Starting a blog today has never been easier. In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to start your side hustle and make extra money for the family. This tutorial will walk you through how to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost.
Blogging appeals to people for a variety of reasons. Some enjoy the flexibility of being able to work anywhere if they make enough to live on. Others just like to share their thoughts within their niche and network with like-minded individuals.
Whatever your reason is for starting a blog, it’s important that you don’t skip over the basics. If you want to blog long-term, go with a self-hosted option. That’s why it’s better to start WordPress blog on Bluehost than have a generic Tumblr, Blogger, or WordPress.com blog.
Here are the three areas we will cover to help you start a WordPress blog on Bluehost:
- Setting up Bluehost
- Choosing your domain name
- Running WordPress on Bluehost
For those new to the blogging world, I’ve kept things simple here for you. Learning WordPress takes time, so don’t be hard on yourself. The best thing you can do at this point is be willing to learn.
Now, let’s help you start a WordPress blog on Bluehost.
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Start a WordPress blog on Bluehost
As you go through this tutorial, I suggest you read or skim it first. Then, head over to Bluehost and use the steps and outline I give you below to get that WordPress blog up and running.
Sound like a plan?
First, let’s setup your Bluehost account.
To start a WordPress blog on Bluehost, we need to need to setup your hosting account. This is where your blog will be housed and what gives you freedom. As opposed to platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger where your blog is hosted on their servers and you have no control over it.
While having your own host does require an investment on your part, it gives you freedom as a blogger to control your own content. So, let’s get you setup. Head over to Bluehost.com right now.
Once you’re at the Bluehost homepage, click on “get started now”. This will take allow you to select your hosting plan.
Select the plan that you feel is most appropriate for your goals as a blogger. However, if you’re a total newbie, go with the basic plan. You can always upgrade later.
To start your blog, you need a domain name.
You know how you typed “RunTheMoney.com” to come to my site into your browser or you type “Google.com” to search Google? That thing you type into your browser (whether it be Chrome, Safari, or Firefox) is your domain name.
After you select your plan, Bluehost allows you to setup a free domain. So, pick a name that resonates with you and people will be able to relate to.
After you type in your new domain name, hit next and it will take you to the screen where you can create your account. You can sign in with your Google credentials or fill out your information below that.
Below that is your hosting package information. Decide how long you want to have your hosting for. If you’re unsure, go with one year. However, just know that the more hosting you decide to purchase upfront, the cheaper it is per month. As you can see, the 36-month option is the cheapest.
Under that, you can fill out your credit card information. Then, check the box and click Submit.
Last thing we need to do is setup WordPress.
Before you do anything else, relax. These days, it is incredibly easy to start a blog on WordPress. So, don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed.
Head over the Hosting section and click on cPanel. Using your cPanel, you can find WordPress right under the Website Builders section. Click on that to begin installing WordPress.
Click “Start” to begin a brand new install of WordPress. Then, you have just a few quick steps to get through.
WordPress Installation
First, you need to choose where you want to install WordPress. You can use any domain on your Bluehost account, a subdomain, or any folder. Then, click on “Check Domain” to ensure the domain is assigned and pointing to your account.
The point here is make sure this is where you want to install WordPress. As long as you don’t have any other website on that domain or folder, you should be good to go.
Second, you will want to select “Show Advanced Options.” This will allow you to setup your WordPress username and password. For this step, make sure that the “Automatically create a new database for this installation” box is checked.
Then, check the terms and conditions box (make sure you read them over) and hit “Install Now”.
This will take you to the WordPress installation progress page. When it’s fully installed, you will see your URL, username and password and they will also be emailed to you. Make sure to keep them in a safe place!
Congratulations! You were able to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost. I’m sure you’re thrilled because it’s an exciting time.
So, how do I login to WordPress?
I’m glad you asked. It’s simple. Go to admin URL that should look something like “yournewdomain.com/wp-admin” and enter your username and password. Click “Login”.
You’re now at your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can publish new blog posts and pages, install new plugins, and change the theme of your new WordPress site.
Once you start a WordPress blog on Bluehost, the possibilities are endless.
What will you do with your new WordPress blog on Bluehost? Will you share your personal anecdotes with the world? Or maybe you want to cover your thoughts on news or celebrity gossip?
Whatever the case may be, you now have a foundation to share your creation with the world. I’m excited for you and wish you the best.
Now, get your side hustle on!
So, are you excited to start a WordPress blog? What do you plan to do with it? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook! Hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost!
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