This beginner guide shares with you on tips to starting a blog or site through WordPress. A definite “go-to” when being pointed in the right direction. I wish I knew about this earlier when I was first a new blogger but oh well, as long as I installed these systems into my blog, I’m all good.
With many blog post guides and courses for a beginner blogger, I can assure you it’s going to take a lot of investing and time.
Are you really passionate about this new journey? Because if you’re not, I want you to read this post and then come right back here once you’re confident enough that you’re ready to invest your time and money into your passion.
Anyways, here’s a tutorial for you (a beginner blogger) on tips to starting a blog on WordPress.
So grab your mug of coffee or tea and let’s get right into it!
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Table of Contents
Go Self-Host
The number one thing you to start off as a beginner blogger. You can either start blogging on a free site like me but later have some complications when transferring, or start off your blog brand earlier using a self-hosted site.
I suggest making a self-hosted site so that you can have the advantages of control over your own site.
I’ll be giving you reasons why you should self-host. Because I use WordPress, I’ll be talking about WordPress (because WP is bae).
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Why Have A Self-Hosted WordPress Site?
- When you’re blogging on a free site, you have limited access to areas such as your WordPress dashboard, plugins etc.
Self-hosting is when you have all the control in the world with your blog meaning you can literally download as many plugins as you like, have access to installing different themes that aren’t from Free WordPress like StudioPress. - If you’re a big fan of HTML or know a little thing about it, you can access your site’s theme editor and configure, add codes such as Google Adsense to your theme. You can’t do that with free WordPress.
- You can monetize your post. When you’re self-hosted, it makes your site look professional. Brands and sponsorship networks can visit your site and contact you for collaborations.
With Google Adsense, you MUST have your own site in order to post advertisements on your WordPress site. What money you make from ads, sponsorships or affiliates, comes back to you when you invest money into your site and have more visitors and customers. It’s a win-win! - It will make your site look better and professional. I’m gonna be completely honest with you. Having that “.wordpress.com” after your site is ugly. It’s better to have a site that you own with a “.com”.
- With plugins, you’re able to analyze your site, optimize it for speed up or smush images for better site speed.
- If you’re using free WP, WordPress has control over your site. That means they can delete your site whenever they want. I found that out later when I was reading self-hosting posts on the internet. And who wants their blog to be deleted?
- My recommended self-hosted sites to use are SiteGround or WPEngine. Since I am using SiteGround, I will be talking more about them.
- The cost is cheap. When I talk cheap, I’m talking about SiteGround.
Related Posts
- The Ultimate Question: Should You Start A Blog?
- The Definitive Do’s and Don’ts of Blogging
- Can An Introvert Blogger Become Successful?
Why Use SiteGround for WordPress?
- It’s affordable. For only just $4.95 month/ly for the basic plan.
- Awesome customer service! Ok, for real, I wouldn’t want to sign up with a hosting company with terrible customer service. There are many complications when it comes to hosting your own site so service or help is important. From my experience, they were very friendly when I asked them to change my HTML to HTML and the cost was free. Took like 10-20 minutes but I got what I wanted. I also asked them for advice for speeding up my site and they gave me good tips on how to do it.
- Easy to set up. You can check out this post on how to set up with SiteGround. Or just simply click here to get started with SiteGround right now before we get into the next tip.
Figure out your Brand
Talking about brands, let me give you advise. It’s best to brand out your first blog. Why? Because your blog is, well, you personally.
I can say, I get huge amounts of visitors when I look like a “real-deal” (aka professional blogger) when I decided on sticking to a 3 coloured theme, my readable typography (fonts/typefaces), a logo + banner and my own statement/quote.
You don’t have to custom make your banners or logos like me. But if you do want to custom make your logos, I suggest making it free on LogoGarden.
If you want someone else to make it for you, try asking in Facebook Groups or Fiverr. Fiverr has different talented graphic designers who can do your logo, banner or even both for you.
Another thing is to use Pinterest to help brand out your site. I’ve made plenty of posts on how to gain impressions and clicks on Pinterest which you can check out here:
- Easily Create Unique Pinterest Board Covers On Your Phone
- Use These Amazing 10 Pinterest Marketing Strategies to Increase Traffic
- The Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for Beginners
- How To Make Pinterest Board Covers (& Bring Engagement)
- 10 Definitive Reasons To Join Pinterest for Bloggers
Another tip is to make good looking Pinterest graphics (aka pins). If you’re a beginner, you should use my 100 unique feminine designed Pinterest templates to make it easier for you (this requires you to have a free Canva account in order to edit your pins).
It makes you and your blog look professional. It can change as the years go by when you’re a blogger but that’s ok! Change is good!
Find a Theme
When I finally transferred my site to self-hosted, I didn’t change my free WP theme until later when I decided to make my own site seriously. As you might or might not know, I failed 2 blogs in the past so I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to invest in this blog. Glad I made the right decision.
Here’s an advice: make your site theme stand out and make it easier to navigate. People don’t mention this but visitors leave or stay when they come and take a look at your site. I know, I know, the point of blogging is for writing. But the designs count as well!
I usually got my site themes from CreativeMarket, StudioPress, Etsy and TheThemeShop. My blog theme is called Feminine and it’s from TheThemeShop. I got it because it came along as a bonus for purchasing The Ultimate Bundle last year in Oct 2018.
(Update July 2020: I am currently using a different blog theme that I bought from CreativeMarket).
Update Sep 2020: Guess what? I’ve changed to a new WP theme that I bought off of Etsy.
You don’t have to purchase your themes, you can have someone on Fiverr who is experienced in web design create your custom theme for you.
Create Pages: About Me, Private Policy
I just recently made my Private Policy page when I came to a realisation that I don’t want to get sued! It’s best to create it when you first start out blogging.
Have your legal lawyer to help you come up with one or if you don’t have a lawyer, have a professional blogger with the service to do one for you.
Having an About Me Page is very important. Why do I say this? The moment someone new comes along and stumbles upon your site, they’re gonna want to know who the writer is (psst it’s you).
I know this for the fact because my About Me Page is always growing visitor views based on my analytics. It’s also great to have it so that you can be seen as a professional blogger.
Oh! By the way, whilst having an About Me page, you can also have an Author Widget on the sidebar on your homepage and give a simple quick summary about your blog, who you are and what you like to do for a hobby.
Set up a Newsletter List or RSS
There are times when I stumbled upon new blogs where they don’t seem to have a “subscribe to me!” button and it really frustrates me because it happens a lot when I find blogs that I enjoy reading.
What is RSS?
RSS feed is where those that are subbed to your feed will get regular emails whenever you post a new post.
What about Newsletter?
With newsletters, you can (as the author/owner) can write up personal or updated email posts to your subscribers.
Which one is Better?
I find it better to have an email newsletter list because you want to be able to connect with your subscribers (aka your readers)! You can do anything with it like sharing your affiliates or your own products that would help your subs, a personal message about your life or more detailed tips that can only be sent to your subs.
How do I get people to sign up to my newsletter? I suggest making a freebie product in exchange for their emails. It could be like a worksheet, ebook or free course. It can be literally anything depending on what your readers will enjoy!
Post your first Introduction post
“What should I write for my new post?” many beginner bloggers ask this question all the time.
Here is my advice on creating your first new post: Write an introduction about yourself, what you will write about and what will be coming up in later posts.
But, if you want to jump straight into writing a post, then go for it. You do you!
Conclusion
You’ve learned the rules, now it’s time to start the game! Are you ready to step up your game from beginner blogger to professional blogger?
If you haven’t already, start self-hosting here and install my tips to your new and improved blog.
And, read my other posts on advice for more “beginner blogger” upgrades as well.
If you love new posts about self-care, productivity, blogging tips, and other lifestyle posts, then don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter where you can get notified in your email inbox on Fridays (Aussie time). Follow my social media accounts if you haven’t already!
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These are really great tips for anyone who wants to start their blog right.
Thank you! I do hope they help beginner bloggers starting off their blog.
This is such a comprehensive guide for newbies. I felt overwhelmed when starting a blog. It’s nice to see that it is possible.
It can be kind of overwhelming when starting a blog out at first but to get more knowledge on it, always do your research (reading blog posts) and plan (write down your expenses, what you should or shouldn’t invest in etc).
All great tips. blogging isn’t something one should rush into. it does take planning and effort. you’ve given some good guidance to people looking to start out
Thank you! It’s true for the fact that blogging takes alot of trust in investing. So it’s best to plan and see other options if one doesn’t work out.
My biggest regret after starting my blog last year is not self hosting. I went with the WordPress.com because I was new and intimated by the process of self hosting.
In hind sight, I would have done things differently.
We may regret starting sooner but as for now, as long as we done it, then we’re good to go! Tbh I don’t think it will change much of a difference. I guess it depends how much effort you put into your blog.