How to Create a Free Blog
Starting a new blog doesn't have to be an intimidating task. Sure, there’s plenty of decisions you’ll have to make, but with a variety of blogging platforms now available – for free – the only thing you’ll have to invest is your time. Plus, many blogging platforms make it so you don’t need to know a lick of HTML. That will allow you to focus on why you started a blog in the first place: to share your thoughts with the world. Let’s take a look at how you can get your blog started.
Before you even get started, figure out what you want your blog to be about. Do you want to share what you’re passionate about, such as your love of books? Or, will you use the blog to talk about industry-related news in order to promote your business website? It’s important to make this decision from the get-go, as it will impact everything you do with your blog, from the design you pick to even the platform that hosts your blog.
Pick a Platform
Fortunately, it’s easy to start a free blog, because there are so many platforms to choose from. To narrow down which platform is best for you, you’ll again need to consider what you’ll be posting to your blog. If you plan on sharing mainly links and photos, for example, consider the microblogging platform, tumblr. If your blog will mostly include text, then opt for either WordPress or Blogger, which are both popular.
Both WordPress and Blogger make it easy to add a post, tag each post with keywords, upload photos, and hit publish. The difference between the two is that WordPress offers more functionality in terms of adding plug-ins to your site. WordPress also offers more choices in terms of design templates, for free, than Blogger does. If you’re using your blog for professional purposes, WordPress is typically the way to go, and not just because one in every six websites runs on the platform. Blogger is more suited to the hobbyist blogger.
Another option is Weebly. While the site offers upgrades for a minimal amount, you can get started for free and not only build a free blog, but an entire website. Once again, Weebly doesn’t require you to know anything about HTML or website design.
Just know that with all of these free options, you won’t be receiving a dedicated URL. This means your website will be attached to either wordpress.com or blogger.com, for example. To get a dedicated URL, you need to upgrade and pay a web hosting service.
Create an Editorial Calendar
So, you’ve picked a platform, created an account and even chosen a free design template or theme. Now you’ve got to create the “meat” of your blog. Blogs work best, whether they’re free or backed by money, if they’re updated frequently. That’s because Google will then see you as an active source of new, and original, content, and it’ll be easier for new readers to find you.
To keep on track with your writing and posting, start a calendar, whether it be on paper or on Excel. Plan your topics ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about writer’s block, and figure out a way to post at least one article a week, if not more.
Start – and Share – Your Writing
While you should write about the things you care about, there are also other considerations to make sure that your articles are getting the best exposure. For one, write your posts and then go back and revise to ensure they’re search-engine optimized – SEO. That means you should use a couple keywords throughout the post. Think of these keywords as how people will find you by doing a search in a search engine. Keywords should be at least every 100 words or so, but not less, as that could be seen as keyword stuffing.
While you should write about the things you care about, there are also other considerations to make sure that your articles are getting the best exposure. For one, write your posts and then go back and revise to ensure they’re search-engine optimized – SEO. That means you should use a couple keywords throughout the post. Think of these keywords as how people will find you by doing a search in a search engine. Keywords should be at least every 100 words or so, but not less, as that could be seen as keyword stuffing.
Don’t let the search-engine optimization bog you down, though. Always start writing your post by focusing on the topic and the message you want to convey. At the same, time recognize you can write a brilliant, wonderful opinion piece – and then someone might not be able to find it because it wasn’t optimized for search engines. Additionally, write your posts in advance. Not only will this make it easier to stick to your editorial calendar, but you can then schedule your posts to publish when you want them too.
Last, but not least, make sure the world knows about your blog. In addition to SEO, promote you and your blog throughout social media. Link to your blog on any of your websites, and share your articles across the webosphere in places like Facebook and Twitter. Have fun with your new blog!
Courtney Gordner is a passionate blogger with a love for social media and all things internet! Follow her on her blog, talkviral.com and on Twitter!
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/
Last, but not least, make sure the world knows about your blog. In addition to SEO, promote you and your blog throughout social media. Link to your blog on any of your websites, and share your articles across the webosphere in places like Facebook and Twitter. Have fun with your new blog!
Courtney Gordner is a passionate blogger with a love for social media and all things internet! Follow her on her blog, talkviral.com and on Twitter!
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/
How to Create a Free Blog
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Friday, February 21, 2014
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Friday, February 21, 2014
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