Starting a Personal Growth Blog

[hazerfazer]

I've realized that blogging would be a great conduit for my desire to help people. I am unsure of a few things, though. Should I get a WordPress blog, and if so, what host is recommended? I would like to monetize the blog eventually, so I want it to be easy to do that when I decide to do it. I'm not sure if I should use my name as the website name or come up with a growth-oriented title. Any input would be appreciated.

[bluedragon]

I only used Wordpress so I can't compare it to any other service, but I can tell you it is amazing.

You would better chose a domain name that includes some keywords, such as success, motivation, efficient, growth, habits etc. But only if you can find a name you like. Use dashes between words if the name is longer, but try not to use more than 5 words.

Research the major hosting providers and see what seems more trustworthy. There was a thread in here about hosting services.

It is very easy to insert ads of any kind into a WP blog if you know how to modify a basic css and html file. Php is very similar to html and the php code itself, you usually get it from various tutorials and just copy-paste it into your pages, but it's good to understand html so you know where to put what.

[Curtis2011]

You should write out a long term strategy or plan of getting traffic and monetizing.

Steve's website is somewhat unique in that instead of relying on SEO, he relied totally on inbound links from other blogs. There's something called a snowball effect in creating a good seo'd website; well, Steve did the snowball effect only with inbound links instead of SEO.

If you are going the inbound link route, you don't need SEO per se and don't have to worry about keywords. But realistically, that only works if you are so unique that tons of people want to link to you. So, be sure to SEO your website at least to the best it can be for its topics.

[James81]

For hosting purposes, I recommend Hostgator or Bluehost. I've personally had both and both seemed to be very good. I would steer you away from ipowerweb, as I've had that as well and my site went down pretty frequently with them and their customer support is...lacking. Not terrible, just lacking, especially if you have to call them on the phone cause you have to wait a while to even connect to an operator.

As far as a name is concerned, I'd go with something that sort of deals with the content you intend to provide rather than your name. But I don't think the name of the website makes as much a difference as your content.

My final comment is that you need to write well. I've seen a lot of blogs where the writing is dry and lacking and I usually close out of those sites after reading a paragraph or two. Remember that you aren't going to reach anybody if they aren't "hooked" by your writing, no matter how good your content is. If you're going to blog for a mass amount of people, this is the single most important thing you can do is improve your writing to the point where people WANT to read what you write and are hungry for more.

[Manomanman]

You're entering into a glutted market with lots of potential for failure.

You REALLY need to think this through before you commit to it - the whole, "I'm going to help people and the rest will be taken care of itself" mentality will NOT create success. I see so many go-nowhere blogs because of this mentality.

I would recommend trying things out before you dive in headfirst. Start at wordpress.com and migrate off if you like it.

Don't spend a dime yet. Build traffic first.

[Qwerty10]

I agree with Mano. A few months ago I pondered the same thing (starting a blog to help people with the goal of one day becoming a filthy rich guru), but I did my homework and realized my time would be best spent doing other things. Your time is gold, so spend it wisely.

Good luck!

[iDreamCatcher]

Go ahead.
Wordpress is the great platform for hosting website/blog.
I'd recommend hostgator to host your blog. They are very reliable and you may install Wordpress and start blogging within 2 minutes.
Having self-growth related words within domain name helps to get ranked but not required if you are dedicated.
I'd suggest to go with brand-ish looking domain name instead of keywordish, like - my-self-growth-and-self-help-blog.com

Gleb

[hueyd]

Yes, wordpress is a good choice.

I would think Self Improvement is very competetive. If you want to stand a chance at making some money, then you need to stand out. I would go for a specific sub niche of self improvement.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by hueyd

Yes, wordpress is a good choice.

I would think Self Improvement is very competetive. If you want to stand a chance at making some money, then you need to stand out. I would go for a specific sub niche of self improvement.

I think most people start a self improvement blog to work on and document their own self improvement, while at the same time hoping the blog will become popular and the money will follow.

If a person wants to write a blog to maximize revenue the writer must do more than write about personal experience. Now there is nothing wrong with writing about the journey, lots of people do this. Earning a living from the blog is more complicated.

[PerDev]

I also want to pursue my desire to Inspire myself and people to grow and make difference in life of all, and build bussiness around it and getout of my current line of work.

I have thought through Blogging for sometime, But i believe for newbie its Outdated and also i don;t have good writing skills and i don;t enjoy writing too much, But I love reading and listening.
I need to check with audio creation.

I would rather build my skills on public speaking. and use that medium to build business to inspire and help people grow in different areas of life, I think it will be more effective too for me and people who resonate with me.

One reason i am thinking about public speaking is that it can also be helpful on all other areas of my life. I have to try and check if I enjoy it or not.

I yes remember that in past I had opportunity around 6-8 years before to give speech in the audience
and also playing in one of the drama
and also directing drama.

I think i was good in public speaking at that time.
and i yet definatly vividly know that I enjoyed being part of drama (people said i Act well )
and i also know when i was directing out team ranked number-2, and it was so natural to me.. I thougt am i really deserver it ? i didn;t struggle hard, it was just natural.

What do you think GUYS ?

Originally Posted by hazerfazer

I've realized that blogging would be a great conduit for my desire to help people. I am unsure of a few things, though. Should I get a WordPress blog, and if so, what host is recommended? I would like to monetize the blog eventually, so I want it to be easy to do that when I decide to do it. I'm not sure if I should use my name as the website name or come up with a growth-oriented title. Any input would be appreciated.

[Blarg]

PerDev, it looks to me like you should do some intensive work on your English. Whether written or spoken, well-used language well creates an automatic credibility. You don't have to be a fancy or beautiful writer, but elementary mistakes will be no friend to you. A polished presentation, however, will always be a strong asset, even if your presentation style is quite simple and direct.

[hazerfazer]

Thank you for all the input everyone. I will let you know as the process of making my blog unfolds.

[johnpaul]

If you are hoping to make money with adsense etc. you are going to need traffic to your website. For that reason alone, I would suggest that you start your site with your own domain, hosting and a wordpress blog.

You'll find it very difficult to keep your ranking and traffic if you decide to change from a free sub-domain name later on.

At least get yourself a domain name and point it to a blogger or wordpress blog, that way you keep your domain even if you opt for professional hosting down the road.

[hazerfazer]

I have a blog title that feels good to me, though at first glance it doesn't seem related to personal growth. Should I get multiple domain names? There is one that I think is a very good personal growth domain name that I am actually surprised is available. However, it doesn't "feel" as good to me - it is more keyword oriented than brand-oriented. Any ideas? If I spend $1 more a month I can get the baby plan instead of the hatchling plan on Web Hosting - Shared cPanel Web Hosting where apparently you can get unlimited domains.

[Daffy Duck]

You could do both. Domains aren't expensive.

SBI recommends the keyword route (and it's a good one), but the most successful in any genre are usually brand oriented, I've noticed.

[James81]

Originally Posted by hazerfazer

I have a blog title that feels good to me, though at first glance it doesn't seem related to personal growth. Should I get multiple domain names? There is one that I think is a very good personal growth domain name that I am actually surprised is available. However, it doesn't "feel" as good to me - it is more keyword oriented than brand-oriented. Any ideas? If I spend $1 more a month I can get the baby plan instead of the hatchling plan on Web Hosting - Shared cPanel Web Hosting where apparently you can get unlimited domains.

definately go for the plan with the unlimited domains. In fact, I'd say if you can afford it, go with the business plan. IMO, you should leave room for growth.

[hazerfazer]

How exactly do unlimited domains work?


Also, this is getting tough. I have several domain ideas, but I'm not sure what I should use. There are several pros and cons to all the ones I've come up with.

[Declan JJ Lestat]

Originally Posted by Blarg

PerDev, it looks to me like you should do some intensive work on your English. Whether written or spoken, well-used language well creates an automatic credibility. You don't have to be a fancy or beautiful writer, but elementary mistakes will be no friend to you. A polished presentation, however, will always be a strong asset, even if your presentation style is quite simple and direct.

Wise words Blarg! There's much more to public speaking than standing up in public and... well, speaking. PerDev, you also mentioned speaking in public would help in other areas of your life. A stage isn't a good place for therapy or to seek out your own answers. It's not about you - it's about the audience and the people who have paid your fee (A common misunderstanding amongst beginning speakers!). If there's areas of your life you feel need working on then go for it - but I'd recommend not doing it under a spotlight.

Get in touch with your local Toastmasters, or if there isn't one local see about starting up your own group. This would be the best way to try out speaking and to hone your skills. If you want to present, you'll have to get in front of an audience at some point, but I know you'll enjoy it more if you do so with some training an constructive feedback under your belt.

Presenting/speaking isn't as easy as it looks - it's just that the really great speakers make it look easy. It's highly skilled, and there's so much more going on below the surface that makes the speaker look like he/she isn't putting effort into it. If you don't know your subject inside out, if you can't get in front of any audience at the drop of a hat and speak, if you can't present with skill and authority - you have no place on a stage.

I don't want to sound overly harsh - I'd just like to save you the embarrassment of getting in front of an audience to find out that presenting is actually a lot harder than it looks!

[James81]

Originally Posted by hazerfazer

How exactly do unlimited domains work?


Also, this is getting tough. I have several domain ideas, but I'm not sure what I should use. There are several pros and cons to all the ones I've come up with.

It just leaves you the option to add as many domains on your hosting account as you want.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the name, though. Go with the one that relates the most with the site you are trying to build.