Planning to start a website? Here is your guide
If you’re an influencer and have a following then you should start a website. Got something to say that will resonate with the audience then start a blog. If you are tech-savvy and are looking to make additional revenue then you should start a website. And if you’re good at a certain thing then please, start your own website. Not many people know that websites are passive incomes and that the simple task of blogging can generate revenues.
Start a website with an authentic service provider
When it comes to starting a website, however, many of us are clueless. The world is transitioning into a digital age and having your mark on the digital platform matters. We’re all individual brands and have our fan following. If you’ve got something to say then social media is your best friend. The awesome part about this is that you can do what you love and earn with it as well. Before I get started on the “earning” part of the website which I’ll reserve for another post here are some things that you may want to keep in mind. This will help you in establishing a blog and how to effectively run it.
Firstly, pick the right platform for your website/blog. Do your research when you’re setting up the blog because once you get started it is hard to shift posts. I started blogging with WordPress and shifted from Free WordPress to a self hosted wordpress. There is a difference between the two and you should be careful what you pick. WordPress is by far the most authentic blogging service that is very easy to use as well. To get started on WordPress self-hosted blogs all you need is a domain and web hosting. Now, web hosting is a bit tricky since domain registrars offer useless services that confuse small business owners. Be sure to check out your options since they cost money and the aim is to make money.
Realizing the importance of backup is very crucial. Blog owners sometimes lose their data because of hosting problems or server issues. It is necessary to have backups so if you lose data then it can easily be recovered. There are 3 good backups to save your data: BackupBuddy (Paid), VaultPress (Paid) and BackWPup (free).
Usually, we switch off updates or ignore them. But it is necessary to keep an eye on WordPress updates since they help in site protection. If you do not update your WordPress then it becomes susceptible to hacking. A little tip that when you’re updating be sure to backup data.
Do not ignore Favicons when you start a website
Favicons are website identity but many people tend to ignore it. If you do not know what a favicon is, then they are little icons that show up next to the page title in the browsing window. Default favicons show unprofessionalism. If you’re planning on starting a website then be sure to pick an eye-catching favicon.
Use proper structure on your website. Categories, tags and meta-tags are all very important. It is necessary to know where you classify which content so it is easier for your audience to find relevant material. Nobody likes clutter or too many categories so it is necessary to give your content proper structure.
Permalinks are important for SEO and while setting up WordPress be sure to update the permalink structure. Otherwise, the site would use the default URL structure:/?p=23
Talking about SEO, do not take optimization lightly. Making your content stand out is dependent on quality and optimization factors. Website owners should update their meta setting on regular basis to get their site indexed. Website owners need to make effort in developing SEO based content since this is a factor that makes your website stand out.
Changing the website URL can make you lose traffic. If you’re going to change the URL then be sure to take proper steps in order to not lose traffic. Traffic is your primary basis of monetization so it is important to redirect your audience to the right page.
Always get your theme from a reliable source. Many new site owners do not know where to get good themes from. They end up with malicious links on their blogs so it is necessary to do your search on themes.
Have a contact form with a valid email address. People like reaching out to the blog they follow. Gravity forms are excellent in order to communicate with your fans. They also help in avoiding spam messages.
Analytics will help you determine site traffic
Google analytics is your best friend in the blogging world. No matter how many followers are the actual game comes down to engagement. Use analytics to see which content of yours is doing better and which can be improved. Follow along the lines of viral content to get more out of audience engagement.
You do not have to use Microsoft word. WordPress lets you write and save drafts so you can just keep all your stuff online. WordPress will let you save drafts so you can post whenever you’re ready. It can also revert back to older drafts which aren’t possible on Microsoft word.
Delete the sample page. Samples pages take away the traffic and often are just unnecessary clutter on search engines.
Archiving seems pretty cool when you start blogging. However, the downside of this is that when you start gaining a bit of momentum it can look very congested. It turns into a long sidebar and thus, is necessary that you classify the archives so that users can find content easily. Custom archive pages help in the better categorization of your content.
These are some of the tips and tricks of starting a website. Once put into practice, you can see which things can work out for you and which can be made better. All this information on how to start a website may seem daunting but it is very easy. Running a blog or website is a personal preference.
Best of luck with your endeavour in the world of blogging.
Image via Startup.co.uk
RS News or Research Snipers focuses on technology news with a special focus on mobile technology, tech companies, and the latest trends in the technology industry. RS news has vast experience in covering the latest stories in technology.
Hi thanks for sharing such a great and informative article. I was planning to start my website i think this article would help me a lot. Thanks and keep it up.