Blogging is one of the most significantly growing industries in e-commerce today. Millions of people go on the internet and read blogs every day. And even more, want to be a part of this industry by telling their own story through blogging.

However, a lot of people don’t know how blogging works and how they can make a start at it. Lucky for them, we have this step-by-step guide ready for you that will let you know how to start a blog in just 20 minutes. And you don’t have to do anything too technical, it’s just basic computer skills. When you are done reading this blog, you will have a blog of yourself ready to share with the world.

Ready to begin? Let’s get on with it. However, before you do that, let’s get some basic answers about what a blog is and why you should get on it.

1. Should You Start a Blog?

A common misconception about blogging is that you have to be a great writer to start blogging and become successful. The truth is the contrary. People don’t read blogs because they want to read in a language straight out of a literary pioneer, people read blogs because they want a personal perspective on things. And bloggers write in a very informal and conversational tone, which fulfills the purpose of readers.

Since the format of blogging is not defined by any means, many huge bloggers write about anything they want.

In addition to that, you don’t need to be an expert on the matter you are writing about to be a successful blogger. People don’t want to read expert opinions, remember, they want personal opinions. For instance, if you are running a cooking blog, you can give your own twist to a recipe and it won’t matter.

So, to be a successful blogger, you just have to meet one requirement: Be passionate about what you are writing. Don’t try to write about something you don’t want to, share your knowledge with the world. Write things that make you creative, passionate, and interested. This also makes the whole process easier.

• Share your story with the world by giving yourself a voice through your blog.
• Make money from home. Blogging can be really profitable if it is done correctly.
• Recognition for yourself or your business. A successful blog can make an idea a reality and can turn a business into a community.
• Find a community. Blogging is really interactive so that you can meet a ton of people with the same interests.

2. What Is a Blog Anyway?

To keep it short, a blog is a kind of website that mainly focuses on written content. This content is known as blog posts. In popular culture, news blogs and celebrity blogs are common. But you can start a successful blog on literally any topic you can imagine.

Blogs are often written from a personal perspective that allows them to connect and interact with the readers. Most blogs have a comments section where the correspondence between a blogger and its visitors is maintained. This direct connection is one of the main benefits of a blog. You get to hear directly from people, and people hear directly from you.

Luckily, the internet is exploding with growth right now. So, if you have been waiting for a signal to start your blog, this is it.

3. Pick a Blog Name

If you already have an idea about what to name your blog, you need to check whether or not that name has already been registered as a domain.

If you find that the domain name is taken, here is what you can do:

• Try a different domain extension (“.com”, “.net”, “.edu”, etc.).
• Add small words in your blog name, like “my,” “best,” or “the.”
• Add dashes between the words to differentiate your blog from the one taken.

We recommend a wholly different name so your readers won’t ever mistake another blog for yours. Note: You cannot use punctuation other than dashes in domain names.

How to Choose a Blog Topic & Name

Before you choose your blog’s name, choose your blog topic. If you are not sure how:

• Life experiences: Share lessons from your experiences.
• Personal blog: Write about your life, hobbies, and daily tasks.
• Hobbies and passions: Cooking, travelling, sports, fashion, etc.

A good blog name (and domain) should be descriptive and unique so potential visitors can assume what your blog is about. If it’s a personal blog, consider using your own name.

4. Get Your Blog Online

You need two things: web hosting (space on the internet) and blogging software (the platform where you build your blog). We’ll use WordPress.

Select Your Web Hosting Plan

Consider storage, data security, monthly traffic, loading speed, payment methods, and a versatile CMS. Choose a plan with high speed, maximum uptime, expandable storage, strong security, payment integrations, and prompt support.

Buy a Domain

Register your domain via your host or a registrar so no one else can take it.

Fill Out Billing Details

Proceed to checkout—reputable hosts keep your billing details safe.

Install the WordPress Blogging Platform

Most hosts offer a free, automatic WordPress install. Alternatively, use WordPress.org. Once installed, log in.

5. Customize Your Blog

Logging In

Log into your hosting dashboard and jump into WordPress from there.

Change Your Blog Design with a Free or Paid Theme

Go to Appearance → Themes. Activate a default theme or add/install a new one. Premium themes add features and different designs.

6. Write a New Blog Post and Publish It

Go to Posts. Trash the default post. Click Add New, write your title and content, add images, and click Publish.

How to Write Great Blog Content

• Define the content: Clear, compelling titles and intros.
• Break it up: Use headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points.
• Keep it engaging: Conversational tone and questions.
• Original content & photos: Avoid plagiarism; use your own images when possible.
• Edit: Proofread before publishing.

Publishing Your Blog

Click the Launch button in the dashboard to remove the placeholder page and go public.

7. Promote Your Blog

• Alert your network: Family, friends, colleagues.
• Use social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube.
• Comment on other blogs: Build relationships.
• Engage with visitors: Reply to comments.
• Collaborate: Guest posts and cross-promotion.
• Post regularly: Aim for at least once a week.
• Create an email list: Send updates and newsletters.
• Optimize for search: Google Search Console, headings (H1/H2/H3), categories, permalinks.

8. Make Money from Your Blog

• Sell advertising space: e.g., Google AdSense.
• Affiliate products: Earn commissions on referrals.
• Sell products & services: Physical or digital.
• Sell digital downloads: E‑courses, ebooks, tutorials.
• Sell memberships: Exclusive content and perks.

9. Blogging FAQs

Need more help? Build from this checklist and iterate. You’ve got this.