They say that everything good happens when you take the first step, no matter how small. The first blogs that found their place on the internet shook the virtual world. These first blogs displayed the ingenuity of great minds. Such blogs then produced blog experts who would share their thoughts and ideas with the world.
An early model of a computer surrounded by plants.
Source: Freepik
These people knew that the coming age was about publishing your image rather than hiding it. Gone were the days when people used to hide behind anonymous titles. Even more so now, modern blogs are all about sharing your story with the world.
Let’s now take a trip down memory lane and learn about the humble beginnings of blogs.
History and Evolution of Blogging
The word blog written on a paper coming out of a typewriter
Source: Freepik
People have been writing journals for a long time. Blogging, on the other hand, was an unknown concept until 1994. The origin of the first blogs starts with Justin Hall. He was a student at Swarthmore College who wanted to share his life with his friends. He created a webpage called Justin’s Links From The Underground. The webpage soon became popular among his peers.
That was when the idea of sharing one’s life on the internet began to take root. In 1997, John Barger set up a weblog called Robot Wisdom. Soon after, Peter Merholz used the term blog in 1999 and it became popular among internet users. Then came the era of political blogs where people discussed various political issues in their blogs.
The Huffington Post’s blog became popular in the early 2000s. People started to take interest in old blog sites and turned to the internet to search for answers. The “How-To?” blogs were born to satisfy curious users on Google and other browsers. By 2005, people were regularly reading blogs. Fast-forward to 2024 and blogging has become the heart and soul of business. No business can think of flourishing without an official blog or website.
Why Should You Start a Blog Today?
Illustration of blogging by showing a laptop and an ink pen
Source: Freepik
Blogging is a form of creative outlet you can use to express your feelings to the world. It allows you to share your ideas with others and even get inspiration for new ones. Let us take a look at some other benefits of starting a personal blog.
Build Authority
Blogging helps you build authority by posting relevant content. The key is to research everything in detail and publish blogs that capture the reader’s attention. These first blogs of yours will help you become an expert in your field and attract new clients.
Achieve Work-Life Balance
If you are tired of your 9 to 5 job, blogging offers you a great escape. It helps you create a regular stream of income without sacrificing the time you spend with your family. Once you get the hang of managing your blog, you can work from any location and at any time of your convenience.
Find a Medium For Self-Expression
A blog allows you to express yourself by sharing your unique experience with the people around you. People love to read raw expressions of human moods and experiences. The trends of social media have left people in need of a real human connection which you can make by starting your own blog.
How to Launch Your First Blog Like a Pro?
Man working on a laptop at a cafe
Source: Freepik
You can start a beautiful journey of writing by starting a blog. But launching a blog for the first time can be daunting. Take a look at the following steps to get help from in creating a fabulous first blog.
1. Pick A Platform
The key to a successful blog is finding the right platform to host it on. You need to check different platforms out there to assess their pros and cons. Let’s say you’re deciding between WordPress, Wix, Weebly, and Medium. The most important thing is to look for flexibility in design and implementation. Select a platform that lets you design your blog any way you want.
2. Choose A Reliable Hosting Service
A hosting service is the server that helps you publish your blog on the internet. For that, you have to assess the requirements of your blog. A good hosting service should have high speed and security protocols against malware. You should also check whether or not the hosting service provides customer support.
3. Set Up Your Domain Name
Once you get a reliable hosting service, the next step is to select a domain name. Once you decide on a memorable domain name, you can buy it separately or get one from your hosting service. Many services like BlueHost provide free domain names as well. Make sure you choose a name that is easy to remember and is also relevant to what you’re going to be posting about.
4. Set Up Your Blog
The final step in setting up your blog is the design and theme. Start by designing the layout of your blog. Design the title of your blog with an interesting font and make sure you use the white space properly. Add an attractive image to display on your blog’s homepage. Choose a layout to display all your recent blogs in an exciting manner.
5. Create Content And Optimize It
Content is the lifeblood of first blogs. You need to create exceptional content that speaks directly to the audience and piques their interest. Set up a schedule to create content and publish them regularly. Proofread the drafts for any errors and optimize the content for SEO. You can also use a free blog post idea generator to come up with eye-catching titles.
Common Mistakes in First Blogs: What You Need to Avoid
Illustration of a businesswoman explaining the right and wrong options
Source: Freepik
Blogging is an ever-evolving process where you need to improve yourself over time. Sometimes you will have an “aha” moment and on others, you will feel “blah”. The key is to keep going and improving your content as you go along.
For starters, avoid making the following mistakes in your blogging journey.
Ignoring SEO Requirements
When you start writing a blog, always make sure that you have met all the SEO requirements. A rookie mistake is to publish your content without optimizing it which leads to poor online visibility. So, make sure all your blogs have good SEO scores.
Practising Delays In Publishing
Do not wait to compile two or three articles to publish them simultaneously. If you write a good blog twice a week, publish it immediately. The more you publish, the more chances you get of attracting the right audience.
Having a Bland Design
Do not ignore your blog’s design. It is just what helps you get the right traction for each blog post. So, make sure you design your blog carefully and set it up with an aesthetic theme to attract your audience.
