Expert Tips You Need to Know Before You Start a Blog
When you want to start a blog, you will be overwhelmed by excitement. You will also have to deal with the fear of the unknown. The good news, however, is that setting up a blog is not as complicated. Even so, you want to avoid all the pitfalls that might hinder yours from becoming a successful blog. This article takes a look at the vital tips you need to keep in mind before you start a blog.
Pick the right platform
A common mistake people make is that of selecting the first content management system (CMS) that gets in their way. The free platforms are a common choice. What you might not know is that the free platforms are quite limited. It is also important that you read and understand all the terms and conditions that come with using a blogging platform. You also need to make sure that you will be able to export your blog to another platform in case things don’t go well. Can you make money on the platform? How easy is it to add new posts? WordPress is without any doubt the best platform you can use when you want to start a blog. It is good, however, to ensure that you understand all the pros and cons that come with the platform you are considering.
Select the best domain name
The domain name is the address of your website. This does not, however, mean that you pick any domain name that is available. You need to pick a domain name knowing that you will have to stick with it for the rest of your blog’s life. Pick a domain name that is easy to read; type and remember. The domain name needs to be as short as possible. You should also stick with the .com domain extension.
Choose the best hosting service
Selecting the best web hosting is one of the most important decisions you will need to make. Your website files will be stored with the web hosting company. While free hosting might sound great, it is not the best if you are planning on creating a professional website. In all that you do, steer clear of free hosting. If you are on a tight budget, you can start with shared hosting then upgrade to managed hosting or even VPS as your blog grows.
Keep regular backups
Systems do fail. The last thing you want is to have to start from scratch after your website is hacked. This is why you need to keep regular backups of your blog. You can do this manually or install a backup plugin. There are many WordPress backup plugins that you can use for scheduled automatic backups.
These are the basic tips you need before you start a blog. There is a lot more that you can do such as setting up a professional branded email address and setting up Google analytics. The best thing is that you can do that and more as you advance.