Dec 31, 2013 / Beginner

Get Ready for Zero to Hero: 30 Days to a Better Blog

Tomorrow’s January 1st, and for a lot of us that means it’s resolution time. Whether you’ve resolved to start that blog you’ve been thinking about, plan to return to a tumbleweed-strewn site you started long ago, or are committed to giving your current blog a a little more love, we want to help you get there.

Get ready: starting January 2nd, it’s time for the Zero to Hero 30-Day Challenge.

Created by a team of top blogging experts (i.e., us) based on years of highly scientific-like research (i.e., writing blogs), we’ve created 30 days of digestible blogging assignments that will get you from “What’s this blog thing?” to a blog that you’re excited to publish — and, hopefully, that others are excited to read. If you’re a new blogger it’ll give you a serious jump-start, but we’ve built it to give seasoned bloggers a boost, too.

WordPress HeroAt the end of the month, you’ll have:

  • A half-dozen (or more) published posts.
  • A handful of draft posts and post ideas to help get you through your next 30 days.
  • A customized theme, with widgets to draw new readers in and highlight your favorite reads.
  • A Reader full of great (and inspiring!) blogs to follow.
  • A (small but growing) audience.
  • An understanding of the blogging community, blog etiquette, and how to build a readership of your own.

One bite-sized task a day for 30 days; that’s it. From there it’s up to you, but you’ll have a solid foundation and a blog you’re proud of. We can’t promise you hundreds of readers (if only!), but we can promise that you’ll be doing everything you can to set yourself up for success.

To participate, simply bookmark this page, and check in each day for an assignment (they’ll also be at the top of The Daily Post’s sidebar for easy reference). All past assignments will be listed there too, so you can jump in at any point and catch up — if you’re not reading this until January 10th, no big deal.

Each day’s task will also offer our tips and recommended resources, as well as links to discussions in the WordPress.com Support Forums where you can chat with other Zero to Hero participants. If you want to do more or re-interpret something, feel free! Our only caveat is that you try to complete the tasks in order, since they’re designed to build on one another.

If you’re planning on participating, we’d appreciate it if you could let us know by filling out this short form. We’d love to follow your blogs, and will get in touch at the end of January for your feedback:

Ready? Set? Blog! Assignment #1 will be published here at 12PM EST tomorrow.

Show Comments

115 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

  5. Hello everyone, my name is Nicole. I just want to say Happy New Years to everyone and I’m so excited to do this 30 day challenge. Everyone here is so nice and I find this so helpful. Good luck to everyone and I hope everyone learns a lot.

    Like

  6. Thanks, Michelle: i sent my form & it went through; looking forward to assignments from my publisher — who knows, maybe a book will be in the offing someday 🙂 ? Hope you’re having a colorful New Year’s eve! Here in the Philippines (where fireworks are allowed) we sent away 2013 twelve hours ago: the sky dazzled with fury, about two months after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) which killed more than 6,000 of my countrymen, 2,000 of whom remain unburied—my New Year headstand blog post:

    May we have the strength to stand all tests,
    the foresight to head off bleak probabilities,
    the balance to change a life of wastage
    the wisdom to see the imbalance
    underlying a system of patronage.
    Poverty breeds the kind of ignorance
    that fails to read and heed
    the changing signs of the climates.
    We WILL have the will
    to finish the unfinished tasks ahead
    (burying the dead, reconstructing the destroyed)
    And at the hour of reckoning
    we WILL stand
    the system of dynasties …
    on its head.
    MAPAGPALAYANG BAGONG TAON SA LAHAT!
    (A New Year of Awakening to All!)

    new year headstand photopost at:

    (Updated) Happy New Year! Happy 2014!

    Happy 2014, everyone!

    Like

  10. Started my blog a month ago, and I know I’m not the best writer, one look at Freshly Pressed told me that.Looking forward to improvement and meeting all my fellow bloggers who are taking up the challenge!

    Happy New Year everyone!

    Like

  14. I am looking forward to this challenge. I really need to blog more than I do. I find it a bit challenging sometimes to think of something to blog about . I wanted my blog to tell a story with my pictures. I have a second blog I want to get off the ground this year.

    Like

  15. I will be joining in 🙂 I can’t access the contact form from my phone but will fill it in when I get on the laptop later

    Like

  17. Hopefully should be able to achieve what I’m expecting out of this. Looking forward to this 😀

    Like

  20. I have tried for years to start a blog and I think this is the year I want to make it. So I have bookmarked this and all and will stick to this challenge to help my inner geek come out.

    It is best to start small and let the big things come along at the right time. 🙂

    Like

  22. I want to learn more about WordPress and immerse myself in web design. I’m currently a graphic designer with mostly print experience. I know some basic coding and have created content for iPad through DPS, but I’m very curious how CMS works.

    Like

  24. I am just getting started and this is fun! I have jumped in but can’t get certain things to work yet so I can’t wait to learn.

    Like

  25. For anyone who knows more than me about blog traction (especially in the UK) I’d welcome thoughts/comments on Firebrand Notes. Topic: Christianity/muisc/theology

    Like

  26. I’m looking forward to this. I’ve been so distracted over the last few months with Christmas, TAFE, weddings and travel that I need to get back into the habit of blogging regularly.. Great inspiration 🙂

    Like