How to Start a Blog for Beginners (In 15 Minutes)

Have you always wanted to start a blog?

If so, all you need is 15 minutes to get the blog setup (we will go through all the steps together).

Back in the old days, you will need to know the technical aspects of coding and spend few months to get your blog live and ready to go.

However, the good news is, in 2018, creating your own blog is easier than ever as technology software such as WordPress have made it simple for us to start a blog and reach billions of people online.

Blogging is now playing a big role in communicating information, building a trusted brand name, and generating sales online. Due to this, we have decided to create a comprehensive guide on how to create your first blog.

Whether you are 26 or 62 years old, follow these step by step guide and you will have your own blog ready by today!

5 Key Steps to Starting a Blog

1. Have a Domain Name

2. Choose the Right Hosting Provider

3. Install WordPress

4. Select a Beautiful Theme

5. Write Your First Blog Post

#1 – Have A Domain Name

Think of your domain name like an address for your blog.

For example, our domain name is Axceldigital.com. Google’s domain name is, well, Google.com.

Having a domain name that is memorable and easy to spell will enable people to easily find your blog when they are searching for the domain name.

You have 2 options when selecting a domain name:

Option 1 (The Recommended Way) – Brainstorm and think of your own domain name. Take a paper and write down as many domain names as possible, let your creative juice flow freely. Or even ask your family or close friends for suggestions.

It might take some time to think of your own domain name, but it will be well worth it in the long run to have a brand name that you love and live by.

Once you have a list of domain names, check its availability before purchasing. Head over to Namesilo and enter your domain name.

For example, say we enter digitalshowman:

Ideally you want to register for .com. This is the first and best option. However, if you really like your domain name but the .com version is already taken, go for .net as a second alternative.

The domain name would cost you $6.99 a year (which is super cheap), but there is an option to get a free domain name. We will discuss how to get a free domain name later under the hosting section.

Option 2 (The Lazy Way) – If you are too busy to think of a domain name and need some instant ideas, go to Shopify’s Business Name Generator:

Click on “find a business name”

Enter a word that you like in the search query. For example, I would like to have some ideas of domain for the word “digital”

The name generator will then give us some available domains suggestions. Play around with this tool and type in different words in the search query to get more ideas.

#2 – Choose the Right Hosting Provider (Most Important Step)

While the domain is your own “home address” online, you now need to have an online house to complement the address.

This is where hosting comes in. And choosing the right hosting provider is like picking the best place to stay.

Sure, you can go with free blogging platforms that are available everywhere, but the problem is, you would have limited control of the blog. Since it’s a free platform, your blog’s content can be taken down without any prior notice. Yes, your blog could be shut down at any time…

So if you are serious about establishing a reputable blog, make money online, and have a secure platform, we recommend going with Fastcomet.

Here’s a side by side comparison of Fastcomet with other popular hosting providers in the market:

Of all the hosting providers, only Fastcomet, Inmotion Hosting, and Arvixe are offering SSD servers.

SSD stands for Solid State Drive. SSD is the latest type of electronic storage device and integrated circuit used to store data on the server.

With SSD servers, you will get significantly faster loading speed on your blog’s page as compared to other hosting providers who are still using the traditional data storage server.

And if your blog loads like a snail, no one will read them. It’s 2018 now, ain’t nobody got time for slow websites!

On 17 January 2018, Google has announced on their blog that they will assess website’s speed as a ranking factor for BOTH mobile and desktop searches.

What this means is, if your page load time is slow, you will have lower chances of appearing on Page 1 of Google. The rationale is that faster websites provide a better user experience, which is ultimately Google’s main objective.

Fastcomet will also give you a 100% free domain name and 24/7 live chat support no matter where you live.

If you would like to go with Fastcomet, here’s how to get started:

1. Head over to Fastcomet.com

2. Once you there, click Start Now

3. Select your plan.

If you decide to have only ONE website, choose the StartSmart plan at $2.95 per month.

However, if you would like to have multiple blogs or websites, go for ScaleRight plan.

Important: If you are unhappy with Fastcomet, they are offering a 45 day money back guarantee. So feel free to test it out and see if you like their hosting service.

4. Get a free domain from Fastcomet.

Once you have selected your plan, you will be directed to choose a domain name. Input your own domain name and ensure you are registering a .com.

Following the example earlier, I will enter digitalshowman.

5. Fill up the details and select your preferred billing cycle.

Skip all the Addons except domain privacy if you would like to remain anonymous as the blog owner. This is optional.

6. Once you are done, you will receive an email confirmation from Fastcomet:

The most important details are your assigned username, password, and control panel URL.

#3 – Install WordPress

With the hosting being sorted out, you now have an official house address and a house online.

So what’s next?

It’s time to install a system for the house. This is where WordPress comes in.

To install WordPress, follow these 3 steps:

1. Click on your control panel URL provided by the email earlier.

2. Login using your username and password.

3. Scroll down and go to Security > Let’s Encrypt SSL and get your free SSL certificate.

This will show your site as https instead http. Most online users prefer to browse on https than http as it is secured and trustworthy.

Click on issue new certificate:

You now have your own SSL certificate.

Reminder: If you would like to request for the assistance of Fastcomet support team, simply go to Fastcomet and ask their live chat personnel to do this step for you.

4. You can now install WordPress.

Go to cPanel again and find Softaculous > WordPress

Click Install Now

Here are the recommended details to fill up for each section:

Choose Protocol – Select https://www.

Choose Domain – Select your domain

In Directory – Delete “wp” and leave this field blank

Site Name – Your domain name

Site Description – Brief one sentence for your blog

Enable Multisite (WPMU) – Leave it empty

Admin Username – Select your preferred username

Admin Password – Create a strong password

Select Language – Select your preferred language

Limit Login Attempts (Loginizer) – Leave it empty

Advanced Options – Leave it empty

Select theme – Leave it first, we will select a suitable theme in the next step.

After everything is filled up, hit “Install” down below.

Each time you want to login to WordPress, just go to https://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin. So if I registered digitalshowman, I will login to using this URL https://www.digitalshowman.com/wp-admin with the admin username and password input earlier on WordPress.

And voila! You now have your own blog setup.

#4 – Select A Beautiful Theme

To make your website beautiful, install a theme that you like.

There are plenty of free themes available on WordPress. Once you are logged into WordPress, scroll down to the left sidebar of your WordPress dashboard.

Hover over Appearance and click Themes.

By default, your theme is Twenty Seventeen, which honestly looks terrible!

To select another theme for your blog, go to “Add New Theme” and on the top bar, click Popular. Here you can pick any theme that suits your taste.

If you are finding it hard to decide, we recommend the free Sydney theme. Click on install and activate.

To navigate the Sydney theme and add your own customization to the blog, go YouTube and type “Sydney theme WordPress tutorials”.

This can be done later when you require further tutorials on the theme’s customization to suit your personal preference.

#5 – Write Your First Blog Post

Here comes the fun part!

To write your first blog post, go to your WordPress dashboard and click on Posts > Add New menu

Write your title and the body of the post.

Once you are done, click Publish and your blog post is live!

Ultimately, what makes your blog unique is….

YOU!

Everyone has their own unique opinion on different topics. To have a blog that stands out, write in your own tone and don’t be afraid to state your opinion (as long as you believe in it and have the points to back up your view).

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” – Winston Churchill

So go out there and write with freedom. The more blog posts you write and promote, the faster your blog will grow and amass a large following of engaged audience.

Conclusion

It’s easier than ever to start a blog today. We hope this article can provide you the springboard to kickstart your online journey.

Here’s a recap of the 5 key steps to get started:

1. Have a Domain Name

2. Choose the Right Hosting Provider

3. Install WordPress

4. Select a Beautiful Theme

5. Write Your First Blog Post

Now it’s your turn to take action, utilize this golden opportunity and get your blog live today!

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@axceldigital.com