5 steps to launching a blog
Here are the 5 steps to starting a blog for free.
- Get a host. A web host is where your website “lives.” You own it, but you pay a small fee to keep it online (kind of like paying property taxes to the government). I recommend CMS Launcher. It’s a popular web host on the Internet, and it is cost-effective.
- Register a domain. You can get a domain name (e.g., author.com) through your hosting company. I recommend doing it this way, so you can keep everything streamlined. You can go elsewhere, GoDaddy offers this, or you can do it through a premium service on CMS Launcher.
- Install WordPress. Blogging requires software, and the best that I’ve found is WordPress. It’s easy, quick, and best of all, free. You can set up WordPress through your host (CMS Launcher does this for you for free). Otherwise, you have to go through WordPress.org to download the software and then upload it to a host. (Note: Using WordPress.org is different from signing up for a free blog at WordPress.com. This infographic explains how.) The best way to do this is with Softaculous; you will find this in your CP Panel once you have your CMS Launcher account information. Log in, add your addon domain, and add Softaculous WordPress install, creating your blog.
- Get a theme. When you start using WordPress, you get access to many beautiful blog designs (called “themes”), many of which are free. I recommend Tiny Framework; or Author Landing Page; it’s a simple, elegant theme for those just getting started.
- Log in and start blogging. The URL for your dashboard (which redirects to the login page if you’re not logged in) is yourblogname.com/wp-admin/. Once logged in, click “Posts” on the left-hand sand, and then select “Add New.” Write a title and create some content for your new blog, and you’re off to the races!
- It would be best if you then had addons to make everything work. For add-ons, you need to decide what you want to do with your website and add the addons you need specifically. This tutorial will walk you through adding plugins.
And that’s it; now you’re blogging, which is where the hard, but good, work of writing begins.
See you on the other side!
If you decide that you would like someone to build this for you, please feel free to have me create it for you with my full support by emailing me at author@authorrichardwhite.com