How to Start a Blog in the Philippines
- Why you should blog
- Why do you want to start blogging?
- Finding your Niche
- Step-by-Step guide in setting up your blog
Hi there soon-to-be blogger!
Writing down this intro took me back to memory lane as I remembered how I felt as a newbie blogger. I’ve been in your shoes before. I know how you feel.
Back then, I didn’t know what I was doing. Where do I start and what should I do next? Being terrified was an understatement.
I had zero blogging skills and coding skills. My degree was a far cry from anything techie or ‘blog-related.’ Seeing all the mountain of information online about how to start a blog made me want to give up (sometimes). Plus, what were people gonna say about me trying to ride the wave of being a blogger-wannabe?
I sat in front of the computer and my cellphone for a number of hours per day, gnashing my teeth and face-palming in frustration. But thank God, I gradually learned to finally create a blog, figure out what works and what doesn’t work.
I am a testament that you DO NOT need extreme blogging skills and coding skills to create a blog.
Seeing all these successful bloggers felt like a million worlds away. They’ve just turned their passion into work. They blog whilst still having ample time to spend with loved ones and do the things that spark joy. Now there’s the work-life balance we sought for.
I knew this is what I wanted, but I also knew this wouldn’t be easy to achieve.
You see, whoever you are, I BELIEVE IN YOU. IF I COULD DO IT, SO CAN YOU.
There is a sea of opportunities out there just waiting for you to embrace them.
You are the only one who can push yourself forward into making your dreams a reality.
So why wouldn’t you hop on the bandwagon? Maybe one of you dear readers is a mother just like me wo wants more time with her child. Maybe one of you is in a midlife-crisis and is tired of all the mundane tasks you do at work. Maybe one of you is in search for a better life which you know you a 100% deserve.
Or maybe, just maybe, one of you would like to share your talent, skills, experiences and creativity in an online platform where it’s just all about you, regardless of wanting to earn income or not.
Over 2 million blog posts are published every day and there are bloggers out there banking six- and seven-figure incomes a year.
Maybe you would want to be one of them. But you have one problem.
You’ve got no clue how to get started with blogging.
Whatever your age,gender,location and status is, you TOO can become a blogger and turn it into something profitable.
Fret no more! Let me walk you through Hostinger as creating a blog will only take you about 20mins or less.
1.Why should you start a blog in the Philippines?
A blog is like a public online diary where people want to express themselves. But times have changed and creating a blog has numerous purposes.
- You can turn it into a rewarding career and earn good money from it
- For business owners,it is one way to showcase their products and services by writing compelling posts
- You can brand yourself and be known for your expertise in a certain field
- You can help solve people’s problems by providing solutions
- You can use it as an outlet for expressing your thoughts and creativity
A few Reminders
- Learning how to start a blog in the Philippines and make money can be super challenging
- You’ve got to decide what to write about and who you want your readers to be.
- Then you’ve got to figure out how to promote it so you can get some traffic.
And if you want your blog to be a business, you’ve got to invest more than just your time. You’ve also got to be willing to spend some money to make your blog stand out from the millions of other blogs out there.
Now if you’re feeling confident enough to start a blog in the Philippines without reading the rest of this guide, you may start signing up for hosting with Hostinger starting at just Php 109.00 per month + 3 months.
2. Why do you want to start a blog?
If your answer is just “to make money” then STOP right there my friend. You can absolutely make money blogging but if you’re doing it only to make money, you are doomed for failure. If that’s the case then what will happen to you when a couple of months have passed by and yet you see zero to minimal earnings?
Getting your bearings in blogging and planning where your blog can take a while before you can see a payoff.
Enthusiasm can kick in quickly as you start writing your first blog posts. However, it can also wear down fast when you don’t get enough traffic in your blog and you see that your earnings are still at a minimum to none.
Blogging has to be something about what you truly love and enjoy doing, equipped with an inherent desire to help people.
If you want to start a blog, do it because there’s a topic you’re passionate about that you could write about all day long, even if you never make a profit out of it.
3. Finding your niche
To start a blog, you need to find your niche, or in other words, something you’re passionate of writing about and you won’t get fed up easily with. Select a topic that people can relate to and learn from.
Some profitable niches in the blogging industry today are as follows:
- Business and Finance
- Food
- Personal Development
- Beauty and Lifestyle
- Child Care/Parenting/Motherhood
- Traveling
- Health and Fitness
If you still have no clue about what niche you want to write about, these questions can help you narrow it down:
- Is it something you love doing or talking about? It should be something that you love to write about and something that you’re excited to share with other people.
- Is it something a wide range of readers are interested in or want to learn about? This is one way to get traffic in your blog.
- Are there are affiliate programs in your niche? Could you put sponsored posts or ads on your site? Try to visit successful blogs and observe the ads or affiliated programs included.
Do remember that your niche will allow you to stand out and it is also what keeps your readers coming back to your blog.
How to Start a Blog in the Philippines: Step-by step Guide
So, here’s a short list of what I think are the most essential things to have when starting a blog:
- A Blogging platform
- A Domain Name
- Webhosting
Right now you might be thinking, is that it?
And really, that’s it. If you can afford to spend some money on those three things, they can help you build the basic framework for your blog.
STEP 1. Choose a blogging platform
A blogging platform is what you use to write and publish your blog posts.
There are many blogging platforms out there such as Blogger, Squarespace amd Tumblr but the one I am using is WordPress. Reasons why I encourage you to use this wordpress:
- It’s free for everyone to use
- It’s so easy to set up
- You can upload any free or paid plugins and you can put ads on your site to monetize it.
We’ll get back to WordPress in a while.
STEP 2. Choose your Domain Name
Domain name is like your blog address. This is where readers can find your content. Choose a domain name that your readers can easily remember.
You want to pick a domain name that reflects what your blog is about or that speaks to the kind of readers you want to attract. Mine is obviously thethriftypinay.com
As much as possible, make it unique and descriptive. If you choose to use your given name then that’s fine too.
A domain name will cost you around $10. But if you sign up with Bluehost you can get it for free. You’ll learn more about Bluehost on the next step.
Why pay for a self-hosted blog when you can blog for free?
Here’s the difference:
**Self hosted blog: www.myAmazingblog.com
**Free blog: www.myAmazingblog.wordpress.com
Now with just one look, which among the two would you want your Domain name to look more like?
In the eyes of advertisers, free blogs tend to look less professional hence advertisers won’t take you seriously because they will have an initial impression that you’re not taking blogging seriously. Free platforms usually limit your advertising options, meaning that it’s harder to make money from your blog.
Since your free blog is in their servers –then you do not have full control on your blog’s layout and design, plus it’s harder to create a back-up of your photos, articles and other content. And if you violate their terms, they can shut your site down anytime.
Also, free blogging platforms limit your control when it comes to creating and customizing your blog.
Who should use free blogs?
Free blogs are best for people who are just exploring the blogging world or are not very serious about blogging. If you’re just blogging for fun, then go ahead and start with a free blog!
STEP 3. Choose a Web host
A web host is the server or company where you will put your files.
There are many reliable web hosting service providers you can consider. But my personal recommendation is Hostinger.
- Hostinger is the Top Official WordPress hosting provider.
- Enjoy free domain, SSL, CDN, WordPress (which we’ll be needing later), AI tools, as well as 24/7 customer support
- It has a one-click installation for WordPress (which we’ll be needing later)
If you’re a newbie and affordable hosting is your top priority, Hostinger is a good place to host your first blog.
STEP 4. Select a plan
For Hostinger, you may use this link.
The Hostinger website will look something like this. Click the blue Claim Deal button.
Select a Plan. There are different plans to choose from but as a new blogger, you can just opt for the Basic plan like the one above.
STEP 5. Enter your account details for payment
Before buying a domain name for your website and installing WordPress, payment is needed first. Make sure to enter your information completely and accurately.
Depending on what you plan to use your site for will most likely determine what add-ons you select. But if you feel that you won’t be needing these add-ons then you can choose to uncheck all boxes and your blog will still turn out fine.
Payment options are through credit card, bank transfer, or Paypal. Once you’ve read the Terms and Privacy policy, check the box, click on the green Submit button.
STEP 7. Create your blog!
You may now choose an interesting domain name (go back to step 2 for the tips) and install wordpress to begin!
You should see the “Status: Success” notification after WordPress has been installed. All of the information you submitted to access your website will be e-mailed to you.
VOILA! You’ve created a blog using Hostinger and you’ve installed WordPress. Congrats on making your first ever blog!
Now here comes the fun part: DESIGNING YOUR BLOG.
Go ahead, log in to your WordPress account and explore the different themes and plugins. I shall leave the customizing and posting content to you as this will radiate your creativity and knowledge as a blogger.
A tip when you start a blog in the Philippines
Never promote your blog without coming out with 20 or more blog posts. You need to keep your readers engaged once they first visit your site and keep them wanting to come back to read more until they decide to subscribe to your email list.
I hope you find this post something again worth passing around. I wish you nothing but the best as you tackle this blogging journey of yours ahead!
Remember that to become a successful blogger requires time, effort and lots of creativity and resourcefulness.
Related Articles:
- Writing Platforms: Earn Money By Writing Philippines
- How to be a Freelance Content Writer in the Philippines
- 10 Best Freelance Jobs for Beginners in the Philippines
- How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency in the Philippines
- How To Price Your Services in the Philippines (w/ Examples)
- How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency in the Philippines
- Be A Motivational Public Speaker Philippines? Here’s What They Don’t Tell You
How to Start a BLOG in the Philippines: A Step-by-step Guide for the Clueless