As promised, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start a WordPress blog this year. I will also be posted a video tutorial on YouTube on how you can start your own website or blog within a day. It’s not difficult or complicated as it seems to be.
Step 1: Get a domain
Blogging is essentially free because there are several free hosting websites such as wix.com, blogger.com and WordPress. But if you are serious about starting up a website or blog and intend to run it for long, then you should invest some money on your website and purchase a domain.
My site is currently hosted by Exabytes. It is a reliable Cloud Service Provider in Southeast Asia with 18 years of experience in server web management and web hosting. Their rates are affordable and they offer 24/7 technical support.
Exabytes’ .COM Domain Registration starts from SGD 14.90 per year. Don’t forget to claim the free $10 credits on Exabytes when you open a new account.
You can read more about my detailed review on Exabytes here.
As your blog or businesses grow, you might find yourself having to hire people to run and develop the website for you too. More cost will incur along the way as your reader base expands. For example, you might need to purchase monthly storage space for your images.
Step 2: Set up a WordPress account
Once you sign up for a domain, the next thing you should do is to decide on a blogging platform. You can use any free blogging platforms like Blogger, Wix or Weebly to set up a blog. But if you want to develop a more professional website which allows for advance customisation, I would recommend WordPress. It is also a free blogging platform.
I like using WordPress because it has several advance tools which allow users to customise their website. It might take a while to understand how to use each WordPress feature to the fullest but once you get the hang of it, you will be able to maximise the use of this platform.
Setting up an account is easy. Just log into wordpress.com and create an account.
Step 3: Configure your WordPress settings
Once you set up the account, it will bring you to the WordPress Dashboard. Before you start to blog away, it is important to first customise your website and your WordPress settings.
To modify the settings, look for ‘settings’ at the left panel. Click on each tab under ‘settings’ and go through each site settings.
Step 4: Choose a WordPress theme and customise your theme
Once you are done, head over to ‘themes’ on the left panel and pick a theme which you would like to use for your website. There are over 5,000 free WordPress themes to choose from.
For me, I am using a theme created by Blossom Fashion. I chose it for it’s clean and user-friendly interface which fits the genre of my blog.
After you have installed the theme, don’t forget to click ‘Customise’ under ‘Appearance’ in order to further customise the display of your blog. Some themes allow you to change the colour and type of fonts. You can also put up your website logo and tagline as well.
Step 5: Install plugins to enhance your blog
Plugins are essentially add-on features which will enhance the functionality of your website. It is best to understand which plugins your website needs before you download and install them. I will talk about WordPress plugins in a separate blog post as it is another thing altogether.
Step 6: Start creating a blog post!
Once you have customise your site, it’s time to publish your very first blog post! Just click the ‘Add New’ tab and write your hearts out.
In order to gain more traffic to your website and blog posts, you will need to understand the science behind SEO or Search Engine Optimization. There are certain SEO rules you have to follow in order for the Search Engine like Google to favour your site.
And that’s basically it! It’s not that difficult to start a blog right? You don’t have to rush to get everything done within a day. Just take your time to explore and read up more about each WordPress tool and feature. You can also check up Exabytes website on how you can start your own website!
Hope this article is useful and do stay tuned for an upcoming video tutorial on starting a blog too!
