How to create a blog : what you’ll need.

If you want to create a blog, here’s a simple step-by-step follows:

• Sign up for web hosting .
• Choose a hosting plan.
• Pick a domain name for your blog.
• Complete your hosting registration.
• Install WordPress.
• Log in and write your first blog post.

None of these steps require in-depth technical knowledge and we’ll show you the whole process of how to set up a blog in detail. Оформить микрозайм на карту срочно.

Once you get your blog up and running, you’ll probably want to start writing and likely tweak its appearance/functionality. To help you do that, we’ll also show you how to:

•  Write your first blog post using the WordPress Editor
•  Change how your WordPress blog looks using a “theme”
•  Add functionality to your blog using tools called “plugins”

Step 1: Purchase hosting and your domain name

Making your blog accessible to people around the world requires two things:

•  Hosting – this is the engine that powers your site. While you don’t “see it”, every single website on the Internet has a host powering it.
•  Domain – this is like your blog’s permanent address.

You can purchase your hosting and domain at the same time – so don’t worry too much about the nitty-gritty details right now.

Step 2: Install the free WordPress software

If you want to create a WordPress blog, you’re going to, need to” install the WordPress software”.

We know this might sound a little intimidating – but we think you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to install WordPress.

Step 3: Write your first blog post

Now that you learned how to create a WordPress blog, you’re probably excited to get to blogging! We’ll show you how to change how your blog looks and functions in a second. But first, let’s go over just how easy it is to write a blog post on your new website.

When you first log in to your blog’s WordPress dashboard, you should see a screen like this:

To write a blog post:

• Click Posts
• Click Add New

Write your blog posts using a really intuitive block system. To add text, you just click and type.

Step 4: Here’s how to change how your blog looks

When you create a WordPress blog, one of the major benefits that you get is access to WordPress’ huge collection of themes and plugins. Here’s a quick overview of the two:

We’ll cover the former in this section.

As soon as you create a WordPress blog, you already have a theme active. This is either the default WordPress theme or the theme that you chose during the Bluehost Setup Wizard.

But there are actually thousands of themes available for WordPress, so you’re by no means limited to that small selection.

Where to find WordPress themes for your blog

When you go to choose a WordPress theme, you’ll need to pick between free and premium themes. There’s no inherent difference between the two, but premium themes often have more detailed designs and features.

To find free themes, the best place to search is the official WordPress.org theme directory. Another solid option is Just Free Themes for a more curated approach.

How to install a WordPress theme

Once you’ve found a theme that you love, WordPress makes it easy to add that theme to your site.

Here’s how:

• Hover over Appearance
• Select Themes
• Click the Add New button

• If you chose a free theme at WordPress.org, search for the theme by name and click Install.
• If you purchased a premium theme, click the Upload Theme button and upload the ZIP file you should have received when you purchased the theme

After installing your theme, make sure to click the Activate button to make it active on your site.

How to further customize your WordPress theme

To further customize your theme, you can use something called the WordPress Customizer. This interface lets you make certain tweaks to your theme without needing to know code.

You can access it by going to Appearance → Customize:

Depending on the theme that you chose, you may have a different set of options in the left sidebar. But in general, you can:

• Make changes by using the options on the left
• See a real-time preview on the website preview on the right
• Make your changes live by clicking Save & Publish

For a more detailed guide, we have a full post on how to use the WordPress Customizer.

Step 5: Here’s how to add functionality to your blog

While themes are mostly about appearances, plugins are more focused on helping you add functionality to your blog.

When you first create a WordPress blog, you pretty much only have the ability to write blog posts and create pages.

Plugins are what allow you to add more advanced functionality like:

• Contact forms
• Social network buttons
• Backups
• Improved SEO
• And lots, lots more

Where to find WordPress plugins for your blog

Like themes, you can find both free and premium plugins.

Keeping the similarities rolling, the best place to look for free plugins is at the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

For premium plugins, the best method is usually to search Google for something like “best X plugin” and buy from a well-known developer.

Many free plugins listed at WordPress.org also offer premium versions with more features.

Must-have WordPress plugins for all sites

While there are plenty of niche plugins that are only good for specific uses, there are some must-have WordPress plugins that all sites, including blogs, can benefit from. Here are some of our suggestions:

•  UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin
•  Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights
•  WP Super Cache
•  Yoast SEO
•  Wordfence Security
•  Jetpack by WordPress.com
•  Social Media Share Buttons & Analytics
•  WPForms
•  Optimole

How to install WordPress plugins

We already wrote a detailed guide on how to install WordPress plugins. But here’s the quick version:

• Go to Plugins → Add New
• If you chose a free plugin at WordPress.org, search for the plugin by name and click Install Now.
• If you purchased a premium plugin, click the Upload Plugin button and upload the ZIP file you should have received when you purchased the plugin.

Make sure to Activate the plugin after installing it.

You can always manage your existing plugins by going to the Plugins tab:

What to do after you create a WordPress blog

Ok, so you managed to create a WordPress blog, install your own theme, and add some functionality with plugins.

What next?

Well, the world is your oyster! But if you’re like most people, you’ll probably want to look for ways to:

• Get more visitors to your blog
• Make money from your blog

And if you’re a blogging beginner, you might be interested in the 44 things our team of bloggers wish they knew before starting a blog. You can read all of these blogging tips here.

You’ll probably also want to create a blog content strategy and figure out how to come up with new blog post ideas.

And if you’re looking for everything in one place, we wrote a whole guide on how to grow a personal blog.

Now get out there and make your brand new WordPress blog a success!