Starting a history blog can seem like an enormous undertaking. However, with the boom in online content and the fascination that people have for understanding our past, a successful history blog could reach a wide audience.
Starting a history blog can be a rewarding experience if you love history and want to share your knowledge with others. Whether you’re a history buff, a teacher, or just someone who enjoys writing, it is a great way to connect with others who share your passion for the subject.
In this article, we’ll provide you with tips on how to start a history blog, including how to choose a niche, how to create content, and how to promote your blog.
What is a History Blog?
A history blog is a website that shares information, stories, and analysis about historical events, figures, and topics.
Whether you’re an academic, a history enthusiast, or just someone who loves to learn about the past, a history blog can be a platform for sharing your knowledge and insights with a wider audience.
History blogs can cover a wide range of topics, from ancient history to modern history, and can include anything from academic research to personal reflections.
How to Start a History Blog
If you’re new to blogging, the idea of starting your own blog that can eventually start making money can seem daunting. However, it’s actually quite easy to get started.
The challenge comes when you are growing your blog because you have to stay consistent and promote it the right way, a process that takes a lot of patience.
If you’re interested in starting your own history blog, there are a few things you should keep in mind and I will break them down into a step-by-step process:
Step 1: Define your niche
First, you’ll need to choose a niche or topic that will be your blog’s main focus.
Ideally, you should pick something that you are passionate about. This could be a specific time period, a particular historical figure, or a broader theme like human history or military history.
You can choose to focus on ancient civilizations, world wars, local history, or biographies of historical figures.
Identifying a unique niche within the vast field of history is the most important step in creating your blog.
Deciding on this focus not only shapes your content strategy but also helps you to establish a stronger connection with readers who share the same interests.
Remember, when choosing a niche for your history blog, it’s important to choose something that you’re passionate about and that you have expertise in.
Don’t be afraid to narrow your focus and write about a specific aspect of history because this will help you stand out from other history bloggers and attract a dedicated audience.
Here are some considerations you may think about when defining your niche
Identify your target audience
Take some time to consider who you want to reach with your content.
Are you targeting history enthusiasts, students, or perhaps a specific age group? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your content and writing style to their interests and needs.
Step 2: Choose a blog name
The blog name you choose should pique people’s interest and align with your chosen historical niche.
After defining your niche, brainstorm names that mirror your subject matter.
For instance, if you’re focusing on World War events, consider a title that hints at this period.
Avoid complex or hard-to-spell words to make sure it’s easy for potential readers to find your blog online.
You can use keywords related to history within your blog name to improve search engine visibility and indicate to users what they might expect from the content of the site.
Finally, check whether the name you chose is available as a domain name and on social media platforms. By this, I mean that the name is not taken on the internet and on social platforms.
This is not a deal breaker because some people have become successful bloggers with different names across platforms, but it is ideal.
Step 3: Choose a hosting provider
A hosting provider is a company that provides the server space where your blog will be hosted. There are many hosting providers available, each with its own set of features and pricing.
Step 4: Register your domain name
Your domain name is the address of your blog on the internet. Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and relevant to your blog’s topic.
Ideally, it should match the name of your blog. For example, if you name your blog “The History Masters”, the best domain name would be “thehistorymasters.com.”
Step 5: Choose a blogging platform
A blogging platform is software or a service that allows you to create and manage your blog. There are many blogging platforms available, each with its own set of features and benefits.
Here are some popular blogging platforms:
- WordPress: is the most popular blogging platform and is used by millions of bloggers worldwide. It is free and easy to use, and there are thousands of themes and plugins available to customize your blog.
- Blogger: It is a free blogging platform owned by Google. It is easy to use and has a simple interface, making it a good choice for beginners. However, it has limited customization options compared to other platforms.
- Wix: It is a website builder that also allows you to create a blog. It has a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to use, and there are many templates available to choose from. However, it is not as flexible as other blogging platforms.
When choosing a blogging platform, consider your needs and goals.
WordPress is a popular choice among bloggers of all kinds because it gives you flexibility and customization options that others struggle to match.
It is the most popular content management system in the world and it powers over 40% of all websites on the internet.
Once you have chosen your hosting provider, you can install your blogging platform. Most hosting providers offer one-click installation for popular platforms like WordPress.
Step 6: Choose a theme and design
A theme is a design template that enables you to create a visually appealing and cohesive online presence.
Your theme should reflect the overall tone and topic of your blog while also providing functionality and ease of navigation for your readers.
Consider using a theme that allows you to showcase historical images, maps, or artwork that complements your content.
Also, make sure your design is responsive, meaning it adjusts well to different screen sizes so that visitors can easily view your blog on various devices.
By selecting an appropriate theme and design, you can create a captivating website that enhances the experience for your audience while showcasing your passion for history.
Step 7: Create essential pages (About, Contact)
Establishing essential pages like an “About” and “Contact” page is crucial when starting a history blog.
An “About” page helps readers understand who you are, your expertise in the subject matter, and what they can expect from your blog.
It’s an opportunity to showcase your passion for history and engage with your audience on a personal level.
On the other hand, a “Contact” page allows readers to reach out to you directly with questions, feedback, or collaboration opportunities.
By including these essential pages on your blog, you create a sense of credibility and accessibility that will help attract and retain readers interested in historical topics.
Step 8: Decide on the presentation format
The main question here is: What type of content will you be sharing through your blog?
Will your blog focus on evergreen articles, visual-heavy content, or news-type articles?
Will you mix and match different content formats to keep your blog engaging and diverse?
To help you decide what type of content your blog will focus on, here are brief explanations of what these look like:
- Evergreen articles: These historical articles provide timeless information and remain relevant to readers over an extended period. You choose historical topics that have enduring interest to create content that continues to remain relevant months or years after its publication.
- News-style articles: These articles provide regular updates on current historical research findings, new archaeological discoveries, or upcoming history-related events. This format allows you to cover timely and relevant topics in an engaging way.
- Visual-heavy content: This kind of content relies heavily on images, videos, and infographics to bring historical topics to life and captivate readers’ attention. You can use visual-heavy content to enhance evergreen articles to make them more visually appealing and break up text-heavy articles, making them easier to read and digest.
As I mentioned, you can keep your history blog engaging and dynamic by mixing and matching different content formats.
You can choose to write about a particular historical figure, event, or period. To make your articles more engaging, consider including personal stories, quotes, and anecdotes. You can also use images, videos, and infographics to help illustrate your points.
The Two Most Important Skills When Writing for a History Blog
If you want to create a successful history blog, you need to have a solid set of skills.
However, these two skills are fundamental:
Writing Skills
One of the most important skills you’ll need as a history blogger is strong writing skills. You’ll be sharing your thoughts and ideas with your readers, and you’ll need to be able to do so in a clear and engaging way.
Here are a few tips to help you improve your writing skills:
- Practice regularly: The more you write, the better you’ll become. Set aside time each day or each week to work on your writing skills.
- Read other history blogs: Reading other blogs can help you see what works and what doesn’t. Pay attention to the way other bloggers structure their posts, use language, and engage with their readers.
- Use active voice: Active voice makes your writing more engaging and easier to understand. Instead of saying “The battle was won by the British,” say “The British won the battle.”
- Keep it concise: Try to keep your writing concise and to the point. Avoid using unnecessarily long sentences or complicated language.
Research Skills
Another important skill you’ll need as a history blogger is strong research skills. You’ll be responsible for finding accurate and interesting information to share with your readers.
Here are a few tips to help you improve your research skills:
- Start with reliable sources: When conducting research, start with reliable sources such as academic journals, history books, and reputable websites.
- Fact-check your sources: Always fact-check the information you find. Make sure it’s accurate and reliable before sharing it with your readers.
- Take notes: Keep detailed notes on the information you find. This will make it easier to organize your thoughts and write your posts.
- Use primary sources: Whenever possible, try to use primary sources such as diaries, letters, and photographs. These sources can provide unique insights into historical events and figures.
By developing your writing and research skills, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful history blog.
How to Create Quality Content for a History Blog
Once you’ve set up your blog, it’s time to start creating content.
There are two things you should think about if you want to write high-quality content:
Planning Your Content and Developing Content Ideas
One of the most challenging aspects of writing for a history blog is coming up with new and engaging content ideas. You want to create content that will attract readers, provide value, and stand out from the competition.
When developing content ideas, it’s important to consider your audience and what they’re interested in.
You can use tools like Google Trends or social media analytics to see what topics are trending and what people are talking about.
You can also ask your readers for feedback and suggestions on what they would like to see more of.
Developing content ideas for your history blog can be challenging, but with some creativity and research, you can come up with engaging and informative content that will keep your readers coming back for more.
The Actual Writing
Here’s how to create engaging content for your history blog:
Choose the right topic
The first step in creating engaging content is to choose the right topic. Your blog should focus on a particular area of history that you are passionate about and knowledgeable in. This will help you create content that is informative, insightful, and engaging.
Use reliable sources
When creating historical content, it is important to use reliable sources. Research your topic thoroughly using books, academic journals, and other reputable sources. This will ensure that your content is accurate and trustworthy.
Use imagery to illustrate
To make your historical content engaging, consider using visuals such as images, maps, and infographics. These can help illustrate your points and make your content more interesting to read.
Avoid writing a wall of text
Your posts should be well-written, informative, and entertaining. To achieve this, consider the following tips:
- Use a clear and concise writing style. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not understand.
- Break up your content into short paragraphs and use headings to make it easier to read.
- Use bullet points and numbered lists to highlight important information.
- Use bold text to emphasize key points.
- Include a call-to-action at the end of your post to encourage readers to engage with your content.
Proofread your work before you post
Once you’ve written your blog post, take the time to proofread it carefully. Typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors can detract from the quality of your content and make you look unprofessional.
Use a spell checker and grammar checker to catch any mistakes, but don’t rely on them completely. Read your post aloud to catch errors that you might miss when reading silently.
How to Promote a History Blog
Once you’ve created a history blog, it’s time to start promoting it.
Without promotion, your blog may not get the attention it deserves. Here are some tips to help you promote your history blog effectively:
Connect with Other Bloggers
One of the best ways to promote your blog is to connect with other bloggers in your niche. This can help you gain exposure to a wider audience and build relationships with other bloggers.
To connect with other history bloggers, you can start by commenting on their blog posts. You can also reach out to them via social media or email to introduce yourself and ask if they would be interested in collaborating on a project or guest posting on each other’s blogs.
Don’t limit yourself to just other history bloggers, though. Connecting with bloggers in other niches can also be beneficial. For example, if your history blog focuses on a specific time period, you could reach out to fashion bloggers or music bloggers who cover that same time period and see if they would be interested in collaborating on a post about historical fashion.
When connecting with other bloggers, be genuine and respectful. Don’t just reach out to them with the sole purpose of promoting your blog.
Take the time to get to know them and their blog, and find ways to add value to their audience as well.
Overall, connecting with other bloggers can be a great way to promote your history blog and build relationships in your niche.
Promote Your Blog on Social Media
Social media platforms offer a vast audience that includes history enthusiasts and potential readers who may be interested in your content.
By sharing your blog posts, articles, and insights on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, you can reach a wider audience and attract more visitors to your blog.
Implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Practices
Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques help your blog’s content rank higher in search engine results pages, making it easier for people interested in history to discover and access your articles.
By incorporating relevant keywords, optimizing meta tags, and improving your website’s structure, you enhance the visibility of your history blog to a broader audience.
Implementing SEO strategies not only increases your blog’s visibility but also boosts its credibility. When your content appears higher in search results, users perceive it as more authoritative and trustworthy.
How to Monetize Your History Blog
You can monetize your blog in these ways:
Display ads
Advertising is arguably the most popular way of monetizing a blog, not just history blogs.
You can either approach advertisers who are looking to reach an audience interested in historical topics or join a display ad network like Google AdSense to access a wide range of advertisers.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves marketing products or services to your readers and earning a commission for every sale made through your affiliate links.
This allows you to generate passive income while providing valuable recommendations to your readers if you only promote products or services that resonate with your blog.
For example, you can promote historical books, documentaries, museum memberships, or even online history courses.
Affiliate marketing is a win-win situation where you benefit from the sales and your readers benefit from discovering new resources and gaining more knowledge about the past.
Sell digital and physical products
You can sell digital products such as e-books, online courses, or exclusive content to your audience.
Alternatively, you can sell physical products like merchandise or historical artifacts related to your niche to your readers.
Offer services
Many history bloggers find success by offering services related to their niche.
By leveraging your extensive knowledge and research findings, you can provide valuable services such as historical consulting, content creation for others, or even virtual tours of historical sites.
Tips for Maintaining Your History Blog
Congratulations! You’ve created your history blog and published your first post.
But the work doesn’t stop there, in fact, the work has just begun because now you have to attract readers, keep them engaged, and grow your reach.
This calls for maintenance practices that will help you grow your blog. Here are some practices that you should pay attention to:
Post Content Regularly
One of the keys to maintaining a successful history blog is to post regularly. This doesn’t mean you need to post every day, but you should aim for consistency. Search engines also love this and you will surge in the search engine results page.
Decide on a posting schedule that works for you and your readers, whether it’s once a week or once a month.
However, don’t just post for the sake of it. Your readers will appreciate quality content, and it will keep them coming back for more.
Establish your brand
Building a unique and recognizable brand is great for your long-term endurance as a blog. Your brand encompasses everything from the visual design of the blog to the tone and style of writing.
This makes you distinguishable from other history bloggers. Developing a consistent voice helps solidify your place within your chosen historical niche, attracting like-minded readers who share your interest in specific events or time periods.
Conclusion
History blogging can be a rewarding experience, whether you are looking to share your passion for history with others or establish yourself as an authority in the field.
By following the step-by-step instructions and tips outlined in this article, you can create a successful history blog that engages readers and builds a loyal following.
When starting a new history blog, it’s important to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it. Set realistic goals for yourself but don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content.
And most importantly, be patient and persistent. Building a successful blog takes time and effort, but with dedication and hard work, you can create a valuable resource for history enthusiasts around the world.