By the end of this detailed article on 'How To Create A Blog In WordPress Step By Step (2020)', you will know how to create a blog in WordPress on your own.
And as always, for any one-on-one consulting and assistance, you may mail me at tariq@bloggersbloom.com
Follow the steps to the tee and you will be able to create a blog in WordPress on your own.
If you have been looking around for a step-by-step article on how to create a blog in WordPress on your own, then your search ends here.
Through this article and the videos included (part of my course on WordPress), I will list out 6 actionable steps to help you create a blog in WordPress.
- Step #1: Buy a domain name and hosting
- Step #2: Install WordPress
- Step #3: Install SSL & Encryption
- Step #4: Install A Theme
- Step #5: Install Plugins
- Step #6: Create A Blog
Let’s begin creating our blog.
[Related article: How To Start A Blog And Make Money (2020)]
Create a Blog in WordPress
Step #1: Buy a Domain Name and Hosting
There are a number of options available in the market to buy a domain name and hosting. From domain registrars, such as NameCheap, to hosting service providers such as BlueHost, SiteGround, DreamHost, etc.
But what should you go ahead with?
To begin with, here are 3 tips to help you choose a domain name
3 Tips To Help You Choose A Domain Name
Tip #1: Get a ‘.com’
A ‘.com’ is the most common domain name extension around.
Tip #2: KISS (Keep It Simple & Short) 😉
- Ideally, keep the domain name to around 15 characters
- Use popular keywords (e.g., sell, buy, blogger, online, shop, store, etc)
- Try to indicate your business (e.g., digitalagency.com, handloomsonline.com, mobilestore.com, etc)
- Use random names (e.g., google.com, apple.com)
Tip #3: No Special Characters
This is a definite no. Do not use hyphens, underscores, dots, etc., in your domain name.
[Related article: Top 10 Best Domain and Hosting Services (2020)]
Tips To Help You Choose A Hosting Service Provider
While the domain registrars are important, selecting a hosting service provider is probably THE MOST important decision one must take while building a website or when you want to create a blog.
Some key factors to consider while identifying and narrowing down on a hosting service provider are as follows,
- Strong reputation in the industry
- Promises at least 99% uptime
- Provides 24/7 customer service
- Must offer Free SSL Certificate
- Offers WordPress Support (very important)
- Shared vs Managed Hosting
Offer a variety of plans (Scalability) - Easy to use Control Panel (Tech Savvy Level)
- Site migration supported
- Support domain name management
- Back up & Secure
Considering all the above prerequisites while identifying a hosting service provider, my number one recommendation will be SiteGround.
I have been using SiteGround since 2004. I host all my websites on SiteGround and even recommend the same to all my clients.
Apart from ticking all the above points in my checklist for a hosting service provider, what really stands out, is their customer service.
From the smallest issue to the most complex issues on my WordPress websites, SiteGround’s customer service team has been able to solve it every single time. And most importantly, they solve all your WordPress related queries too.
And this is a huge support, especially for individuals like me, who don’t have a tech team to fall back on.
Here is a list of hosting service providers that you may consider as well.
- SiteGround (my personal recommendation)
- InMotion Hosting
- BlueHost
- HostGator
- BigRock
- GreenGeeks
- CloudWays
- Namecheap
- Hostinger
- Dreamhost
For the sake of this article, I will go ahead and buy a domain name ‘freewptutorials.com’ and purchase the hosting with SiteGround.
Step #2: Install WordPress
Alright. So the first step is to check if the domain name is available.
While you could check on various domain registrars such as NameCheap, I usually check the domain name availability on Namecheckr.
And the reason being, in addition to getting to know if my domain name is available of not, I get a fair understanding of the various other platforms that have my handle (username) available.
For example, for my domain name ‘freewptutorials.com’, I realize that the domain name is available and along with it, the Facebook page name is available too.
In the similar manner, I get to know if the handle (username) is available on various other social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.).
Now, you could go ahead and buy a domain name from Namecheap and then purchase your hosting from SiteGround. Or you could go ahead and buy both the domain name and hosting from SiteGround.
Visit SiteGround and click on ‘WordPress Hosting’
Go through the video below for detailed step-by-step instruction on,
- How to check if a domain name is available
- Buy a domain name and hosting using SiteGround
- Install WordPress
The video is part of my WordPress Course: Beginner to Expert Course on WordPress.
Step #3: Install SSL & Encryption
I hope the above video tutorial explained clearly how to buy a domain, purchase hosting, and install WordPress.
Once you have completed the above step, the next important step is to include SSL. This is a must as far as your website is concerned. Be it a static website, or an eCommerce website. Having an SSL Certificate is a must.
Many a time, Google Chrome (your web browser) does not load websites that do not have an SSL Certificate and indicates the website as ‘unsafe’. Why miss out on potential traffic and customers.
Again, the following video tutorial will clearly explain the steps required to activate SSL and enforce HTTPS.
The video is part of my WordPress Course: Beginner to Expert Course on WordPress.
Step #4: Install A Theme
Great! If you have reached until here, give yourself a pat on the back. We are moving along really well in order to create a blog in WordPress.
The next step is to install a WordPress Theme.
A WordPress theme is the skin of your website. It what constitutes the font, the color, the layout, the look, and the feel, etc of your WordPress website.
In addition to WordPress having a huge (7500+ to be exact) repository of themes available for free, you can purchase themes too on popular websites such as ThemeForest.
The following video tutorial will clearly explain the steps required to install & delete a theme.
The theme used in this tutorial is a very popular theme called WP Astra. Download this theme and install the same in your WordPress dashboard.
The video is part of my WordPress Course: Beginner to Expert Course on WordPress.
Step #5: Install Plugins
Next, is WordPress Plugins.
Plugins are software, codes, etc., that when added to your WordPress website, really enhance the functionalities of your website. For e.g., if you would like to enhance your static website to an eCommerce website, you can install a plugin called WooCommerce.
If you wanted to create a website to sell memberships, courses, and build online communities, you can install a plugin called BuddyBoss. Or even LearnDash.
If you wanted to install a page builder to help you create awesome pages, you have plugins such as Elementor, or even add-ons for your Beaver Builder, etc.
Or even a Portfolio Plugin to display your portfolio
There is a plugin for just about anything.
The following video tutorial will clearly explain the steps required to install, activate, deactivate & delete a WordPress Plugin.
Step #6: Create A Blog
Awesome!
We are all set and ready to start our first blog post. We are ready to create a blog in WordPress.
The following video tutorial will clearly explain the following,
- What is a Category
- How to add Categories
- What is a Tag
- How to add tags
- How to create a blog in WordPress
The video is part of my WordPress Course: Beginner to Expert Course on WordPress.
Fantastic!
We have completed creating our first blog on WordPress. We have learned to,
- Check the availability of a domain name
- Buy a domain name
- Buy hosting service from SiteGround
- Install WordPress
- Install SSL & Encryption
- Install a Theme & Plugin
- And finally, to create a blog in WordPress
I really do hope this article was helpful. I am coming up with a course on WordPress which will include the above and much more. The above is just 10% of the course. 😉
So, if you are interested in availing the FREE WordPress Course, do comment “FREE Course” below and you will be among the first few to know about the course.
Also, do join the Bloggers Bloom Facebook Group to be updated on the course.
[Related article: How To Start A Blog And Make Money (2020)]
I hope you found value in this article.
Please do share your views and feedback in the comments section below. It will only help me improve and in turn, help me in bringing out quality content for you.
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Good post. Gives a detailed explanation on how to create a blog post. Thanks!
Thank you Maya!