Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Create Your Own Website or Blog

The following set instructions is a step-by-step guide of how to set-up a WordPress website on your own domain. This means that you don’t have to have .wordpress, .blogspot, or any other extensions at the end of your web address. The following process is quick and I have laid it out as simply as possible. If you want a more in-depth guide on how you can make money blogging, try out Matt’s Superstar Blogging course. His book (no longer available), offered invaluable guidance when I first started posting on the internet.

Step 1: Purchase hosting and a domain.

Hint: domain means the address (for example www.greatbigscaryworld.com) and hosting is essentially the power behind the site. Without hosting, your domain (address) is not online.

There are thousands of companies to choose from for hosting, but if I was to choose now, I would choose BlueHost (click here to see what they offer). Basically for $4.95 a month, you get shared hosting and a free domain. The WordPress site itself recommend using BlueHost.

*I purchased my domain from GoDaddy and my hosting from HostGator but I wouldn’t recommend doing this because HostGator have caused me countless problems and buying your domain from a different place to your hosting becomes convoluted.

2. Install WordPress on Your Domain

If you used BlueHost as recommended above, watch this video. It is a 3-4 minute video that shows you an easy step-by-step set of instructions about how to install WordPress on your new domain.

3. Get a Good Quality Theme and Install It

I recommend getting themes from Theme Forest (click here to see the themes). They have around 4,000 awesome themes and you can pick one that fits your desires. I recommend planning your design on paper, then choosing the right theme. Each theme also has easy install instructions and support (the support is invaluable).

*When I started out, I used Elegant Themes which is a good option for beginners. They have loads of themes available for one flat rate price. However, the themes are generally not as customisable as the Theme Forest themes so only do this if you want everything to be simpler, but with less va-va-voom.

4. Start Adding Content

I learnt a lot about how to operate a blog my reading Nomadic Matt’s book on the subject – the book is no longer available, but he now offers this course, Superstar Blogging, which I presume will be very useful to anyone thinking seriously about going into this area. Alternatively, you can learn through trial and error and by searching tutorials on the internet.

Please note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means that I will get paid a percentage of the sale if you use them. It will not cost you any extra, but the companies I promote will share the profits with me, thus helping me to run my site. I will also be very grateful to you for using these links. I have only listed the very same companies that I believe offer a combination of great value for money, as well as service.

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By | 2016-06-11T12:12:23+00:00 February 16th, 2013|Advice|0 Comments

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