Have you ever thought about starting your own blog but you’re just not sure where to start? Are you worried that it might be too difficult or too expensive? I used to think this way too before I launched Straddle The Line last spring.
But you know what I found out? Creating your own blog is actually inexpensive and easy. I started this blog on a tiny budget six months ago and at that time I had NO clue what I was doing. But with a little determination and some self-education, I made it happen! And with this post I want to show you how you can too, in 7 easy steps.
With low-cost domain hosting sites such as Bluehost and website building tools like WordPress, you can have a professional-looking blog up and running in a day!
As you can see with my blog, it’s easy to have a professional look without any coding or design experience. There are free tools and plugins online for literally anything you’ll need!
So, what’s stopping you? Maybe you just need a little nudge. Well, here you go! Below I have outlined in 7 steps how to get your blog up and running in one day:
Step-by-Step: How to Start a Blog in 7 Easy Steps
- Choose a domain name and a hosting site
- Select your blog’s theme
- Design your logo
- Structure your blog
- Add essential plugins
- Create content your readers will love
- Be consistent and don’t give up!
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Choose a domain name and a hosting site
The first step to creating your blog is purchasing a domain name that matches your desired blog topic. For this you will need to use a web hosting site, which will list all possible domains for sale. I chose to use Bluehost because they are inexpensive, provide free WordPress installation and have excellent customer service. They helped me every step of the way when I had a problem (which was often). The price for Bluehost is $3.95- $7.95 per month depending on the package you choose. I found this to be very reasonable compared to other competitors.
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Select your blog’s theme
Once you have secured your domain name and installed Worpress through your Bluehost account, you will then want to select your blog’s theme. The blog theme will lay the foundation for the appearance of your site. There are both free and paid versions. I decided to go with a paid version, the Wunderful theme for $39 at the time. I would suggest you shop around though as everyone has different tastes. Here is a list of Top WordPress Themes!
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Design your logo
Once you’ve selected your theme, you should then create a Site Logo. This will be what appears at the top of your page and what all visitors will remember you by. You can create yours for free using a number of online logo creators. I used Hipster Logo Generator for mine. Another idea is to pay $5 or more on Fiverr for someone to create one for you!
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Structure your blog
Now it’s time to structure your blog. You will want to organize your menu bars and overall page layout. This might sound tricky, but Bluehost has great tutorials on every part of blog set up. You will want to form your blog “Categories” and “Pages” here as well. “Pages” will hold your static content like the About Me and Welcome pages. “Categories” are where you’ll want to organize your future blog posts. Make sure your blog has a simple structure so that visitors are able to easily navigate! Test it out yourself before you go live!
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Add essential plugins
“Plugins” are all the extra features and functionalities you can add to your blog. Whether you want to add an email subscription form, a photo gallery, or social media icons this is where you get them all! You will have a Plugin store automatically built into your WordPress. Most of these plugins are free! Here is where you would shop for Plugins.
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Create content your readers will love
Now that your blog is set up and has a cool, crisp look it’s finally time to write! Based on your niche, you will want to write compelling content for your readers. You will want to mix up each post with relevant written content, pictures and even videos!
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Be consistent and don’t give up!
Once you get your blog up and running its essential to be consistent with your posting so that you can build a readership. I would recommend posting at least once per week. Finally, it’s crucial to not give up at any early stage in your blogging venture. There will be frustrating moments when building your site and with building your audience. And I’ve blogged about blogger struggles before. But, DO NOT GIVE UP! There are people all over the Internet to help you, myself included. It will all be worth it.
So that’s a wrap! You’re now ready to join me in the blogosphere. There’s no better time than now to create your own digital platform! Start today by securing your domain name. This LINK will get you the lowest current deal with my web host, Bluehost.
Let your voice be heard around the world. If you never start, you’ll never know the possibilities.
NOTE: This blog post contains affiliate links.