How To Start a Blog

I have had sooo many ladies reach out to me with questions about starting a blog that I figured I would write a step by step post for you. So, if you have wanted to start a blog for awhile or are just now thinking about it, now is the time! It seems like a lot of information, but it is only because I am breaking it down for you in steps. Follow the steps and you will have your blog set up in no time!

STARTING A BLOG: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

I highly recommend setting up a WordPress blog. If you are serious about blogging and want to make an income from it, you’ll want to use the paid version- WordPress.org. There is a free version, WordPress.com, but you will not be able to download plugins, run ads, offer products etc. The same goes for other free sites, like Blogger. Having a paid WordPress.org site means you will be taken seriously and you’ll have so many options. Honestly, I started out with the free version and switched quickly once I realized how limited I was…like, in a week. 🙂

1) SELECT A DOMAIN NAME AND GET IT REGISTERED.

Domain name is a fancy term for your website address. My domain URL is www.justasimplehome.com. You’ll want to do some research before you choose a name for your blog. You want something that fits you, your blog, and is unique and will help you stand out in a positive way. Think for awhile, but don’t overthink. Think about a name that reflects you, and allows for some creative flexibility in the future. While I mostly write about home organization, my domain name is broad enough that I can write about a variety of topics. 

Once you have decided on your name, you need to register it so it belongs to you. Since you are just starting out, I recommend registering your domain name where you purchase your hosting package. This will simplify everything for you. We will talk about hosting next.

2) DECIDE WHICH HOSTING PROVIDER TO USE.

If your domain name is like your address, your host provider is like your house. You want to pick a trustworthy host because if they have problems, you have problems. Your host is where your blog “lives,” so it affects your site speed and accessibility. Support is also an important factor to consider when choosing a host. You want to be able to call when an issue arises and have it fixed right away to avoid blog downtime as much as possible.

If you’re just getting started and want an amazing combination of price, speed, and reliability, I recommend Bluehost. It’s a big company and I have had a great experience with Bluehost.

SETTING UP HOSTING AT BLUEHOST

Ok, now I am going to walk you through the steps of getting started with Bluehost. It seems intimidating at first, I know. But the steps are broken down in sequential order, with pictures, so I know you can handle it. 

1) Navigate to Bluehost. You’ll be re-directed through my affiliate link and you may get a few additional perks for signing up through my code. (Thank you for your support!) Click the big green “Get Started Now” button.

2) You’ve already decided on a domain name at this point. To register your domain name with Bluehost, enter it under the “new domain” box and click “next.”

3) Enter all of your account and contact information.

4) Continue down to the “package information” section. You get the cheapest monthly rate by selecting 36 months. It’s important to note that Bluehost charges you for the full the 36 months upfront. You are prepaying for the hosting. That’s one of the reasons they are able to offer great hosting at such a small price. They always have that money-back guarantee, though, so you won’t risk losing your money. This is your biggest expense for your blog and well worth it, so don’t worry!

5) Enter your billing information, agree to the service agreements, and then click “next.”

6) And now you officially have a Bluehost account. Exciting, right? Next you need to create your password.

7) On this screen, you’ll create your Bluehost account password. Save this somewhere so you aren’t like me and have to reset it a million times. 

8) Now that your password has been created, you can log into your account for the first time! Make sure you’re logging into “hosting” and not “webmail.”

9) Now you’ll be in your account dashboard. You will get very familiar with this page. Right now– you need to install WordPress. Click the “install WordPress” button at the bottom of the screen.

10) On the WordPress Installation screen, click “Install.”

11) Click “show advanced options.”

12) Name your site, create a username for the WordPress install, and create a WordPress login password. You’ll want to make sure that “Automatically create a new database for this installation” and “I have read the terms and conditions of the GPLv2” are checked as well. Click “Install Now.”

13) When you see the button on the top turn green it means WordPress has been successfully installed.

14) Now check your email for something from Mojo Marketplace. This email is important, so make sure you save it! It includes your website URL, your WordPress admin login URL, and your WordPress login username.

15) From the email in the previous step, click the Admin URL. It will take you to a site that looks like the one below. Enter your username.

16) To retrieve your password, navigate back to your Bluehost tab and click the very bottom “view” to see your WordPress password. Remember, this alert expires after 12 hours, so make sure you get the password within that time period.

17) This page shows everything you need to start using WordPress. Again, I like to write this down and save it so I always have it. 

18) Now that you have your password, you can log into WordPress and you’ll be presented with your WordPress dashboard. This will seem like a lot of information! Spend some time going through the various settings. It may be confusing at first, but in no time it will all be second nature. I am not a tech person, but I took to it quickly.

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NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF: CHOOSE YOUR THEME

Phew! You made it!!! Now you have your address and your home and are ready to go! Now for the fun part…you get to pick your theme! This is the visual aspect of your blog, how it looks when people visit your site. Your theme affects your background, colors, fonts, social media buttons and more. 

In full disclosure, my husband is a web designer, but I wanted to do as much as I could by myself, so I went with a theme by Creative Market. They have many, many, themes to choose from and I have been very impressed with their customer service. I had a limited budget, so my theme was not crazy expensive. However, your theme is the decor of your blog, so I wouldn’t skimp here. I found a theme that I fell in love with, that had plenty of bells and whistles so I could change and expand as I wanted. I prefer a cleaner looking theme, with plenty of whitespace. 

If you decide not to go with a child theme from Creative Market, you can also check out child themes by Restored 316. They have beautiful, feminine style themes that I am just obsessed with. My husband frequently uses ThemeForest and ElegantThemes, so I am confident in recommending those companies as well. All of the themes I mentioned above come with excellent service and support, and they will be able to help you get set up in no time.

If you ever have any questions about the technical side of setting up a blog, please ask away in the comments, and between my husband and I, we will help he best we can. Congratulations and happy blogging!