{"id":18325,"date":"2018-05-21T23:10:15","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T04:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=18325"},"modified":"2018-05-21T23:10:15","modified_gmt":"2018-05-22T04:10:15","slug":"what-you-need-to-start-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-start-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do I Need to Start a Blog?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"what<\/p>\n

Follow This Checklist for Starting Your Blog<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve decided to join the ranks of the world\u2019s bloggers.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a great idea. A blog can bring so many benefits<\/a>. But now you have to figure out how to get started.<\/p>\n

Here are the main steps you need to take to start a blog.<\/p>\n

First, do you already have a website?<\/h2>\n

If so, jump to the next section. If not, you need to start your website<\/a> first. There are four things you must have to launch a website:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Domain Name
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Your domain is the main address for your website on the web. It\u2019s what people will type in to reach your website directly.<\/p>\n

\"register<\/a><\/p>\n

A \u00a0domain name<\/a> should be as close to the name of your brand as possible. If the .com for the name you most want isn\u2019t available, brainstorm alternative names or variations on the one you have that will be easy for people to remember.<\/p>\n

You can buy a domain<\/a> on its own, but in most cases, you can get one for free when you buy the next thing you need.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Web hosting<\/b><\/p>\n

All websites must have web hosting<\/a>. It\u2019s what keeps your site on the web and accessible to visitors. Most web hosting plans include at least one free domain name and many include helpful add-ons that make creating your website easier, like templates or website builders.<\/p>\n

Some hosting plans are especially suited to working with popular blogging platforms<\/a>, so if the blog is the entire reason you\u2019re starting a website, look for a plan that\u2019s designed to support that particular need.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Web design<\/b><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve claimed your space on the web, you have to actually create the site itself. If you\u2019re not skilled at web design, you can still easily put together your own website with the help of a website builder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"hostgator<\/a><\/p>\n

If you want something that looks more professional or unique, look into hiring a web designer to create your site for you. If you want the blog to be the main focus of the site, make that clear going in. Your website should be designed to drive people directly to your content.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Copy<\/b><\/p>\n

When people land on your website, they\u2019ll want to know where they are and what the site is all about. Before you launch your website, you\u2019ll need to figure out the best words to use to explain to people what your website is and why they should stick around.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth considering a professional copywriter for this part, particularly if you want your website to encourage people to take a specific action like buying a product. If your goal is mostly just to share your ideas with the world, then you might not need to hire someone for this, but be sure to spend some time researching online copywriting<\/a> if you do it yourself so you do it right.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The 5 Things You Need to Start Blogging<\/h2>\n

With all the website basics in place, you can start thinking specifically about the blog now. There are five main things you need to create a blog.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. A<\/b> blog strategy<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Chances are, you want your blog to accomplish something. Otherwise, why not just put your writing into a personal journal? For your blog to be effective at achieving whatever your goals are, you\u2019ll need to take time before you start writing to clearly define a strategy.<\/p>\n

Determine what your main goals for your blog are and brainstorm a specific plan for how best to achieve them. Think about things like:<\/p>\n