Today you’ll learn how to create a blog on your own. Blogging transformed my life and allowed me to earn thousands of dollars a month by doing what I love. You can start a blog that earns money for only a few dollars a month. Below I explain affordable hosting options I recommend and how to get a free domain for the first year when you sign up for an annual hosting plan. Act quickly—promotions can change.
Blogging has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. As shown in my business income reports, my blogging-related income has grown substantially. That growth has allowed me to work from home, travel when I want, and maintain a flexible schedule. If you put in the effort, anyone can monetize a blog, and many people recoup their hosting investment quickly.
To begin, you’ll need a hosting provider. There are many options, but Bluehost is a popular, reliable choice for WordPress blogs and is beginner-friendly. If you choose Bluehost and need help with setup, plan selection, or pricing, you can reach out to me—I’m happy to help.
1. Register your domain name.
Choose a domain that reflects your blog’s purpose and is easy to spell and remember.
Your domain name is important—spend time picking one you’re happy with. If you register your domain through your hosting provider while purchasing a hosting plan, the process is simpler and many hosts offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up for a 12-month (or longer) hosting plan.
2. Buy hosting for your blog.
Setting up a WordPress blog on a recommended host is straightforward. Here are the typical costs and recommendations when starting out:
- Choose the entry-level plan (often labeled “Basic”) to keep costs low. Annual and multi-year plans reduce the monthly price; a 12-month plan is an affordable option for testing blogging full-time for a year.
- The Basic plan usually covers everything a new blog needs. Skip upgraded plans until your traffic and needs justify them—upgrading later is simple.
- Consider Domain Privacy Protection to keep your registration details private. It’s inexpensive and worth it for most site owners.
- Uncheck optional extras you don’t need during checkout to avoid unnecessary charges.
- Buying 12 months or more often includes a free domain for the first year, discounted pricing, and reduces the chance of accidental downtime due to monthly billing issues.
Generally, expect hosting to cost roughly the equivalent of $59 per year for a 12-month basic plan, which is a very reasonable investment to get started. Longer-term plans offer lower monthly rates if you’re committed to blogging for multiple years.
To purchase hosting and set up your account:
- Visit your chosen host and click the sign-up button.
- Select the hosting package that fits your needs.
- Enter an existing domain or register a new one during checkout.
- Provide your personal and payment information.
- Create a secure account password and save it in a safe place.
3. Connect your domain and hosting.
Note: Skip this step if you registered your domain through the same hosting provider you purchased hosting from.
If you registered your domain with a separate registrar (for example, GoDaddy) you will need to point the domain to your hosting account by updating the domain’s nameservers to the values provided by your host (for example, ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com). Your domain registrar provides a domain management area where you can update these settings. After updating nameservers, you may need to add the domain to your hosting account as an addon or assigned domain—this is usually done in the hosting control panel under “Domains.”
4. Install WordPress.
Installing WordPress is typically free and very easy through your host’s control panel.
- Log in to your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel) using the link in your welcome email.
- Look for a one-click installer or a WordPress installation tool in the control panel.
- Choose WordPress and click to start the installation.
- Select the domain where you want WordPress installed from the dropdown list.
- In Advanced Options, choose a secure username and password for your WordPress admin account—avoid common usernames like “admin.” Allow the installer to create a new database automatically unless you have specific database requirements.
- Click “Install Now” and save the login details you receive.
Once installed, you have a working WordPress site. Next steps are choosing a theme, customizing your site, and creating high-quality content.
If you need help after signing up—whether with setup, choosing a plan, or technical questions—reach out; support is available and many blog owners are happy to help new bloggers get started.
Basic navigation tips for WordPress:
- Save the WordPress login URL, username, and password from the installation email. That URL is how you access your site’s admin area.
- Create new posts under “Posts” and static pages under “Pages” from the left-hand menu in the WordPress dashboard.
- Upload and manage media like images under “Media.”
- Customize your site’s look under “Appearance” and manage widgets under “Appearance > Widgets.”
- For email newsletters, consider a reputable email service provider to collect subscribers and send updates.
- For themes and design, WordPress offers many free options under “Appearance > Themes.” Premium frameworks and themes are available if you want additional features or a professional look.
Further reading and resources:
- What is a blog?
- How To Start a Book Blog and Make Money
- Why You Should Start a Blog – So Many Positives!
- Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics
- How To Make Money Blogging
- How To Become A Successful Staff Writer for Blogs
- 9 Helpful Blogging Tips For New Bloggers
- How 17 Bloggers Earned Their First Affiliate Income
- What To Think About Before You Start A Blog
- How To Start A Blog – Tips for a Beginner
- Ways To Make Pennies, Hundreds or Thousands A Month By Blogging
- How To Know If Freelance Blogging Is Right For You
- Frequently asked questions about increasing affiliate income, monetization, and blog growth.