How to Start a Veterinary Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide
Starting a veterinary blog could be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself or your clinic.
Before you start, be sure to check out my post on the three types of veterinary blogs so you know exactly what you’ll be doing.
From there, all that’s left is to get started by following this guide.
If you this 10-page, easy-to-follow PDF that has additional information and tons of screenshots in it, you can get it by signing up below:
You’ll also be signed up to receive weekly email newsletters with exclusive information that will help you grow your blog faster.
Now, let’s jump right into the five steps to starting your own veterinary blog.
Step 1: Buy a Domain Name
If you already have a domain name for your clinic and that’s what you’ll be using, then you can skip this step. You’ll just have to make sure you have a page devoted to making blog posts.
I buy my domain names through GoDaddy, but there are many other websites that sell them. Namecheap is another popular choice because (as its name implies) it’s inexpensive.
You can also get a domain name for free through most hosting companies when you sign up for hosting. I have my main website domain name through Bluehost.
Picking your domain name can be difficult, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Use your own name
- Use your pet’s name in the name
- Use animal-related words such as paws, claws, fur, etc.
Whatever you use, it’s important that it be memorable, simple, and short. You want people to remember it when they want to return to your site.
If possible, you should also try to fit a keyword into your domain name. This isn’t as important as it used to be, but it can help search engines recognize what your website is about.
Once you buy your domain name, you need to host your website somewhere.
Step 2: Hosting
If you’re not sure what hosting is, think of it as a space on the internet that you’re renting.
It’s like an apartment. You own the contents of the apartment, but not the apartment itself. In the same way, you own your website’s content, but not where it’s stored.
There are dozens of hosting sites to choose from. I recommend Bluehost mostly because it’s what I use and I’ve loved them so far.
You can get a special discount for my readers with Bluehost by clicking here!
Here are some other options for hosting your website. I haven’t used them so I can’t personally recommend them, but you’re welcome to check them out:
When signing up, I recommend paying for as many months upfront as you can. It will save you some money as you spend less per month when you pay for a few years in advance.
Step 3: Platform
Now, you’ll need a platform from which you can blog. In my opinion, WordPress is the best. Almost 60% of all websites that exist run on WordPress, so they’re clearly doing something right!
If you’re using Bluehost, all you have to do is click one button, and they do the rest. It’s literally that easy. Most of the other hosting sites will have a similar way to set up WordPress.
It will take some time to figure out how to use WordPress, but once you get it, it’s easy. You can create a new page or blog post with a single click, and they have numerous plugins that allow you to do nearly anything you want with your blog.
Step 4: Blog Setup
There are a few steps within this, but they all go together. This is the longest step in starting up your blog but you should still be able to do it in a couple of hours.
Here’s how to get your blog set up:
Pick a Theme
The theme that’s already installed is generic, so you’re far better off picking your own. WordPress has a plethora of free ones to choose from or you can buy one.
I’ve always used free themes, but here are some paid ones I’ve seen recommended:
- Jevelin
- Divi
- Soledad
Cheerup - Luxe
Make sure the theme is customizable so you can add your own images and brand colors. You can filter themes while searching to ensure you get one that has these features.
Customize Your Theme
Once you picked your theme, you can customize it. Go to the sidebar where it says “Appearance” and
From there, all you need to do is go down the list and customize each one to how you want it. Every theme is different, but you should be able to choose background colors, header images, and menu locations.
Set Up Main Pages
There are four main pages that every blog has to have:
- Home
- About
- Contact
- Blog
Create each of these pages, and your blog will be basically finished. You can get more details about what to include in these pages in my free guide:
Step 5: Planning and Writing
Now all that’s left is to plan your blog posts and start writing!
Planning your blog posts in advance will help you more than you realize. You can make sure you have a good mix of topics and can let people know what to expect from you in the future.
I plan all of my blog posts a year in advance. I include dates when each post is going to go up and how it’s going to be marketed
If you’re not much of a planner, let me help you. You can find more information under my “services” page.
Ready, Set, BLOG!
After following these steps, you’ll be on your way to being a veterinary blogger. As you can see, it’s really not that difficult to get started.
Once again, if you want more details about this process, you can sign up here:
By signing up, you’ll immediately receive a PDF that will take you through the whole process with images, plus a ton more information about how to set up each part of your blog.
