WordPress is one of the most popular choices for blogging

Do you want to create a personal blog? Well, you’re not alone. New posts are being published every day. From sharing opinion pieces to how-to guides, blogs are what people turn to when they are in need.

WordPress is one of the most popular choices for blogging. It has all the essential tools you will need to manage and get your blog going.

There are a few things to keep in mind when starting a personal blog with WordPress. In this article, we will present a quick guide to help you get started.

1. Domain Name

A domain name is what people type into the address bar to access your site, such as google.com or usa.gov.

You will make your first impression on your visitors through the URL that leads to your website. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of your domain name and make sure it shows off your brand.

Domains that end in .com are the most popular, but it’s also harder to find one that hasn’t already been claimed.

Other domain extension options are available, of course, but don’t feel shy about getting creative and choosing a unique name. You can also try using your name or have it be a play on words.

If you are still stumped or need a bit of inspiration, try out 10 Best Blog Name Generators for some new ideas. A concise name that is easy to remember could offer better results. Make sure to also check if the domain you choose is available.

2. Niche

An essential step in creating a blog is deciding what you want it to be about.

Luckily, with a personal blog, you can choose anything that interests you. From travel and photography to music and good food, there are endless possibilities you can choose from.

A good rule of thumb is to go with something you like. When you enjoy it, your readers and customers will notice too.

For more ideas, try brainstorming and narrowing down what your niche could be. Use blogs to help you if you still need help.

3. Web Hosting

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a web host service. Some of these include the ease of set up, the features available to use, and the cost. Here are some of your hosting choices:

  • Shared Hosting – houses multiple sites on one physical server. Usually more affordable and easy to use. Aimed more towards new or smaller site owners.
  • Cloud Hosting – a virtual server that keeps the simplicity of shared hosting. All resources are dedicated to you. Aimed towards business owners and larger projects with higher prices.
  • VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting – allows you more freedom and control, but requires some technical knowledge.

4. Install WordPress

Setting up WordPress is pretty simple. Most web hosts have an option for you to use the Auto Installer located in your control panel. The most popular auto-installers are APS, Fantastico, Installatron, and Softaculous.

To install WordPress using these auto-installers, the setup wizards will take care of most of the work. Simply follow the short steps, and you will have WordPress installed in no time.

5. Install a Theme

The important thing to remember is your theme isn’t set in stone. You can always go back and change it if it doesn’t work with your site, or you decide to try something different.

There are default themes that are designed for WordPress beginners, and more are being released each year. You can browse through the WordPress themes or upload a theme from a third-party provider.

If you want to go a step further, there are Premium themes you can download for an added cost.

6. Customise with Widgets & Plugins

WordPress sets up your website with all the essential elements for a primary site. But, some plugins can add additional features and functions to make your site even better.

  • All in One SEO Plugin – includes additions such as sitemaps, auto meta tag generator, and schema markup that will make your site easier to find in search engines.
  • YoastSEO – helps attract more visitors to your site by optimising your content with keywords and improving your ranking on search engine results pages.
  • WP-Super-Cache – helps speed up your WordPress blog.
  • Blog2Social – schedules the sharing of your content onto your social media platforms.

7. Create Content

Decide what type of content you want to write. It can be an online journal, how-to guides, reviews, etc. Remember to focus on your niche and your target audience. Try to answer the questions that you think they will ask.

Engage with your audience and be consistent. Try to create a schedule for when you will post and stick to it. But keep it realistic as well, don’t promise and then not deliver. Some writing practices you should remember is to have an engaging intro, include quality content and a solid conclusion.

Remember these tips when creating quality content:

  • Check your writing – No spelling or grammar errors. Avoid unnecessary language.
  • Research – Give examples and check your facts
  • Multimedia – Include photos or videos
  • Formatting – Use headers, subheaders, bullet lists, etc.

Finally, remember to edit your work. Proofread your content, take a break, and proofread it again. A blog full of misspelled words or typos doesn’t look the good in your viewer’s eyes.

8. Optimise for Search Engines (SEO)

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is becoming a common term when it comes to blogging. So it’s best to learn basic SEO. This tool can keep you a step ahead of your competition and help make sure your content remains relevant and noticed.

Some SEO tips to remember are:

  • Install an SEO plugin – optimise your page and posts for each keyword.
  • Conduct keyword research – create content your visitors want and generate more traffic to your site.
  • Google Search Console – see how your site is doing in search engine results and if there are any site errors.
  • Google Analytics – lets you track the performance of your users.

Conclusion

It takes time to build up a sizeable following when starting a personal blog, but it’s possible. Remember to schedule your posts and write content that your target audience would like to read.

Blogs won’t get a huge following unless you are doing something interesting and exciting, but if you share content that entertains, educates, and informs, you can do well. Good Luck!

Get in touch now if you need help with building your WordPress website or blog.