I want to be completely honest with you because I’m tired of people sharing a lie with “how to start a blog for free” guides.
The truth is, “starting a blog for free” is just a marketing term used to trick you into signing up to their affiliate link. Just like those “how to make money blogging” guides are misleading.
However, don’t be discouraged just yet because there are some things you can do for free that are going to help you start your blog easier and without breaking a bank.
Why it isn’t possible to start a blog for free?
If you are serious about creating a blog, you shouldn’t waste your money on free blogging platforms. Even if they were free, they wouldn’t support your needs as an author.
Even though there are platforms you can blog for free, there are some drawbacks. For example:
- You won’t own your content or your blog, which means it can easily be deleted without you being able to get it back.
- Monetizing a blog that is built on a free platform is borderline impossible. So, if you plan on making money with your blog, think again about the platform choice.
What can you do for free before you start a blog?
First of all, the most important thing you can do is to take a deep breath and understand that many things about blogging are not free and that making a quick buck with your first blog is not going to happen as quickly as you’ve been reading.
1. Carefully select your “blogging mentors”
There are so many bloggers out there sharing all sorts of “how to start a blog” things that you need to be careful who to follow and who to believe.
I know how much I’ve struggled when I was starting my first blog. So many things I’ve read turned into not being true. I was heartbroken, lost and I gave up blogging for a few years.
(I wrote an article on Medium about all the lies bloggers love to tell, here is the link if you want to give it a read – Bloggers Are Such Liars)
2. Make sure you have the right reasons for starting a blog
If your only goal is to earn money blogging, you might want to reconsider starting a blog. People might see right through you and you’ll lose followers or subscribers.
If your only goal is to write, there are cheaper options than starting a self-hosted blog on any platform (WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix …). In this case, Medium might be a great solution for you because for $5 a month you have a platform to write on, you can write about any topic you would like, you don’t have to worry about SEO and promotion.
If you want both, then blogging is the perfect option for you.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
3. Learn as much as you can
Internet is filled with amazing courses about blogging, SEO, email marketing, and other important blogging courses that are completely free.
The only thing is, most courses are more or less the same, but every creator has some new and unique advice that can help you.
I made a list of over 40 free blogging courses for beginners, and the list is being updated as soon as I find another amazing free course, check it out below:
4. Make sure you understand SEO
One thing I’ve noticed many new bloggers think is that installing a plugin on WordPress is enough for SEO and ranking on Google. Unfortunately, SEO doesn’t work like that.
When it comes to SEO, it’s a marathon, not a sprint and you must understand it well and find what works for you and your blog.
It might not be possible to start a blog for free, but, as I’ve said, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. I’ve started this blog with only $20 just by paying what is essential and the rest can be added later on.
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