How to Set a Blog From Scratch (What I Did, What I Skipped, and Why)
When I started my blog, I didn’t want something flashy or complicated — I wanted something that would actually work long-term. This guide walks through how to set up a blog from scratch in a simple, sustainable way, focusing on what matters early on and what can wait.
I share the order I built things in, what I intentionally skipped, and the lessons I learned along the way. There are a lot of options out there, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed quickly. My goal isn’t to tell you what you must do — it’s to show you what worked for me and why.
If you’re starting a blog and feeling unsure about your setup, my hope is that this makes the process feel more doable.
Who This Blog Setup Guide Is For
This page is for you if:
- You’re starting a blog and don’t know where to begin
- You’ve already started but feel unsure about your setup
- You want something simple, organized, and manageable
- You’d rather understand why a choice matters than blindly follow a checklist
The Order I Built My Blog Pages When Starting From Scratch
I didn’t build everything at once. I focused first on the pages that helped readers understand my site:
I skipped anything that felt like “extra” until I understood my content and direction better.
How I set up my blog and getting the structure in place early made everything else easier later — for readers and for me.
What I Skipped Early (On Purpose)
This part mattered more than I realized at the time.
I didn’t start with:
- Fancy opt-ins everywhere
- Multiple monetization methods at once
- Paid tools I didn’t understand yet
- Complex funnels or automations
I wanted a simple blog setup I could maintain without burnout. Skipping these early decisions gave me room to learn what my site actually needed instead of locking myself into systems too soon.
Blog Setup Mistakes I Made Early On
I made mistakes — mostly by trying to do too much too fast.
Some things I had to revisit later:
- Overthinking design early on
- Not being clear about my main topics at first
- Assuming I needed everything “perfect” before publishing
Looking back, clarity mattered far more than polish.
How I Structured My Blog Categories for Clarity
I learned quickly that structure matters more than volume.
Instead of writing about everything equally, I organized my blog around clear categories and let one area grow stronger before expanding. That made it easier for readers — and for me — to understand what the site was really about.
A clear structure removed a lot of guesswork and made content decisions feel lighter instead of overwhelming. When I set up my blog from scratch, I chose WordPress because it gave me flexibility without locking me into expensive systems early on.
Why I Didn’t Monetize Everything at Once
I didn’t monetize everything right away because I wanted to understand my content and audience first.
Monetization works best when it supports what you’re already doing — not when it drives every decision from day one. Taking time to build confidence in my site before adding income streams helped me make better choices later.
There’s no rush to turn every page into a money decision.
Where Pinterest Fits Into a Blog Setup Strategy
Pinterest played a big role in how I structured my blog.
From the beginning, I focused on:
- Clear categories
- Evergreen content
- Posts that answer specific questions
I didn’t treat Pinterest as an afterthought — I built with it in mind. That approach influenced everything from content topics to site structure and helped me think long-term instead of chasing quick wins.
If you want to see exactly how I use Pinterest to support long-term traffic, I break that down on my Pinterest Help for Bloggers page.
How I Help With Blog Setup Now
After setting up my own blog and working through the learning curve, I now help others with:
- Blog setup and cleanup
- Organizing categories and content
- Making blogs Pinterest-ready
- Simplifying systems that feel overwhelming
I focus on creating setups that feel clear, practical, and sustainable, especially for bloggers who don’t want tech stress or pressure to monetize before they’re ready.
How to Get in Touch
If you’re starting a blog or feeling unsure about your setup, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
You can reach out through my contact page or send me a message — I’m always happy to talk through options and see if I can help.
There’s no rush.
Final Note
f this approach feels slower than other guides — that’s intentional. Rushing blog setup is one of the easiest ways to make things harder later.
Building calmly isn’t a mistake. It’s a foundation.
