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Home / Podcast

Why Your Blog Needs a Homepage

Written in: Nov 2019 🠆 Updated in: Apr 2020

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In this episode, we’re going to go over a few reasons your blog should have a homepage, what should be on it, and then how to set it up.

First, why should your blog have a homepage?

Blogging is not like it used to be.

It used to be that your loyal readers would come check out your home page regularly just to see if you wrote anything new in the last week. Today, if your reader found you from Googling a specific question, Google directed her to a specific blog post, not your homepage. But if your post has answered her question and she wants to know what else you have for her, she’ll click over to your homepage.

If your homepage only shows the 4 most recent posts and those don’t apply to her specific problems, she will just leave. It’s too much work for readers to hunt down content on your blog.

If your visitor can see at a glance the main subjects (categories) you write about, you’ll automatically become more of a comprehensive authority on your subject in her mind.

Having a homepage instead of just displaying your latest posts also takes the pressure off you to write new posts constantly.

And, if you have a homepage that quickly shows her more posts that she might be interested in, your bounce rate will also go down.

The main thing is that you always want to make a connection with your reader. Just a list of your most recent posts is probably not going to do that. Certain content will really speak to her while others don’t, let her pick and choose and keep clicking through to see more of what you have.

Now that you know your blog needs a homepage, here is how to plan for it:

Always plan first–be strategic–don’t just add things to your homepage because it looks good. Think about what your reader is looking for.

Here are the basics I recommend to include on your blogs homepage:

  1. Show a certain number of the most recent posts in strategically selected categories. So think about which categories are going to be most helpful for your visitors.
  2. The bio that we talked about in episode two that clearly tells your visitor that you’re there to solve her specific problem.
  3. A sign up form for your newsletter.
  4. Your most popular or most helpful posts.

Once you have your plan, create a new page and start adding those things. The new WordPress block editor makes this way easier than before–there’s no need for a new theme just to add or change your homepage.

To easily show the most recent posts in certain categories, I highly recommend the plugin called Atomic Blocks. It will add a special block to display your blog posts that is easy to customize and make look good (Once you install the plugin, the block is called the AB Post and Page Grid.)

Once your page looks good, save it and publish it. You might want to give this a few days, or even a week or two and keep coming back and tweaking it until you’re really happy with the look and how helpful you feel it will be to new visitors.

How to set up the homepage and put your recent posts on a blog page:

  1. When you’re ready to make it your homepage, create a new page called “Blog.” Save it as an empty page.

  2. In your WordPress dashboard, click on “Settings,” then “Reading.”

  3. At the top you’ll see “Your homepage displays.” Under homepage, choose the new homepage you created; under Posts page, choose the page you titled “Blog.”

  4. Save your changes and your new homepage is live for the world.

Pin this post so you don’t lose the instructions!

(And to help your blogging friends out too.)

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In the categories: Basics, Beginner, Blog Type, Blogger Level, Business, Design, DIY and Craft, Fashion, Food, Home Decor, Improve your blog, Intermediate, Lifestyle, Podcast, Pro, Travel

Hey! I'm Christina

WordPress developer for bloggers since 2014, occasional blogger since 2011, code perfectionist. Passionate about helping you make your blog a successful business.

Let's Work Together

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Hi! I’m Christina.

Web developer and former blogger. I’m here to help bloggers who have great style and vision, to build exactly the site they need to achieve their goals.

Want a successful blog?

Woo hoo! You should get a message from me soon (check the dirty spam folder if you don't see it. I look forward to getting to know you!

Want a successful blog?

Let me send you the checklist I go through for my clients so you can do a DIY blog audit, for free and make sure your blog is going to help you achieve your goals.

What's your hobby? (And first, please excuse my ba What's your hobby? (And first, please excuse my bad photography.🙈) Don't forget to share yourself with your readers. A personal connection with your readers can be so helpful for your long-term goals of helping more people with your blog. Share one of your hobbies with them once in a while. Also share one with me here, I'd love to read about it!

One of mine is 1/12 scale miniatures. Interior design + before-and-afters + TINY THINGS! Yes, I know it sounds lame, but it's worth being picked on for having
Do you write like you talk? When I started my own Do you write like you talk? 
When I started my own blog 9 years ago, as I sat down to write the first post, I decided to purposefully write like I talked instead of using more formal and proper writing. And I'm so glad I did. It's such an easy way to make your blog feel more personal and make your visitors feel like they're hearing from an actual person instead of a corporation.

If you're not sure, read your last post aloud. Is it something you would actually say, the way you would say it?

Yes...I KNOW...SEO... Just make sure to keep it balanced. And don't forget, Google itself wants you to write like a human being, for other human beings.
It's good to think about where you started once in It's good to think about where you started once in a while.

In Feb of 2016, I started Meyne, selling pre-made WordPress and Blogger themes for small businesses. But after having been a blogger myself since 2011, that was still where my heart was. So the focus shifted to blog designs, where I could help very cool people who have created their own careers and are earning a living doing a very fun (and deceptively hard) job. 
Meyne has come a long way and gone through so many changes/new ideas/bad ideas/fun ideas...you know, everything that comes with a business. But the best part is all the great people I've gotten to work with and be a part of THEIR businesses. 🥰
When your reader reaches the end of your post, tel When your reader reaches the end of your post, tell them what to do next. They will follow instructions more often than we usually realize. Need some ideas? ☑️ Save it on Pinterest
☑️ Sign up for your newsletter
☑️ Follow you on Instagram
☑️ Buy a product (yours or an affiliate)

Whatever your CTA is, just make sure you make it EASY for them to do it.

In WordPress, you can easily add some text to the bottom of your posts, with an image if helpful, and then give the box a colored background to make it stand out. 
P.S. Many food bloggers have the Instagram call-to-action at the end of a recipe (
We launched! I’m sure you all know Erika @thepan We launched! I’m sure you all know Erika @thepancakeprincess, she has such a cool and unique blog. She puts in SO MUCH work to bring bake-offs of all the popular recipes of the world together so that OUR job of picking the RIGHT recipe will be easy. I. love. her. blog. And was so excited to get to be part of re-designing it so we can all get the most out of her years of hard work and baking. Go straight to thepancakeprincess.com to check it out!
Still just showing your latest posts on your homep Still just showing your latest posts on your homepage? I’m talking TODAY about what you should show instead if you want more subscribers and a lower bounce rate in my talk for the Blogger Breakthrough Summit (over 700 bloggers signed up to watch! 😱). You can still watch for free if you sign up now. Link in bio! Or go to meyne.co/summit and see about a special bonus I'm offering if you buy a pass. 😃

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