Table of Contents
Most of my regular readers already have a blog, but otherwise, if you’ve reached this page it’s probably because you are wondering how to start a blog.
What’s important is NOT just how to start a blog – anyone can do that, given enough time.
What you must learn is doing it efficiently and consistently adding content to grow it as a useful resource.
In 2026, blogging has returned to favour over social media platforms simply because YOU control your content and who sees it, instead of social media deciding which of your audience to display your content to. And in more and more cases I see my marketer friends having their social media accounts simply taken away from them.
So I believe blogging is more important in 2026 than it was – say – in 2022.
You might imagine “How to start a blog” would be a simple question to answer, but it’s not.
Updated September 2026:
How To Start a Blog
The reason it’s not simple is that – as with everything else in life – it depends on your budget and how much time you can afford to spend (or waste) getting your site up. If you have all the time in the world you will probably choose to do it yourself.
But remember – time is money. You can spend weeks or even months:
- Fiddling about learning how to design a site,
- Then finding you made a big mistake, then re-doing it,
- Then learning a bit more
- Then realizing you made ANOTHER booboo…..
and so on.
I know, because I did just that. And, with hindsight, all that lost time could have been better used on marketing my business, or simply adding more content to my blog, instead of tweaking it over and over again to get the colour spot on.
In fact this site in 2026 bears no resemblance in appearance to how it looked when I first started. But to encourage you, I do earn from it.
How Did I Set Up My Blog?
Because I had been a computer programmer for 30+ years I expected I would find it easy to set up my own website. I was wrong, and some sites I set up were so bad I completely scrapped them (which was a mercy to the online world) before ending up with this one.
Although it “does the job”, I have learned everything the hard way and it has taken me many hours of revising and repairing. Being brutally honest, with what I have learned over the past few years, there are many things I would do completely differently if I were starting from scratch.
Nevertheless, if you are on a rock-bottom budget, it can be done.
Setting Up a Blog With a Low Budget
Although you may think saving a few dollars is the most important thing TODAY, remember opportunity cost – saving a few dollars may cost you further down the line because of time wasted.
I really wish I had had saved time and stress by getting help and / or training from the outset.
So, with the hindsight of experience, I recommend you do NOT to make my “go it alone” mistake.
A Better Way to Start a Blog?
In fairness to my younger self, when I first started out online, blog training and set up were not available as affordably as they are now.
Without doubt, the best approach is to get help along the way, either with some proper training to start you off or, better still, having the initial site professionally done for you, then continuing to add your own content as you go.
Here is what I recommend in 2026: https://JoyHealey.com/blog-setup/ (affiliate link).
To get started I suggest that you open a free account here and follow their emails to learn everything you can do for free.
Only when / if your business becomes profitable do you need to consider whether to upgrade to a paid account for the training.
Conclusion
As with many of the posts on my blog, it’s very much a “Don’t make my mistake” lesson when help is available so affordably.
My first few WordPress blogs some years ago now, I used fantastico install. I paid for that the hard way!
These days I manually install mine and clients. I wish I knew then what I knew now lol
Loving Social Blog Blueprint – just working my way through part 2 review. So much info there in bite sized pieces.
Hi Jan
Hindsight is a wonderful thing – and now you’ve got me scared, because I’ve used Fantastico in the past, so wondering if it’s going to come back and bite me. Possibly not been using it recently….
Yes, there are many things I would have done differently if I had gone for proper training!
Joy
Hi Joy,
A real good ‘How To Start a Blog’ article. And, a nice review of Susan and Daniel’s new blogging tutorial. (which I have, of course)
Thanks to you, I also have a money making blog of my own.
I originally started my blog outta boredom. A place I could grouse about growing older. Cheap hosting, no graphics, no keyword research, no targeting and no effort for monetization.
Then I started reading your blog, and asked myself “why not make a few bucks with it”? (I think I’d posted 7 or 8 times)
I now have first class hosting, own the rights to all my graphics (over 75) 70 plus posts, and have made enough money that paid for it all.
Not bad for a duffer, which is what I consider blogging self.
So Thank You Very Much, Joy!
Stay casual,
Edward Thorpe
Hi Edward
Thanks so much for your kind words – I’m really pleased to have encouraged you to work on your blog, which is genuinely one of the most enjoyable blogs that I follow.
I think the way you describe your progression is the very best way to grow. Starting to blog about something of interest – THEN getting it to pay for itself and from then into profit.
The perfect scenario, and I can see a great future for you 🙂 Certainly no duffer!
Thanks again – you made my day!
Joy
Sweet words…Thank you Joy!
Edward
Hey Joy,
I’m impressed! Your site looks soooo good. Guess I’d better get the ‘program’ Social Blog Blueprint…
Hi Sam,
Glad you think it’s “come on”. I’ve learned a lot from the various trainings that I have followed on my “journey”.
Enjoy the rest of your week, Joy
Hey Joy
You mentioned all the important steps to start a blog like a pro. It is wise to make a blog from the beginning by following a proper strategy. Otherwise you keep changing its resources to make it professional.
Thanks a lot for this wonderful post.
Hi Mi Muba
I have to acknowledge that the steps were set out in the training course I have done:-) I wish that had been available to me when I started my first blog, as I’m afraid I had a few “disasters” before I ended up with this one.
As you say, I kept tweaking and fiddling to add each new resource.
Have a great weekend. Joy
Hey Joy!!
I am new to your blog my name is vandefan. I am very happy with your blogging tips.
I like #5 Make your blog beautiful because the appearance of a blog is a great key visitor look for when the visit any blog.
Thank you so much Joy…
Hi Vandefan,
Welcome to my blog, I am so pleased you found me and hope you will find plenty of helpful information here:-)
It IS important to have a good looking blog, but the trap you need to avoid is fiddling about for too long making it look beautiful – which is why it’s good to have a professional service which sets everything up for you – without you having to waste time finding out for yourself.
I look forward to seeing you here again soon.
Joy
Hello Joy,
Thanks for sharing some great points to start a blog. As i’m new in blogging industry and currently I have only one blog, but I have plan to build more blog. And, hope your tips will help me to start my upcoming blog perfectly and in a better way.
Hi Manik
Thanks for visiting and I hope your blog will prosper. Following other people’s tips and training will certainly help you on the way to success more quickly.
Best wishes, Joy
Here here Joy!
I think pretty much every bodies whose honest, will admit there first few rodeos were not all that good!
How can you know going in, what you don’t know!LOL!
You’re sort of winging it and with each stub of our toe, if we don’t quit in total frustration!
Hopefully, you grow a little with each setback!
Then as you get more knowledgeable and your skill level starts to increase along with your confidence and real world experience!
You realize that everything that you’ve struggled to learn (through) extremely painful and time consuming mistakes!
You could have just as easily learned in a free or paid ebook!
Or a course that cost just $97 dollars or less!
Plus, with maybe a little paid one on one personalized coaching and consulting thrown in to smooth out in rough spots etc.
But you emerge all the wiser for it all! And before you completely realize it, you’re no longer a green as grass clueless newbie!
You’re starting to(or well on your way to becoming)a sophisticated and experienced entrepreneur! Just like you Joy!
Great article! Filled with so many painful truths!
Hi Mark
That sums it up so well!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I look back and realize how much time I could have saved by spending just a few dollars, instead of struggling on alone.
Of course, in my defense the price of training has really tumbled over the past few months / years. Something as reasonable as the courses I now recommend would have cost far more when I first started.
Thanks for sharing my pain 🙂
Have a great weekend. Joy
Hey,
Thank you for sharing this! Starting out as a blogger has become a challenging process because of all the new Google updates and gaining web traffic.
Jon
Hi Jon
Yes, it has. Which is why users can no longer rely on search engines alone. We have to diversify. Taking a variety of affordable training courses will reduce their learning curve so they make fewer mistakes and get started faster.
Joy
Hi Joy,
Nice peace of content. I’ve a blog but after all I’d like to say that this post really help newbies who want to know how to start a blog. What basic things are required to start or what ideas a blogger should have in their mind before starting a blog.
I just arrived your blog first time and surprisingly find an amazing post here that really inspire me. I’ve also shared the article Like this on my blog too. I’ll visit your blog again for more tips 🙂
Hi Mustafa,
Welcome to my blog, I am so pleased you found me and I hope you will find plenty of helpful information here:-)
I’m glad you think that post was helpful even though most of my visitors are already bloggers! With luck, someone who ISN’T already a blogger will find it – and thanks for sharing it.
Enjoy the rest of your week and I hope to see you on my blog again in the future.
Joy