Do you want to start getting more traffic from Google? You should know how to start a blog for your music business!
Having a blog has helped me grow my business much more efficiently. It may take worth, but it’s totally worth it.
Before we get into the steps, this post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy to learn more!
Choose a Blog Platform
One of the first things you need to do to start a blog is to choose what platform you’ll use. I’d recommend using the self-hosted version of WordPress. It has a blog already built in, and it’s easy to use and customize.
However, you can also choose other platforms. If you don’t have a website yet, you could start a blog on Blogger or Medium. Those are both great platforms for beginners, but they don’t let you create a full website.
You could also use other website builders and add a blog to your site. I know a lot of musicians like to use Wix for their websites. The platform has a blog feature so that you can create as many posts as you want.
Find a Website Host
Assuming you’ll use WordPress for your blog, you need to find a website host. You can use WordPress.com, but it has a lot of limitations. Installing WordPress on a third-party host will give you more control.
I’ve used SiteGround since 2016, and I’d recommend them to anyone. The hosting is affordable, fast, and they offer excellent customer support. So if you ever have any questions or need help, they’ll get on it.
Now, if you go with a platform like Wix or Squarespace, your hosting will be built right in. If you use either of those options, though, you will need to choose the right plan based on your website needs.
Decide on a Name
If you already have a website, you can use the same site for your blog. That means you won’t have to come up with a separate name. But if you don’t have a website, you will need to name your new blog.
When starting a blog for your music business, consider what you want to name your music business. You can write down a list of ideas on paper or in the notes app on your phone.
Then, use a domain registrar such as Namecheap, to check if the name you want is available. I’d recommend getting a domain ending in .com. It’s the most common and most memorable.
So if your desired domain isn’t available, go through your list of name ideas. Then, you should find something that works and makes sense for the blog you want to start.
Install WordPress
Assuming you went with a third-party host, you now need to install WordPress on your site. You can download the software from the WordPress website, but I’d recommend another option.
Most hosts, including SiteGround, offer a one-click installation option. You can go into your account dashboard and click on your website. Then, you’ll be able to click on the WordPress option to set everything up.
Create your admin login details so that you can get into your site. If you use another host, they may have slightly different steps for you to follow. Either way, don’t be afraid to contact support for assistance.
Add a Blog Page
By default, WordPress will make the blogroll your website home page. But if you want to make more out of your blog, I’d suggest creating a separate page for the blog.
That way, you can write a home page explaining your music business. I named my blog page simply “Blog.” But you could name it something more creative.
Go to your Pages section in WordPress, then add a page. Title it whatever you want, then go to your settings. Here, you’ll select the new page as the blog page of your site, and you can go back and add a new home page.
Brainstorm Blog Post Ideas
What is a blog without blog posts? Brainstorming blog post ideas is an essential part of starting a successful blog for your business. Luckily, you have many tools you can use to come up with ideas.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Facebook groups
- Quora
- YouTube
- Social media DMs
- Questions people ask you
- Google auto-complete
I love getting content ideas based on the problems people have. That way, I’ll know that there’s a need for that particular topic. It will be much easier to promote the post and get views.
As you go through topic ideas, write down the ones that you know well. Then, you can make sure you’ll be able to create content from an experienced point of view.
Research Keywords
After you have your list of blog post ideas, don’t just start writing. If you want to get the most traffic, you need to do some keyword research. This will help you validate that there’s a need for information on the topic.
I’ve used tools like the Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends. I love how both of them are free to use. The Keyword Planner can tell you about how competitive and how popular keywords are.
Google Trends can tell you how the popularity of a keyword has changed over time. So you can look for relatively popular keywords that are getting more common. But you’ll want to avoid highly competitive terms so that you’ll have a better chance of ranking near the top of search results.
Draft Your First Few Posts
The next step in how to start a blog is to actually write a post or two. I’d recommend writing a few posts and scheduling them to go out at the same time.
That way, when you launch your blog, you’ll have a few benefits. First, you can link to those posts to help get more traffic to each one. Plus, your readers will have more content to consume right away.
Before you write a post, I’d recommend creating an outline. I did that for this very post, and it’s helped me stay on topic. An outline can also help you make sure you don’t forget any important details.
Develop a Posting Schedule
Once you start your blog, you’ll need to keep up with it. Unlike a static website, you can’t just publish a few pages and be done with it. You need to keep sharing more new content to help show up in search results and get views.
Now, you don’t have to publish a new blog post every single day. That’s unrealistic for most of us. However, you should follow a consistent schedule so that you can add new content regularly.
I’d recommend aiming to post at least one new article per week. If you can do more, twice a week is good. At the very least, I’d suggest two posts per month so that readers don’t have to wait forever to hear from you.
Make the Time
You’ll also have to make some time to manage your blog. That way, you’ll be able to brainstorm new content ideas, research keywords, and write the posts for your website.
If you’re already busy, I totally understand. That’s why I love working with clients as a freelance blogger. I can handle all of the tasks related to running your blog so that you can focus on other parts of your business.
Why Start a Blog for Your Music Business
It’s great to know how to start a blog as a music entrepreneur. However, you may wonder why you should do it at all.
Consider the following benefits.
Free Organic Marketing
If you use search engine optimization (SEO), you can get your posts to show up in search results. When this happens, you’ll have a better chance of getting more people to click on your website.
Not only that, but you can get traffic from posts you wrote months or years ago. As of writing this post, my top-performing blog on Google is one I wrote back in September 2022, over four months ago.
While I’ve since pivoted my niche, I know my newer posts can start to rank here in the future. They can then keep giving me traffic without me having to promote the posts myself.
Repurpose the Content
If you ever struggle to come up with content for Instagram or other social platforms, a blog is great. You can turn your blog content into more content pieces.
For example, maybe you write a tips post for your blog. You could turn each tip into its own Instagram post. All you need to do is write a short caption and take a photo or video for social media.
You can also turn your blog posts into emails. Share a bit of the post and encourage people to click on your website to read the whole thing.
Showcase Your Expertise
One of my favorite things about starting a blog is that it’s allowed me to share what I know with others. You can write a blog post that’s relevant to your main product or service.
If people learn something from the blog, they may want to follow you or subscribe to your email list. Then, they might eventually book your services or buy your product.
It’s an excellent option for private teachers, for example. If you teach flute, you could share a post on flute practice tips. Then, you could encourage readers to contact you for a trial lesson.
Promote Your Offers
Another excellent way to use your blog is as a marketing tool. You can write blog posts specifically based on your primary offer. For example, I’m a blogger writing this post on how to start a blog.
While I’d love to teach you how to do it yourself, I also want to inform you that I can help you with your blog. If you’re a private teacher, you can share basic playing tips but share why people need lessons.
Think about the type of music business you have. Then, you can make sure your content strategy includes posts that make it easy to promote what you sell to clients or students.
Increase Your Earning Potential
Knowing how to start a blog can also help you add more income streams to your music business. I’ve used my blog to make money from affiliate links, display ads, and other means.
The nice thing about affiliate marketing and ads is that they’re semi-passive. You can make money without having to work directly with a client. So if you’re booked out but not making as much money as you want, you have options.
As your content gets more views, you can get people to click on your affiliate links. Then, if they buy something, you’ll earn a commission from the sale.
No Separate Website Needed
I also love how you don’t need a separate website to start a blog. If you already have a website on WordPress or Wix, you can add a blog page. Then, you can start writing blog posts as often as you want.
You don’t have to pay for another domain or a larger hosting package. That can be especially nice if you’re on a tight budget.
Do You Know How to Start a Blog?
Learning how to start a blog is vital if you want to grow your business online. My blog has brought me many opportunities and helped me market myself and my services.
Be sure to consider the steps to start a blog. Then, you can make the project happen.
If you’re too busy, hire me to be your blog writer. As a musician, I can help you with music-related content to help grow your business!
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