Network and Research 

Free Networks

Blogger – Now is part of Google, is easy to use and free, and allows you to create your blog in a few easy steps. You can easily Customise your blog's look from the Blogger website and gain traffic from being a part of the Blogger network.

Live Journal – Old information advertises this as a prominent site, but it is no longer safe.  It was bought by a Russian company in 2007 and had 15 million users. Since then, it has been hacked in 2014, leaking 26 million users' data on the dark web. It's not safe to use any more, at least for now. 

Joining a Blogging Network may be the best thing; otherwise, you would need to get a domain name for your blogging name. It would be best to consider all the benefits of joining a blogging network, with the drawbacks, before starting your blog.  

Bullet point

-        Blogger is now the best blogging site to use.

 Research the concept of blogging and ensure it’s what you want to do because you have a passion that will not die out in the next 3-4 weeks or 5-6 months. As with all side hustles, online work poses an increasing competition as more people enter the market.  However, this does not indicate it’s impossible; it's for those who are determined to win.

As with Live Journal, research your blogging site, your blogging name, and your domain name well before you get started.

HubSpot is a digital tool you can use to research your ideas.  It is a blog Ideas Generator to help you.

Bullet point

-        Join a blogging network or get your own domain.

-        Research your passionate topic.

If you already have a blog but it is not receiving much traffic, you can consider switching to a blogging network where your blog will receive more attention. If you are starting, a blogging network will help you gain traffic, but it may limit you in the long run if you want to change your blog or become wildly popular.

If you already have a successful blog, joining blogging networks can probably further expose your work if done correctly to carry new leads over your existing site.

Bullet point

-        Send new leads to your already successful blog domain.

-        Alternatively, joining a Blogging network helps you get traffic.

The main question everyone is anxious about is: how do I start?  Here is a list of 10 steps,

1.    Research to understand your audience.

2.    Check the competition.

3.    Determine your topic.

4.    Identify your unique selling point or views.

5.    Name your blog.

6.    Create your blog domain. Use moz.com to check your title tag for the SERP (This is important for SEO).

7.    Join a blog network and set up your blog.

8.    Design and customise the look of your blog.

9.    Join social media platforms. Create a group page to share your blog with like-minded people).

10.                   Write and share your first blog post on the Blogging Network and SM with links to your blog pages.

Action

-        Choose your Name, subject, and topic for your blog.  Make notes and start writing a few sentences about your blog content.  

Melvin Mayard.