When you’re just getting started with your blogging story, it’s easy to focus on writing your content and not even think about how you’re going to organize it. That’s where blog categories come in. Using categories on your blog is one of the easiest ways to keep your blog tidy and also help your readers find what they’re searching for.

What Exactly Are Categories?

Think of categories like the chapters in a book or like the folders in a filing cabinet. Depending on the subject of your blog, there could be one for recipes, another for travel, one for personal growth, and so on. On your blog, categories help you group similar posts together, keeping it organized and making it so much easier for your users to navigate.

For example, on my blog, I may write about:

• Affiliate marketing
• Blogging tips
• Email marketing
• Product creation
• My personal journey

Each of these topics will have its own category. So if someone only wants to read about email marketing, they can go straight to that section of my blog without scrolling through unrelated posts.

Why Categories Matter

Categories can help:

• Make your blog easier to navigate
• Make your blog look tidy
• Organize related posts
• Improve user navigation
• Boost SEO (Google loves well-structured sites)
• Make your content look more professional.

Categories help both your readers and search engines find out what your blog is all about.

How Many Categories Do You Need?

Not a lot. Having said that, it all depends on the diversity of your blog. Start with around 3 to 5 main categories that cover the key topics you’ll be writing about. You can always add more later if you need to.

Where Do You Put  Your Categories?

If you’re using WordPress, you’ll see a Category box on the right-hand side when you’re writing a blog post. Just tick the box that fits best, or create a new category if needed.

Final Thought

Categories might seem like a small thing, but they make a big difference when it comes to organizing your content and making your blog user-friendly. So take a few minutes, think about your main topics, and organize them into smart, clear categories that your readers and search engines will thank you for.

Until next time,
PollyMac

p.s. Don’t forget to check out John & Randy’s Coaching Program

Why Plugins Matter (But Can Also Be Overwhelming)

When WordPress is installed, it usually comes with several plugins already installed. These plugins provide extra facilities that can be used to improve your websites. Improvements such as:

• Catch spam comments
• Stop brute force attacks
• Speed up your load time
• Help back up your site
• And many other things…

But remember that too many plugins will likely slow down your website or cause security issues. So be vigilant and keep an eye on your plugins.

Spring Cleaning The Plugin Page

My new website already had several plugins installed and activated when I first installed it. In fact, there were way too many, twenty. John takes you through the installed plugins and advises you on which ones to keep and activate, and which to deactivate and delete.

The classic editor is one plugin that John recommends that we install. It is much easier for some people to use than the block editor introduced in the last few years. Although many people use the block editor, others much prefer to use the classic editor.

After doing my housework on the plugins page, I now have nine active plugins on my website, down from twenty.

Free Is Fine (For Now)

John explained that the free versions of the plugins are usually all that is needed for your site. There is no need to spend money on the Pro versions just yet. When you can afford it, you can always investigate the Pro versions and update your plugins if you feel the need. You should always take care when deciding which plugins to use on your site. Only keep what you need and upgrade them as necessary.

Keep It Lean and Mean

Too many plugins can be bad for your site; they can seriously slow it down and negatively influence its performance. So, you need to look at your plugins and remove those you don’t need. So go through those plugins and scrutinise them thoroughly. Remember, quality is so much more important than quantity when it comes to plugins on your site.

Finally

 Remember to always keep your WordPress site and all your plugins up-to-date. Updating your plugins is a task that is easily accomplished from your plugins page. But before you update anything, be sure to back up your webpage/blog. A plugin like Backuply makes that process quick and easy.

 A Quick Recap:

• Audit your plugins: delete what you don’t need
• Install the Classic Editor if you prefer a simple layout
• Stick with free versions unless you absolutely need more
• Always back up your site before updates

Keep everything updated regularly

Until next time,
PollyMac

p.s. Don’t forget to check out John & Randy’s Coaching Program

If you’re reading this, then you’re
probably curious about how I got this
blog up and running. Or maybe you’re
just starting your own journey and want
to see what it’s like for someone
relearning everything from scratch.

Either way—welcome!.

Online Success Coaching by John Thornhill & Randy Smith

This all started with a video series
I’ve been following, guided by John and
Randy. Their step-by-step training has
been a real game-changer for me.

Step One – Domain Name

First, I had to choose a domain name. While
many may start their online journeys without
a domain name chosen,  I had already chosen
pollymac.com. It felt right. Simple,
personal, and something I could build my
brand around.

Step Two – Hosting

Next up was choosing a hosting provider.
I decided to go with the recommended one.
D9 Hosting. It made sense. When you’re following
a tutorial, sticking with the suggested tools keeps
everything smoother and less confusing, especially
when you’re new to the tech side of things, as I am.

Step Three – WordPress

Once the hosting was sorted, it was time
to install WordPress. This part was a
milestone. Suddenly, my blog wasn’t just
an idea anymore—it had a digital home!

Step Four – Blog Theme

After that, I added a blog theme. I went
with the one recommended—Bloghash.
It’s clean, simple, and easy to customize,
which is exactly what I need. No sense
getting a complicated layout when you’re
still learning the ropes.

Step Five – The Plugins

Then came the plugins. I installed the
key ones suggested in the lessons—things
that help with performance, security,
and SEO.

Step Six – The About Me Page

One of the first pages I created was my
About Me page. That was both fun and a
little intimidating. Writing about
yourself is weird.  However, it’s
also a significant aspect of connecting
with readers, and I want this blog to
feel genuine and relatable.

Step Seven – My First Blog Post

After learning how to edit and manage
the different parts of the blog, I
finally wrote and published my first
blog post. This told the story about my
history, trying and failing to make
money online. And my determination to
succeed this time around.

Step Eight – Hitting The Publish Button

It was a proud moment when I hit the
“publish” button. It felt like I’d planted the
flat on the first step of this journey.

Step Nine – My Second Blog Post

And that brings us to today. Here I am
writing my second blog post. Yeah!

Step Ten – Stick With Me

I’ll be sharing more of what I learn as
I go, and if you’re just starting out too,
stick with me! This path might have a
few bumps, but hopefully it will be pretty
exciting.

Until next time,
PollyMac

p.s. Don’t forget to check out John & Randy’s Coaching Program

A Decade of Struggle – The Honest Truth

Let’s not sugar-coat it: I’ve spent 10 years trying to figure out how to build an online business. In that time, I’ve bought more programs, courses, and miracle-sounding solutions than I can count. Each one promised the world. Most delivered… disappointment.

I’ve been stuck in that cycle—hope, excitement, overwhelm, burnout—far too many times.

But I’m Still Here – And More Determined Than Ever

Here’s the difference now: I’m not giving up. Not now, not this time.

I’ve made a decision—and it’s a big one. I’m finally investing in the right kind of support by joining the Online Success Coaching Program by John Thornhill and Randy Smith. This isn’t another faceless digital course. It’s real mentorship, real structure, and real accountability.

The Goal: My Very Own Product

My mission now is to create a product of my own—something I can proudly offer, knowing it brings real value to people just like you and me. And I’m going to walk you through the entire process right here on the blog.

I’ll be sharing updates on my progress inside the coaching program, behind-the-scenes decisions, lessons learned, and yes—even the roadblocks. You’ll see the whole messy, honest journey unfold.

Follow My Journey

This blog will serve as my digital journal, where I document the wins, struggles, milestones, and breakthroughs on the path to building an online income the right way.

If you’ve ever felt stuck online… if you’ve wasted money on courses that didn’t deliver… or if you’re just ready for a fresh start with someone who gets it—then you’re in the right place.

Let’s do this together.

Stay tuned,
PollyMac

p.s. Don’t forget to check out John & Randy’s Coaching Program