Create Your Own Blog

Five Step Guide to Creating Your Own Blog

Person looking at a bulletin board full of ideas for blogs on pieces of paper

Step One Decide on an Idea Before Creating Your Blog

I know this sounds simple, but deciding on an idea for your blog can be difficult. It also is the first thing you need to do before you create your own blog. The easiest things to write in a blog are subjects on which you are already knowledgeable or something you want to learn more about. These usually include a hobby or skill such as Travel or Cooking. The most successful blogs however fill the needs of a more specific niche group. A fantastic example of a niche cooking blog which features free cooking recipes for people on a tight budget is called BudgetBytes. Another example of a great niche blog is this homeschooling blog that has been extremely popular during the 2020 pandemic called Confessions of a Homeschooler. If you can find an idea that targets the needs of a specific target audience, there is usually less competition then just a generic blog. Less competition means more people can discover your blog, which in turn creates the potential for more profit. If you are having trouble coming up with an idea, check out my ideas for blogs page here

Typewriter with paper that says domain search

Step Two Buying a Domain Name for Your Blog

This step can take some creativity. You need to think of a creative name for your blog, in addition to buying the domain name. This can be tricky to do since a lot of the easy to think of and clever names have already been purchased, while some remaining names can be expensive. There are inexpensive options out there though, and I will explain to you how to find them. In order to do this, head over to HostGator. There are other options out there such as NameCheap and GoDaddy, but I have found that HostGator is usually the easiest and quickest way to get started. While there, hover over the Domains option on the top menu and click on Register Domains. After that, type in the domain name you wish to use and hit the search button. When choosing a domain name, try to pick something that uses the .com, .net, or .org extensions. When you find the option you like, add it to your cart and complete the purhase. Most of the time, you can purchase a domain name for around $20 or less. If you want more information about how to choose a domain name, check out my blog post on choosing a doimain name for extra tips and ideas.

Person standing near a data center hosting web sites

Step Three Getting Host Space

The host is needed because they are the providers of space to store your site that will display it to users online. Yes, you can host your own website but the cost is usually well greater then it is worth. My favorite website to use for hostingthat I have been using for years, is HostGator. There may be less expensive hosting options out there and you are welcome to use them, but I have used HostGator for a long time and have never had an issue. The average prices range from $12 to $19 per month depending on how which type of hosting you choose, but they are currently having a very good sale so I recommend checking them out. If you purchased the domain name from HostGator already, this portion will be very easy. If you purchased your domain name from another retailer, there is an easy to follow guide on how to point your domain to HostGator. Hostgator offeres three plans: the Hatchling Plan, the Baby Plan, and the Business Plan. The Hatchling Plan is the least expensive and easiest way to get your feet wet writing your blog. The Baby Plan is very similar to the Hatchling Plan, but this plan allows you to add more domains later so you can host more blogs or websites with the same plan. The Business Plan has a lot more upgraded features for search engine optimization, and user access, but this plan is only needed if you are going to be adding more advanced features to your blog. Do not put too much thought into this because if you need a more advanced plan later, you can always upgrade at any time. Once you sign up for an account package, Congratulations! You have made it through the hardest part to create your own blog. In less then 30 minutes you will be writing the content for your very own blog. You will have received some emails from HostGator about your account. You will need to save these emails for future reference as they contain your username and password to access your blog, as well as other valuable information.

Person sitting on a bean bag chair with a laptop writing a blog

Step Four Installing WordPress on Your Blog

After you get your hosting set up for your blog, you need to install a blog software and choose a template. I highly recommend using WordPress, as it is extremely easy to set up and use. WordPress is completely free to use and most features are also free as well. While logged into HostGator on the main dashboard, there will be a section called control panel. Under that section is usually an option to click install WordPress. From there, just follow the options on the screen to complete the install. It will ask you for the blog name, which you can name anything you want, or just make it the same as your domain name. You may need to create a new username and password for WordPress to finish the installation and access your blog. The install can sometimes take a little while to complete, but once it is finished the process to create your own blog.

Person sitting by the pool creating their own blog

Step Five Writing Your First Blog Post

Once WordPress is installed, you can finally start to create your own blog. To access and update your blog, enter your domain name then add /wp-admin which will bring up the WordPress login screen. Once you are logged in, CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are finally ready to start building your content and editing your new blog. There are tons of free resources and instructional videos available to you online from the WordPress website, that you can use to get started with very little effort. Have fun with your blog and feel free to use our free resources for anything you need.