BuzzFeed has become a household name thanks to its viral content like personality quizzes, listicles, memes, and pop culture commentary. Many aspiring bloggers and entrepreneurs want to emulate BuzzFeed‘s success by creating similar websites.
The good news is that you can easily create a BuzzFeed-style website with WordPress. In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how step-by-step.
Contents
Why Start a Website Like BuzzFeed?
BuzzFeed started as a viral content website but has now grown into a major digital media company. According to their latest earnings report, BuzzFeed made $521 million in revenue in 2021.
Here are a few key reasons why starting a website like BuzzFeed is a great idea:
-
Proven business model – BuzzFeed represents a successful online business model that you can follow. Their heavy focus on viral content works well.
-
Tap into popular interests – Creating content around popular topics allows you to attract an audience interested in those subjects. BuzzFeed built an audience around pop culture, celebrities, quizzes, lists, etc.
-
Leverage creativity – You can showcase your creativity through viral content formats like listicles, quizzes, videos, gifs, memes, etc.
-
Potential to grow – If executed well, a viral content website has the potential to grow into a mainstream media brand.
Step 1 – Get a Domain Name and Hosting
The first step is to get a domain name for your website and web hosting to host it.
Some tips for choosing a domain name:
- Make it short, memorable and easy to spell.
- Use a .com extension.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers.
For hosting, we recommend going with Bluehost, an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider.
The benefit of Bluehost is that they provide a free domain name and over 60% off hosting for WPBeginner readers. You can get started for as low as $2.75 per month which is perfect for new sites.
Click here to get started with Bluehost today!
Step 2 – Install WordPress
Once you have your domain and hosting, you can install WordPress with just 1-click from your Bluehost control panel.
Bluehost makes it super easy to install WordPress and allows you to log in to your WordPress dashboard right from your hosting account.
The WordPress dashboard is where you will create and manage all your website content.
Step 3 – Pick a Theme
Next, you will need to pick a WordPress theme.
The default WordPress theme is very basic. Instead you need a magazine style theme for a BuzzFeed-like layout.
Some popular magazine themes for BuzzFeed sites include:
-
Astra – customizable theme with magazine-style layout options.
-
Divi – beginner friendly theme with a flexible page builder.
-
OceanWP – multipurpose free theme great for blogs and magazines.
-
Public Opinion – beautiful magazine theme for news/blog sites.
Install the theme and customize it by changing colors, layout, menus, etc.
Step 4 – Create Viral Content
The key to a successful BuzzFeed-style site is creating viral content that people love to read and share.
Some types of viral content to create:
-
Quizzes – Personality and trivia quizzes based on pop culture topics work well. You can use WordPress plugins like Quiz Maker to add viral quizzes.
-
Listicles – List-based posts around specific topics like ‘10 Fashion Trends from the 90s‘ or ‘15 Life Hacks for New Parents‘.
-
Memes – Create your own memes or curate viral ones related to your niche. Use apps like Canva to make memes.
-
Videos – Creating engaging videos is a must. Embed them in your content using the WordPress block editor.
The key is to come up with a content style and voice that stands out while tapping into topics your audience cares about. Analyze what works best for your site and create more of that.
Step 5 – Promote Your Website
Use these tips to get more visitors to your new BuzzFeed-style WordPress site:
-
Optimize for SEO – Use an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO to optimize your content. This will help your pages rank higher in search engines when people search for related topics.
-
Leverage social media – Share your content across different social media platforms where your audience hangs out. This helps bring in traffic.
-
Build email list – Use opt-in forms and popups to convert visitors into email subscribers. Email is the best way to keep people coming back.
-
Guest post – Reach out to other blogs and websites in your niche to contribute guest posts with a link back to your site.
-
Run contests/giveaways – Encourage social sharing and subscriptions by holding contests and giving away prizes.
Step 6 – Monetize Your Website
Once you have traffic, you can start monetizing your BuzzFeed-style WordPress site by:
-
Displaying ads – Sign up for Google AdSense to quickly add ads. Place them strategically within post content and sidebars.
-
Affiliate marketing – Earn commissions promoting relevant products from sites like Amazon Associates.
-
Sell branded merchandise – Create and sell t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise related to your brand.
-
Paid memberships/subscriptions – Offer exclusive perks and content to paid members. Use a plugin like MemberPress to add memberships.
-
Sponsored posts – Get paid by brands to create sponsored content and posts promoting their products/services.
The key is to use multiple income streams. As your traffic grows, your revenue potential grows too.
Final Tips
Creating a popular website like BuzzFeed takes time. You need to experiment, analyze data, and constantly refine your content.
Focus on value, be patient, and learn from other successful sites.
We hope this guide provided you with a solid foundation for creating your own BuzzFeed-style website with WordPress.
