Hey there, new blogger-to-be. I’m so excited for your new blog and that you’re doing the research now to get it started the right way. That’s smart
In this Zero to Blog series, I’m going to take you through the basics you need to know to start a profitable blog:
- How to Choose Your Blogging Niche
- How to Identify Your Target Audience
- How to Choose a Perfect Domain Name
- How to Set Up Hosting for Your New Blog
Is there a wrong way to start a blog? Well, kind of. And a lot of it comes down to your niche.What’s a niche? Basically, it’s what your blog is about. And it’s the very first thing you need to decide.
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WHAT MAKES A BLOG SHAREABLE?
Think back to your favorite blogs. Why are they your favorite?Chances are they talk about something pretty specific. For example, you don’t expect your favorite food blogger to suddenly start talking about graphic design, politics, or the latest must-have stroller. Right?Now there’s nothing wrong with having a blog that covers more than one topic, like a lifestyle blog, but… Let’s think back to that favorite blog of yours again… why do you like reading it?In fact, why do people read blogs anyway?Most people are looking for what’s in it for them.Whether that’s an answer to a question, or entertainment.It’s human nature.That’s why a post like: My awesome trip to a farmstay, is less interesting to a potential reader than: 7 secrets to planning the perfect farmstay vacation.Once someone points out the difference, it’s obvious. Am I right?
INFORMATIONAL POSTS TRUMP INSPIRATIONAL/PERSONAL POSTS
When I started my first blog, I treated it like a glorified public diary. Yeah. I did that. It was embarrassing.Blogs aren’t really like that anymore.Successful blogs especially aren’t like that anymore. And we want your blog to be successful! Having a blog is kind of like running a mini-magazine.But, back to your niche. You’re either overflowing with ideas right now or completely stumped. It’s cool. This isn’t an all or nothing kind of deal. You can change your mind later if you want to.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BLOGGING NICHE
Grab a notebook, here’s some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- What topics are you passionate about?
- What are your hobbies?
- What do you have knowledge of?
- How can you help others with your blog?
You should choose something that you’re passionate about, as you’ll be blogging about it for a long time.
WHAT ABOUT BLOGGING FOR MONEY?
But, what about the money?There is NOTHING wrong with starting a blog to make money. Writing blog posts take time, marketing your blog takes time, nurturing your readers and your email list… well it all takes time.As a mom, my time is precious, and so is yours. So please, by all means, start a blog with the intention of making money.That being said, you shouldn’t jump in on a niche that isn’t a good fit for you simply because you think it’ll be profitable.What to do instead? Take your ideas from the questions above and do a bit of research.It’s a good sign if you:
- Find other blogs in your niche (if there are NO other blogs, it probably isn’t very popular or profitable.)
- Find products for sale or sponsored posts on those blogs.
Now that you’ve found some blogs in your niche, why don’t you bookmark them? These guys aren’t your competition, they’re potential friends that will help you on your blogging journey. We’ll come back to making friends in another post!
OVER TO YOU
Have you chosen the perfect niche for your blog? Let us know in the comments below!