One of the great things about creating and maintaining a blog is that it doesn’t cost much to get started. For example, WordPress, the best blogging tool in my opinion, is free. Here is a list of some blogging resources you can use to become a better blogger.
Domain Names
I always like to keep my domain names separate from my web hosting—makes it easier later if I need to move my site somewhere else. GoDaddy is definitely my preferred domain name registrar.
Web Hosting
While you can use a blogging site like WordPress.com, I recommend you create your own separate website with your own domain for your blog. It’s more professional looking and you’ll have much more flexibility and control over your site.
The good news is that there are some great choices for WordPress hosting—both managed and non-managed web hosting plans. Here are some of my favorite web hosts. I use all of them, and each one provides excellent WordPress website hosting. So, whether you’re looking for a premium managed WordPress solution or an affordable WordPress hosts, you should definitely consider these companies.
WordPress
WordPress.org software is free and is included with most web hosting plans (if it isn’t, look for another hosting company). WordPress is very easy to install and can be customized quite a bit with various plugins and themes. WordPress.org also has a great support forum that you can use if you have any questions.
WordPress Themes
Although you can get many nice free WordPress themes directly from the WP repository, you may find after a while that you prefer a more customizable or flexible theme. While there are also many places to purchase WordPress themes, StudioPress is one of the most highly regarded theme providers among the WordPress community.
StudioPress uses the Genesis Framework together with child themes to provide a professional looking and functioning interface to your website. Among their selection of themes are some for photography blogs, foodie blogs, and news or magazine types of sites.
Email Marketing
Building your email list is crucial for monetizing your blog to its fullest potential. There are a number of good email marketing list companies to choose from. Personally, I use AWeber.
SEO
For most blogs, organic search results are still the primary vehicle for traffic. If you need extra help with your SEO, you can find companies offering tools to help improve your rankings. SEMrush is one of the more respected SEO providers.