What Does it Take to Create a Blog/Website?
The answer to the above question is, surprisingly enough, “very little.” Not so long ago, the only people who could build websites where programming experts; the ones whom you read about in newspapers, who are weaned on computers, drop out of college in the first or second year, before launching a billion dollar company out of their parents’ garages. So, what does it really take to create a blog?
Content Management Systems
The fortunate thing is that the world has, over the years, become a simpler place. Today, it is possible for everyone, including you and me, to start a blog or website. Content Management Systems (CMSes), have simplified website creation to such an extent that all that you need in order to create your own blog is a computer that is connected to the internet.
Examples of Content Management Systems include; Joomla and WordPress. I have previously written about the 8 reasons why you should create your own blog or website. But what, really, does it take to create a blog?
Domain
The first thing that you need before launching your website is a domain. Check out this article on how to choose a domain to find out more. Suffice to say, here that a domain is of extreme importance, in that it is the means by which potential visitors to your site will be able to find you. Think of it as your very own address, amidst the ever growing vastness that is the World Wide Web.
You need a domain as part of the website development process. Your domain name can be anything, but should be simple and memorable to make if more accessible.
Where, then, can you find your domain?
There are many places on the internet that offer domain registration services. Most of these also offer web hosting services. This simplifies life for those who are looking to start blogging. The very first step, should you selected one of our recommended hosts, involves the selection of a domain name.
The services tell you if your chosen name has already been registered by someone else. With billions of domains already having been registered, it can be difficult for you to find what you are looking for. However, you need not overthink the process. Make your domain relevant, short and memorable, and you are unlikely to go wrong.
Web Host
Having established what the domain name for your website is going to be, and having determined that it has not been registered by anyone else, the next step in your quest to create a blog is to determine where you wish to have your website hosted. In order to get your site to your target audience, you need to hire the services of companies that specialize in taking care of web content. While you could probably self host your site, it is better and much simpler to let web hosting specialists do the job on your behalf.
There are many things that you need to take into consideration when choosing a web host. These include reliability, cost (this is what most people consider the most), available products and services and much more.
Time
The one thing that you need the most, particularly if you are going to create a blog, is time. Blogging is a time intensive undertaking. While there is really no agreement on how often you need to produce content for your site, the fact remains that you need to constantly keep your site updated. That is the only way through which you can maintain the rapport that you have created with your subscribers and others.
You can simplify matters in this regard by hiring other people to do some of the work on your behalf. The nature of the world today is such that you can get someone in Singapore to write content on your behalf, while engaging the services of someone else in Kenya to take care of the technical aspects of your site.
Do as much work as you can on your own at the beginning, and, as things begin to grow, I recommend that you hire other people to help you out. You can get people who specialize in whatever it is that you need to have done on sites such as Upwork, Fiver and Freelancer.
Content
Another thing that you need in order to create a blog or website is content. Unfortunately, this is something that most people neglect to take proper care of, amidst the euphoria that comes from having their own creative space. Your content can be about anything, from your dog to your business and your mango tree. The most important thing in this regard, particularly if you are going to create a blog, is the fact that you should focus on the things that interest you the most.
Don’t write about something simply because you have heard someone say that it is the best way through which you can attract visitors and, therefore, earn money. The fact is that you are likely to suck at whatever it is that you produce if you focus on a topic that does not interest you. And you are likely to pass this suffering onto your poor readers.
Give people what they are looking for, and they will subscribe to your services and come back for more. Give them sub-par content, and they will reward you with an exceptionally high bounce rate. As mentioned above, you can get others to help you out with the management of your site, including through the outsourcing of content creation. However, make sure that whoever you hire can do a good job.
Content is king in Search Engine Optimization and you need to make sure that the articles that are published on your website are of the highest quality.
So, what does it take to start a blog?
There are, of course, many other things that you need in order to create a blog. However, with the above, you can get going. I have already mentioned that it is possible to create your own site in a few easy steps. This is particularly the case if it’s a simple, generic site, like the ones that are offered by Joomla.com and WordPress.com. In any case, the best tip for those who are looking to create a blog is to get started. The mistakes that you will inevitably make along the way will, invariably, propel towards greater heights.