8 Essential Steps to Start a Successful Blog

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

8 Essential Steps to Start a Successful Blog- HomeschoolBlogging PodcastOne of the top questions that I’m asked is “How do I start a blog?”. In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you what I consider to be the 8 most essential steps to starting a successful blog. These are the steps that I use myself when I launch a new blog and they are the steps that I coach others through when I am assisting them to start a new blog.

Note- this episode is an overview of these eight essential steps. In future episodes, I will expand on each of these steps.

Overview of the Steps

  1. Define your purpose. Think long term. Will you be a hobby blogger or a professional blogger?
  2. Determine the mission and vision for your blog. Are you passionate about the subject? What do you do if there are already hundreds of blogs on this subject? How can you provide a different angle to set yourself apart?
  3. Brainstorm post ideas before purchasing a domain. Have a brain dump where you list out potential post topics. Are you stuck at 20 posts? Time to go back to the drawing board.
  4. Decide site name and purchase domain and hosting. Your answer to question #1 determines the path you will take at this step.
  5. Design a professional looking logo/header for your site. You can hire a professional designer or you can find tools to design it yourself. Again, your answer to question #1 will influence this decision.
  6. Establish a social media presence and begin engaging with potential readers before you launch your blog. Secure your handle/username on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
  7. Launch your site with no less than ten quality posts published.
  8. Recognize and embrace the importance of networking with other bloggers. This is key to your success.

Blogging Basics Bootcamp Offer

As mentioned in this episode, I have a Blogging Basics Bootcamp course which is a nine week course designed to help you launch a successful blog from the very beginning. We cover everything from developing your idea for your blog to blog design to content creation to developing a social media strategy and building an email list to networking with bloggers to monetization and making money from your blog.

 

It is a self-paced, very hands-on course that ensures that you get your blog off the ground and helps you develop a plan to make it successful! Listeners of the Homeschool Blogging podcast can save $25 by using coupon code: PODCAST at checkout! Click here to learn more about the course!

Stay tuned next week as I cover another frequently asked question “How do you balance running a successful blog while being an effective homeschool parent/spouse/friend/and all of the other hats we wear! I’ll share with you my top tips and the secret to being successful and effective!

Be sure to subscribe to the Homeschool Blogging Podcast so that you never miss an episode!

Blogging as a Business with Jimmie Lanley

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Should you blog for money while you homeschool? Jimmie Lanley answers your questions.Have you ever wondered if you should blog to make some extra money while you’re homeschooling? Or perhaps you already blog, but wonder what you need to do to take your blog to the next level.

If you’re interested in blogging, you won’t want to miss my interview with Jimmie Lanley in which she explains:

  • Who’s cut out to blog as a business
  • Some best practices for those who want to increase readership
  • Why Google+ is a social media platform that can build your authority, and much more!

Jimmie Lanley

Be sure to enter to win one of 3 copies of iBlog, an ebook with expert advice from top bloggers, at Psychowith6 until November 19th.

 

 

how to blog, expert advice, iblog

Links from the Podcast

Don’t try to write down all the great resources Jimmie mentions! I have them for you right here:

Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes – Michael Hyatt

Blogging with Amy

Tutorial: How to Set Up Google Authorship

How to Edit Your Google Plus Hover Card to Gain More Targeted Followers

Jimmie’s Collage – her personal homeschooling site

Notebooking Fairy – for great notebooking resources to use in your homeschool

JimmieLanley.com – where you can learn more about her blog consulting services

Jimmie Lanley on Google + – be sure to add her to your circles!

I’d love to circle you, too. Here’s my Google+ profile.

click to play