A good blog homepage makes it instantly clear what your blog is about, shows your latest or best posts, and gives people a way to subscribe. For a brand-new blog, the best homepage is usually just your latest posts shown cleanly, not a custom-built landing page. Your homepage is doing a job, and most beginners either overbuild it or ignore it completely.
I actually don’t have a homepage for the Pothos site. There’s no point, because there’s not enough content. GeneratePress defaults to just showing a list of posts which is all you need now.
The short version
| Element | Does it matter on day one? |
|---|---|
| A one-line “what this blog is” | Yes |
| Your latest posts feed | Yes (the default, and it’s enough) |
| An email signup | Yes (keep it simple) |
| A custom static landing page | Not yet |
| Hero images and fancy design | Not yet |
What does a good blog homepage need to do?
Three jobs: orient a first-time visitor, show them your content, and offer a way to stay in touch. That’s it. A homepage isn’t a showroom, it’s a signpost.
- Orient. In one line, a stranger should understand what your blog is and whether it’s for them.
- Show your content. Your posts are the value, so put them front and centre.
- Capture an email. A simple signup turns a one-time visitor into someone you can reach again.
Should your homepage be your latest posts or a static page?
For a new blog, use your latest posts. It’s the default, it fills itself as you publish, and it’s genuinely the right call to start. You set this under Settings → Reading → “Your homepage displays” → Latest posts.
A static homepage (a designed page that sits in front of your blog) is a later decision, for when you’ve got a body of content and a specific reason, like funnelling people toward a product or your email list. Build it before then and you’re decorating an empty house.
What the pothos homepage looks like right now
Right now the pothos site doesn’t have a custom homepage at all, and that’s deliberate. GeneratePress shows a clean list of my latest posts, which is exactly what a new blog needs. No hero banner, no designed landing page, nothing extra to maintain.
The point isn’t that my homepage is impressive. It’s that not building one yet was the right call, and it left me free to do the thing that actually matters: write. As the site grows enough to justify something more, I’ll show you exactly what I change and why, right here.
When should you build a custom homepage?
Later, when you’ve earned it: a real body of content, a clear sense of your brand, and a reason. That reason is usually a product to point people at or an email list to grow. A custom homepage is one of those “be ready when the luck happens” jobs. Worth doing well, but only once there’s something to funnel.
Frequently asked questions
Does a new blog need a homepage?
You already have one: your posts feed. You do not need to build a custom landing page to launch.
Latest posts or a static homepage?
Latest posts to start. Switch to a static homepage later, when you have content and a clear reason.
What should I put on my homepage?
A one-line description of what your blog is, your latest posts, and an email signup. That covers it early on.
When should I design a custom homepage?
Once you’ve got a body of posts, a defined brand, and something specific to funnel people toward.
What next?
Your homepage is sorted, and you resisted the urge to overbuild it. Last job in setting up your site: making the whole thing look intentional without hiring a designer.