You might have some content ideas that you’re ready to get started on, but if you’re hoping to build a great blog that becomes a trusted source for many a reader, then you have to realize that the process of building starts before you write your first word. Here, we’re going to look at what ingredients are necessary for a top-quality blog and how to make sure that you have all of them in a row. It’s a competitive space, where success is guaranteed for no one, so make sure that you read the following to at least give yourself a good chance.
The idea
Before you start blogging, you should have a clear idea of what the blog is going to be about. What subject matter (or subjects) are you going to cover? What types of content do you plan to write, whether it’s editorials, reviews, opinion pieces, instructional pieces, or otherwise? When it comes to your content, it’s important to make sure that you have some sense of what value you are trying to offer your reader. On top of that, what is your niche? What is the unique viewpoint, experience, or methodology that you offer to your writing and choice of posting subject? Sometimes, personal charisma can be enough to help you pull off a blog, but it’s usually a good idea to make sure that you have something else to draw the reader in.
The host
Of course, you need to make sure that your website works as effectively as it should. When you’re choosing a host, you should also keep in mind the platform that you’re going to choose, since there are hosts who will specialize in hosting websites built with certain platforms. Most importantly, you need to make sure that your site is going to run reliably, that it’s going to be able to host the images and other assets and to load them in quickly when someone comes to visit it. Don’t underestimate your website’s needs and don’t cheap out on selecting a host if you’re hoping to create a site that fits the readers’ modern standards.
The platform
The platform matters just as much to your website but more so in that it’s going to determine how the site is structured and how you’re going to operate it. When you’re running a blog, you need to make sure that you’re able to access the back-end to quickly edit and add posts and customize the site to your needs. There are several different decent blogging platforms these days but WordPress remains the most popular. So much so that you can work with a WordPress web design agency to help you get your site set up much more quickly and to give it some type of personal style. It is worth taking the time to see what other options are out there, when it comes to platforms, however, just to see what features they can offer. Even if you don’t switch to them, you might find some widgets that help you replicate the features that you want.
The visual style
Working with a web design agency might help you get access to the professional visual skills that you need to customize your website how you like. However, you still need to think about what your visual style is going to be. Is there a colour scheme or design element or style that you like? Do you have a logo to go with it? Some websites offer a wide variety of themes that you can quickly apply to cement your style, but you want to avoid using free or overused themes, taking your time to pick out those lesser experienced gems. You should also make sure that you know where to find good imagery, such as photos, for your site. They can play just as important a role when it comes to setting the overall tone.
The website experience
A lot of the website experience is going to be dictated by the visuals of the site, as well as how well it runs thanks to your choice of host. But that’s not all that it takes. You need to think about your navigation and how you help people find the posts that they want. A search bar is pretty crucial in most blogs, but you should ensure that you have categories that make sense, as well. Some sites will use topic/category posts, longer posts that break down a larger subject and link to individual pages where it’s relevant and helpful.
The content pipeline
It’s not just about the website or the quality of the content. The frequency and reliability with which you post that content is going to be just as important. As such, you should make sure that you’re working with some sort of editorial calendar or content pipeline. You should always be noting down ideas and keeping a list of them that you can develop at any time. Then, you pick one based on whether or not you have the time and inclination to research it or if it’s relevant at this current time (such as a recent release in the media that you’re covering), and make sure that you always have posts in every stage of development so that the content keeps coming at a reliable and consistent pace.
The optimization
You want to make sure that people can find your posts and there is a range of ways to do that. Nowadays, especially when it comes to content that’s designed to be helpful, informative, or educational, people are usually going to find it by having a question on their mind. They’re going to type that question into search engines like Google and, when they do, they’re likely to pick the sites that appear near the top. Investing in some search engine optimization for your website can help you ensure that your site appears higher on those search engine results pages, meaning that more people are likely to land on your blog when they have a question relevant to your content.
The social media presence
Of course, Google isn’t going to do all of the work for you. You have to make sure that you’re doing your part to get your site and your posts out there. Find the social media channels that are more relevant to your audience. Twitter is a good start for any kind of influencer, but if you tend to focus more on lifestyle and fashion posts with a visual component, then you should look at Instagram as well. Tiktok is on the rise, as well, and offers great discoverability but you have to be ready to consistently record video content if you want to make good use of it.
The monetization
If you’re starting to get traffic and your blog is reaching a good portion of the people that you were hoping to hit, then it might be time to look at how you can make it worth its while for you. There is a variety of ways to monetize your blog. You can run ads on it directly, write sponsored posts for brands, engage in some affiliate marketing if you’re happy to feature other brands on the website. Some monetize the site by offering premium content such as posts that the majority can’t access without paying, eBooks, or even webinars.
Again, success isn’t guaranteed for anyone. However, the above tips can help pave the way and make it easier for you to win the fans that latch onto your content.
