How to Create a Start Here Page That Moves Readers Toward Your Money Pages
If a new visitor lands on your blog and has no idea what to read next, you usually lose them. That is exactly why a Start Here page matters. When you learn how to create a Start Here page that guides people clearly, you do more than improve navigation. You create a simple path from curiosity to trust, and from trust to the pages that grow your email list and affiliate revenue.
For beginner bloggers and small WordPress publishers, a Start Here page is one of the easiest conversion assets to build. It gives new readers context, sets expectations, and points them toward your most useful tutorials, your best comparison posts, and your highest-value money pages without feeling pushy.
In this guide, I will show you what to include, what to leave out, and how to structure a Start Here page so it helps readers and supports revenue at the same time.
Why a Start Here page matters for blog monetization
Most blogs focus heavily on publishing new posts but neglect the reader journey after that first visit. A Start Here page fixes that problem.
Instead of forcing readers to guess where to begin, you can direct them to the pages that matter most:
- your best beginner tutorials
- your email opt-in or newsletter path
- your comparison posts and tool recommendations
- your resource or tools pages
That makes the page useful for both user experience and monetization. A good Start Here page can:
- reduce bounce from first-time visitors
- increase page depth and internal clicks
- send qualified readers to revenue-driving content
- grow your email list with better context
- make your site feel more intentional and trustworthy
Who should create a Start Here page
A Start Here page is especially helpful if you run a blog that covers multiple related subtopics. That includes blogs about WordPress, blogging, SEO, affiliate marketing, content systems, and creator tools.
You should create one if:
- new visitors often arrive from search on random articles
- your blog has several categories or content clusters
- you want a cleaner path into your affiliate content
- you are building an email list and want warmer subscribers
- you have a few strong posts but no clear entry point
If your site already has useful articles like tutorial posts that lead into affiliate revenue paths and advice on adding CTA blocks without looking spammy, a Start Here page becomes the natural front door for that system.
How to create a Start Here page that moves readers toward your money pages
The biggest mistake is trying to put everything on the page. A Start Here page should reduce confusion, not create more of it.
Think of it as a short guided tour. Your job is to help the right reader choose the best next click.
1. Start with a simple promise
Your opening section should explain who the site is for, what readers will get, and what they should do next.
For example, if your blog helps beginner bloggers make smarter tool decisions, say that clearly. Then tell readers that this page will show them the best first resources based on where they are right now.
Keep this short. Two or three brief paragraphs are enough.
2. Segment readers by goal, not by category
Most category-based navigation is organized around the publisher’s logic. Your Start Here page should be organized around the reader’s intent.
Better section labels look like this:
- I am starting a blog
- I want more traffic
- I want to grow an email list
- I want to monetize with affiliate content
This works because readers usually know their problem before they know your site structure.
3. Link to 3 to 6 high-value pages only
Too many choices kill momentum. Pick a small number of pages that represent the best next steps.
For a monetization-focused blog, that usually includes a mix of support and money content, such as:
- How to Choose Blog Tools Without Overspending in Year One
- How to Build an Email Funnel for a Small Affiliate Blog
- How to Create a Product Comparison Post That Converts
- MailerLite vs ConvertKit for Bloggers
- Best Contact Form Plugin for Lead Generation
This combination helps readers move from education into decision-making content naturally.
4. Add one email capture bridge
Your Start Here page should not be covered in popups or aggressive sales copy. But it should include one clear reason to join your email list.
The easiest approach is to place a short callout after the first or second section with a benefit-driven invitation. Focus on what the subscriber gets next, not just on “updates.”
Good examples include:
- a beginner blog tools checklist
- a simple monetization roadmap
- a first-year WordPress setup checklist
- a content planning template
If you are still building your email infrastructure, this guide on building an email funnel for a small affiliate blog pairs well with your Start Here page.
5. Introduce your money pages with context
Do not drop readers straight onto a commercial page with no explanation. Warm them up first.
For example, instead of saying “Check out my recommended tools,” say something like:
If you already know you want to grow your list and simplify setup, these are the tools and plugins I would look at first.
That one sentence helps the click feel useful rather than promotional.
6. Keep the design clean and skimmable
Most people will scan this page. Use short paragraphs, bullets, and bold labels so the next step is obvious.
A practical Start Here page usually includes:
- a short welcome
- 2 to 4 reader-path sections
- one email signup block
- a small recommended tools or next-step section
- a final CTA pointing to your best conversion path
A simple Start Here page framework you can copy
If you want a clean structure, use this outline:
- Headline: Tell readers the page helps them find the right starting point.
- Short intro: Explain who the site is for and what problems it solves.
- Choose your path: Offer 3 to 4 reader goals with links.
- Top resources: Link to your best tutorials and one or two money pages.
- Email CTA: Offer a useful free next step.
- Final recommendation: Point readers to your highest-value article or tools page.
If you are trying to grow traffic without wasting money, start with this guide to choosing blog tools in year one, then move into the email and plugin recommendations that fit your setup.
What to avoid on a Start Here page
Even useful pages can underperform when they try to do too much. Watch out for these common problems.
Too many links
If every paragraph contains multiple options, readers will not know where to go. Curate the page like an editor.
Biography overload
A little personal context helps, but your full story belongs on your About page. Start Here readers care more about what they should do next.
No monetization bridge
If the page never points toward an email offer, comparison post, resource page, or tools recommendation, it may be pleasant but weak for revenue.
Commercial links with no trust-building
Readers are more likely to click buyer-intent content after they understand your process and your recommendations feel curated. Lead with usefulness first.
Where your Start Here page should link inside your site
Your Start Here page works best when it connects support content and money content. For ContentAtlas-style sites, a good flow looks like this:
- beginner guidance post
- email growth or conversion post
- comparison or best-tool post
- resource or tools page
That means a new visitor can begin with strategy, move into implementation, and then land on a page where buying a tool makes sense.
For example, a reader might go from this Start Here page to turning tutorial posts into affiliate revenue paths, then to creating product comparison posts that convert, and finally to a direct software comparison like MailerLite vs ConvertKit for Bloggers.
Do you need a Start Here page if you already have a homepage?
Usually, yes. Your homepage has to do many jobs at once. A Start Here page has one job: orient new readers and move them toward the right next step.
That makes it especially useful on blogs where visitors arrive through search instead of by typing the homepage URL directly.
Final thoughts
A great Start Here page is not complicated. It is simply focused. It helps the right visitor feel understood, shows them where to begin, and creates a cleaner path toward your best tutorials, email offers, and money pages.
If your blog already has useful content but feels scattered, this is one of the highest-leverage pages you can create. Build it for clarity first, then use it to connect readers to the parts of your site that actually grow revenue.
FAQ
What is a Start Here page on a blog?
A Start Here page is a guided entry page for new readers. It explains who your site helps and points visitors toward the best next pages based on their goals.
How long should a Start Here page be?
It should be long enough to orient readers, but short enough to scan quickly. In most cases, 600 to 1200 words is enough for the page itself, even if your planning process is more detailed.
Should a Start Here page include affiliate links?
It can, but usually it works better to link first to your curated money pages, comparison posts, or resource pages. That keeps the page helpful instead of sales-heavy.
Where should I link to my Start Here page?
Add it to your main navigation, homepage, author bio area, welcome email, and selected tutorial posts where new readers are likely to need orientation.