So, you fancy yourself as a blogger but don’t know how to start?  You’ve come to the right place!  Blogging can be a fun, rewarding and even lucrative way to get your message across.  As experts in web development in Leeds, there’s not much we don’t know about blogging and, we can even show you how to start your own WordPress blog in the time it takes to make a cup of tea.  Don’t believe us?  Read on:

WordPress is used by almost 15% of the world’s top one million websites – and for good reason.  WordPress is flexible, free and easy to use – making it great for those just starting out.

Getting your blog online

In order to start your WordPress blog you’ll need a web host and hosting package and a domain name as well as the WordPress software.

First things first, think up a unique domain name which is related to your business.  It’s best to come up with a few different ones just in case your first choice is already taken.  Now you’re ready to start creating your blog.

We’ll start with your web host.  There are a large number of web hosts available, however, the one recommended by WordPress is Bluehost which is user friendly and offers excellent customer support.  Another (major) advantage to Bluehost is that it costs from just $2.95 per month and includes a free domain.  Follow the instructions on the Bluehost site and make sure that you’ve got your payment details handy.  The site will take you through the registration process and will ask you to fill in details such as your name and contact information.

Next, it’s time to choose your hosting package.  Bluehost offers normal, shared hosting for 12, 24 or 36 months with 36 months being the cheapest in the long run at $3.95 per month.

Once you’ve chosen your package, you’ll be asked to provide a password for your account – make sure this is something you’ll remember but not so obvious that somebody might guess.  You’ll then be asked to input your payment details.

A helping hand 

Now that you’ve got your domain name and your hosting package sorted, Bluehost will direct you to WordPress and help you to get set up.  During set up, you’ll be asked where you want to instal – click on ‘Check Domain’ which will check that the domain is assigned to and directed to your account.  Don’t worry if you get a message saying you’re over-writing files as this won’t matter as long as you don’t already have an existing website.

Once you’re all set up, you’ll be directed to a page which will show the progress of your installation and will alert you when it’s finished by sending you your URL and your login details.

You can now log in to your WordPress account via the login URL and you can make changes to the appearance of your site and add content.  And, that’s it – you’re blogging.

Now, has that kettle boiled yet?