3 Steps to Launching a Business Blog

3 Steps to Launch a Business Blog

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LISBETH CHERRINGTON

Blogging has become an integral way for a business to keep in touch with its audience. Many companies have leaped and have started blogs where they discuss everything from events, topics related to their industry, or share tips and tricks.

Pick a Platform

Picking the right platform to host your content is one of the most significant decisions you'll make.

Choosing the wrong hosting platform will make or break your blog. The internet is full of a wide variety of different blogging sites, and each platform comes with it's on quarks. The most userfriendly platform is WordPress. Whether you choose to make a site on WordPress.com or create a self-hosted blog on WordPress.org, the sites are simple to use regardless of how tech-savvy you are.

But if WordPress isn't an option, there are sites like Weebly, Joomla, and Drupal. When setting up a blog, you're looking for a long term solution, and there can often be restrictions for site design, functionality, and SEO options, which can be detrimental to your long term content goals.

Register Your Domain Name

Once you've chosen your blogging platform, it's time to select a domain. A domain is the URL that will be used to access your site (www.sitenamehere.com) Domain registrars like NameCheap, 1&1, and GoDaddy will show you available domain options. If possible, use your business name and register it as a .com if available. Your domain name should be easy to remember but specific enough to show the difference between your actual business site and your blog.

A registered domain name will run you about $10 a year or slightly less if you are willing to pay upfront for the year.

Create a Content Plan & Write Now the fun begins. Once your site is set up, it's time to create a purpose for your blog! Ask yourself the following four questions: What is the main objective of the blog?

How often will you be blogging?

What's your blog's "voice?"

Do you want your readers to take action while reading your blog?

Once you've developed your plan, it's time to create a content calendar that matches your objectives and how often you'll be blogging. A content calendar is a great way to layout weeks or month's worth of content. It's essential to make sure your topics match the insights and interests of your business. It's essential to make your content original and write about things that your audience will value.

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