What Type of Blog Should I Start?

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What Type of Blog Should I Start?

Have you been wondering what type of blog you should start?

This guide is designed to help you figure it out!

I’ve been blogging since 2017, and I have started five profitable blogs in that time. And from all my blogging experience, I have observed that the majority of successful blogs fall into one of four different types.

I classify these types as…

• Expert Blog
• Curation Blog
• Niche Blog
• Lifestyle Blog

(You can read a breakdown of all four types below.)

To find out which blog type is perfect for you, read through the descriptions for each blog type and see which one resonates most with you.

Note: This guide is about what TYPE of blog you should start. To future out your blogging NICHE, I recommend checking out this guide too.

Then read this guide for the next steps of starting your blog today.

After you have chosen your blog type and are ready to start your blog, I recommend using Bluehost for web hosting because it’s only $2.95 a month and you will also get a FREE .com domain name for your blog.

This is by far the best option for new bloggers.

If you need help setting up your blog, head on over to this free guide that shows the simple steps you can take to start your blog in under an hour.

Free Blogging Bootcamp

Ready to learn how to start your blog and make money blogging? Sign up for my free Blogging Bootcamp email course below.

You can also follow the steps in my guide on how to start a blog that walks you through the process of setting up your blog (with screenshots!)

The Four Main Blog Types

As I mentioned, these are the main “types” of blogs I have identified from over six years of blogging and starting numerous successful blogs in that time.

While there are no hard and fast rules around what type of blog you should start (or combining different types) these are just some ideas to help you get started. I have also included examples of each blog type so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about and see how successful bloggers are doing it.

Here are the main blog types that you can start:

The Expert Blog

You’re knowledgeable about a certain topic and can’t wait to share that knowledge with others. Maybe that topic is business, marketing, personal finance, weight loss, home organization, travel planning, or something else!

And don’t feel put off by the “expert” title.

The main goal with this type of blog is to teach your audience. You don’t have to be the world’s biggest expert on your topic yet, you just need to be one step ahead of your audience in order to help them and answer their questions.

The best ways to make money with an expert blog are by selling your own products like ebooks and online courses and affiliate marketing.

Examples of successful expert blogs:

• Busy Budgeter
• Organization Obsessed
• Meera Kothand

The Curation Blog

If you have a wide variety of interests and you love browsing Pinterest for the latest ideas and trends, a curation blog is a great choice for you.

Curation blogs are mainly focused on rounding up ideas from others (recipes, crafts, home decor, helpful tips, holiday gifts, etc.) and less on creating your own original content. Blog posts are usually short and engaging with less in-depth writing involved (think about Buzzfeed listicle-style articles!)

While blog posts on a curation blog may be shorter and easier to write than with other blog types, you do need to be able to post more frequently to keep up with the seasons and trends, so don’t think you’re taking the easy way out.

Curation blogs can be very profitable because they tend to drive a lot of traffic since you have a wide audience and a lot of content. The best way to make money with a curation blog is through display advertising and affiliate marketing.

Examples of successful curation blogs:

• This Tiny Blue House
• Smart Mom Ideas
• Chasing Foxes

The Niche Blog

If there’s one specific topic that you really love and can see yourself writing about without getting tired of it, then a niche blog is right for you.

Maybe it’s gardening, pregnancy, homeschooling, knitting, getting out of debt, yoga, Disney World, or something else… The options for are literally endless!

As long as it’s a topic that other people are interested in too and have questions abut, you can easily start a successful niche blog on it.

Having a highly specific niche, or topic, for your blog is a great strategy for becoming a successful blogger. With a niche blog, it’s easier to establish your site as an authority and build an engaged audience.

The best ways to make money with a niche blog are affiliate marketing (recommending products that are relevant to your niche and earning a commission on them) or selling your own digital products.

Examples of successful niche blogs:

• Swaddles ‘n’ Bottles
• Organize Yourself Skinny
• Jennifer Maker

The Lifestyle Blog

Lifestyle blogs are one of the most popular blog types out there. The great thing about having a lifestyle blog is that you can really make it your own.

You might start a lifestyle blog focusing on one broad topic, such as parenting or fashion. Or you can have a lifestyle blog where you have multiple semi-related categories like parenting, saving money, and recipes.

The important thing with a lifestyle blog is to choose an audience for your posts to resonate with. Even if you write about multiple topics, how you can tie it all together is by having a defined audience. For example, your audience could be busy moms, college students, or millennial women.

To be successful as a lifestyle blogger, you shouldn’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get personal with your readers.

The best ways to make money with a lifestyle blog are affiliate marketing and working with brands on sponsored posts.

Examples of successful lifestyle blogs:

• Just a Girl and Her Blog
• Hot Beauty Health
• Gathering Dreams

Types of Blogs to Start

Remember, these four blogging “types” aren’t exact, and they’re just a method of classification I came up with based on my own blogging experience.

The blog types are designed to get you thinking about your skills, interests, and goals, and what kind of blog would be the best for you based on those things.

Ready to start your blog?

Click here for the cheapest blog web hosting and then read this guide for step-by-step instructions on setting up your blog in less than an hour.

What Should I Blog About?

If you have read all of this and know what type of blog you should start, you still might be wondering exactly what TOPIC you should blog about.

Does this sound like you?

If so, check out my guide on what to blog about for some inspiration.

You can also download my free list of 150+ profitable blog niche ideas:

More Blogging Ideas

Looking for more tips and ideas to help you get started blogging?

Check out the following resources!

• 30+ Examples of Blogs: Successful Blog Examples
• The Ultimate List of 200+ Blog Income Reports
• 6 Things to Do Before Starting a Blog
• Blog Name Ideas: How to Choose a Blog Name

These ideas should help you find the inspiration to start your own blog!

Ready to Start Blogging?

Are you ready to get started? Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get your blog up and running with Bluehost in less than 15 minutes.

1. Click here and then click the “Get Started” button:

2. Select your hosting plan

Which plan should I choose? I recommend the Basic plan for new bloggers.

I’m personally on the Plus plan, but that’s only because I run multiple blogs. Otherwise I would probably choose the Basic plan!

3. Put in your domain name

This is where you’ll put in the domain name that you want to use for your blog.

Related: How to Choose a Blog Name & Blog Name Ideas

What if I haven’t decided on a name yet? If you haven’t decided on a domain name for your blog yet, click “I’ll create my domain later.” Or you can wait a couple seconds and this offer will pop up on the screen:

Select this option and you can go ahead and set up your blog now, then use the free credit to buy your domain name later.

4. Create your hosting account

5. Choose your package and pay

This is where you’ll select your hosting plan.

I recommend the 12-month plan for $2.95 a month, for a total cost of $35.40 for the year. But you can also choose a 24-month or 36-month plan.

What about package extras? You have the options to add on extra paid services like site backups, SEO tools, or site security.

I personally don’t recommend any of these paid extras, because there are free WordPress plugins you can install that do the same things.

6. Congrats, you’re done!

Now you’re all set! Bluehost will automatically install WordPress for you.

What exactly is WordPress? WordPress is the content management platform that your blog will run on. Your WordPress dashboard is where you will go to edit the look of your blog, write blog posts, upload images, etc.

It’s extremely easy to use, even if you’re a total beginner.

More Blogging Resources

If you need more help starting your blog, be sure to check out the following super helpful resources to help you get started:

• What Is a Blog? Explanation of Blogging Terms for Beginners
• How to Start a Blog for Beginners
• 37 Most-Asked Blogging Questions Answered
• How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog?
• The Best Blogging Courses (That Helped Me Become a Full-Time Blogger)
• How Do Bloggers Make Money? Top 5 Ways Explained
• 10 Undeniable Signs You Should Start a Blog Today