A while back, I was browsing Facebook and saw someone share they’d worked on their blog for two years before they launched it. It should not that that long to launch a blog.
In fact, you could decide to start a blog right now and get it up and running today. So let’s dive into what goes into a blog launch and how long each step should realistically take you.
But first, this post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy to learn more.
Before You Launch a Blog
When you decide to start a blog, you do have to do a few things first. These preliminary steps will help you make sure your blog is set up to succeed.
Fortunately, they don’t have to take more than a few hours combined.
Decide on a Niche
The first thing you need to do to launch a blog is to choose a niche. This is the general topic you will focus on when writing blog posts.
For example, my blog niche is flute and music careers and businesses. So everything I publish has something to do with those things.
You can also start a music blog, or your blog could be about something else. Either way, giving your blog a focus will help readers know whether your blog is for them or not.
This could take you as little as a few minutes. Or you may want to spend a few hours comparing niches if you have multiple interests.
Choose a Domain Name
Once you have a niche in mind, you should think of a few name ideas. An easy option is to name your blog after your first and last name, which is especially smart if you want the opportunity to change things later.
But you can also choose a name related to the niche. For example, my other main blog is called Piccolo Perfection because I started it as a piccolo-specific blog.
Make sure your blog’s name is easy to say and spell and super memorable. You should also try to keep it short, and include a keyword related to your blog’s niche.
And ideally, you’d choose a name where the .com domain is available. That way, you don’t have to go with a different extension and risk copying another blog.
Depending on the names you come up with, you might find one in a few minutes. Otherwise, you may need to spend more time finding the perfect name.
Set Up Website Hosting
Another vital step to take before you launch a blog is to choose a website host. I use WordPress, and my website host is SiteGround, and I’ve used the service since 2016.
Many people will use Wix or Squarespace, and those are nice. But WordPress offers more customization options, so you can turn your blog into an entire business if you want.
I’ve also found it’s cheaper to host websites using WordPress versus other options. I host three websites on one account, which would cost about triple as much if I went with something like Wix.
While I don’t remember how long it took me, setting up a website host can take less than an hour.
Brainstorm Post Ideas
Before you launch a blog, I’d also recommend coming up with some ideas for posts. You don’t have to write the posts before you publish your blog.
However, it’s good to know that you’ll have a steady stream of content to create. That will help your new blog gain momentum.
If you can’t think of anything, you may want to go back to the drawing board. That way, you can find a niche that you know and like, which will help you enjoy the blogging process.
You can spend about an hour or so brainstorming post ideas. If you come up with ideas in less time, then all the better!
Hit Publish
Once you choose a domain name and get your website hosting set up, you can publish your website. Some bloggers recommend you don’t publish anything until you have a certain number of posts.
However, I’d recommend getting one post up and hitting publish on the post and your blog overall. You can continue to publish more content over the coming weeks.
For better or worse, no one’s going to be looking at your blog right away. So it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a ton of posts ready to go.
Hitting publish takes a few seconds. Writing your first post, though, can take about an hour or two.
After You Launch a Blog
When you launch a blog, you should celebrate your new venture. But don’t get off track for too long because the work is never truly done.
Here are some things you’ll want to do after you publish your website, especially if you want to turn it into a side hustle or business.
Start Publishing Consistently
One of the most important things, particularly for new blogs, is to have a consistent schedule. This allows you to get more content up so that you can start ranking in search results.
If you have the time, consider publishing a new blog post daily, at least for a month or two. By the end of it, you’ll have 30 to 60 posts that people can read.
However, if you have other obligations, don’t feel like you have to publish daily. You can start with one post per week, so you’d have 52 posts after a year of blogging.
The important part is that you publish regularly to show Google and search engines that you’re active.
Beginner bloggers may need to set aside a couple of hours per blog post. But once you gain experience, it may take you half an hour or less to write an article.
Share on Pinterest
If you want to get traffic to a new blog, Pinterest is your best friend. You can share unique images that entice people to click on your pin and to your website.
Some bloggers get the majority of their traffic from Pinterest. For me, it’s my second-largest traffic driver after Google.
Make sure to create at least one pin image per blog post. Create boards related to your blog niche and save blog posts to relevant boards to help grow your audience.
You can find great pin templates on Canva, so designing them may take a few minutes. Then, you’ll only need another few minutes to publish the pins.
Get Into an Ad Network
If you want to launch a blog, you can do so for fun. But you probably want to make some money from it, right?
Well, in that case, you’ll want to find ways to monetize your content, and an easy option is ads. Now, you’re not going to make a ton of money overnight.
However, once you have a decent library of posts, you can apply to an ad network. Google AdSense is a great beginner option because there’s no minimum traffic requirement.
Once you start getting more views, you can apply to other networks that may pay better than AdSense. My favorite thing about ads is that as long as I get traffic, I’ll get at least a bit of money.
Applying to an ad network takes a few minutes to an hour at most. And once you set up ads, you don’t have to spend any time on them.
Join Affiliate Programs
Another great way for beginner bloggers to make money is with affiliate marketing. You can promote products you already use and love.
When someone clicks on your special link, the merchant will track that link click. Then, if the person makes a purchase, you’ll get a commision.
Some programs have higher commission rates than others. But a good beginner affiliate program is Amazon Associates since you get paid for anything the person buys, not just what you link to.
You also only need to make $10 in commissions before you get paid.
Some affiliate programs have quick applications and only take a few minutes.
Create Your Own Products
As your blog grows, you may find you get the same questions over and over. That’s a sign that you should turn that question or problem into a digital product.
You can create downloads, like eBooks, or full online courses. These products do take time to create, and there’s no guarantee they’ll sell.
However, if you do sell your own products, you’ll get a larger cut of the sale. The only money you’ll have to pay is a small processing fee for each transaction.
Creating a digital product can take a few hours to a few days. But once it’s done, you don’t have to do anything except promote it.
Final Thoughts
If you want to launch a blog, you can do so today. It doesn’t have to take you years, months, or even weeks to prepare your blog for the world to see.
All you need is a name, website hosting, and one or two posts ready to go.
And if you’re ready to monetize your blog, enroll in Affiliate Marketing Superstars. The course has helped me skyrocket my affiliate earnings.
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