The great thing about blogging is that anyone can do it ~ all you need is a computer and an internet connection. And a little computer nous doesn’t hurt either.
Blogs are a great addition to any business website, a consistent stream of fresh content is particularly beneficial for your ranking in search engines. And the ease of use and availability of blogging platforms puts you in control of the content of your site.
But where to start. This is a quick guide to take the first step of starting your own blog.
First, you need a name and you need to “host” it somewhere.
One of the most popular options is Google’s Blogger which is free and gives you blogspot.com address. All you need is a Google account, type in the name for your blog, check the available of your preferred address, click continue and you are on your way. With a little technical know-how, you can also use Blogger on your own website.
Another popular free option is WordPress. You can sign up at wordpress.com to become part of WordPress blogging network. Fill in the details and you will ready to write your first post in no time.
The beauty of these two free platforms is that all the housekeeping and updates are done for you. They are easy to use and you will be part of a wide network of bloggers. Blogger is very user-friendly which makes it a popular choice for beginners while WordPress has more features and is more customisable and can take a bit more getting used to.
Alternatively, if you have your own domain name already, you could consider using the WordPress.org open source software. This requires a little technical know-how and means you host the blog on your site. There are costs involved in finding a web host and administering your own domain and you are responsible for running your own updates and general housekeeping. But it also means you have much more flexibility.
Once you are registered and have moved into your address, you’re ready for the fun part.
Make yourself a header ~ use plain text or include a photo or your business logo~ and write a little something about yourself for your profile.
Then write your first post and hit publish.
Welcome to the world of blogging.