Blogging is a great way for tech enthusiasts to share their knowledge, expertise, and experience with the world. It not only allows them to do what they are passionate about but also earn money through it. That being said, apart from passion, starting a tech blog from scratch requires careful planning and thought. The right tips can help one be consistent with their content, increase traction, and earn a steady source of income.
Pick a niche
Technology comprises a wide range of topics, each with its own set of sub-topics. Naturally, writing about so many things in one blog can feel a little overwhelming. So, one of the most important tech blogging tips for beginners is to select a niche—a subject one is particularly passionate about—and stick to it. This way, one will always be enthusiastic about creating content and not see it as a chore. Moreover, selecting a subject in which one’s expertise lies makes it easier to develop new content ideas for the tech blog and deliver valuable insights to readers.
Read other tech blogs
Checking out other tech blogs can benefit beginners a lot. But it’s important to look at successful blogs that have been active for quite some time. While reading these blogs, one can try to understand the factors that have worked in their favor. For instance, a blog could be successful because of a good layout or site design, catchy titles, friendly tone of writing, coverage of interesting topics, inclusion of media (like images and videos), etc. While reading, one can evaluate the popular tech blog design trends, such as font choice, scrolling animations, and micro-interactions.
Reading successful tech blogs will also allow one to expand their vocabulary and find out the kind of jargon they can use. CNET, Wired, TechCrunch, Mashable, MacRumors, and GSMArena are some successful tech blogs examples beginners can refer to.
Select a blogging platform
Another important step is to select a platform for tech blogging. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Blogger, and Medium are well-known options one can start looking at. For a smooth and seamless blogging experience, it is crucial to select a platform one is comfortable using. One must also consider the platform’s features, such as monetizing options, site customizing options, plugin options, and security. Alternatively, one can consider building their own website, provided one has the expertise and resources for it.
Choose a domain name
Selecting a good domain name for a tech blogging website is an essential step since this name will become a brand identity. One needs to select a name that is easy to remember but, at the same time, is unique and defines the site as a whole. It is also better to keep the name short, preferably between 6 and 14 characters. Further, one must avoid including spammy words in the site name, such as “top” or “best,” to make it stand out.
Build the site
After registering the domain name, it’s time to build the tech blog website. One can start by selecting a theme that suits the overall content and subject. After that, one can design or choose the website’s layout. The layout must be simple so visitors can easily navigate the site and choose blogs to read. Including a search bar can also go a long way in making the navigating and reading experience easy for the audience.
Next, one can proceed to add plugins, such as sharing buttons. It is essential to avoid adding too many plugins since they will slow down the website’s loading speed. Likewise, adding too many high-resolution images is a bad idea. Maintaining a good loading speed is an important SEO strategy for tech blogs since search engines prioritize fast-loading websites in their rankings.
Determine the audience for each blog
After the site is built, one can start creating content for their blog. Whether writing an informative article or creating a tutorial, there is one thing to always keep in mind before starting the writing process—determining who the audience will be. Regardless of the subject, a single blog will not always cater to both beginners and experienced individuals. So, if one is writing a piece that would mainly interest experienced individuals, it is better to stick to the language and terminology they will connect with.
Promote the blog
Without enough audience and traction, monetizing the tech blog won’t be possible or easy. So, after creating the site and writing a few pieces, one must begin marketing the blog so it reaches a wide audience. Social media is one of the most effective tools for this purpose. Apart from that, one can consider attending industry events and conferences, as one will get a chance to connect with like-minded people who will love reading the blog.
Monetize the blog
There are various ways to monetize a tech blog. One can rely on affiliate marketing if they are new to blogging. In this strategy, one would need to promote a brand’s products in their blogs and include affiliate links to those products. Including these promotions and getting the audience to click on those links can help one earn from the clients. Once the blog grows, one can move on to earning through display ads.