In 2012, I took some new steps to increase the reach of my blog. I did this for two reasons. 1) I wanted to get the messages that are on my heart out to more readers, and 2) I wanted to increase the income that this blog generates.
While my blog and podcast are completely free, I earn income from advertising and affiliates. I never knew that becoming a professional blogger was possible, but it is.
In a future post, I’ll talk about some steps you can take to becoming a professional blogger (for those of you who are interested). But in this post, I want to sketch out how to start a blog in less than 10 minutes. Just follow each step and you’ll have a brand new blog by which to reach the world.
I suggest you open up this post on your browser in one screen and then open up a new screen to follow each step, point by point. If you have friends who are interested in blogging, please share this post with them.
15 Easy Steps for Creating a Blog from Scratch – Demystifying the Process
Step 1. Click BlueHost and click the SIGN UP NOW green button. BlueHost is the only web hosting service I recommend. It’s inexpensive and the support is awesome. You can also get domain names from them at great rates.
Step 2. If this is a brand new blog, type in a domain name in the I NEED A DOMAIN NAME box to see if the domain name is available. If you want to transfer your existing blog to BlueHost, click your domain name in the I HAVE A DOMAIN NAME box.
Step 3. Once you’ve settled on a domain name that’s available, fill out the registration form.
Step 4. As you can see, you can set up your blog for 12 months at $7.95 per month or get a lower rate for a longer period of time. I pay $4.95 a month for 3 years. Select Confirm for the Service Agreement and click the blue NEXT button at the bottom.
Step 5. When you are taken to the next page, click the blue CONTROL PANEL button at the top.
Step 6. When you see the welcome message, scroll down to Software / Services (heading) and click the WORDPRESS button.
Step 7. Click the green INSTALL button at the bottom.
Step 8. When you get to the next page, go to Step 2: Advanced Options and give your new site a name in the box.
Step 9. Create your own password in the Password box.
Step 10. Check both boxes under Step 3: Legal Information.
Step 11. BlueHost will now create your new WordPress blog (you’ll see an “In Progress” time stick).
Step 12. Your blog is now ready to go! Open up a new window on your browser and type in the name of your blog. Example: www.mynewblog.com
Step 13. Click the Log In link on the right and enter your username and password. (Admin & Your Password). You can save the password if you want by clicking on the box that prompts you for this.
Step 14. Click on Appearance on the left-hand panel and click Add New Themes to change your blog theme. When you find a theme you like, click on Install and then Activate.
Step 15. Click on Posts on the left-hand panel and click Add New. Type out the title of your new blog post in the top box and begin typing the post in the large middle box. When finished, click the blue PUBLISH button on the right.
You’re done!
If you want to add a KILLER theme to enhance your WordPress blog, I recommend StudioPress Themes. They are beautiful, inexpensive, and very powerful.
See also:
What I’ve Learned in Two Years of Blogging
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I have less of a nuts and bolts question, but wanted to share something I struggle with. I started a blog several years ago and love to creatively share words, art and music. Here is the dilemma: The creative process feels pure, but when it comes to sharing, I always feel the tug of “pleasing man” creep in, i.e. “is anyone reading this? does anyone like this?” etc. Blech.
I’ve been reading God’s Favorite Place On Earth… I believe there, or somewhere in one of your other posts you referenced “to obey is better than sacrifice.” I just came across that verse in another spot this morning and really feel the Lord is speaking to me about writing and then letting it go. Not seeking the plunder, so to speak. I looked up the definition for “sacrifice” here and found that it denotes “the kind of a flesh sacrifice the offer ate after it was given to God.” My heart is to create and share with God’s people to His glory (that is the obedience part and I feel in union during this process), but when it comes to releasing the “product,” I can’t seem to shake the afterthoughts of hoping that someone out there is interested in what I’m sharing. I guess it’s a form of seeking community, but I don’t want to legitimize good ol’ fashion pride.
So that’s a long way of asking if you’ve ever struggled with such a dilemma and/or whether you might offer any insights? I continue to pray through this with the Lord. Currently, I am squeamish about promoting any of the things I write or create because I don’t want to seek praise, but yet I don’t want to keep the light under a basket.
Thank you,
anj
See my posts “An Audience of One” and “The Peril of Measuring Yourself Against Others” in the archives. They answer your concern.
Frank,
Thanks for this post. Blogging has been a hit and miss (mostly miss) venture for me. I have a hard time sustaining the motivation to keep the thing active.
I am an active duty chaplain and would like to have an active blog that could generate some side income.
What is your best advice for finding your topic area niche and sustaining the content creation for a well received blog?
Thanks,
Greg
See my Advice to Bloggers in the archives.
Hi Frank. I subscribe to your blog using NewsRob. Or better … I tried. When I want to read the full article, I get a notice that I should turn on JavaScript on MobileSafari. However, I don’t even have Safari on my Android device, and Javascript i turned in my browser. This problem does not pop up with other blogs I read through NewsRob. Cheers, Gottardo
That’s way beyond me, so I really don’t know. But I’m sure someone does.
Frank,
I just clicked on the “Sign Up” button for Blue Hosting and it doesn’t work.
Is it still $6.95 per month? My host is WordPress.com and I pay $17 per year. That’s for the cost of the domain and etc. How much would it be, for me?
Click here: http://www.bluehost.com/track/fviola/?page=/wordpress and then click the “Sign Up Now” button when you get to the page. It works. It’s as low as $3.95 a month depending on how long you have the account for. But remember, you’ll be able to have your own domain name, etc. So it’s better than a free WordPress account.
I’m currently using Blogger.com. How is BlueHost better and different? I appreciate your help!
Bluehost is the server that’s hosted. It’s more versatile. You can also use WordPress on it, which I recommend. It’s the choice of most bloggers. With Bluehost, you can get your own domain name: PamEnderby.com for example.
Well, I took the plunge and after waffling for weeks, I started my blog this morning. Had a few technical issues, but I think they’re resolved. I truly appreciate all your advice and your blogs, podcasts and books. Thank you.
Frank, I’ve been wrestling with the idea of blogging. I have what I think are two unique and engaging book ideas, but I feel that I may not have the credentials to be published (nor the time or money to sit in a library everyday and research the books and self-publish). I have heard that starting a blog can help in that area and the fact that you have presented an enthusiastic and clear view of how easy it is, you’ve definitely won me over.
Not only that, but if I can get some income from it, then maybe I will have the ability to sit in the library a few days a week. So, I’m looking forward to that future post of yours.
-Alex
Definitely start blogging. Go to my steps on how to start a blog post. Many have used it and it’s been great for them.
You should totally start blogging – especially if you have to ideas for engaging books…what better way to find out if people are interested in reading it. I would recommend not even thinking about income in the beginning and worry about writing killer content until you build an audience.
Frank, am I blind? I cannot find a search function on your blog. I need it. I really want to hear your perspective on tithing and I’m sure you would have written about it somewhere. If no search option – could you get one? Thanks.
It’s on the right hand side. Scroll down. I’ll have it moved up higher this month sometime. I wrote an entire chapter on it in “Pagan Christianity” http://frankviola.org/books – that’s not on the blog.
Great and easy to follow instruction on starting a blog that matters. Each step is clear enough. Thanks!
Thanks Florin! Please pass the post on to your friends.
Thanks so much. I have really been pondering the idea of blogging. This is very helpful. I haven’t quite pulled the trigger on it yet; I have a question. As indicated, it’s relatively expensive (in fact, right now 12 months is $6.95). However, there are several other costs that are optional, but all sound rather important – protection type things. To add each of these or even two really starts to jack up the price, as it appears each extra service has an extra cost. Have you found those extras necessary, or is they really not? Thoughts?
The privacy feature is only if you want to make sure no one can get your contact information. If you don’t care, just bypass that. Few if any will probably look for that anyway unless you’re a celebrity.
Great simple advice. It is great to see Brother Frank sharing alot of these things to equip others to have good blogs. Over 50% of the new websites are blogs now or at least run by them.
Nice and simple! Probably takes 5 minutes total! No excuses now not to start that blog you’ve been thinking about.
Thanks Frank, very helpful.
I appreciate most of your stuff.
You wrote: “The Newsletter blasts to 21,000+ opt-in subscribers.”
My Questions: What is the platform/method that you are using for sending out such a large number of emails (if I understand correctly)
Constant Contact.
thank you for this helpful post. I have a question about BlueHost. Do you know (or does anybody know?) if it is a good host for Europe/Switzerland as well. Or if it is any better to look for a nearer one? It would be helpful to hear an opinion on this. thanks
BlueHost serves any country. It’s superb. I’d recommend signing up.
thank you
Thanks for the tips, Frank. I’m planning to switch my current .wordpress into my own domain. I’m excited about that!
Planning to start a blog this spring. This is very helpful. Thanks!
Frank,
I appreciate this very much, thank you for your kindness. When you recommended the BlueHost web hosting service before, I went to the site to check it out, but I found it too confusing, for me anyway. I really needed this post, this step by step guidance, more than I can relate to you. It has come to my mind to improve my blog site in regard to appearance, and also in regard to my essential needs that I do not have with my current setup. I cannot afford very much. And too, I have been considering changing the name of my blog also, but I am still dwelling upon that possibility. Soon, I will be blogging regularly, every week. But my needs are more than what I currently have set up. I found that to start out with a simple form to begin with, and so now I have more of an understanding of what my needs are for my blog.
Frank, I must admit, I am rather intimidated about the whole thing, because I really don’t know what I am doing, technically speaking. I only have the knowledge that is trial-and-error and hope-for-the-best kind of knowledge. I do have a question, though it may be silly, but I don’t have enough knowledge to judge that. I realize that I do need to change my theme also, so if I get the Genesis Theme that you suggest, how do I transfer all that is on my blog site now to this new theme?
Thanks so much for the help that you give freely to new bloggers.Your kindness is appreciated!