How To Start A Blog Using WordPress
There are quite a few ways you can start a blog, from purchasing a domain to self-hosting. But, the easiest way to get started is by using a website builder. If you want to know how to start your own blog, then this tutorial is for you.
Choose a blog topic
Coming up with a great topic for your blog can be challenging.
It might take a little time, but you want to find something that is worth writing about and will capture the attention of your audience.
You are free to write about anything you like, but if you want to attract a readership, you will want to choose a subject you are passionate about and one that is relevant to your target audience.
To start brainstorming ideas, we recommend thinking about how you can position yourself as an industry expert — or at least as someone who has extensive knowledge on a particular topic.
If you are passionate about your topic and have gathered some information on it, writing will come easier. You might also consider putting yourself in the shoes of your audience and asking yourself what they would like to read.
What do they need help with? What is on their mind?
When it comes down to it, people don’t read blogs because they “have nothing better to do,” they read them because they want answers to their questions, solutions to their problems or quality entertainment.
Once you have come up with some ideas, pick one that speaks most directly and personally to you.
Decide on a blog name
You’ve set up your blog and you’re ready to start filling it with content, but first, you should think about what you want to call it.
The name of your blog should be simple and easy for readers to remember. It’s not just the title of your blog, but also the URL that people will use to visit it.
You can always change the name later, but it’s better if you get it right the first time.
Purchase Hosting and Domain Name
To create a website, you need to purchase hosting and a domain name.
Hosting is where your website lives. It is your website’s home on the internet. A domain name is the address people type in to find your website.
You can purchase hosting and domain names from many different companies. Here are some popular choices:
Bluehost
GoDaddy
HostGator
HostBreak
Install WordPress
Before you can start blogging, you’ll need to install WordPress. There are two potential ways of doing this: you can either manually download and install WordPress yourself, or use Fantastico to have WordPress automatically installed for you.
Choose an eye catching theme
WordPress is a very popular platform for blogging and website development. The reason behind its popularity is that WordPress has endless range of themes. Most of the themes are free, but you can actually buy premium themes from different platforms.
WordPress designs come with a lot of different features and functions. So, finding an eye-catching theme for your blog is not as easy as you think.
If you want to start a new blog on WordPress, then you should choose a theme that serves the purpose of your blog. For example, if you are going to start a magazine blog, then choose the theme which suits your magazine niche.
Don’t just go with what looks good in the demo. Read up on reviews, scan some forums and blogs, and try to look at examples of active sites using it before making your purchase.
Use essential Plugins to enhance your blog
There are thousands of free plugins available in the WordPress plugin directory. But there are some essential Plugins that you must have on your blog to enhance it’s functionality and performance.
In this post I’ll show you the list of essential plugins for your WordPress blog.
WordPress SEO by Yoast
Contact Form 7
MonsterInsights
Jetpack
W3 Total Cache
Wordfence
Create essential pages (Contact Us, About Us, Privacy Policy)
One of the most important steps in creating a WordPress blog is to create essential pages that are part of every blog. There are five core pages that every blog should have. You can create these pages before you start blogging, so you don’t have to worry about setting them up later.
About Page
The About page is the most popular page on any blog. If a visitor likes your content, the next step for them is to learn more about you, and the easiest way to do this is by visiting your About page.
Contact Us Page
It’s always good to give your readers an opportunity to get in touch with you directly, and your Contact Us page allows them to do just that. It’s a great way for readers to tell you what they think about your blog, share ideas for future posts, ask questions, or send links and tips related to your niche.
Privacy Policy Page
A Privacy Policy page explains how you collect and use personal information from visitors and subscribers who read and comment on your blog. You don’t need an extensive privacy policy, but it should clearly state that you do not collect any personal information, such as email addresses, unless it’s voluntarily submitted by the user or reader.
Write and publish your first blog post
Log in and go to Posts -> Add New.
Enter a title for your blog post in the top field, and then begin writing your post in the large text box below it.
Use the formatting options above the text box to bold, italicize, or strikethrough words or sentences, create bulleted and numbered lists, turn text into a link, or add an image to your post.
On the right side of the page you’ll see several options that allow you to format and organize your post:
Categories – Categories enable you to group related posts together. You can add categories from this section or by clicking the + Add New Category link under the category section.
Tags – Tags are similar to categories but are more specific. You can add tags from this section or by clicking the + Add New Tag link under the tags section.
Featured Image – This image will be shown at the top of your post on your blog page and is also used when people share your post on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Click Set featured image to upload an image or select one from the media library, then click Use as featured image” when you’re
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