Blogging has plenty of benefits as a business owner or start-up business. It helps your business to establish authority in an industry, convert your traffic (readers/audience) into leads, attract new customers on a daily basis and you can turn blogging into a business.
In this article, I will explain in detail how to set-up a free blog using blogger.
Note: Most of the screenshot in the article will be a phone screenshot. This means that you can create a blog and online business using your mobile phone.
CREATING BLOG THROUGH BLOGGER
With blogger, you can create, manage and monetize your own blog. Blogger is one of the free platforms that gives you the right to create a free blog without pop-up ads, set up a custom domain for free and also set up Google AdSense using your free domain (example.blogspot.com).
With a blogger platform, you can share your knowledge and passion any way you want. Blogger gives you the opportunity to transform your skill into a profitable business without investing money for website/blog hosting.
CREATE A BLOG
The major requirement needed to create a blog using blogger is your Gmail account.
Follow the steps below to create your first blog:
SIGN-IN TO BLOGGER
To sign into your blogger account, go to your browser and type in blogger.com or click here to sign in.
Click the sign in button at the top right or create your blog button at the middle. You will be asked to choose an account to login with if you have more than one Gmail account that logged into your browser. Select the one you want to use.
You will be prompt to choose a name for your blog. The name could be your business name or anything you want to write about (like health, travelling, dog training etc).
Enter a name (title) for your blog.
Click Next.
Choose a blog address or URL (like mealchoice.blogspot.com).
Click Next.
Write the name you want your post to display
Click Finish.
HOW TO CHOOSE A THEME
To select a theme for your blog, click the top left menu bar in your dashboard and click on theme. Check out the themes that suit your business.
Click on the theme and select apply. If you are a programmer, you can customize the theme but if you are not a programmer, don't worry I will teach you how to download and install customized themes as you read along.
HOW TO CREATE BLOG POST/PAGE
Disclaimer: Copying someone's content is a crime and I recommend you should learn when and how to make use of the tools to your own advantage (lesson can be found on the page of the article rewriting tools).
HOW TO INSERT IMAGE TO YOUR POST
To add an image to your blog post:
Click Insert image icon 
You have four options of uploading images (from computer, photos, blogger or by url). Choose where you want to upload the image by placing your typing console on that spot.
Select one or more images and click Insert.
To change the size, caption, or alignment of the image after you add it, click the image to resize and position it.
HOW TO INSERT VIDEO TO YOU BLOG POST
Note: Video should not be longer than 15 minutes to avoid limited storage.
To add video, click on the video icon on the text editor menu bar.
Select where you want to upload the video from (computer or YouTube). To upload video from YouTube, you will need the video url. Uploading images and videos takes almost the same procedures
HOW TO INSTALL CUSTOMIZED THEMES
I will assume you are not a programmer but you need a theme that is different from the ones blogger is offering.
To get a free blogger theme, go to my menu bar and click download free theme.
Search for the theme that suits your business and download the free version.
When your theme is downloaded, unzip it, look for a file saved with xml among the files unzipped and note down the location of the file.
To install this file, login to your blogger and follow this simple steps;
- Click the menu bar at the top left
- Click on "theme".
- Click the arrow button next to customize
- Click "Restore"
- Then click "upload"
- Go to the file location and select the file. When the file is installed, you will see a pop-up restored theme.
- Review your blog to check the new theme.
MANAGE YOUR BLOG
BACK UP CONTENT
Backup contents are saved in ".xml file". To get a .xml file of your blog’s posts, pages, and comments:
Tap the menu bar at the top left, click on the blog you want to back up if you have more than one blog.
> Click Settings. Navigate down to "Manage blog,"
> Click Back up content
> And click Download.
SAVE A COPY OF YOUR BLOG'S THEME
To save your blog theme, tap the menu bar at the top left, click on the blog you want to save if you have more then one blog.
> Click Theme.
> Click More/arrow button next Customize button
> Click Backup
> And click Download.
IMPORT CONTENT
Your blogger imported posts will be merged automatically with any current posts, sorted by date.
To import contents, tap the menu bar at the top left. Click on the blog you want to save if you have more than one blog.
> Click "Settings", navigate down to "Manage blog"
> Click "Import content". Solve the captcha
> Click "Import" and select the backup file from your system.
REMOVE YOUR BLOG
Deleting a blog has two options, either to be deleted permanently or temporarily
Blog deleted permanently can not be restored. However, you can restore backup contents and to do that you need to do backup before deleting your blog.
Blogs deleted on temporary bases can be restored within 90day before they are permanently removed.
To Delete/Remove your blog, tap the menu bar at the top left. Click the blog you want to delete/remove if you have more than one blog.
> Click "Settings", navigate down to "Manage blog"
> Click "Remove your blog"
> Click "Delete" (choose your options; permanently or temporarily)
SUMMARY
Creating a blog with a blogger is super easy and fast. You now understand the fact that you don't need to be a programmer, a writer and certainly don't need expensive gadgets to set-up your blog. With your mobile phone and internet connection (data), you can set-up a blog with customized themes like a champ.
We have been able to explain step by step procedure on the following:
- How create a blog
- How to choose a theme and install customized themes
- How to create posts and pages
- How to add images and videos in your posts and pages
- How to manage your blog and lot more
Blogging allows you to share information about yourself, your business, and its services. It also allows you to share opinions and thoughts on certain topics your own way. If you own a business or want to start a business without a blog/website, you are missing a great way to create a personality for your company and make your business more credible and approachable.
