by Murray Lunn

Created on: July 30, 2010   Last Updated: January 09, 2012

Blogging is one of the most powerful tools to build an online brand, make money or just to have fun writing. With blogging, your limits are endless - it's only dependent on your passion and creativity.

The number one question that many ask is: How do I start blogging?

This guide will take you through the steps on setting up a blog, creating content, driving traffic and taking it even further by using it a platform for business, branding and a source of income.

INTRO: What is a Blog?

Blogs, unlike websites, display articles (called posts) in a reverse chronological order. In plain English: your most recent posts are displayed first.

What makes a blog different from a static website is the ability for users to interact through various methods; the most common being a commenting system where users can leave additional information, comments and insights about your posts.

Additionally, being a social platform, Blogs are excellent for being active online. It's no secret that search engines and web users absolutely love blogs due to their timely and valuable information. Web users love to share blog posts - this is the foundation which can build your brand, business or community.

STEP 1: Setting Up a Blog

When setting up a blog there are only a few essential steps (some have become so common that they're almost fundamental). Additionally, before starting a blog, you should choose a niche topic (which is explained in detail below).

Note: Wordpress, without a doubt, is the best blogging platform. The countless plugins, support and long-time use has cemented it as the go-to choice when starting a blog.

0. Choose a niche

1. Buy a domain

2. Buy hosting

3. Install Wordpress

4. Install a Wordpress theme

5. Install Wordpress plugins

Let's go through each of these a little more thoroughly.

When you begin blogging, you must look at the focus of your blog - this is often called a niche. Going after broad topics is one of the many mistakes beginner bloggers make when starting their blog. Example: Photoshop, Coaching, eCommerce, Writing. Think of your niche as a hobby you absolutely love to read, write and talk about - this is the easiest way to find a great blog topic.

A domain name is the URL you will type in to access your blog - if you've used the web, you know what this is. You can purchase domain names from various domain providers at variable rates. GoDaddy is an easy and quick domain hosting service which can help you purchase and setup your domain name in minutes.

Hosting

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