Set up your blog up in 20 minutes, quickly and easily.
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So you’ve decided why you want to start a blog and what the purpose of your blog is. On top of that, you’re now clued up on how to blog like a pro. Now it’s time to “set up shop”, to set up your blog (website) to launch online, so that your knowledge, voice and products can be shared with the world. Woohoo!
Why WordPress?
Here’s why I chose WordPress as my blogging platform, hosted on Bluehost, as it has these great benefits:
i) WordPress is free and user friendly – it’s all DIY, so no need to hire a pro
i) super easy to set up and install – just one click to install WordPress
ii) there’s a 30 day moneyback guarantee
iii) it has low cost hosting fees
iv) there’s online support 24/7
As a non-techie person, who’s never blogged before, who had no idea what to do, Bluehost and WordPress are the perfect solution for me and you too, if you’re a beginner blogger. Also, I’m sure this platform will serve my blog needs well for many years to come, because of it’s vast functionalities.
First, the lowdown on blogging platforms:
A blogging platform is a website creation tool software that enables you to publish your content on the internet through it’s website content management system (cms).
A good platform gives you the right tools and applications to get your blog out attractively and effectively to your readers.
The ease of use and diverse functionality enables you to upload your work online efficiently, so you focus on building your blog instead of getting stuck on techinical hitches
It should be FREE or reasonably priced, or even better, bundled with web hosting
There are many blogging platforms to choose from. WordPress, Blogger, Squarespace, Wix and Weebly to name a few. Your head can spin at the endless options. There are pros and cons of the top/most used blogging platforms – I found WordPress to be the best and the most widely used by far. “32% of the web uses WordPress, from hobby blogs to the biggest news sites online” (WordPress).
I use WordPress (it’s free) and I love it, it is highly user friendly, flexible, functional and it has so many tools that you can add to it. Also, when my blog grows, there are endless functions and apps I can add on/plug in, so it is kind of future proofing my blog too. These are no doubt just some of the reasons why WordPress is so popular.
The tutorials are clear and helpful, for when you get stuck and need a quick solution, you just need to read or watch the many tutorials available. There’s also online chats that you can have access to, so there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed by some of the technical set ups.
In addition to the website, you’ll need the website to be hosted on a server (the place where your website is stored).
Now, let’s get to it:
All you do is follow 3 simple steps and within 20 minutes you’ll have your blog ready to launch!
Step 1: Choose a Domain Name
Create or pick a domain name – the name is all important. It encompasses your brand, the purpose and what your blog is largely about. (
For example, my domain name thehappylife.online
- is exactly the name of my blog
- reflects what my blog is all about
- it’s easy to remember – there’s no alternative spelling, and it’s in basic english
- it’s a short, punchy phrase, making it easy repeat to others
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a .com extension (which is still the most popular) or .net, so I settled for .online.
Another option, is you could use your own name, as alot of bloggers have done that. But again, if your name is long and of a foreign origin, then that may not be a good idea, as people can mis-spell it or find it hard to remember.
You might need to write out and play around with your domain name a few times til you’re happy and settled with that name. Personally, I’d go with a name that represents your brand and purpose, as a beginner blogger.
Step 2: Sign up to web hosting on Bluehost
Disclaimer: this has affiliate links
Since signing up with Bluehost, I have nothing but praise for them. The site is always up and running, the access is easy and fast, the 24/7 online support is super helpful and best of all, my site looks gorgeous – all thanks to the Bluehost and WordPress partnership, what a powerful team!
Bluehost is a professional web hosting company, powering over 2,000,000 websites worldwide. You can start your own blog on Bluehost for as low as $3.95 a month (this is linked to my account so I get a commission for every purchase).
What’s also included in your hosting is a free SSL certificate (to make your site secure), a free domain and a free WordPress site. What a great deal!
I recommend signing up for at least 12 months, as you get the savings and don’t have to pay monthly. If you want a longer term, you save even more.
Ready to sign up? (click)
Here’s what to do:
1.Click here to get the special $3.95 per month rate on Bluehost and then click on “get started now”
2. Select your plan. I recommend the basic plan, click ‘select’ to choose your plan.
3. Type in your domain name in the left box and then click “next” to see if it is available.
- If you already own a domain name and want to use it for your blog, type your existing domain in the right box and then click “next”. Only use the right box if you have previously paid to register a domain!
4. If the domain is unavailable, there’ll be a list of similar suggestions that come up, you can choose one of the suggested domains that is close to the one you’re after or type in another name to try. Or you can choose your domain name later.
5. Once you have chosen an available domain name you’ll be taken to the registration page where you will fill in all your billing details.
6. You will also need to choose your hosting package and options.
- The 36 month package gives you the lowest monthly rate, while the 12 month package has a lower up-front cost. You may cancel up to within 30 days of signing up, for a full refund if you wish to.
- The other item you may want to pay for when it comes to blogging is Domain Privacy Protection, which is only $0.99 per month. This is so that your contact information stays safe.
- I uncheck the other boxes next to the other products when I sign-up. You don’t need these now and you can always add these at a later time if you need them.
- Skip the upgrades & special offers. Once you submit your billing info, you’ll be asked if you want to add any upgrades or special offers. I skip them by clicking the “no thanks” link.
7. Next, you’re prompted to create a password for your account. When that’s done you have the option to choose a design layout for your blog. You can always change it, if you find that one doesn’t work for you.
Your WordPress blog software will now be installed. When it’s finished click “Start Building” to login to your blog.
You will also receive an email with your blog log-in details. Your login details for your blog can be the same as for your Bluhost account or you can have a different one for your website.
Congrats! You’re now ready to use your blog!
Step 3: Get started on WordPress!
Here are the tutorials on how to get started on WordPress, since I’m no WordPress expert yet, I highly recommend these comprehensive step by step tutorials by WordPress themselves. I find them easy to understand and to follow, and remember, whenever you have a question or need help to get something done, there’s 24/7 online help if you need it.
Go here for the tutorials to start up and to get your site up and running in no time: https://codex.wordpress.org/First_Steps_With_WordPress
How did you get on? Wasn’t that easier than you thought?