Updated April 13, 2023

Subtitle
The benefits of setting up a blog can be very rewarding

Synopsis
There is a learning curve to successful blogging. And it will take several months to thoroughly learn most aspects of blogging and how to do it successfully. But the benefits that you and your business might gain can be enormous. Here are ten essential basic steps that you must heed to set up your blog correctly.

What You Will Learn
1. You will learn the most critical and essential steps to setting up your blog.
2. You will learn concrete tips for making your blog look professional.
3. You will learn how and why these steps can help your readers appreciate and trust your blog.

Introduction
You must get your blog up and running as quickly as possible. Start writing when you realize what specific topic or niche you want to write about. This decision will help you build a body of work showing the world that you are an expert in your niche.

But if you already have expertise in a particular topic and have built up a body of work that you have previously written, you need to break that work down into a format that is blog friendly.

Here are ten essential basic steps that you must heed to correctly set up your blog and quickly get it running smoothly:



Step # 1. Create a WordPress Blog
Do not waste your time on any of the other blogging websites. As a beginner, you should go directly to WordPress. This one is by far considered the best and most user-friendly available. It is straightforward to use and has many free add-ons, called widgets, available.

Most bloggers use this site, so plenty of help and advice is available online. But basically, WordPress.org gives you total control of your blog. WordPress.com allows you less power. But search online to learn more about the differences and the costs involved.

Step # 2. Write Your Profile and Add a Headshot
Start by using your LinkedIn profile to help you write this. You must put a lot of thought into creating your profile. Give some specific information about yourself, but DO NOT exaggerate. And DO NOT oversell yourself by being boastful or arrogant.

Write several sentences giving the essential but relevant information that a reader might need to determine your relevant experience to write about your blog’s topic. Include an excellent photograph of your face.

Step # 3. Write Your Blog Posts
Write your blog posts about anything you want to write about. Write some like a formal essay. Some will be a one-paragraph quick tip. But always remember that each post must support your niche. Any information you post on your blog must benefit your readers and followers. Write your posts in an appropriate and respectful style.

Do not exaggerate, talk down to the readers, or talk over their heads. Write to them in a way that shows you have respect for the subject matter and the readers. I don’t care if you are a big-university intellectual or a wealthy big-shot celebrity. Your job as a blogger is to help the readers by sharing your expertise and experiences in a particular topic.

They won’t mind you tooting your own horn occasionally. But helping the readers should be the main reason you have a blog in the first place. Your need to show the world that you are an expert should come second. Remembering this is the key to producing a great blog.

Step # 4. Keep Your Posts Short
Each post should be about one specific topic. A typical everyday post should generally be at least 400 words, typically not more than 2,000 words. If your article is longer than this, you can try to break it down into two separate posts. But do not name them Part 1 and Part 2.

Step # 5. Add One Image to Each Post
Add an image to each post to help them be visually appealing. The image’s topic doesn’t necessarily need to relate directly to the post’s topic. But at the very least, it should be visually attractive or eye-catching.

Step # 6.