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Streamline Your Blog: A Free Automated Deployment Workflow

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Managing a blog often requires more effort than the writing itself. This guide will show you how to set up an automated system using Publii, GitHub, and Netlify. This combination simplifies your blogging process significantly.

I’ll use my site, exploringtopic.com, as an example. It’s an affiliate for explodingtopics, but this setup works for any blog type.

Publii: Offline Content Management

Publii functions like WordPress but operates locally on your computer. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Download Publii from getpublii.com. It’s free.
  2. Install it on your computer.
  3. Launch Publii and select “Add New Site”. Name it (e.g., “Exploring Topic”).
  4. Choose a theme. You can modify this later.
  5. In the sidebar, locate “Server Settings” and select “GitHub Pages”. We’ll return to this later.

GitHub: Version Control and Storage

GitHub serves as our content repository. We’re using it for storage, not coding:

  1. Go to github.com and create an account if needed.
  2. Click the “+” icon, then “New repository”.
  3. Name the repository after your site (e.g., “exploringtopic.com”).
  4. Set it as private or public and skip additional options.
  5. Copy the repository URL for later use.

Netlify: Deployment and Hosting

Netlify acts as your site’s deployment service:

  1. Sign up at netlify.com.
  2. Select “New site from Git” and choose GitHub.
  3. Pick the repository you just created.
  4. Leave the build settings blank. Publii will manage this.
  5. Click “Deploy site” to initiate the process.

Integrating the Tools

Now, let’s connect these services:

  1. In Publii, return to your site’s “Server Settings”.
  2. Enter your GitHub username and paste the repository URL.
  3. Locate “Netlify Settings” and enable “Use Netlify”.
  4. Input your Netlify site name (found in your Netlify dashboard).
  5. Save the settings.

Content Creation and Publishing

Your setup is complete. Here’s the new publishing process:

  1. Open Publii, select “Posts”, then “Add new post”.
  2. Write your content.
  3. Click “Sync & Deploy” when finished.

Your post is now live. Publii sends it to GitHub, and Netlify automatically updates your site.

Optimizing Your Workflow

To maximize this setup:

  1. Utilize Publii’s SEO tools to improve search engine visibility.
  2. Explore Publii’s themes to refine your site’s appearance.
  3. Set up a custom domain through Netlify for a professional touch.
  4. Use GitHub branches to test major changes safely.
  5. Let Publii optimize your images for improved site speed.
  6. Schedule posts in Publii for consistent publishing.
  7. Review Netlify’s analytics to understand your audience.

This automated blog setup is both cost-effective and scalable. It streamlines your process from content creation to publication, allowing you to focus on writing. Whether you’re venturing into affiliate marketing like exploringtopic.com or sharing your thoughts, this system adapts to your needs.

With this foundation, you’re ready to grow your blog efficiently. Happy writing!

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