specific category.Reading - Allows you <strong>to</strong> set the home page for your site (either astatic page or the latest <strong>blog</strong> posts), the number of <strong>blog</strong> posts onyour home page and archives, the number of items in your RSS feed,and whether you want <strong>to</strong> s<strong>how</strong> your full post content or a summaryin your RSS feed.Discussion - Allows you <strong>to</strong> control <strong>how</strong> comments are received onyour <strong>blog</strong>. The optimum setting is <strong>to</strong> moderate all new commentauthors, and au<strong>to</strong>matically approve comments by previouslyapproved comment authors. Also hold in moderation commentswith multiple links as this is a sign of a spammer.Media - Allows you <strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mize the default sizes for imagesuploaded <strong>to</strong> your <strong>blog</strong>.Permalinks - This allows you <strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mize the URL structure for your<strong>blog</strong>. The best option is <strong>to</strong> have a structure that allows keywordsfrom your post / page titles <strong>to</strong> be implemented in<strong>to</strong> your URL, alsoknown as the post name structure.ConclusionRemember you will need <strong>to</strong> visit and learn about each section of your Dashboard and get comfortable withthe management options. Doing so will allow you <strong>to</strong> improve your <strong>blog</strong>’s design, functionality, and personality.Once you know what it takes <strong>to</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>mize your <strong>blog</strong>, make the necessary tweaks <strong>to</strong> make it stand out andplease your readers.Chapter 4How <strong>to</strong> Write and Create GreatBlog ContentSummary: The content of your <strong>blog</strong> will be the bait that draws yourreaders. In this chapter we will cover what content your <strong>blog</strong> consis<strong>to</strong>f, types of content you can be creating, and <strong>blog</strong>ging practices youshould follow.Now that you have your <strong>blog</strong> set up, your next goal is <strong>to</strong> createcontent. Without great content, even the most well-designed, tightly-structured<strong>blog</strong>s will ultimately fail. There are three types of contentyou need <strong>to</strong> create for your <strong>blog</strong>.33
Pages content - Static page content for your <strong>blog</strong>.Sidebar content - Static content that appears alongside your <strong>blog</strong>.Blog posts content - Regular post content about your niche.Before you <strong>start</strong> writing your day-<strong>to</strong>-day “Blog posts” you will have<strong>to</strong> make sure the main content - “Pages” and “Sidebar” of your <strong>blog</strong>is created and uploaded <strong>to</strong> your <strong>blog</strong>.We will explore each of these areas of content in-depth down below.Pages contentFirst, you will need <strong>to</strong> create your page content. As you are <strong>start</strong>ingout, you will want <strong>to</strong> have static content pages for the following.About page - The most traditional page on any <strong>blog</strong> isthe about page. This page simply tells new visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong>your <strong>blog</strong> what it is about, who you are, and why youhave a <strong>blog</strong> about your specific <strong>to</strong>pic.Contact page - This page allows visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> your <strong>blog</strong><strong>to</strong> contact you at anytime. It can be a simple page withyour email address plus social network links, or you canuse plugins like Contact Form 7 <strong>to</strong> have a simple contactform visi<strong>to</strong>rs can use <strong>to</strong> contact you without leavingyour website.Products/services page - If you created your <strong>blog</strong> <strong>to</strong>promote your business, you will want <strong>to</strong> make sure thatthere is a page that details the products or services yousell. Alternatively, if you already have a website for yourbusiness, you can link <strong>to</strong> it in your menu.Disclaimer/policy page - To give yourself a little liabilityprotection, you might want <strong>to</strong> consider a disclaimersor policy page. For example, if you are writing a health<strong>blog</strong>, but you’re not a medical professional, you maywant <strong>to</strong> create a disclaimer <strong>to</strong> say that while you offerthe best advice possible, you are not responsible forany outcomes that those who follow it experience. Youmay also want <strong>to</strong> inform visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> your website thatyou use analytics tracking, Google AdSense, affiliatemarketing links, and other types of content. A great exampleof a disclaimer page can be found here.As you continue <strong>to</strong> grow your <strong>blog</strong>, you will also want <strong>to</strong> consider adding the following pages.Pillar pages - As you add new content <strong>to</strong> your <strong>blog</strong>, youwill want <strong>to</strong> consider creating pillar pages. These arepages that direct visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> your <strong>blog</strong> <strong>to</strong> specific postson specific <strong>to</strong>pics. Derek Halpern’s List Building 101page is a great example of a pillar page.Advertising page - If you want <strong>to</strong> sell advertising onyour <strong>blog</strong> and you have enough traffic <strong>to</strong> make it worthwhilefor advertisers, create an advertising page thats<strong>how</strong>s off your latest stats (number of website visi<strong>to</strong>rs,pageviews, email subscribers, RSS subscribers, etc.).Archive page - This page simply guides people <strong>to</strong> yourmost recent posts, your <strong>to</strong>p categories, your <strong>to</strong>p tags,and content you have created off of your site, such asguest posts, interviews, podcasts, videos, and similar.34
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