20 things to do when starting your blog

Here are 20 things to do when starting your blog

1. Choose a Niche

- Define your blog’s focus and target audience.

- Research potential profitability and interest levels.

- Ensure it aligns with your passion and expertise.

Choosing a niche is the first critical step in starting your blog. Your niche determines the primary topic and target audience of your blog. It's important to choose a niche that not only interests you but also has enough audience demand and potential for profitability. This ensures you remain motivated while also having a clear market to cater to.

2. Choose a Strategy

- Outline your goals and the steps to achieve them.

- Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.

- Set short-term and long-term milestones.

Having a clear strategy is essential for guiding your blog's growth. Outline your blogging goals, such as traffic targets, revenue goals, and audience engagement metrics. Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) to track your progress, and set both short-term and long-term milestones to keep you on track.

3. Decide How You Will Monetize

- Determine your monetization methods (ads, affiliate marketing, digital products, etc.).

- Research monetization potential within your niche.

- Plan for diversified income streams.

Before diving into content creation, it's crucial to decide how you will monetize your blog. Consider various monetization methods such as ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling digital products. Research what works best in your niche and plan for diversified income streams to maximize your revenue potential.

4. Create a Content Plan

- Develop a content calendar with topics and posting schedule.

- Brainstorm content ideas and categorize them.

- Plan for seasonal and evergreen content.

A content plan helps you stay organized and consistent. Develop a content calendar that outlines the topics you will cover and your posting schedule. Brainstorm a list of content ideas and categorize them to ensure a balanced mix of posts. Include both seasonal content that ties into current trends and evergreen content that remains relevant over time.

5. Select a Domain Name

- Choose a memorable and relevant domain name for your blog.

- Check for domain availability.

- Consider purchasing related domain extensions.

Your domain name is your blog's online address and an essential part of your brand. Choose a memorable and relevant domain name that reflects your blog’s niche. Ensure the domain is available and consider purchasing related extensions to protect your brand.

6. Set Up Web Hosting

- Choose a reliable web hosting provider.

- Compare hosting plans and features.

- Ensure the hosting plan supports your blog’s future growth.

Web hosting is where your blog lives on the internet. Select a reliable hosting provider that offers good performance, security, and customer support. Compare different hosting plans and features to find one that fits your needs and supports future growth as your blog expands.

7. Install WordPress

- Set up your blog platform, such as WordPress.

- Choose between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

- Follow installation instructions provided by your host.

WordPress is a popular blogging platform due to its flexibility and user-friendliness. Choose between WordPress.com (hosted) and WordPress.org (self-hosted), then follow the installation instructions provided by your hosting provider to set up your blog.

8. Choose a Theme

- Select a professional and responsive theme for your blog.

- Ensure the theme aligns with your brand’s aesthetic.

- Test the theme for compatibility with essential plugins.

Your blog’s theme determines its look and feel. Choose a professional and responsive theme that looks great on all devices. Make sure the theme aligns with your brand’s aesthetic and test it for compatibility with essential plugins to ensure smooth functionality.

9. Install Essential Plugins

- Add plugins for SEO, analytics, security, and social sharing.

- Research and install must-have plugins (e.g., Yoast SEO, Google Analytics).

- Regularly update and maintain plugins.

Plugins extend the functionality of your blog. Install essential plugins for SEO, analytics, security, and social sharing. Research and add must-have plugins like Yoast SEO and Google Analytics. Regularly update and maintain these plugins to keep your blog running smoothly and securely.

10. Design Your Blog Layout

- Customize your blog’s appearance and layout.

- Focus on user experience and navigation.

- Ensure your design is mobile-friendly.

A well-designed blog layout enhances user experience. Customize your blog’s appearance to reflect your brand, and focus on easy navigation to help visitors find content quickly. Ensure your design is mobile-friendly, as many users access blogs from mobile devices.

11. Create Essential Pages

- Set up important pages like About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer.

- Write compelling and informative content for each page.

- Ensure legal compliance with policies and disclaimers.

Essential pages provide important information to your readers. Set up an About page to introduce yourself, a Contact page for inquiries, and pages for Privacy Policy and Disclaimer to comply with legal requirements. Write compelling content for each page to engage and inform your audience.

12. Write Your First Blog Posts

- Publish high-quality, valuable content to attract readers.

- Optimize posts for SEO.

- Include engaging visuals and media.

Your first blog posts set the tone for your blog. Publish high-quality, valuable content that addresses your audience’s needs. Optimize your posts for SEO to increase visibility in search engines, and include engaging visuals and media to enhance the reader experience.

13. Set Up Social Media Profiles

- Create profiles on relevant social media platforms to promote your blog.

- Optimize profiles with consistent branding.

- Plan a social media content strategy.

Social media profiles help promote your blog and engage with your audience. Create profiles on platforms relevant to your niche, and optimize them with consistent branding. Plan a social media content strategy to regularly share your blog posts and interact with your followers.

14. Implement SEO Best Practices

- Optimize your blog and posts for search engines.

- Use keyword research tools to identify target keywords.

- Focus on on-page SEO elements (title tags, meta descriptions, etc.).

SEO is crucial for driving organic traffic to your blog. Optimize your blog and posts for search engines by using keyword research tools to identify target keywords. Focus on on-page SEO elements like title tags and meta descriptions to improve your search engine rankings.

15. Create an Email Sign-Up Form

- Add a form to collect email addresses from visitors.

- Place forms strategically on your site (e.g., sidebar, pop-up, footer).

- Integrate with an email marketing service.

Collecting email addresses helps you build a direct communication channel with your audience. Add email sign-up forms to your blog and place them strategically to capture visitors’ attention. Integrate with an email marketing service to manage your subscribers and send newsletters.

16. Develop a Lead Magnet

- Create a valuable freebie to encourage email sign-ups.

- Ensure the lead magnet aligns with your audience’s interests.

- Promote the lead magnet across your blog and social media.

A lead magnet is a valuable freebie that encourages visitors to join your email list. Create a lead magnet that aligns with your audience’s interests, such as an eBook or checklist. Promote it across your blog and social media to increase sign-ups.

17. Promote Your Blog Content

- Share your posts on social media, forums, and other channels.

- Engage in guest blogging and collaborations.

- Use paid promotion if necessary.

Promoting your content helps attract more readers to your blog. Share your posts on social media, forums, and other channels. Engage in guest blogging and collaborations to reach new audiences, and consider using paid promotion to boost visibility.

18. Engage with Your Audience

- Respond to comments, emails, and social media interactions.

- Encourage reader feedback and suggestions.

- Build a community around your blog.

Engaging with your audience fosters loyalty and community. Respond to comments, emails, and social media interactions promptly. Encourage feedback and suggestions to improve your content and build a supportive community around your blog.

19. Track Your Analytics

- Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your blog’s performance.

- Track key metrics such as traffic, bounce rate, and conversions.

- Analyze data to inform your strategy.

Tracking analytics helps you understand your blog’s performance. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor key metrics such as traffic, bounce rate, and conversions. Analyze the data to identify areas for improvement and inform your content strategy.

20. Continuously Update and Improve

- Regularly add new content, update old posts, and refine your strategy.

- Keep up with industry trends and best practices.

- Solicit feedback and continuously enhance user experience.

Continuous improvement is key to long-term success. Regularly add new content, update old posts, and refine your strategy based on analytics and feedback. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to keep your blog relevant and engaging.

Checkout the Digital Creator 2.0 to learn how to grow, monetize and automate your digital business.