How to Create Your Own Publishing Blog

The decision to start your own blog is exciting and full of endless rewards, yet at the same time, it can be daunting. The actual blogging part may be easy. But how do you go about choosing the right name for your publishing blog, buying a domain name, finding a hosting provider, etc.? The tips below will help you in the blog setup process.

Blog Idea

What is Your Blog About?

The first question any aspiring blogger should ask her/himself is, what is my blog about? If it's a publishing blog, are you writing about traditional book publishing or self-publishing? Is there a niche you can fill in the publishing world that hasn't already been filled? For example, if you love young adult (YA) novels and you're looking into self-publishing, start a blog about YA self-publishing from your unique perspective.

Next, decide on the voice or tone of the blog. Do you aim to be funny, witty, sarcastic or simply provide information? The best blogs inform and entertain, and most importantly, keep readers coming back for your unique perspective.

What is the name of your blog? This should be a catchy name that publishing professionals and writers can look to for entertainment or useful information, or both. The name should capture the essence of your blog and how you want your blog to be conveyed to its audience. For instance, if you're EssayHelpWriter and writing an informational blog about digital publishing, give it a serious name. If you have a fun blog about light women's fiction, give it a witty name. The blog's name will serve as your domain name, provided it hasn't already been taken by someone else. Therefore, before settling on a name, do a Google search to see if it's already been taken.

How to Buy a Domain Name and How to Find a Hosting Provider

The next step is the dreaded technology. It's best not to get overwhelmed and keep things simple if you're not a techie. Many bloggers aren't technologically-gifted and they do just fine. There are two important things when creating your blog: buying a domain name and paying for a hosting provider. You have two choices. You can either choose one place to buy both, such as GoDaddy, or you can buy a domain name from one company, such as Network Solutions, and pay for a hosting provider from another company, such as A Small Orange.

If you want to keep things simple, register the domain name and pay for the hosting provider from one company. Prices will vary. Look for package deals i.e. if you pay for the hosting service, you can buy a domain name for a discounted price. Then choose the length of service you'd like. For example, you can buy everything for one year, two years, etc. Remember that at the end of the term, it's up to you to renew. Mark your calendar as to when you bought everything and make sure to note it on next year's calendar. Some companies automatically renew, and some don't. Also, remember to call the company's customer service to walk you through this process if you're too nervous to do it online.

Best Blogging Software

Once you have this all set up, you have to choose blogging software. Some brand names for blogging software are: WordPress, Typepad, Blogger, Xanga, Open Salon, etc. The best blogging software is completely dependent on what you want for your blog. You can search the Internet for reviews or you can call the customer service of your hosting provider to discuss your options. Once you've chosen the right software, download it onto your computer.

Choosing a Blog Template or Blog Theme

After that, comes the fun part (finally!). It's time to choose your template or theme. This is the design of your blog. Many templates and themes are free. You simply download them onto your blog with the provided Install button. Choose a template that sets the tone of your blog. If it's a serious, political theme aimed toward men, choose dark colors and a simple design. If you're writing about gardening books, pick a template with flowers or some images of nature.

And the good news is after you've chosen the theme, it's time to write. So familiarize yourself with the dashboard (the control panel of your blog) and then start blogging.