So you’re interested in learning how to start your own blog.
With so much advice out there when it comes to starting a blog, it can be difficult to understand or even trust what you’re reading. Well, It doesn’t have to be that way.
Today, I’ll personally walk you through the simple process of setting up a blog, step-by-step. You’ll be blogging in minutes! (about 8 to be exact).
Starting your own blog can be complicated.
On Blast Blog’s in-depth tutorials makes it easy.
Trust me, I know that starting a blog can be confusing and overwhelming. When I first started out in 2005, I knew nothing about computers and websites.
Simply put, I wasn’t computer savvy whatsoever. So, I did my research to help me start my own blog but all of the “how to guides” we’re so complicated and almost impossible to follow along.
I had to do something about this.
So, I created this blog to help people just like you, those that are no computer savvy, get started with their own blog so they can earn an income working from home!
How does working from home sound? What about making money doing something you love? It’s not only possible, it’s happening to countless people right now as you read this.
They’re called bloggers, and it’s about time you joined their ranks!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to choose the right blogging platform
- How to setup a WordPress blog in minutes
- How to grow your blog and gain more readers and popularity
- How to earn a living from your blog
Ready to Take The First Step? Let’s Get Your Blog Started!
When I first started blogging, I was in your exact shoes.
I had no idea where to begin with a blog.
Luckily, I persevered through the overload of information that is freely provided online, and I’m here today to teach you how to get started on your own. And trust me, it’s a lot more simple than you might think (especially compared to the way it was years ago!).
Who am I, you ask? Why do I have the credentials, the gall, and the handsome looks to make such a claim?
Well, you’ll have to take the last one on faith because you can’t see me, but as far as everything else goes, I’m just a blogger who loves what I do, and I want to help you start a successful blog of your own.
In Order to Start Blogging,
Here’s 5 Steps You’ll Need to Do:
- 1) Choose what your blog is going to be about
- 2) Select the Blogging Platform of your choice
- 3) Choose if you want your own self-hosted blog or if you want a free blog
- 4) Set up blogging & web hosting on your own domain so you can host your blog on the internet
- 5) Start using useful resources to design your blog & start writing blog post ideas
STEP 1: WHAT’S YOUR BLOG GOING TO BE ABOUT?
First off, creating a blog is actually super easy and you don’t have to have the technical skills of a programmer/coder to make it happen.
Here’s the first step: Choose what your blog is going to be about.
Deciding on your blog topic may seem like a difficult step in the process, but remember, like a cliché movie would say, it has to come from your heart. In addition to figuring out what your blog will be about, you’ll also want to know how to write a perfect blog post, but that’s something we’ll address later on.
Ask yourself a couple questions:
1) “Is there anything I’m extremely passionate about?”
2) “Is there something that I would enjoy blogging about that would seem effortless to me?”
Your blog is a piece of you that has been uploaded onto the immortal walls of the internet. Forever it shall stay, forever shall it be remembered, unless of course you delete it, but why would you do that?
By the way, if you ever get stuck with starting your blog, you can easily reach me by email (it’s on the footer of the website).
Let’s look at some blog ideas I’ve come up for you…
Blog Post Ideas & Topics
“I want my blog to…”
- Provide information on a subject I’m well versed in.
- Entertain people with witty commentary, reviews, and editorials
- Be a personal reflection of my thoughts and feelings – a blogging journal of sorts
- Build my brand and promote my business through consistent posts from various authors
Those are just a few motivations to start a blog. Once you know what your blog is going to do, the next step is finding a topic to write about.
Again, this is all about finding something that you care about, or something you’re knowledgeable about.
Here are a few blog topic ideas to get the brain juices flowing:
- Gaming – Write about the video games you play, review them, and preview ones that are coming out. Your opinion matters, so tell the world what you think!
- Politics – This is always going to stir the pot, so get your debates going with readers and let your voice be heard.
- DIY – If you’re handy around the house, or you at least know how to build something from scratch, create a blog of step-by-step guides. Just don’t blog about “how to start a blog”, that’s already taken, by me.
- Food – share recipes, review restaurants, talk about the weird kinds of food in the world today, whatever strikes your fancy.
- Your Business – whether it’s an established brand or a burgeoning concept, you can promote your company through a blog and fill it with content from guest authors to promote your brand.
- Travel – Are you a wanderlust? Share your experiences with the world! People flock to those that dare to travel or provide tips on how to travel on a budget
- Or, create your own blogging topic!
If you’re struggling to come up with unique blog post ideas, I listed over 150 of them to kick start your blog, right here.
It’s also a great idea to narrow down a blogging strategy that defines your goals before you start a blog.
With all of this great blog advice, I’m sure you have the perfect topic in mind. I know I do, and I’ll tell you my idea since we’re practically childhood friends by now. In order to demonstrate the ease and simplicity of creating your own blog.
I’m going to walk you through the steps for setting up my own idea which I like to call “Suspicious Cats.” Catchy huh? My blog is going to be about cats around the world.
Anyway that’s my idea, so let’s start exploring the options for setting up my blog.
STEP 2: CHOOSING A BLOGGING PLATFORM
You have two options for your blog: free, and self-hosted. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Uh, I’m going to do the free one, obviously!”
Just hold your horses for a second, will ya? There’s ups and downs to each blogging option. Free may sound like the sure-fire winner, but let’s examine the options in more detail.
Free…What’s the Catch?
Click Here to Read Why Free isn’t Always Better (Expands)
Everyone knows that free never means that the option is entirely without cost.
It’s one of those asterisk laden words that comes with a bunch of fine print attached to it. That being said, if you’re low on funds, this can be a great way to get your feet wet and see how the entire process works. Even so, consider these facts before you dive head first into the “free” waters.
Here’s the Kicker:
1. Going Free Means You DO NOT Get Your Very Own Domain
The first thing to understand here, is that while you can customize part of the website URL, you won’t have full control over the name of the domain because it’s being hosted by someone other than you.
What if this website was called OnBlastBlog.Blogger.com?
Not as cool, is it?
Starting a blog for free might sound like a good idea because it’s a way to get started without any risk.
You and millions of other people had this brilliant idea – and every single one of them made a mistake because your website
“IDontKnowHowToStartABlog.Blogger.com” isn’t on a platform that’s built to generate revenue.
When you use a free blogging platform like blogger.com, or tumblr.com, your URL is going to include their cut because they are the ones hosting your blog. My example blog URL for instance would be SuspiciousCats.Blogger.com instead of just the blog’s name.
This may seem like a minor inconvenience, but keep in mind that people should be able to recall your blog’s URL off the top of their head, otherwise they’re going to forget the website and you won’t have repeat hits.
You can purchase a domain name through the company to fix this issue, but you’re still not in total control of the blog as a whole, so it only plugs the leak, it doesn’t quite fix the issue. Again, just something to consider.
2. You Won’t Have Options for Themes, Layouts, and Plugins
Opting for a free blog through one of the sites mentioned above, or others out there, doesn’t give you a whole lot of options when it comes to customization. Another analogy if I may: think of it like getting a burger for free, but you’ve got to pay a premium for each condiment and topping.
Eventually, you would realize that you could have just gone to a normal restaurant and bought a burger for one price with everything included instead of going to a place that gives out free burgers.
Your blog needs to have panache, spice, it needs to POP! You can be the best writer in the world (sorry, that spot’s already taken *winks*) but if your blog doesn’t have a visual flare, then it won’t catch the reader’s eye.
You can purchase these themes, but they’re going to cost you a whole lot of money. Just another thing to keep in mind when discussing free blogs.
3. You Have No Control
This one’s a major hit below the belt. When using a free blog hosting website to post your ravings about how cats will one day take over the world, you have to consider the fact that while the blog has your name on it, you don’t own it.
So, let me be clear… going the free route gives you absolutely NO control over your blog
For me, that’s a blogging deal breaker.
The website that is running the blog for you owns it, and if they decide they don’t like it, all it takes is the flip of a switch to send your blog to the big website in the sky – for instance, starting a Facebook blog.
If the owners of the website (blogger, Tumblr) decide that your content doesn’t jive with the feel they’re going for, they can delete all of your posts and make your blog disappear like a guy who owes mobsters money.
4. You Cannot Earn (enough) Money
Granted, you didn’t pay for your free blog, but did you know that many people make money on their blogs? It’s true, and you can join them, but if you’re using a free hosting site, you won’t be able to make much money, if any at all.
Some sites will let you set up a paid advertising plan, but they’re going to take a cut of everything you make. We’re talking 50% or higher, which is just ridiculous because you did all the work. Just because they’re hosting it, they take the cut.
Again, if you are just starting out and you’re running on a tight budget, I would recommend using WordPress as your main blogging platform.
You can run to Tumblr, or blogger, but this option is not only better in a number of different ways, but when you decide to purchase and host your a domain of your own and URL, you will most likely continue using WordPress because of its intuitive design and ease of use.
After 72 million downloads and counting, WordPress has become the gold standard for blogging platforms, regardless of it being used as a free or self-hosted platform. These are a couple of reasons why I recommend WordPress:
- There are a number of free layouts and themes available
- Writing posts, adding pictures, and embedding videos is very easy and intuitive
- You can create custom menus and organize your posts by category
- Visitors can leave comments and also share your blog on their social media network profiles (check out this handy social media cheat sheet here)
Those are just a few of the reasons why it’s a great platform to use when starting a blog. Now that we’ve covered the free options, let’s discuss self-hosting your blog.
SELF-HOSTED BLOGS MAKE YOU THE BOSS!
By purchasing your own domain, you’re essentially becoming a virtual pioneer, purchasing a swathe of digital land to call your own.
One that isn’t regulated by governments.
A blog by the people, for the people.
Want to Know the Best Part?
People are blogging this way every day, and you can too!
All of those pitfalls of free blogs that I mentioned? They disappear when you self-host your own blog. You have your own website URL, you have total control of what content goes up and how it looks, and best of all, you’re free to make money doing what you love.
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME?
You’re going to need to get your hands on a domain, and that’s only going to cost you about $10 per year.
Finding that perfect domain name might take some time, but it’s totally worth it.
The other half of the equation is your hosting provider that keeps your blog up on the internet, but that’s going to cost you about a gallon of gas these days.
Well, maybe a little more, but we’re looking at around $5 a month to host the blog. Yeah, that’s about the cost of a gallon of gas nowadays, but you only need to worry about paying that amount per month.
If you decide that blogging isn’t for you, (the odds of that are just under the potential for pigs to fly) you can cease your hosting service at any point.
Many services will also offer a 90 day money back guarantee as well.
STEP 3: PURCHASING YOUR HOSTING & DOMAIN + CREATING YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG
When choosing your domain name, make sure it encompasses several key characteristics:
- Something Catchy (you want people randomly inserting it into jingles, even if it doesn’t make any sense)
- Simple, make it something you can remember off the top of your head (Mayan and Egyptian Hieroglyphs are off the table, sorry!)
- A Special and Intriguing Name (“Suspicious Cats” is a great example)
Who Offers the Best Hosting?
The best way to handle the hosting and domain needs is to purchase both from the same provider. You could get it from two different places, but that’s like buying a shirt from The Gap, and then going to another Gap location down the street for your pants.
Through my blogging years and working as a consultant for a digital marketing agency, I’ve used a number of hosting companies.
I’ve dealt with the likes of Bluehost, Dreamhost, Hostgator, etc. They all perform as advertised, but there’s some key differentiators that make them fall behind the level of quality you want and deserve for your blog.
I was never really content with any of them.
A ton of these hosting companies have slow and lethargic customer service that really isn’t there to help you as quickly as you would like. In addition, they can tend to strangle your bandwidth, resulting in SLOW loading times for your page.
To make this process easier on you, I got you a sweet deal on a domain AND hosting through the company that I highly recommend and personally use.
Click that button below to get acquainted with the best hosting service out there.
I know, I know, I’m amazing, but this is all for you; the glorious people reading this guide.
The problem with Bluehost & Hostgator isn’t poor service though, it’s an overabundance of new customers. These guys are about quantity, not quality, and the individual suffers for it. That being said, the general consensus picks Web Hosting Hub (as mentioned above).
Now, let’s walk you through the process of setting up your blog.
STEP 4: SETTING UP YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG (Easy Mode)
How to Configure Your WordPress Blog in 10 Mins (expands)
In order to start a successful blog the first step is to secure your website domain and hosting provider. Ideally, you’ll want to register your domain & hosting options with the same company.
Honestly though, I’ve tried dozens of different providers and I highly recommend using Web Hosting Hub throughout this guide solely because of their simple installation process & reliability (literally takes less than 10 minutes!).
Their philosophy is focused primarily on bloggers (like you!) and they’ve been providing affordable and intuitive hosting services for websites and blogs for 12+ years now.
By The Way – If you visit WebHostingHub through my site, you can take advantage of my incredible discount (Over 40% OFF).
All you have to do is navigate to Web Hosting Hub (using the links above and below), and my exclusive discount will be registered automatically. Follow along with the screenshots I provided below and you’ll be able to get set up easily.
Here’s the EASY Step-by-Step Process
First, head over to WebHostingHub.com (click to open in a new tab), then click the “View Hosting Plans” button. You should see a page like the one below.
(click the pictures to make them bigger!)
That’s the WebHostingHub home page where you’ll be able to see different pricing plans, choose your domain name and set up your hosting. Click on that huge orange button that says “Order Now” to begin this quick and easy process.
After you click “Order Now”, you’ll see a page (like below) where you’ll be able to check the availability of your domain name.
Choose the domain name of your choice to see if it’s current available for you to snatch up!
WebHostingHub will let you know if the name has been taken or not. Lucky for me, no one has had the genius idea to start a blog called “Suspicious Cats”, so I’m good! If you already have a domain name from another provider, input that into the box.
Once you’ve confirmed the domain name, click the “Next Step” button.
Now you should be on a page like that looks like the one below.
WHOIS Privacy is not essential, however if you want to keep your information hidden from the public so they don’t know this blog is yours, then keep the box checked. If not, uncheck the box and
save 10 bucks. Not bad…
Click continue and let’s move forward.
Below is where you can fill out your account information and set up payment for your exclusive discount on your subscription, hosting and domain provider.
Don’t worry about automated secure backups, Web Hosting Hub has a secure enough platform and is always willing to help with backups manually. Selecting “No Thanks” will net you another $12 back in your pocket.
Disregard virus and anti-spam protection as well as upgrading to Dynamo.
Web Hosting Hub recently added an incredible feature where they will install the CMS WordPress on your new website for FREE. Skips a step and saves even more time!
Fill out your remaining personal information and then you’re all set.
Click “PURCHASE”
and you’re good to go with your brand new website using WordPress!
Now how long did that take? About 9 minutes for me!
Haven’t started? Click the yellow button below to access my instant discount.
SETTING UP WORDPRESS ON YOUR DOMAIN
Now that you have a domain name and a hosting site, you’ll have to install your platform. Since WordPress is the most widely regarded one to use, we’ll walk through the steps to set up this aspect of your blog so you can get started.
If you’re looking for the express route and don’t want to read the instructions I created a video to help explain exactly how to finish this step. Scroll below for it.
Check Out this Video I Made That Details the Entire Process:
I highly recommend hosting for any website with WebHostingHub.com.
(Over 40% off through this EXCLUSIVE link).
Stuck? Email me & I’ll do it all for you!
By the Way – If you had trouble installing WordPress with your blog, don’t hesitate to give WP’s customer service line a call or just email me!
If you prefer to read the instructions on setting up your WordPress blog:
After you’ve finished registering for your hosting and domain, you may need to wait around for about a half-hour before the account is approved.
I recommend taking a jog around your house, maybe playing with your dog, or just meditating until you receive the AMP login credentials in your inbox.
- Enter the Portal
Sorry, I really wanted to say that. Okay, so go ahead and login to your AMP and select the “Home” page. Under “My Account” you’ll see an option to “Install Popular Software” click on that and select “WordPress Software.”
There are others that you can install, but my personal experience has confirmed what many others will tell you: that WordPress is the best one to use.
- Fill in the Details
You’re minutes away from starting a blog, just hang in there! On the software setup page, you place the title of your blog under “Site Name” so for example I would put “Suspicious Cats” in there.
Put a little description under “Site Description” something short and sweet like this: “A detailed account of cat activity around the world, and speculations about what they’re planning.”
Next, setup a password. Don’t make it something easy though, make sure that it has some numbers, and one of these various symbols: !,@,$,%,&,*, and no, I didn’t just curse at you, those clearly separated by commas.
Put your email into the “Admin Email” field and you’re good to go.
- Go Ahead, Take Her Out for a Test Drive.
Just have her back by 9pm, we’re keeping this classy, alright? Seriously though, you’re ready to go my friend! Head to www.[mybloghere].com/admin so you’re able to login and start your first post!
Alright, I’m stepping through my time portal so I can run through the alternate timeline now. I guess this is goodbye then, for now. Don’t cry, we’ll see each other again, this article isn’t done yet.
STEP 5: HOW TO CONFIGURE YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG TO A DIFFERENT HOST (Advanced Mode)
How to Manually Set Up Your WordPress Blog (Expands)
Alright, I see how it is. I offered you that sweet discount at the cost of one of my kneecaps, but you’re looking for options and you’re itching to get into some serious computer jargon.
Alright hombre, let’s tango. You want to know how to start a blog and attach it to a host manually? you got it.
Take a quick look at this handy dandy Blogging Platform Comparison Chart I made.
You know, in another timeline we met like this and you chose to do it the easy way. Just saying.
A fair warning to anyone reading this portion of the article: this is the advanced course, the one that has been known to cause severe brain liquefactions (I was the first recorded case) so proceed only if you’ve got the chops to cut the red wire instead of just turning off the bomb.
To ensure your blog installation is correctly synced with the host of your choice, it needs to meet certain qualifications:
- MySQL 4.2 or higher
- PHP 4.0 or higher
- 1GB of Free hard drive Space
When you’re certain that all of this checks out, head to the WordPress download link and download the files.
You’ll need to first unzip and extract the files, moving them all to the new file. Make sure these steps are followed to the letter, otherwise the whole thing won’t work.
Now, open that file and change these lines:
- define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name_here’);
- define(‘DB_USER’, ‘username_here’);
- define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘password_here’);
- Define (‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); – This one usually doesn’t need anything changed
Fill in the database, by inputting the information for each field. If you don’t know some of them, or any of them, contact the host’s customer service to receive them. Once you’ve made the edits, click “save” and close the file.
Okay, the next step is to make the connection between you and your host’s FTP account. You’re going to need a client program to do this, like FileZilla for example. You’ll need the hosting company’s login information here again here so you can upload and deliver files directly with the host.
Uploading them directly into the primary root directory will allow your blog to be accessed through this URL: www.yourdomainname.com. If you are uploading the files to an individual folder, then the URL will be www.yourdomainname.com/myblog.
Double check that there aren’t any other index files in the there like .html, .htm files since these will make the whole train derail. The “index.php” file is the only directory you can use.
That’s it, for real this time! Wow, I’m getting Deja Vu, that’s weird. Now that your blog is set up, let’s talk about getting it off the ground, then I’ll let you go into the tall grass of the internet.
It seems like just yesterday we started this journey, and now here we are, several thousand words later and suddenly you have your very own blog. Time may not have wings, but it can certainly fly it seems.
THE FINAL STEP: Publishing your First Blog Post & Promoting
So we’re just about ready to really start blogging. It’s been such a journey and look at you, the internet equivalent of a little child about to start their first day of school.
I’m your internet dad, watching you walk off, but unlike the first day of school, I won’t be coming back to wait for an hour in the car circle where teachers and volunteers try to show me how a circle works.
Yeah, I know, but I’m not moving until my kid’s in the car, alright?
Thus, we’re not done until you’re 100% confident in how to proceed next. If you’re looking for blog post ideas, stay tuned for more in-depth articles, but for this first one, why not try introducing yourself and write about the purpose and goals of your blog. Make it personal, but don’t go into too much detail.
Let’s discuss how to create your first blog post in the WordPress dashboard.
Quick Overview on How to Start a Blog Post
Once you’re on the WordPress dashboard, you’re going to see some options:
- Adding New Content – This is where you add posts and pages, to begin your first post, just click “post” and then “add new.”
- Layout and Themes – Modify the layout and design of your blog. All you need to do is find one you like and click “install.”
- Settings – Here you’ll be able to edit the blog’s title, its tagline, and the email address associated with it.
- Plugins – We’ll discuss these in more detail in a future article, but essentially these are tools you can put in your blog like newsletter sign-ups, contact forms, and other features
The best thing you can do from here? Explore and check out the options. When you’re putting together your post, check out the various fonts, tools, and the useful “Add Media” button to put pictures in your post and embed videos.
Now that you know how to create a blog, I want to show you a few practical strategies you can use immediately to build a successful blog.
From blogging best practices, to dummy-proof WordPress SEO tips, all the way to hearing directly from other industry experts, I’ll personally show you how to make money through blogging.
I put together a really simple guide on How to Promote Your Blog and Increase Traffic. Give it a read, trust me! These tactics will show you the initial steps in starting a successful blog.
Thank you to everyone for going on this journey with me. I look forward to seeing your blogs someday in my wandering travels across the endless expanse of the internet.
If you can, please share On Blast Blog with your family, friends and followers.
Matt Banner
Hey! I'm Matt & I've been blogging for 10+ years. I'm here to help you get started with your blog. Follow me on Twitter.