How to Start a Blog

When I tell people that I am travel blogger, a lot of times they respond with “I wish I could do that” or “I love writing, I should start my own blog.” Then I get really excited for them and tell them how they should totally do it and how it’s not only amazing but completely worth it to pursue something that I am so passionate about. Then 9 times out of 10 they respond with “I don’t have time”, “I don’t know where to start”, or “I wish” followed by laughter.

These remarks make me a wee bit sad. I love blogging. Not only is it a creative outlet for all the feelings I have bottled up over the years, it is also my creative project, my business plan, and my baby. Creating a blog has taught me so much about business, life and most importantly about myself. My blogging journey has made me more confident and creative and has helped me grow into a kick ass #girlboss. Just like any job, blogging has its ups and downs, and like any job if you want to be good at it you have to put in hours of hard work. But let me tell you it is all completely worth it. Creating your own blog is amazing and if you want to do it then you should do it.

I love encouraging others to follow and pursue their dreams. A huge component to loving life is taking a risk and doing something that makes you happy. So, if creating a blog is something that you are dreaming about here is a blog post to help get you started. This is a simple step by step guide to get you started. There is no need to stress, I am here holding your hand.

 This post contains affiliate links. But don’t worry, I only promote products and services that I love. 🙂 

How to Start A Blog

Ready to start a blog? Good because here…we….GO! I recommend creating a self-hosted site using WordPress.org. Yes this method will cost you a small amount of money, but it will be 100% worth it. By using WordPress.org you will get to have more freedom and control to create your blog the exact way you want it. You will also get to your own personal domain name without it ending in wordpress.com, which makes your site look more professional. WordPress.org is also user friendly and simple to use. It is great for blogger pros, new bloggers and even those who aren’t the best with technology.  

Naming your blog and registering your domain name:

The first step in creating your blog is choosing the name of blog and registering your domain name. Your name is obviously very important. You want your name to be a good representation of what your blog is about, the tone of your blog, and what makes you unique. You want it to draw readers in and to keep their attention. Think about what you want to write about? What are you passionate about? Do you love vegan baking? Do you love backpacking? Do you always seem to be discovering new bands and spend all of your extra money on concerts? Are you interesting in helping others struggling with the same illness as you or your loved ones? Find the subject you want to write about and then think about what sort of tone, and vibe you want to have. When I was creating my blog, I knew I wanted to write about traveling. I also new that I wanted to be as real as possible and wanted my personality to shine. I am very optimistic and I love life, so when I came up with the name Loving Life With Cass, it just felt so perfect. Take your time, brainstorm and find your perfect name. Bust A Name can be helpful if you are having a hard time coming up with a name and will show you available domain names.  

Once you have your name, take 10 seconds to celebrate because your blog is coming together yay! Congrats, you are doing great! Now you are going to register your domain name. This is very important, once you register your domain name it is yours and no one can steal it. I recommend you use Bluehost. The plus to using Bluehost is you can register your domain and also use them to host your site. I recommend Bluehost because they are a big, loyal company with reasonable prices. I have been with them for three years now and I have never had a problem, in fact I have always have amazing service.

Getting started with Bluehost:

Signing up with Bluehost is extremely easy, just follow these steps.

1.  First head over to Bluehost. Click on the “get started button”. 
2.  Select the package information that you wish to purchase. I recommend you choose the 36 month option. Yes you are per-paying for the host, but you are also getting the cheapest rate. Bluehost also offers a money back guarantee, so you don’t have to panic if you change your mind.
3.  You are going to register your domain name. In “New Domain” type in the domain that you created for your awesome site.
4. Fill out the account information.
5. Fill out your payment information and agree to their service agreement and it “next”.
6. Next you will get to choose your account password. Pro tip: this is a very important password, try to make it very strong because you don’t want anyone to hack your site. Also write it down so you can remember it. 
7.  Pick a theme. Look at the different theme options that are available for you to use and pick the one you would like your site to look like. *A good tip when looking for a theme, is to focus on the actual design and layout, don’t get distracted by the pretty photos. 
8. Next 10 seconds and feel happy for yourself because you just set up your Bluehost account. You go Glen Coco! You are one step close to creating your blog, AHmazing!

Once you’ve completed registration with Bluehost you’ll need to start customizing your WordPress site. Don’t stress, WordPress makes it is SUPER, super easy.

1. Click on the “start building”. 
2. Then you will be asked “what kind of site can we help you set up?” Click on “personal.”
3. Now you will be able to start creating posts, pages, menu etc. The theme you picked will act like as a guideline for you, but feel free to change the colours, fonts, etc. The more you play around, the faster you will learn. Also, remember that you can change your theme at anytime. You can also purchase themes from outside of WordPress and upload them to your site. I use Themeforest, they have tons of beautiful theme options. 
4.   If you want to learn more about web design check out some great classes on Skillshare. Skillshare is this awesome site where you can learn tons of new skills. Whether you want to learn how to edit photos better, brush up on your creative writing skills or you want to master Indian cooking, Skillshare has a class for you. You can sign up for a free month of their premium membership!                                                                                                                                                                                                        Another great resource for bloggers is The Business of Travel Blogging Course by Superstar Blogging. Yes, it is designed for travel bloggers, but there is a whole heap of information in the course that will help any blogger get started and be successful. During this course you will be guided and supported, while being taught the ins and outs of the blogging business. You will learn how to best design your website, SEO, branding, how to  create a newsletter, how to edit your own blogs, how to master social media, and so much. Plus you will get hours of interview with successful bloggers, get to examine case studies, and get tech support. Definitely have a look at the course and sign up.
                                             
5. When you are comfortable with what your layout. Hit the “launch” button. Enter your websites name and a description, try to keep it to five words. Your website is now live!! 

BAM, you are blog is up and ready to go. Now you focus on creating content. Try new things, experience new situations and read other blogs to get inspiration on what to write about. You are awesome, and enjoy your blogging journey. If you have an questions about blogging leave a comment below or email me.

Be kind y’all.

xoxo,

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