How to Start a Blog in 2025

tutorialbloggingweb development

Starting a blog is easier than ever, but the number of options can be overwhelming. Here's a practical guide based on my experience.

Choose Your Platform

There are three main approaches:

1. No-Code Platforms (Easiest)

  • Medium: Great for writing, built-in audience, but limited customization
  • Substack: Perfect for newsletters, simple setup
  • WordPress.com: More customization, but can feel bloated

Best for: Writers who want to focus on content, not technology

2. Static Site Generators (Recommended)

  • Next.js: What this site uses - modern, fast, great developer experience
  • Hugo: Lightning fast, huge theme ecosystem
  • Gatsby: React-based, powerful, lots of plugins

Best for: Developers or those willing to learn some coding

3. Self-Hosted (Most Control)

  • WordPress.org: Full control, huge plugin ecosystem
  • Ghost: Clean, focused on blogging
  • Custom build: Total freedom, but also total responsibility

Best for: Those who want complete control and don't mind maintenance

My Tech Stack

For this blog, I chose:

  • Next.js 15: Modern React framework
  • MDX: Write in Markdown with React components
  • Tailwind CSS: Utility-first styling
  • Vercel: Simple deployment

This gives me:

  • Fast performance
  • Great developer experience
  • Full control over design
  • Easy deployment

Getting Started

Here's how to start with Next.js (my recommendation if you have some coding experience):

# Create a new Next.js project
npx create-next-app@latest my-blog

# Navigate to your project
cd my-blog

# Start the development server
npm run dev

That's it! You now have a working website at http://localhost:3000.

Writing Your First Post

With MDX, writing a blog post is as simple as creating a new file:

---
title: "My First Post"
date: "2025-11-01"
---

# My First Post

This is my first blog post!

Deployment

Deploying to Vercel is incredibly simple:

  1. Push your code to GitHub
  2. Import your project in Vercel
  3. Deploy!

Vercel will automatically build and deploy your site whenever you push changes.

Tips for Success

  1. Start simple: Don't overcomplicate your first version
  2. Write consistently: Regular posting matters more than perfect posting
  3. Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and feedback
  4. Share your work: Don't be shy about promoting your content

Conclusion

The best time to start a blog was years ago. The second best time is today. Pick a platform, start writing, and iterate as you go.

What's holding you back from starting your blog? Let me know in the comments!