If you are reading this post it means that you are considering or maybe already decided to start your own blog, website or maybe even an online shop/eCommerce. How to start a blog using Bluehost is very simple.
I will do my best to guide you through this process with the host I use and I highly recommend. BlueHost.com is easy to set up, works with WordPress straight away with no fuff and has a very clear interface and excellent support.
I have been postponing the decision to start my own blog/website because it seemed very complicated and time-consuming. I have never been further from the truth. On average it should take you around 30minutes to set your account with BlueHost and build your blog, eCommerce or any other website using WordPress. It took me a day to learn how to set up my account with BlueHost.com, start WordPress and publish my first post. I have also made a website for a Polish blogger TravelOnsen.com, with a Polish host. It has been a NIGHTMARE. FTP access, manual installation of WordPress and plugins, synchronising and setting up servers, hosts, domains… No thank you, never again. Just stick to BlueHost.com.
Step 1. Choose a domain name
Choosing the right domain name is very important. This is your virtual address. Your domain name should be relevant for the contact you are planning to publish. Think about how you would search for a particular subject or website. If you offer summer holidays it will be better to use summerbeachholidays.com rather than summeratthesea.com, however, both may work depending on what you want to target.
The name should be short, memorable and reflect your business. Another exercise to see if the domain name is right for you is to try and share it/give it to your friends. If they will memorise it with no problems and without additional description, it should work well in the long run.
If you have already your domain name chosen all you need to do is to buy your domain name and pick a hosting company – in this instance BlueHost.com.
Since you are building a website on WordPress, choosing a hosting provider that offers hosting specifically for WordPress site is ideal. This way you can purchase your domain name and hosting service from the same provider. Luckily, Bluehost offers both and is recommended by WordPress!
Step 2. Select a hosting package and set up your account.
There are multiple packages to choose from. If you are serious about running your website and you really want to learn how to start a blog with Bluehost, I would recommend long term plan with payment upfront. It will be the cheapest option, which I have personally selected.
Enter your personal information into each field and then scroll down to the package lists
Choose an option that fits your budget and service needs. Prices vary across hosting providers, but most offer add-ons, like extra security features, tools to boost search rankings, and site backup.
Source: BlueHost.com
Check the appropriate boxes and scroll down to enter your billing information. Take a moment to read through the terms of service, cancellation policy, and privacy notices, then click the box to confirm that you agree with the policies.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a password and, boom, you are ready for step three: choosing your WordPress theme.
Source: BlueHost.com
And voila, the account is now set and you can proceed to the next step.
Step 3. Get WordPress ready and choose a theme you like.
There are many interesting themes you can choose from. Most of them can be modified without much technical knowledge or any tools. I use the Elementor plugin, which is easy to use a visual website editor. AdventureClinic.com has been built with WordPress and Elementor plugin.
Because you chose BlueHost.com as your host provider, it will come with WordPress already installed. All you have to do is to log in to your panel and choose a theme. This can be either skipped and done later or simply edited at any point.
On the next screen, you will be asked if your website is for Personal or Business purpose. This will help BlueHost and WordPress to provide the most accurate tips and optimise your website according to your needs.
Step 4. Start using your WordPress dashboard and learn the features.
The dashboard is a back-end of your website. Here you will create posts, choose templates, amend plugins and update everything you may need to successfully run your website. There is a brilliant post on learning how to use dashboard and review features. Also there you will find tips on how to login to your admin panel in case you will forget.
Step 5. Tailor your website and play with WordPress features.
At this stage, everything should be ready to start the fun part. You should already know how to start a blog with Bluehost.
I started with going through themes and looking at other bloggers websites. Then I chose the theme that will suit me the best for a design I wanted. The next step was to personalise my theme, change pictures, colours and rearrange it in a way that works for me.
There are a few plugins I can recommend to start with:
- Akismet Anti-Spam
- Elementor
- Jetpack by WordPress.com
- Yoast SEO
- Sendinblue Subscribe Form
- MailOptin – Lite
Above tools should help you to monitor SEO, traffic and start building subscribers e-mail lists.
I hope you enjoyed A short guide on how to start a blog with WordPress, powered by the BlueHost.com.
Please do not hesitate to reach out in case of any questions at all.