Last updated on November 27th, 2023 at 10:52 am
If you are looking to start a blog and have no idea where to begin, this guide is for you! In this article, we will show you how to create a free blog in Nigeria using simple steps and without any prior blogging experience.
With a little effort, you can have your own blog up and running in no time at all!
Before we go further, why would you get into this journey of blogging in Nigeria?
Why start a blog?
There are many reasons why you might want to start a blog in Nigeria.
One reason may be because you have a story to tell, and blogging is a great way to share your story with the world.
You might also want to start a blog in order to express your thoughts and feelings on something that has happened in your life.
Another reason for starting a blog is if you have something valuable or unique that can help others. If this is the case, then starting a blog will allow you to share it with others who may need it.
Additionally, you can start blogging to make money from it by having ads on the site, selling products, or offering services through affiliate marketing links.
And honestly, that last one is the main reason most people get into blogging here in Nigeria: to make money online.
No matter your reason, the process of starting a blog is the same. And you are in luck because I have laid out open below.
Blogging Stats in Nigeria
Blogging has become increasingly popular in Nigeria, with a growing number of bloggers covering various topics. Some of the top blogging niches in Nigeria include:
- Politics: Nigerian youths are becoming more involved in politics, seeking information through blogs.
- Make Money Online: With the increasing use of the internet, bloggers are exploring ways to make money online.
- SEO: Search Engine Optimization is a popular niche in Nigeria, as more people are moving into online businesses.
- Comedy: Humor blogs are gaining popularity in Nigeria.
- Technology: Tech blogs cover topics such as gadgets, software, and innovations in the technology sector.
- Entrepreneurship: Many Nigerian bloggers focus on entrepreneurship, sharing tips and stories of successful entrepreneurs.
- Agriculture: Agriculture-focused blogs provide information on farming, food production, and related topics.
- Lifestyle: Lifestyle blogs in Nigeria cover topics such as fashion, beauty, travel, food, and fitness.
Some of the most popular Nigerian blogs include Linda Ikeji’s Blog, BellaNaija, Nigerian Infopedia, SisiYemmie, OgbongeBlog, 9jafoodie, Naija News, and Mc Ebisco.
These blogs have a significant following and influence in Nigeria, with some reporting earnings in the range of a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.
To start a successful blog in Nigeria, it is essential to choose a niche that you are passionate about and have knowledge in.
Focus on content quality, audience engagement, and effective marketing strategies to monetize your blog effectively.
Step 1: Pick a Niche
It is important to define a niche for your blog so that you have a “core” group of readers who will be interested in your posts. The niche can be based on your interests or what you want to share with the world.
Technically, b blog niche is a topic or subject that you are passionate about and want to share with others. It is also the group of people that you are targeting.
It can be anything from parenting, to cooking, to entrepreneurship, etc.
That said, here are some of the best blogging niches in Nigeria:
- Food blogging
- Fashion blogging
- Beauty blogging
- Lifestyle blogging
- Travel blogging
- Parenting blogging
You may have more than one blog niche, but it’s important to know what your primary blog niche is so that your content strategy can be built around it.
So, before you pick a blogging niche, consider the following:
- What are you passionate about?
- What are you knowledgeable about?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your goals?
- What is your target readership?
- How competitive is the niche?
Step 2: Research the Audience and Competition
Once you have picked a topic for your blog, the next step is to understand who your target audience is.
Your target audience is the group of people whose needs, interests, and behaviors you will serve through your blog.
Identifying your target audience means understanding what motivates them to take an interest in you and your blog. It may be useful to ask yourself questions such as:
- What are my specific goals for my blog?
- What information do I want to provide?
- What kind of content do I want to offer?
- What kinds of people will find my blog valuable?
Once you have an idea of who your readers are, the next step is to spy on the competition.
If you want to be successful, it is essential to study your competition. You need to know their audience, what they are doing right, and what they are doing wrong. This will help you create a better product.
Step 3: Choose a Free Blogging Platform
By now, you know almost enough to create a free blog in Nigeria.
Your next move is to choose the right free blogging platform.
Blogging platforms are a type of website that allows users to publish content online. Blogs typically have a chronological order and provide the opportunity for readers to leave comments on posts.
Additionally, these platforms come with a range of features such as analytics, SEO tools, and social media integration.
The most popular blogging platform is WordPress.com because it is free to use, has a large community of developers, and provides advanced customization options.
Others include:
a). Medium
Medium.com is a content-sharing platform that allows users to post articles, essays, and stories. It is similar to other popular platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, but it is specifically geared towards sharing longer pieces of content. Medium.com also has a built-in reader base, which can help articles and essays gain exposure.
Inside, you can easily create a free blog in Nigeria, start publishing, and make money in the process.
b). Wix
Wix is a website builder platform that enables users to create free and professional websites without needing to learn to code.
The platform provides users with a wide range of templates and tools to create their site, as well as a Wix domain name and hosting.
Wix also offers a range of features and tools for users to customize their site, including social media integration, eCommerce capabilities, and more.
You can start a Wix blog and publish your articles in no time.
c). OLITT
OLITT is another one of the best tools you can use to create a free blog in Nigeria. It comes with a web development platform that enables users to create websites and manage their online presence.
The platform offers a wide range of features and templates, as well as tools for users to customize their websites.
OLITT also provides users with a drag-and-drop interface, which makes it easy for them to create and edit their websites.
d). Blogger.com
How can we forget Blogger?
Now known as BlogSpot, Blogger.com is a web-based publishing platform that enables users to create and publish their own blogs.
It allows users to easily create and customize their blog’s design, as well as add content, including text, photos, and videos.
Blogger also enables you to syndicate their blog content across the web and to receive feedback and comments from other users.
Which one should I choose?
As you can see, there are a number of free platforms you can use to create a free blog in Nigeria.
Here are some questions to help you arrive at a decision:
- What are your needs?
- What is the user interface like?
- What are the features?
- How easy is it to use?
- What are the support options?
Step 4: Designing your blog
Now that you have picked the right platform to host your free blog in Nigeria, the next step is to start designing your website.
a). Choose a blog template
The first thing is to choose the right template for your blog.
Even though you might be tempted to design your own blog template, it is worth considering the benefits of using a premade template.
Although there are many templates available on the market, not all of them are created equal. Some templates are more suitable for a blog than others and some even offer more features that can help you to create better content.
So how do you know which template is right for your blog? There are a few factors that you need to consider before making a decision.
First, figure out what kind of content you want to publish on your blog. If you plan on publishing mostly text-based posts then it might be best for you to use a simple and clean design with minimal features such as a sidebar or slideshow tool.
However, if your goal is to publish pictures or videos then you’ll want to use a template that has a gallery tool.
Next, take into account the style of your blog. If your blog is modern and sleek then you might be interested in using one of the templates available on our website with a sleek design. If your blog’s style is more traditional then it might be best for you to use a template with a more traditional layout.
Lastly, decide on the features that you’d like to have included in your blog’s design. Some templates offer widgets and effects that can be used to spice up your blog design.
b). Add essential pages
Your blog is not complete without any of the following pages:
- About
- Contact
- Services
- Testimonials
- Blog
- Shop
You can add others later as the need arise.
c). Navigation
Blog navigation includes things like the menus. Make sure the readers can easily access whatever they are looking for with a single mouse click.
d). Logo design
Though not a must, to complete the look for your free website in Nigeria, you need a logo.
Luckily, you don’t have to pay anyone thousands of naira to get a professional design.
Head over to Canva.com and use one of their templates for free.
Step 5: Adding content
Your blog needs content. You may have a compelling design, but without content, your blog will have nothing to say. There are a number of ways you can provide content for your blog:
- Guest blogging: Blogging about a topic that’s related to your blog but has not been covered by your blog.
- Researching: Sources for information outside of your blog’s interest. This could include personal blogs, magazines, or scholarly articles.
Most importantly, take the insights you gathered in step two and apply them to this stage.
In the end, you need to provide content your audience will love. This includes answering their questions and providing them with guides, reviews, and how-tos.
Step 6: Promoting Your Blog
Now that your blog has content, it is time for promotion.
If you want to get readers to your blog in Nigeria, you need to promote it. There are a number of ways to do this including social media posts, guest blogging, and emailing bloggers on your topic.
You need to build a tribe of readers. The more people that your blog attracts, the more likely it is to become successful.
One way to do this is by using social media like Facebook and Twitter (realistically, you’ll want at least one social media account per platform per niche) and building relationships with your followers.
The key here is to be genuine and provide value.
Find out what your potential customers or blog readers want. In your niche, you should be able to find a few blogs that are similar to yours that offer tips on how they grew their audience.
Read these blogs, then write blog posts similar to theirs in the hopes of attracting more visitors from them.
Outreach is key.
You can’t sell to people who don’t know you exist, so get out there and start networking.
And don’t be afraid of asking for anything from your followers, because they may be willing to help you further down the line. Take advantage of niche-specific sites like Reddit which are often filled with potential blog readers.
If you’re just starting out with a new blog, it can take a while to get traction. Make sure you are following all of the steps above and getting noticed by the right people.
It is not worth waiting around for months or even years if you haven’t gotten any meaningful traffic yet, so keep track of your progress and be patient with yourself.
Step 7: Monetizing your blog
Finally, to create a free blog in Nigeria, you a way to make money.
In order to monetize your blog, you need to establish a monetization strategy. You can do this by focusing on advertising, affiliate marketing, or taking on sponsored posts.
The first step is to set up an account with a service like Google AdSense and then find the right balance of ads and content for your site.
The next step is to join affiliate marketing networks like Amazon Associates so you can make money off of any products that are purchased through links on your site.
Finally, you can take on sponsored posts from companies in exchange for a fee or commission from the sale of their product.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, starting a blog in Nigeria is a great way to share your ideas and thoughts with the world.
It is also a great way to make new friends and connect with other Nigerians.
If you are interested in starting a blog, follow the steps outlined in this article and you’ll be up and running in no time.
Thanks for reading!