I have 4 blogs now and I absolutely love blogging so wanted to share with you the easy way to start a blog if it is something you are considering but unsure how to get started.
Initially I started blogging as I thought it would be something that I would enjoy as a hobby. I was also aware that some people make money from blogs and didn’t rule out this in the future but this wasn’t initially in my plan.
Now however I run 4 blogs and absolutely love it! Who knows what your future in blogging will be so don’t rule anything out.
Does it cost much to start a blog?
It doesn’t have to cost anything, if you want your own url like I have live-the-easy-life.com then you need to pay for this however you can have something like www.live-the-easy-life.blogspot.com and that wouldn’t cost anything.
There can be costs in web hosting and such but again this is not necessary. You can run your blog through Blogspot or WordPress with a vanity url which costs around ÂŁ10 a year.
I have both the .com and .co.uk addresses and redirect for each of my sites, if I chose just one it would be cheaper but a tenner a year isn’t bad! There are lots of things like designs, logo design etc you can pay for but it isn’t necessary.
There are lots of free resources you can use to help you so don’t feel you have to pay for things straight away. There are free svg images, free blog themes and lots of free support in Facebook groups.
Once you start blogging do you just get free stuff?
No, if only it was that simple! The products I have featured in my reviews on my sites have often been sent to me at no cost in return for a review. Usually, this starts out with a blogger contacting companies or replying to requests online and most brands will know who they want to work with. The brand will consider it as advertising so they need to be sure that the cost of them sending the item is worth it based on your readers etc.
Do you get paid for all your posts?
Again, if only! There are sponsored posts where companies ask you to share a link to their products which a blogger can be paid for. Sometimes reviews are paid for too as well as being given the product. This again relies on them being happy with your following and audience.
There are lots of opportunities out there but as the owner of your website, you still need to decide what you are worth and which companies you are happy to link to.
The products I am paid to share will always have #ad or a disclaimer so there is always that transparency. I will never share a product with my readers and not disclose that I was paid to do so! If you start a blog you should do this too as not only is it ethical but it can also land you in trouble!
Affiliate links, what are they? Will they help me make lots of money?
If I disclose I am using affiliate links in my blog this is a form of advertising where I link to a product as a suggestion for example “this camera would be perfect for photos”.
If a reader clicks through that link to buy the product I would get a small advertising fee, we are talking pennies here and not pounds so this really is just an extra. Big websites would make much from these but it all depends on how many of your readers buy products you link to.
To become an affiliate with a brand you need to sign up to their affiliate scheme which can usually be found by googling the brand and the word affiliates. Some are harder to join than others.
How often do I have to write blog posts?
This is entirely up to you, it is your blog! If you want to keep readers coming back then there needs to be some consistency and a brand will want to see that you have a good solid audience and a good number of articles before they work with you usually but otherwise the choice is yours!
Do I need to be good at coding and computers?
Not really no, you need to be willing to learn bits and pieces but there are videos on YouTube and tutorials out there for pretty much everything now so if you put the work in to find how to do something you will be fine!
How do you get so many followers?
This is hard work, I put a lot of time into sharing my blogs on social media and working with other bloggers, brands etc to get more and more people to see my websites. It won’t happen overnight and it isn’t easy so be prepared to put the work in!
Is blogging all about statistics? Followers, Page views, Domain Authority, Rankings?
It very much depends on what you want from your blog and how you want to progress with it. The statistics are what brands and PR agencies look for, they know that they want their products seen by a certain number of people and they focus on certain demographics.
If you want to make money from your blog or reviewing items that you are given then the numbers are hugely important. If you are looking for somewhere just to share your photos and memories then you do not need to worry at all how many people are viewing your blog at any one time from anywhere in the world!
Do you make money from your blog?
I have been making a living from my blogs for a few years now! All money is declared appropriately and this needs to be considered too as this is an income and a job whether you earn ÂŁ1000 a week or ÂŁ1 a week it is still a taxable income and not going through the right channels can cause problems!
What shall I blog about?
That is up to you! It is your blog! There are so many blogs out there in every niche possible, if you want to blog about something then do it, what is the worse that can happen?
Do you make something well that others don’t? At the moment a lot of bloggers are doing well with hot chocolate bomb recipes, for example. If you are gluten-free to you have lots of recipes to share? This is another great idea for a new blog.
Whatever you do just remember to be you, there is no point at all copying someone else’s blog who is already successful and hoping to be the same. Even in the same niche, there are so many different aspects you can focus on.
Make sure you have lots of your own ideas before you start your blog so that you are sure you can continue and not get stuck for ideas after a post or two!
I have but then I have though that I probably wouldn’t have much to blog about!
I have considered it on a couple of occassions but as yet have not managed to start
I have considered writing a blog before but don’t think anybody would read it.
This is great
I have thought about starting a blog, but I really wouldn’t want me to feature in it at all, so it would make things difficult, but it’s something to think about after I finish my MSc
I have never considered starting a blog. I would not know where to begin or what to say. Anybody who does has a special gift in my opinion.
no i havent got the time
One day I will – so.many fab blogs to help me start
I do keep a little blog but still good tips here … THANK YOU
Thanks for the tips, I have thought about blogging before
No blogging is not for me at the moment
Great tips! I’ve thought about starting a blog before, especially as I want to write a book of my travel stories. I’ve always been a bit too nervous to do so though.
I do like the idea of it, but I wouldn’t have the time, and do not think I could keep it up! To be honest I do not have any skills that I think would be valuable to anyone either
I have in the past to follow my weight loss journey but just didn’t know where to start!!
never crossed my mind, i wouldnt have time with 3 kids and being the sole carer of 3 independant adults
Blogging is not for me right now, but I am intrigued and haven’t ruled it out for the future. Thank you for the tips.
I enjoy reading other people’s blogs and tips and guidance, but I am certain that I couldn’t keep up with you true bloggers!
I have always kept a paper diary everyday since I was 13 so I have thought about it. I find writing therapeutic but im not sure what focus I would give the blog as my diary is just general day to day stuff and thoughts and I wondered if I needed a specific focus with a blog
I have but I’m too nervous!
I prefer following and reading others’ blogs … not really in to creating one myself
No, I don’t have the discipline! I’d start all guns blazing, then it would just peter out!
Keep meaning to start a blog but just haven’t got round to it. One day …..
Thanks for sharing!
No I haven’t, I just havent got the time, even if I wanted to. But I do really enjoy reading other people’s blogs.
No, never really thought about it
I’ve thought about it but it wasn’t serious. I probably couldn’t commit.
I have so much I want to blog about but worry about which audience it would capture and end up all mixed up
I have, but I always presumed I would never find anything interesting to say.
No because I wouldn’t know what to write.
I had a blog, called deerly loved. But I stopped it. Part of me thinks I should of continued it as it helped get me creative. I might consider doing it again.
I have but due to certain family members on my partners side we like to live on the quite side so the less info on social media for me the better 🙂
I have thought about a couple of times, but not tried yet no
I’ve never felt drawn to having a blog of my own.
Just few days ago I was thinking about this. This was very informative. Thank you.
I have always wanted to blog…. but never k ew where to start. This has given me a great insight and I’ll be doing more research on the topic I’d love to blog about x Thank you
I have considered it before but I’m not sure anyone would want to read it.
I have but right now I don’t have the time! I have a 3yr old a 5month old, a St. Bernard & a wedding in 11 months time that I’m in full planning mode for!
I have considered doing a blog, and I am in awe of some really great ones. I am not sure I could keep up the momentum of regular posting though,
I have considered starting a blog, and it’s still on my long list of possible future projects. This is great advice, thank you!
I love reading blogs but I don’t think making my own is something I could commit too
I have thought about it in the past, but couldn’t really fix on what to concentrate on – it might be something I consider when I retire
I think the commitment would be great and the reader volumes too low lol
i love reading blogs but when thinking of one myself i don’t think i’d every know what to write about.
I keep considering starting a blog and then seem to get distracted ….. love yours though!
Yep totally something i have considered
I need to find time and try. I always worry my dyslexia will make the reading awful though
Ive never thought about starting a blog as I’m not very tech savvy but this is a really good guide and makes it seem possible
No I havent dont think I’d even no where to start x