How To Set Up a WordPress Blog
Last week, we took a look at the reasons why every business should be blogging. From increasing traffic to your website to engaging potential customers, we don’t need to reiterate the importance. But if your business doesn’t already have a blog, how do you set one up in the first place?
Thankfully, online presence strategist Damion Elson is here to guide us through how to set up a WordPress blog, in his first guest feature for Making You Content:
1. Domain Names & Hosting
If you haven’t got a blog or a website, then to start with you will need to purchase a domain name and your hosting plan.
Your domain name is the url website address for yourself or your business.
Below are a few websites where you can purchase domain names:
https://www.123-reg.com – I highly recommend this web hosting site, as I’ve used them for years and never had any issues.
https://www.heartinternet.uk/domain-names
Hosting your website basically means that your website is stored on a secure server, where it can be uploaded to the World Wide Web. Hosting plans are usually purchased for 12 months at a time, but the quality of service provided by companies that offer hosting can vary. I would therefore recommend you take a little time to read what benefits each company offers.
Please find below websites for purchasing hosting for your website:
https://www.123-reg.co.uk/web-hosting
https://uk.godaddy.com/web-host
https://www.heartinternet.uk/web-hosting
Alternatively, I offer hosting too if you want a more personal service.
2. Installing WordPress on your Website
Once you have purchased your domain name and hosting you will be sent your login details for a cPanel or Siteworx control panel. This will allow you to setup and install WordPress onto your website under a tab called SimpleScripts, then in the Script List install WordPress.
Once this is setup you will receive the login details to your WordPress website.
TOP TIP: For security reasons I would recommend you changing your username and password once you log into your WordPress dashboard for the first time.
3. Creating Your Blog – Step-By-Step
Ok you have your WordPress blog setup and ready to go, congratulations, pat yourself on the back 🙂 Now comes the fun part of adding a theme and some basics to get you going.
Adding a Theme
Scroll down the left hand side and click on Appearance, then Themes, and you can simply choose a theme that is shown here. Alternatively, you can add a new one at the top of the page.
Adding Your First Blog Post
Click on the tab called Posts on the left hand side of your dashboard and click on ‘add new’. This will bring you to an editing area where you can add your first blog post. Watch my video tutorial below for more details
Customising Your Blog
Customising your blog basically means how to make sure your blog page corresponds with your blog posts. To do this, simply scroll down the left hand side of your dashboard and click on Appearance, then click Customize. Here you can easily change your Static Front Page, which will be your Home page, and your Posts page, which will be your blog.
And there you have it – your WordPress Blog all setup and ready to share with the world.
TOP TIP: once you write a blog post, share across your social media platforms to encourage people to like, comment and share.
Enjoy blogging and teach others your knowledge. If you ever need any help with setting up your WordPress blog or website fire over your questions on my contact page or simply follow me and drop me a message on any social media platform you use; you can find my platform links on my home page. I am happy to connect and help you at any time, to ensure that you succeed online.
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Damion Elson – Online Presence Strategist
