How to Start a Blog

Chapter 1: Choose Your Platform

| Platform | Cost | Best For |

|----------|------|----------|

| WordPress.org | $3-30/month hosting | Full control, serious bloggers |

| Substack | Free (10% on paid) | Writers who want a newsletter too |

| Ghost | $9-25/month | Clean, simple writer sites |

| Squarespace | $16-33/month | Beautiful design, easy to use |

For most people: WordPress.org. It runs 43% of all websites. Full control.

For simplicity: Substack or Ghost. Blog and email in one place.

For beautiful design: Squarespace. Pick a template and go.

Don't use only Medium. You don't own the audience.

Chapter 2: Pick Your Topic

The blogs that grow fastest have a clear focus. Find the sweet spot of:

1. Something you enjoy writing about
2. Something people search for on Google
3. Something not too crowded

Examples of Sharp Topics

• Instead of "health" → "Healthy meals for busy single parents"
• Instead of "tech" → "AI tools for small business owners who aren't tech-savvy"

Chapter 3: SEO Basics

SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization." It means making your blog show up when people search Google. Think of Google like a library. SEO is like putting the right labels on your book so people can find it.

The 5 Most Important Things

1. Keywords — Words people type into Google. Use free tools like Ubersuggest to find them. Pick one per post.
2. Title tags — What shows up in Google results. Be clear and include your keyword.
3. Headings — Break posts into sections with bold headings.
4. Internal links — Link to your other blog posts.
5. FAQ section — Answer common questions at the bottom. Google loves these.

Chapter 4: Write Posts That People Find and Love

The Blog Post Recipe

1. Hook intro (2-3 sentences that grab attention)
2. Quick answer in the first 100 words
3. 5-7 detailed sections with clear headings
4. Real examples
5. FAQ section (3-5 questions)
6. Call to action (what to do next)

Use AI to Help

Ask ChatGPT: "Write a 2,000-word blog post about [keyword] for [audience]. Include section headings and a FAQ." Then make it yours — add your stories, remove robotic parts.

Chapter 5: Build a Content Calendar

The Simple 90-Day Plan

Month 1: Write 8 posts (2/week). Focus on main keywords.

Month 2: Write 8 more. Start writing big "pillar" guides.

Month 3: Write 8 more + go back and improve month 1 posts.

Use Notion, Google Sheets, or Trello to stay organized.

Chapter 6: Get Readers Beyond Google

1. Share every post on social media (share the most interesting part, not just "new post!")
2. Build an email list with a signup form on your blog
3. Repurpose: turn each post into social posts, threads, and videos
4. Join communities on Reddit, Facebook, Discord
5. Write guest posts for bigger blogs
6. Partner with bloggers in related topics

Chapter 7: Make Money From Your Blog

Way 1: Display Ads

Join ad networks like Mediavine (need ~10,000 page views/month). Income: $10-30 per 1,000 views.

Way 2: Affiliate Links

Recommend products with special tracking links. Earn a percentage when readers buy.

Way 3: Sell Your Own Products

Ebooks ($10-50), courses ($50-500), templates ($10-100), coaching ($100-500/hour). You keep all the money.

Way 4: Sponsored Posts

Companies pay you to write about their product. $100-500+ per post for smaller blogs.

Chapter 8: Grow and Systemize

Batch Your Work

• Writing day: Write 2-4 posts
• Editing day: Polish them
• Design day: Create images in Canva
• Promotion day: Schedule social posts and emails

Use AI to Speed Up

• Outlining, first drafts, SEO suggestions, repurposing into social posts

Track What's Working Monthly

Page views, top posts, search rankings (Google Search Console), email signups, revenue.

The Long Game

Most blogs don't see big Google traffic until months 3-6. By month 12, your early posts bring traffic every day without extra work. The bloggers who win are the ones who don't quit in month 2.

Your Blog Launch Checklist

• [ ] Platform chosen and set up
• [ ] Topic and focus defined
• [ ] First 4 posts written
• [ ] Basic SEO set up
• [ ] Email signup form added
• [ ] Google Search Console connected
• [ ] Content calendar planned
• [ ] First post published and promoted

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