Compared to old-school website creation, starting a blog with WordPress is a breeze.
If you’re new to WordPress and struggling, though, knowing it used to be harder to start a blog makes WordPress exactly 0% easier.
I get that, but there’s something else you need to know about WordPress’s “easy factor” (or lack of).
WordPress broke down all major barriers to starting a blog or website.
Before WordPress:
These days, writing a blog post isn’t much more difficult than posting to social media.
You and I are where we’re at with our blogs and websites thanks to either WordPress specifically, or a similar tool that democratized the web. That’s definitely something to appreciate.
But…
The average WordPress site sucks
Like any attractive idea, the simpler it is to pursue, the more people hop on board.
Here’s the thing, though: Just because anyone can put up a website or blog these days doesn’t mean they do it well enough to attract many eyeballs.
Ahem…
In any given niche, most of the “competition” (definitely air quotes there) have websites that suck.
This is good news for good people with bad websites, because:
It’s just their website…
My perspective might be skewed toward well-meaning people who DIYed, then realized they needed help. The “you don’t know what you know” (until you’re in the thick of it, anyway!) types.
It’s who I help (and work with) the most.
It pains me when would-be entrepreneurs pour their hearts and souls into a site, yet struggle to overcome its technical mediocrity.
There’s hope for these fearless souls. Unlike the mediocrity that results when…
It’s not just the website that sucks…
Other “meh” sites are the result of people who barely even try to add value to the world. If they had a mission statement (they don’t) it would be: MAKE MONEY ON THE INTERNET!!!
Y’know, do whatever it takes to get eyeballs, then monetize visits with ads (because the value is with the audience, not their content). Every time page views drop they panic.
Yes, I’m all for making money on the internet. But it’s really hard to care about sites with thin content and a bajillion ads.
Maybe I’m just jealous?
Mediocre WordPress sites are everywhere
I’m not complaining.
See, WordPress enables the good and the lousy. If you’re one of those good people with a bad blog or website, there’s a good chance you’ll care enough to keep working at it.
You’ll learn, grow, be spectacular.
Bonus: With all the mediocrity it won’t take that much effort to stand head and shoulders above the rest.
People who give a damn won’t suck (for long)
I mean, we all have to start somewhere, and we all make mistakes. It’s how we learn. But if you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who gives a damn and would rather suck as little and as briefly as possible.
Am I right?
It’s just got to be doable, ya? Toward that end, I have two quite doable suggestions that will introduce you to a whole new world of mistake avoidance and awesomeness attainment – a world where you will be at least 773% better than average:
- Join my list. Sorry (not sorry) for promoting my thing, but you need it. It’s a short tip delivered weekly, plus a monthly-ish e-mail (usually served up with a side order of humor…because if you wanted to read dry technical stuff you’d go to PhysicsWorld, right?).
- Read this oldie-but-goodie post from Pamela Wilson. Pamela offers pointers in areas most new bloggers (and probably a good chunk of the rest of blogdom) never bother with. Her tips are mostly pretty easy to implement – especially if you’re just getting started. Check it out, then get on ’em 😉
…you can’t just talk about how great WordPress is and expect it to work for you. You can’t just read about it, either.
To see the results you want, you have to put some action behind those words.
— Pamela Wilson: 7 Essential Tips for WordPress Beginners