Posted by on January 12, 2016

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Building your blog from the ground up

Yay!!! You’ve decided to take the plunge…I mean dive into the blogging world.You’ve chosen a name, a niche (or a few), and you’re ready build your blog. Here’s a step by step process on how you can build your website from scratch.


Choose A Platform

I highly suggest starting on WordPress simply because it can be extremely difficult to make your blog look professional and get all the features WordPress users have on Blogger. My old blog used to be on Blogger, only because I have experience with HTML and coding so I knew how to navigate around Blogger’s limitations.

If you MUST start on Blogspot, make sure you purchase your domain from Host Gator (use discount code: chryssvi25 for 25% off) or GoDaddy.

If you’re starting on WordPress, DO NOT sign up for an account on WP’s website. Purchase a plan with Blue Host. Blue Host is easy to use, and their customer service is awesome.

With Blue Host, everything is “under the same roof”. Access your email account, secure your domain, get WordPress for free, and maintain your subscriber list with your starter plan account. Make sure you purchase domain privacy to keep your information private and spammers out of your personal business.

Purchased your plan? Great! After you’ve one-click-installed your WordPress, you will need to download TONS of plugins.


Download Plugins

Here are some of my favorite plugins:

  1. Shareaholic – allow readers to share your posts with these social media share buttons
  2. Google Adsense – place ads on your site
  3. Ninja Form or Contact Form 7 – add forms to your site (ie, contact forms, registration forms, etc.)
  4. Yoast SEO – WordPress SEO
  5. WooCommerce – sell on your site
  6. Akismet – filters spam comments
  7. WordFence Security – protect your site from hacks
  8. Login Lockdown – protect your site from hackers
  9. Page Builder by SiteOrigin – build pages for your site
  10. DISQUS comments – manage comments on your posts

BONUS: Duplicator – download your entire site so you can move it to a different domain or simply keep a backup copy on your hard drive.

Search for those plugins within your WordPress dashboard and activate them after they’ve been installed.


Create A Page

Once you’re in your dashboard, create a page. Why do you need a page? Scroll to the top of my page. See the menu? Those are simply pages created behind the scenes to make navigation easier for you.

Go to Pages -> Add New -> Enter Your Title -> Publish. Page title suggestions: Home, Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Finance, Relationships, and Contact Us/Me.

Create A Post

Posts -> Add New -> Enter Your Title -> Compose Your Post (make sure you add pictures and/or videos and page breaks to your text) -> Publish.


Read this post to find out about some awesome tools to cut your workload in half.

Want to start your blog but you don’t know how? Check out my blog: Number 1 Tip For New Bloggers.

Posted in: blog, blogging 101

  • These are great tips. I’ve been blogging for a few years now and I have never heard of a few of those plugins. I’m going to have to check them out,

  • These are great suggestions. I will star this post for later because you list a few plug-ins I need to check out.

  • These are great tips! I wish I would’ve started out on WordPress. I’m on WordPress now, but I started on Blogger and the switch was such a pain.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

  • foodfashionandflow

    Great tips. I had to learn things as I went and wish I knew all these things when I first started.

  • Blogging is a labor of love. I remember starting my blog with very little direction and it was such a process! These are great tips.

  • Valerie Robinson

    I wish I had this post when first starting out because I was a wreck lol. Excellent roundup and tips.

  • Really good added bonus and tips here for anyone wanting to simply start, building, and grow their blog, THE RIGHT WAY!!! SO many women (moms) should see this! Im going to share. Wish someone shared this when I first got started with my blog some years ago. So I thank you dearly hun for sharing this. Gotta repost. Worth a million words.

  • Saving These Coins

    THANK YOU!!! I will be adding several of those plug-ins to my site.

  • RattlesandHeels

    This is great advice! I needed this when I just started blogging. I spent so much time trying to figure it all out.

  • Deidre Harris McMillan

    Great Post and I’m positive these tips will come in handy for those just starting out as well as some seasoned bloggers! Thanks for sharing!

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