I Want to Blog But Do Not Know Where to Start |

Ryan Biddulph August 26, 2025 blogging tips 🕑 5 minutes read

Lyttleton New Zealand

Aspiring bloggers ask me from time to time:

“Ryan I really want to start blogging. But I’m confused. Where do I begin?”

I get it.

I felt the same way as a new blogger in 2008.

Excitement became overwhelmed with a sense of confusion.

I saw the potential but had no idea how to begin blogging successfully.

Frustration set in. I had no idea where to look for helpful advice. I did not know who to trust.

Information overwhelm set in. Beginner blogger advice flew at me in tsunami fashion from every direction.

Analysis paralysis appeared to cripple my mind.

I know how you’re feeling.

I’ve been in your shoes.

Most beginners bloggers want to dive in.

But few know where to start.

Information overload can cripple newbie bloggers.

Knowing how to start successfully dissolves confusion in the mind.

But where do you go to begin blogging with a sound strategy?

Who do you trust?

What should you do?

Follow these steps to begin blogging successfully.

1: Know What Blogging Is

Most beginners feel confused because few understand what blogging actually is.

A blog is basically a news portal for a specific niche.

Think of a blog as being an information hub.

Bloggers share practical knowledge on a specific topic.

Readers turn to blogs for help to improve their lives in some way, shape or form.

What Blogging Is Not

a quick way to make money online
writing about whatever’s on your mind
an easy way to become popular for broadcasting some message

New bloggers usually become deluded about this gig. Goodness knows I harbored unrealistic expectations as a beginner.

I even visualized myself sitting on a couch chatting with Oprah Winfrey about my blog after a few short months. I’m not kidding.

Yes; I’ve been blogging for that long.
Yes; I was that deluded

I hate to burst your blogging bubble but major media will not seek you out for a feature within 6-12 months.

Nobody is that good because you have not put in enough work.

Blogging is fun and freeing as you put in work for years.

Don’t worry. Your dreams can come true. But blogging for 1000’s of hours is the only practical step to take to reach your goals. There are no shortcuts.

2: Pick One Niche

Pick one blogging niche.

Be a specialist.

Do one thing. Do it well.

Cover one topic inside-out to establish credibility. Master one trade. Give readers one clear expectation.

Do not cover multiple niches. A jack of all trades masters none. Dividing your energy lessens your effectiveness.

I cover blogging tips on Blogging From Paradise Dot Com. Readers know that. I built my credibility by doing one thing thoroughly.

Where your attention and energy goes, grows.

Choose one niche to begin blogging successfully.

Guide: How to Pick a Blogging Niche

3: Buy Your Domain and Hosting

Invest money in your domain and hosting.

Own your blog.

Exercise full creative control. Monetize your blog how you wish. Build a genuine brand. Stand out from the crowd.

Avoid free platforms. Users are not owners. Blogging on free platforms cedes ownership, creative control and most profit potential.

Do not give in to the urge to blog on a free platform as a trial run. I will save you time (and frustration); you will fail blogging on a free platform. Giving up ownership is a fundamental mistake no one comes back from.

Buying your domain and hosting is non-negotiable.

Bloggers own their online real estate.

Guide: 10 Domain and Hosting Considerations for New Bloggers to Keep in Mind

3: Name Your Blog

Choose an easy to picture domain name related to your niche.

I set out to help bloggers who wish to travel. Blogging From Paradise Dot Com was born.

Pick a shortish name if you can. Consider working a niche keyword into the title. Drive Google traffic by sending a clear signal to the search engine giant.

Spend not too much time on this step. Beginners waste weeks trying to find the right name for their blog.

Content makes the difference; not the name.

Select a name then get busy publishing detailed, targeted content for your ideal reader.

4: Set Up Your Blog

Most hosting providers set up WordPress Dot Com for you.

I suggest going that route because I have not a technical bone in my body.

But if you wish to go the slightly more challenging route consider following this helpful guide.

One alternative; hire a web developer to get the job done for you.

5: Choose a Theme

My developer designed a custom Blogging From Paradise theme for me well into my blogging career.

But at the beginning I chose a generic-looking, free theme.

I advise you to invest money in a premium WordPress theme.

Let me save you some time: Best WordPress Themes

Finding the proper theme for your message is helpful but not terribly important.

Basically, spending days scouring the web for the perfect theme is another common amateur blogger error.

Pick one. Be done with it.

6: Write Your First Post

Write your first blog post.

Consider:

publishing an introductory post explaining who you are and how following your blog benefits readers
diving in to publish a practical post designed to solve a pressing reader problem

Introducing yourself adds a personalized touch. Sharing benefits entices readers to return for the next post.

Dissecting a common problem with a practical guide hits the ground running; readers appreciate receiving tangible help at the outset.

Aim for 1200 to 1500 words but 1000 is OK at the outset. Most problems require a hefty volume of practical tips to follow to step readers from issue to solution. That explains the word count. Long form posts tend to rank on page 1 of Google. Readers appreciate detailed guides.

As a practical example, note the post that you’re reading. I wrote about 1000 words. But I included seven highly practical tips dissected into more helpful tips. I also linked to thorough blogging resources for further reading.

Set aside 2-3 hours – or more – to: