At the beginning of the 2000s, the internet was still a new resource to many. Though it was clear that an important cultural shift had happened, it was unclear as to what exactly that even was. With email being the primary form of communication in the early internet, there was still a long way to go before reaching the social media-powered universe we know today.

It was the concept of a blog that would change this. With the introduction of personal web pages (blogs), users would now be able to not only write about their own experiences, but publish them through a convenient format that could be accessed by others. Though blogs were a great way to communicate with others, they also became an important aspect of self expression via the internet. By using blogs, not only could users update others on how they were doing, but they could also document things that were interesting to them.

From this point onward, blogs have continued to be the backbone of self expression on the internet, connecting users from all around the world in many different ways. Though the sites on which blogs take place are often changing (i.e. LiveJournal, Blogspot, Tumblr, etc.), the idea of somebody running a personal webpage as a way of communicating with others will always remain.

How to Start a Free Blog

One of the most attractive parts about blogs to many people is the notion that they are able to set up their website not just quickly, but also for free. The vast multitude of websites available to create free blogs on are still around, but there have been some that have fallen out of public interest.

If you want to start your own free blog, we recommend you consider the sites Blogspot and Tumblr. These are both good options that have a wide variety of different ways in which you can customize your website. Not only this, but they also allow you to host the blog for free using one of their pre-designated subdomains, making it an incredibly intuitive process to getting started on either platform.

Choosing Your Topic and Voice

Though it's not necessary to have a specific theme or voice for your blog, there is a precedent for having a focus. Many of the most popular blogs are ones that cater to a specific niche of people, attracting a certain audience. Blogs that are very popular often attract so many people due to the way in which they go in-depth on subjects that any given audience might be curious about.

So, when considering just what it is you should center your blog around, think about the things you know that others might not. Perhaps you have a specific interest that you would like to share with others? Maybe there is something that you think isn't well-known enough that you want to spread news about?

Regardless of what you specifically focus your blog on, the key to having your own voice is to talk about something you're passionate about. In the same way that we all have our own voice while speaking, you'd be surprised at how original you can sound when blogging about one of your passions or areas of interest. Even if you want to blog about something you might not know much information about, the key is to be relaxed. This is because only when you are relaxed will the tone come out naturally, allowing visitors to feel like they're talking to a friend instead of a stranger. One of the main benefits about blogs on the internet is that it allows people who might not know each other to connect, so focus on being yourself.

Monetizing a Blog

One of the benefits of having a popular blog is that you can also monetize, allowing yourself to even make money off of the clicks that come to your website. There are many ways to do this, but the two easiest ones are advertisements and affiliate programs. For example, Google AdSense allows you to place ads on your blog so that each time somebody visits, you'll get royalties because of the ad placement. In the same sense, you can also use affiliate programs such as Amazon to make money by featuring products on your site that are sold on Amazon.