How — and why — to start a blog in 2021
Blogging: maybe you’ve heard of it? Very briefly called weblogging, the format — a sort of direct-to-reader, voice-driven writing of the early internet — started in the very late 1990s and boomed post-Y2K. Until recently, blogging seemed like to join certain early social network sites (you know the ones) as an internet relic of a past era, but it’s recently come roaring back into fashion as more writers rediscover its simple pleasures and efficacious delivery system for their ideas. Maybe we won’t ever fully embrace all-denim ensembles and text-only, flip phones again (as if), but there’s a lot we can learn from blogging.
Even now, some of the most successful blogs from that era have evolved into global brands. Their staying power has only proved blogging can create avenues for pursuing what you really want to do or supporting a business. Since blogging is versatile, it has made a comeback for individuals and brands looking to connect more directly with their readers — and break-free from the limitations of social media platforms. But how to jump into blogging, whether you’re reacquainting yourself or starting your first venture? We’ve got you covered: Here’s why and how to start a blog in 2021.
1. It’s very easy to get into
Yes, wide-leg jeans and middle-part hairstyles are trending again, but blogging is a lot different than it was during the dot-com boom. Like most tech, it’s a lot more user-friendly and endlessly customizable. To that end, the first steps for building a blog are finding a web host and registering a domain name. A web host stores your blog on the web and a domain name is how people find your content. For many bloggers, .com is often the most attractive domain extension, but there are other options. Web-hosting solution Hostinger offers guidance on making the right choice, and its domain checker can let you know whether your top choices are available.
2. You can showcase your niche
You can also start a personal blog without a specific focus and see where it goes, but it’s a good idea to give some initial thought to what you want to accomplish with your blog. Think of it as finding your niche. Your niche is a reflection of your brand, from synthwave expert to eco-conscious fashion label or keyboard warrior for social justice. Another decision you’ll need to make upfront is picking a free or a paid platform.
3. It’s a way to express a personal or brand identity
Blogging can be as neat or messy as you wanted it to be. Whether you want to emulate the unfiltered, tell-all posts of the 2000s or create a more polished narrative for a small company, a content management system (CMS) helps keep it all tidy behind the scenes and you don’t need any coding know-how to set one up (anyone who knows how to use a device connected to the internet can handle it).
WordPress is the most popular, open-source CMS, but there are others like Joomla and Drupal. For WordPress blogs, Hostinger has a quick guide for getting started, which takes less than five minutes to read. Alternatively, if you want to weigh your choices, there’s a comprehensive guide. Either way, utilizing Hostinger to build your blog offers a wide array of customizable elements and powerful tools.
4. Your posts can generate traffic
A CMS offers themes for the look of your blog, as well as plugins every blog should have like search engine optimization (SEO), anti-spam, and security. (Great content can attract readers, but also trolls, which is why you want some protection.)
For a TL;DR option on building your blog, Hostinger has a play-by-play video tutorial. You can create pages like “about” or “contact” sections, as well as blog posts. Posts can include text, images, or video to reach your audience. If you want to attract new readers, the next steps are learning basic SEO and how to use Google Analytics.
5. You can make money
Blogging can be 100% a passion project, but if you want to gain a following or monetize your blog, that requires some strategy — or crazy levels of luck (the internet is a wild place though and you may not be the only one interested in very detailed analysis of the latest sci-fi series everyone is streaming). You can bring in cash through ads, sponsored posts, and partnerships, or by selling products or services using ecommerce plugins. Regardless of why you want to blog, the how part is simple.
Check out Hostinger for intuitive, powerful, and customizable tools to create your blog, along with a host of helpful tutorials and how-to guides to get your creative energies flowing.
