Are you ready to take the plunge and learn how to start a WordPress blog? Blogging is a great way to share your expertise online and earn some extra income.
In another post, we’ll discuss the income part, but let’s learn how to start!
First, let me share a little bit of background.
In 2007, I was newly on an “eco” journey to be more intentional and green-friendly in my home and business. I soon realized that others might benefit from my experience, so I started blogging to share my research.
I didn’t know about Wix, Squarespace, or Weebly, so I started with a Blogger.com blog, but before long, I outgrew Blogger.com because I wanted total control of my design and functionality. I found WordPress and never looked back.
Blogging changed my life by giving me an outlet to share and connect with others, and it was the spark that ignited my career path. My humble blog gradually became a renowned digital resource, podcast, and web series.
Jeez, Jae, great story, but I’m not there yet!
Ahem… okay, let’s back up. Before you become a boss blogger, let’s introduce you to the fundamentals. Learn how to start a WordPress blog.
How to Start A WordPress Blog – Inside this guide:
What the heck is a blog?
“A blog (a truncation of “weblog”) is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web.” Wikipedia
In short, a blog is your corner of the internet, where you can share:
- Inspirational Essays (share your founder’s story)
- How-to Videos (teach what you know)
- Industry Research (position yourself as a thought leader)
- Peer Interviews (highlight others to build relationships)
- Client Case Studies & Testimonials (build trust & your reputation)
- and anything else you want to share with the world
Wait… are you saving all of your best writing in a journal?
Unlike your static journals and notebooks, you can use your blog as an ever-changing outlet to inspire, educate, give advice, help, motivate others—and generate income!
Best of all, you have total control of your blog, and your blog isn’t held hostage by iffy algorithms—you’re the boss of your blog.
Also, Google gives authority to the site where content originates. So build SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and credibility with your stories, hobbies, and biz expertise on your own platform—your blog.
Okay, so now that we’re clear on a blog, here’s how to start a WordPress blog in 5 steps:
- Claim your blog. Name your blog & get your piece of internet real estate.
- DIY your blog. Get your blog online with a free WordPress 1-click install!
- Customize your blog. Dress up your blog with a theme.
- Boss up your blog. Write kickass blog posts.
- Grow your blog. Gain loyal blog fans & followers.
How To Start A WordPress Blog: A 5-Step Start-Up Guide
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Step 1: Claim Your Blog
Before publishing your content, you’ll want to name your blog because your blog’s name (or title) differentiates you from others.
What’s the best way to choose a name for your blog?
Keep it simple. I recommend starting with blogging using your name as your blog’s title unless you have a very common or popular name or your name isn’t available as a domain. (We’ll cover how to claim your name as a domain shortly.)
However, if your content (i.e., essays, poems, advice column, how-to articles, recipes, travel log, etc.) follows a specific theme (or niche), you may wish to name your blog with your theme as the title.
Next, you’ll need to stake your claim to where your content will live by grabbing a domain (your blog name or title) as your internet real estate.
Your domain name is your online presence and how potential readers and clients find you online.
You’ll need to purchase and register your domain as a [dot]com, [dot]org, or [dot]co web address, preferably with a reputable and reliable domain hosting company like Hostmonster.
I recommend using Hostmonster as an all-in-one place to register and host your domain, and you can register and host unlimited domains in one hosting account.
I’ve registered and hosted my domains with Hostmonster since 2007 because they have an easy-to-use account dashboard, 1-click WordPress install, and outstanding customer service.
Get a free domain when you choose Hostmoster to host your blog!
I caution you to refrain from Google searching potential blog names because the more you do you will increase the likelihood that your name will get snatched up by a bot!
💡Pro Tip: When choosing your domain name, avoid using numbers or hyphens. Also, besides choosing your name for your website domain, consider adding keywords related to your business or niche to maximize SEO.
Step 2: Get Your WordPress Blog on the Web
When learning how to start a blog with WordPress, a crucial step is choosing a domain. Your domain requires a digital place to live to get your blog online, so you need domain hosting.
What’s domain hosting?
Domain hosting companies house, serve and maintain your website and blog files.
Think of a domain hosting company as a shopping mall with many individual stores. With a hosting account, you lease internet space giving your readers a place to find your content.
Spoiler: Hostmonster is a subsidiary of Bluehost. I am an official Bluehost affiliate partner, which means I will receive a small commission when you sign up to register and host your domain.
How to claim & host your domain:
- Go to Hostmonster.com.
- Click on SIGN UP NOW > button.
- On the next screen, click SELECT for the BASIC option under Select your plan.
- Next, you’ll get prompted to Create a new domain. Add your preferred domain name and click Next.
- Now, choose an Account Plan under Package Information. Make sure to uncheck all except Domain Privacy & Protection under Package Extras.
- Add your payment information and click Submit at the bottom of the page.
- Now, you’ll create your account and add your details under the Account Information.
- Congrats, you’re on your way! Next, click SET PASSWORD.
- Choose Skip this step on the following two screens.
- Finally, choose Blog as the primary purpose of your site.
Step 3: How to Start A Blog with WordPress
With your domain registered and hosted with Hostmonster, let’s learn how to start a blog with WordPress.
Why WordPress?
I love WordPress! I’ve trusted WordPress with all of my blog projects since 2007. Besides being free to use, WordPress is an open-source CMS (content management system) used by over 43% of all websites.
But unlike a WordPress.com blog, you have total design control with your self-hosted Hostmonster WordPress.org blog. Plus, a WordPress.org blog will grow with you as your blogging evolves, especially if you decide to monetize your content later.
Now, it’s time to customize your blog! We’ll continue where you left off above…
11. Choose a simple (and free) WordPress theme from the options on the screen. A good one to try is Zoologist by Automattic.
What’s a theme?
A theme is the window dressing or design for your blog, allowing you to have a reasonably customizable blog without coding or graphic design skills.
12. Click Log into WordPress from your new Hostmonster account Welcome Page.
How to claim, host, and start a WordPress blog cheat sheet:
WordPress with Hostmonster perks!
Your new WordPress blog comes equipped with bonuses! Because you use Hostmonster, your blog comes pre-installed with Yoast SEO and Jetpack, two essential plugins.
What are plugins?
A WordPress plugin is software that “plugs into” your WordPress site to add functionality and features beyond what your theme offers.
Plugins allow you to add new components to your blog without changing your layout or design.
The Yoast SEO plugin is an SEO (search engine optimization) All-Star. Yoast SEO is the original WordPress SEO plugin since 2008. Learn SEO basics here.
The Jetpack plugin provides security, performance, growth tools, and more. More than 5 million WordPress sites trust Jetpack (including me!) to keep their content safe.
We’ll dive more into plugins in a later post, but check out other must-have WordPress plugins here or feel free to get in touch if you need help with plugins for your blog.
You’re ready to start blogging with your brand-spankin’ new WordPress blog!
Get started with your new WordPress blog:
- First, ensure your blog name shows correctly—click Settings -> General from the lefthand side panel of your WordPress dashboard.
- In the General options, check that your Site Title, Site Language, and Timezone fields are correct.
- Next, under Plugins in the lefthand panel, hover over or click Users, then click Profile.
- Scroll down your Profile page, fill in your social media handles, a short bio, and add a profile picture. These will appear below your blog posts.
- Lastly, create your About page—hover over or click on Pages, then click Add new.
Step 4: Write Boss Blog Posts
Boss up your blog by publishing kickass blog posts. Use the following three essential parts to write engaging blog posts:
- Add an enticing Title.
- Craft the Body of your post.
- A story or experience (i.e., a personal challenge), how you overcame your challenge, what you learned from your experience, and how others benefit from your example.
- Write a brief catch-all Summary.
Read How To Create Boss Blog Posts for more.
Other types of blog post content to share:
- Essays & short stories
- Step-by-step demos & tutorials
- Time-saving checklists
- Product or service reviews
- Industry-leader interviews
Step 5: Grow Your Blog
Unfortunately, starting a WordPress blog is not enough to build awareness and get folks to read your writing. You’ll need to get the word out to tell folks where to find your content and make it easy for them to engage with you.
One way to grow your blog is to use the pre-installed JetPack plugin (mentioned above) to create a subscriber form or a third-party platform like Flodesk.
Use my Flodesk link to save 50%! Yup, I’ll get a small commission if you use my link.
Other ways to promote your blog & grow your audience:
- Write & publish new blog posts at least once a month.
- Share your blog posts on your social media profiles.
- Add a link to your blog in your email signature.
- Engage with other bloggers. Read their posts and leave meaningful comments.
- Tell everyone in your circle about your blog! Ask them to read, subscribe, leave comments & share your blog posts.
Remember, you can start a blog with WordPress in 5 simple steps:
- Claim your blog. Register your domain and get affordable domain hosting with Hostmonster.
- DIY your blog. Get your blog online with WordPress.
- Customize your blog. Choose a blog theme.
- Boss up your blog. Write kickass blog posts.
- Grow your blog. Post often to gain loyal fans and followers.
That’s it! Thank you for reading How to Start a Blog with WordPress.
You can do this! Blogging is a rewarding (and lucrative) way to share your stories and biz expertise.
Start a blog with WordPress to consistently share your content and become a boss blogger!
Stay tuned for How to Gain Clients & Make Money Blogging. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Don’t want to go it alone? Let me help you start a blog with WordPress. Get in touch.
