the-basics-of-creating-a-blogIf you’ve been contemplating starting a blog, you may be stalling because you think it’s going to be a difficult, complicated process. In reality, however, learning how to create a blog isn’t as complex as you think.

The first order of business is to determine the subject matter of your blog. In essence, what will you blog about? This is, of course, an important decision. The subject of your blog is what will determine its appeal to the masses. Unless, of course, you are looking to appeal to a more specific niche audience. The important thing is to write about something you are passionate about. Why? Because if you are going to sustain your blog, you’re going to have to be able to stick with it in the long term, creating a long stream of interesting and engaging content.

The great news is you can create a blog about virtually any topic under the sun, from the latest tech gadgets to your home life as a stay-at-home parent. The trick is not the content, it’s the way you write. Whatever the topic, it’s important to write content that is funny, engaging, interesting, useful or informative. There has to be some reason why people would want to read what you are writing. The general public doesn’t know you; you have to give them a reason to want to read what you have to say.

Consistency is key when it comes to blogging. Ideally, you’ll post new content every day. This is so your audience stays interested and looks forward to reading your daily posts. If you leave too much time in between your postings your audience will forget about you. That’s no way to run a successful blog!

If you are serious about starting your blog and want to draw as many readers as possible (or even make some money from your blog) it’s a good idea to register a domain name rather than starting your blog on one of the free hosting platforms. Once you register your domain, you can download blogging software such as WordPress and start populating your blog. If you aren’t familiar with how to use WordPress, there is a wealth of tutorials and other resources available online to guide you through the process.

Now that you have a blog, it’s time to spread the word about it! Use your social media accounts such as your Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram to promote your blog. Otherwise, people won’t know you exist. Another way to ensure your blog gets noticed is to choose certain keywords to feature throughout your content. For example, if you are writing a blog about how to feed a picky eater, you might want to feature keyword such as “picky eater,” “recipes for picky eaters,” “feeding your picky eater,” etc. The better you are at strategically using these types of keywords, the more highly ranked your blog will be in the search engines. So, when someone goes searching for information such as the kind you provide, they are more likely to stumble upon your site.