HOW TO START A BLOG
A REALLY SIMPLE BEGINNERS GUIDE ON HOW YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN BLOG IN JUST 20 MINUTES.
My title is Jamie Spencer and I have been running a blog as my essential supply of income for the previous eight years. I have created and bought a large variety of blogs in extraordinary niches which capability I am in a fantastic position to help you start your very own blog.
I’ve designed these novices guide to running a blog to exhibit you how to start a blog online in less than 20 minutes even if you’re an entire blogging novice, whether or not you’re 18 or 80 It certainly is that simple and straightforward. There is no technical jargon inside this guide that will leave you confused.
If you do get stuck on any phase of this guide, then please experience free to email me. You can contact me here. I will get returned to you within 24 hours, I promise!
In this guide, I’m going to run via exactly what you need to do to set up your own blog.
In order to Start A Blog you will need to work thru these 5 simple stages:
- Choose a running a blog platform
- Pick a Domain Name & Web Host
- Install WordPress on your web hosting account
- Design Your Blog
- Launch Your Blog
In this tutorial we will be building a weblog with WordPress, please do not bypass any steps.
STEP ONE
Choose Your Blogging Platform
A running a blog platform is the software program used to control your blog. It permits you to create weblog pages, add content, images, video and the whole thing else that you would want to do when updating your blog. Another name for a blogging platform is a CMS ( Content Management System).There are plenty of one of a kind open supply structures which most web internet hosting agencies will aid when you are growing your blog. The most important blogging systems are:
- WordPress – is the most famous and customizable content material management device (CMS) in the world
- Ghost – is a new running a blog platform that is developing a lot of noise in the blogosphere
- Drupal – is pretty famous but is tough for novices
- Joomla – some other fairly famous CMS, however, there is a very steep gaining knowledge of curve
- Blogger – a free running a blog answer from Google
Why You SHOULD NOT Start A Blog On A Free Platform
Plainly and absolutely I will by no means suggest someone who desires to begin a blog to use a free platform such as Blogger or WordPress.com. While there is zero barrier to entry and no up to the front monetary price to you, there are loads of concerns which may want to price you more in the lengthy run. If you can, then you always self-host your blog.
When something is free, YOU are the product
Because of this reality, a platform such as Blogger or WordPress.com can shut you down at any point, with no warning and no way to get better your content. A minor indiscretion such as the use of a photo beside the right consent can have your web page deleted and no way to undertaking it.No customization
stage of ALL the free plugins and aspects are very limited. And if you want to customize your free theme to make it stand out from the crowd, then simply forget it. You can’t do this on WordPress.com (free model of WordPress)
It looks unprofessionalMany of the free blogging platforms do now not let you have a customized domain which gives throughout an unprofessional appearance to conceivable clients and subscribers. You are additionally very limited with the stage of customization you can do to your weblog so your website online appears simply like each person else’s.
It’s hard to make money from your weblog when you don’t very own the domain or hosting. Most free blogging systems will no longer enable you to vicinity any adds or affiliate hyperlinks on your site. So how can you make any money from the visitors that you have been working hard to build? Answer: No chance.
Many LimitationsThe free blogging structures provide you very little in phrases of net space. You might get 5GB if you’re lucky. For today’s websites, this is simply now not ample when you think about uploading pix and movies to your blog posts.
So what must you accumulate from this guide so far? Simple. Don’t go for growing a free blog, because it will prevent you at each stage.
If you assume that beginning your blog on a free platform now and shifting to a paid solution, later on, is the high-quality way forward, then think again! Migrating your free weblog from a free blogging platform to a better-paid option can be very hard and time-consuming.
What you ought to do when developing a blog
The exceptional way forward is to build your blog on a platform like WordPress the place you will very own your website and content a hundred percent because you are self-hosted and you have your personal professional / non-public domain name. two You won’t have any obstacles and you’re free to monetize your website, which is fundamental if you’re looking to make cash online from your blog.Paying for net hosting for your weblog is not very highly-priced and can value as little as around $5 per month for very easy internet hosting packages. Having a dependable web host will mean that your site is backed up in many instances and you have rights to get better your internet site for any reason.
Why I Recommend WordPress For Starting A Blog
Well to begin with my internet site makeawebsitehub.com is constructed on WordPress, and over 30% of all websites and blogs on the internet use WordPress.
Over the previous few years, I have labored with all of the nicely acknowledged blogging structures however usually recommend WordPress to run a blog beginner due to the first-rate community aid and ease of use.
It’s INSANELY easy to set up.
You will see simply how easy later in this How To Start A Blog guide. To provide you some thought to how easy it is, my 9-year historical daughter set up her very own weblog with ZERO assist from her professional dad (that’s me by means of the way).
So handy to use.
Managing your blog, adding content, adding images, amending content material and lots a lot extra can be executed with absolute ease in WordPress. The platform has an extremely intuitive interface so including new pages, weblog posts, etc. can be done very quickly. Out of the field WordPress ticks most of the bins you will need for your new blog and if it doesn’t there is possibly a plugin out there for you.
Blogging is at the heart of WordPress.
WordPress was once designed and built for bloggers as a blogging platform so all the blogging competencies and functionality are already built-in and waiting for you. If you choose to set up an email subscription to your blog, then this can be added with the aid of a plugin in just seconds. That’s the super issue about WordPress, you can literally set your weblog up and put up your first blog in a rely of minutes on.
Total control.
With WordPress, you have total control over your site. There’s no waiting for a web clothier or developer to amend your content. You can just log in to your dashboard and make adjustments yourself.
WordPress is secure
.As long as you maintain your WordPress platform and plugins up to date with the contemporary versions, and you adhere to impervious password first-rate practices, then WordPress is a rattling secure place to have your site. WordPress replace their software program all the time to make positive that it continues to be invulnerable and retaining hackers at hands length.
Excellent support & brilliant community
WordPress neighborhood is vast, brilliant and always will to assist out. Check out their support boards to see simply how to top it is.
You can read extra about my thoughts on self-hosted WordPress vs WordPress.com
STEP TWO
Picking A Domain Name For Your Blog & Setting Up Your Web Hosting
In order to set up a weblog, you will need an area to identify and web hosting. If you are new to starting a blog then I recommend that you register your area & hosting with the equal company to hold matters simple.Domain Name: This is your website address i.e. the domain name for this website is . Try to choose something quick and catchy for your weblog that will be without difficulty remembering. I recommend that you stick to .com area names if at all feasible as many of the new domain names aren’t as effortless to recognize.
Web Hosting: This is where your weblog is stored online. There are plenty of distinct internets hosting corporations out there which provide specific kinds of web hosting for a range of one-of-a-kind sorts of websites. The WordPress platform is free of cost however you will have to pay around $3-4 per month for your Web Hosting and Domain registration fees.
The Best Place To Buy Your Blog’s Domain And Hosting.
I for my part use and can particularly endorse using BlueHost.com to begin a blog due to the fact of their simple installation process, first-rate customer carrier & reliability. They’re also recommended with the aid of WordPress.org as a pinnacle host on the grounds that 2005.
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Affiliate disclaimer: I endorse Bluehost because I use them on a lot of websites that I own or have built for clients. I additionally without a doubt agree with they offer a most effective provider to the different web hosting companies. All Bluehost links on this web page are affiliate links which skill that I will get the commission if you purchase hosting with Bluehost by means of one of my links. This helps me to run makeawebsitehub.com and maintain all the courses on this website online free to use and share.
Over the years, I’ve tried dozens of one of a kind WordPress Hosting providers, so I feel you can name me an “expert” at choosing the internet hosting for my blogs. If you desire to study more about what is on provide then examine my web internet hosting reviews.
Once you have determined on which web hosting organization to work with you will need to set up WordPress on your account. I have created a information on how to install WordPress on a range of one of a kind net hosts.
Additionally, if you signal up to BlueHost today, you will get high pleasant hosting from just $2.95 per month, as nicely as a FREE area title well worth up to $15 for your new blog too!!! Use this hyperlink to get a free domain with your hosting.
Remember: If you’re sad with your BlueHost purchase inside 30 days, they will give you your money back.
When you sign up for hosting with BlueHost there are some additional services they offer. Domain Privacy Protection ability that human beings won’t be capable to see the name, tackle and contact small print of who owns the blog, if you’re comfortable for people to recognize who owns the weblog then you can deselect this and save yourself about $12 per year.
Starting A WordPress Blog On BlueHost
For a restrained time solely you can get simple internet hosting from Bluehost for a loopy less costly fee of just two $2.95 per month (36 months signal up + free domain name).
For new bloggers looking to develop their sites, I advocate going for the Bluehost Plus plan for $5.45 per month, as you get a lot more limitless features. This is best if you plan to scale up your blog in the future or host extra than one website.
Normally the Plus Plan web hosting package deal would value you $10.99 p/m, two so bounce on this deal now while it’s still available.
Remember that you can usually begin off with the primary layout and improve each time you feel you want greater features.
Here’s what you get for $5.45 per month with the BlueHost Plus Plan:
- A FREE domain name ( worth $15 )
- Fast, high quality & dependable web hosting
- Free SSL Certificate
- Free Site Builder
- One-click WordPress Install and 24/7 support.
- Unmetered internet site space
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited email accounts
- Unmetered email storage
- Host unlimited numbers of websites on your account
Click on the “Get Started Now” button to start the process of growing your very very own blog.
Next, you’ll need to pick the proper design for you and your blog. I advocate both the Plus or Prime packages. You can begin off with the simple if you like and improve every time you feel you need extra points to run your website.
Once you’ve chosen your sketch you’ll then see this page…
If you already have a domain name, from another area name registrar, that you favor using; then simply enter it in the proper hand container and then click on next to assign your domain to identify to your new hosting.
Let’s say you don’t have a domain title and you choose to declare your free domain.
Type in the area identify that you’d like in the left-hand box where it says “New Domain” and then click next. If it’s on hand then you’ll be able to proceed.
If it’s already registered then BlueHost will cleverly exhibit you some similar area names that you would possibly favor to consider. Or you can simply type out another area name thought to see if it’s available.
So you have observed the area identify of your desires and you’re now equipped to set it up with your new hosting. The subsequent display screen you’ll see is the area registration web page the place you will have to put in all the boring details such as account information, but this takes no time at all.
Once you’ve crammed out the area registration form, its then time to choose your web hosting plan. You’ll locate this area immediately beneath the account statistics section.
I usually suggest you choose the Plus or Prime format at 36 months to get a higher deal on the hosting, however, 12 or 24 months is high-quality also.
I normally don’t click any of the other alternatives as they’re no longer integral on the other hand I do propose getting area privacy if you don’t prefer everybody understanding who owns the domain. The exquisite factor about the Prime bundle is this choice is free.
Then scroll down and fill out the billing information, click put up and you are done!
You ought to then receive an e-mail from BlueHost with all your account and login details. Check your junk mail folder as it can now and again stop up in there if your email patron is a little too sensitive.
Keep your login and welcome statistics protected as you may want it for future reference.
The next factor you’ll want to do is to create a password for your WordPress dashboard login. This is the web page you’ll see next after paying for your web hosting package. Simply click on on the inexperienced button to create your password.
On the subsequent screen, you’ll need to put in your desired password into both fields. My advice to you would be to make the password over 15 characters with a mix of numbers, top and decrease case letters and a few different characters such as $%*(*£!.
Make it difficult as possible for those hackers trying to get into your blog. Once you have a lengthy and complex password, take notice of it and click subsequent to pass onto the subsequent stage.
STEP THREE
Installing WordPress On Your Hosting
So you’ve signed up and paid for your Bluehost hosting. Great! You are nearly there.
The subsequent aspect you want to do is to log in to your Bluehost account with the small print they despatched you in the welcome email.
Once you have logged in you’ll see a big blue button pronouncing “Start Building” – press this.
It will probably take about 5 minutes for them to load WordPress on to your internet hosting account. Once WordPress is loaded you can then log in.
If you are following this tutorial then you can click on the hyperlink that says “I don’t want help” and on the top left of your WordPress display, you’ll see a “Bluehost” menu, click on that.
From right here you can add weblog posts and pages, exchange the theme (design) of your weblog and upload any plugins.
If you get stuck, I have put collectively some links to beneficial free and paid WordPress tutorials
STEP FOUR
Choosing A WordPress Theme
Now that your WordPress blog is constructed you want to add a WordPress theme that has all of the features that you need, a WordPress theme is a pre-designed template which you can customize. Right now you have a choice to make you can either go with a free or a paid one. There are of direction advantages and disadvantages to both so it comes down to what you choose from your blog.
Some of my favorite places to locate subject matters for blogs are:
- ThemeForest
- StudioPress
- Mythemeshop
- WordPress Library
When you are deciding on your theme you choose to make positive it fits with your goals. For example, if you are writing a professional blog then you will prefer a formal clean plan whereas a tune weblog you will have an extra license to exhibit off your creativity.
These days you need to now been using a responsive design. This skill that the format of your blog will adapt to exceptional cellular and pill screen sizes – which is pretty vital for usability now that a lot of people are the usage of cellular phones to browse the web.
How To Install Your New Blog Theme
Your new theme will come in a .zip file structure if you have bought one. You have the choices to upload it straight into your WordPress Dashboard with the aid of logging into your WordPress blog.
When you log into your WordPress website for the first time, you will see this view of the dashboard.
Move the mouse over “Appearance” tab inside the dashboard sidebar, and then click on “Themes”. This will open up the Themes page inside your WordPress dashboard.
You can then either set up one of the free themes that you’ll see on hand to you on your Themes page dashboard or you can set up your very own Theme that you may have bought or downloaded elsewhere.
To deploy a free theme that’s already on your dashboard pre-loaded, you sincerely press the Activate button under the theme you want. See below:
Remember that you can continually switch lower back to your historic theme if you don’t like the appearance of the new one. That’s the beauty of WordPress.
If you don’t prefer to use any of the issues on your dashboard, click on Add New to begin looking for a new theme to use. This will carry you to a page the place you will be capable to search the many hundreds of free WordPress topics that are accessible to download and use on your site.
Here you’ll see four tabs, Featured, Popular, Latest, and Favourites. You can additionally use the search bar to locate greater themes, as well as being able to customize your search with precise filters, such as searching for themes that are ideal for organizations and that only have 2 columns.
To add your own theme that you may additionally have purchased from sites like Themeforest or MyThemeshop, you absolutely do the following…
APPEARANCE >
THEMES >
ADD THEME >
UPLOAD THEMES ( You’ll locate this at the top of the page subsequent to “Add Themes” page title.
You then add your theme .zip file simply like you would adding an attachment on to an email.
You’ll now have a distinctly blank looking theme set up and waiting for some love. At this stage, you prefer to fill out all the fundamentals like your logos, social media links, and other things.
STEP FIVE
Launch Your Blog
Now as soon as you are prepared to launch your new weblog for different human beings to examine it – you need to click on the blue “Launch” button on the Bluehost pageMake sure you fill in the name and tagline for your new blog.
…And that is it!
Congratulations you have now taken the first steps to beginning your new blog!
FAQ’s About Starting A Blog
Yes, blogging is nonetheless developing – In 2018 blogging is now one of the most popular approaches of communicating and spreading facts and news online. There are tens of millions of blogs online and every day you prolong in getting started with a weblog is some other day wasted.
Blogging is a super way to specific your self and shares your ideas, creativity, and knowledge. Become a concept leader in your area of interest and leverage that authority for your own gain.
Blogging will help you to connect with other humans who share your interests and additionally end up a higher writer.
2. How do you make cash from a blog?
It’s no big secret- There’s a lot of human beings out there making a lot of money from blogging. The reason why these human beings (including myself) are making cash from their blogs is that they have in no way given up, and they have chosen their area of interest wisely. Blog about what you know, and what you are passionate about to start with. At the identical time, have an thinking in idea to monetize the weblog (advertisements, affiliate offers, products, ebooks etc). If you put the work in, you will get your rewards.
If you prefer to analyze extra then study my information to on how to make cash with running a blog two or my post on making cash online.
3. How long does Blogging Take?
Around 20 minutes – if you already have some thoughts about what type of blog you choose to start, then this tutorial can be accomplished quite without difficulty within 20 minutes.
As for often writing new blog posts and advertising them then it will take lots longer. I in many instances write one to two blog posts per week for this weblog and it takes me about three hours per weblog post. This consists of writing, editing, including pics and merchandising the weblog posts to my social media followers and email list.
4. Can I begin a blog for free?
Yes – there are loads of free weblog systems out there, Blogger.com is the most famous free running a blog platform out there. I would now not endorse placing up a free weblog if your layout to use it professionally for business or to make cash from in the future. You also will not have the custom domain name either.
5. How do I set up an email account for my blog?
I have created an in-depth guide on how to set up a free e-mail address with your BlueHost web hosting account.
6. How do I get extra traffic to my blog?
I have written quite a few posts on this subject or take a look at these 37 suggestions to make bigger blog traffic













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