If I were going to do it all over . . .
I would:
1. Buy the entire StudioPress Theme package for whatever it currently costs.
Oh, I actually DID do this, and have used at least six of the themes on niche sites. Some of the BEST money I ever spent. Access to their support forum is ESSENTIAL! I think I paid $180-ish in late 2009.
2. Use the AgentPress Theme.
This theme ROCKS. As you learn more CSS, you can do all sorts of good stuff to make it your own.
3. Get familiar with the StudioPress support forum. They have a lot of tutorials for getting started for configuring the basic features of the theme.
4. Focus FIRST on planning out the structure of the site, before creating lots of content that then doesn't fit well together.
For example: you only need 4 to 6 Categories for your posts. Any more and you will end up with juggling problems, and how to showcase them problems, and too much to keep track of problems.
Do not confuse Categories with Tags. You can tag to your heart's content.
Sample categories for a site for Marshes Bay, Ohio: "Marshes Bay Real Estate Tips" "Marshes Bay Ohio Homes" . . . think of the MAIN types of posts you are going to write and make sure your 4 to 6 categories can neatly accomodate them. Do NOT call them "Buyer Tips" "Seller Ideas". Search engines will have NO idea what market segment you're talking about . . . buyers of what? Buyers of reptiles?
5. Do your keyword research before picking your categories. use the Google External Keyword Tool.
Make sure you suck down that research into CVS files that you can then suck up into Excel. You'll need to refer back to your master list often.
6. After you have your basic structure defined, add the essential Plugins that you really need:
- Akismet
- All in One SEO or Yoast
- Genesis Featured Widget Amplified
- Google XML Sitemaps
- Like Button PLugin for WordPress
- NextGen Gallery
- Redirection
- Broken Link Checker
- WordPress Editorial Calendar
You can add more Plugins later, as you get comfortable.
7. Get familiar with W3Schools.com. You will refer there often.
8. Buy some books on Amazon, keep them on your nightstand, refer to them often, to help you learn, and help you fall asleep:
9. Troll for ideas . . . add them to your WordPress Editorial Calendar.
No copying . .. but ideas/topics written in your own words for your own market are OK.
10. Set up Essential Tools for Analytics and tracking and get to know them and love them
- Google Webmaster Tools
- Google Analytics
- Website Grader
11. Start writing . . . from the ideas you have daily/weekly, and from what you found. Try to rotate through your categories, so you're not always writing for the same category:
- articles about the market in your area
- articles about real estate in general
- hyper-local posts
- articles for buyers
- articles for sellers
- articles for homeowners
- etc.
12. Check your analytics and webmaster tools accounts weekly
Make sure to add regular notes to analytics so you know what you did along the way (plugins on/off, big pushes for content, etc.)
13. Set aside time weekly for backlink creation
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