It was in early 2025 that I initiated my own blog, OpenExploit.in, with one simple aim: to make cybersecurity easy to learn and available to all—particularly students and curious minds who are new to this field. I decided to host my blog using Ghost CMS and pledged to update it on a regular basis, discussing what I already know and what I'm currently learning.
It's been a thrilling, at times daunting, but enormously rewarding ride. In this article, I'd like to share what I've learned up until now from setting up and maintaining a cybersecurity blog—from technical configuration to publishing content, interacting with readers, and how to stay motivated. If you're considering setting up your own blog or simply wondering what it's like, keep reading.
Starting Was the Hardest Part
As with all things in life, the initial step was the most difficult one. I went weeks deliberating over names, designs, and tools. I wanted everything to be "perfect" before launching. But after some time, I came to understand that perfection is the arch-nemesis of progress. So I settled on a name that was fitting—OpenExploit.in—and used Ghost CMS for its sleek, minimal look and speed.
Lesson learned: Don't wait for perfection. Start small, and improve along the way.
Choose the Right Platform Early
I tried a few: WordPress, Blogger, and Ghost. I chose Ghost CMS because:
- It's open-source
- It's fast
- The writing experience is distraction-free
- It's ideal for developers and technical blogs
Setting up Ghost on a server was a bit of a learning curve, but it taught me about server configuration, domain management, SSL, and more. In hindsight, that technical knowledge became part of my own cybersecurity learning journey.
Lesson learned: Choosing a platform that fits your technical comfort level matters a lot. You’ll spend a lot of time with it, so make sure it feels right.
Writing Is a Skill—And It Gets Better With Practice
I was anxious writing my initial post. Would anyone read it? Would anyone judge it? What if I got something wrong?
The reality? None of that initially. I just had to write. My initial post was simple, detailing how to know if a website is safe to click on. Not ideal, but useful.
As I wrote more, I found myself becoming more skilled at making things simple. The more I wrote, the surer I became.
Lesson learned: Writing is similar to exercising. The more you exercise it, the more skilled you become. And the more clearly you write, the better understood you will be by people.
Simplify Complex Subjects
Cybersecurity can get very technical. When I was in the mode of writing for beginners, I found that making things simple and accurate in wording is an art. You can't simply plagiarize from a book. You need to:
- Use analogies
- Avoid jargon
- Break content into bite-sized sections
- Include visuals or code snippets
- Point to further resources
For instance, rather than merely stating "SQL injection enables attackers to manipulate database queries," I employed an everyday analogy: "It's like writing your own ending to someone else's sentence."
Lesson learned: When teaching others, you're compelled to make your own thinking simple. And that's a good thing.
Consistency > Perfection
One of the things I wanted to do was post frequently—daily, if possible. Life doesn't always agree, but I attempted to be consistent. Some posts were lengthy and informative; others were brief tips or references to good resources.
Consistency allowed me to gain momentum, remain motivated, and gradually accumulate a reader base.
Lesson learned: Posting a small useful article every few days is preferable to waiting weeks to put out a single "perfect" post.
There's a Huge Community Out There
There are cybersecurity enthusiasts all over—on Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, and YouTube. After I began posting my posts and interacting with other people, I knew I was part of an enormous community.
Individuals began responding, offering feedback, posing questions, and even proposing new subjects. That interaction made me feel connected and encouraged me to continue.
Lesson learned: Don't blog in isolation. Share your post, engage in discussions, assist others. You'll receive much in return.
Use Multimedia: Code, Images, and Videos
Cybersecurity is tactile and graphical. So I began including:
- Code snippets (e.g., Python scripts, Nmap scans)
- Screenshots of software such as Wireshark or Burp Suite
- YouTube Shorts or video tutorials
That not only helped readers understand better but also increased the time they spent on my posts. Now, I’m planning to embed more demo videos and maybe even start a companion YouTube channel.
Lesson learned: People learn in different ways. Give them multiple options—text, video, images, code.
It’s Okay to Not Know Everything
Initially, I was anxious: "What if I mess something up?" But the thing is, nobody knows everything about cybersecurity. It's too vast, too dynamic.
Rather than acting like an expert, I was a learner who explained what they were learning. That made me more down-to-earth and authentic. I even posted about things I didn't completely understand yet—just going through my learning process.
Lesson learned: Be real. It's alright to say, "I'm still learning this." People value honesty.
SEO, Titles, and Thumbnails Matter
As much as I emphasized the content, I finally realized that titles, descriptions, and images count as well. A blog post with the title "Basics of Cybersecurity" is less interesting than one with the title "5 Cybersecurity Myths You Still Believe (And What's Actually True)."
Good SEO makes people discover your content. I began learning:
- How to write catchy headlines
- How to use keywords naturally
- How to write summaries and meta descriptions
- How to design simple but clickable thumbnails
Lesson learned: Content is king, but presentation is queen.
Your Blog Is Your Resume
I didn't know this initially, but my blog was now part of my personal brand. When I was applying for jobs or meeting people online, I could simply send them a link to OpenExploit.in. It demonstrated that I:
- Know how to write about technical subjects
- Can dedicate myself to a project
- Keep up to date with trends
- Care about assisting others
Lesson learned: A blog isn't a side project—it can be a career booster.
Final Thoughts
Opening OpenExploit.in has been one of the greatest things I've ever done. It's helped me become a better communicator, a more self-assured learner, and part of an incredible cybersecurity community.
If you've ever considered opening your own blog—do it. Don't worry about being perfect or knowing everything. Just begin. Write what you know. Someone out there needs to know it.
Thanks for reading. And if you're on the same journey—let's connect.
