Do you love pets? Do you have a lot of information and great tips to share about taking care of pets? If so, starting a pet blog may be the perfect way for you to share your knowledge with the world!
This guide will walk you through the process of how to start a pet blog. We’ll discuss everything from choosing a platform to creating content that engages your target audience.
So whether you’re just getting started or are looking for ways to improve your blog, this guide has something for you!
Want to jump straight to the answer? The best web hosting service to set up and start a pet blog for most people is Hostinger or Bluehost.
Why? Both these hosts offer affordable pricing, a free SSL certificate, and best of all, free 1-click WordPress blog installation.
Why Start Your Own Pet Blog?
Before getting into the technical stuff, let us see why starting a pet blog might be your thing.
One of the best things about starting a pet blog is that there are no limits to what you can write about. You can share tips on training, nutrition, grooming, and more.
You can also write about your own personal experiences with pets. Whether you have one pet or ten, there’s always something new to share!
Whatever your reasons, pet blogging can be a great way to connect with other animal owners and make a difference in the lives of pets.
And if you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of pet blogs out there that can give you some inspiration.
Now let’s get started with the process of starting your own pet blog.
How To Start A Pet Blog From Scratch?
Follow these steps and your blog will be up and running in no time:
1. Choose a Specific Pet Niche or Go Broad
One of the most important things you need to do is to choose your particular niche.
Are you going to write about dogs, cats, reptiles, or all of the above? Once you’ve decided on your niche, stick to it!
People will come to your blog looking for information about that specific topic, and if you’re constantly changing up what you’re writing about, they’ll get confused and won’t come back.
If you’re not sure what kind of pet blog you want to start, think about what kinds of pets you’re interested in and what kind of information people might be looking for when they Google “pet [your chosen animal].”
For example, if someone types in “pet turtle,” they might be looking for information on how to care for a pet turtle, what kind of food turtles eat, or what kinds of diseases turtles can get.
Once you’ve decided on your niche topic, it’s time to move on to the next step!
2. Choose a Pet Blog Domain Name
Your blog’s name is essential because it’s how people will find you online. Therefore, you want to choose something that’s catchy and easy to remember but that also accurately describes what your blog is about.
For example, if you’re writing a blog about dogs, you might want to include the word “dog” in your title somewhere.
Once you’ve come up with a few potential names for your blog, do a quick Google search to ensure no one else is using the same name.
You don’t want people getting confused and ending up on someone else’s blog by mistake!
Your domain name is the address that people will use to visit your website, so it’s essential to choose something that’s easy to remember and catchy.
If you’re not sure what to choose, try brainstorming some ideas with family and friends. Once you’ve settled on a domain name, you’ll need to register it with a web hosting company.
Both Bluehost and Hostinger are offering a free domain name with signup. Not every WordPress hosting service is going to offer this so if you need a domain name, try Namecheap.
We have both reviews of Namecheap and reviews of Domain.com on our website.
3. Choose a Blogging Platform For Your Pet Blog
There are many different blogging platforms, but we recommend WordPress.org for its flexibility and ease of use. Once you’ve chosen your platform, it’s time to set up your blog!
WordPress is easy to use and has a ton of features that will come in handy as your blog grows.
Plus, there are tons of plugins and themes available for WordPress that will help give your blog its own unique look and feel.
If you want to set up a free blog, WordPress.com is the right place to start. And if you’re creating a self-hosted WordPress account, the first thing you’ll need to do is purchase a domain name and hosting.
Keep in mind that in most cases you don’t need to download and try to install the WordPress platform yourself. The web hosts we mention in this post will do it for you.
4. Choose a Web Host for Your Pet Blog
As previously mentioned, we recommend using Bluehost or Hostinger as your blog host because they both offer affordable plans and excellent customer support. If you are not convinced, we have a thorough Bluehost and Hostinger reviews on our blog.
If you are still undecided, Siteground and Hostpapa are also popular hosts you can consider.
Once you’ve purchased your domain name and hosting, you can go about installing WordPress with just a few clicks.
5. Install WordPress Software
Now that you have your domain name and web hosting set up, it’s time to install WordPress and start setting up your site.
If you’re using Bluehost, this process is super easy. Just log in to your account and click on the “Install WordPress” button.
Once WordPress is installed, you can start working on your blog’s design, adding content, and promoting your website.
If you get stuck here, don’t worry; simply follow the steps in our how to start a WordPress Blog post.
6. Designing and Customizing Your New Pet Blog
Now that you’ve installed WordPress, it’s time to start thinking about the design.
Your Blog’s Design is Essential for Two Main Reasons:
First, because it’s how people will see your blog when they find it online.
Second, because it helps you create a compelling brand.
You want people to be able to look at your pet blog and immediately know that it’s about dogs (or cats, or reptiles, etc.), so choose colors and fonts that reflect that.
If you’re unsure where to start with design, there are plenty of online resources that can help you create a professional-looking design.
One blog design resource we really like is Envato Elements. They offer access to thousands of video templates, fonts, web templates, graphic templates and a whole lot more. Check out our Envato Elements review for more info.
Choosing Your Blog’s Theme
With a wide array of WordPress themes, you can easily find one to match your budget.
If you want to save some money blogging, consider using a free theme.
Just be sure to check that the theme is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.
If you are looking for premium or semi-custom WordPress theme for your blog you should visit ThemeForest.
Once your theme is installed, it’s time to get your plugins!
Best WordPress Plugins for a Pet Blog:
There are a few essential plugins that you will need for your pet blog.
Rankmath SEO – This free tool is an excellent option for beginners to help manage your SEO. We use Rankmath on this blog and based on experience, it’s better than Yoast SEO.
Social Warfare – This is a social media plugin to help share your content on social media platforms.
WP Rocket – Your website needs to load fast or your site visitors will leave. A fast loading website is also essential for SEO.
Monster Insights – This is the best WordPress traffic analytics plugin for WordPress.
Now that you know the essential plugins for your pet blog starting, let’s move on to some tips for writing great content.
7. How to Create Great Content for Your Pet Blog
People won’t read your blog if there’s nothing on it, so your most important step is to write your first post.
Here Are Some Topics Ideass for a Pet Blog
- Share your pet’s story (how you got them, their personality, etc.).
- Talk about the ups and downs of pet ownership.
- Give advice on choosing the right pet for someone’s lifestyle.
- Review products geared towards pets or pet owners.
- Share dog trainer tips or tricks.
- Offer help and support to fellow pet parents who are struggling.
If you’re not sure what to write about, consider some of these ideas:
Think back to the pet niche you chose in step one. What kind of information do pet lovers need when they’re looking for information about that topic?
Write posts that answer those questions, and make sure to include plenty of pictures!
Now that you have some ideas for blog content, it’s time to start writing!
Remember to have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously. After all, this is your blog, and you can write about whatever you want!
Writing Tips for Pet Bloggers
One of the most important things to remember when writing your blogs is to be passionate about what you’re writing. Your readers can tell if you’re not genuine, and it will reflect in your writing style.
Also, be sure to write clearly and concisely. No one wants to read a rambling blog post. So get to the point and provide value for your readers.
No matter what you decide to write about, be sure to share your love of pets in every post! Readers will appreciate your passion, and it will show through in your writing.
8. Promote Your Pet Blog
Once you’ve got a few posts written, it’s time to start promoting your pet blog. When it comes to promoting your new site, there are several avenues you can explore.
Once you’ve written a great piece of content, be sure to share it on social media and email it to your list.
For starters, use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help spread the word. You can also submit your blog to pet blogging directories and forums.
Another great way to promote your pet blog is to guest post on other successful blogs. Guest posting not only helps you get exposure for your own blog, but it also helps you build relationships with other pet owners.
Remember – The more eyes you can get on your content, the better!
9. Monetize Your Pet Blog
There are a few ways to monetize a pet blog:
Affiliate Programs
The most common way is through affiliate marketing. For example, you can find pet-related products on Amazon or other online retailers and promote them on your blog. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
Advertising
Another way to monetize your pet blog is through banner or display advertising.
You can sell ad space on your blog or use Google AdSense ads on blogs in exchange for a commission. Ezoic is also a great option if you have under 50,000 page views a month. Once you pass that amount of traffic there may be better options like Mediavine.
Selling Products or Services
You can also sell pet products or services on your blog. This could be anything from ebooks about dog training to homemade dog treats. If you have a unique product or service that appeals to pet owners, you can make money by selling it on your blog.
Most WordPress blogger use Woocommerce for selling their own products.
Additional Tips for Monetizing Your Pet Blog
No matter which monetization method you choose, make sure it aligns with the content and tone of your blog.
For example, if you have a pet care blog that focuses on providing information and advice to pet owners, promoting products that will help them care for their pets is a good fit.
However, if you have a lighthearted blog about the funny things pets do, selling advertising might not be the best option.
Do some research to find the best monetization method, and then implement it in a way that benefits both you and your curious readers.
You can turn your love of animals into a profitable blog business with a little effort!
That’s it! If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful pet blogger.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Pet Blog?
One of the main concerns people have when starting a pet blog is the cost. How much does it cost to start a pet blog? The answer is: not as much as you might think! You can start a pet blog for less than $100.
Here’s a breakdown of some common blogging costs:
- Web hosting: $70/year
- Domain name: $15/year
- Theme: $0-60 (one-time fee)
- Logo design: $0-200 (one-time fee)
- Total: $85-$370
To save some money on your blog hosting costs check out the current deals on BlueHost and Hostinger.
Starting A Pet Blog FAQs
Do I need to be a professional writer to start a pet blog?
No, you don’t need to be a professional writer to start a pet blog. However, it helps if you’re passionate about writing and have something interesting to say.
How do I optimize my pet blog?
Here are some tips on how to get started:
Do your keyword research: Figure out which keywords you want to target and make sure they’re included in your content.
Link back to your site: When you guest post on other websites or leave comments on other blogs, include a link back to your pet blog. This will help people find your site and also improve your SEO.
Start blogging today: Search engines love fresh content, so the more often you update your pet blog, the higher it will rank in search results.
Lastly, get Rankmath and WP Rocket.
You can get started blogging on the right foot with Search engine optimization by following these tips.
How often should I update my pet blog?
There’s no set rule, but an excellent general guideline is to aim for at least once a week. This will help keep your initial readers engaged and coming back for more.
What do you blog about dogs?
There are a few different ways to approach this:
You can blog about your own dogs and personal experiences, you can blog about general tips and advice related to dogs, or you could even start a dog blog that focuses on reviews of pooch products.
With a little effort and dedication, who knows, you may even end up becoming the next big thing in the canine blogging world.
How long does it take to start a pet blog?
It usually takes around 30 minutes to set up a primary pet blog. However, it’s important to note that starting a successful blog takes time, effort, and dedication. So don’t expect overnight success!
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out, and we’ll be happy to help.
I decided I don’t like blogging about pets! Any other ideas?
Sure! What else do you like doing or consider a hobby? Maybe you could consider starting a travel blog? How about creating a food or recipe blog? There are also tech blogging and fashion blogging niches to explore. There is really no limit to what you can blog about!
