10 things to do before you start a blog

We are constantly told that websites need fresh content to stay relevant. A blog is the standard solution for this because it demonstrates your expertise and keeps search engines interested. However, most people start a blog with enthusiasm and quit within three months because they didn’t have a plan.

If you are thinking of starting a blog, or you are looking to resurrect a dormant one, do not write a single word until you have ticked off these ten essentials.

1. Conduct a Reality Check on Your Time

Look at your current client workload and your family commitments. Blogging is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. Decide how much time you can realistically commit and stick to it. Consistency builds trust; broken promises (like a “weekly” blog that updates once a year) damage your reputation.

2. Commit to a Sustainable Schedule

How often will you publish? Weekly is the gold standard for visibility, but if you can only manage once a fortnight or once a month, start there. It is better to be consistent and high-quality than frequent and mediocre.

3. Brainstorm Topics That Solve Problems

Stop thinking about what you want to say and start thinking about what your audience needs to hear. List every pain point, question, or hurdle your clients face. These are your blog titles.

4. Choose Your Medium

If you aren’t a natural writer, don’t force it. You can record a video (Vlog) or an audio snippet and have it transcribed. The goal is to share your expertise; the format is secondary to the value provided.  Yes you can get AI to help you – but make sure your true voice is there.

5. Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Do not reinvent the wheel every time you sit down to work. Create a template for your posts. This should include a hook, the main body (problem and solution), a summary, and your metadata (tags and keywords).

6. Source Professional Imagery

A wall of text is off-putting. Decide now where your images will come from. Whether you use your own photography or a paid library, ensure they are high-quality and relevant. Visuals are not just “nice to have”; they are essential for engagement and SEO.  I recommend having a subscription to an online digital photo site such as Styled Stock.

7. Define Your Call to Action (CTA)

Every post must have a purpose. What do you want the reader to do next? Sign up for your newsletter? Book a discovery call? Follow you on LinkedIn? If you don’t tell them what to do, they will do nothing.

8. Prepare Your Website Infrastructure

Is your site actually ready to host a blog? Check your settings. Decide if you want the full post or just an excerpt to show on your main feed. Ensure you have social sharing buttons installed so your readers can do the marketing for you.

9. Batch Your Content

Writing on the fly is the fastest way to fail. Set aside a block of time once a month or once a quarter to write, upload, and schedule your posts. This keeps you ahead of the game and removes the weekly pressure.  This blog shares 7 places to share your blog once you have written it.

10. Manage Your Expectations

Blogging is a slow burn. You will not see a spike in turnover or a flood of comments overnight. It typically takes four to six months of consistent posting before you see a shift in your authority and search engine rankings. Play the long game.