How to Start a Blog or Website: Cheat Sheet

19 Comments

How to blogWe interrupt the How to Start a Blog or Website series for this work in progress.

Many of you have said you'd really like to work faster through the series. What I've put together below is a cheat sheet of sorts. Note that many of the posts here are not yet updated. However, generally speaking, this is the direction I'm going with the series and how I've rearranged things from the previous version.

I still highly recommend you subscribe if you haven't already so you catch the updates as they come. This cheat sheet is bound to change too.

For those of you who can't wait, knock yourselves out!

Getting Started

Just like a well-built house, a well-built blog or website needs a good foundation. Do these things now and you won't have to backtrack later.

Getting Set Up

Get organized so once your site gets rollin' you'll have systems in place that make you more productive. Most of these things don't take a lot of time. I expound on all of them in 12 Blog Organization Tips but here's an overview:

  • Set up a place to keep your logins and passwords. Set it up on your computer, online or use good ol' pencil and paper. I use the PocketMod and keep it in a safe place. In the past, I've also used a small, cheap address book.
  • How to Get a Gmail Account and How It Works - Get familiar with Gmail, Drive (formerly Google Docs) and Google calendar while you're at it.
  • Sign up with Swagbucks
  • Sign up with Gravatar
  • Sign up with Pocket
  • If you're hoping to make money, I tell what I wish I had done in How to Keep Track of Your Money.
  • Set up a buzz file
  • Create a way to capture your blog post ideas. Great resources are Evernote, labels in Gmail, a notetaking app on your phone or pen and paper.
  • If you want to make money blogging, I highly recommend you check with your town, your county and your state for information about home business requirements, taxes, zoning issues, or anything else you need to be aware of. This varies by location. Good resources are your local Chamber of Commerce (in the US and in Canada), your City Hall and the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov). Get the advice of an attorney and/or an accountant if needed.
  • Determine what type of business you'll have. Do you need to register a DBA (Doing Business As)? Check with your County Clerk.

Don't forget to check out 12 Blog Organization Tips for more details.

Nuts & Bolts

Here's where we dive into getting our blog or website up and running.

Passion & Writing

In addition to some of the posts mentioned previously, here are just a few more posts to help you stay focused.

Design & Usability

Choosing the design that's right for you, making minor tweaks and changes and navigating the WordPress options to make it your own.

Marketing & Traffic

Tips an hints to help you attract readers, increase your traffic and spread the word about your site.

Networking & Social Media

Make the most of your presence on other social media platforms and leveraging them to connect with others.

Making Money

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Do you like this or know someone who would? Please share it!

Other posts in this series

August 31, 2012 · 19 Comments
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Comments

  1. Mary @ The Mommy Job says:
    September 14, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    Amy,
    Your website is such a valuable resource! Thanks for compiling everything here!

    Reply
  2. Ferly says:
    September 15, 2012 at 10:59 am

    Wow Amy, this is extensive! Thank you for putting it all together! I know how much work this must have taken and you've done it beautifully! I'll be pinning this as it gives me great links to other aspects of my blogging that I want to develop in the future. I love having it all in one place. Thanks again!

    ~ Ferly
    Gifts We Use {to grow, love and serve}

    Reply
    • Amy says:
      September 15, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      Thank you so much Ferly! This has actually been a great exercise for me because it is forcing me to go back over my archives and start making some changes. It's amazing how much has changed (and how much I've learned) since I wrote the first version of this series in 2010!

      Reply
      • Ferly says:
        September 15, 2012 at 1:04 pm

        It does sound like an excellent exercise {I may do the same someday}! I've only been blogging close to a year, and I'm sure as time goes on, blogging will continue to evolve and I will continue to need your wisdom and resources!

        Reply
  3. Kaitlin says:
    September 15, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    Love your posts, Amy! They've been so helpful getting my blog up and moving :)

    Reply
  4. Kristine says:
    September 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    WOW!!! Thank you for doing this. You just saved me many hours and gave me the direction that I needed.

    Reply
  5. Autmn Macarthur says:
    September 18, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    Amy, thanks so much for the wonderful content you've provided. This list is an awesome free how-to-blog course! I've bookmarked it to work my way through slowly over the next few weeks.

    I've been blogging for a few years now, but want to take my blog from hobby to part of a business. Time to change gears. I've learned several things I didn't know here already. I keep jumping from each of your post over to my blog to make tweaks.

    Next on the list is a biggie- moving my blog from WordPress.com to .org. Kinda scary!

    Reply
  6. Jamie says:
    September 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Thank you for this! I am working my way through the series (again!). The link to the Know the basic dos and don'ts in the first section doesn't work. Love you website. It was very influential in getting my blog up and running.

    Reply
  7. Danielle Young says:
    October 26, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    Those tips are great. I am a relatively new blogger and have been asking myself many of those questions. Good to know I just need to be persistent and keep on trucking. I really like your advice to network with other bloggers and comment. I am finding that one to be useful!! Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Yankee Homesteader says:
    November 17, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    Thanks so much, Amy! I'm trying to search your site for tips on setting up a contact page for my new WP.org blog (switched over from WP.com)….could you point me in the right direction?

    Reply
  9. Brian Ngyugen says:
    January 1, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Amy,you have really good tips out there. I am kinda doing some projects and using google spreadsheet to keep tracks of what's done and what's pending.Setting up new site is so overwhelming that you can miss important stuff.

    Reply
  10. Julie says:
    March 19, 2013 at 1:49 am

    Hi Amy,
    I am so fortunate to have found your site, you have some great tips and advice and you explain everything so well. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to your site and to helping others.

    Reply
  11. Elaine DiNitto says:
    June 1, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    Thank you so much for this help, Amy!! I am just in the embryonic stages of thinking of starting a blog, and this was super to have stumbled upon, so great!!! I love you!!

    Reply

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