Cosmetics or Content?

What a curious title? As someone who has just recently embarked on this online adventure I have been faced with several challenges. This, of course, is not unique to me but to everyone who has embraced the excitement of creating a blog. There is a juggling element or balancing factor that comes into play.

What comes first?

Do I first create a beautiful looking website and then focus on producing content? Or do I get my content published so that Google will start indexing me and hopefully ranking me? The answer for me was quite simple. I got my site set up and functional with the necessary logo, menu, images, etc. and then I started creating content.

What I've learnt so far is that the Google algorithms are controlled by them. I can never know how or when they are going to position one of my posts so I had better make sure that I'm ready at all times for that oh-so-sought-after-page-one ranking.

The basics

Getting the basic structure in place was very important. There was no point creating outstanding content with nowhere to put it. We can all agree that architecturally it can be fundamentally sound but it's bare and dull. Bring in the interior designer to spruce the place up with some color for starters. I put my signature on my site. I made it my own. I honestly didn't want people to get to my site and think, UGH!!

There is a discussion thread called https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/getting-started/please-give-... and it is a great place to get feedback from others about their experience when they visit your site. This is one of the places where you'll find out what needs to be tweaked to refine the look of your site.

The content

Having put that in place I needed to get some furniture to put inside. Another great place to go for insight and comments from others here at WA is https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/authoring-writing-content/th... . I've had very useful feedback from others on the content that I have included on my site. I encourage you to become part of this. Comments on posts signals to Google that there is activity on your site and not only this but you are starting to communicate with an audience.

The balance

I've had to learn to balance my act. A bit of content here. A few cosmetic touch-ups there. All coming nicely into place. A website really can be an online home.

All the best,

Brian