First you will need Web Hosting.
What is Web Hosting? Web hosting provides the technology and services needed for your website to be viewed in the Internet. In other words a Web Host is where your blog will live. Check out this quick Youtube video from our sister brand Bluehost.
There are several options to choose from, for example, at Bluehost you can choose between:
It might be a bit confusing, so let me explain.
Each of these options offers different packages with varying amounts of storage and other features all based on your budget.
Most people only need shared or cloud hosting, which are the most cost effective options. However, if you’re using WordPress, the specialized WordPress hosting option is a great choice. Bluehost knows WordPress, in fact Bluehost has core developers that are a part of the team.
Check out Bluehost Products here.
Click hereRegister a domain name.
Now it’s time for the fun stuff, picking a Domain name. Similar to a logo, the domain should be easy to understand and communicate your brand. Make sure to think about what your customers are searching for online. What would they type into the search bar to take them to your site? Be sure that your customers can easily remember and spell your domain.
What if the domain name you always wanted has been taken? Check out domain.com as a brainstorming tool to see what else might be available.
If you need some great guidelines on choosing a domain name, check out this article from MOJO CEO JR Farr about confirming your identity as a brand.
Picking a platform.
WordPress is the world’s most popular blogging platform and offers a free and premium platform. With most hosting providers, installing WordPress can be as simple as clicking a button.
WordPress powers 30% of the internet and is designed for anyone. We sell a variety of website content management system tools but have seen the best user experiences and results from WordPress sites and tools. WordPress offers you amazing flexibility and expansive options.
Once you’ve installed WordPress on your website, you should receive an email with your login credentials. These will get you into your WordPress admin dashboard, which is where you configure all the settings for your website. You can access this login page any time by typing in your website URL with /wp-admin added to the end, for example: yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
Tips to choosing a WordPress Blog Theme.
A WordPress theme is a template and user interface for creating your own custom website. All Themes can be very different, they can range from free WordPress themes with minimum options up to premium WordPress themes with endless options for customizing your site.
Picking a good WordPress theme can save you incredible amounts of time and money and give you an up-to-date, functional design without requiring you to know how to code or hire a web designer. Premium themes run between $49-$59 on average, and provide incredible features, support, and customizations that you won’t find with free WordPress themes.
Read our guide to choosing the perfect WordPress theme for your project or browse the top selling blog WordPress themes on MOJO Marketplace to get some ideas.
Keep in mind that you can tour any theme demo and experience all the options and styles before you buy your theme.
Writing your first blog post.
Now that your WordPress site is set up you’re ready to start writing content and adding images. Before you start writing your first blog post check out this article, read our post on writing your first blog post in WordPress. Once your blog is up and running be sure to check back on our Start a Blog and Grow Your Audience categories to learn more blogging tips.