When I decided to create this site to document my journey and share my dad’s legacy, I had no idea just how much work goes into setting up a blog.
From choosing the right platform to organizing content, the process has been both exciting and overwhelming. Here’s everything I’ve learned so far about building my site, the tools I used, and the hurdles I’ve faced along the way.
Choosing the Right Platform
Why I Chose Ghost (and the Rinne Theme)
I wanted a clean, professional design with strong membership and paywall capabilities, so I chose Ghost paired with the Rinne theme. It offered exactly what I needed without the bloat of other platforms like WordPress.
Ghost’s simplicity and focus on content creation made it the ideal choice for someone new to blogging who didn’t want to get bogged down in endless plugins or technical headaches.
Customizing the Setup
Setting up the theme was relatively straightforward, but tailoring it to fit my needs was more challenging. Creating directory pages, filtering content, and organizing tags took trial and error—but it was worth it to build a structure that works for me and my readers.
Tools I Used
Website and Blogging Tools
- Ghost: For hosting the site and managing memberships.
- Canva: For creating visuals, icons, and blog post graphics.
- Airtable: To inventory course materials and track progress.
- Grammarly: To polish my writing and keep posts professional.
Content Creation Tools
- AI Tools: For transcribing course videos and summarizing key insights.
- ConvertKit: For building my email list and managing newsletters.
Additional Expenses
I invested in a few lifetime deals, including Aminos AI and a text-to-speech program. Both tools will be helpful for repurposing content efficiently and making the most of my resources.
Challenges I Faced
Learning Curve
Even with Ghost’s simplicity, figuring out how to organize my site without duplicating content was harder than I expected. I spent days tweaking tags and templates to get the structure right.
Perfectionism
I kept delaying the launch because I wanted everything to be perfect. Eventually, I realized it’s better to start with a basic setup and improve as you go.
Balancing Tools and Costs
It’s tempting to buy every tool that promises to save time, but I had to focus on what was truly necessary for building the site.
Lessons Learned
- Start Simple: Launch with a basic setup and refine as you grow. Overcomplicating things at the start only delays progress.
- Invest Wisely: Focus on tools that genuinely save time or make content creation easier.
- Progress Over Perfection: Your site doesn’t need to look perfect; it just needs to be functional and valuable to your audience.
Conclusion
Setting up this site was a labor of love, and it’s far from finished. But with every step, it feels more like home—a place where I can document my journey, honor my dad’s legacy, and connect with others chasing their dreams.
If you’re thinking about starting your own blog, don’t let the process overwhelm you. Start small, focus on the essentials, and trust that it will all come together with time and effort.
Up Next
In my next post, I’ll dive into how I’m planning to track the income I generate from this journey, a.k.a my inheritance. From setting up systems for monitoring earnings to tracking expenses and tools, I’ll share the methods I’m using to stay organized and measure progress toward that $100K goal. Stay tuned!
