Home Tutorials A Complete Guide on How to Start a Blog (Step-by-Step) 2021

A Complete Guide on How to Start a Blog (Step-by-Step) 2021


Are you wanting to begin a weblog? You then’ve come to the precise place. On this full information, we’ll run you thru precisely how to create a weblog from scratch. We are going to cowl how to…

  • Select a running a blog platform (we suggest WordPress.org).
  • Decide a area identify.
  • Enroll with a internet hosting supplier (we suggest SiteGround).
  • Set up WordPress.
  • Choose and set up a running a blog theme.
  • Customise your new weblog.
  • Write and publish your first weblog publish.

By following our step-by-step directions, you’ll rapidly have your new weblog up and working very quickly in any respect. Let’s get began…

Step 1: Select a Running a blog Platform (we suggest WordPress.org)

WordPress.org Start a Blog

When beginning a weblog, step one of the method is to select which running a blog platform to use. As talked about already, we suggest utilizing the free content material administration system WordPress.org. Right here’s why…

  • Free – WordPress is free, all the time has been, and all the time can be. (Though keep in mind you’ll nonetheless want to buy internet hosting and a area identify on your weblog).
  • Customizable – WordPress is 100% customizable, enabling you to create a weblog to your actual specs. There are additionally quite a few methods to edit your website, together with utilizing the theme choices panel or the dwell customizer, putting in a web page builder plugin, or altering the code, which makes WordPress a nice possibility for learners and consultants alike.
  • Scalable – As your weblog and customer numbers develop, you want a platform that may scale your online business as wanted. There are millions of free and premium WordPress themes, plugins, and different instruments and companies that may add additional options and performance to your website must you want. Subsequently, nonetheless massive your website will get, WordPress can accommodate your wants.
  • Assist – WordPress is supported by a international neighborhood. From blogs and assist boards to WordPress builders and designers, you’ll discover that when you’ve got any issues or questions as you’re organising your weblog, there are many avenues of help.

There are, in fact, many different running a blog platforms to select from. And arguably, most of the all-in-one web site builders, resembling Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace, present a very fast setup.

Nevertheless, crucially, these all-in-one web site builders don’t present the identical flexibility, customization choices, and management that you’re going to get with WordPress. So though your weblog received’t be up and working in minutes, WordPress can help your mission for the length.

Additionally it is value noting that the entire web site builder options work on a month-to-month subscription foundation. As your weblog grows and also you want to entry extra running a blog instruments, you’ll discover your month-to-month funds rapidly improve. WordPress, on the opposite hand, will all the time be free.

Hopefully, you are actually offered on WordPress… let’s subsequent have a look at how to choose a area identify on your new weblog…

Step 2: Decide a Area Identify

Domain Name Generator - Start a Blog

Selecting a area identify will be a irritating course of. Not solely does it take time to resolve on a good area identify, usually individuals discover that once they come to register, the identify it has already been bought by another person. So, listed below are some prime suggestions when making an attempt to discover the precise area identify on your new weblog…

  • Hold it brief and easy – Attempt to maintain your area identify brief and easy, utilizing phrases which might be memorable on your viewers, in addition to simple to spell.
  • Use key phrases – If potential attempt to create a area identify that’s related to your weblog’s area of interest and accommodates key phrases that you really want your content material to rank for. This can assist to reinforce your weblog’s identification, in addition to assist your weblog to rank properly in the major search engines.
  • Attempt a area generator – In case you are struggling for concepts then utilizing a area identify generator might assist. Lean Area Search from Automattic will give you hundreds of area identify strategies. Merely kind within the key phrase(s) you need to use in your area after which Lean Area Search will pair your phrases with different common or related phrases.
  • Think about different top-level domains (TLDs) – There are a number of TLDs to choose from (a TLD is the area extension, for instance, .com or .web). Though .com is all the time the really useful area extension, if that is taken or has a very excessive buy worth, then choosing one other TLD could also be a good possibility.

After you have discovered the perfect area identify, you have to to register it through a area registrar. Though you should purchase a area identify by any area registrar, the simplest possibility is to buy your weblog’s area identify through your internet hosting supplier.

So let’s now have a look at how to purchase internet hosting (and a area identify) on your weblog…

Step 3: Signal Up With a Internet hosting Supplier (we suggest SiteGround)

SiteGround web hosting platform

There’s an array of internet hosting suppliers to select from, all providing a barely completely different choice of plans, options, and costs. Right here at aThemes, we suggest SiteGround because it gives reasonably priced, high-quality internet hosting, plus a lot of additional helpful options to guarantee your web site performs at its optimum stage.

SiteGround gives a vary of internet hosting choices, together with shared, managed WordPress, cloud, and devoted internet hosting. Nevertheless, for anybody beginning a new weblog, the entry-level SiteGround shared internet hosting plan StartUp, is a nice alternative.

SiteGround Plans

Let’s have a have a look at its prime options…

  • 1 web site, 10 GB of internet house, 10,000 month-to-month visits.
  • One-click WordPress set up.
  • Automated WordPress updates.
  • Free SSL certificates.
  • Free Cloudflare CDN.
  • Limitless e-mail accounts at your area (e.g. [email protected]).
  • 24/7 Assist.

The StartUp plan will value you simply $3.95 a month (one-year minimal time period). SiteGround additionally gives a 30-day money-back assure. This provides you peace of thoughts that when you enroll however then resolve this isn’t the internet hosting supplier for you, you’ll be able to obtain a full refund.

SiteGround has a fast and straightforward sign-up course of. To get began, merely open SiteGround’s shared internet hosting internet web page and beneath StartUp click on on the Get Plan button.

SiteGround StartUp hosting plan

SiteGround will then ask you to register your new area. Sort in your area identify and choose an extension resembling .com or .web. In case your area identify shouldn’t be obtainable with the extension you will have chosen, SiteGround will give you some various TLDs to select from.

SiteGround Choose Domain

After you have chosen an obtainable area identify, you’ll subsequent want to fill in some private particulars, together with deal with and cost info.

SiteGround Personal Info

Subsequent, try the Buy Data part. Right here, you have to to choose whether or not you need to commit to a 12, 24, or 36-month plan, in addition to a few different additional companies, together with area identify registration and area privateness. The StartUp plan renews at $11.95 monthly after the preliminary time period is over. Subsequently, the longer you join, the more cash you save long run.

Start a Blog - Purchase Info

After finishing and checking all the knowledge, click on Pay Now. As soon as your cost has been processed, SiteGround will ship you an e-mail together with your new account’s login particulars.

Step 4: Set up WordPress

After you have signed up with a internet hosting supplier, you’re prepared to set up WordPress. With most massive internet hosting firms, putting in WordPress may be very easy, and SiteGround isn’t any exception.

To put in WordPress with SiteGround, check in to your new account and click on on My Accounts. Then choose the Go to cPanel possibility.

SiteGround cPanel - Start a Blog

Right here, scroll down to WordPress Instruments, and click on on WordPress AutoInstaller.

WordPress AutoInstaller

Choose the Set up > Fast Set up menu.

WordPress Quick Install

Now, scroll down the web page and subsequent to Select Set up URL, choose your area identify from the drop-down menu.

Choose Installation URL

Subsequent, select an admin username and password on your new WordPress website. Additionally, you will want to present an e-mail the place these particulars can be despatched. Then hit Set up.

SiteGround Log in and Password

SiteGround will often take lower than a couple of minutes to set up WordPress. You’ll then find a way to log in to your new weblog.

WordPress Installed

SiteGround gives a startup wizard to assist guarantee a clean setup course of. The wizard will show you how to with…

  • Selecting a theme – The wizard gives a variety of free and premium themes to select from (we’ll talk about choosing the precise theme on your weblog within the subsequent part of this text). Should you don’t choose a theme by the wizard, SiteGround will set up the free WordPress theme Twenty Seventeen.
  • Choosing plugins – Once more, the wizard will show a variety of free WordPress plugins that you could be need to take into account putting in, relying on the wants of your weblog. Plugins embody WP Kinds, Jetpack, and WooCommerce. Should you aren’t certain if you have to this performance then merely exit the wizard — you’ll be able to all the time set up these plugins at any time sooner or later.

As soon as the wizard has taken you thru the startup steps, you’re free to begin creating your weblog.

Step 5: Choose and Set up a Running a blog Theme

There are millions of free and premium WordPress themes to select from, so making a determination on the precise one on your new weblog will be daunting. When choosing the precise theme on your web site, take into account your weblog’s area of interest and what options you could want, in addition to your price range.

Let’s discover out extra about selecting a theme…

Free Themes

WordPress.org themes

Free themes will be discovered at WordPress.org. These themes have been by stringent checks, so you’ll be able to relaxation simple that any theme put in from the WordPress repository is high-quality. Nevertheless, the downside of putting in a free theme is that many lack the options that premium themes present. (Though keep in mind you’ll be able to set up plugins to add any additional performance you could want).

To seek out and set up a free WordPress theme, choose the Look > Themes > Add New sidebar menu inside your WordPress dashboard.

Start a Blog - Add New Theme

Now you can search and preview particular person themes, or apply a filter to discover themes containing particular options, or inside a particular area of interest.

Feature Filter

After you have determined on a theme, merely click on Set up > Activate. Right here, we now have chosen to set up Fashionista, certainly one of aThemes’ free running a blog themes.

Activate Theme

You’ll now discover the theme has been put in and is prepared to customise.

Premium Themes

Premium Theme

Premium themes, on the entire, supply an in depth vary of options and are a higher possibility in case you are wanting to create a pretty, skilled, and profitable weblog. Most theme builders may even present a high-level of help for premium themes, which will be very helpful if you end up organising your weblog, or when you run into issues down the road.

All the time ensure you buy a premium theme from a respected theme developer and examine the theme’s critiques and scores. Listed here are a few theme retailers and builders that we suggest…

  • ThemeForest – A theme market, ThemeForest sells hundreds of WordPress themes catering for all industries and niches.
  • Elegant Themes – This high-end theme developer sells a choice of lovely themes, together with its flagship multipurpose theme Divi.
  • aThemes – The intelligent builders right here at aThemes have crafted a choice of beautiful free and premium themes, guaranteeing that no matter your mission and standards, there can be one thing for you.

After you have made a buy, you have to to obtain the theme as a .zip file. Then, inside your WordPress dashboard, choose Look > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme.

Add Premium Themes

You’ll now want to Select and Add the theme’s .zip file after which click on on Set up Now. Your premium theme will now be put in on your WordPress web site.

Step 6: Customise Your New Blog

As soon as your new WordPress theme is put in, it’s time to customise your new weblog. Most new themes will enable you to do that on the front-end of your website by the Customizer. (Keep in mind the customization choices will differ relying on the theme you will have put in).

To open the Customizer, choose Look > Customise.

Customizer

The Customizer will now open on the front-end of your website.

Start a Blog - Live Customizer

Let’s have a have a look at a number of the key settings that you could be need to alter…

  • Website Identification – Right here, you’ll be able to add your website’s title and tagline in addition to your website’s icon (favicon).
  • Menus – Edit the menus and alter the placement of the place they’re displayed.
  • Colours – Change your website’s colours (textual content, background, titles, and so forth).
  • Fonts – Alter the typography for the headers and physique of the textual content.
  • Widgets – Determine which widgets you prefer to to show in your header, footer, and sidebars.

By modifying your website by the Customizer, you’ll be able to create a type that’s authentic and distinctive to your weblog and helps your website stand out from the group.

You might also need to add an About and Contact Web page to your weblog, in addition to putting in some important plugins.

Step 7: Write and Publish Your First Blog Publish

As soon as you’re pleased with the look of your website, subsequent you’ll be able to create your first weblog publish. To take action, choose Posts > Add New inside your WordPress dashboard

Start a Blog - Add a Post

Give your new publish a title, after which begin writing. Click on on the + icon to add a new block (e.g. a new paragraph, heading, record, or quote).

Start a Blog - Editor

So as to add a picture to your weblog publish, choose both the + or the Add Picture icon.

Editor Upload Image

You’ll be able to then decide to add a picture, choose a picture from the Media Library, or insert a URL. For a good choice of free inventory photos, try Pixabay or Pexels. Alternatively, for top-quality images, photos, and different design parts, try the premium service Shutterstock.

On the right-hand facet of the web page, beneath Paperwork, there are a variety of settings to configure. Let’s try a few of a very powerful…

  • Featured Picture – Add a featured picture to your weblog article to seize your reader’s consideration.
  • Classes – Assign your article a class to assist manage your content material and assist your viewers simply discover related articles.
  • Dialogue – Determine whether or not to enable your readers to remark on your article.

On the prime of the web page, you’ll be able to Preview your article on the front-end of your website to examine the way it will seem to your viewers. As soon as you’re glad together with your new weblog publish, click on the Publish button.

Ultimate Ideas on How to Start a Blog

As you’ll be able to see, beginning a weblog is a fast and straightforward course of. Shifting ahead, ensure you weblog persistently, publishing new, attention-grabbing, and distinctive content material on a common foundation. You must also look to develop a following on social media — promote your content material to your social viewers and encourage them to learn and share your weblog articles. Then, as soon as your weblog begins to see a excessive quantity of standard site visitors, you’ll be able to start to monetize it. Good luck!

Any questions on how to begin a weblog? If that’s the case, please ask away within the feedback beneath…