If you’re reading this, I must assume you’ve thought about starting a blog for a while now, and you have no idea where to start. Or maybe you’re just starting and need some direction.
I’ll admit, this isn’t my first blog. My first blog was a fun experience at first, but I didn’t properly prepare. I spent all my time designing the blog and structuring it with so many topics I became overwhelmed and, shortly after, gave up.
Since then, I’ve done hours of research and will post monthly updates about my progress with this and the other blogs I’m starting now or in the future.
First of all, we need to discuss what a blog is and what it isn’t. Basically, a blog is a website, and a website is a blog. However, what makes the distinction is the content.
A blog is a type of website where there is constantly new content added. The new content may only be relevant for a short time, or it could be timeless. Blog posts are short, usually under 1,500 words, that share ideas, opinions, instructions, or explanations on a limited range of topics. Blog brands can extend to social media as an Instagram influencer, YouTuber, or Facebook Business. Bloggers can provide products, services, offer ad space, or promote products for money to cover expenses or profit. Some bloggers have been fortunate enough to replace their income with their blog and can hire staff.
Before we continue, I have some printables you may want to use to keep track of the different steps we’re going to go through in this post. In order to do so, you’ll need to fill out the form at the bottom of the page to sign up for my mailing list. The printable will be emailed to you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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#1 – You need an idea and what problem are you solving
Before you can do anything, you need a plan. Without a plan, you have nowhere to go.
Start by deciding what kind of blog you want. Some examples of blogs are:
- Lifestyle (where you write about topics that relate to the typical lifestyle that you want to focus on)
- Hobby-focused (like this blog which focuses on writing, but this type of blog could be about anything)
- Career-focused
- Fan-based
- Fashion
- Food
- Travel
- Etc.
Beyond the type of blog, you need to address an issue and how you will use your new blog to handle that issue. That issue will be a topic you return to when you begin planning content in the future.
I’ve read it before and ignored the advice. Keep your sights on a limited range of topics. I won’t say to keep it to 5 things, but try to keep it narrow. Your future posts should be able to cross over to multiple or all of these topics without feeling misplaced. You don’t need to be an expert, but this needs to be something you’re knowledgeable about and something you enjoy.
For example, this blog is a hobby blog about writing. The issue addressed on this blog is how to write as a career in different ways. Writing is my favorite hobby, and I aspire to be a published author in the future. So, for this blog, I will limit my posts to topics like writing a book, getting published, self-publishing, author websites, blogging, and writing for hire.
Your blog could be a culmination of multiple things, but try to make them interchangeable.
For example, I have a lifestyle blog that combines food, DIY, faith, family, and self, but I focus on my main issue. My issue on SimplyWaterbury is how to simplify your life as a wife/mother/woman, who runs her own home/family, that may be a Christian and likes to create. I have posts that crossover into multiple topics, and honestly, I try to create posts there that fit into at least two topics each.
#2 – You Need a Name and a Tagline
When you have your scope, you need a name. Your name should be related to what you want to blog about and easy to remember. You could use your name or a phrase.
Keep it short. Under 4 words. You want to keep a short but memorable domain name to make it easy for your readers. Think Google, Amazon, Yahoo, etc. If you have a name like ‘If You Build It They Will Come’ for a DIY or Marketing blog, the domain would be something like this, ‘ifyoubuildittheywillcome.com’ Can you imagine how easy it would be to mistype and end up somewhere else?
Also, look at the name, both in its formal form and its domain form. I’ve seen some domain names that look like something it isn’t because of how the letters go together. For example, my husband watches YouTube all the time. He was watching a video from an account with Bro Code in the name called brocodeconduct. Now, I have nothing against the name, and maybe I was tired, but I had to ask what the account was called to make sense of it.
Avoid using special characters. One of my other blogs is Tales Come True, a Walt Disney World planning website and blog. I kept it simple by using talescometrue.com, and when I type it in the domain form on posts, I write in capital form. When reading it, it reads Tales Come True. I didn’t complicate it by using tales-come-true.com. Simple is easier.
Make sure it’s available. While planning out your name, I suggest using Google Domains to help you pick a name that isn’t taken already. If your idea is already in use, they will give you suggestions. I recommend a .com, but that’s up to you. Don’t buy it just yet. That’s step #4.
For this blog, I created a name based on my last name. I’ve been called all kinds of names with the kids at the school I work at (Waterberry, Strawberry, Waterfairy, and Westbury, to name a few). So, why not combine my name with my favorite hobby? Especially since this blog is about writing.
Now, come up with a concise phrase that isn’t trademarked to use with your title. For example, Writerbury – writing happens here, Tales Come True – Making Your Tales Come True, Simply Waterbury – Living Life Simply. It would be best if you had a brief description of what you offer your readers. This tagline will be on the tab beside your blog name and visible on Google searches, so think hard.
Unlike your domain name, you can change your tagline as often as you wish, and other than making any graphic with it on it irrelevant, nothing else will be affected.
#3 – Lay Your Business Foundation
You have your scope, name, and tagline. Now, you need to do something about it.
You’re going to want a new email for your blog. I personally recommend Gmail. (I do not get compensation from Google to recommend this.) Later, I will show you step-by-step how to go from blah@gmail.com to blah@domain.com without paying for GSuite or other ripoff platforms.
Don’t worry if your blog name isn’t available for Gmail; you’ll get free email addresses with your domain name later on. Just pick something close enough and set up your account. When I got an email for TalesComeTrue.com, I added 20 to the email (talescometrue20) to work for me.
The reason I suggest you get a unique email for this account is to keep things in order. When you purchase your domain name through domains.google and use this new account, you can keep better organized when you’re working on your blog later on in the future.
#4 – Be the Master of your Domain
Before doing anything, you need to purchase the Domain Name. This step is the expansion of Step 2.
To obtain a Domain Name, you could go to all kinds of websites, but I recommend Google Domains. (I am not being compensated for this suggestion.) Being an Android user, my life is based on Google. Using Google Domains, I can point it to Bluehost and connect a free Gmail account with my domain name easily. Most domains are just $12/year, compared to GoDaddy at $18.99 after the first year. (Yes, I did my research.)
Use your new Google account from Step 3 to purchase your new domain. To do this, look for the circle in the top right of the screen. It should be the first letter of your name you used to open the account. If it isn’t, click that circle and choose the new account. If it isn’t there, log in. Either way, confirm you are using Google Domains with your new email address.
Most domains are $12 a year, as I mentioned before. Some are more, but those are anticipated to be used by big corporations. Google will automatically charge your account annually to keep this domain active for you. If the card expires, they will try to attain a new method of payment. But, if you wait too long to renew, you could lose your name.
#6 – Get Hosted!
Now that you have a name, you need a home. You’ll have to pay for this service, but it’s worth it. (FYI, you cannot monetize free blogs on wordpress.com.)
Hosting is necessary unless you have a server at home that can handle the number of users you anticipate at all times. Hosting services minimally offer you a remote location to store your new blog. Yes, your blog needs a physical location.
Though there are multiple options available to you, I highly recommend Bluehost. I’ve been using them since 2015, when I started my first blog, and they were a huge help when my first blog was hacked. My tutorial will be using Bluehost; however, you can choose to use any hosting service you choose.
Check out my step-by-step tutorial on Creating and Setting up a Bluehost account here.
I use their Plus package, which allows me to host unlimited websites, so if that is your concern, they’ll have your back.
You can pay monthly, or you could take full advantage of the incredible discount of $3.95 a month (introductory period) by prepaying for 3+ years of hosting at once. You could sign up for 2 or even 1 year, but you should know that the introductory rate is only valid for the amount of time you sign up for now.
I know; that’s a hefty price tag for some of you. It was for me, too. But, even if you sign up for just one year, you should pay yourself back before it’s time to renew if you take the time and are successful with your new blog.
Follow my link above to grab the amazing price of $3.95 a month!
#7 – Assign a Domain
Unless you buy your domain through Bluehost, you’ll need to connect your domain to your housing account. This can be a little confusing the first time around, but I have help for you.
Read this post for a step by step tutorial.
#8 – Install WordPress
Now that you have a domain and web hosting, you need a website! This is pretty easy, probably the easiest part of the entire process. To me, this was the most exciting part. There are only a few steps here, but it will take your .com from a blank error page to a generic WordPress website announcing to the world that a website is to come!
Read this post for a step by step tutorial.
Once you have done all of these things, you can feel satisfied that the first processes are complete. You have your scope. You have a name and a tagline. You have an email. You have a domain. You have hosting. You’ve assigned your domain. And you’ve installed WordPress. So, basically, you now have a blog!
The next part of this series on What You Need to Know to Launch a Blog is coming up. Don’t miss it. You will build your Brand Kit, which will help you design your blog and other platforms your blog will use.
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Comment below with questions, your domain name, and a description of what you’ll create, or even what you want to attribute to this post.
