Writing a personal blog can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it give you the opportunity to express yourself and share your thoughts with the world, but it also helps you to build relationships, make connections and learn more about yourself.
It’s a great way to keep track of your journey in life and document special moments that you don’t want to forget. Whether you’re writing about travel experiences, hobbies, or just day-to-day musings, blogging can help bring clarity and meaning into your life.
So if you’re looking for a creative outlet or simply want to connect with others around the globe, why not start your own personal blog today? I will show you how!
What is a Personal Blog and What Does it Mean?
A personal blog is an online space where you can share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas with the world. It’s a platform to express yourself and communicate with others who share similar interests. A personal blog is about you. You talk about your life, your views, your thoughts, and your feelings. You can share stories, images, videos, or anything else that is meaningful to you.
Personal blogs are quite different from other types of blogs (such as corporate or business blogs) because they focus on the individual rather than a brand or organization. They’re about you and only you.
For example, you can talk about the new microwave you bought and put in your kitchen, what you had for breakfast today, your car, your wife/husband, your kids, or your favorite movie. You can also blog about a hobby, such as photography or crafting, and share tips and techniques with like-minded people around the world.
Personal Blog vs. Niche Blog: What's the difference?
A personal blog is NOT a niche blog. Niche blogs usually focus on a specific topic, such as food or travel. While you can certainly blog about those topics within your personal blog, it should not be exclusively about them. Iconic Blogging, for example, is a niche blog, not a personal blog. I talk only about blogging, not my life. There are many types of blogs.
Why Should You Create a Personal Blog?
Creating a personal blog is like having an online diary where you can express yourself. It’s a great way to share your thoughts and feelings with the world, build relationships, meet people from all over the globe, learn more about yourself, and even make money!
Having a personal blog also gives you an incredible feeling of satisfaction when you look back on your journey and reflect on what you’ve achieved.
Whether you’re looking for an outlet to express yourself, want to build relationships, make money online, or simply have something to look back on in the future, creating a personal blog is a great way to do it. So why not give it a try today?
Creating your own personal blog can be intimidating at first, but with the right guidance and tools, you’ll be up and running in no time. I’m here to help you every step of the way. So let’s get started!
How to Start a Personal Blog?
Starting a personal blog is easy and can be done in just a few simple steps. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Choose a Hosting Service
The first step is to choose a hosting service that will host your blog. I recommend using services like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Hostinger because they are reliable and secure and offer great features at an affordable price.
2. Pick and Buy Your Domain Name
Once you’ve chosen a hosting service, you need to decide on a domain name. This is the URL of your blog, and it should reflect what your blog is about. It’s also your blog name. You will use it for your logo, for example.
In a personal blog, a domain name like yourname.com works best because it’s easy to remember and personalizes the blog. For example, johnsmith.com. People will remember you as John Smith and not just some random blog.
Now, it’s time to buy your domain name. Go to Bluehost and hover over your mouse on WordPress and click on WordPress Hosting. Select your hosting plan (I highly recommend the Basic plan for a personal blog). Then, enter your domain name under Create a new domain and click Next. Finally, fill out the form provided and press Submit.
And voilà! You just bought your domain or blog name. You will get access to your Bluehost dashboard!
3. Install WordPress
WordPress is the best platform for creating a personal blog. It’s user-friendly and provides tons of features to make your blog look professional without needing any coding knowledge. On Bluehost, you will be able to install WordPress with one click. Just follow the instructions given by Bluehost.
Once the installation is done, your WordPress dashboard will look like the one in the image below!
4. Install a WordPress Theme and Design Your Personal Blog
Now it’s time to design your blog! You can do this by installing a WordPress theme.
A WordPress theme is basically a template that will determine how your personal blog looks. There are lots of free and paid themes to choose from, so take your time to pick the one you like best.
The theme I recommend for a personal blog is Astra. It’s free and very easy to use. it comes with personal blog templates and all you will have to do is change the words and images to yours.
Once you’ve chosen a theme, it’s time to customize it. You can start by changing the colors and fonts, adding images and videos, and adding the pages you like (like Home, About me, Blog, My Hobbies, and Contact me.) Wow, just imagine what your personal blog will look like!
5. Write Your First Blog Post
Congratulations! You just designed your personal blog. Now it’s time to write your first article and share it with the world.
When writing your first article, remember that you are creating content for yourself. So don’t be afraid to express how you feel and what you think in a creative way. Writing about topics you’re passionate about and sharing personal stories will help you connect with your readers more.
Articles on personal blogs don’t follow a specific structure, but they should have a title, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You can even include images to make your blog post more engaging.
Once you’re done writing your post, don’t forget to hit the publish button! Now it’s time for all your friends and family to read your first article and get to know the real you!
6. Get Your Personal Blog Noticed
Now that you have published your blog post (article), it’s time to spread the word and promote your blog.
The best way to do this is by sharing it on social media like Twitter, Facebook, and Facebook. This way, more people will find out about your personal blog and hopefully, many of them will become regular readers.
You can also join other online communities or forums related to your hobbies and share your blog post there with a link back to it. This is called content marketing and it’s one of the most powerful techniques for getting more people to read your posts. People there will love your experiences and connect with you faster than you may think.
Now that you know how to create a personal blog and make it stand out from the crowd, go ahead and give it a try!
I go deep into each of the steps mentioned above in my article on how to start a blog. It will teach things even further if you want to learn more.
How often should you post to your personal blog?
It depends on your goals and objectives. If you’re just starting out and want to build an audience, it’s best to post at least once a week. This way, you can keep your readers engaged and return for more!
However, if you have more time or want to build a strong platform quickly, post multiple times a week or even daily. Just remember to provide quality content and keep it consistent! Good luck!
How Can You Make Money With Your Personal Blog
Once your blog has grown and you have a steady readership, you can begin exploring ways to monetize it. You could start by selling physical or digital products related to your blog topic. Or offer services such as coaching or consulting.
You can also join affiliate programs and promote other people’s products to get paid when someone buys through your link. For example, if you just bought a new oven, you could write an article about it and include an affiliate link.
Another way to monetize your personal blog is through sponsored posts (also called Sponsored articles. Brands ask you to write about them or their products (and publish them on your blog) in exchange for a fee.
You can also monetize your blog by displaying ads from ad networks like Google Adsense.
Finally, don’t forget to offer subscription plans to readers who want exclusive content about you.
5 Examples of Personal Blogs
If you need inspiration for your personal blog, here are some of the best ones out there.
- Scary Mommy: Scary Mommy is a blog that focuses on parenting and motherhood. It also includes humor, advice, and stories from other moms.
- Laura Vanderkam: Laura Vanderkam’s blog covers topics like productivity and time management. Her posts feature actionable tips and advice on how to make the most of your day.
- Honest Mum: Honest Mum is a lifestyle blog that covers style, motherhood, and wellness. It’s written by the blogger Vicki Broadbent, passionate about sharing her experiences with readers.
- Not a blog by George R.R. Martin: George R.R. Martin’s blog is his personal corner on the internet where he shares his life, thoughts, experiences, and musings with readers.
- Holly Lisle: Holly Lisle’s blog is one of the most popular personal blogs around. She covers topics like writing, publishing, living, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as her own life experiences.
If you want to start a personal blog and see more personal blogs to inspire your design, check out this list of some of the most popular personal blogs.
Final Thoughts!
Creating a personal blog is one of the best ways to express yourself, share experiences with others, and even make money. With the right tips and tricks, you can create a unique blog that stands out.
Remember to stay consistent in producing content, be creative in finding readers, and explore different options for monetizing your blog. You can also get inspired by other personal blogs that are successful in their own niches.
I always thought there was no difference between a personal and niche blog. Thanks for that.