As with a real bricks and mortar house, you need solid foundations to build on when starting your WordPress website business. A website is considered a valuable piece of virtual real estate. A successful website can be worth more than your family home and without a solid backbone to your website, you run the risk of crippling your business before it even has a chance to get off the ground. Important tasks and systems need to be set in place before hanging out your “open for business” sign.
With each new WordPress website business I build, I religiously follow the same simple steps that lay the right foundations from the start.
WordPress Website Business Foundations
Keyword Research
This is the most important step when starting to build a WordPress website business. You should not just go and build any old website about any old topic. Correctly researching a niche can give you a huge advantage over your competitors. If you get this step right it will mean you have to do less work in the future. A great way to research your niche is to use the Google keyword tool and look for a keyword that people are searching for. When you find a keyword you must make sure that it has low competition, high search volume, and is also a potential moneymaker.
For example if you liked computers and wanted to build a website about them you could not simply make a website named computers.com. Obviously that name would not be available and that competition would be huge. So therefore you would research a smaller niche within the subject of computers. You could have something like computer repair, computer blue screens, computer problems, and so on. If you do not find a keyword with low competition and high search volume then you can dig down deeper by searching for longer tail keywords. So then you could be searching for something like laptop computer problems, computer monitor repair, laptop computer repair, DIY computer repair, and so on.
Buy The Right Domain Name
Once you have found the right keyword you should buy a domain name that contains that exact word if you can. This is proven to help in your search engine rankings for your WordPress website business. For example if you are looking for a computer tips website you should look for something like computertips.com. Do not get caught up in all the hype and go out and buy a fancy domain name when you really only need one that Google will understand and your visitors will remember. If the domain name that you want is not available use your keywords at the beginning and add another word on to it. For example you could look for computertipsonline.com computertipsforseniors.com and so on. Do not worry about a long domain name or even if you have to put a dash in it, because it will still work well in the search engines.
Have A Plan For Your WordPress Website Business
Do not run your new business with a blind fold over your eyes. Open your eyes and know the path you are about to travel. Set some stepping stones or goals to achieve along the way. Follow the yellow brick road. Of course you can deviate from this path, however you will achieve more if you have a plan to fall back on.
Get The Right WordPress Theme
Some people do not think that getting the right WordPress theme is important, however I feel it is important because if you get the right theme in the first place you will save a lot of time and effort. People spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to use each new WordPress theme that they install. I personally like to use a very limited number of themes and become an expert at customizing them. This way you are a master of your WordPress theme and you are not constantly learning how to customize it to suit your needs.
Setup Your Websites Accounts
There are numerous accounts to set up each time you start a new WordPress website business in a new niche. It is not good for websites to share accounts and the first thing that needs to be set up is an e-mail account. Some other accounts include:
- Setting up your feed burner account.
- Setting up your RSS feeds to submit content automatically to certain websites.
- Making a Facebook page.
- Opening a Twitter account.
- Setting up a Twitter feed account which will automatically publish content to certain websites.
- Creating a YouTube account.
Setup Your WordPress Categories The Right Way
When setting up your WordPress website categories it is important to use closely related keywords. I use the Google keyword tool to find related keywords to use.
After finding the related keywords you need to enter the categories in and write a SEO description for each category. This needs to be done right in the first place. You can add category descriptions by clicking on the Post link in the left column and then clicking on the categories link. You will see all the options to edit or setup your categories there.
Setup An Optin Capital Form
You might not be ready to communicate with a list, however always start collecting email addresses from the minute you start your website. You might be missing out on connecting with one of your most loyal followers. People are willing to wait a couple of weeks, at least, until they receive communication from you. It is better to keep them waiting for a short time instead of losing potential subscribers for your WordPress website business.
When I first started, I had my WordPress website business running for at least two years before I added and optin form. This was my biggest mistake. I eventually signed up for a free mail account at Mailchimp.com and have used them ever since. Now I have at least 10 or more auto responding e-mails set up for each website I build. I also have a newsletter that is automatically distributed to my subscribers at certain intervals. Once these things are set up, they are done forever.
Configure Blog Settings
To configure your blog settings you will just have to follow some simple steps.
- Changing your Permalinks. (Search engine friendly URL’s)
- Changing your privacy settings. (Let the world in)
- Going through your writing, reading, and discussion settings.
- Configure your WordPress website pinging options.
Install Plugins To Make Life Easy
Every WordPress website should have plug-ins to help the website promote itself. I use certain search engine optimization plug-ins that do most of the work for me. Here are some of the search engine optimization plug-ins I use on my websites. I have a set list of plug-ins that I install to every website by spell at Build. These include anti spam plug-ins, security plug-ins, related post plug-ins, and so on.
Setting Up The Sidebar Widgets
Setting up your sidebar is very important because it makes your website look like it is finished. People do not like to visit a half done, shabby website. You could add your optin form to your sidebar, maybe a Facebook like box, and also a popular post widget. These are just some examples of what you can do to make your WordPress website business look complete.
Build Some Solid Links For Your New WordPress Website Business
With each new website, part of its foundation, is to let the search engines know that it exists. If you have links pointing to your website, they could be called by Google Yahoo or being, and your website will be found almost immediately. This does not mean that you have to go around and beg for links because you can start off with many valuable free back links. Some of the websites where you can get free back links include Ezine articles, Youtube, Alexa.com, Statbrain.com, and many more. There are also free link directories, do follow blog commenting, and the list goes on. You should build these links with every new website you create. The busy at the website where you place the link the more chance you have of being recognized by the search engines.
Notes On Laying The Right Foundation For Your WordPress Website Business
- Laying the right foundations to your WordPress website business will pay off in the end.
- If you are a webmasters who has forgotten to do these simple tasks for you new WordPress website business it is still not too late. Go back and lay the foundations correctly and I guarantee that you will have no regrets.
After you have completed these steps, it is now time for you to publish some posts to your new website. This new post that you publish will be spread across the Internet automatically if you have laid your foundations correctly. The search engines should be visiting your new website within days.
Building a foundation for your WordPress website business is an easy task if you stick to the systems mentioned above.
Great collection of useful tips!
I would also recommend getting logins on sites like Social Ooomph and Ping.fm for post-once-update-all services too.
lingstar recently posted..PRELAUNCH! Online Success Black Belt Blogging Community Forums! Pass the coffee!
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Yes I agree!
I am not really happy with Twitterfeed at the moment. But as long as you get the whole system running..that’s the main thing! I might check out your suggestions, thanks Barbara.
Another thing I forgot to mention is make an rss page on Feedbite.com. You add rss feeds in there and it makes an actual page with the titles linking to your site.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..WordPress Website Search Engine Optimization Plug-ins
Twitter: yourmarketingfriend
says:
Woa! FeedBite.com is a great resource! I am going to sign up for an account right this second.
I am kind of kicking myself that I didn’t know about this sooner. However, this wouldn’t be the first time I have gotten a great resource from you. Keep them coming.
yourmarketingfriend recently posted..The Pros and Cons of Wealthy Affiliate – Is Wealthy Affiliate a Scam
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Oh thanks Yourmarketingfriend… I forget to mention these things because it is just a way of life…
Mitz Pantic recently posted..When will I get my first payout from Clickbank
Twitter: netchunks
says:
Those are some great tips Mitz, I am pretty much sure this will help newbies get their Business Website up and running easily if they follow all these steps. Currently I do not have a list but reading your articles has made me know how much important having a list it.
netchunks recently posted..3 Big Lies about Making Money Online You Must Ignore in 2011
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
If I want more traffic or to make more money I send an email to my list…Maybe I give them something or have something special on the website…I am not one that pitches stuff in emails, I just get them to the website and make money that way…It really does work…
For example I have a computer tips website and I make quizzes. When I do I send an email to let everyone know…My earnings go up because they get there and share it, tweet it, and so on…
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Generating traffic for each new article you post on your blog
very well written post!
I do agree with just about everything you wrote – it is extemely important to get the right layout for your blog. without a good layout people will turn away or not come back to your site.
this is one area I need to improve – I NEED a premium theme and am trying to figure out if i should get thesis, or genesis and its not an easy task
I also agree with getting the right domain name to an extent. If you are selling a product or marketing a specific niche then yes you NEED a good domain name – however I have a short 4 letter .CO domain that I use as my blog and the name I chose has NOTHING to do with anything that i write about – but that has not stopped me. With the right marketing, installing COMLUV and guest posting my blog is getting decent daily traffic with some legit comments.
I am basically the first .CO domain that is a do follow and I hope my blog grows this year!
great post – excellent read!
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Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I really do believe that having the keyword in the domain name and focusing on a keyword is a major advantage. I myself, will never buy a domain name without the keywords being present.
I also believe that if you work hard enough and have determination your business will work regardless of any of these factors.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Top 10 Onpage SEO Techniques You Need To Know
Before building the “solid links,” you should be writing the best content there is. Take a few lessons in writing, looking at mentors and such, and THEN build links. That’s what I’ve done for all my blogs and they are very successful.
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Hi there Zac…
I forgot to mention that I do most of this in one day!!!! But of course for the newbies you are so right! OMG I guess it is not that easy.
The best thing is to start with one post and then a few links. Then the next post and another few links. If you can complete this in one day though, that would be better.
I disagree with the lessons and looking at mentors though as it can waste too much time. I like to jump in and do it and learn on the way…Its amazing what you learn when you are actually doing it and making the mistakes yourself.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Tools That Create Guaranteed Website Success
Twitter: phitzone
says:
Oh, where was this when I started out. Great layout plan! I’m saving this one, and passing it along to anybody that is setting up a new blog.
phitzone recently posted..How to Lose Weight- and Get Seriously Strong
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
I find that it is easier to stick to a plan that is proven to work. But I might have left some things out here, however these steps are a good place to start. It’s all about the systems.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Generating traffic for each new article you post on your blog
Twitter: kmhudson
says:
Thanks for all the great tips!
Kristeen recently posted..Christmas Card Pictures
Twitter: jefmenguin
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Thank you for sharing all these tips. These are helpful.
Mitz – Great simple steps to laying down the foundation of your site properly. I think the most important step to laying down a strong foundation for your site is something you touched on in this article, which is to configure your blog settings. I have witnessed a lot of people over looking this very vital step to launching a successful website.
Even though all these steps may seem small they all play a critical role in the foundation of a website. Hopefully a lot of beginner webmasters get a chance to read this article and learn the fundamentals.
John recently posted..What To Know About Online Guitar Lessons
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
There are so many things to remember and this is why I need a list. There is probably about 10 lists to this whole business which is not really that much. Someone should just create a book with the lists in it. If only I had a book like that when I started.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Top 10 Onpage SEO Techniques You Need To Know
Twitter: reitertweets
says:
This is all new to me! It’s like taking a graduate class in solcial media. I’m working on it. I’m working on it! Lots to do and understand.
Matt recently posted..4 leadership traits
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Its not really that much..LOL..Once you know it…
Mitz Pantic recently posted..How Did I Increase Adsense Earnings By 500
Twitter: reitertweets
says:
That’s the thing, this is my first go ’round with it. So much to do! I need to re-read your post. Thanks so much for posting.
reiter331 recently posted..4 leadership traits
Twitter: RetroCollage
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Thanks for the comprehensive overview. I would like to know which themes you like to work with. I’ve been customizing one theme for a while for one blog and applying variations to others, but I see I could might benefit from a different theme for an online magazine. Also, I wonder what features are in the themes you use that others lack.
retrocollage recently posted..Happy 107th Birthday- Joseph Cornell!
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
Ok firstly I use Socrates for most of my normal Affiliate or Adsense websites. This covers most of them and I only have to learn how to customize one design. The reason I chose this is because it has proven conversion rates, extra templates for sales pages, easy changeable layouts to experiment, insert ads in two seconds, and more. I can flip the layout in one minute and test and test without wasting time. You can also make each theme look different if you like. By testing my layouts and ad positions I increased my earnings by thousands.
I used to design and code my own but that is a waste of time unless you aim to be a website designer. I wanted to be an internet marketer or entrepreneur, not a web designer.
I have other websites where I need a magazine theme and have Wp-remix with a magazine add on.. But I suggest you find a magazine theme and stick with it as they are very detailed and hard to change later.
Free themes do not cut it for me…I want to get support and not have to work out problems or figure out anything I do not have to.
Mitz Pantic recently posted..Insert Adsense code above the main content title in Socrates
Great article. With so much competition out in the marketing world, we have be smart of how we “expose” out website by choosing the right keywords in matters of “quantity” and “quality”. Once that formula is set right, success and growth will not be far away. Using great tools like WordPress, is the right choice.