How to start a blog for free

By sandra Oct 5, 20250

So, you want to start a blog.

Maybe you’ve been brewing on a genius idea for years. Maybe you just want a corner of the internet to call your own. Or maybe your cousin’s success with her sourdough blog has you feeling a certain type of way. (No judgment here.)

Whatever the reason, you’ve probably hit the same mental roadblock everyone does: “This sounds complicated, and I don’t want to spend money on something that might fail.”

I get it. I’ve been there. The good news? Starting a blog is easier and more accessible than you think. In fact, you can do it for free. Like, zero dollars, zero cents. And I’m not talking about some janky, ad-riddled GeoCities throwback. I mean a legit, good-looking blog you can be proud of.

Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through the whole process. We’ll pick a topic, choose a platform, design your space, and write that all-important first post. Let’s turn that “maybe” into a “heck yes.”

First Things First: The Mental Game

Before we even look at a computer, we need to tackle the big stuff. The stuff that keeps most blogs from ever getting started.

Finding Your “Why” (And No, “To Get Rich” Isn't It)

You’ve heard this a million times, but it’s true. Why are you really doing this?

Is it to share your travel photos with family?
To finally have an outlet for your poetry?
To build a professional portfolio?
To connect with other enthusiasts of 18th-century pottery?

Your “why” is your compass. It will guide everything from your blog's name to your writing style. If your only goal is to make money, you’ll burn out faster than a match in a hurricane. The internet smells desperation, and it’s not a fan. Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. You need a deeper reason to keep you going when the audience is small and the ideas are slow.

So, what’s yours? Seriously, take a second and think about it.

Niche Down or Stay Broad? A Honest Take

The classic advice is to “niche down.” Become the absolute expert on one tiny, specific thing. “Don't blog about food, blog about gluten-free air fryer recipes for college students!” There’s wisdom here. A tight niche makes it easier to find your audience and stand out.

But IMO, the “you must have a hyper-specific niche” rule is a little overrated, especially when you're starting for free.

Here’s my personal take: Start with a topic you are genuinely, obsessively passionate about. If that’s a super-niche topic like vintage typewriter restoration, fantastic! If it’s a broader topic like “learning new skills as an adult,” that’s also great.

The passion is what will fuel your consistency. You can always refine your focus later. The worst thing you can do is pick a “profitable” niche that you hate, because writing will feel like a chore.

Choosing Your Free Blogging Platform: The Big Three

This is the big decision. Where are you going to build your digital home? I’m going to compare the three most popular free options. We'll look at the pros, the cons, and who each one is really for.

WordPress.com: The Powerhouse

WordPress powers over 40% of the entire internet. Let that sink in. There are two versions: WordPress.com (the hosted, easier version we're talking about) and WordPress.org (the self-hosted, more powerful version, which isn't free).

The Good Stuff:

Immense Flexibility: The number of themes (designs) and plugins (add-on features) is staggering. You can make your blog do almost anything.
You Own Your Content: This is a big one. On some free platforms, you're more of a guest. On WordPress.com, you have serious control over your work.
SEO Superpowers: It’s built to be search-engine friendly from the ground up, which is crucial if you want people to find you via Google.

The Not-So-Good Stuff:

A Bit of a Learning Curve: It’s not hard, but it’s not as instantly simple as some other options. You might have to watch a YouTube tutorial or two. (Worth it, I promise.)
The “Free” Has Limits: Your website address will be yourblogname.wordpress.com. To get a custom domain like yourblogname.com, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. The free plan also shows ads on your blog, which you don’t get revenue from.

Who’s it for? The serious beginner. Someone who sees this as a long-term hobby or potential future business and wants a platform that can grow with them.

Blogger: The Old Reliable

Owned by Google, Blogger has been around since, well, forever. It’s the comfortable leather armchair of the blogging world.

The Good Stuff:

Dead Simple: If you have a Google account, you can set up a Blogger blog in about five minutes. The interface is straightforward and no-fuss.
Deep Google Integration: It ties seamlessly into your Google account and other Google services like Google AdSense (for when you're ready to monetize).
Truly Free: You can use your own custom domain here easily, and it doesn’t push its own ads onto your site as aggressively in the free tier.

The Not-So-Good Stuff:

Feels Dated: The designs and features haven’t evolved as dramatically as other platforms. Your blog might have a slight “early 2000s” vibe if you’re not careful.
Limited Growth: The ecosystem of themes and plugins is tiny compared to WordPress. It’s a simple tool, but it doesn’t have the same expansion capabilities.

Who’s it for? The absolute beginner who values simplicity over everything else. If you just want to write and hit “publish” without thinking about design or technical stuff, Blogger is your friend.

Wix: The Drag-and-Drop Dream

Wix is known for its stunning, visually-led templates and its incredibly intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

The Good Stuff:

Easiest Designer: If you’re a visual person, you’ll love Wix. You can literally click on anything and move it around. No coding, no confusing menus.
Stunning Templates: Their templates are modern, beautiful, and cover every niche imaginable. You can get a professional-looking site in minutes.
All-in-One Solution: It includes hosting, a builder, and templates all in one place.

The Not-So-Good Stuff:

You’re Locked In: This is the biggest drawback. Once you build your site on Wix, you cannot move it elsewhere. Your content is stuck on their platform forever.
The Free Plan Branding: The free version places a prominent Wix ad on your site and your URL will be username.wixsite.com/siteaddress, which isn’t the cleanest.

Who’s it for? The blogger whose top priority is visual design and who doesn’t anticipate ever wanting to migrate to a different platform.

My Personal Recommendation?

For 90% of people, I’d point you toward WordPress.com. The slight learning curve is worth it for the control and future potential you get. It’s the platform I started on, and the skills you learn are transferable. But hey, the best platform is the one you’ll actually use. 🙂

Getting Your Hands Dirty: The Setup Process

Let’s walk through the actual setup on WordPress.com. The process is very similar for the others, so don’t stress!

Step 1: Claim Your Corner of the Internet

This is the fun part: picking a name.

Brainstorm: Use a notepad. Write down words related to your topic, your own name, and catchy phrases.
Keep it Simple & Memorable: Avoid hyphens and numbers. Make it easy to spell and say aloud.
Check Availability: As you type names into WordPress.com, it will tell you if they’re available. This is the moment of truth. Your perfect name is probably taken—that’s just the law of the internet. 🙂 Be prepared to get creative.

Pro Tip: Once you have a few ideas, say them out loud. “Check out my latest post on ‘The Curious Cupcake'!” Does it roll off the tongue?

Step 2: Make It Pretty (But Don't Overthink It)

Now, pick a theme. This is the design template for your blog.

Browse the Free Themes: WordPress.com has a huge directory of free themes. Filter by your industry (e.g., “Food & Drink,” “Photography”).
Focus on Readability: Pick something clean and easy to read. Fancy, complex designs often just get in the way of your words.
You Can Always Change It Later: Seriously. Don’t spend three days on this. Pick one you like and move on. The content is what matters most.

Step 3: The Essential Pages Every Blog Needs

Before you write your first post, create a couple of key pages.

An About Page: This is the most important page on your blog after your posts! Tell people who you are and why you’re blogging. Be human. Use a photo!
A Contact Page: How can people get in touch with you? A simple contact form is perfect.
A Privacy Policy: This sounds boring (because it is), but it’s required by law in many places. Luckily, WordPress.com has a generator for this. Just fill in the blanks.

The Art and Soul of Blogging: Creating Content

The platform is just the toolbox. Your content is the house you build with it.

Writing Your First Post (Without the Panic)

That blinking cursor on a blank page can be intimidating. Let’s defeat it.

Your First Post Should Be an Introduction: Don’t put pressure on yourself to write the ultimate guide to anything. Just write a “Hello, world!” post. Introduce your blog, explain your “why,” and tell people what they can expect. Easy.
Write Like You Talk: Read your draft out loud. Does it sound like you? Or does it sound like a robot trying to sound smart? Ditch the jargon. Be conversational. You’re already nailing it by reading this, because this is how I talk!
Formatting is Your Best Friend: Giant walls of text are a reader’s worst nightmare. Use them wisely.
- Short Paragraphs: Like in this article. Much easier on the eyes.
- Subheadings (H2, H3): They break up your content and let people scan.
- Bullet Points and Lists: See what I did there? 🙂
- Bold Text: Use it to highlight key takeaways and important ideas.

Ever wondered why some posts feel so easy to read? It’s not magic; it’s formatting.

The SEO Secret Sauce (It's Not That Scary)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is just a fancy term for “making your blog easy for Google to understand and recommend.”

You don’t need to be an expert. Just do these three things:

Use Your Keyword Naturally: Think about what someone would type into Google to find your post. That’s your keyword. Make sure it’s in your post title, a subheading or two, and sprinkled throughout the content. Don’t stuff it in everywhere—write for humans first.
Write Catchy Meta Descriptions: This is the little blurb that shows up under your link in Google. WordPress.com lets you set it for each post. Write a short, compelling summary that makes people want to click.
Use Alt Text for Images: Describe your images in the “alt text” field. This helps Google understand what the image is, and it makes your site accessible for people using screen readers. It’s a win-win.

Getting People to Actually Read Your Blog

You’ve hit “publish.” Now what? Crickets are a common first audience, but we can fix that.

The Power of Social Media (Without Losing Your Soul)

Share your posts on your personal social channels! Don’t be shy.

Find niche communities on Reddit or Facebook groups related to your topic. FYI, always read the group rules before promoting your stuff. Be a community member, not just a link-dropper.
Pin your latest post to your Twitter or Pinterest profile.
Engage with other bloggers in your space. Leave thoughtful comments on their posts. Become part of the conversation.

Consistency Beats Perfection Every Time

Would you subscribe to a magazine that came out randomly? Probably not. Readers love consistency.

Create a realistic schedule. Can you post once a week? Once every two weeks? Once a month? Stick to it. A consistent, okay blog will always outperform a sporadic, perfect one.

The Inevitable Questions (And Honest Answers)

When Should I Pay for Stuff?

The free ride is great, but eventually, you might want to upgrade.

A Custom Domain (yourname.com): This is the first thing I’d pay for. It makes you look professional and is easier for people to remember. It’s usually around $15-$20 per year.
Removing Ads: If you’re getting decent traffic, you might want to pay to remove the WordPress.com ads so you can eventually place your own.
More Storage: If you’re a photographer or use a lot of high-res images, you might need more space.

**Can I Really Make Money from a Free Blog?**

This is the million-dollar question, literally. The honest answer is: it's incredibly hard, and very limited.

Most monetization methods (like direct ad networks or selling premium products) require a self-hosted platform (WordPress.org) or at least a paid plan. On a free plan, you’re restricted. You might be able to make a little with affiliate marketing (linking to products you love and getting a commission on sales), but that’s about it.

View your free blog as stage one. It’s a zero-risk way to build your skills, find your voice, and see if you even like blogging. If you build an audience and are ready to get serious, then you can think about investing in a paid plan and monetizing.

You’ve Got This

Look, starting a blog is a tiny bit technical, but it’s not brain surgery. The hardest part isn’t the setup—it’s mustering the courage to start and the discipline to keep going.

You have ideas worth sharing. You have a unique perspective. The internet is a big, noisy place, but there’s always room for one more authentic voice. And hey, if you get stuck, there are a million tutorials and friendly bloggers (like me!) who are happy to help.

So, what are you waiting for? Go set up your free blog. Write that first post. Make it yours.

I’m rooting for you. Now go get ‘em. 🙂