10 Steps to Setting Up Your Epic Blog

When I mention to my clients that they should have a blog, many of them don’t really understand why they need one, while others feel like it will be a lot of work. I’ve written this post to show just how important a blog can be. It’s not simply a platform for your writing, it’s also a great marketing tool and can make money for you. That’s why we’re going to talk about just how easy it is to set up your own EPIC blog, in just 10 easy steps…

While a blog does require commitment, it doesn’t have to be hard work. Setting up your blog is probably the most time-consuming part, but once you’re set up, it can take you just an hour or two per week (or more if you prefer), depending on how much time you can spare. A blog isn’t simply there for the sake of it, there are many benefits of having one for your business. It’s a key communication and marketing tool that connects you with your clients. It’s also a great way to provide news about the business and showcase your products and services. If you’re a service-based business, it can also be personable, which provides you with a deeper connection to your clients by showing your human side. A blog can also help you generate extra streams of income, so when you read this article, even if you aren’t convinced you want to have a blog, you should remain open-minded.

When the term ‘blog’ was first used, it was often seen as a personal web journal, in which a person could share their experiences and opinions on a range of topics. Many blogs (like mine) are attached to a website, but they provide informational articles too. They allow you to ‘give’ information to your clients and they can actually draw in new clients too.

When you post a blog post, it’s usually a written piece discussing a sub-topic of your website or business. Obviously, if you simply wanted a blog (that did or didn’t earn you money), you would choose a niche – parenting bloggers who post about their experiences parenting seem to do well, as do fashion, beauty, and lifestyle bloggers. As you are supplying information, people read it, and sometimes this leads to a sale of a product or service, for instance, a parenting blogger may write about managing their toddler’s behaviour, which others may read. There are ways to make money by working with brands or as an affiliate if you promote the products or services of others.

If you’re a business promoting your own products or services, an informational blog post can drive your business sales! It helps you to attract potential clients to your account (initially to read your article) and then those visitors may become a lead if they return to your site, sign up for your freebie, or join your mailing list. Essentially, a blog can put you on their radar, and as a result, they may begin to engage and sign up for your social media – this is how your community is built. The more people that visit your site, the more likely it is that your website’s rank on search engines will increase. As you’re snippets of information, you’re providing value to your clients and this solidifies you as an expert in your field.

This is why you NEED a…

10 Easy Steps to Setting Up Your Epic Blog

Choose a platform for your blog, by looking at what these platforms have on offer. I use WordPress which is probably the most popular. There are other platforms out there, such as Wix. Simply type ‘blog platforms’ into your search engine to see what’s available.
Pick a host for your blog. If you use a platform for your blog, you won’t have a website name in your own right. It would be best if you looked for a host with good customer support, bandwidth, and uptime. I use Bluehost which is compatible with WordPress, so ensure that your platform and host are compatible. WordPress also offer a hosting package directly.
Narrow down your niche by looking at the different themes available. Think about your audience – who will your blog be aimed at? You’ll then be able to look through and choose blog designs and templates. Some are free, but you may need to pay for others.
Name your blog and select your domain. A website name is more professional, so you need to buy your domain name. There are many providers out there like Go Daddy. You can also buy your domain name through your host or platform, but sometimes they cost a little more. For example, my domain is www.janetevelyncooper.com as I decided to name my business with my own name. So my website is called Janet Evelyn Cooper – including my blog page.
Set up, design and brand your blog. You can create some great visuals for your blog on Canva and you can even upload your logo and other imagery that reflects your theme. In the settings, you can choose colours too, so if you already have brand colours you can customise your blog or website to reflect this.
Ideate – write down or mindmap your ideas for blog posts. Really think about what your clients want to know, and make a note of post titles you could use. I use a plug-in on my website that analyzes my post titles and rates them based on how appealing they are, and often this helps me focus on specific points.
Time to write your first post. Make sure you research your title and write in sharp, short paragraphs if possible (unless you’re creating a list). Many people prefer shorter blog posts, so aim for 500+ words, but try not to go over 1000 words (although, sometimes this can’t be helped). Make sure you use images throughout your post.
Create your post calendar. You’ll only build an audience through your blog if you are consistent with posting. Create a calendar and list your posts on this. Check them off as you post and stay committed – tick them off as you go. Ideally, to build an audience quickly, you should look at posting a few times each week, but sometimes people choose to post daily (especially in the beginning), while others post consistently once per week. Be realistic and create a calendar that you will be able to follow through with in the long term.
Market your blog! Use your social media strategy, along with your other marketing strategies to promote your blog and expand your reach. You can also collaborate with other similar businesses/blogs, and share each other’s posts.
Generate an income. Not everyone wants to generate an income from their blogs, however, if you’re a blogger, entrepreneur, or business, you should consider making money from your blog – it’s another income stream that will benefit you. You can make money through collaborations, working with brands, through affiliate links, with agreed commission-based work, by adding a shop that sells evergreen products, and by allowing others to advertise on your blog.

If you have any questions about setting up a blog or any comments to make on this post, please post a comment below, I’m happy to respond.

PS. Don’t forget to join our free Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/writershideaway as we are running a free writing event throughout July – there’s so much value with our daily 5-minute explainer videos! #crummytoconfident

Much love, Janet XOXO