CareerExplorer’s step-by-step guide on how to become a blogger.

Step 1

Is becoming a blogger right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Overview
What do bloggers do?
Career Satisfaction
Are bloggers happy with their careers?
Personality
What are bloggers like?

Still unsure if becoming a blogger is the right career path? to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a blogger or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

Step 2

Steps on Becoming a Blogger

Here are some steps you can take to become a blogger:

  • Choose a niche: This is the first and most crucial step in starting a blog. Your niche should be something you are passionate about and knowledgeable in. It can be anything from personal finance, fitness, food, travel, fashion, lifestyle, or technology. The key is to choose a niche that you are interested in and that has a potential audience.
  • Select a blogging platform: There are many blogging platforms available, but the most popular ones are WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. WordPress is a self-hosted platform that offers more flexibility and customization options. Blogger and Tumblr are free platforms that are easier to use but offer fewer customization options.
  • Choose a domain name: A domain name is the web address of your blog. It should be relevant to your blog's topic and easy to remember. You can purchase a domain name from a domain registrar like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Bluehost.
  • Design your blog: Once you have selected your blogging platform and domain name, you need to design your blog. This involves choosing a template or theme that reflects your style and personality. You can customize your blog's design by adding widgets, changing colors, and fonts.
  • Create content: The most crucial part of blogging is creating quality content. Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your audience. You can write how-to guides, reviews, listicles, or opinion pieces. It's essential to be consistent and publish new content regularly to keep your audience engaged.
  • Promote your blog: You need to promote your blog to attract visitors and grow your audience. Share your blog on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Join online communities related to your niche and engage with other bloggers and readers. You can also guest post on other blogs to reach a new audience.
  • Monetize your blog: Once you have a substantial following, you can start monetizing your blog. You can display ads on your blog using Google AdSense or other ad networks. You can also earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, or by selling products and services.
Step 3

Grow Your Email List

Growing an email list as a blogger is a crucial part of building a loyal audience and driving traffic to your blog. Here are some tips on how to grow your email list:

  • Offer a lead magnet: Create a valuable piece of content, such as an ebook, checklist, or template, that your readers can download in exchange for their email address. Make sure the lead magnet is relevant to your blog niche and provides value to your readers.
  • Use a signup form: Place a signup form on your blog where readers can subscribe to your email list. Make sure the form is prominently displayed and easy to use.
  • Use pop-ups and slide-ins: While pop-ups and slide-ins can be annoying, they can also be effective in capturing your readers' attention and encouraging them to sign up for your email list. Just be sure to use them sparingly and considerately.
  • Offer exclusive content: Give your email subscribers access to exclusive content, such as early access to blog posts, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive offers.
  • Promote your email list on social media: Use your social media channels to promote your email list and encourage your followers to sign up. You can also use social media to share exclusive content for your email subscribers.
  • Host a giveaway: Offer a prize, such as a free product or service, to one of your email subscribers. This can encourage your readers to sign up for your email list and can also help you grow your social media following.
  • Collaborate with other bloggers: Partner with other bloggers in your niche to host joint giveaways or to create a collaborative piece of content that you can promote to your email lists.
Step 4

Certifications

There are many certifications available for bloggers that can help them improve their skills, credibility, and marketability. Here are a few options:

  • HubSpot Content Marketing Certification: This certification covers content creation, content promotion, and analytics. It is designed to help bloggers create and execute a successful content marketing strategy.
  • Google Analytics Certification: This certification demonstrates proficiency in using Google Analytics to track website traffic, analyze user behavior, and optimize marketing campaigns.
  • Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification: This certification covers social media marketing best practices and how to use the Hootsuite platform to manage social media accounts effectively.
  • Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer: This certification program is designed to help bloggers improve their content creation, promotion, and conversion skills.
  • Yoast SEO Academy: This certification program covers search engine optimization (SEO) best practices and how to use the Yoast SEO plugin to optimize blog posts for search engines.
  • American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) Certified Blog Writer: This certification program is designed to help bloggers learn how to write blog posts that engage readers and drive traffic to their websites.
Step 5

Online Resources

There are many online resources available for bloggers, ranging from blogging platforms to tools for blog promotion and monetization. Here are some of the most popular ones:

  • WordPress: WordPress is a popular blogging platform that offers a range of features and functionality to help bloggers create and publish their content. With a variety of themes and plugins available, bloggers can customize their sites to suit their needs and style. WordPress also offers a range of pricing options, from free to paid plans with more advanced features.
  • Blogger: Blogger is a free and easy-to-use blogging platform owned by Google. It offers a simple interface for creating and publishing blog posts, as well as a range of customization options for the appearance of your blog. While it doesn't offer as many features as some other platforms, it's a great choice for bloggers who are just starting out and want a simple and straightforward blogging experience.
  • Medium: Medium is a platform for publishing and sharing stories with a large audience. It offers a range of features for writers, including a simple and elegant writing interface, tools for formatting and organizing your content, and the ability to reach a large and engaged audience. Medium also allows you to earn money for your writing through its Partner Program.
  • Canva: Canva is a graphic design tool that allows bloggers to create eye-catching visuals for their posts, including images, infographics, and social media graphics. With a range of templates and design elements available, it's easy to create professional-looking graphics even if you don't have design experience.
  • Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a powerful tool for tracking website traffic and understanding audience behavior. With detailed analytics reports, bloggers can see how many people are visiting their site, where they're coming from, and what they're doing while they're there. This information can be used to optimize your content and improve your site's performance.
  • Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO is a plugin for WordPress that helps bloggers optimize their content for search engines. It provides real-time analysis of your content as you write, giving you suggestions for improving your SEO and making your content more discoverable by search engines.
  • Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a social media management tool that allows bloggers to schedule and automate their social media posts. With Hootsuite, you can manage all of your social media accounts in one place, schedule posts in advance, and track the performance of your social media content.
  • Google AdSense: Google AdSense is a popular advertising platform that allows bloggers to earn money by displaying ads on their site. With AdSense, you can choose the types of ads you want to display, and earn money every time someone clicks on one of them.
  • Mailchimp: Mailchimp is an email marketing platform that allows bloggers to build and manage their email list. With Mailchimp, you can create beautiful email campaigns, segment your audience, and track the performance of your emails.
  • Grammarly: Grammarly is a writing assistant tool that helps bloggers check their spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It can be used as a browser extension or integrated directly into your writing platform, providing real-time suggestions for improving your writing and making it more professional and error-free.