How to Start a Blog For Beginners 2022: A Step By Step Guide to Create a Blog

There are over 600 million blogs active worldwide, and for good reason. Whether it's part of your hobby or your profession, blogging comes with several benefits.

Blogging for businesses is a powerful marketing strategy. It not only strengthens your SEO but also establishes your authority in the field and helps you connect with your target audience.

Blogging has similar advantages when used by hobby bloggers and professional writers alike. It is an invaluable tool for expressing yourself online and discovering your passions. It's also an effective way to become a leading voice in your niche, build your personal brand, and even make money online.

Whatever your reason for blogging, it has become a crucial way to build your online presence and share your insights with the world. Below we've put together some ideas for blogging for beginners to get you started.

Blogging tips for beginners

Choose a blog niche
Research your audience
Draw inspiration online
Learn what people are searching for
Use keywords strategically
Structure your blog by category
Create an editorial calendar
Start with an outline
Use data and research
Write powerful copy
Incorporate different content types
Use a variety of visuals
Include clickable CTAs
Develop a powerful linking strategy
Prioritize long blog posts
Keep your content up-to-date
Create a blog newsletter
Promote your blog on social media
Expand your online presence
Monitor your blog analytics
Take advantage of monetization opportunities

01. Choose a blog niche

When you start a blog, you need to have a specific focus or niche to attract readers. Ideally, you will choose a single broad topic that you can explore in depth. But how do you decide what to focus on?

Think about your goals first. Want to promote your business? Share knowledge or discover your passion? Monetizing your content? Whether you're aiming to write about your industry, dive deeper into your personal interests, or monetize your site, thinking about your overall goals can point you in the right direction.

Whatever blog niche you choose will be the defining feature of your online presence. With that in mind, make sure you focus on an area you are experienced with and are really excited about.

Based on your experience, you may want to dig further down to appeal to a specific audience. For example, within the European travel or cooking niches, you may prefer to focus specifically on budget travel or vegan food.

If you're not sure which niche to choose, check out these blog examples to guide you. Next, choose a blog template to get started.

02. Research your audience

One of the biggest blogging mistakes of beginners? Not knowing the audience. In addition to determining what you will write about, you will also need to determine for whom you will write. Depending on the type of topic you hope to create, consider the types of people who will read your blog. Business professionals? Yoga enthusiasts? Are you expecting mothers?

Next, jot down their interests, pain points, and needs. Based on what you know about their personalities, brainstorm what topics they might be interested in or what problems they might encounter.

Keep these ideas in mind when creating blog topics and writing the content itself. For each article you create, you should have a clear understanding of why that particular content will deliver value to your readers.

03. Draw inspiration online

As a beginner blogger, you're probably also wondering how to find blog topic ideas. Brainstorming is of course a great strategy. But it's also helpful to do research to find out which topics are popular.

Start by checking out competing blogs in your industry. Notice what topics they cover. You can use a competitor analysis tool like BuzzSumo to determine which of your competitor's articles are performing the best, namely which are getting the most clicks or social media shares.

It's also a good idea to keep tabs on trending content. Here's how:

Check out online courses that people in your niche pay for, like Udemy, SkillShare, and LinkedIn Learning.
Stay up to date with current events and trending news in your industry.
Check out Q&A posts from platforms like Quora.
Search for best-selling, top-rated, or newly published books.
Browse trending search topics using Google Trends. In the image below, for example, you can see that vegan recipes are in greater demand than paleo recipes, but both have a steady stream of interest.

Start by building a list of topic ideas for your articles, based on your research on popular and high-performing topics.

04. Learn what people are searching for

You'll want to do some keyword research as you build your topic list. This is the practice of targeting specific words and phrases in your article based on what your target audience searches for in search engines.

You don't need to be a keyword researcher, but it's helpful to know what terms people are searching for. This not only helps you write content that resonates better with your target audience, but it also helps you rank higher in search results – ensuring your content is actually read.

Although keyword research may sound daunting, it is actually quite simple. There are several blogging tools, some free, that will point you to the right keywords. These include:

Once you have identified the main keyword you want to target for a particular topic, do a quick Google search for that keyword. Read the top 10 articles to get an idea of what they're talking about. They're in the top 10 for a reason, so you'll want to make sure your blog post covers similar topics.

05. Use keywords strategically

In addition to doing keyword research to understand what your audience wants to read about, you should also include these keywords in the text. First, it's good practice to include keywords in both the title and body of your article. This helps Google have a clear understanding of what your article is about.

When you upload your post, be sure to also include keywords in the following places:

URL: For example, www.myblog.com/blog/strategic-keyword.
Meta title: This is the blue title you see in Google search results.
Meta description: This is the short paragraph below the blue title in Google search results.
Alt text: This is the text you add to your images to make them "readable" for search engines (more on step 12).

It's important to note that your keywords should fit naturally into the text. The repetitive, indiscriminate use of keywords is called keyword stuffing, and it's a spammy practice that can hurt your SEO.

06. Structure your blog by category

Just as you'll organize your closet by category, you'll want to take a similar approach for your blog. If you're just starting out with your blog, format it so that it's easy for readers to find what they're looking for. For example, you may want to add extensive topic categories to the navigation menu.

Google also appreciates this structure – in fact, their algorithm takes website structure into account when determining which posts to rank among the top search results. Therefore, having neatly organized blog categories is beneficial in every way.

07. Create an editorial calendar

When it comes to blogging for beginners, consistency is key. To start a successful blog, you need to produce content regularly. Continuous posting is a sign that your blog is a voice of authority in your field and that your content is fresh and up to date. On top of that, Google's algorithm rewards blogs that post frequently.

Ideally, you will be able to publish an article at least 2-3 times a week. If that's unrealistic for you, start with just one a week and take it from there. The most important thing when getting started is to stick to a realistic, achievable release schedule.

Create an editorial calendar to hold yourself accountable. Open a file in Excel or Google Sheets and add a few columns to help you keep track of your schedule. We like to add separate columns for topic idea, publication date, keyword, and progress in our own editorial calendar.

To meet your deadlines, be sure to brainstorm topics and do all the research ahead of time. Make sure you take the time not only to write the content, but also to select media and edit your posts.

If you need more people on board, try opening your blog to guest writers. Many writers look for opportunities to contribute articles to sites other than their own as part of building their own reputations online.

08. Start with an outline

Once you have an idea of a topic and approximate word count, you will want to plan the structure of your articles. This is a crucial step in producing a powerful piece of content.

Your draft should include three main elements:

Introduction: This will be the opening paragraph of your article. Add a few bulleted notes to your draft along with some of the ideas you'd like to include in your introduction.
Body: This will be the meat of your article. Use your outline to organize all your thoughts. Each main idea in your article should have its own section. Write down the main points you want to include in each of these sections, as well as some examples to illustrate your points.
Conclusion: This will be the last 1-2 paragraphs of your article. While not every article needs to have a conclusion, it's a nice way to bring all your main points together. Complete your outline with a conclusion and add a few bullet points with the ideas you want to include.

09. Use data and research

Let's talk a little more about the content of your blog posts. In addition to giving your article a tight structure, you will also need to back up your statements. This is what ultimately makes it a compelling, powerful and believable piece.

On top of that, having a data-rich piece maximizes the chances that people will link back to your article on the web. Every time you get a backlink to your article, this improves the post's search engine ranking.

As you gather ideas for your article, do some research to find statistics that support your claims. For example, don't say, "More and more people are surfing the web on mobile." Say, “About half of worldwide web traffic comes from mobile devices.” It's a good idea to include this data in your draft before you start writing.

See how the above statistic is bridged? That's exactly what you'll want to do to give appropriate credit to each outside source.

As you feel more comfortable blogging, you may want to branch out to do original research (for example, conducting online surveys of your audience) and interviews. This will help you create original content that the online world will appeal to for authority and expertise.

10. Write powerful copy

Once you have your outline, you will be fully equipped to create your first draft. As you write your blog post, use your outline as a guide, making sure to include the following elements in your piece:

Headline: Write a catchy and engaging headline to attract the reader and encourage them to click on your article. If you get stuck, try this effective blog title formula: number + adjective + keyword + promise to the reader. You can also use this headboard maker to spark your imagination.

Introduction: Like your title, this is another place to engage your readers. Begin your introduction with a general address to your readers and then move on to the topic at hand.

Body: Detail the main argument of your paper, using the notes from your main draft as a guide. Here are some tips for creating a strong piece:

To divide the text, make each main point a different section with its own heading or subheading.
Add bullet points and numbered lists to change your formatting and add visual texture to your article.
Use examples and statistics to show your scores.
Deliver clear and actionable implications for your readers.
Keep paragraphs short to maximize space and improve readability.
Choose a consistent voice and tone that accurately reflects your brand.

Conclusion: Summarize your main points in 2-3 sentences to remind your readers of what you are discussing. If you're looking for comment and interaction, end by asking a question for your audience - eg, what do you think of these ideas? Or is there anything else you want me to share?

Finally, review and edit your article before publishing. Share your post with family and friends and ask them for their feedback. It helps you always get more eyes on your draft and boosts your confidence knowing you're doing your best.

Check out this blog post checklist for more tips on how to write and format your blog post.

11. Incorporate different content types

Images aren't the only alternative content type to include in your articles. In the blogging world, mixed media posts outperform posts that are just words. Once you're used to writing articles, try enhancing the articles by embedding a podcast or video in the post. You can provide even more value to readers by including a link to a webinar or downloadable ebook on the same topic.

On top of that, try reusing some of your articles in different formats so you can share them across different platforms. For example, you may want to start a YouTube channel with videos inspired by your blog content. Similarly, you can create your own podcast based on your articles or write an ebook to share with your audience.

12. Use a variety of visuals

Your writing is the core of your blog posts, but it is not the only element to include. It also helps you add visual elements to your articles. In fact, articles are shared twice as often when they have an image every 75-100 words.

With that in mind, break up large blocks of text by adding images and videos. This keeps your readers' attention on the page longer and prevents them from getting bored or afraid of too much text.

Be sure to use unique, high-quality images to create a bright and professional piece. If you can't use your own photos, you can get free stock photos from sites like Unsplash and Pexels.

After you upload images to your blog, add alt text to optimize them for SEO. Essentially, this just means adding a short description to each image – ideally using keywords – that explains to search engines and screen readers what it depicts. This is an easy process available on almost every blogging platform. (Note that this isn't the same as adding a title, because it won't show up in the resulting post.)

13. Include clickable CTAs

Do you want your readers to eventually become customers? This may be the case if you are blogging for your business or selling products or services related to your personal brand.

If that's your goal, you can design blog posts to direct readers to your products. Sprinkle calls to action throughout your post, especially at the beginning of your article that you're sure readers will see. CTAs are short, actionable phrases that get readers to buy or bring them closer to a purchase – for example, “Start my free trial” or “Do a 15-minute search.” You'll want to include a hyperlink in your CTAs that takes readers to a listing, listing, or product page.

Even if you don't sell products, you can use CTAs to engage readers and encourage them to discover your blog. For example, you can include CTAs that link to other blog posts or encourage readers to subscribe to your blog newsletter.

14. Develop a powerful linking strategy

If you're just learning to start a blog, it's essential to understand the importance of links in your blog strategy. In general, there are three main types of links to watch out for:

Internal links: Links in your blog posts that link to other pages on your website or articles on your blog. This type of link improves the SEO of your articles and compels readers to explore more relevant pages on your site.
External links: Links in your blog posts that link to third-party sites. These are useful when you want to cite important work or statistics from an external source.
Backlinks: Links from third-party sites that link to your website or blog. This is a fundamental part of building your blog's SEO. The more backlinks you get from high authority websites, the more trustworthy your site will be in the eyes of search engines.

Each of these plays its own important role, so take the time to implement the links throughout your blog post.

15. Prioritize long blog posts

Studies show that longer blog posts – between 1,500 and 2,000 words – perform better and get more shares on social media. On average, the most effective blog post length for SEO in 2020 was 1,890 words.

Why are long posts so effective? First, it provides the reader with the opportunity to explore topics in depth, providing them with a deeper value. It also allows you to build your expertise and establish your authority in the field. Typically, longer posts perform better for SEO as they give you space to cover the most important keywords around a given topic.

That doesn't mean you should give up on short blog posts altogether. In fact, short blog posts work well if they adequately describe a topic and provide the reader with exactly what they are looking for. For the most part, however, you'll want to prioritize longer articles when creating your content calendar.

16. Keep your content up-to-date

Another important blogging tip for beginners is to keep your content up to date. For starters, you'll want to prioritize evergreen content—blog posts on a timeless topic that will be relevant for years to come. But even with the oldest pieces, you'll want to constantly update your posts to keep them fresh.

An update can range from a slight refresh to a full content iteration. You can determine to what extent you need to update a post by analyzing its performance (more on that later).

To keep up with updates, it may be helpful to add a column to your editorial calendar reminding you to check the article 6 months after it's published.

17. Create a blog newsletter

Even after a month of publishing articles, there will still be a looming question. How will you get people to actually read and follow your blog?

First, you'll want to consider how you're going to attract people who have already landed on your site. Ideally, these people would be returning visitors, not just one-time readers.

To do this, send an email newsletter and encourage sign-ups directly from your blog posts. Include a CTA in your content that encourages readers to subscribe so you can start collecting email addresses. This allows you to communicate regularly and directly with your audience, helping you turn visitors into loyal fans.

18. Promote your blog on social media

Then there is the question of how to gain new visitors - people who have never been to your blog before.

A simple (and free) way to promote your blog is to share your articles on social media. Whether you're promoting your blog on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, give it its own profile using your blog logo as the profile picture. Then publish and share each blog post on your pages. Use an engaging image and title along with an engaging caption to engage your audience and get them to click.

In addition to sharing these articles on your own, you can encourage others to do the same. Make your posts shareable by adding social sharing buttons anywhere on the page. At the end of your post, leave a small note asking readers to share your content.

19. Expand your online presence

Social media isn't the only way to get exposure. There are other creative ways to build your presence as a blogger and gain recognition in your field. These include:

Learn about networking and cross-promotion opportunities in online or face-to-face meetings with other bloggers in your niche.
Being active in online communities related to your industry, such as a social media page or forum.
Writing guest posts on external sites to drive traffic to your blog, gain backlinks, and expand your reach.

Your readers are out there somewhere; you just have to find them. Reaching others in your field and posting on external sites related to your niche is an effective way to get started.

20. Monitor your blog analytics

Fortunately, you don't need to be in the dark when it comes to understanding the success of your blog posts. There are many website analysis tools out there to help you analyze your performance.

How many people read your articles each month? How many shares do they get on social media? What topics interest your readers the most? Evaluating this data is an essential part of starting a blog because it teaches you where to improve and where to replicate your success.

If you notice a particular topic getting a lot of clicks or shares, create additional articles about that theme or that use a similar style or format. Similarly, if an important article isn't getting the attention you hoped for, you may need to revisit it and consider updating or revising the content.

21. Take advantage of monetization opportunities

As a beginner, you may not be thinking about monetizing your blog yet. However, we'll leave you with one final tip that you can let marinate in your mind. After all, who wouldn't want to make some extra money through their blog - not to mention a full-time income?

To make money by blogging, you need to turn your traffic into revenue. Here are some suggestions on how you can go about it:

Offer paid subscriptions with member-only access to exclusive content.
Add affiliate links to a product (they allow you to earn a commission every time a reader clicks and buys).
Sell products related to your brand.
Get paid from companies to write sponsored content.
Provide consulting services to clients using your blog as your resume.
Add ads to your blog.

This may sound like a lot right now, but allow yourself to dream big. You can turn your blog into a powerful post using these blogging tips.