New Blog? Where to Start…
When you first install WordPress and set up your blog, writing that first post can be a bit intimidating.
What do I write?
Where do I start?
The key of course is to get started…
Three times in the last week I’ve had opportunity to show off my very first blog post. It was a little over 5 years ago, in August 2004, on the blogger.com platform.
I’ll show that to you as well, for a bit of a laugh:
That was me figuring out how to post to my blog for the first time, of course. And later, when I switched over to WordPress in March 2006 I started fresh (instead of importing my blogger content). And again, a first post there (um, here):
So there you have it – two of my very first blog posts, on separate blogs. And both pretty lame, no doubt -heh. Take note of the lack of comments on that first one. That’s right, no comments in over 5 years.
Sure I could delete either or both of those posts, as they were simply me testing the theme and checking things out. But I didn’t, and they are still floating around out there, so I thought it might serve as a little inspiration for you… Because I’m quite sure you can do better than that! 
So if you’re still struggling with where to start, or what to post first on a brand new blog… don’t. Just start – anywhere. And remember: you can always delete or edit.
Of course, I’ve started a number of new blogs since then – and 2 more just this week, in fact. I have a better starting point strategy now than I did a few years ago, so I’ll share with you were I generally start…
First, I walk through my own checklist:
How to Start a WordPress Blog
Next I do a bit of keyword research and choose my keywords & phrases. Once the blog is set up and the theme is installed (see checklist), I set up my categories. Then I take my keywords & phrases (see last link) and create drafts for blog posts in each category that I created.
I don’t actually publish these posts yet, or put any pressure on myself to sit down and write “great blog posts”. I just create drafts with the keyword phrase in the post title and any notes on the topic in the content area, then save.
Once I do this for my list of keyword phrases, and have a whole list of drafts, I go back and use my blog post outline to flesh each one out into a nice blog post. Then I publish each post as it’s ready.
If I can sit down over a weekend and knock out 10 or 20 posts (or more), I queue them to drip out over time. You can do that using the post-dating feature for publishing in WordPress.
So there you have it – a great starting point for your brand new blog!
And if you use this method, you’ll never be sitting there looking at a blank screen. You’ll always have a selection of drafts to work with. Hopefully that will keep you from publishing silly posts like my two above (ha!). By the way, I have 524 posts in draft here at ClickNewz as we speak…
Best,
p.s. There are great courses specifically for WordPress – AffiliateTheme offers great training and help with their WP themes for affiliate marketers, for example. And Beginning Blogger walks you through learning to install, setup & customize WordPress.
I also do a lot of outsourcing. Paul Short has done most of the custom design and added features that you see here at ClickNewz. If you need ANY WordPress help check out his page at http://wp-guy.com.
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Hi Lynn, YES I did it … the first one that replies to this fresh post!!
Just kidding, I have spent quite some time this afternoon on your blog, reading and learning a lot. Thanks for this.
Richard
LOL Richard, you were on the ball!
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I like the idea of having a checklist when starting a blog too. To remember which plugins and tools to install, etc…
It is funny that Problogger just put up a post on how to get motivated to write your blog posts.
Ah, great minds think alike
I’ll have to go check it out. Thanks for the heads-up!
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I just read it – and LOL at that one!! haha
Here’s the link:
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/10/26/how-to-get-past-the-blank-page-by-creating-urgency/
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Hi Lynn,
Catching up on some blog reading today and wanted to say thanks for the information on the blog checklist. Also, I didn’t know there was a post-dating feature in WordPress. I am going to have to figure out how to do that. I find there are times when I can write a lot and then times when I am brain dead. This will be a great feature for this. Thanks for sharing!
Tyy
To the right of the composition box, you’ll see “Publish Immediately” – you can change that to the exact date and time you wan the post to be published. This is great for weekend writing when you want a fresh post to go out every morning, or when you want your posts to appear at a specific time.
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Great! Thanks for the info Lynn. I will have to start doing that. Have a great week!
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If there’s a blog that is similar to the new one I like to copy the themes and plugins folders in addition to a number of tables from the already setup blog.
Are you serious – 524 draft posts?!? Girl, you’re prolific.
I find that I seem to write better when I’m under time pressure than if I plan ahead. I once typed out a blog post in 15 minutes because I had to fix dinner. And the response on that post was good.
For my blog on freelancing, I am posting every day this October. I made a list of 31 topics but I still only write each one right before I publish it.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend my style to anybody. I’ve been writing for 20 years after all. Your style is still better, Lynn
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I actually do that a lot myself.
The ideas come to me constantly, so that’s why I start the drafts – it gives me something to work on easily when I sit down to put out a blog post. I find it much easier than keeping a list or dozens of sticky notes.
It comes in especially handy when I pick up my laptop or am mobile on my netbook, as I can just log in and pick up any of the topics… and blog.
Congrats on your publishing schedule – that takes a lot of discipline, and it’s something I am still trying to master!
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Hey Lynn,I really enjoyed the list to set up my blog. I find it keeps me on track if I go by a list and check off steps as I get them done.Thanks for sharing.
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Lynn,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. This actually reminded me of my floating blog somewhere, which I already forgotten the password because it has been unattended since then. I think I wasn’t able to overcome procrastination issue until now. At least I know I’m not alone.=p I was a beginner back then so I think aside from procrastination, I was hesitant too. There were lots of things in my mind— about my audience, what would they say, I might sound dumb and etc. But after having my first post, I realize it wasn’t that bad at all.
Cheers,
Alex
Wow, 524 posts in draft! How did you manage that? Is there a technique you use to “knock out 10 or 20 posts (or more)” as you say?
They just keep growing!
Yes, I use an outline, which you can find here:
http://www.clicknewz.com/1993/how-to-write-a-blog-post/
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I like the idea of scheduling your post. You can work the whole day for now then, take a rest tomorrow or the next day. Also, I like the idea of making drafts everytime you have something in your mind. Actually, I’m doing the same thing.
Oh big deal, 524 draft posts!!
I have lots more than that, and I’ll even tell you some of the titles.
There’s “Draft #1″,”Draft #2″, “Draft #3″ (good stuff!),”Draft #4″…
I’d list some more, but I don’t want to spill the beans.
Dan
P.S. But I AM getting in the habit of scheduling posts!
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LOL Dan – keywords, keywords!!
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Thanks for that Lynn…I needed it. I think now I have an idea of where to start.
That’s funny; I’ve literally just started a wordpress blog. My big question though is how to get the ball rolling? Traffic, subscribers and income?
Hi Ed,
The goal now is to post, and get links.
See this post for more detail: SEO Content.
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Personally, whenever I get stuck, I always refer to the ezinearticles blog article templates. Might not be all sophisticated and brainy, but hey, it works for me.
Check it out: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/category/article-templates
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Hi. Nice tips for beginners. I would recommend to find some themes for your wordpress blog wich let you customize and also will give your blog a unique look. I personally use some premium themes including Thesis and Headway. If you are not an expert in PHP and CSS they will give help you.