Nowadays, initiating a blog is comparatively straightforward.
This is especially true when opting for platforms such as Blogger or Tumblr, where most components are ready upon account setup. Conversely, platforms like WordPress.org (which significantly differs from WordPress.com) require a bit more effort but offer enhanced flexibility in website design.
Should you choose to establish a WordPress.org blog or website and feel uncertain about the process, we provide concise instructions here to assist you.
Now that your blog is operational, your focus should shift towards enhancing its performance. How can you elevate your blog and truly showcase its unique potential?
By “potential,” I refer not only to increasing visitor traffic; that discussion can occur later.
We are addressing how to ensure your site appears, operates, and resonates in accordance with your aspirations. Ultimately, refining your website’s design will also aid in elevating your traffic.
1.) Transition to a Managed Website Host
An array of hosting companies serve entry-level blogs well; however, upon achieving considerable traffic, it’s prudent to explore managed hosting options.
We have been fortunate to experience significant traffic growth; however, that journey involved overcoming substantial challenges as we quickly exceeded our initial hosting package, which—while effective—lacked the reliability provided by managed hosting firms.
To clarify what managed hosting entails, envision it as having a dedicated assistant for your website. They handle various tasks, such as backing up your site, securing it, and ensuring WordPress updates are implemented, among others. Should you encounter any issues, their team is readily available to assist!
Such a service is quite advantageous.
Having thoroughly investigated the managed hosting landscape and drawn from various personal experiences, we discovered that while the reliability is generally commendable, the pricing can be on the higher side (starting approximately at $50 per month).
Fortunately, we have identified two leading companies that offer competitive pricing for managed hosting while ensuring satisfactory services, particularly beneficial upon transitioning to a new host when comprehensive solutions may not be feasible.
RECOMMENDATION 1: My primary recommendation is Flywheel. This would be my first choice, with prices beginning around $15 / £10 per month, and the incremental cost as traffic grows remains reasonable.
Moreover, they provide complimentary site migration (typically, this incurs a cost of $100), so opting for their services only requires your decision, after which they will manage the rest.
For larger sites exceeding the standard packages, they can design custom plans tailored to your needs, which I find commendable. You can view all features here.
RECOMMENDATION 2: My second recommendation is Lightning Base. This option is more cost-effective initially (£6 /$9.95 per month) and offers a wider array of features, albeit with less storage space for your site at the introductory level (typically, images or videos consume the most space).
They also provide free site migrations, which is quite advantageous. I have utilized this service for a smaller site (photos.handluggageonly.co.uk) without any issues.
You can explore the complete features here.
Traffic advantages of transitioning to Managed Hosting: Switching to managed hosting will enhance your site speed and optimize functionality (if your site is not running optimally, your host will notify you and assist with the necessary adjustments), consequently improving your SEO rankings, as Google tends to favor faster websites.
2.) Modify Your Theme
In contrast to managed hosting, which may not be as familiar to every blogger, most will have a clear understanding of blog themes. If you are unfamiliar, a theme represents the overall design of your blog.
It might be tempting to utilize the complimentary themes offered within your platform, yet upon establishment, selecting a theme that accurately reflects your vision for your website is advisable. Anything else may feel inadequate, and if you have reservations about a theme from the outset, you might grow dissatisfied with it over time.
RECOMMENDATION: I recommend ThemeForest for acquiring themes. We frequently modify our theme here, and despite evaluating several theme providers, we consistently return to ThemeForest.
However, selecting a theme requires careful deliberation, and we have compiled useful tips to guide you in this process.
- Do not compromise; if you notice anything you dislike about the theme, consider it a red flag. The initial impression is crucial, and if doubts arise early, resentment may follow.
- Seek out themes that offer customizable options.
- Consider the responsiveness of the theme. Responsiveness ensures your theme maintains optimal appearance across various devices (e.g., mobile, tablet, laptops). Most themes nowadays are responsive, but it remains essential to verify.
- Steer clear of commonly selected themes. You want your website to reflect your individuality; hence, investing time to find the right theme is important.
- Examine the various layout options available for your theme (e.g., single pages without sidebars, single pages with right or left sidebars, etc.).
Ultimately, your theme should be a true reflection of your identity.
Traffic advantages of choosing the right theme: Given that theme designers are compensated for their work, premium themes typically involve additional time and effort to ensure they provide SEO advantages that might be absent in default themes.
3.) Invest in Plugins
Plugins serve websites as applications do for smartphones. Fortunately, they are equally easy to install, and the necessity for specific premium plugins often becomes apparent. Essentially, the justification for any plugin typically emerges before the search is initiated (e.g., SEO management plugins, social media sharing plugins, image gallery plugins, Instagram display plugins, etc.).
Much like apps, many free plugins are sufficient (e.g., the Woocommerce plugin for shop creation); however, certain circumstances may necessitate the acquisition of a premium plugin.
RECOMMENDATION: For purchasing plugins, I recommend CodeCanyon. While numerous excellent free plugins exist, always assess the ratings. If you cannot find a suitable free option or discover a free plugin with poor feedback, heading to CodeCanyon is advisable.
Traffic advantages of selecting the right plugins: It is evident that certain premium plugins can facilitate improved organization of your website, enhance SEO rankings (many are tailored for this purpose), and accelerate loading times.
In essence, plugins are analogous to apps for your phone; if you identify areas for enhancement or additions to your blog or website, these plugins are equipped to assist you with an array of additional benefits.
Thus concludes our discussion on three straightforward tools designed to enhance your website and elevate its overall appeal!
If you have any inquiries regarding these topics or any other blog-related matters, please feel free to comment below or reach out via email, and we would be delighted to assist you.
