How to start a blog in 10 steps: a beginner’s guide. 10 steps: a beginner’s guide

Ready to share your ideas with the world? Start your blog→

If you’re wondering how to create a blog, you’ve come to the right place. As a blogger myself, I can tell you it’s a rewarding way to hone your writing skills, explore new ideas and build an online presence that revolves around your passions and expertise. You’ll get the chance to inspire, educate and entertain your readers—and as your blog grows, you can even start making money and turn it into a full-time job or use it to start a business.

In other words, blogging is the first step toward finally pursuing your dream job or favorite hobby, so you really can’t go wrong. While starting a blog might seem daunting, I’m going to walk you through every step to make it as smooth and successful as possible. The process is actually quite easy, and you’ll have your blog up and running, as well as your first blog post written, before you know it.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll find all the guidance and tools you’ll need to start a blog and get writing blog posts. You’ll learn how to make your website, write your first blog post and draw in loyal readers. Sounds exciting? Let’s dive in.

Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world. 

How to start a blog in 10 steps

1. Choose a blogging platform. Use a platform that offers customizable templates.

2. Pick a hosting platform. Consider a platform with good bandwidth, uptime and customer support.

3. Find the right niche. Narrow down your theme and have a specific audience in mind.

4. Select a blog name and domain. Choose a descriptive name that piques readers’ interests.

5. Set up and design your blog. Include imagery and effects that reflect your theme.

6. Brainstorm blog topics. Write down all your ideas before narrowing down topic selections.

7. Write your first blog post. Engage your audience with a killer title and use headers to make the content skimmable.

8. Create an editorial calendar. Create a calendar to help you publish consistently and hold yourself accountable.

9. Promote your blog. Use marketing strategies to expand your reach.

10. Make money blogging. Take advantage of opportunities to monetize your blog.

In this complete how to blog A to Z tutorial, we’ll cover everything from choosing your blogging platform to making money from your written work. With a little bit of guidance, you can get your blog online in 30 minutes or less.

This is going to be the most comprehensive advice you’ll find on building a successful blog from scratch. If you want to start a blog fast, though, feel free to use the numbered steps above as a quick cheat sheet. You can go directly to the step you need the most help with, or grab a cup of coffee and read it all the way through.

What is a blog?

While a blog can encompass an entire website or simply be its own section of a website, this is a place to share content about a topic you’re passionate about. Starting a blog will typically include both written and visual elements published in an easy-to-read, article format so visitors can swiftly browse and find what they’re looking for. And with over 31.7 million blogs in the US alone, you can literally find blogs about every subject out therein, from home renovation to baking to local business marketing strategies. Once you’ve established a community of readers, the possibilities are truly endless.

We use our blog as a platform to support you on your website building journey. Our posts guide you through the entire process, from start to finish, giving informative insights and practical tips at every step along the way. 

As far as a timeline goes, there’s no definitive “perfect” time to start a blog. If you feel that you have the time and resources to start, manage and promote a blog and are enthusiastic about sharing your ideas with the world, it might be the right time to take the plunge and start your blogging journey. The sooner you start, the sooner you can learn and grow as a blogger.

01. Choose a blogging platform

If you’re here, you’re likely curious about how to get started—and you’re in the right place. The first step in starting a blog is to select a blogging platform or Content Management System (CMS) for publishing your content. A quick Google search will show you that there are several different sites available that suit bloggers from all industries

The blog you’re reading is actually built on Wix, a platform I highly recommend for new and seasoned bloggers. Wix’s blogging platform is fairly straightforward to get the hang of, and it offers a variety of attractive design options and templates to work with. In addition, it comes with features to analyze your blog’s performance and monetize your content, which will come in handy as you setup your blog and build your readership.

How much does it cost to start a blog?

When researching how to create a blog, one of the biggest questions people have is how much does it cost to start a blog. On many blogging builders, starting a blog is completely free

You can decide at any point whethdoer you’d like to upgrade to a variety of different plans, depending on your budget and needs. Learn more about how much does it cost to build a website.

02. Pick a hosting platform

Once you select your preferred blogging platform, you’ll need to choose a hosting platform. A blog, like other types of websites, requires a host. This essentially stores websites on a server under a unique address so that visitors can easily reach them.

faqOn some blogging platforms, hosting is already included, so you won’t need to find a separate web host when setting up your blog. In that case, you can skip this step and move to Step 3.

With other blog builders, such as WordPress, you will need to find and pay for a separate web hosting platform. Some popular options include:

• BlueHost

• HostGator

• GoDaddy

• DreamHost

If you’re not sure which web hosting platform to choose, take into account these factors:

• Uptime: The amount of time that the server hosting your website is up and running. A strong uptime rate (99.95% or above) is a good indication that the host’s servers perform well.

• Bandwidth: The amount of data your website can transfer to visitors over a certain period of time. This factor is based on the size of your website pages as well as the amount of traffic you expect. This quick bandwidth calculator can help you determine your site’s bandwidth.

• Customer support: Customer service you can contact in the event something goes wrong. Ideally, your hosting provider should offer an online help center, offer callbacks and respond to questions and concerns on social media.

Once you’ve chosen your blogging platform and hosting provider, you can start coming up with your blog idea.

Don’t worry about picking and registering your domain name just yet. We’ll walk through that process together in Step 4.

03. What to blog about? How to find your blog niche

There is virtually no limit when it comes to your choice of subjects. The most crucial thing is that you select a specific topic area that will be the central focus of your entire blog and its content strategy.

1. What is a blog niche

2. Popular blog niche ideas

3. How to choose your blog niche

4. Don’t follow trends you don’t love

5. Stay focused

6. Testing the waters

7. Your blog niche doesn’t need to be perfect

What is a blog niche

A blog niche is the specific topic your blog focuses on—like travel, tech, food or personal finance. A niche lets you narrow your content to attract a specific audience. Think of it as picking your lane: readers know what to expect and you become the go-to person for that topic.

Why does this matter? When your blog has a clear focus, it’s easier to grow. Search engines understand your site which helps with SEO. Readers are more likely to stick around and subscribe when the content feels made for them. And if you’re looking to make money from your blog, a niche makes it easier to recommend products, attract partnerships or create content that converts.

Popular blog niche ideas

These blog topics attract big, active audiences and offer lots of room to grow, monetize and build a community. Blogging for fun, as a side hustle or to support your business? These niches give you plenty of flexibility and potential—especially when you bring your unique voice and experience.

• Personal finance: Budgeting, saving, investing and making money online—finance blogs are always in demand.

• Health and wellness: A health blog can cover everything from fitness routines and nutrition tips to mental health advice and holistic living practices

• Food and recipes: Share meals, diet-specific cooking (vegan, keto or other food blog types) or cultural cuisine.

• Travel: Tips, itineraries and experiences from around the world or your own backyard.

• Parenting: Advice, stories and activities for new parents or families.

• Lifestyle: A broader niche that can include home decor, fashion blogs, productivity or minimalism.

• Tech and gadgets: Reviews, how-tos and insights into the latest devices and trends.

• Beauty and skincare: Tutorials, reviews and routines for makeup and skincare enthusiasts.

• Career and personal development: Productivity tips, job hunting or entrepreneurship.

• Education and learning: Great for teachers, tutors or curious minds. Share study tips, teaching tools or start a book blog with reviews and reading guides.

How to choose a blog niche

Before picking a niche, think of it like finding your blog’s sweet spot. It should be something you love talking about, know a bit about and that people are actually interested in. The best niches mix passion, knowledge and the potential to grow through ads, products or building a loyal group of readers.

3 steps to pick the perfect blog niche:

1. Narrow down your interests: Start by listing 5–10 broad interests then narrow each down to something more specific. For example, if you love travel, maybe it’s backpacking in Southeast Asia; if you like cooking, maybe it’s vegan recipes. These personal interests will help shape a niche you’ll stick with and actually enjoy building content around.

    

2. Research your blog audience: Start by using tools like Google Trends to see how many people are searching for certain subjects. The more searches a topic gets, the more potential audience you have. For example, “vegan recipes” shows steady interest, making it a strong choice for a blog niche while topics with lower or declining interest like “paleo recipes” may have fewer readers.

    

3. Check if it’s profitable: Even if you’re running a hobby personal blog, it’s a good idea to explore ways to make money from it. Affiliate marketing is a popular option where you promote products and earn a commission on sales. Consider how your niche fits into this, like writing “best of” or “how to” posts with affiliate links. For example, a “Best kitchen appliances for easy cooking” post could include links to food processors making you money with every sale.

    
    

Don’t follow trends you don’t love

Jumping on a trending topic can be tempting when it feels like everyone else is making it work. But if you’re not truly interested, your blog won’t last. Writing about something you don’t care about feels like a chore and readers will notice when you’re not into it. Passion is what keeps your blog going and makes the process more enjoyable.

Stay focused

Another trap to avoid? Going way too broad. “Lifestyle” might sound cool but it’s too broad. Instead, go for something like “sustainable living for young moms” or “minimalist style for city dwellers.” It gives your blog a clear focus and helps you build a loyal audience. Also stick to your chosen niche—changing topics all the time confuses readers and hurts your SEO.

Testing the waters: how to know if your niche will attract readers

Before jumping in, make sure people actually want to read about your niche. A quick Google or Pinterest search will show you what kind of content is already out there. If you find blog posts, YouTube videos and products, that’s a great sign. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can also help you see if your topic gets decent search traffic.

Forums and Facebook groups are super helpful too. Look at what people are asking, complaining about or curious to learn—those are your content ideas. And don’t skip checking out the competition. What are other bloggers covering? What are they missing? That gap could be exactly where your blog stands out.

Your blog niche doesn’t need to be perfect

Most bloggers don’t get it right on the first try. You might start out writing about wellness and realize you’re actually into natural skincare. Or maybe you find your groove creating tech tutorials for beginners instead of covering every new gadget out there. That’s totally fine.

Your blog can grow and evolve with you. It’s not about having the perfect plan from day one—it’s about staying flexible and figuring out what works. Many successful bloggers refine their niche as they go, learning what resonates with their audience and what feels good to create. Start now, adjust along the way and enjoy the process.

04. Select a blog name and domain

As you think about how to make a blog, the question of what to name it is probably lurking somewhere in the back of your mind.

There are three main routes you can go with your blog’s name. These include:

• Your first and last name

• The name of your business (if you have one)

• A creative new name

When choosing your blog’s name, you should also think about the personality you want it to reflect. Should it be formal and professional? Sweet and romantic? Edgy and offbeat? If you’re stuck on names for your blog, this blog name generator is a helpful source of inspiration.

Once you decide, you should also go ahead and choose your domain name for your blog. Also referred to as a URL, a domain is a site’s address on the web (this website’s domain name, for example, is www.wix.com). Typically, your domain name will be the same as, or at least influenced by, the name of your blog.

If you really want your blog to stand out, consider a .blog domain extension. It’s a clear and unique way to help your blog and content pop.

Tips for picking a domain name for your blog:

• Keep it short and simple so it’s easy to remember.

• Try to use keywords related to your blog’s niche.

• Avoid numbers or hyphens—they can be confusing and hard to share.

• Check if the domain name is available using a domain name search.

• Make sure it aligns with your blog name for consistency.

Pro tip: Find the domain owner and registration details for a website with a Whois domain lookup. 

05. Set up and design your blog

1. Choose a blog template

2. Decide which pages to include

3. Get indexed on search engines

4. Create a blog logo

At this point, you’ve chosen a blogging and hosting platform, domain name and blog niche. You’re now equipped with all the basics for setting up your blog. Here’s how to optimize your blog design:

Choose a blog template

The first part of setup for a blog is selecting a template. Like your blog’s name, its look and feel will be an important part of its personality.

The most efficient way to get your blog up and running is to choose a pre-designed blog template. Afterwards, you can customize it based on your preferences.

Be sure to pick one that conveys your blog’s subject area. There are website templates for bloggers of any genre, whether you’re a food blogger, starting a photography blog or write about business. As you browse, think about the mood you want your website to communicate, for example. whether it’s classic, modern, rugged or minimalist.

You should also take that into account as you further personalize the template with your preferred colors. Color psychology plays a huge role in forming your audience’s impression of your blog. As you choose a color palette, keep in mind the feelings and attitudes that different colors evoke. Blue, for instance, tends to evoke dependability and trust, while yellow evokes energy and joy.

If you’re unsure of which templates to choose, these blog examples serve as a helpful source of design inspiration.

Decide which pages to include

Once you’ve chosen a template, think about which pages to include. Most blogs include more than just a section to display their posts. They might also include an online store, as in the image below, or a contact page.

Here’s an overview of the different options when designing your blog:

01. Contact page: This is a place to put your email address so that fans and potential business partners can reach out to you. You can also include a contact form so that people can send a message directly through your site.

02. About page: This tells visitors who you are, what you do and why you do it, providing some context behind your blog and humanizing your content.

03. Online store: You’ll also want to add a separate online store page if you’re thinking of selling items related to your blog. You can call this page “Products” or “Shop.”

In addition to your primary content pages when you create a blog, you can include a few legal pages to protect your interests and inform your visitors. Create a disclaimer page to clearly explain the accuracy of your information, especially if you’re giving advice or using affiliate links. A privacy policy is often required by law and tells users about how you handle their data. You can also add a Terms of Service page to outline usage rules, user expectations and your rights.

If you want to beef up your blog with even more pages, a Tutorials page, Now Trending page or Author’s Pick page are all popular options.

Furthermore, some blogs opt to place their posts directly on the homepage, while others keep their homepages and blog pages separate. If you do this, make sure to include a navigation menu so that visitors can easily access your blog as well as any other pages.

There’s no right or wrong way to set up a blog, so play around with different options to see what best suits your style and personality. Keep in mind that you can always add or remove pages over time as your blog evolves.

Get indexed on search engines

Another part of starting a blog is making sure it’s visible on Google and other search engines. This is crucial if you want your content to pop up in search results, so you’ll want to take care of this step right away.

First, make sure your site is indexed on Google. Essentially, this means giving Google a heads up that your blog exists. You can do this by submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console.

Pro tip: Google Search Console is not only important for indexing your site, but it’s also a valuable platform that you’ll be using throughout your blogging journey. It tells you important data about your blog’s site visitors and clicks, which you can use to improve your content.

To find out whether your site is already included in Google’s search index, do a quick site search (a site search uses your homepage URL and takes the form of site:yourblogname.com). If your blog pops up in the search results, then your site is already indexed.

Create a blog logo

Finally, polish off your site with an attractive blog logo. This is another way to add personality to your site, and it’s an essential step if you want to create a blog that evolves into a recognizable brand.

One option is to design your own or outsource the task, but you can also use an online logo maker. These tools give you plenty of room to customize your logo with your preferred colors, fonts and icons, and tend to be quicker and more affordable than hiring a professional designer.

Once you create your logo, place it in the upper left-hand corner of your website, and link it to your homepage. This will help brand your content while improving the navigation experience for readers.

06. Brainstorm blog topics

On the technical side, your blog is now setup and ready to go. It’s time to start thinking about which topics you’ll get started with.

Begin by thinking about your experiences, successes, failures or discoveries related to your niche. What insights can you share? What ideas are you looking to explore in-depth?

As you think of topics, try to get into your readers’ heads. Here are some questions to guide you through the brainstorming process:

• What characteristics does my target audience possess?

• What subjects does my target audience get excited about?

• What challenges does my target audience face?

Here on our blog, we choose topics by focusing on what matters most to you, our reader. We pay attention to trending industries, common questions and what people are searching for right now. By mixing popular topics with practical advice and insights from our in-house experts, we make sure our content is genuinely helpful.

We also explore niche areas that often get overlooked, adding unique tips to give you your website, blog or other online presence that extra edge. Our goal is simple–create blog posts that solve real-world problems and provide value to anyone ready to start their own blog.You can also come up with ideas using the topic cluster model. Essentially, this is a tightly organized system that

strings together related posts using a series of internal links. While this process is usually considered part of SEO, you can also think of it as a mind map for coming up with ideas.By this model, think about a broad topic—say, recipes—and then divide that up into smaller subtopics, like dinner recipes or brunch recipes. Then, divide those up into even more specific topics, like 20-minute dinner recipes, mimosa recipes, and cake decoration ideas. Any of these topics could be its own blog post.