How to Start a Blog in 2026

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So you want to start a blog. Brilliant!

A blog is one of the simplest ways to get yourself online. It can be a place to share ideas, build an audience, or even turn into a side income.

The mechanics of setting one up aren’t difficult – you can buy a domain, get some hosting, and be live the same day.

The challenge isn’t the setup.

It’s what comes after.

The biggest challenges are:

• Sticking with it when you’ve only published five posts and nobody’s reading them yet.
• Learning how to get traffic, and how to turn that traffic into money (if money is your goal)

They’re the parts most people struggle with, and it’s why so many give up before they ever earn a penny.

This guide will walk you through the first steps the right way. We’ll look at choosing a topic, getting your site online, and publishing those all-important first posts.

Along the way, I’ll share the bits I’ve learned from running sites over the years, including the mistakes worth avoiding.

If you’re ready to give blogging a proper go, let’s get started.

What is a blog?

At its simplest, a blog is just a website that you keep adding posts to.

Some blogs are personal, like online journals, while others are focused on a specific topic, such as food, football or finance.

What makes a blog different from a typical small business website is that it keeps growing.

A business site might sit there with five pages that never change. A blog can go from five posts to five hundred over time, and that regular stream of new content is what helps you get noticed online.

Why do people start blogs?

People start blogs for all sorts of reasons.

Some want a place to share ideas or keep a record of their journey — whether that’s learning a new skill, getting fitter, or travelling. Others are more focused on building an audience or turning a topic into income.

There’s no right or wrong reason. What matters is being clear on what you want from it, because that shapes the way you approach blogging.

If your goal is personal, you can write about whatever you like.

If you’re hoping to grow an audience or make money, you’ll need a bit more focus.

Popular blogging topics include things like:

• Money and finance
• Food and recipes
• Travel
• Fashion and beauty
• Technology
• Photography

And you don’t have to stick with one style of post. Blogs often mix things up with:

• Tutorials and how-to guides
• Product reviews
• Lists and roundups
• Opinion pieces
• Interviews or case studies

The bottom line: a blog can be whatever you want it to be – a personal space, a business, or something in between.

How is a blog different to a website?

A blog is a type of website – the difference is how it’s used.

A typical small business site might have five or six static pages: Home, About, Services, Contact.

Those pages don’t change much. A blog, on the other hand, keeps growing.

You publish posts regularly, and over time those posts build into a library of content that brings in traffic and keeps people coming back.

That’s why so many businesses add a blog alongside their main site. It gives them a way to share updates, publish guides, and show up in search results for more than just their business name.

If you’re starting from scratch, you don’t need to worry too much about the distinction.

Your blog is your website.

Choosing a blogging platform

Before you dive in, you’ll need to pick the platform that runs your blog. There are a few options, each with pros and cons:

• WordPress.org (self-hosted) – free software you install on your own hosting. Full control, endless flexibility, and the best choice if you want to grow your blog into a business.
• WordPress.com – a hosted version of WordPress. Easier to set up, but more limited unless you pay for higher tiers.
• Squarespace / Wix – simple drag-and-drop builders. Great for beginners who just want something online quickly, but less flexible if you want to customise or move later.
• Substack – built around writing and email newsletters. Perfect if you just want to publish and build subscribers, but not ideal for a full website.
• Blogger – free and easy, but outdated. Fine for hobby blogs, less so if you’re serious about growth.

Most serious bloggers use self-hosted WordPress, and that’s the platform I’ll focus on for the rest of this guide.

How do you make money from a blog?

There are lots of ways to earn from a blog, but don’t expect it to happen straight away. Most methods only start paying once you’ve got steady traffic and an audience that trusts you.

Here are the main options:

• Display ads – the easiest way to monetise once you have traffic. Ad networks like AdSense or Ezoic place ads on your site and pay you per click or per view. Simple, but you’ll need thousands of visitors a month to see more than pennies.
• Affiliate marketing – promote products or services you genuinely rate, and earn a commission when readers buy through your link. Works best when you’ve built up trust.
• Sponsored posts – brands pay you to feature their product in an article. Lucrative if you’ve got an engaged audience.
• Digital products – eBooks, courses, templates, printables. These can scale well once you’ve built the content.
• Services – freelance writing, design, consulting etc. Your blog acts as a portfolio and client magnet.
• Memberships – create a private area or community where people pay for access to exclusive content or support.

The important thing is not to try all of these at once. Start with one or two that fit your blog and build from there.

If you plan to make money from your blog, make sure you’ve got the basics covered – a privacy policy, cookie notice, and, if you use affiliate links, a clear disclosure.

It’s not exciting, but it keeps you on the right side of the law.

Is blogging right for you?

Blogging isn’t for everyone. It takes time, consistency, and the patience to keep going when it feels like no one’s reading. If you’re after quick wins, you’ll probably get frustrated.

That said, blogging can be a great fit, whether you’re doing it for yourself or for your business.

If you’re blogging for yourself

A personal blog works well if you:

• Enjoy writing or sharing ideas.
• Want a space to document a journey or explore a topic.
• Are happy to keep at it, even if progress feels slow at first.

The rewards might be creative (a space to share your thoughts), social (building a small community), or financial (turning your blog into a side income).

If you’re blogging for business

For businesses, a blog is less about personal expression and more about visibility. Regular posts mean:

• More chances to rank in Google.
• More content to share on social media.
• More trust from potential customers who see you know your stuff.

And if your competitors already have a blog, it’s worth thinking about starting one too — otherwise, they’ll gradually pull ahead.

Bottom line

If you’ve got the drive to publish regularly and the patience to let things grow, blogging can pay off. It just depends on what you want out of it.

Do you need technical knowledge to run a blog?

Not really.

If you can use Word or Google Docs, you can use WordPress. There’s a learning curve, but nothing you can’t pick up as you go.

A bit of HTML or CSS knowledge can help if you want to tweak the design, but it’s not essential. Most blogging platforms are designed for non-technical people — otherwise, they wouldn’t be so popular.

WordPress, for example, powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet. It’s popular because it’s flexible, easy enough for beginners, and endlessly customisable once you’re ready to do more.

What should you blog about?

The best blogs usually come from a mix of interest and intention.

You’ll be spending a lot of time writing, so you need a topic you won’t get bored of. At the same time, it helps if the topic has an audience and, ideally, some potential to make money.

A good way to think about it is to look for the overlap between three things:

• What you enjoy – subjects you’re naturally curious about.
• What you know (or want to learn) – experience, skills, or even just enthusiasm you’re willing to develop.
• What people care about – questions, problems, or interests that already have an audience.

If you’re starting a blog for business, the choice is easier: write about the questions your customers ask and the problems your service solves.

If you’re blogging for yourself, you’ve got more freedom — but it’s still smart to narrow your focus. Instead of “travel,” think “family travel in Europe.” Instead of “food,” think “easy vegan dinners.” The more specific you are, the easier it is to stand out.

And don’t overthink it. Your blog will grow and shift over time. The important thing is to start with a topic you’re comfortable writing about and see where it takes you.

Choosing a domain name for your blog

Once you know what you want to blog about, the next step is picking a domain name – your web address.

A few tips to keep it simple:

• Keep it short and clear – easy to type, easy to remember.
• Avoid hyphens and numbers – they make your domain harder to share.
• Make it relevant – if possible, hint at your topic or audience.
• Think long-term – don’t lock yourself into something too narrow if you think your blog might grow.

When it comes to extensions, .com is still the most recognisable. If you’re aiming at readers in one country, a local extension (like .co.uk for the UK) can also work well.

And don’t panic if your first idea isn’t available. With a bit of creativity, you’ll find something that fits.

Registering a domain name

Once you’ve picked a name, you’ll need to register it. A domain usually costs £8–£15 per year. Stick to a one-year registration to start with. You can always renew later.

Most registrars let you set auto-renew so you don’t forget, but I prefer to switch that off and just keep an eye on renewal emails. That way you’re not stuck paying for domains you no longer want.

Choosing web hosting

This is the part that trips most beginners up. There are hundreds of hosting companies, all shouting about speed, storage, and “unlimited” everything.

The truth? For a brand new blog, almost any well-known host will do. Look for:

• Good support (you’ll need it at some point).
• A reputation for reliability.
• Decent speed – slow sites frustrate readers and hurt Google rankings.

Don’t overthink it. Pick a reputable host, get started, and you can always switch later. Most hosts will even migrate your site for free.

If you’re in the UK, I recommend Guru. If you’re elsewhere, SiteGround or Namecheap are popular choices.

Installing WordPress

WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites. It’s free, flexible, and has a huge community behind it.

Most hosts let you install WordPress in a couple of clicks, so you don’t need to mess around with code. Once it’s installed, you’ll have a dashboard where you can publish posts, change your design, and manage everything in one place.

I’ve written a complete guide on how to set up a WordPress website.

There’s a bit of a learning curve, but if you’ve ever used Word or Google Docs, you’ll be fine.

Once WordPress is set up, it helps to add a few essential plugins: an SEO plugin so your posts show up in Google, a backup tool in case something goes wrong, and a security plugin to keep your site safe.

You don’t need loads. Just the basics to get started.

Making your new WordPress blog look good

Once you’ve installed WordPress on your blog, the next step is making it look good.

You do this by installing a ‘theme’. A theme is a bunch of files that create the design and default styling.

WordPress comes with a few default themes already installed. Each one is named after the year it was published.

Anything prior to Twenty Twenty-Three is a good starting point, but a better option is a theme like Kadence. It’s easy on the eye and can be used without any customisations.

It’s the one used on this site.

If you install Kadence (or any other theme), you can customise the various settings using the Customiser in the WordPress admin area.

Creating content

Once your blog is set up, the next step is publishing content. At first, it’s more important to focus on writing than tweaking your design. Aim for 10–20 solid posts before worrying too much about how your site looks.

I’ve written a full guide to creating content, which walks through different types of posts and pages you should create.

Once your blog is live, it’s worth thinking about how you present your content. Formatting matters. Short paragraphs, subheadings, images, and lists make posts easier to read (and better for Google).

I’ve written a full guide on formatting blog posts.

Wrapping up

Starting a blog is the easy part. The real challenge — and the real opportunity — comes afterwards, when you’re publishing content, learning how to get traffic, and figuring out how to turn it into income.

Every successful blogger you’ve heard of started where you are now: with a blank site and no audience. The difference is, they stuck with it. Step by step, post by post, they built something.

If you want your blog to grow, focus on three things:

• Publishing useful content consistently.
• Finding ways to bring in readers (search, social, or email).
• Sticking with it when progress feels slow.

It’s not easy, but it is possible. And if you keep going, your blog can turn into something much bigger than a hobby.

*WordPress stats from W3Techs

Featured image by Antoni Shkraba Studio via Pexels