HOW TO START A BLOG OF YOUR OWN

Blogging is a great way to document your hobby or business and share it with the world. Through words and pictures, you can create your own little magazine for people. Let’s talk about how to start a blog of your own.

I have been blogging for over 10 years! Honestly, that number surprised me a bit when I checked my dates in order to write this post. Time sure flies, doesn’t it?

Initially, my blog was about family, homeschooling, and quilting. These days it has morphed into a DIY/Home Decor/Crafting blog aimed at gals who are fixing up their houses on their own. Basically, my blog has followed the path of my life.

Now, I am going to be honest and upfront with you and let you know that blogging is hard work. Earning money is possible, but do not get caught up in thinking you can earn a full-time income by writing a couple of posts. You actually have to commit time and lots of effort and learning to make money, but I will say it is a great way to make a living. I wake up each and every day looking forward to my list of things to do! Well, bookkeeping on my list makes me frown!

This post is going to walk you through the basics of how to start a blog of your own. I will recommend the host and platform that I use because they have both worked well for me and many other bloggers. Let me show you how to start a blog from scratch.

***This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosures.

Choose A Blogging Platform

First, you will need to choose a blogging platform. Your platform is the vehicle that displays your words and pictures in a pleasing manner.

WordPress has been my choice since I started A Fresh-Squeezed Life. Prior to that, I have used Blogger as well as TypePad. Personally, I highly suggest that you go with WordPress as it offers the ability to include ads, install a ton of great plug-ins, and create a look this is perfect for your blog. WordPress also offers your own custom URL which is important for branding and site recognition.

If you sign up with Bluehost your WordPress blog will automatically be set up for you. The process is simple and quick, and you will be ready to go once you have finished. Then the work of learning more about the world of blogging begins!

Choose A Host

Let’s choose a host. Your host will get your message out to the world.

While there are many great choices such as BlueHost, SiteGround, and GoDaddy, I have worked with Bluehost from the beginning of A Fresh-Squeezed Life and I highly recommend them. Since I am not a “techie” type of person at all, I will say that their tech support is excellent! You can choose a live chat and someone will walk you through your problem from start to finish. I have never had a problem that they could not help me solve. And let me just say, they have been quite patient with me as I have caused a couple of my own problems myself!

I also find their pricing very affordable and that is quite important to me, especially since it includes high-quality service!

Let’s Set-Up Your Blog

STEP ONE: This one is so simple! Just click on over to the BlueHost Website! And click the GET STARTED NOW button.

STEP TWO: Select your plan. Since you are just starting out the BASIC plan is perfect. I have been at this for a while and the basic plan still works for me!

STEP THREE: Choose a domain name. If you already have a domain name, you can add it into the box on the right. If you are just starting out add it in the NEW DOMAIN box and you will be able to find out if it is available. Be sure to take some time to think about what you want your domain name to be. You can use your full name or the name of your website.

Personally, I think it is best to go without dots or slashes in the actual name because people will forget to add them when they search for you (afreshsqueezedlife.com as opposed to afresh-squeezedlife.com). Feel free to click on CHOOSE LATER if you are unsure. This will give you time to think about the name that works best for your blog.

STEP FOUR: Fill out your account information.

STEP FIVE: Pick your package. BlueHost is a very affordable option, and they require paying for 1,2 or 3 years to get that best price. You will find that going with a host that charges monthly will come out much more expensive in the long run. Of course, the least expensive price is for the 3-year option, but if you are pretty sure about starting a blog of your own, I say “go for it”. I think that is one of those ways that you can invest in yourself and be forward thinking in your goals.

STEP SIX: Fill in your payment information, read and agree to the terms, and click SUBMIT. At this point, you will be shown some special offers. Feel free to click “no thanks” unless you know you want something. You can always add these at a later date.

STEP SEVEN: Create your password. This is your login for your BlueHost account. Be sure to write it down so you do not forget it! Click the LOGIN button.

STEP EIGHT: You will now be able to SELECT A THEME, but feel free to skip this step for now. It is better to wait until you are more familiar with WordPress before choosing one. More on this in a later post!

STEP NINE: BlueHost will now install WordPress for you. Click the START BUILDING button.

STEP TEN: The first thing you want to do is to click USERS on the left sidebar and then ADD NEW USER. Fill out the information and add your role as ADMINISTRATOR. Be sure to change the name of the user to something other than ADMIN for security purposes. You should also click the SHOW PASSWORD button and save it somewhere. This is your WordPress password. You now need to log out of WordPress and log back in with your new “admin” name and password.

Now you will be in your WordPress dashboard. Be sure to bookmark this link for future reference. Take some time to look around and get acquainted with the WordPress dashboard. As you can see, there are a ton of options and fun things to explore.

I will add to this series soon to give you some direction in getting started with actually writing a blog post!

Happy blogging!