How To Start A Blog?


Anyone can start a blog. It may be for business or personal. It is up to you. And to be honest, starting a blog is not that hard. You just have to know the basics about blogging and you'll grow eventually. You have to be patient and passionate with all the editing of your photos, writing your content, modifying your theme and so much more.

Just a disclaimer, I am not a professional blogger but I would just like to share with you the things that I have learned since I started blogging.

Know Your Niche

Before you make your own blog, you need to now if you want to be on beauty, makeup, fashion, lifestyle, arts & crafts, DIY, or just for personal. Again, it is up to you. I prefer you choose the things that you are passionate about and the things that you know you could share with other people.

Choose A Blogging Platform

This is the confusing part in making a blog. Not everyone is aware of the differences of each blogging platforms and what it is actually for. Each platforms has its pro and cons. So let me give you a short details or comparison of some of the platforms that I know.

But before that, here are some terms that you need to know:

"Self-hosting is the act of having your website totally under your control. This can include you managing all whole aspects of it, from setting up the web server to installing software, to simply managing your weblog software like WordPress". (Meaning from Google)

"Blog Hosting is one type of web hosting. Blogs, also known as weblogs are websites that feature regular updates in the form of individual entries, or posts. With the many different blog hosting options available nowadays, getting your blog set up can often seem like an overwhelming task". (www.doteasy.com)

Wordpress.com
This is the free version of Wordpress. I used this way back 2011 to 2016. It is very user-friendly and perfect for beginners. You can easily follow and comment on other blogs. They have a mobile app and it is very convenient to use. I used that app to update my blog when my laptop was broken. But since it is free, there are also some limitations with it. You cannot customize your theme the way you want it to be and you also cannot put ads. Why is that? Wordpress.com doesn't allow JavaScript and CSS. That is the reason why I transferred to another platform early this year.

Blogger
I am using Blogger with this blog. It is owned by Google by the way. To me, this is the best free blogging platform I have ever tried. It lets you customize your blog the way you want it to be. It is also easy to put ads and connect it to AdSense, etc. It is also easy to use but if you're from Wordpress like me (transfer), you'll get confused because they are really different from each other. My tip is to make an account first and explore it before you decide which platform to use. I would definitely recommend this for beginners who don't like to spend money on hosting and if you want to earn money thru ads.

Tumblr
I think everyone used Tumblr back in high school or college. This is where I started blogging. That was in 2009 I think. My blog served as my journal before and I just love to reblog the stuff that I can relate to. One thing that I love about Tumblr is their ask/message. Like in Wordpress.com, you can also follow other blogs easily. You can also put ads if you want. What I don't like about Tumblr is I find it hard to edit my layout/theme. You can buy themes though, I think.

Wordpress.org (Self-host)
For this platform, you will be needing a host/a third party server. Your uploads/posts will be saved there. Most bloggers use this one because they say that you can manage and customize your blog the way you really want it to be. There are also lots of widgets that you can use in Wordpress. Hosting costs 100 pesos (Basic) to 500 pesos (For entrepreneur & heavy traffic) per month depending on the plan but you have to pay it for like 3 months, 6 months or 12 months. It will cost you 1,400 pesos to 2,900 pesos a year or even more expensive than that. I haven't tried using this platform ('cause I don't like to spend money yet, lol) but most of the bloggers I know use this. This is also the perfect platform for SEO, so if you are after that, I'd recommend this one.

Squarespace (Paid)
I wanted to transfer here when I saw Camie Juan's new blog. It looks clean and very organized. That was the first time that I heard Squarespace too. But the sad part is it is not free and the plan is kinda pricey (for people like me, lol). It is costly compared to Wordpress.org (self-host). I guess, if you are already a professional blogger or if you really want to step up your blogging game and willing to spend money, choose Squarespace. I really think it's worth it. You might want to check out Camie's 5 Reasons Why I Love Squarespace. Update: It is pricey but I learned that it has unlimited bandwidth.

UPDATE ⚠

Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms are now part of micro-blogging. You can also use that but if you aim for SEO and technical stuff, I'd still recommend that you choose the platforms above. 

Choose A Domain Name

After you choose your desired platform, now it's time to sign up and choose a domain name for your blog. Choose the domain that you really want and be sure that you would stick to it. Free blogging platforms can give you domains but it is not customized. Example: wildandsassy.blogspot.com

If you want to buy a domain, I recommend godaddy.com. This is where I bought my domain. You can get a promo for the first two years if you are a first time customer. No promo code needed. The promo is based on your account. I bought mine for less than 900 pesos for the first two years. The customer service is also good. I had a problem one time and it was resolved easily.

Update: I renewed mine for this year and I paid 800+ pesos.

Customizing Your Theme

This is the fun part. Choose a theme that you like. Customize it. You can search for free themes for Wordpress and Blogger or you can also buy themes online. You can also hire a web designer if you want or if you have an extra budget for that. If you are not aware of html, css, javascript and other technical stuff, it will definitely not be easy. Hehe! But don't worry, you can search on google. Hehe! That's where I learned everything 😅

Be sure to include your About Me and Contact Page. Those pages will tell your readers more about you and if you want to be contacted by your followers or for sponsorship, etc. Also, be sure to categorize your posts so it will be easy for your readers to explore your page. Lastly, you might want to add your social media accounts so your readers can follow you. 😉

Write Your Very First Post

You're almost done! One of the hardest parts of being a blogger is being consistent in posting and thinking of new & unique ideas but if you are really passionate about blogging, kaya mo yan! You don't need to have a DSLR or a camera to be a blogger. You can just use your smartphone or iPhone (like me). What matters is the content of your blog. Post whatever you like to post. Express yourself. Show your skills. Show what you got. Just make sure you won't destroy a person or just don't do anything that can hurt other people.

For photo editing apps, if you don't have Photoshop or Lightroom, you might want to check out Photoscape or mobile apps (like Snapseed, VSCO, Photogrid, or PicsArt). I use Photoscape, VSCO, and Snapseed to edit my photos here on my blog. To be honest, it is all about diskarte (strategy) lang.

Update: I now use Lightroom CC mobile to edit my photos. There are also a lot of mobile apps for editing photos nowadays.

Just a reminder/tip for everyone, please do respect each other's preferences. Support other blogs. Be patient and passionate. Don't mind the haters. If you really love blogging, no one can stop you in doing what you love. ♥

So that's it! I hope this post helps you in starting your own blog. If you have some questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Question for my fellow bloggers: What platforms have you tried and what is your current blogging platform? Any advice for people who wants to start their own blog? 

Comments

  1. I think choosing a domain name is the most difficult part haha I've moved into different domains before dahil lang nagsawa ako sa name hahaha so I decided to stick with a more personalized domain name, which happens to be my first ever domain haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ako din. Hindi ako consistent sa domain name or kahit sa theme dati. Madali ako magsawa tbh. Struggle talaga na magtiis din kasi syempre bayad na yung domain. Haha! Thank you for reading, Mei! :)

      Delete
  2. Wow, this is very specific and a good step by step guide. I remember when I launched my first blog. I started with Blogger and I seriously didn't know what I was doing. It's now until now that I'm on my fourth that I've gotten tje hang of starting a blog. Hehe
    This guide is definitely helpful for begginers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess most bloggers start in experimenting and learning by themselves. Haha. I got few inquiries on how to start a blog so I've decided to make a post na lang. Anyway, thank you for reading this post, Heide. You have a nice blog, btw! :)

      Delete
  3. Hi, Elaine! Thank you so much for this blog post! Finally, I'm owning a domain na! Btw, I'm just from Dasma. Maybe, we should meet some time. <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congrats on your domain, Jane! Meeting would be nice. Let's keep in touch! I followed you on Instagram and Twitter. :)

      Delete
  4. I'm hearing about Squarespace a lot these days, and kaya naman pala, kasi Camie is using that now. Currently I'm on Blogger and so far, I love it. It's convenient because there is no limit on what I can post, and I don't need to self-host. Great post, Laine!!! (I learned a lot hehe)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clint is also on Squarespace na din ata. Okay na din ako sa Blogger. No limit nga and free pa. Hehe. Naalala ko nung nagtransfer ako, ikaw pa tumulong sa akin at ang dami kong tanong sa'yo dati. Haha! Thanks, mermaid friend. :*

      Delete
  5. Yung 390 mo teh, I mean sa domain, may expiration? Or sayo na 'tong domain na 'to forever? Hahaha. It's my first time to read your blog. Parang gusto ko na rin magblog pero nakakatamad rin kasi talaga minsan. Hahaha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One year lang sya. Renew lang if yun pa din ung gusto mong domain after a year. Mag blog ka na din. 😊 Di din naman ako consistent magpost. Go na. Hehe.

      Delete
    2. Same price pa rin pag magrerenew? How about yung themes? Pwede rin kahit through remittance centers nalang?

      Delete
    3. Depende sa bibilhan mo ng domain yung price. May time kasi na naka sale. May time naman na naka regular yung price. Yung bago kong theme binili ko pero may mga free themes naman din.

      Yung sa Pangalan.com (domain provider), pwede sya sa lbc. Ganun ginawa ko nung nabili ko sya.

      Delete
  6. I used WP.com as my first ever blog site. Nagsawa ako di katagalan so I moved from WP.com to Blogspot to Tumblr to Blogspot then went self hosted then back here. Tried squarespace but never invested there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You tried Squarespace's trial? Maganda dun? Hehe.

      Delete
  7. I did a bunch of research din before I started to take blogging seriously. Initially, I created an account on wordpress.com, but I wanted to have my own domain and I can't afford to buy their premium plan at that time. So I transferred to Blogger instead, and so far, i'm enjoying it because I only pay for my domain (or theme if I want to, but still a lot cheaper than Wordpress themes). I think I'll be sticking with this platform for now. ☺️

    xx, The Diary Queen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same with me. So far, I have no plans of transferring again. Blogger is just fine for me because it's free and I haven't encountered any major problems with it. I love the new look of your blog, btw. :)

      Delete
  8. I think everyone was on Tumblr first before hopping to other platforms. And those reblogs were really lyfff hahaha! I tried SQ also, my friend has her portfolio on SQ and she also made a review about it (www.oliviapenero.com), it was more honest and detailed. I'll try moving to SQ once I'm rich. Hahaha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most bloggers want to move to SQ. I need to be contented with my current blog since I "invested" a domain and theme here. Lol. Let's transfer once we're rich. Haha! :)

      Delete
  9. May I ask which specific service you picked sa pangalan.com? I'm having troubles with setting up the 3rd party url with my blog. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just bought my domain there. What platform are you using?

      Delete
  10. Hi Ms Elaine just would like to ask if available pa rin po ba 'yung option ng pangalan.com na puwedeng magbayad through LBC?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is still available. You can check the payment methods here https://www.pangalan.com/faq Dragon Pay is the payment method if you want to pay at LBC.

      Delete
  11. Sobrang hirap mamili ng domain name. At dahil ang tagal mo talaga mag decide, napunta na lang ako talaga sa pangalan ko since personal blog naman. Thanks for this post. Nag ka idea aq sa pangalan.com more cheaper than zoom.ph (kung saan ako nakabili ng domain)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Napansin ko nga din na mas cheaper sa Pangalan.com especially pag naka sale sila. So far okay naman yung service nila sa akin for my domain. No major problem. :) Tbh, parang gusto ko magpalit ng domain. Gusto ko yung sa name ko din sana. Still thinking about it. :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Form for Contact Page (Do not remove)