do a complete audit of your blog and make those minor corrections which invariably crop up, before you go Live!
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