Blogging can be a lot of fun but getting started can sometimes seem daunting. As a professional web developer, I often get asked questions like: “how do I start a blog?” or “which one is better, Squarespace or WordPress?”
Starting a blog is fairly simple and can be done in just a few steps. So I’ve put together this list of resources for people who want to learn how to start a blog, but don’t know where to start. This list may change over time – remember, technology is always moving forward and even web developers have to adapt to keep up! Looking for a little more help getting your blog up and running? I can help! Visit my portfolio website for more details.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. All of the products mentioned below I have worked with and/or use for my own websites because they are companies that I have found useful for my purposes. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
1. Domain: What your site is named
Once you have an idea for a blog, step number one is to figure out a name. Once you’ve decided on the blog name you can purchase a domain name.
Save 25% on domain names at GoDaddy.
2. Hosting: Where your site will live
Once you’ve purchased a domain name, you have to purchase hosting which is where the files for your site will be stored and made accessible online.
At Bluehost you can get a domain name free with hosting purchase! Easy WordPress install and affordable.
HostGator is where I purchased my domain names and hosting for my first websites. Save 25% with coupon code FOODBLOG25OFF.
3. Blogging platform: How you will edit your blog
There are many different options for starting a blog these days including Squarespace, Blogger and tumblr. Most blogging platforms are free and open source. I’ve chosen to use WordPress for this blog because it’s so easy to use.
4. Pick a theme, any theme: How your blog will look
There are many free and premium resources for themes, which will control the layout and style for your blog.
For this blog, I purchased the Manshet theme through ThemeForest and customized it for my needs.
Or, choose to join a site like Elegant Themes and purchase access to 85+ themes to choose from!
5. Content: The purpose of starting a blog
So you’ve got your blog up and running and found a great theme to make your blog look awesome. Now what? Start blogging! Some could even argue that this step could come before even finding a theme since actually blogging is the main purpose of start a blog. My tip for new bloggers is just to open up a new post draft and start writing whatever comes to mind. As you write, other ideas may come up as an offshoot of your current topic. Start new drafts for each new offshoot idea with a title and save them so that you can come back and finish those posts later. Whatever your process, the main key is to write!
6. Grow: Learn from the best
They climb to the top of a building and pull the ladder. I leave the ladder out so people can see you climbed the ladder. And people go, “Wow, God must have dropped them there from a helicopter.” From my point-of-view, there’s the ladder, I climbed up…your turn.-Ian Mackaye
7. Engage: Start an eMail Newsletter
Keep your readers up to date on new content by sending out an email newsletter. I use Mail Chimp to keep track of all subscribers and to easily create attractive newsletter templates. This is by far the easiest email newsletter service I have tried and the best part is – it’s free! There are certain services that require an upgrade, but so far I have not had the need to do so.
