How to Build a WordPress News Site Using AI

The transcript details a comprehensive guide on using AI to create and manage multiple news websites efficiently. The core theme revolves around leveraging AI tools like Zim Writer and platforms like Ino Reader to automate content creation, categorization, and publishing across various sites. It emphasizes the importance of diversifying content strategies, such as integrating social media and affiliate marketing, to enhance site visibility and monetization. The guide also highlights optimizing WordPress setups, creating engaging visuals, and ensuring content quality through AI-driven research and writing, ultimately aiming to maximize productivity and reach in the digital news landscape.

• The podcast introduces a method to create multiple news sites in any niche using AI technology, specifically using an AI writer called Zim Writer.
• The process involves building a site from scratch, with AI handling content creation, image generation, linking, and publishing to social platforms like Facebook.
• The system includes an automated workflow where the user tags articles of interest, and the AI performs research, retitles, and assigns them to specific website profiles.

"In this course, I'm going to show you how to create 1, 5, 10, or even 100 news sites for any niche you want."

• The host introduces the concept of using AI to automate the creation and management of multiple niche news websites.

"The AI stays behind and it writes all the content, it pushes it to all the websites with all the AI images, with all the linking, with everything completely done."

• Explanation of the AI's capabilities in automating the entire content creation and publishing process.

• The course requires the use of Zim Writer, which runs natively on Windows or can be used on a Mac with additional software like Parallels or Wine.
• The course also requires API keys and some dedication to complete the process.

"You're going to need the AI writer that we're using, it's called Zim Writer."

• Introduction to the primary tool used in the course for AI-driven content creation.

• The importance of choosing a specific niche is emphasized to manage costs and focus efforts effectively.
• Five key questions are outlined to determine a viable niche: What is the niche? How much traffic is available? How will I get that traffic? How will I monetize that traffic? Is the potential monetization worth it?

"We can't just go after all kinds of news out there, we're never going to be a CNN or a Fox News or a BBC News."

• Explanation of the necessity to focus on a specific niche for practical and financial reasons.

"There's five questions that I always like to ask when I'm choosing a niche."

• Introduction to the structured approach for evaluating potential niches.

• Google News, Google Trends, and Facebook groups are recommended as resources to explore potential niches and gauge interest.
• The host shares insights on assessing the viability of a niche through traffic analysis and community engagement.

"The first place that you can go to come up with a niche idea would just be Google News."

• Suggestion to use Google News as a starting point for niche research.

"Another place you can look, and this is a really interesting place, is Facebook."

• Recommendation to explore Facebook groups for niche ideas and community engagement.

• Various methods to acquire traffic are discussed, including organic search, social media, and potential paid ads.
• Emphasis on understanding how competitors are monetizing their sites through ads, affiliate products, and other means.

"How will you get that traffic? It's great that traffic's available, but how will you get it?"

• Highlighting the importance of planning traffic acquisition strategies.

"How will I monetize that traffic? Now, that's a very important question."

• Stressing the need to have a clear monetization plan for the generated traffic.

• The process of site ideation involves examining competitors to understand common features and layout styles.
• The host emphasizes the importance of creating a site that looks and functions like a news site, with features like tickers and charts.

"The best way to go about doing this is just look at your competitors."

• Encouragement to analyze competitors to inform site design and functionality.

"If we want to make a new site, we have to make it look like a new site."

• Importance of aligning site design with user expectations for a news website.

• Guidance on choosing a domain name, including the consideration of expired domains for potential SEO benefits.
• Recommendations for hosting providers are given, with a focus on managed hosts with dedicated resources.

"Choosing a domain name isn't a hard process, but a lot of people make it really hard."

• Advice on simplifying the domain selection process.

"Get a managed host, a host that manages all that for you."

• Recommendation to use a managed hosting provider to simplify site management.

• Instructions on setting up WordPress, including user settings, permalinks, and security configurations.
• Emphasis on the importance of securing the site with plugins and configuring SSL for encryption.

"We want to just configure some basic options."

• Initial steps in setting up and configuring a WordPress site.

"From a security standpoint, I like to install two different security plugins."

• Recommendation to enhance site security with specific plugins.

• Discussion of theme selection, highlighting the importance of choosing a theme that supports infinite scrolling for better user engagement.
• The host explains the decision to use the Spotlight theme for its news-style layout and features.

"The theme that we're going to use already has that the new style layout for the theme."

• Explanation of the decision to use a specific theme for its built-in news layout.

"This is what infinite page loading is."

• Description of the infinite scrolling feature and its benefits for user engagement.

• The process begins with downloading and installing a theme on multiple websites.
• Subscription options allow for adding themes to multiple sites within a month.
• Installation involves unzipping files and setting up a main and child theme.
• Child themes help retain custom settings during parent theme updates.

"You'll click download and then a pop-up will appear and say where do you want to install this on and you'll type in your site name."

• Explanation: This describes the initial step of downloading and installing the theme on a website.

"A child theme allows you to add specific configurations to the functions file of the theme."

• Explanation: Child themes are used to customize settings without affecting the main theme during updates.

• Essential plugins are installed to enhance site functionality.
• Selective disabling of unnecessary features can improve site speed.
• Key plugins include Cure Key and Power Kit.

"I want you to install this cure cure key if I'm saying that right and then also power kit."

• Explanation: Specific plugins are recommended for installation to enhance site functionality.

"The more stuff we selectively disable arguably the faster our site will go."

• Explanation: Disabling unnecessary features can improve the site's loading speed.

• Custom code is added to prevent unnecessary image resolutions.
• File manager is used for manual code editing when direct editing fails.
• Categories and pages are created to organize content.

"What this code is going to do is it's going to prevent our theme from making all of these extra resolution images."

• Explanation: Custom code is used to optimize image handling on the website.

"Let's create some more categories for our WordPress site."

• Explanation: Categories are created to organize content and improve site navigation.

• Menus are created for both header and footer sections.
• Custom links and categories are added to the menu for easy navigation.
• Offcanvas menu is configured for mobile devices.

"We're going to create a new menu and this will be called the main menu."

• Explanation: A main menu is created for primary navigation on the website.

"Now we can go to our front end and we're going to create our menus."

• Explanation: Menus are set up to organize and provide easy access to different site sections.

• Canva and Mid Journey are used to create a professional logo.
• Logo and favicon are added to the site for branding.
• Image compression is used to optimize logo size.

"I'm going to use canva because I have a canva subscription."

• Explanation: Canva is utilized for creating a professional logo for the website.

"Let's go to Tiny jpg come and we're going to compress these."

• Explanation: Image compression tools are used to reduce the logo file size for optimal performance.

• Fonts and typography settings are adjusted for a professional look.
• Specific fonts are chosen based on the site's niche and target audience.
• Header and footer settings are customized to match the site's design.

"The font we're going to use sitewide for everything it's going to be Source sand Pro."

• Explanation: A consistent font is chosen for the entire site to maintain a cohesive design.

"Click on the typography Tab and then General we're going to set some fonts and some font sizes."

• Explanation: Typography settings are configured to enhance readability and design.

• Layout and display settings for posts and pages are customized.
• Featured posts and homepage layout are configured for optimal display.
• Archive and category settings are adjusted for better organization.

"We want to enable display featured posts."

• Explanation: Featured posts are enabled for prominent display on the homepage.

"Let's click on our homepage and we'll click on featured posts."

• Explanation: Homepage settings are adjusted to display featured content effectively.

• Custom CSS is added to improve site aesthetics and functionality.
• Additional content and disclaimers are configured for SEO purposes.
• Internal linking strategies are planned for future content.

"CSS is a great skill it's not hard to learn."

• Explanation: Custom CSS is used to further enhance the website's design and functionality.

"The content below should not be construed as Financial investment legal or professional advice."

• Explanation: Disclaimers are added to content for legal and SEO considerations.

• AI tools are used to generate content titles and summaries.
• Keyword clustering and SEO research are conducted for content planning.
• Bulk writing features are utilized to efficiently create multiple articles.

"We're going to start generating our crypto Basics articles."

• Explanation: Content creation begins with generating articles on basic cryptocurrency topics.

"We need to create a list of only 50 categories for my crypto news site."

• Explanation: Categories are strategically planned for content organization and SEO optimization.

• Begin by configuring Zim Writer to output HTML files for previewing articles as they would appear on a WordPress site.
• Ensure that the WordPress site is connected properly by adding the site URL, username, and application password.
• Adjust server time zone settings to match your local time zone for accurate scheduling of posts.

"The first thing I want you to do is click on options and then make sure that this output HTML files is checked by default."

• Ensures articles can be previewed in HTML format before publishing to WordPress.

• Set the number of H2 subheadings to zero for concise articles without unnecessary subheadings.
• Use a professional tone of voice for news articles, avoiding first-person narratives.
• Enable block quotes and bold words for readability, but avoid conclusions in news articles.

"I recommend setting the number of H2S to zero right here and when you set it to zero something kind of special happens."

• Setting H2 to zero increases word count and focuses on concise, direct content.

• Use deep research mode for generating articles, selecting appropriate models for research and writing.
• Avoid citing competitors by listing them in a blocklist within Zim Writer.
• Utilize AI models like Claude 3.5 Sonet for high-quality content creation.

"We're going to use deep research this is extremely power but it does get more expensive."

• Deep research mode enhances article quality with comprehensive data but increases cost.

• Generate a style mimic to replicate a specific writing style, enhancing article uniqueness.
• Avoid using AI-generated text for mimics; opt for original, nuanced writing samples.
• Modify mimics for specific tones, such as snarky or straightforward, to suit the target audience.

"This is so powerful let me underline that and say that a couple more this is so powerful."

• Emphasizes the importance and effectiveness of using style mimics for personalized content.

• Integrate images using AI models, considering cost versus quality trade-offs.
• Use prompts to guide AI in generating relevant images for articles.
• Consider using less expensive image models for bulk content to manage costs effectively.

"We're going to use runw flux flux Dev because it's just so incredibly less expensive."

• Choosing cost-effective image models can significantly reduce overall content production expenses.

• Test article quality and settings thoroughly before bulk publishing.
• Save configurations and profiles for consistent content creation across multiple articles.
• Regularly update and refine settings to maintain high-quality output.

"Put in the time upfront to dial in all your settings save it to your profile and you'll never really have to mess with it again."

• Highlights the importance of initial setup and testing for long-term efficiency and quality.

• Add useful plugins like Fluent Forms for contact management and Fluent SMTP for email handling.
• Implement security measures such as CAPTCHA to prevent spam and unauthorized access.
• Utilize SEO plugins to manage metadata, indexing, and social sharing optimizations.

"I prefer just to move everything away from Google aside from like search console."

• Suggests using non-Google solutions for privacy and independence from large tech ecosystems.

• Incorporate external widgets, such as financial tickers or charts, to enrich site content.
• Ensure widgets are from reputable sources to avoid future compatibility issues.
• Customize widget appearance to match site aesthetics and improve user engagement.

"Your site will just look so much more professional with stuff like this."

• External widgets enhance site professionalism and user experience by providing dynamic content.

• Use tools like Microsoft Clarity to monitor user behavior and improve site layout and content.
• Regularly review and adjust site elements based on analytics to optimize user experience.
• Stay updated with new tools and plugins to maintain site relevance and functionality.

"Definitely want to install this you'll go to just Google Microsoft Clarity."

• Encourages proactive site management and user behavior analysis for ongoing optimization.

• The speaker discusses the process of setting up and managing a website for automated news articles using AI tools.
• Key tasks include setting up a WordPress site, configuring categories, and automating content generation and publishing.

"We're reprocessing the link pack. We're in the home stretch, guys. We're in the home stretch."

• The speaker emphasizes nearing the completion of setting up the website infrastructure, including link packs for efficient content management.

• Zim Writer is introduced as a tool for automating the writing of news articles.
• The speaker discusses configuring settings, including turning off FAQs and using specific AI models for content generation.
• The importance of setting a schedule for content publishing is highlighted to ensure timely article releases.

"Configure Zim Writer to write our news articles... This is like where the magic is finally going to happen."

• The speaker highlights the critical role of Zim Writer in automating the creation of news articles, marking a significant step in the workflow.

• The process of managing link packs for content creation is discussed, including handling failed URLs.
• The speaker explains how to update link packs and ensure they contain relevant and functioning links.

"Every single link was added aside from one. One of them failed."

• The speaker addresses the importance of verifying and managing links to ensure all content is accurately linked and functional.

• Different AI models are compared for generating content, with considerations for cost and quality.
• The speaker mentions experimenting with models like GPT-40 and Claude Sonet for different writing styles and cost efficiencies.

"We are going to use Claude Sonet 3.5... I have not updated Zim Writer with the latest version."

• The choice of AI model impacts the quality and cost of content generation, with the speaker opting for a specific version for consistency.

• The speaker discusses optimizing workflows for scaling content creation across multiple sites.
• Techniques include using Google Sheets for managing article titles and profiles, and automating article generation with Zim Writer.

"How do we write news articles for two sites, for five sites, for 10 sites, for 100 sites?"

• The speaker addresses scalability, emphasizing the importance of efficient workflows for managing content across numerous sites.

• Ino Reader is introduced as a tool for aggregating news articles and feeds from various sources.
• The speaker explains how to use Ino Reader to tag and manage articles for content creation.

"Ino Reader is the most awesome news aggregator in the world."

• The speaker praises Ino Reader for its powerful features in aggregating and managing news content for automated article creation.

• The speaker discusses automating the posting of articles to social media platforms like Facebook.
• Tools like Bit Social are mentioned for integrating social media with WordPress for automatic content sharing.

"We have to find a way to have our blog posts... automatically posted to each of these respective Facebook pages."

• Automating social media posting is crucial for extending the reach of content and maintaining an active online presence.

• The speaker touches on monetization strategies, including using affiliate programs and ad plugins for generating revenue.
• Advanced Ads and Ad Inserter Pro are mentioned as tools for managing advertisements on the website.

"We're not just doing this for fun. Let's talk about money."

• Monetization is a key consideration, with the speaker discussing various methods to generate income from the website.

• The speaker concludes by encouraging exploration of additional strategies for increasing digital footprint and traffic.
• Suggestions include creating AI podcasts, newsletters, and exploring SEO techniques.

"I hope you create a million news sites. I really do."

• The speaker expresses optimism for the potential of automated content generation and encourages further exploration and innovation in the field.