How to Start a Startup Blog

How to Start a Startup Blog

1) Finding your Niche

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easier than ever to start your business. However, it’s complicated to make that business succeed, and a startup blog can help them. If you want to write a startup blog, you need to treat it like a business. Your business has a particular crowd it’s targeting, and so should your blog. Your niche should be a specific topic that has an audience, but has less competition.

Think about some ways to narrow down the subject of your blog. Do you want to write about online or brick and mortar businesses? Should your blog appeal to an older or a younger audience? Do you want to cover the development of your own startup, or tell other people’s stories? Is your blog about startups in a particular region?

These questions can help narrow down the competition of your blog. Google Trends can help you see how big your audience can be. If it’s too big, narrow down your topic, and vice versa.

2) Think of a unique blog name and create your website

Now comes the fun part, creating your blog name. We suggest a name that’s short, sweet and is relevant to your audience. Some names for a startup blog could be: Simply Startup, Business on a Budget, or if you’re still stuck try using our blog name generator for some inspiration.

Once you have a blog name in mind, it’s time to get your website set up. Don’t worry, this is much easier than it sounds and can be easily done in less than an hour! Checkout our full guide on the best and easiest way to setup a WordPress blog here.

We suggest going with BlueHost to host your website as they have a easy one-click WordPress installation tool, you can get 60% Off hosting and a free domain name here. 

3) Get the essentials

A startup requires a large monetary investment, even if you’re doing it on the Internet. However, a blog does not. You’ll need some social media profiles, which are free to use. Consider leaving some money behind to advertise on those. If you’re going to make vlogs or podcasts, get yourself some decent equipment. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but buying a good camera and mic can help you look more professional.

In addition, you may want to consider reading resources on businesses and how others run a startup. While you want to tell how to run a startup in your own words, reading other people’s work can help you make your points more eloquently. You can also discuss people’s works and explain why you agree or disagree with them. When it comes to business, there are so many opinions on what makes a business succeed or fail, and you can be able to read some contents concerning these to help form your own opinion. Give them all a try and see what you learn.

What content do startup bloggers create?

Startup bloggers create various text, vlog, and podcast content, all based on starting and maintaining a business. Some bloggers will focus on their own business journey and what they’ve learned, while others will focus on news in the startup world. For example, the latest technology to make business easier. There are some bloggers who create content that is more journalistic, such as interviewing startup businesses. Some will have a mix of all the above.

Startup culture is that of uncertainty. Some people do not know whether or not their business will succeed or fail. In the startup stage, it’s very delicate. Think of it as an egg that could break or die if not taken care of. One theme of startup content is risk. Podcasters and bloggers will discuss ways to minimize risk, and tell stories of success and failure. Learning from other people’s stories is a great way for a startup to succeed, and you should read content dealing with risk if you want your blog to thrive. Give a few blogs a read and see what you can learn.

Create engaging and relevant content

Think about how you want to present yourself. Do you want to be someone who is dry and just gives the facts, or someone who has a little more energy to them and presents in a way that appeals to an audience who may not know much about startups?

Read some content for inspiration. Find a few blogs you want and present them in your own words. Also, post content pertaining to the startup world. Don’t go on too many digression, and present your audience with the latest startup tricks.

One way to create engaging content when writing about a startup is by telling stories. You want to tell advice based off real-life experience, be it your business ventures or someone you know. No one wants a cold blog that gives general advice on how to start a business; there are a million of those. Instead, you want to write a blog that has stories.

Find stories about startups near you. Interview people. If you know someone whose business failed, interview and find out why. Everyone knows what they could have done better when it’s too late. That’s the power of hindsight.

How to grow your traffic

Just like a business, there is more to attracting an audience besides “If you build it, they will come.” Here are some ways you can grow your traffic and expand your blog.

• Advertise! Spend a bit of money to advertise your blog on Google or social media. With online advertising, there is a campaign for every budget.
• Collaborate with relevant blogs. Guest post for them and share their content. You can help build each other up. Don’t fight against competition, but work in harmony with them.
• Talk to your audience. Ask questions, respond to comments, and tell them to spread the word. An audience who feels like they’re being listened to will be likely to stay.
• Make sure you’re managing social media. Facebook is good for stories and audience engagement. Instagram is great for videos and photos showcasing your startup journey. Twitter is good for short bits of startup advice. The list goes on.
• Optimize your site for SEO. The right keywords can help bring it to the top of the search results. A professional can help you with this.

Our Business Name Guides

Related: How to Start a Podcast

Related: Blog Name Generator

Related: Domain Name Generator

How to make money with your Startup Blog

There are many ways you can make money from your blog. Here’s how you can turn your startup blog into a flourishing business.

• If your blog is tied to your business, use it to sell your product if you can do so online.
• Ads on your website. AdSense and other ad programs can help you with this.
• If you’re vlogging on YouTube, you can put ads on your videos as well.
• If you get an audience who is invested, sites such as Patreon can help make money. Crowdfunding, usually with premium content as a reward, is how many content creators make their money.
• When you have influence, some companies will pay to sponsor or review their product. Just be clear with your audience that your review is sponsored.
• Some people may pay you to help give advice on their business.
• If you become big enough, you may get paid to attend or speak at events, with travel paid for.

Top #3 Startup Bloggers

#1 She Owns It

This blog offers advice on startups and business in general, but they have a great niche. They appeal to female-ran startups. With the world of business being made more aware of how much women can contribute, and with so many startup blogs aimed towards a male audience, trying to find a female audience can be a great niche.
If you want to write a blog for a female audience, think of real stories you can tell that don’t talk down to your audience because they’re women, but instead empower them. Look at some female-lead blogs and find inspiration.

#2 StartUp Mindset

This blog wants to change your mindset. It wants to turn you into someone who can make your business explode in popularity as soon as possible. Many of these blogs are aimed at an experience audience, but this blog offers advice for people of all skill levels.

That’s the hard part about writing blogs about startups. Some people will start their business not knowing anything, while others may be experts. Finding the right balance is important, and StartUp Mindset can help.

Check out this blog and see what they have to offer.

#3 Elastic Mind

Started by Tara Joyce, this blog has a bit more of an inspiration side to it. Inspiration can help people start or improve upon their business, and reading motivational stories and quotes can help. Having your advice blog have a gimmick like this can be a good idea, as it sets you apart from the rest.

If you write an inspirational blog, just make sure it isn’t too self-helpy. You want to give real advice and inspirational stories, not motivation without any substance. Often, that does not work.