How to Start a Blog [Infographic]

While many of my readers are serious bloggers who already know how to start a blog, this infographic from InboundPRO.net is a concise way to remember the most important blogging priorities.

I call special attention to number 5: Have a Business Model because many hope to make money blogging, but the only way that can happen is if you focus on monetizing your blog. It doesn’t happen “auto-magically”.

Beneath the infographic I will share some additional links for accomplishing the specific points listed. If you have any great posts (yours or someone else’s) you feel fit, do please share them in the comments. If your comment does not go live right away no worries – I do pull them out of moderation as soon as I see them.

Infographic courtesy InboundPro.net – click image to see full size

1) Don’t Neglect SEO

This is NOT as hard as many bloggers believe. Simply read my post on Building Traffic for how to get started choosing your best keyword phrases and then use my Select Keywords post so you know how to use them in your posts and pages.

2) Self-hosted Website

I absolutely agree that you need to own your site. If you just really don’t want to do it now, buy a domain name and redirect it to the site you’re working on do you control at least that much and do not lose all the work you’ve done building awareness and links. This is not nearly as good as owning your own self-hosted site, but owning your domain name is essential!

3) Be Consistent

While many insist you must publish on a regular schedule, I really doubt that is as critical as some believe. When was the last time you went to a blog because they did not publish when you expected them to do so? What days and times do your favorite bloggers publish? If you don’t know the answer your readers probably don’t know either.

That said, you do want to publish regularly on a schedule that works for you. That could be once a day or once a week or a few times a week – but don’t stress out over it.

The main reason many insist you must publish daily is because they can charge more for advertising if they have more page views. If you’re not selling advertising it does not make that much difference – but not publishing regularly WILL lower your traffic.

4) Repeat What Works

Nothing to argue with there. The challenge is figuring out what works so you can repeat it.   That is why I recommend you get mentors and not try to figure it all out the hard way.

5) Have a Business Model

This is the one most bloggers miss. Blogs do not inherently make money just because they get popular or have a lot of comments or have a ton of followers on Twitter or any other social network.

You either have to sell advertising, services or affiliate products. Those are the three primary ways to make money. Blogger welfare is another way (Google AdSense) that many bloggers use – maybe the easiest but not the best. See How NOT to Monetize Your Blog.

6) Create Epic Content

Absolutely. See:

• Focus on Quality Content – NOT Quantity
• Increase Conversions By Sharing Pillar Content When Your Audience is Most Receptive
• My Content Creating Process

7) Go Above and Beyond

Good plan. Do case studies, create auto-responder series, create videos or do hangouts if that’s your forte.

8) Web Design is Critical

You don’t want to run your readers off, but do remember that for every person who loves one design there will be others who hate it. There are sites that I find it hard to read, but they’re popular with other audiences. I do recommend if you’re serious that you only use professional and NOT free themes. For why read Why We Only Recommend Thesis or Genesis Themes.

9) Usability is Key

While not as important as it is on ecommerce sites, bloggers all go through trial and error determining what is most important on your site and putting the focus on that. What we really need to learn is how to create a funnel or lead generation. We need a lead generation system for blogs like this LinkedIn Lead Generation System Andy Nathan developed.

If you have a business that has a blog, you need to make sure what you write generates interest in what you sell. Ideally, you would work with a lead generation specialists from a company like HubSpot.

10) Find Your Voice

Decide ahead of time what type of image you find acceptable. There are some excellent blogs I do not read because I do not care to be exposed to content that would once only be seen in a backstreet peep show. While you and your peers may think “dropping the ‘f’ bomb” gives you instant credibility or having images of women falling our of their tops or in g-strings are “cool” I assure you that you will run off a large percentage of your potential readers.

11) Don’t Give Up

Most bloggers who quit weren’t really that interested, but having mentors can make it a lot easier to keep going when you aren’t sure whether it is worth it or not.

12) Know When to Quit

Get a second opinion before you throw in the towel. You might just need some simple advice or assistance to make things come together.

13) Build an Email List

This should probably have been #1. This is what most of us don’t do well and should do – and KNOW we should do and still don’t make happen! Get assistance if you need it – and you probably will.  I finally found a FeedBlitz expert to assist me and am making progress. (My time is what is holding me back – lack of – the shoemaker’s syndrome.)

14) Use Multi-media

If you love making videos, go for it. If you don’t, use someone else’s. That is what I do. If you have great videos, photographs, cartoons, or images connect with me if you would like them featured on multiple domains in content I write.

15) Be Social

Yes! Here are some tips to get you started:

• Which are the Most Important Social Networks and Why
• Twitter Best Practices
• Facebook Timelines for Business
• Coming soon: Google + Resources (save this post, subscribe or check back)

16) Have Fun with It

If you chose the right topic, this will happen automatically. If you didn’t, you may want to make a change because whatever you don’t enjoy you will not do.

If you have any great posts (yours or someone else’s) you feel fit,
do please share them in the comments.
If your comment does not go live right away no worries –
I do pull them out of moderation as soon as I see them.

Tagged as: Blogging Best Practices, blogging best practices, blogging tips, business blogging, how to start a blog