SETTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS BLOG
A blog can serve as an invaluable tool for business owners, providing an online journal that has the potential to enhance sales and facilitate successful networking.
When leveraged effectively, blogs offer a simple yet powerful method to advertise your business and showcase your offerings to the vast population of internet users. Gone are the days when blogs were solely seen as platforms for personal expression; they have evolved into a versatile medium for promoting businesses and products.
By tailoring your blog’s messaging to your target audience, you can tap into the burgeoning trend of individuals seeking in-depth knowledge about specific topics or products.
People turn to blogs as a valuable source of information and expertise, making it an opportune platform to establish yourself as an authority in your industry and to connect with potential customers.
Through well-crafted blog posts, you can provide valuable insights, answer common questions, and address pain points, thereby attracting and engaging your target audience.
With the growing number of individuals visiting blogs, regularly posting on these platforms can enable prospective clients and customers to remain informed. By creating buzz around your business, you can amplify its popularity.
Additionally, readers who find your website engaging are likely to share the links with their acquaintances, thereby expanding your audience reach.
Guides to Setting Up Your Own Business / Personal Blog
- 1. Determine Your Niche And Target Audience.
- 2. Brainstorming a domain name (url) for your blog:
- 3. Choose a Blogging Platform / Blog Builder
- How to monetize your blog
1. Determine Your Niche And Target Audience.
Personal finance blogs, money-making blogs, travel blogs, health-related blogs, blogs about religion, etc. are a few examples of blog niches. This means that you must adhere to a particular niche in which you excel and write articles about it.
Establishing your business blog requires you to decide exactly what it will be used for as the first stage in the process. Knowing precisely what goods, services, or concepts you intend to sell or offer is necessary for this.
For example, if you currently have a business and want to increase its online presence, beginning a blog is a smart move.
Customers or visitors who are likely to be interested in your distinctive product or services would be your target market. This means that whether or not people visit or patronize your business blog will depend on the type and uniqueness of the content (items or services) that you provided.
Keep in mind if you’re just getting started that blogs have reportedly been the most lucrative niche. Blogs with specific topics, such as those on health and fitness, business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, lifestyle, and making money.
Take a look at this statistic.
Meanwhile, when choosing or trying to figure out your blog niche, consider the following tips:
- 1. Blog about something you enjoy.
- 2. Blog about something with plenty of room for discussion.
- 3. Choose a niche in which you can establish yourself as an authority.
Niche Research is paramount to the success of any online busines. Likewise it is when trying to find a profitbale blogging niche.
This is an in-depth guide to finding a profitable blogging niche.
HEY! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS 43 PAGE REPORT ON HOW TO UNCOVER PROFITABLE NICHES IN 7 EASY STEPS.
NICHE RESEARCH BLUEPRINTS: Uncovering Profitable Niches in 7 Easy Steps.
2. Brainstorming a domain name (url) for your blog:
Your blog’s domain name should reflect the market niche on which you’re concentrating. Mind you, coming up with a name for your website can occasionally be tedious and mentally taxing.
While you can choose the name of your blog (which will lend you credibility and demonstrate your influence), you can also choose the name of your company or come up with any name you can come up with.
Take, for instance, the name or title of this very blog: Wealth on Net. (As I use it as my blog address (domain name or url); www.wealthonnet.com) And if you study this blog very closely, you will notice it is centered on the “making money online” niche, and I have added a bit of the “online business” niche to it.
Mind you, it is always advisable to stick to one particular niche for easy ranking on Google and to get massive traffic. But for those that know their way around blogging, combining two niche topics in a blog is never a problem.
3. Choose a Blogging Platform / Blog Builder
Once you finish brainstorming and come up with a good title and a domain name, it is now time to choose a blogging platform. We have many platforms that you can make use of: Blogger (also known as blogspot), WordPress.com, WordPress.org (using any of this hosting provider), Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix.
Some of them are paid services, while the others are free.
You see, using an Internet “standalone” service like WordPress.com or Google’s Blogger is the ideal method to start blogging quickly (and for free).
These are totally free tools that may be customized, and they help both beginning and experienced bloggers. Conversely, you won’t be able to use the domain name for your website in the interim.
Your blog’s address, if you’re using free Blogger, might be something like “yourblog.blogspot.com.” Although you can link your newly created blog to your existing website if you already have one, search engines will undoubtedly give you more credit for the additional content as it is on a distinct domain.
However, you can still gain from the greater visibility a blog can provide by using strategic cross linking.
These free services provide powerful software tools that balance value, quality, and ease of use. While some people prefer to use more basic blog services, they too can truly benefit from the “built-in” benefits of WordPress or Blogger along with its already large community of users.
Some of these free platforms have advantages over some blog software packages due to their superior functionality and customer care.
Both Blogger and WordPress let you build and post to your blog using simple icons akin to those used in word processing programs without requiring you to know any “code.”
Having access to a tool like this enables users to produce blogs that are as sophisticated and comprehensive as full-fledged websites.
If you are occasionally ‘offline’ you can benefit from WordPress’s ability to import posts. This means you can put your blog together while you are not connected to the internet and then import it later.
If you already use another blogging service such you can also import your posts directly into Blogger or WordPress.
Another benefit of these services is their large widget, element, and theme libraries that allow you to instantly add useful features, and professional-looking styles to your blog. A very simple drag and drop interface allows you to add features such as an RSS feed with a few clicks.
BLOGGING WITH A FREE PLATFORM
Let’s say you decided to blog on a free platform like Blogger-blogspot or WordPress.com.
Remember that your blog URL will be something like: www.wealthonnet.blogspot.com. Or wealthonnet.wordpress.com which is not professional at all.
So what will you do to remove the blogspot and WordPress extension?
That’s where you will need to purchase the service of domain name registrars. When you register your domain name e.g, wealthonnet, dot com (.com) extension will be added to it and it will become www.wealthonnet.com which you can easily redirect to from your Blogger or WordPress panel.
Note: all these you can do by yourself as long as you know how to read and write, (check YouTube tutorials as a guide) even then, you can still get the service of a pro blogger.
Mind you, there are many domain name registrars out there—in fact, too many of them. But I will recommend namecheap. This is the best I have gotten acquainted with, and I have seen positive results and reviews about it.
What you do is simple, get over to the websites, type the domain name you’ve brainstormed and many options will be shown to you if what you typed in the box is available.
See if your blog name is available, if it is, then you’re good to go, but if it’s taken, you’re going to find another one.
Note: You cannot use any space or punctuation other than dashes in a domain name. If you find that the name you wanted is already taken, there are a few things you can do: Try a different domain extension.
If the .com version is already registered you may still be able to get the .net or .org version of your blog name.
Add small words. Words like “a”, “my”, or “the”. For example, this site is called wealthonnet.com, it can also be twisted to mean, wealthinnet, or mywealthguide, or thewealthsquare etc.
Just if you decide to use the free blogger platform provided by google itself;
Here is an ultimate guide to setting up a free blog on blogger
(i carefully explained verything you need to do step by step
Blogging With A Paid Platform
We have paid services like SquareSpace, wix, WordPress.org etc.
Being a paid service, it has its advantages over free services. one of which is that you have total authority over your blog and you can do and undo as you like with it. Unlike the free platforms, which are restricted in some ways,
The best and most widely used paid blog and website builder is WordPress.org.
Choosing WordPress.org means it’s self-hosted. This means you will have complete control over your content and monetization strategies. If you want to run a blog or even offer a service like freelance writing, then having a self-hosted site is your best option in the long run. This gives you the capability to start a business, look professional, and be credible.
These are some important reasons why you should choose WordPress: There’s a big WordPress community out there. This means if you have a question, you can probably find the answer in a blog post or YouTube video. Most sites are WordPress sites (which means your future clients are probably using WordPress too).
It’s much easier to customize a WordPress self-hosted site with plugins and themes. And finally, you can easily set up a WordPress blog in under 10 minutes! It is very easy to do. etc.
But before you can set up your WordPress.org site you will need a hosting provider upon which you can install your WordPress site.
A blog host is a company that stores all of the files for your blog and delivers them to the user when they type in your blog name. You must have a blog host in order to have a blog.
In this guide I will be showing you how to set up a wordpress blog using Bluehost, because it is the most popular, customizable, and easiest to use.
There are actually two competitive hosting companies that I know: bluehost and HostGator. Even then, I will still go for Bluehost anytime, because of their easy-to-use services and for the following reasons:
- They will register your blog name for you for free, making sure no one else can take it.
- They offer a free, simple installation of the WordPress blogging software.
- They have been recommended by WordPress since 2005 and currently host over 2 million blogs and websites.
- They have helpful 24/7 customer service via phone or web chat.
- They have a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied for any reason.
- Use any BlueHost link on this site to make sure you get the special discount price of $2.95 per month.
Setting up a WordPress blog on Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the top web hosting companies in 2022, and you can start your own blog with them for as low as $2.99 a month. If you sign up now, then you will get your domain for free if you purchase a 12-month or longer hosting plan (a $15 value).
I highly recommend signing up for the 12-month hosting plan through Bluehost. It’s affordable, and you can save a lot of money by signing up for at least 12 months. If you want a better deal, the best value would be purchasing a 36-month plan, as your monthly rate is much lower over the long run.
FIRST STEP: Head over to bluehost.com Choose Your Plan
Then click on the big green button that says, “Get started now”; your next page shows the plans.
There are three main plans on Bluehost: the basic, the plus and the prime. If you want to host multiple sites (i.e. have more than one blog or business online) or need unlimited storage space, you can go with the plus plan. With the plus plan, you can definitely host many blogs on one plan.
It is highly recommended that you get domain privacy like the SpamExperts and CodeGuard service, check out the choice plus plan because it’s included for free!
Meanwhile, if you’re just starting out and perhaps cash is not all that at hand, you’re good to go with the basic plan, as it has all what you need. It’s perfect for new freelancers and bloggers. You get one website (and a free domain) with plenty of website space to get your business up and running.
Step Two: Type/choose your domain name:
Meanwhile, if your domain name is already taken, you can always go ahead purchase your plan and come back to do that after you’ve figure something out.
Step Three: Account/Package/Payment Info/Password
After selecting your plan, fill out your information. Go ahead and fill out your account information and choose the package you want.
Meanwhile, take note that you save more by choosing the 36 month plan, and you won’t have to bother about paying for hosting for the next three years.
And you can pay for this plan with your credit card or PayPal.
After setting up your password, you can now log into your Bluehost panel and install WordPress.
Step Four: Customizing and Writing your first post
Bluehost makes installing WordPress very easy. after which you can pick some themes. There are a lot of premade templates you can choose from on WordPress. Nevertheless, if you want a premium or customized template, you can always visit Themerorest to purchase a nice template that suits your needs.
.jpg "Wordpress dashboard")
From here, Bluehost directs you to the back end of your WordPress website! The default WordPres theme is already installed for you. but, when you’re ready, you can start customizing the theme you end up choosing. You can add a logo, change the header image (if your theme has one), and create your business pages.
The POST section on the dashboard above is where you add your new post, install tags, and categories, as well as access your draft posts and the like.
The COMMENT section is where you customize the comment of your blog, you can set to either authomatically approvve comments or manually etc.
The PAGES, is where you add the important pages you need on your blog. the following are some of the first pages you should considered adding to your blog immediately: Privacy policy page, About Page, Discalimer page, and contact us page etc. Termly is a service that automatically does these things for you quickly and without stress.
The APPEARANCE section is where you customize your blog, add, edit and remove themes and other important features needed on your blog.
PLUGINS: WordPress has thousands of plugins that make your work quite easy. These are some of the important plugins you should have: Yoast SEO, Askimet, Jetpack, Contact form 7, Prettylinks, broken link checker, MonsterInsight, updraftplus etc.
WHAT NEXT
Start writing and posting on your blog. Share it on social media as you post. It’s time to start blogging now that your site is operational. An introduction to your new blog in one paragraph can serve as your first post.
A longer post with one or two cool images can be created if you’re feeling a little more ambitious. You will need to invest some time in promoting your blog by posting links to your posts on various social media platforms, forums, etc.
Wondering how you will get traffic to your blog? dont’t wory, I got you covered:
Here is an article on 25 ways to drive free targeted traffic to your blog
How to monetize your blog
As the number of your posts increases, search engines will regularly stop by to pick up new content. Your visitors will begin to grow. Your objective is to get as many visitors as possible to visit your blog. The more people who visit your blog, the more money you will make.
Make no mistake, the opportunity is there. The top blogs make in excess of $10,000 per month. But be warned, there are no shortcuts. With lots of hard work, unique, fresh content, and a dash of inspiration, you too can achieve these returns.
By now, you will have put in the hard work needed to develop your blog. It’s always a labor of love. Now it’s time for all that hard work to pay off. Here are some suggestions for making money with your blog:
(1) One of the most popular methods of making money with blogs is to host ads. Google Adsense is a good example. You let Google put their ads on your site and get paid when people click on the ads.
Other advertising works in a similar way. Blogads, Adbrite, Chikita and Double Click are other examples of paid advertising.
(2) For a fee you can allow people to place links to their blog or website on your blog. These advertising positions can be sold on Ebay, via somewhere like TextLink Brokers or directly from your site.
(3) Affiliate programs work on blogs as well as they work on websites. Affiliate with companies that sell products related to your site. When people click on the link in your blog and purchase a product, you profit.
This is another way of making money online with blogs that doesn’t cost you anything. If you are passionate about a product and write about it, this can work very well.
SEE THIS: SEVEN CRITICAL FACTORS YOU MUST CONSIDER TO MAKE MASSIVE AFFILIATE COMMISSIONS
(4) If you have a website, blog about some aspect of it and provide a link. Your blog can effectively sell the product, and all the customer has to do is click to your site and order it.
There are many ways to make money with your blog. I hope this simple guide helps you on the way to earning a good return.
Now, let me be sincere with you, There are no short cuts. You are unlikely to make money instantly, but with some hard work and great content, you can generate a good additional income from your blog.
TOP RECOMMENDED RESOURCE:
The Advanced Step by Step guide To Blogging Your Way Into Financial Freedom.
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FAQs
Why should I consider using a blog to promote my business?
Using a blog to promote your business offers several advantages. It allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your industry, connect with your target audience, provide valuable insights and information, improve your website's visibility in search engines, and engage potential customers in a cost-effective manner.
How can a blog help me attract potential customers?
By creating high-quality content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience, you can attract potential customers to your blog. Through informative and engaging posts, you can demonstrate your expertise, answer their questions, and offer valuable solutions, which in turn builds trust and establishes your brand as a go-to resource.
What type of content should I create for my business blog?
The content you create for your business blog should align with your target audience's interests and needs. It can include educational articles, industry insights, how-to guides, case studies, product reviews, interviews with experts, and any other content that provides value and relevance to your audience.
How frequently should I publish new content on my blog?
Consistency is key when it comes to blogging. Aim to publish new content on a regular basis, whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. The frequency will depend.
Can I use my blog to generate leads for my business?
Yes, you can use your your business blog to generate leads. By incorporating lead generation tactics such as offering downloadable resources, encouraging newsletter sign-ups, or providing free trials or consultations, you can capture contact information from interested readers and nurture them into potential customers.
How can I promote my blog and increase its visibility?
Promoting your blog is essential to reach a wider audience. Share your blog posts on social media platforms, engage with relevant online communities and forums, collaborate with influencers or other businesses, optimize your content for search engines, and consider guest blogging on other established websites in your industry.
Should I write all the blog content myself, or can I outsource it?
You can choose to write the blog content yourself or outsource it to professional writers or agencies. It depends on your available time, writing skills, and budget. If you outsource, ensure that the writers understand your brand's voice, industry, and target audience.
How can I measure the success of my blog in promoting my business?
You can measure the success of your blog by tracking various metrics, such as website traffic, engagement (comments, social shares), lead generation (conversions, newsletter sign-ups), search engine rankings, and ultimately, the impact on your business's bottom line (increased sales, revenue, or brand recognition).
