Online Entrepreneur-Starting of a Blog

by Darpan Sachdeva

Hey there, future blog superstar!

I still remember the day I published my first blog post. My hands were shaking as I hit that publish button, wondering if anyone would ever read my words. Fast forward several years, and I’m amazed at how that simple decision to start a blog has transformed my life, connected me with incredible people around the world, and yes—created income streams I never thought possible.

That’s the beauty of blogging—it begins as a simple digital journal and can evolve into something truly extraordinary. Whether you’re dreaming of quitting your 9-to-5, sharing your passion with the world, or building a thriving online business, a blog can be your launchpad to those dreams.

Today, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about starting a blog that matters. No fluff, no false promises—just the real, actionable steps I’ve learned from years of study, trial and error, and learning from others launch their own successful blogs.

Let’s dive into the 6 essential elements you need to master before your blogging journey truly begins.

## Deciding What to Blog About: Finding Your Sweet Spot

Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: the most successful blogs aren’t necessarily about the most exciting topics—they’re about topics the blogger is genuinely passionate about.

When I first considered starting a blog, I made a list of trending topics that seemed profitable. But something felt off. I realized I was approaching it all wrong. The question shouldn’t be “What will make money?” but rather “What could I write about for years without getting bored?”

Your blog needs to excite YOU first. Think about it—you’ll be creating content around this topic weekly, maybe even daily, for years to come. If the subject doesn’t light a fire in your soul, that enthusiasm drought will show in your writing, and your readers will sense it immediately.

Ask yourself these questions: What topics do you find yourself researching at 2 AM? What conversations make you lose track of time? What subject matter do friends and family come to you for advice about? These are clues pointing toward your blogging sweet spot.

Remember, authenticity trumps originality. You don’t need to be the first person blogging about personal finance, parenting, or productivity tools. What you need is your unique perspective on these topics. Your personal experiences, challenges, and solutions are what will resonate with readers who share similar journeys.

The internet has plenty of room for your voice. While millions of blogs exist, none of them have your exact perspective, life experience, and way of connecting with an audience. That’s your superpower.

## Choosing Your Blogging Platform: Building on Solid Ground

Now that you’ve identified your passion, you need somewhere to share it. Think of your blogging platform as the foundation of your online home. You wouldn’t build a house on shaky ground, would you?

After exploring countless platforms over the years, from Blogger to Squarespace, Wix to Weebly, I can confidently say that WordPress stands in a league of its own. It powers over 40% of all websites on the internet—for good reason.

But here’s where many new bloggers get confused: WordPress comes in two flavours. There’s WordPress.com (the hosted version that’s free but limited) and WordPress.org (the self-hosted version that gives you complete control).

While WordPress.com might seem tempting with its zero upfront cost, it significantly limits your growth potential. You’ll face restrictions on monetization, design customization, and even ownership of your content. That’s like renting an apartment where you can’t paint the walls or hang pictures without the landlord’s permission.

WordPress.org, on the other hand, is like owning your home. Yes, you’ll have some costs (we’ll discuss hosting next), but you’ll have complete freedom to grow, customize, and monetize your blog however you see fit. You’ll own every word you write and every image you share.

I’ve helped hundreds of bloggers make this choice, and those who started with WordPress.org rarely regretted it, while many who began with free platforms eventually faced the painful process of migration when their limitations became unbearable.

Trust me on this one—start with WordPress.org. Your future self will thank you.

## Finding the Perfect Host: Your Blog’s Digital Real Estate

Think of hosting as the digital land where your blog lives. WordPress is the house you build on that land. Every blog needs reliable hosting to be accessible online.

After trying numerous hosting providers throughout my blogging journey, I’ve found Bluehost to be the ideal starting point for new bloggers. Their setup is remarkably user-friendly, their servers are reliable, and their customer service team understands the unique needs of WordPress users.

[Click here to check out Bluehost’s current plans and pricing]

Here’s why I’ve been recommending Bluehost to my readers and clients for years:

First, they’ve streamlined the WordPress installation process down to a single click. No technical gymnastics required—even if you’ve never built a website before.

Second, they offer a free domain name for your first year. That’s one less thing to worry about and one less expense as you’re getting started.

Third, their pricing is remarkably reasonable for the quality of service they provide. Starting at just a few dollars per month, it’s an investment that even the most budget-conscious bloggers can manage.

I remember when one of my readers, was hesitant about paying for hosting. He started on a free platform instead, only to switch to Bluehost six months later when he realized how limited he was. “I wish I’d just started here,” he told me. “I would have saved so much time and frustration.”

The most successful bloggers understand that some initial investment is necessary. Think of it this way: if you were opening a physical store, you’d expect to pay rent, right? Your hosting is simply the rent for your online space—and it’s a fraction of what physical retail space would cost.

## Choosing Your Domain Name: Your Blog’s First Impression

Your domain name is more than just a web address—it’s the first impression people have of your blog. It’s your digital storefront sign, your brand in a nutshell.

I’ve seen too many bloggers rush this decision, only to rebrand painfully later. Let me save you from that headache.

First, aim for something memorable and easy to spell. If people need to ask “How do you spell that?” after hearing your domain name, you might want to reconsider.

Second, shorter is generally better. Compare nobelthoughts.com with myawesomethoughtsandideasforlife.com. Which one would you remember?

Third, avoid hyphens, numbers, and unusual spellings. They make your domain harder to remember and share verbally.

Fourth, consider using your own name if you’re building a personal brand. Your name is uniquely yours and gives you flexibility to pivot your blog’s focus over time.

If you’re stuck, try using domain name generators for inspiration. Sometimes the perfect name comes from an unexpected combination of words that capture your blog’s essence.

And what if your perfect domain is taken? Don’t panic. You have options:

– Try a different extension (.net, .co, .blog instead of .com)

– Add a relevant word (like “blog” or “online”)

– Use a phrase that captures your blog’s purpose

The most important thing is that your domain feels right to YOU. After all, you’ll be sharing it, typing it, and seeing it thousands of times over your blogging journey.

## Getting Started with WordPress: Setting Up Your Digital Home

Now comes the exciting part—bringing your blog to life! With Bluehost, installing WordPress is incredibly simple. After purchasing your hosting plan, you’ll be guided through a straightforward setup process.

Once WordPress is installed, you’ll access your dashboard—the control center for your entire blog. This might look intimidating at first (I remember feeling overwhelmed when I saw mine for the first time!), but you’ll quickly become familiar with it.

Before you start publishing content, take some time to adjust these important settings:

Change your permalinks structure by going to Settings > Permalinks. I recommend choosing the “Post name” option, which creates clean, SEO-friendly URLs for your content.

Create essential pages like “About,” “Contact,” and “Privacy Policy.” These form the backbone of any professional blog and help establish trust with your readers.

Install these critical plugins: Yoast SEO for search engine optimization, Akismet for spam protection, and a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache for speed. Think of plugins as apps for your WordPress site—they extend functionality without requiring any coding knowledge.

[Check out my recommended WordPress plugins here]

One of the most common questions I get is, “How technical do I need to be?” The beautiful thing about WordPress is that it can be as simple or as complex as you need it to be. You can absolutely start with zero technical knowledge and learn as you grow. The WordPress community is incredibly supportive, with tutorials available for virtually every question you might have.

## Designing and Using Your Blog: Making It Yours

Now for the fun part—making your blog look and feel like you! WordPress themes determine your blog’s appearance, and there are thousands to choose from.

While free themes are available, I’ve found that investing in a premium theme pays dividends in terms of design quality, support, and features. Themes like Divi, Astra, or GeneratePress offer incredible flexibility and are created with both aesthetics and performance in mind.

[Click here to explore premium WordPress themes]

When designing your blog, remember that simplicity often wins. Clean layouts, readable fonts, and fast-loading pages will keep your readers engaged. Avoid the temptation to add flashy elements that slow down your site or distract from your content.

Your blog’s design should complement your content, not compete with it. Think of your favorite blogs—what makes them enjoyable to read? Usually, it’s the ease of navigation and focus on content, not elaborate design elements.

Once your design is set, it’s time for the most important step—creating content that matters. Consistency is key here. Set a sustainable publishing schedule, whether that’s once a week or twice a month. Quality always trumps quantity.

I recommend preparing 3-5 cornerstone articles before officially launching your blog. These should be your absolute best work—comprehensive pieces that showcase your knowledge and perspective on your chosen topic.

Remember that every successful blogger started exactly where you are now—with zero posts and zero readers. Jon Morrow of SmartBlogger, James Clear of JamesClear.com, and Darren Rowse of ProBlogger all began with a single post and a vision of what their blogs could become.

## The Journey Ahead: Your Blog’s Evolution

As I wrap up this post, I want to leave you with some perspective that took me years to understand.

Your blog will evolve. The content you create in year three will likely look different from your first posts. Your focus might shift slightly as you discover what resonates with your audience. This is not only normal—it’s healthy.

The most successful blogs I’ve studied—from Huffington Post to Copyblogger, TechCrunch to Mashable—have all evolved from their initial concepts. They grew with their audience, responded to feedback, and continually refined their approach.

Blogging is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. There will be days when the words flow effortlessly and days when writing feels impossible. There will be posts that unexpectedly go viral and brilliant pieces that somehow don’t find their audience.

Through it all, remember why you started. That passion, that message you felt compelled to share—that’s your compass when the path gets foggy.

I remember a moment about nine months into my blogging journey when I considered giving up. Traffic was slow to build, and I wondered if anyone was really listening. That very week, I received an email from a reader who had implemented one of my suggestions and experienced a breakthrough in their own life. That single message reminded me of the real power of blogging—the ability to impact lives, even when we don’t immediately see the results.

Your words matter. Your perspective matters. And somewhere out there is someone who needs to hear exactly what you have to say, in exactly the way only you can say it.

So take that first step. Register your domain. Set up your hosting. Install WordPress. Design your blog. And most importantly, start writing. The world is waiting for your contribution.

I’d love to hear about your blogging journey! What topic are you passionate about? What questions do you have about getting started? Share in the comments below, and I’ll personally respond to everyone.

Here’s to your success,

Darpan

P.S. If you found this post helpful, please share it with someone else who might benefit. As bloggers, we rise by lifting others.

Darpan Sachdeva is the CEO and Founder of Nobelthoughts.com. Driven by a profound dedication to Entrepreneurship, Self-development, and Success over an extended period, Darpan initiated his website with the aim of enlightening and motivating individuals globally who share similar aspirations. His mission is to encourage like-minded individuals to consistently pursue success, irrespective of their circumstances, perpetually moving forward, maintaining resilience, and extracting valuable lessons from every challenge.