Starting a blog can definitely feel overwhelming at first, especially if you don’t have any prior experience. I remember doing SO much research before I felt comfortable starting my blog (p.s. Google and Youtube are your best friends), especially when it came to paying for things. But don’t fret, I am here to help you start the process, and figure out the most important things to do FIRST!
1. A personal domain
Purchasing a domain should be the FIRST thing that you do when deciding to start a blog. This is what your audience will type in when they want to visit your blog. You want to make sure your content is easy to find, so keep it simple. Your domain name should be “www.YOURBLOGNAME.com” (not .org/.net/.co). If possible, also try to avoid special characters (underscores, dashes, asterisks, etc.). I would suggest choosing a blog name and making sure that the domain is available before moving forward. You can easily google “domain checker” (or some variation of that) to see if the blog name you want is available. No one wants to type in “www.thecurly_clinician.wordpress.com” every time they want to visit my blog, so I invested in my own domain: “www.thecurlyclinician.com”. Domain names are typically $10-20 a month, depending on who you decide to purchase through. I purchased my domain through Bluehost, my web hosting site, but you can also purchase a domain through sites like GoDaddy, Google, Domain.com, etc. Most promotions will give you your domain at a discount for at least a year.
2. Reliable web hosting and a blogging platform
Once you have purchased a domain, the next step to owning your blog is to purchase web hosting! The web hosting company will provide the server to store your blog and all of its information. Web hosting sites may also provide discounted domains, 24/7 support, email accounts, security, and more. I personally chose Bluehost as my web host. You can use my affiliate link to register for Bluehost for up to 60% off (you also get your domain for FREE for one year). I also went with WordPress.org as my blogging platform (after using Wix for a few months), as it is the most popular (and probably the best in my opinion, most bloggers use it). You can also use sites like Squarespace, Blogger, or Wix. I would suggest you google “_____ vs. _____” to see how the blogging platforms compare, and what will work for you personally.
Disclaimer: If you decide to sign-up for hosting through my affiliate link, I will receive a commission.
Below is the easy step-by-step process of how to sign-up with Bluehost:
Step 1: Visit Bluehost.com
Step 2: Choose a hosting plan that works best for you. I am using the “Basic” plan, which is the plan I suggest if you want to create ONE blog/website. You can always easily upgrade later if you need to!
Step 3: Choose your domain name. Like I mentioned earlier, this is what your audience will type in when they want to visit your blog. You want to make sure your content is easy to find, so keep your name SIMPLE!
Step 4: Enter a few personal details
Step 5: Choose your package, and any add-ons you want. You can learn more about each add-on by clicking “More information“.
Step 6: Add your payment information
Step 7: Create your password
CONGRATULATIONS, you now own a blog!
Here is what you will see once you login to Bluehost for the first time:
3. A clean theme
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a theme when you are first starting out. Having an aesthetically pleasing theme will give you that extra “leg-up” in the blogging world though, and help brands and other bloggers take you seriously. You can find great themes under $100 on your blogging platform, or on sites where graphic designers have created themes available for purchase. Here is an example of a site where you can purchase themes. I would stick to themes with a white background, that are mobile-friendly, and that have easy to read fonts.
Happy blogging friends 🙂
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