9 Essential Steps to Take Before You Start a Blog

Dreaming of a successful blog that generates income and opens doors to exciting opportunities? Hold on! Before you dive in, there are crucial steps to ensure your blog’s success from the get-go. This detailed guide will walk you through the essential preparations needed to launch a thriving blog.

Disclosure: As an experienced blogger, I may earn commissions from purchases made through links in this post. This helps support the creation of valuable content like this, so thank you!

Table of Contents

1. Define Your Niche

Choosing your blog’s focus is a monumental decision. You could be writing about this topic for years to come, so make it count! Finding the perfect niche requires careful consideration of your passions, expertise, and audience needs.

Passion:

What topics genuinely excite you? What do you love to learn about, discuss, and do in your free time? Your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing and keep you motivated.
Consider your hobbies, interests, and values. What are you naturally drawn to? What could you talk about for hours on end?
Examples: Cooking, travel, personal finance, parenting, DIY, technology, gaming, books, movies.

Expertise:

What are you knowledgeable about? What unique skills or qualifications do you possess? Sharing your expertise establishes credibility and attracts readers seeking valuable information.
Think about your professional background, education, and life experiences. What do people often ask for your advice on?
Examples: Certified financial planner, nutritionist, experienced traveler, skilled photographer, software developer.

Demand:

What problems can you solve for your audience? Successful blogs address specific needs and provide valuable solutions.
Research popular topics and identify gaps in the market. What unique perspective can you offer?
Examples: Healthy meal planning on a budget, sustainable travel tips, effective parenting strategies, DIY home renovation guides, beginner’s guide to coding.

Key takeaway: A clearly defined niche is paramount for attracting a loyal audience and achieving your blogging goals. It provides focus and direction, making it easier to create relevant content and attract the right readers.

Further reading: How to choose the right niche for your blog (link to your article)

2. Research Your Competition

Once you have a niche in mind, it’s crucial to analyze existing blogs in that space. This research provides valuable insights into the blogging landscape and helps you identify opportunities to differentiate yourself.

Writing Style and Format:

How do successful bloggers in your niche structure their content? Are their posts long-form or short-form? Do they use a formal or informal tone?
Pay attention to the visual elements. What kind of images, videos, and graphics do they use? How do they format their posts for readability?
Analyze their use of headings, subheadings, bullet points, and white space. How do they break up their text to make it engaging?

Topics Covered:

What topics have already been extensively covered? Are there any areas that haven’t been explored in depth?
Can you offer a fresh perspective or unique angle on existing topics? What unique insights or experiences can you bring to the table?
Identify potential content gaps and opportunities to provide valuable information that’s missing from other blogs.

Example: Instead of a generic food blog, consider focusing on:

Healthy eating on a budget: Provide nutritious recipes and meal planning tips for those with limited financial resources.
Authentic international cuisine: Share your experiences and recipes from your travels, focusing on authentic flavors and techniques.
Dietary restrictions: Cater to specific dietary needs, such as vegan, gluten-free, or paleo, offering delicious and accessible recipes.

How to Find Relevant Blogs:

Use Google to search for topics within your niche. The top results will typically lead you to established blogs with high authority.
Explore blog directories and social media groups related to your niche.
Read blogrolls and recommendations from other bloggers.

Important Note: Don’t be discouraged by successful blogs in your niche. Instead, use their success as inspiration and focus on developing your unique voice and offering valuable content.

3. Structure Your Blog

Before you start creating content, think about how you’ll organize your blog. A well-structured blog is easier for readers to navigate and helps improve your search engine optimization (SEO).

Categories:

Categories are like the table of contents for your blog. They group related content together, making it easier for readers to find what they’re looking for.
Choose broad categories that encompass the main topics you’ll be covering.
Aim for a manageable number of categories (typically 5-10) to avoid overwhelming your readers.

Example Categories:

Budget lifestyle blog: Kids, travel, food, fashion, DIY, saving money
Running blog: Getting started, gear reviews, race reports, training plans, nutrition, injury prevention

Benefits of Categories:

Improved Navigation: Categories make it easy for readers to find content that interests them.
Focused Content: Categories help you stay organized and ensure your content is relevant to your niche.
Enhanced SEO: Categories help search engines understand the structure and content of your blog, improving your chances of ranking higher in search results.

Aim for a balanced approach by publishing content across all categories. This ensures that your blog provides a comprehensive resource for your readers and avoids over-emphasizing one particular area.

4. Brainstorm Blog Post Ideas

Brainstorming blog post ideas is a crucial step in the planning process. It helps you gauge your passion for the niche and assess its long-term potential.

How to Brainstorm:

Gather your materials: Get a notebook, a whiteboard, or use a digital tool to capture your ideas.
Write down your categories: List the categories you identified in the previous step.
Generate ideas for each category: Start jotting down potential blog post topics under each category. Don’t worry about perfect titles or complete outlines at this stage.
Don’t censor yourself: Write down every idea that comes to mind, even if it seems silly or insignificant at first.
Consider your audience’s needs: What questions do they have? What problems are they trying to solve?
Draw inspiration from other sources: Read other blogs, books, and articles in your niche. Pay attention to trending topics and current events.

Goal: Aim for at least 10 ideas per category. This will give you a solid foundation to start creating content and ensure you have a steady stream of ideas for the future.

Further reading: How to create 52 blog post ideas in less than 2 hours (link to your article)

5. Plan Your Monetization Strategy

If your goal is to generate income from your blog, it’s important to plan your monetization strategy early on. This helps you choose the right blogging platform and design your content with monetization in mind.

Common Monetization Methods:

Advertisements:
- Display ads on your blog through networks like Google AdSense.
- Easy to implement but require high traffic to generate significant revenue.
- Can be distracting for readers and may not be suitable for all niches.
Affiliate Marketing:
- Promote products or services relevant to your niche and earn a commission on each sale made through your unique affiliate links.
- Effective for blogs that recommend products or services.
- Requires building trust with your audience.
Sponsored Posts:
- Partner with brands to create sponsored content that promotes their products or services.
- Can be lucrative but requires a strong audience and engagement.
- Maintain transparency and disclose sponsored content to your readers.
Selling Products:
- Create and sell your own products, such as ebooks, online courses, or physical products related to your niche.
- Offers high earning potential and control over your offerings.
- Requires time and effort to create high-quality products.
Selling Services:
- Leverage your expertise to offer services related to your niche, such as consulting, coaching, or freelance work.
- Effective for blogs with a strong personal brand and established authority.
- Requires building trust and demonstrating your expertise.

Further reading:

How do bloggers make money? (link to your article)
How to create a blog monetization strategy (link to your article)

6. Choose Between Hosted and Self-Hosted

Choosing the right blogging platform is a critical decision that impacts your blog’s flexibility, control, and monetization potential.

Hosted Platforms (e.g., Wix, Squarespace, Blogger):

Similar to renting a house. You use the platform’s infrastructure and tools to create and manage your blog.
Easier to set up and require less technical knowledge.
Offer limited customization options and control over your blog’s design and functionality.
May have restrictions on monetization methods.
Suitable for beginners or those who prioritize simplicity.

Self-Hosted Platforms (e.g., WordPress.org):

Like owning a house. You have complete control over your blog’s design, functionality, and data.
Requires purchasing hosting and a domain name.
Offers greater flexibility and customization options.
Allows for a wider range of monetization methods.
Ideal for serious bloggers who want full control and scalability.

Recommendation: If you’re serious about blogging and plan to monetize your content, choose a self-hosted platform like WordPress.org. It offers the greatest flexibility, control, and potential for growth.

Further reading: Hosted vs self-hosted: which is best for your blog? (link to your article)

7. Select a Hosting Provider

For self-hosted blogs, you’ll need a hosting provider to store your website’s files and data. Choosing a reliable hosting provider is crucial for your blog’s speed, security, and uptime.

Factors to Consider:

Uptime: Look for a provider with a high uptime guarantee (99.9% or higher).
Speed: Choose a provider with fast servers and optimized infrastructure to ensure your blog loads quickly.
Security: Prioritize providers with robust security measures, such as firewalls, malware scanning, and DDoS protection.
Customer Support: Opt for a provider with excellent customer support that’s available 24/7.
Pricing: Compare pricing plans and choose one that fits your budget and needs.

Recommended Hosting Provider:

SiteGround: Offers a great balance of performance, security, and affordability. They have excellent customer support and a user-friendly interface.

(Affiliate disclosure): I may earn a commission if you sign up for SiteGround through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Other Reputable Hosting Providers:

Bluehost: A popular choice for beginners, offering affordable plans and good customer support.
HostGator: Another budget-friendly option with a variety of hosting plans.
InMotion Hosting: Known for their reliable uptime and excellent customer support.
A2 Hosting: Offers fast servers and optimized hosting solutions.

Further reading:

How to choose the right host for your blog (link to your article)
BigScoots vs SiteGround – which is the best hosting company for your blog? (link to your article)

8. Choose a Domain Name

Your domain name is your blog’s web address (e.g., www.yourblogname.com). It’s an important part of your online identity and branding.

Tips for Choosing a Domain Name:

Keep it concise and easy to remember: Aim for a domain name that’s short, memorable, and easy to spell.
Use relevant keywords: If possible, include relevant keywords in your domain name to improve SEO.
Choose a .com extension: The .com extension is the most common and trusted.
Check for trademark conflicts: Make sure your chosen domain name doesn’t infringe on any existing trademarks.
Ensure social media handles are available: Check if your desired social media handles are available for your chosen domain name.

Domain Name Options:

Your own name: e.g., janedoe.com (good for personal branding)
A descriptive name: e.g., [invalid URL removed] (clearly communicates your blog’s topic)
A combination of your name and a descriptive term: e.g., [invalid URL removed]
A creative or unique name: e.g., thewanderinglens.com

Important Considerations:

Avoid hyphens and numbers: They can make your domain name harder to remember and type.
Brainstorm multiple options: Come up with several potential domain names before making a final decision.
Use a domain name generator: Tools like Namecheap’s domain name generator can help you find available domain names.

Further reading: How to choose the perfect blog name (link to your article)

9. Secure Social Media Handles

Before you launch your blog, it’s essential to secure your desired social media handles on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Consistency is key: Use the same (or very similar) username across all platforms to maintain brand consistency.
Claim your handles early: Even if you’re not ready to use them yet, claiming your handles prevents others from taking them.
Use a social media handle checker: Tools like Namecheckr allow you to check the availability of your desired username across multiple platforms.

By following these 9 essential steps, you’ll be well-prepared to launch a successful blog. Remember to focus on creating valuable content, building a strong community, and promoting your blog effectively. Good luck!