photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography
WeBuildYourBlog is now 3.5 years old and so far it’s been a fun adventure.
It’s been exciting, hard, frustrating but so worthwhile as the site now provides me with a full-time income.
These are the things I have learned in the last 3 and half years (no particular order – just me listing my thoughts!):
- Secure your site
- Add the relevant ‘compliant’ pages like Disclaimer, Privacy, DMCA, etc
- Get a mentor
- Only start a blog in a subject that you love
- Buy your own domain name and use WordPress.org
- Outsource things you don’t like doing or don’t understand
- Ensure the domain name is short and easy to remember
- Invest in blogging tools that save you time
- Publish blog posts in a weekly schedule (i.e. every Monday and Thursday for example)
- Publish blog posts at least twice a week
- Get someone to check your writing for mistakes before hitting the ‘publish’ button
- Build on-line relationships
- Guest post on other sites
- Comment on other blogs
- Be the first to comment
- Backup your blog using Backup Buddy
- Remove the sidebar Meta login
- Use blog carnivals
- Write the best content you can
- Ask your customers/visitors questions
- Leverage social bookmarking
- Write list type posts
- Use tags
- Use pings
- Write “How to” articles
- Use a decent sized font like 14pt
- Be generous with your knowledge
- Use Feedburner
- Allow readers to subscribe
- Have 2 weeks’ worth of blog posts…all ready to publish
- Add an RSS subscription icon
- Build your email list
- Use “series” of posts
- Reply to comments
- Use standard readable fonts
- Use a light background
- Use images
- Don’t add AdSense
- Use Google Analytics or even better, Pro Blog Stats
- Only check your stats once a week
- Don’t copy other people’s content
- Don’t publish your content on other blogs or article directories
- Use an RSS reader or Alltop to keep up to date with other blogs
- Read other blogs for keeping up to date
- Read other blogs for content ideas
- Have an “About” page
- Have a picture of yourself on the “About” page
- Learn SEO
- Only have one or two ads
- Be patient
- Don’t have a blogroll
- Link to other blogs from within your blog posts
- Internally link to your other blog posts
- Make it easy for visitors to contact you
- Add your services with prices
- Learn how to use blog post titles properly
- Allow visitors to subscribe via email
- Enable commenters to subscribe
- Share your opinion
- Ask your customers for feedback
- Take a break
- Get feedback
- Act on the feedback
- Add what your blog is about in your header banner
- List your popular posts in the sidebar
- List your recent posts in the sidebar
- Change the permalink to a more SEO friendly one
- Use your footer area wisely
- Make your blog load as fast as possible
- Optimize the images you use – use WP Smush It
- Use a reputable hosting company like HostGator
- Allow visitors to contact you in real time using a service like Zoopim
- Have a search facility
- Show off your testimonials
- Add a Google+ page and ensure you link to it
- Use a Premium WordPress theme
- Check for broken links – use Broken Link Checker
- Don’t believe the hype about making money via your blog…quickly
- Ask for help
- Ask others to social bookmark your posts
- Create/join a ‘traffic club’ where you promote each other’s work
- Invest in your knowledge
- Make your blog mobile friendly
- Create a Gravatar
- Keep a track of what works and what doesn’t
- Ensure your Gravatar is a real picture of you
- Involve your family
- Don’t tweak your site too often
- Don’t follow or buy every flavour of the month
- Don’t believe the hype of fast / easy money
- Use a proper author display name (rather than ‘admin’)
- Only have a few categories
- Study ‘how to use the best headlines’ to entice your audience
- Don’t use spun content
- Allow guest posts
- Have guest post guidelines
- Check the guest posts you receive for plagiarism using CopyScape
- Develop and sell your own products
- Share some personal (not too personal!) things
- Organize and plan your working day
- Love your customers
What have I missed?
What have you learned while building your blog?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Andrew is a website builder and helps small businesses with their on-line presence…so they can grow their customer list and increase sales. That’s it! That’s what we do each and every day.
Dear Andrew –
Thats all?
We can do that.
Corinne
That’s all there is to it. We can all do it!
Andrew
Wow Andrew, great list. As for 24. Use Pings, what is this one? i have never heard of it before. Maybe you have me using it and I just don’t know it. (Your so good and keeping my site on top of things,thanks).
I really don’t think you missed anything, As far as family goes, other that hubby knows a little as for others, they don’t really have a clue to what i am doing.
This is ok Guess maybe i should use FB more. They sure know how that works. LOL
Thanks for hitting my refresh button. I need that for the new blog.
debbie
Debbie,
re: Pings. Yes your site is all set up for pings.
Pings tells other websites that you have added new content and that informs Google and other search engines to come and crawl your site again.
So in simple terms, pings gets your new content indexed faster.
Andrew
Awesome list. I could have used a couple of those points myself a few years ago… Great job building your online business and blog these last 3 years.
Michelle
I think we all could do with a list like this…when starting out or just as a refresh.
Andrew
Great tips, Andrew! It is really helpful to all the bloggers.
Thanks, Shilpan.
I hope it helps thousands of bloggers!
Andrew
Having a way to decide what to do next? There is always lots of advice – and it can conflict.
Evan,
Very ture!
Conflicting advice is a major problem. Hence…find a mentor you trust and like!
Andrew
excellent points, some of them I am following but need to follow more, the sequence you made is also well manage, for example security should be at the top and it is..
In that case, the last one should not be last!
Andrew
A great consolidated, handy list Andrew! Indeed it is so nice to have a record of things we learned (like this one) – good to look back after a few years. Also newbies and others who are starting out and need help can use this list!
Jane,
…and not just newbies. I would guess many experienced bloggers could also benefit.
Andrew
Andrew,
You’ve got to stop leaving things out! Seriously, great list. You could expand it into a nice blogging guide, and that may be your plan, who knows?
#4 is huge for new bloggers, or they will never be able to do #9.
On the subject of posting frequency, there is new research out that indicates postng at least once per day is more than 50% more effective at increasing traffic from both search engines and referrals than posting a few times per week.
Great list!
Steve
You are right about #4 and #9. I’ve tried a few blogs where #4 did not come into it. They became a chore and I gave them up.
Not sure I could post every day…I wouldn’t get anything else done like client work!
Andrew
S***! Now I’ve got to compile a list too!
lol, scratches head, bites lip, makes another coffee… and another…
Linda,
Remember…visitors like lists…so go for it (after a coffee).
Andrew
Awesome list Andrew. I think you missed out “have fun” as if it doesn’t feel like work then you’re more likely to spend time doing it.
Yes…good one Joel.
I wouldn’t say it’s been fun everyday but most!
Andrew
its interesting and helpful for all the bloggers.thanks for sharing this information #8,#44and #45 are the best tips
I would find it hard to pick the best tips. All are important.
Andrew
What an excellent list for a novice such as myself.
My problem is time and energy, I am aiming for at least a post a week,
I’ll move up from there! Sort of like exercising 🙂
This gives me a guideline I can refer to when I am floundering.
Anne
Great, Anne.
Posting once a week is fine…as long as you do.
Have you tried long and short posts? Do you see a difference in the number of visitors?
Andrew
Holy moly, what a list! I’m going to have to work on several of those options myself.
Amy,
Which ones? When?
Andrew
P.S. Oh…and I hope they make a difference to your working days!
How fantastic, what a list! If I had to pick the most salient point (and there are an awful lot), it would be #41 – don’t be tempted to copy, even though it may be so tempting. #61 – Take a break, time to freshen up the brain! Thanks for the list, you have my admiration.
Gavin,
Many commentors here have mentioned their best ones. When I re-read the points I think…yep I agree.
No matter which point they mention…I think it is important and having your own unique content is VERY important.
Andrew
Hi Andrew..
Really great post. Many fresh bloggers will be guided by this list. Each and every point is very true and every blogger should follow, if they are not aware about it. Thanks Andrew. Be proud to be a blogger.
Ashrin
Not just fresh bloggers…right? Experienced ones as well?
What do you think?
Andrew
Yeah it’s Correct Andrew. Even experienced bloggers will do mistakes by forgetting these things. Your post will remain them to remember these things to be successful.
What a list! It packs immense value just by itself, but when you add the freebies at the end of each link – you ARE generous with your knowledge. Love your list. Will periodically use it to pick the next 3 things. A 101 things I cannot do. Couldn’t even read through it in one go. But three a time – piece of cake [everything being relative]. Thanks for making and sharing the 101 experiences!
~Beat
You are welcome, Beat.
I’m glad you liked the list.
And picking 3 at a time is a great approach.
Andrew
Thanks for sharing all of your hard-earned insight! I especially like the idea of having two weeks worth of posts ready to go. Then, there’s a bit of a cushion if you are unable to write for a couple of days, or get sick, or, or, or… 🙂
Raina
Having 2 weeks of posts is a good approach. It takes time to get to that position…well it did me!
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
That is certainly a comprehensive list of what you’ve learned while building your blog. I can’t say that I even come close to the list that you’ve got here, but then again I’m not a professional blogger either. Great list by the way, hope I can snag some of the things I’ve missed.
Felicia
Feel free to ‘snag’ as many as you want – I hope they help!
Andrew
These are some very interesting insights.
I would say that what it all comes down to is focus. Focus on your passion – otherwise you won’t enjoy it in the long run. Focus on your own product i.e. website – and don’t spend endless time reading all possible sources of information. I think it’s best to pick three blogs that you can really trust and avoid reading to much other stuff.
As much as it’s important to be on top of new strategies and tools you mustn’t forget that if you want to be successful you will have to create something new to be able stand out. To get feedback from a consultant seems like a very good idea.
Erda
I agree focus is important AND knowledge…that’s where the mentor can come in.
Andrew
wow what a list of 101 facts. its very informative post i love to reading i hope i will used in my website thanks lot
What a great list, Andrew. Only check your stats once a week? Any suggestions on HOW I can wean myself off this addiction?!
Yeah! i already make this list as to do list.. This lists can be my blueprint to build new blog later on.. TQVM!
=)
Hi Andrew,
I really love your site! I specially like the left social media side bar. I assume that it’s a plugin. Would be nice to know what plugin is that lol.
I went over your 101 list and found many useful advice. I will use some of them to implement in my blogging.
Thanks and have a nice day
Rob
Rob,
That social media side bar is aplugin called GetSocial.
Andrew
oh my god…a huge list but i read it. and its amazing. i have learnt a lot from my own blog posts and i learn more from others blog post. this is how a blog post should be. sharing our own experience is the best thing we can do
Prabhat
yes, sharing experiences is a good thing. It’s nice to share your knowledge and help others.
Andrew
I just found your list! That should keep me going for a while! I’m going to take AdSense off my blog then 🙂
Glad to find you Andrew. Your blog it’s like a gold mine. 50 of these thigs didn’t know about them. Alot of great stuffs i’ve found on your blog, where i didn’t found in anywhere else on the web. Cheers Andrew and keep it like that.
Sry for my english,
Gabriel
Gabriel
I’m glad you like the site and the post!
Since commenting, what actions have to taken from the post and applied to your own site?
Andrew