Hey guys, it’s summer break but you can sign up now for my Building Your Own Blog Workshops at DelTech in Stanton and Dover which will begin in September. However, if you can’t wait for the classes to begin, this checklist will give you a head start until workshops resume in the fall.
1. CHOOSE A BLOGGING PLATFORM
There are several options available, but WordPress and Blogger are great places to start for beginner bloggers.
2. NAME YOUR BLOG
Choose a name that reflects the essence of you or your blog. Take your time time to think this step through. After all, your blog is your brand and you want to have a name that is reflective of it.
3. RESERVE/PURCHASE YOUR DOMAIN NAME
There are many reasons why you need your own domain name. So head over to GoDaddy.com or WordPress.com which are just two of the many sites that will walk you through the process.
4. DETERMINE YOUR BLOG DESIGN
This is key since your blog design can either attract people or turn them away. Think of it like browsing for a magazine or book, most people are drawn more towards those with eye appealing designs, which holds true for blogs.
Blogger & WordPress both offer free themes that you can build upon, and there are lots of free site design options that you can find via Google.
If you want a customized look for your blog to help it stand out, hiring a blog designer is always an option. Make sure you agree on what’s included in your design package upfront, and what type of design support will be available to you once your blog is up and running.
Check sites such as Fiverr to save on the cost, but make sure you read the reviews of the web designers.
5. WRITE, RINSE, REPEAT!
Once you get readers to your site, you want to engage them & bring them back day after day. The best ways to do this?
- Have a great ABOUT page. This is the page that explains why you started blogging, introduce yourself, your family or anyone/anything else that you’ll be blogging about.
- Make sure your CONTACT page is up-to-date. Include your email address, as well as any other social media accounts that you’d like to connect with people on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
- Content is King but let your Customers Wear the Crown. Readers won’t want to hang around on your blog if there isn’t much to read, so have several posts in draft and ready for when your site goes live and make it compelling enough that they want to share with their circle.
- Set a blogging schedule to ensure that you’re keeping fresh posts coming. Whether you blog once a week or once a day, you should set that expectation for your readers from the beginning.
- Don’t forget the pictures! Too much text doesn’t get read, always use images, as we humans have the attention span that less than a Goldfish and you want to capture them in the first 7 seconds.
If you are ready to start a blog, send an email to [email protected] to take advantage of the $150 Summer Special or head over to my website to learn more.
