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If you’ve been thinking about starting your own blog here is a quick guide to get you going. ย It’s not hard toย get started, in just a fewย easy steps you can officially be a blogger!!
In order to get started, there are 3 things you’ll need!
- Choose a name and set up your hosting
- Install WordPress
- Chooseย a design or ‘look’ for your blog
Below is the step-by-stepย Quick Start Guide to get your new blog up and running! ย Note that this post does include affiliate links to companies and services I personally have used and know to be good companies to work with. ย Using these links also helps support my blog.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
1. ย BLOG NAME & HOSTING
Name: To choose a name, youโll want to brainstorm up as many words as you can that encompass what you’d like to blog about. ย If the name you had in mind is gone (and trust me.. this is VERY common) try to think of a variation or change the order of yourย wording. Usingย theasurus.com can help you come up with some new ideas. ย Once you’ve decided on a name, head on over to Bluehost here and enter it in.
Hosting: ย If you think of your website as a physicalย business, your host would be the equivalent of renting a space. ย You canโt have a store without having a location! ย You will want to choose a reliable host for your website. ย I recommendย BlueHost for new bloggers. ย They were my first host andย your domain name is FREE if you use Bluehost… ย free is better right?!!
Step-By-Step Directions to Set Up Hosting
- Head over to BlueHost and enter your desired site name (they’ll let you know if it’s available). ย You may have to try a few that you like before you find one that’s available.
- Next, you’ll have to choose your plan. ย I would suggestย beginning with theย starter plan, you can certainly upgrade later if you need to.
- You will be taken to your package information, you’ll be on the starter plan and you can choose your duration. ย You’ll get the best price by choosing the 36 month planย w/ full paymentย (remember, you can upgrade if you need to)!ย The only other settingย I’d suggest adding is the Domain Privacyย whichย will hide your personal contact information. ย Complete the form and submit.
2. ย INSTALLING WORDPRESS
Now that you’re all signed up with BlueHost,ย ย you’ll want to install WordPress. ย WordPress is software youย add to your site so you can write posts and manage your blog, most bloggers I know (including myself) use WordPress. ย It’s very user friendly and it’s easy to install.
- To install wordpress, head over to your Bluehost account.ย Go to the Website Buildersย area andย click on the WordPress icon.
- Click “START a brand new install”ย Installย window.
- In the drop down menu,ย selectย your domain that you have just purchased above. ย Agree to the terms and click install.
- You will be able to view your your log in informationย (Admin URL, Username, &ย Password).
- Head on over to your URL and log into your new blog! ย Congratulations, you’ve just installed WordPress and can now start to post!
3. ย CHOOSING A DESIGN
Once you have your name and your hosting in place, youโll want to choose a design or โlookโ for your site! ย It’s kind of like paint, your blog is already built, you just need to paint it so it looks nice.
There are lots ofย options when choosing your design!
- WordPress has many free themes available that you can use. ย Just scroll through (you’ll find them in your dashboard on the left hand side under ย Appearance/Themes).
- Another easy and inexpensive option is to headย over to Elegant Themes. ย They have lots of great designs, areย inexpensive and easy to install. ย My very first design was from Elegant Themes. ย Many can be customized with your own color and/or logo if you choose.
- ย Here on SpendWithPennies.com I started byย usingย Genesis Framework with my customย themeย provided by Pixel Me Designs. ย Pixel Me Designs is amazing to work with and hasย createdย many amazing website designs for me throughout the years. ย There are lots of fabulousย themes you can purchase for about $45 (you will also be required to purchase Genesis Framework).
- HOW TO:
- Head on over and purchase Genesis Framework ($60)
- Choose your favorite theme from Pixel Me Designs ($45)
- HOW TO:
- Foodie Proย is another very popular option with bloggers. ย This theme is designed with Food Bloggers in mind. ย Like the themesย listed above, this theme requires Genesis Framework. ย You can purchase it in a complete bundle here!
- If you’re looking for something specific or CUSTOM DESIGN, you’re going to love Laura at Pixel Me Designs. ย I honestly cannot recommend her enough…ย sheย does amazing custom work, is professional and extremely talented! ย I have personally worked closely with Laura since 2012.
I hope this guide has helped you get started in creating your own amazing blog! ย Once up and running I would love to hear from you so I can check out your new space! ย If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me or send me a message! ย Best of luck with your exciting new venture!
More Blogging Tips:
Image ยฉย http://www.123rf.com/profile_evgenyatamanenko
I left a message before I seen the part on how to start a blog. Thank you,im excited,and when im able to get my blog up & going I will most definitely go to who you suggested,and get Laura,and will let you kno. You really are very nice to explain but keep it easy & to the point. I really hadnt thought about doing a blog until I was so impressed with your & seen how easy you wrote. Your a great person to want other people to experience the fun and how easy it can be to do.
You’re welcome! Best of luck with your new blog! So exciting!
Hi, Holly,
Thank you so much for such a detailed post on blogging! I am a complete novice, but I just managed to download WordPress. Thanks! If it’s OK, a quick question: everybody seems to recommend the Genesis framework. I am just wondering, if there is a reason to go with it instead of a free WordPress theme? I guess people aren’t just throwing their money around to just get their blog to look a certain way? Are there any other advantages? Thanks!!!!!!!!!
You’re welcome Liza! I’m so glad you found it helpful. According to Laura at PixelMeDesigns.com (who does all of my site design work) Genesis offers a lot more than paid themes.
It’s constantly updated to keep up with WordPress changes, new functionality, new code and more. Not to mention you get access to a huge and widely active support forum also not offered with free themes. You often get what you pay for in terms of products and if you want to start your site off on the right foot I feel it’s best to pay for quality of Genesis.
Than free themes* not paid. Sorry on my phone