So, you like to write? Or shall I say type? In this ultimate blogging resource guide for new bloggers, I promise I won’t make it complicated. Finding the right resources can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first-time blogging. In this helpful guide, I want to share some of the best and most beneficial resources. With this list of essential tools, the whole blogging thing won’t seem so complicated. Content creators like yourself love a good resource! Ya picking up what I’m putting down?
I suggest you bookmark this page to keep handy!
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate or referral links that may reward me in the event of a subscription or sale (at no extra cost to you!). I only recommend products or services that I know and trust.
Table Of Contents
The Importance of Starting a Blog
Web Hosting Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Choosing a Domain Name Resource Guide for New Bloggers
WordPress Blog for New Bloggers
Plugin Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Understanding SEO and Keywords for Your Blog
Best Free Email Platforms for New Bloggers
Free Stock Photos Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Spelling, Grammer, and Editing
Affiliate Network Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Resource Guide for New Bloggers- Courses
Influencer Networks for New Bloggers
The Importance of Starting a Blog
The ultimate goal for a blogger is to make money or educate others. There are many ways to do this, but it all comes down to the same thing. In the long run, your blog has to bring in more money than it costs you to run. You’ll be better equipped with the right tools. This resource guide for new bloggers will help!
If you’re just starting out, that might seem like an impossible task. But with some hard work and dedication, you will be able to build up your blog into a profitable business — one that can generate passive income month after month without any further work on your part.
We all have something to say, but what’s even better is creating your unique way of saying it, right? You have knowledge, passion, expertise, or skills that set you apart. Or you’re generally a curious person that wants to be the one that finds the information and talks about it.
All are good “wants” to start a blog. Not to mention all the ways a blog can create income for you. I started my blogging career because I am naturally a curious person. Soon you’ll find yourself going down the rabbit hole just like me and so many before you. Here’s a list of essential resources and tools you can use to make it easier.
Where to Start a Blog
When choosing a blogging platform, there are many factors to consider. These five platforms highlighted below are great for different types of blogs:
– WordPress: Best for new bloggers who want to have a lot of control over their content creation process. It does take a little getting used to, but It’s well worth having control over my content.
– Blogger: Best for people who prefer a simpler interface and want an easy way to post content
– Medium: Best for writers who want to publish long-form articles that have fewer design elements
– Wix: Best for people that want easy-to-use drag-and-drop designs.
Or if you’re looking to create a stunning website quickly and easily, then look no further than Strikingly. Zero code or design skills are required. Get all the same features for an even more affordable option, plus a built-in store.
Web Hosting Resource Guide for New Bloggers
For your blog to get the best traffic from search engines, you’ll need to get your blog hosted with a hosting plan like Go Daddy or Bluehost. If your blog is just a hobby, you don’t need hosting. It also won’t be found by search engines like Google.
I recently switched hosting providers from Bluehost to BigScoots. My website is now turbocharged! It’s a little more than Bluehost but well worth the IbProfen saved. One of BigScoots’ most popular pricing plans is their shared hosting plan, starting at just $3.55 monthly. They also do everything for you!
Bluehost can be a great hosting service that is very reasonably priced. For only $2.95 a month, you get a free domain name and 1 click WordPress installation. This makes it super simple for new bloggers to get started.
Finding Your Niche
Choosing your blog topic niche will help your blog so that you can focus your blog strategy and attract more readers. If you need help choosing a niche, here is a 5-step process for finding your business’s ideal niche market.
Choosing a Domain Name Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Try to stick with a.com, If you can, because it’s the most memorable, used, and established. Try to keep it short. This helps others remember it. You can also do a quick Google search and check for the name’s availability. To help you out further, here’s a list of domain name generators that will get your creative juices flowing!
Already have a domain name in mind? Register a domain name with Namecheap or use their advanced domain name generator to get your ideal choice right away. Already have a domain registered somewhere else? No problem — domain transfers are free and easy.
WordPress Blog for New Bloggers
When I mention WordPress, I’m referring to the self-hosted version of WordPress, also known as WordPress.org.
There are two different versions of WordPress: .com and .org. The former is not self-hosted, while the latter requires self-hosting.
With WordPress, you have complete control over the look and feel of your site. It’s a plugin and theme system that allows you to build almost any type of site imaginable, making it a highly customizable platform. This blog uses wordpress.org.
Blog Themes
You can also get free themes on just about any platform you choose. It will be the basis of all basics unless you decide to purchase the pro version of that theme. I wasn’t happy with the free theme I had because, as you’ll notice, you will have limited customization with some of the free theme options. I also didn’t want to mess with coding.
So, I searched high and low for a good WordPress theme that gave me better options for customization. I found one that gave me exactly what I was looking for through Bluchic. I love and use Bluchic because the process was easy to implement. I did not have to be a coder to make the website look the way I wanted.
They have an amazing shop with lots of WordPress themes and templates for everything, including sales pages and funnel templates. You can also check out their Free resource library! It is my go-to source for resources I don’t need to create myself.
Plugin Resource Guide for New Bloggers
There are a variety of plugins available that can help improve your website or blog post. Various plugins can assist with ranking, displaying videos and images, and adding comments. By taking advantage of these tools, you can help make your site more dynamic and engaging. You can also use a WordPress plugin without using WordPress. Here are some free plugins:
Yoast SEO to make sure your posts are optimized for search engines. Take advantage of the free training too.
RankMath also makes sure your posts are optimized for search engines. In my opinion, Yoast is better for beginner bloggers.
Antispambee to help eliminate spam comments on your blog.
Everest Forms to use as a way for others to contact you. I use the free version. Remember, simple is better.
Insert Headers and Footers. This plugin makes it easy to insert any verifications you need, like Google or Pinterest.
Pretty Links helps to make your affiliate links shorter and more attractive.
Wordfence security because you will need to protect your content from hackers.
WpSmush allows you to lazy load, optimize, and compress your images. It helps reduce the size of the image file without losing the quality of the image.
jQuery pin it button is a free plugin that allows your readers to easily pin images on your blog posts by simply hovering over them and clicking save.
Elementor helps when creating a landing page. It has a drag-and-drop feature that makes things easier. Please note* that Elementor should not be used to create posts. If you use it for posts, expect your website speed to load slower.
Creating Blog Content
Looking to create content but not sure where to start? Fear not! There are plenty of places to find questions that you can answer. The blogging world is all about creating content readers will want to read, but sometimes we can run out of good ideas and need more inspiration to keep us going. Here is a great resource guide for new bloggers to start.
Promoting Your Blog
Starting a blog is easy and can be profitable if done correctly. You can use Pinterest to promote your blog posts. Understand that it also is a search engine. Using keywords is a crucial factor in driving traffic back to your website.
Starting a Facebook business page is also a great way to connect with your readers and gain followers. This includes all the social media platforms.
There are several tools to help with your social media scheduling needs. Each with its own set of features.
Tailwind is a great way to schedule your pins and help you get noticed on Pinterest. You can set up your Pins ahead of time. Tailwind will automatically post them for you throughout the day. You can Pin even when you’re not on Pinterest and still get the exposure you need. It’s not just for Pinterest. It includes Facebook and Instagram. You can schedule and post to all your social networks direct from Tailwind with one brilliant click!
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Later is the all-in-one social marketing platform for the top social networks. Plan, analyze, and publish your content in a few clicks. Includes Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
To help you decide which platform you’d like, here’s a Tailwind vs Later comparison page. You can compare pricing, scheduling, and analytics.
Facebook is an excellent place to connect with other professionals who share your interests and goals in business. This platform is especially great for finding people who are experts in certain areas or industries—just search for them by name or company—and then send them a message asking if they’d like to collaborate on an upcoming project or event! They’ll probably say yes!
Facebook Groups are also a blogger’s best way to connect and share your content. You can find groups that have daily threads. You can plug your link into the Facebook thread and ask for followers, engagement, or comments back on your blog post. In exchange, you’ll do the same.
Understanding SEO and Keywords for Your Blog
When it comes to understanding SEO and using keywords effectively, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, research the competition to see what keywords they are targeting. Second, use keyword tools to find related terms that you can use to target your audience. Finally, focus on creating quality content that uses the keywords naturally to improve your chances of ranking in the search engines.
KeySearch is a handy tool that helps you easily find and manage your website’s search engine keywords.
If you find Yourself spending hours every week trying to come up with new content ideas and keywords. KeySearch offers a content assistant that helps you create new content ideas in seconds. Get started with KeySearch today (under $14 a month) and increase your content output 10 times. Use code KSDISC for 20% off at checkout.
RankIQ is an AI-based search engine optimization software that helps bloggers curate content for blog posts. The platform offers a library of high-traffic keywords, which enables bloggers to select words with low competition for blog topics.
If you’ve been trying to increase your website’s ranking for months with no results.
With RankIQ, you can get your website to the top of the search engines in a short amount of time. Get started with RankIQ today and see your website’s rankings skyrocket!
I use Key Search and RankIQ for all of my searches.
Signup to Get the Blog Post Cheat Sheet- Everything You Need to Do Before You Hit Publish!
Best Free Email Platforms for New Bloggers
Building an email list is an important factor in developing your blog as a business. By cultivating a list of email subscribers, you create a group of individuals who are interested in what you have to say – which can be leveraged to generate leads, customers, and revenue. Email marketing is important for any online business. There are free platforms available to help you build your email subscriber list.
There are many different ways to grow your email list. One effective method is to use a platform that allows you to capture leads and turn them into subscribers.
Here are some of the best free platforms you can use to build your email list:
Mailerlite up to 1.000 subscribers
MailChimp up to 2,000 subscribers
Sendinblue up to unlimited subscribers but only up to 300 daily email sends.
Benchmark has unlimited subscribers and can send up to 250 emails monthly.
Omnisend has unlimited subscribers and can send up to 500 emails monthly.
Sender up to 2,500 subscribers and can send up to 15,000 emails monthly.
Keep in mind that free email platforms will charge you if you exceed the limit of subscribers or daily emails. I like and use Mailerlite.
Free Domain Analysis
If you manage a website, it’s essential to regularly check the health of your domain. A domain health check can help you identify any potential problems that could impact your site’s performance.
There are some free domain health check tools available online. Here are some of the best tools:
DomainTools will show you a detailed report of your domain’s DNS records.
WHOIS will give you information about your domain’s registration and expiration date.
GTmetrix is a testing tool that provides detailed insights into the loading speed and performance of any website. You’ll know how to optimize your site for better performance and faster loading times.
Google Analytics
provides statistics and basic analytical tools for search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing purposes. The service is part of the Google Marketing Platform and is available for free to anyone with a Google account.
Google Tools
There are a lot of tools you can use in Google that will help with the flow of your content. Here are some great resources for new bloggers:
Google Docs This is where I create most, if not all, of my posts first before I upload them to my WordPress site. You can also incorporate Grammarly, which helps with spelling and grammar right inside Google Docs.
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage solution that allows you to save files online. You can also upload files and edit them. This makes it easier for you to upload your freebies. You can then give your subscribers a link to access them.
Images for Your Posts
Creating your posts includes creating stunning pictures! You’ll need to create beautifully pinnable images that capture your reader’s attention and have them pin your images to Pinterest.
I am not a graphic designer. I needed a program that was easy to use to create Pinterest Pins and social media content as well as blog graphics and not to mention eBook covers, too, and give me templates to use. Canva is hands down your one-stop-shop designing tool for creating everything blog-related and social media. It’s by far my favorite free graphic design resource on the web! With so many templates, pictures, and graphics to choose from, you’ll be sure to reap the rewards!
Envato Elements is also a great asset to have in your back pocket! It is an unlimited creative subscription with millions of creative assets at one low cost. Graphics, stock videos, photos, web templates. Create mockups, logos, social posts, and videos in seconds. Explore hundreds of thousands of inspiring and ready-to-use photos, templates, fonts, and assets. Unlimited downloads for $29 per month.
Free Stock Photos Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Need resources for great stock photos you can use in your posts? With royalty-free pictures, you won’t have to worry about copyright. Here are a few of my favorite places to get free stock photography:
Best Blog Generators Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Every once in a while, a blogger feels stuck while staring at a blank screen. It happens to all of us! There are different generators for different topics. Here are a few of my favorite ones to use:
Fatjoe has a free blog post title generator.
Hubspot has a free blog ideas generator.
Portent also has a free blog ideas generator.
Coschedule has a free headline analyzer.
Sharethrough also has a free headline analyzer.
Spelling, Grammer, and Editing
The last thing any blogger wants is spelling errors, but let’s face it, we are not perfect. I recommend Grammarly to catch any errors you might make during your typing process. Others are:
The language tool allows you to check up to 10,000 words with the free plan.
Affiliate Network Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Affiliate marketing is great to incorporate into your posts, especially If you love a product. You’ll want to share the love! There are several affiliate networks that even a new blogger can join. You can find a specific company you want to promote in your niche and apply for. Here are a few of the most popular and high-paying affiliate programs I recommend.
Shareasale is the largest affiliate network in the world, and it’s dedicated to helping you grow your business. We provide access to over 100,000 merchants and more than 1.2 million products across a wide range of categories, including business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), retail, financial services, travel & leisure, and more.
By joining ShareASale’s affiliate program, you can earn money by driving traffic to merchants’ websites and selling their products through your own website or blog.
FlexOffers is a well-known affiliate network for online merchants. They are a great way to make money as an affiliate. An affiliate network—that means they bring together online merchants who want people like you (affiliates) to promote their products and services on their websites or social media accounts. When someone clicks through one of your links and makes a purchase on one of these merchants’ sites, you earn a commission!
You won’t have to write any content or create ads. You can just use the links provided by Flexoffers and share them however you like. They offer free software tools that will help you find new affiliates quickly, track sales easily, and more!
CJ affiliate network is a collaboration between CJ and the top brands in the world. It provides you with access to products that have been vetted by experts, so you can be sure they are the best on the market.
The program offers high-quality products in a wide range of categories, including fashion, beauty, electronics, and more. They also have a dedicated customer service team that’s available 24/7 to assist you if you need help with anything!
CJ affiliate network is free to join! All you have to do is register with your email address, and they’ll send you an invite code that will allow you access to their storefront.
Amazon Associates is another affiliate network I see new bloggers start with. This is good for travel bloggers, fashion bloggers, photography bloggers, and bloggers that want to recommend books or products on their site. Amazon affiliates have a few rules for you to abide by. You have to include a legally compliant disclosure with your links and identify yourself on your Site as an Amazon Associate. You are also required to make three sales within the first six months.
Amazon associates must also strictly adhere to the company’s guidelines on affiliate marketing, such as not using link shorteners or purchasing products using their own links. Amazon Associates for product-based websites, or you want to promote a product in your posts.
Ultimate Bundles offers bundles throughout the year at insanely discounted prices. You can promote eBooks and courses. By joining, you get a discount on anything you’ll be promoting. They also have some AMAZING marketing webinars and training. Plus, it took me a while to discover them when I started blogging. It’s well worth joining!
Resource Guide for New Bloggers- Courses
If you want to learn more about affiliate marketing, the making sense of affiliate marketing online course is the best guide for new bloggers you can get! And it’s very affordable. After taking this course, I understood exactly how to make more income using affiliate marketing. It’s all laid out in a very digestible way.
Monetizing Your Website
When it comes to monetizing your blogging website, there are ways to earn money blogging. Affiliate networks are just one-way new bloggers can earn a small commission. Ad networks are the next level of monetizing for new bloggers. The good thing is that you don’t need years of blogging to get approved. You can get approved without a lot of traffic. Here are a few new bloggers can apply for:
Google Adsense is where most new bloggers start. This is what Google says if you were to get 1,000 clicks. If you earned an estimated $0.15 from 25 page views, then your page RPM would equal ($0.15 / 25) * 1000, or $6.00. If you earned an estimated $180 from 45,000 ad impressions, your ad RPM would equal ($180 / 45,000) * 1000, or $4.00. As you gain more visits to your website on your blogging journey, you can apply to other ad networks.
Ezoic is a step up from Google Adsense. Ezoic once required at least 10,000 views a month to qualify, but that has now changed. There is technically no traffic requirement now to sign up for Ezoic. Keep in mind that you should have at least one website with a few posts up before applying. Ezoic pays $10-40 for 1,000 views on average. This is what Ezoic says about getting started. “Everyone who signs up with Ezoic can complete integration, set up, and be approved in less than 24-48 hours after creating an account”.
Growing sites with less than 10,000 monthly pageviews will need to sign-up through our Access Now program. This program requires an educational course. After completion, the approval process can remain pending for up to 10 days, JUST for publishers in this program.
PopAds can also be a good option for new bloggers because they have no minimum traffic requirements. Higher-quality content will get a higher payout rate. They accept just about any website, no matter the content, but as I said, the better the content is, the better rate you’ll get.
Infolinks is another great alternative and can be used in conjunction with your Adsense ads. There are no minimum requirements for page views or visitors to your website as well. That means that even if your website gets 100 views a day, you still can join Infolinks. The ads are not traditional display ads that other networks, such as Google AdSense, might serve. Infolinks is an in-text ad network and offers various other ad types. They don’t violate any of the AdSense guidelines, so it’s compatible with Ad Sense.
Influencer Networks Resource Guide for New Bloggers
Bloggers can make income from sponsored posts, and you can do it, even while being a brand new blogger. These networks make it easy for you to connect with brands.
Your Blog’s Success
You might have a lot of questions as a new blogger. I know I did! I did a ton of research and learned as I created my first blog. My first blog post was subpar; that’s putting it lightly. A good starting point is to get started. Learn as you grow, and it becomes so much easier the more you blog.
I won’t tell you it’s all rainbows and flowers because that’s a lie. There will be days that you are so frustrated that you’ll want to throw in the towel. When you feel like that, step away and take a break, but then continue. It’s always okay to step away for a while. Perseverance is the best option.
With this resource guide for new bloggers and blogging tips to help guide you on your way, you won’t feel stuck!
Hopefully, this resource guide for new bloggers will help point you in the right direction for planning your own blog. The thing to remember is that a lot of these things take time and practice to get good at. Don’t expect to write and publish a post that goes viral overnight or even within the first few months of starting your blog—good content takes time, a thought process, and research to put together. Keep working at it, and eventually, you’ll figure out what kind of style and tone works best for your content—and from there, it’ll only be a matter of time before you see those satisfying page views roll in.
I like to recommend quality over quantity when it comes to blogging. Quality posts take time and effort but pay off in the long run. That’s why it’s important to build credibility early on; you want your readers to see your blog as a high-quality source that gives them valuable information or inspiration. And by following these simple tips, you’ll get there! Newbie bloggers have creative ideas and many questions, so as you become more knowledgeable as you grow, you’ll create resources for fellow bloggers too.
Do you think I missed an important resource for new bloggers? Let me know in the comments.