7 Easy Steps to Start Your Own Blog with No Coding Skills: A Beginner’s Guide to Customizing an HTML Template

Sergio Van Dam
5 min readApr 29, 2023

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Blogging
Blogging

Starting your own blog can be a great way to share your thoughts, opinions, or expertise with the world. But for many people, the idea of creating a website from scratch can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have any coding skills. The good news is that you don’t need to be a programmer to start a blog. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of starting your own blog with no coding skills by buying an HTML template.

Step 1: Choose a blogging platform

The first step in starting your blog is to choose a blogging platform. There are many blogging platforms available, including WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to do your research to find the one that best suits your needs. For this article, we’ll focus on WordPress, which is one of the most popular blogging platforms available.

Step 2: Buy a domain name and hosting

Once you’ve chosen your blogging platform, the next step is to buy a domain name and hosting. A domain name is the address of your website, while hosting is the service that stores your website files and makes them available online. There are many domain name and hosting providers available, and prices can vary widely. It’s important to choose a provider that is reliable and offers good customer support, in my opinion the best and cheapest hosting provider is namecheap,

Step 3: Choose an HTML template

Now that you have your blogging platform and hosting in place, it’s time to choose an HTML template for your blog. HTML templates are pre-designed website templates that can be customized to fit your needs. There are many HTML template providers available, and prices can range from free to hundreds of dollars. When choosing a template, it’s important to consider your blog’s niche and your personal preferences. When purchasing an HTML template, there are a few important factors to consider to ensure you are getting a high-quality product that meets your needs. Here are five things to look for when buying an HTML template:

  1. Customizability: Make sure the template is easy to customize to fit your unique needs. Look for templates that offer a variety of options for customization, such as color schemes, typography, and layout.
  2. Responsiveness: With the majority of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, it's important to choose a template that is responsive and optimized for mobile viewing. Test the template on various devices to ensure it looks great and functions properly.
  3. Compatibility: Ensure the template is compatible with your chosen platform, such as WordPress or Shopify. If the template requires any specific plugins or software, make sure they are readily available and compatible with your website.
  4. Support: Look for templates that come with support options, such as documentation, FAQs, or even a dedicated support team. This will be helpful in case you encounter any issues or have questions while setting up the template.
  5. Reviews: Check reviews and ratings from other customers who have purchased the template. This can provide valuable insight into the quality and ease of use of the template.

I noticed that most templates are focused on the design, and thus most of them are not SEO friendly for these three reasons: they don’t include meta tags, some of them are not responsive, and most importantly, they are slow and glitchy. That’s why I’ve designed a customizable, SEO friendly and fast template along with a set of instructions so that you can easily modify it and a guide to improving your SEO. You can get it here for a limited time

Step 4: Customize your template

Once you’ve chosen your template, it’s time to customize it to fit your needs. Most HTML templates come with a set of instructions that will guide you through the customization process. You can customize the template by changing the colors, fonts, and layout of the website. You can also add your own images, videos, and text to the website.

Step 5: Drive traffic

Starting a blog is an exciting endeavor, but creating great content is only the first step. To succeed as a blogger, you also need to attract visitors and build a loyal following. Here are some tips on how to drive traffic to your blog:

  1. Publish quality content consistently: One of the best ways to attract and retain visitors is by creating high-quality content regularly. Aim to post at least once a week, and ensure your content is engaging, informative, and adds value to your readers.
  2. Utilize social media: Social media platforms are a great way to promote your blog and attract new readers. Share your blog posts on your social media profiles, and engage with your followers to build relationships.
  3. Optimize your content for SEO: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is critical to increasing your blog’s visibility on search engines like Google. Use relevant keywords and meta descriptions, and ensure your content is well-structured and easy to read.
  4. Build a mailing list: Email marketing is a powerful tool for driving traffic to your blog. Offer a lead magnet, such as an e-book or a free course, in exchange for email addresses, and send regular newsletters or updates to keep your subscribers engaged.
  5. Collaborate with other bloggers: Collaborating with other bloggers in your niche can help you reach a wider audience and build relationships with other creators. You can guest post on their blogs, host a joint webinar or podcast, or even do a social media takeover.
  6. Engage with your audience: Building a community around your blog is essential to retaining visitors and encouraging them to share your content. Respond to comments and messages promptly, and encourage discussion and feedback on your posts.
  7. Utilize paid advertising: While organic traffic is important, paid advertising can help you reach a larger audience and drive traffic to your blog quickly. Platforms like Facebook and Google Ads offer targeted advertising options to help you reach your ideal audience.

By implementing these tips, you can drive traffic to your blog and build a loyal following of engaged readers. Remember, building a successful blog takes time and effort, but with patience and perseverance, you can achieve your goals and create a thriving online presence.

Step 6: Create content

Now that you have your blog set up, it’s time to start creating content. You can create blog posts, articles, videos, or any other type of content that you want to share with your audience. When creating content, it’s important to keep your target audience in mind and create content that is engaging and informative,

Step 7: Promote your blog

Once you’ve created your content, it’s important to promote your blog to attract visitors. You can promote your blog through social media, email marketing, guest posting, and other marketing channels. It’s also important to optimize your website for search engines by using keywords and optimizing your website’s structure.

In conclusion, starting your own blog with no coding skills is easier than you might think. By following these seven steps, you can create a professional-looking blog that is customized to fit your needs. With a little bit of effort and dedication, you can create a successful blog that attracts a loyal audience and helps you achieve your personal and professional goals.

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Sergio Van Dam

I write about tech, engineering, marketing and personal-growth.