Congratulations and welcome to the blogging world! Today we are going to talk about 10 things you should do after you start blogging.
I know how it can be overwhelming when you’re starting out, and I want to be there for you and help you find your way. Just remember to take your time, learn and enjoy this amazing thing called “blogging”.
Before starting our list, here are some other blog posts that might help you and interest you:
5 things you should have in mind when planning a blog
Ultimate list of free blogging courses for beginners: from how to start a blog to how to earn money blogging
Everything you need to know about using bullet journal for bloggers
Introducing: 21 tips for beginner bloggers
1 – Choose Your Theme
The first thing you want to do is choose your theme. Do your research and take a look at several themes, and make sure you find one that fits your needs. Before you start browsing through thousands of themes think about the way you want your blog to look, and check out the themes to see if they have specific functions you want (for example – a landing page layout, a customizable home page).
Remember you can always change your theme. If you can’t find the “perfect” one, find one that is close enough. You don’t want to delay the launch of your website or business because you can’t find your ideal theme!
Some best free themes are Astra, Kandence and Bloksy. Those themes also have paid versions.
2 – Install Important Plugins
Next, you’re going to want to install important plugins. This could vary depending on your niche. You definitely want to have an anti-spam plugin. A plugin to help you grow your subscriber list is also a good choice. I’m using Convertkit.
You can always install other plugins after you get started and see what you will need.
3 – Create Your Basic Pages
The next thing on the to-do list is to create your basic pages. It’s important to have an About page, so people can learn who you are. Also, it’s important to have a Contact page, so that people can get in touch with you.
Some other pages that are good to consider creating are: Press, Work With Me, Testimonials, and any Landing Pages or Sales Pages that you need.
If you have been featured on other blogs, or interviewed in an article or on a podcast, put the links to those items on your Press page. Your Work With Me page can list your products or services, or provide instructions on how people can request a Discovery Call with you. The Testimonials page is pretty self-explanatory, as that is where you can feature testimonials you receive from your clients. You can also create landing pages for people to sign up for your freebies, and sales pages, so that people can purchase your products and services.
4 – Create Your List & Messages
5 – Upload Your Freebie
You should create a freebie (an ebook, some templates, or checklists) as a “thank you gift” to give to people when they sign up for your newsletter.
6 – Create Your Newsletter Sign Up Box / Opt-In Box
You will have to have a place where people can sign up for your newsletter list. Log in to the service you chose and create a form. You will get some code. Copy the code and paste that into a Text Widget on your sidebar, as well as on any landing pages you created for your freebie. You just created your sign-up box and people can now sign up for your newsletter and get your freebie!
7 – Collect Testimonials
If you don’t have any testimonials right now, start collecting them! Ask any current or past clients for a testimonial that you can use on your site. If you are just starting out and don’t have any clients yet, maybe you can do some work for a discounted price in exchange for a testimonial.
8 – Set Up Social Media Profiles
If you haven’t done so already, set up your social media profiles. Be sure to place the links to your profiles on your website.
9 – Start Promoting
Now it’s time to start promoting your website! Share the links to your main site, as well as any specific blog posts or pages. This may be hard for you, if you have a hard time talking about yourself. Remember, you have to promote your site! If people don’t know your website exists, they cannot visit it!
10 – Create A Content Plan
Your Content Plan doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. It can be a simple piece of notebook paper with a list of blog posts you plan on writing over the next few months. You can make it fancier, if you wish. The point is just to have an outline of what type of content you want to publish and when, so you know what you need to be working on.
SUPPORT THIS BLOG
To end this post, I just want to let you know how appreciative I am (as well as other bloggers and content creators) when you share my blog post, click through affiliate links, view (and click) ads, even commenting is such a huge deal for me, I’ll dare to say that it actually means the whole world to me.
It’s not just me, most bloggers also spend a lot of time running their blog, doing the research before writing a blog post, and then writing valuable content, and not to mention shooting or searching and editing the photos you see. What I want to say is, thank you for the support that helps me keep running this blog and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
Some ways to support me running this blog are to share or comment on my posts, view (and click) ads, subscribe to my newsletter to get freebies, check out my shop, or buy me a cup of coffee.
Wow, thanks for sharing these tips.