How to Start a Profitable Blog Course

DAY THREE

Now that you have a blog and you installed a theme, you are ready to get started organizing the structure of your blog by adding categories, and the important pages every blog needs.

Today we are going to talk about:

  1. Choosing categories for your blog.

  2. What pages does your blog need, and what you should put on them.

  3. How to create a new page on your website.

  4. How to create a navigation menu for your blog readers.

Here are some tips on how to choose categories for your blog:

  1. Consider your blog's niche. What are you passionate about? What do you know a lot about? What are you interested in writing about? Once you know your blog's niche, you can start to brainstorm categories that fit within that niche.

  2. Think about your audience. Who are you writing for? What are their interests? What kind of information are they looking for? When you're choosing categories, keep your audience in mind.

  3. Make sure your categories are clear and concise. Your readers should be able to easily understand what each category is about. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience might not understand.

I recommend getting out a piece of paper or opening a document on your computer and pick 2-5 different categories you think you will be covering on your blog.

Once you know your 2-5 categories it’s time to add them to your blog.

Here is how you add your categories to your blog:

Go to your WordPress dashboard.

  1. Click on the Posts tab in the left-hand menu.

  2. Click on the Categories tab.

  3. Click on the Add New Category button.

  4. Enter a name for your category in the Name field.

  5. (Optional) Enter a description for your category in the Description field.

Important pages I suggest having on your blog.

  • About

  • Contact

  • Privacy Policy

Below you can click on each of the page types and it will reveal what I suggest putting on that page.

  • Your about page is the only way your readers can get to know you until they follow you on social media so it’s important to have one. People don’t trust people they don’t know so they will be less likely to buy from your affiliate links, or continue to engage with your content if they don’t know you.

    Here is what you should include on your About page:

    • Your name: The most important piece of information to include on your about page is your name. This is the first thing that visitors will see, so make sure it's spelled correctly and easy to remember.

    • Your picture: A photo of yourself is a great way to put a face to your name and make yourself more relatable to your readers.

    • Your bio: Your bio should give a brief overview of your life and background. Talk about your interests, your passions, and what led you to start blogging.

    • Your why: Why do you blog? What do you hope to achieve with your blog? Your why is an important part of your about page because it helps readers understand your motivation and connect with you on a deeper level.

    • Your goals: What do you want to achieve with your blog? Do you want to share your knowledge, inspire others, or build a community? Your goals will help you stay focused on your blog and make sure you're on the right track.

    • Your contact information: Make it easy for readers to get in touch with you by including your email address, social media handles, and website address.

    In addition to the above information, you can also include other details that you think would be interesting to your readers, such as your hobbies, your favorite books, or your favorite travel destinations. The goal of your about page is to give readers a better understanding of who you are and what you're all about, so be sure to include anything that you think would help them connect with you on a personal level.

    Here are some additional tips for writing a great about page:

    • Be yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. Your readers will appreciate your authenticity.

    • Be honest. Don't be afraid to share your mistakes and your struggles. This will make you more relatable and trustworthy.

    • Be positive. Your about page should be an uplifting and inspiring read. Focus on the good things in your life and the things you're passionate about.

    • Be concise. People have short attention spans, so keep your about page to a few paragraphs.

    Your about page is an important part of your blog, so take the time to write it well. It's your chance to connect with your readers on a personal level and make a good first impression.

  • Your contact page allows companies, your readers, and potential collaborators to reach out to you.

    Typically on your contact page, you would have:

    • A short paragraph saying what you’re open to. Example: “Thanks for wanting to get in touch! I can’t wait to chat with you about your thoughts on my content, or collaboration opportunities”

    • A contact form or your email address.

    • Links to your social media accounts.

    and potentially an FAQ if you get a lot of the same questions.

  • Your privacy policy and cookie policy if you choose to have one are there to protect you legally. They tell your readers what you do with their information.

    You can generate a free privacy policy from these sites:

    • https://www.privacypolicygenerator.info/

    • https://wordpress.org/plugins/uk-cookie-consent/

    • https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/what-is-privacy-policy/

    Once you have created your privacy policy, you will need to add it to a page on your website. You can just create a new page using the instructions in the section “how to create a new page in WordPress” below this drop-down.

    It is important to note that a free privacy policy generator is not a substitute for legal advice. If you have any specific questions about your blog's privacy policy, you should consult with an attorney.

    Here are some additional tips for creating a privacy policy for your blog:

    • Make sure your privacy policy is clear and concise.

    • Use plain language that your readers can understand.

    • Be specific about what information you collect and how you use it.

    • Be transparent about your data-sharing practices.

    Update your privacy policy regularly to reflect changes to your blog's practices.

    By following these tips, you can create a privacy policy that protects your readers' privacy and helps you comply with applicable laws.

When you’re working on these pages I suggest writing them out as a document on your computer (either Google Doc or Microsoft WordDoc) or just working on them directly on your website. Just be sure to save them as you go.

Here is how you’ll create a new page in WordPress it’s different than adding a new blog post. You’ll need to know this later when you’re ready to upload the posts or now if you are going to work on the posts directly on your website.

How to create a new page in WordPress

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.

  2. Click on the Pages tab in the left-hand menu.

  3. Click on the Add New button.

  4. Enter a title for your page in the Title field.

  5. Select a page template from the Template dropdown menu.

  6. Add your content to the page using the WordPress editor.

  7. Click on the Publish button to make your page live.

How to Create a Menu

Without a menu on your website, it will be really hard for your readers to navigate around. A menu allows your readers to easily find the information and posts that are important to them.

I recommend adding all of the categories and pages you made to your menu.

For most new blogs, your homepage will automatically have your blog posts on it, but if not you’ll also want to add your blog page to your menu.

Here are the steps on how to create a menu in WordPress:

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.

  2. Click on the Appearance tab in the left-hand menu.

  3. Click on the Menus option.

  4. Click on the Create a new menu button.

  5. Enter a name for your menu in the Menu Name field.

  6. Select a location for your menu from the Theme Locations dropdown menu.

  7. Click on the Add Items button.

  8. Select the pages, categories, or custom links that you want to add to your menu.

  9. Click on the Add to Menu button.

  10. Drag and drop the menu items to rearrange them.

  11. Click on the Save Menu button.

Here are some additional tips for creating menus in WordPress:

  • Use descriptive names for your menus so that you can easily remember what they are for.

  • Choose a location for your menus that makes sense for your website. For example, you might want to have a primary menu that appears at the top of your website, and a secondary menu that appears in the footer.

  • Add a mix of pages, categories, and custom links to your menus. This will give your visitors a variety of options to choose from.

  • Use drag and drop to rearrange your menu items. This will make it easy to create a menu that looks the way you want it to.

  • Save your menus regularly. This will help you avoid losing it if something goes wrong.

Tomorrow:

Tomorrow, we are going to talk about how to write blog posts and how often you should write blog posts.