Checklist for Starting a Blog on WordPress

Starting a blog is one of the smartest moves you can make to build a digital presence, earn passive income, or grow your business. But launching it the right way matters—especially if you want your content to be found, read, and shared.

Whether you’re blogging as a side hustle or a full-time pursuit, WordPress remains the most powerful and flexible platform to build on. This step-by-step checklist walks you through how to start your blog right—positioned for long-term traffic from Google and Pinterest.

1. Choose a Niche You Can Stick With

Before you build anything, define your niche. The best blogs are focused, not broad. Choose a topic you care about and can consistently write about for months (and years).

Popular blogging niches:

  • Food and meal prep
  • DIY, decor, or crafts
  • Personal finance or budgeting
  • Parenting tips
  • Lifestyle and productivity
  • Fitness and wellness

Think long-term. Choose something you enjoy, but also consider if people are actively searching for it. Google and Pinterest are search-based platforms—so interest matters.

2. Register a Domain and Hosting Plan

You’ll need:

  • A domain name (your blog’s address, like yourblog.com)
  • A hosting provider (the space where your blog files live)

Tips for choosing a domain:

  • Keep it short and easy to remember
  • Use words relevant to your niche
  • Avoid hyphens, dashes, or numbers

Choose a web host with:

  • One-click WordPress install
  • Good uptime and speed
  • Responsive customer support

Many hosting companies also give you a free domain for the first year.

3. Install WordPress (Self-Hosted)

This guide is for WordPress.org (self-hosted), not WordPress.com.

Why self-hosted?

  • Full control of your blog
  • Access to plugins and themes
  • Better for SEO, monetization, and customization

Your host should offer a one-click WordPress install. Once installed, you’ll access your dashboard at yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

4. Choose a Clean, Fast WordPress Theme

Your blog’s theme controls how your site looks. But more than aesthetics, it impacts your speed, SEO, and mobile experience.

Look for:

  • Mobile-responsive design
  • Lightweight and fast-loading structure
  • SEO-friendly markup
  • Customizable options

Themes like Astra, Kadence, or Blocksy are great beginner choices. Free versions are solid. You can always upgrade later.

5. Install Essential WordPress Plugins

Plugins extend your blog’s features. Don’t go overboard—too many plugins can slow down your site.

Start with:

  • SEO plugin (RankMath or Yoast)
  • Caching plugin (for speed)
  • Security plugin
  • Image optimizer (like ShortPixel)
  • Backup plugin
  • Pinterest pin enabler
  • Spam blocker

Stick with well-reviewed plugins and update them regularly.

6. Create Your Core Pages

Set up these foundational pages before you publish any posts:

  • About Page: Tell readers who you are and what your blog is about
  • Contact Page: Include a form or email address
  • Privacy Policy: Required if collecting data
  • Disclaimer Page: Especially for affiliate content or advice-based blogs

These build trust and professionalism from day one.

7. Plan Your Blog Content Strategy

Start with 10–15 blog post ideas that:

  • Answer questions people search for
  • Solve a problem
  • Teach or guide with clear value

Make your first posts helpful, evergreen, and well-structured. Stick to a single niche and avoid writing about too many topics at once.

Tip: Create a basic calendar. Plan out the next 4–8 weeks of blog posts to stay consistent.

8. Write and Format Your First Blog Posts

When writing:

  • Use simple, clear language
  • Break up text with H2 and H3 subheadings
  • Use short paragraphs
  • Include bulleted lists and call-to-actions
  • Optimize for a keyword but don’t overstuff

Add 1–3 high-quality images (with alt text). Make sure your post solves a specific reader problem or answers a common question.

9. Set Up Basic SEO

To get organic traffic from Google, implement on-page SEO right away.

Checklist:

  • Install and configure RankMath or Yoast
  • Write custom meta titles and meta descriptions
  • Use your focus keyword in the H1, intro, and a few subheadings
  • Link internally to other relevant posts
  • Use descriptive URLs (no random numbers or characters)
  • Add alt text to all images

This foundation helps Google understand and index your blog faster.

10. Set Up Google Analytics and Google Search Console

Google Analytics tracks:

  • Who visits your site
  • What posts they read
  • How long they stay

Search Console shows:

  • What keywords you’re ranking for
  • Technical site issues
  • Which posts are indexed

Set these up on day one to track what’s working and make data-backed decisions.

11. Create a Pinterest Business Account

Pinterest is a visual search engine—ideal for bloggers who publish tutorials, ideas, or how-to content.

Steps:

  • Switch to or create a business account
  • Claim your website
  • Set up keyword-based boards (match them to your blog categories)
  • Design pins for each post (vertical, clear text overlay)
  • Write keyword-optimized pin titles and descriptions

Pinterest is especially effective in niches like food, lifestyle, parenting, decor, and DIY. Use it to drive consistent blog traffic without paid ads.

12. Add Pinterest Pins to Blog Posts

Each blog post should include 1–2 optimized Pinterest graphics to encourage sharing and improve discoverability.

Use Canva to design pins. Add them in:

  • The beginning or middle of the blog post
  • A dedicated “Pin This” section

Also install a Pinterest plugin to enable:

  • Save buttons on images
  • Rich Pins (metadata display)

At PinMySEO, we help bloggers integrate Pinterest traffic into their SEO strategy—so they don’t rely solely on Google.

13. Build an Email List (Optional but Smart)

Even before you sell anything, building an email list helps you grow an audience you control. Offer something small:

  • A checklist
  • A mini-guide
  • A PDF planner

Use tools like MailerLite, ConvertKit, or FluentCRM. Place opt-in forms in sidebars, post footers, or pop-ups.

14. Launch and Start Promoting Your Blog

Go live once:

  • You have 5–10 quality posts
  • Your core pages are published
  • Your blog is mobile and desktop friendly
  • SEO and Pinterest basics are in place

Now promote it:

  • Share posts on social media
  • Pin your articles to Pinterest
  • Join blogging communities
  • Network with bloggers in your niche

Most traffic won’t come overnight—but with smart distribution, growth compounds.

15. Get Help If You Want Faster Results

Setting up a WordPress blog is one thing. Driving consistent traffic is another.

That’s where we come in. At PinMySEO, we help new bloggers:

  • Optimize for long-term SEO growth
  • Build Pinterest strategies that bring traffic daily
  • Structure content for search discoverability

Whether you need a one-time setup or ongoing support, we’re here to help you grow faster—without relying on ads.

Final Thoughts

Starting a blog on WordPress doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you follow a smart checklist. With the right structure, content, and marketing foundation, your blog can become an income-generating asset or a powerful platform to share your ideas.

Focus on quality content, pair it with SEO and Pinterest, and your audience will grow with time. And if you want a faster start, PinMySEO is here to help—from strategy to implementation.

Louis Dioso