Blogging for Dummies
Do you love the idea of starting a blog, but not sure where to begin?
Being a blogger isn’t easy – particularly if you want to make a career of it! It takes dedication and hard work to stand out in a crowd. I’ve been blogging since 2009, learning the tricks of the trade from YouTube, conferences, webinars, Facebook groups and other bloggers. Blogging can be hard work – but it’s rewarding in so many ways, and I love it!
I’ve recently read Blogging for Dummies, a great guide which walks you through the process of starting a blog. It’s full of great tips and advice, even for experienced bloggers – particularly in areas like copyright and privacy, using photography and building a community.
Questions to ask yourself before you start a blog:
Why are you blogging?
It might be to make money, because you want to write a book, to get exposure for your business, or just to write about something you love.
What’s your niche?
People talk about the importance of a niche for a blogger – but it can be tricky to establish this at the start (my niche – competitions – was easy!) You might want to start with a broad topic, then explore within that theme (kids, money saving, books, hobbies etc.) Using a ‘diary’ format is an easy way to begin.
What’s your blog name?
Choose a name for your blog. It’s sensible to buy a domain with your blog name – rather than having a long address like super-lucky.blogspot.com (my original site!). I buy my domains from GoDaddy – where you can get a .COM or .CO.UK domain for just 99p! A tagline for your blog can be a great way to explain what exactly people will find when they come to your site.
Which blogging platform will you use?
Most bloggers use WordPress or Blogger – others prefer the simplicity of Squarespace and Tumblr.
Will your blog be self hosted?
Self-hosting gives you control over what you post. In addition, you can show adverts and host giveaway widgets (Gleam & Rafflecopter) on a self-hosted WordPress blog, which isn’t possible on a free WordPress.com blog. Self-hosting is cheaper than you think – I use TSOHost for SuperLucky and have found them easy to contact and helpful.
What theme will you choose?
A theme is the design and layout of your blog – there are a number of free themes you can use, and it’s important to choose a responsive theme that looks good on mobile devices. Elegant Themes offer some lovely ones (including the SuperLucky theme, Nexus) and great customer support, although it’s a little pricey at $69 per year. If you want to try a free theme, Creative Bloq’s list of the 35 best free WordPress themes might help! When you have chosen your theme, use Canva to create an effective blog header and graphics for it easily.
What will you write about?
Make a list of ideas for your blog posts before you launch your blog, so you have plenty of content ready – I have a content spreadsheet for SuperLucky in Google Drive, and I type in ideas and titles when I think of them. ‘Evergreen’ content is fantastic, as you can recycle it, update it and keep sharing for years – tips or list posts are great too. You can also have guest posts from other bloggers. It doesn’t matter how often you post, but once or twice a week is a good start.
What other channels will you use to promote your blog?
Will you be using Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. in addition to posting on your blog? Think about how these will work alongside the website – and check you can get usernames that complement your blog name!
Would you find this book useful? Leave a comment telling me why!
Disclaimer – this post includes affiliate links.
The ideas were presented in a clear and thoughtful way.
I would love to start a blog, but I have no idea of how to get started or how I express all my ideas so people enjoy it. This would be great for a invaluable guide. If it’s anything like your other book, this would be a great companion.
Why do I need this book….. Where to start. I have been blogging since the start of the year and I keep learning things all the times. Although I have been running competitions and found your book really helpful! I think this one would be even more helpful. Also got my partner your book about entering competitions and he loves it! Must email you about a kindle copy for me to read in university while I should be learning!!
I’ve been writing blogs on and off for a long time from my old dead journal back in my goth days to my disney inspired CRP programme blog – because these were inspired by specific topics and events they worked well. I write mainly for myself I find it a nice outlet to vent to ramble on etc. My current blog has no inspiration and dawdles a bit as it has no direction – i think this book might help me
I love writing and would love to write a blog, but don’t really know where to start. This book would set me off in the right direction and give me a new hobby.
I have been retired for 2yrs now and have looked at various blogs and would love to start one . I have loads of interests but really need advice on how they can be made so interesting that people want to see what i have been doing ,and how the rescue cats are doing
I’ve started a blog, done the first post and then stopped unsure what to do next, I don’t know how to make it look appealing or blog to a standard people would enjoy so this book would be ace x
I want to start a blog but need direction and this book would help so much
Something I would love to try but have no idea where to start x
Ive started a blog (well one post) and have no idea what im doing lol
I have wanted to start a blog for ages but really don’t know what to do first!
ive no idea how to blog im a beginner so may have useful tips
I had a successful website which I sold when health problems got in the way. Since my transplant I’ve tried to get into blogging but can’t stay focussed. This sounds like the structure I need to finally make a go of it.
I really want to blog but I need some help! 🙂
I’d love to start blogging but have no idea where to start and I think this would help
I’ve wanted to start a blog for years but never knew where to start so this would be wonderful.
blogging is tempting – if i can find the time between comping and work (although it could help with the comping i believe). This would give me great insight on how to get started.
I have a blog but it is rather haphazard, I started with travel stories from my past, jumped to DIY projects, vintage fashion, moans about my favourite products disappearing from the shelves of supermarkets and a bit of cooking thrown in. What I need is discipline and purpose and this book might be the answer.
I would find Blogging for Dummies useful as now retired am considering setting up a blog and would greatly appreciate any help i can have
I’ve just been made redundant and currently applying for jobs. If I struggle to get one I’ve been thinking of maybe starting a blog to keep my mind occupied. I don’t know where to begin though
I have a crafting blog http://www.lasatas.blogspot.com and would love some tips on how to get more followers
I haven’t blogged in over a year due to ill heath and would love to get back in to it, this would be incredibly helpful!
I enter competitions for fun and I’ve had some fantastic wins, a trip to the Rio Olympics, a new kitchen…. a lot of my work colleagues and friends want to win things but find it too daunting and don’t know where to start, I would love to set up my own blog showing that how and still run a home, work and bring up two kids single handed. You can do it if you maximise your time and target a wish list.
I have no idea where to start on blogging it would be fun to learn.
I’m retiring soon and would like to start a positive blog for women of my age to include tips on makeup, clothes and lifestyle and having fun in this new stage of life. I would find “Blogging for Dummies useful to keep me focused and teach me the ropes!
My eldest daughter would loke to start a blog but she has no idea where to start, I think this book would be a good place .x
I’d find this book really useful as I’ve been meaning to start a crafting bog for ages but have no idea where to start!
I’d give this book to my sil who has been running a blog for a while, but I think could make it work much better for her with a bit of insider info 🙂
I would find this book useful as I’d like to start a blog but am not sure how to get it out there.
I would find this book really useful as I have been thinking seriously of beginning a blog and before I start I am trying to become clued up on all the ins and outs of blogging! Reading this book would really help!!
I start blogs but run out of things to say
I have been wanting to blog for ages, but don’t know how to start.
I’d like to learn, so i can join the masses of people already clue’d up! (willing to learn!)
I would love to start my own blog about my daily battles with the rare medical condition called hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. I believe this would help fellow sufferers and other people realise what daily battles we suffer. I have no idea where to start and this book would be a massive help.
I’ve always wnated to start blogging, but no idea where to start. This would be an excellent read. Thanks for the competition!
I’ve just started to blog so this would be very helpful!
even though I have been logging for a few years now, I am still learning new things all the time and I am sure there is things in this book that I don’t know yet
I’d love to start writing a blog, but have no idea quite where to start. I know the aims of it but not sure how to set one up. Am not very technical!
I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a blog but don’t know where to start so this would be amazingly helpful!
For a whole variety of reasons I re evaluated my life a few years ago and decided to start taking every opportunity that comes my way. It’s not a dress rehearsal, right? Friends and colleagues often tell me I should blog about what I am doing and my many adventures and I am determined that 2017 is the year that I give that a try.
this would be great to give me the kick up the bottom I need to start my blog, I’m going down the route of gifts, and diy gifts – I love getting creative 🙂
I would love to start blogging about my life as a stay at home mum of 3 and this would be so useful
I’ve been fortunate enough to go travelling regularly and keep a blog for family and friends, but would love to take it to the next level of creating a proper blog to contribute to a travel blog community that inspired and helped me plan my trips! Wanderlust spreading all the way!
I’d love this book because whilst I have been writing online journals since I was a teenager I only really got in to “blogging” when my son was born and now I’m full time parent on my own I’d love to turn my blog in to something that earns me a few extra pennies for the household.
its never to late to learn some more about blogging i only been at it for nearly 4 years but there is so much more i would like to learn and the book sounds like a great start!
I enjoy writing so I’ve blogged, on and off, for a few years now. Realistically though, most of my blogs have been too esoteric to generate any outside interest (few people, if any, will care about the different drains I’ve photographed – http://draingeek.blogspot.co.uk/ – or my Freecycling exploits – http://takemytrash.blogspot.co.uk/).
In an attempt to write something more accessible, I started blogging about comping earlier this year (http://luckmuscle.blogspot.co.uk/).
I try to steer away from tips, partly because I’m not a power comper, and partly because there’s precious little I can contribute that you haven’t said already! Instead, I write about my experiences and attempts to stay motivated.
A side effect of this is that I find it very hard to write evergreen content. I’m crying out for tips in this regard!
So far, I’ve made no attempt to monetise my blog, but that’s not to say I’m averse to the idea. Before I even entertain such a thing, however, I need to build a community of regular readers. Again, this is something I need help with!
I’m actually kicking myself for not thinking of investing in this book previously! My wife will be delighted that I’ve actually found something for my Christmas list now!
I’ve started a blog, twice, and then thought ‘I don’t know what I’m doing!’ and quickly backtracked and deleted what I had started. I soon realised that blogging isn’t just about writing, it’s about much more than that….but what?! Perhaps this book would have the answers 🙂
I would like to use this book, if you don’t think you know, but need to know and may want to share the know, then blog to know!
I would love to use this to start blogging, I follow a lot of blogs and enter many competitions but do not know how so set up my own – this would be a great help xx
i would love to win because i’m really wanting to start blogging but I have no idea where to begin. This book looks like it would give me the know how on making a success of a blog.
I’ve just started a blog and at 53 years old it’s all a bit confusing. I’ve had to learn so many new things to get my blog up and running. This book would be amazing as sometimes I do feel a bit of a dummy when it comes to blogging ! xx
I would like to do a parent blog, I know there are lots out there but I would like to raise awareness of still birth.
I have a blog about Walking, which I would love to monetise. I would like to learn how to run my blog in the most effective way, especially in the areas of promotion and social media, so I can spend most of my time doing the things I love – walking and writing.
I would find this useful as I have a passion for history, fashion and politics! I would love to combine this into a blog but wouldn’t know where to start! I’m a very streetwise 37 year old but when it comes to this I feel clueless, its as if I have turned into a brunette bimbo! I want people to be inspired by history in a way they never were at school!
I’d find it useful as in the next month or two I hope to start up my own blog, this would be the perfect place to start!
I’ve been blogging a while now, but never feel like I know all of the true basics so winning this would be a great help to me.
Id love to blog, Id like to write a childrens book I have a few ideas, but not sure how to run with them this book would help me
my daughter loves blogging so this would be a great gift for her
I would love to win this book to give to my niece, she lives in South Africa, and because of country moves (SA to Australia back to SA), no work, then she got a job and sadly she had to have an emergency operation to remove her spleen as it ruptured. I have found out that you can review products over there like here and I think this would be something she could get involved in from home to help towards her keep and for her two little girls.
Due to my health problems and age I’m finding it extremely hard to get a normal job. I really want to be able to work and blogging is something I’ve thought about for a while but I just don’t know how to start. This book could be the insipartion and knowledge I need. Due to lack of available funds at the moment I can’t afford to buy it to find out. I’m one of the people who has to manage on what her husband earns on minimum wage so I really would love the book. (Hubby could wrap it for Christmas ).
I love reading blogs and have always been fascinated about how they’re all put together, how much skill and time is involved. I’m tempted to create my own but am a little intimidated by my lack of computer skills so this would be a brilliant introduction to the process. x
I’m a mum to 2 daughters,16yr old & an 11yr old. I’m also a step mum to my hubby’s son who’s 16yrs old & daughter who’s 13yrs old. Plus we have a new addition who’s nearly 6mths old & he’s a Cockapoo. For the past year I’ve been enjoying reading & taking part in lots of Blogs & their lovely giveaways & have often thought how amazing it must be to own a blog for many different reasons. I can only imagine it must be hard work, but there must be very enjoyable reasons too such as getting to socialize with many different people & a great deal of satisfaction when you get lots of feedback on all your hard work. When you have all those ideas & information swimming around in your head it must be such a release when you get to share it with others. I’ve been as close as mentioning to my hubby that I’d love to have my own blog but have no idea where to begin, or what to talk about that others would be interested to read. This book would be of great help to me, in finding my direction & to find out exactly what I would aim to do.
So I am a mummy to 2 little boys (1 and 2 years old) and discovered the world of comping (from you!!) and blogging on mat leave. I’m absolutely enthralled by this new world and would love to attempt to start my own blog. This has become a massive passion and dream of mine but like most others, don’t have the foggiest how to get started. I have this desire to record snapshots of my life at this precious time and think this would be the perfect opportunity!
I would love to start blogging about the battles I am facing regarding certain health issues. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start and a book like this could be my catalyst to achieving what I want to do
I would love to know where to start with an effective blog, that would help my business
Would love to win this – in fact, I could hardly believe it was being offered as a prize. I would really love to start a blog but, like many on here, I am unsure where to start.
Don`t know what a blog is love to find out and have a go
I’d love to know where to start got the ideas but worried how to and method one does blogging … nervous starter
I’ve been blogging for about 4 years but never feel I’ve fully committed so this would be great for me to make sure I’m covering all my bases!
My hubby has just given up work to be a stay at home dad but he keeps referring to himself as “retired”!! I’m keen to get him blogging so he am combine something he enjoys with keeping his work skills honed so that hopefully his transition back to work in a few years will be easier!
My world has been turned upside down this year, the future I had carved out for myself I’ve had to accept won’t happen, at least not in the way I expected. I now have a chronic illness which is impacting on every aspect of my life, including my finances and employment, parenting and wellbeing. I’m not looking for sympathy, just explaining my reasons! As hard as it is, I refuse to give up and I have to find a new path which works for me and focus on what I can do rather than what I can’t. ThIs is why I think blogging would be a great way forward, I can hopefully help others who are going through similar things and make a bit of money along the way to support myself too.
I would love to start blogging to promote my hypnotherapy business which i sidelined to care for my father, sadly recently passed, thing is I feel at 57 a bit of a technical dionosaur
I have had a blog for a few years (very low key) and want to start self hosting and putting more time into it. Just not sure where to start to really make an impact
I currently run a photography blog and I’m considering moving over to WordPress. More info on WordPress would be really helpful
I really want to learn more so this would be a great place to start!
I’ve started a couple of blogs before but forgotten about them so this would be a good guide to focus my attention.
To help me revive my neglected gardening and wildlife blog
I’ve just started a blog alongside my best friend and only just found my niche. Any help from this book would be great.
I used to blog and started a new one recently which I am struggling to gain readers but I feel my content is better so any tips on that would help me no end xxx
I have thought about blogging for some time but don’t know where to start. As an older than average blogger I feel that I have a different view on life, clothes, make up etc
I would find this book useful because I have been considering starting a blog for a long time now, but I haven’t been brave enough to take that jump and do not have a clue where to start, which of course, this book could help with
I have recently started my own blog and while it is doing ok there is always room for improvement. Thank you for the chance to win 🙂
A lot goes on in my head on a daily basis, mum stuff, school stuff, children stuff, work stuff…. You get the idea. I’ve always been one for writing things down rather then keep it locked up in my thoughts but other than a paper chase notebook have no idea where to start… This book may be my answer
Blogging is always been something that I have been interested in doing. I just have no idea how to get started, what is the best platform to blog from and costs involved, if there is any. I would also like the know the best ways to promote a blog and how to get traffic on the blog.
I’d love to gift this book to my friend, she is super stylish and creative and I think she would make a great blogger… she’s spoken about it a few times and this would help encourage her to start a blog 🙂
I’ve wanted to start a blog for a while but have struggled with the technical of getting it up and running and which platforms are best to use. I think this would really help me understand that
I am struggling to get mine up and running
I have started a blog last year but never got it off the ground as I Dont understand what to do.I really need this book !
I’ve been considering starting a blog for sometime but don’t really know where to start, if this book is like the rest of the Dummie series it would be a fab place to start!! PLEASE – Pretty please with a cherry on the top 😉
Ive always wanted to write my own blog uet have been put off as im not very web savvy . I would love to learn how.
I would love to win for my Goddaughter Emma who wants to start a Travel Blog
This would be useful as my sister is wanting to get into blogging about drama and I think that she could benefit from this and it would save me money, as I wouldn’t have to buy a Christmas present and she is at Uni so it would save her a couple of quid, which is crucial!
For a while now I’ve been thinking I want to start a blog. A few years ago not long before I started to comp I had a break down and it ended with me quitting my job.
There was a lot of reasons this happened but one big stress was that I was in debt and struggling to deal with it. Things carried to go down hill. I lost my car to the tax man, having inherited it from my mum that was devastating. We couldn’t afford to pay the bills bedroom tax meant we was paying out more then we had and our cupboards where empty.
Finally I thought enough was enough and started obsessively looking for ways to help on the internet. Over the years I’ve found more and more ways to save and make money. From coupons to comping to cheaper meals and planning. I want to share this with other people in that position but I’m a very nervous and shy person so I’ve still not had the courage to start writing.
I’ve been blogging for around 6 months and still know hardly anything so this would be a massive help.
I’ve always wanted to start my own blog, but really don’t know where to start, so this book would be fantastic for me.
I nearly started a blog a little while ago and backed out last minute because of a loss of confidence. Hopefully this book would give me the push I need to feel confident enough 🙂
I’m in the process of writing my blog, it’s nearly ready to go live this book would be super helpful!
I’ve got sitting on my phone all my blogging plan and ideas, all i need is a bit of extra help (ie blogging for dummies!) and some time- my daughter starts nursery in Januray so this may be the perfect time to start!
I’ve been wanting to start a blog for a while, and have been scared to start. As an American mother living in the UK (and who has lived in Japan) who is interested in crafts and travel, I’m sure I could come up with some interesting content. But I am afraid it won’t be good enough. I just need some help to get over my fear. I’ve even got a free WordPress account with nothing on it. Maybe I should just post something to warm myself up and risk the trolling comments.
I have had an idea for a blog in my head for years, but have never got around to setting it up. I think this book would give me the inspiration I need, as it would help me to know where to start, and what to watch out for. Thanks for the chance 🙂
I left my job earlier this year following a health scare and have vowed to do something more fun with my life…only I still need that kick in the bum to get on with it. I’ve thought about blogging (and dabbled) for a good long while now and as I very much enjoy writing, I’ve figured it’s the ideal thing to get me going and to start really enjoying life again. I want to try some comedy writing too so a blog would be an ideal testing ground for this. Good luck everyone! x
I am moving within the next year or two, from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight & I really want to start a blog to document my trials, travels & general info especially so that friends & family can keep up with me, but I don’t have the first idea how to do it, so this book would come in really handy if I won it, thanks!
Wow! This is fantastic! I was only wondering this week if there was such a book. I’m a novice blogger http://www.earlyretirementricks.com. I decided to blog now that I’ve been fortunate enough to take early retirement from the NHS at 55. My tag line is seeing life from a new perspective. I am learning so much but stumble along as well because there’s so much I don’t know E.g. how to add links to FB, IG, Twitter. I’ve had a logo designed this week. I write about enjoying he simple things in life, beauty & fashion for over 50’s, Manchester and football from a woman’s perspective. Such a great giveaway
I did start a little blog ages ago but I had no idea what I was doing. The name is all wrong. I didn’t have a clear concept of what I wanted to blog about. I have no idea of any of the technicalities of how to do stuff – I just randomly posted things on blogger. So I would like to start again sometime and this is probably just what I need.
I’d find this useful because I am in two minds whether to start a blog about the escapades and adventures of my boys, who are little characters. Whenever I tell people what they have been up to they always say you should put it on a blog as it would make people laugh! I have borrowed a couple of blogging books out of the library, but I haven’t found them to be very informative as the information is quite dated so this would be fantastic as it looks very up to date!
Always fancied writing a blog but have no idea how to go about it, so I’d love to win this to help. To be honest I didn’t even know this book existed so even if I don’t win I’ll be looking out for it
I have always loved the idea of blogging but have never known where to start and the 101 questions that I don’t have the answers to has always put me off! I have just had my second baby and don’t plan on gong back to work this time round so will have the time to invest in this new hobby . . . and hopefully this book to help me answer those questions!
always wanted to start my own blog, but really don’t know where to start, so this would be fantastic
I really want to start my own blog but I’m super confused about the whole thing!! /cries
I absolutely love blogging but seem to be failing at getting the correct audience, I feel this book would help with my current blogs, thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve had so many false starts before with starting a blog – this might just give me the kick up the bum I need!!
I would like to get into blogging xx
I’d find this book useful because I’ve blogged for a while but I’m still finding my way through the blogging minefield so I think this would really help.
I’d love one of these – I do a lot of editing of other people’s work in my day job (regularly thinking, ‘I could do this!’) and have been debating whether or not to start my own blog. It would be great to get an idea of where to begin, how to engage folk on tinternet and importantly, keep the momentum (and energy) going 🙂
I have been blogging now for 5 years and even till this day I am still learning new things. I would love to win this book to find out what else I could do to improve my blog.
I have a blog but need some motivation!
I would love to start writing a blog focusing on days out with children locally and around the UK and perhaps adding some children’s competitions in there too. My daughter enjoys entering them and enjoys the taking part as much as the winning.
So I have been thinking about starting to blog about my journey with the menopause and other things of interest to my age group, (50s is the new 30s as they say!)
Would love this book as I am not very savvy about such things.
I already blog at Flowerpowerlife, but I still have such a lot to learn!
My husband and I have decided to do our own blog, with a unique (we think) twist, but are not sure on a lot of the intricacies behind this. I would really love this to give us inspiration and help as we start on this journey together!
I’d love to blog. Even if only one person read my (slightly insane, very exaggerated) ramblings, I’d be happy!
I literally just launched my first ever blog on 1st November! morningsaviour.blogspot.co.uk and am looking to get such a book for help etc. This would be a fab prize just at the right time.
Have no idea how to blog so this would be brilliant x
I would love to win this as im thinking of starting up a Blog on Travel and food
Love your friendly style of blogging – and, of course, the tips!
The reason I’d like to win a copy is that my twelve-year-old daughter announced she wants to be a Blogger/Vlogger, so I guess it’s time to get with the kids. Plus, it would make a great Christmas stocking filler for her.
I’ve been blogging since May and am just at the point where I feel I need to learn a whole lot more! Would love to win this…maybe it will change my life!!!?
I would find this useful as would be interested in starting a blog just have no real idea where would start so think would be good for some inspiration
Ireally do need to start a blog so that I can link it to my twitter account .It’s all about non drinkers,comping, travel, holidays ,having fun….and cats, so something for everyone.fingers crossed then.
A nice range of topics there Tracy!!