How To Start A Blog

Step by step instructions on how to start a blog and then go on to make a full time income online.

Please Bookmark this page so you can refer to it often.

If you want to create a free blog, these instructions are not for you. Please go to Blogger.com, but keep in mind that a free blog can get deleted at any time, so if you intend to blog for money follow the instructions below.

1. Get your Domain name

I highly recommend using Dynadot. It is free to create your registrar account and is extremely user-friendly.

Go to ==> Dynadot.com then click on Create an Account (in the account sign in box top right)

After that fill in all your basic information. Make sure you choose a username and password that you will remember!

Now register your domain name.

Choose a name that fits the subject of your blog i.e training dogs – dogtrainingmethods.com or keep fit – keepfitforever.com

If your blog is going to be about many subjects, use a generic name such as reviewsforall.com or simpletips.com

When you log into your Dynadot account you will have a section near the top of the page that says “Search for a Domain”.

Here type in the name you want your blog to be called.

Once you have chosen your domain name, simply click on the box next to the domain name to select it and then click on the Add to Cart button down below.

You do NOT need to add domain privacy.

After you click on the Add to Cart button it will show you your shopping cart. Simply click on the Checkout button.

You can pay with a credit card or with PayPal.

2. Sign up for Web Hosting

I highly recommend you go with HostGator, I have many websites and blogs hosted with them and have never had any problems.

First of all, click here then go to ‘View Web Hosting Plans’.

I recommend you go with the Baby option so you can have unlimited domains on your account. So even if you decide to have lots of different blogs you will still only have to pay $7.95 a month and by using coupon code ‘hostgatorbaby’ you will only pay 1p for the first month.

When you click on the Order Now button you will be asked to select a domain option.

Choose “I will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only.”

After that simply click on Next, then it will give you a review of what you are about to order. You should have the domain name that you registered on Dynadot. Your package should be Baby. You can then choose a Billing Cycle depending on your finances.

Once you have all this completed click on Calculate Totals.

Once you have gone through the HostGator sign up process just wait to receive your Hostgator email.

3. Change your Nameservers

Log into your Dynadot account.

On your account page you should see your domain name listed. Click on the little box to the left of your domain name to make a check mark. Then click on “Set Name Servers” up above.

Next it will take you to a screen that gives you a few options. The only place you need to worry about is option 1 under Hosting Elsewhere.

This is where you enter the two Name Servers you got in your HostGator email.

After you input your name server information simply hit the “Enter Name Servers” button.

Just leave Option 2 and below the same as it was when you arrived on the page, there is nothing else you need to change.

4. How to set up an Add-on domain

You will want to log into your cPanel for your Hostgator account. If you don’t know your cPanel location, you can find a link to it in your Hostgator welcome email.

When you arrive in your cPanel you want to look for and click on the button that looks like this :-

Once you get inside there. You will just need to type in your new domain name.

Once you type that in your username should be filled in automatically.

Also, depending on your cPanel version your document root will also be filled in.

After that just click on the Add Domain button and you are done.

5. Install WordPress

Log in to your Cpanel. Again you would have received a link to this  in the email you recieved from Hostgator when you signed up. If you cannot find the email you can find your cpanel at yourdomainname.com/cpanel.

Click on the fantastico De Luxe button under Software / Services.

Once you get on the next page there will be a side bar menu with several different sub headings.

You want to look for the second section down entitled “blogs”. From there you want to click on the button that says WordPress.

Click on New Installation

Fill in the boxes:-
Install in Directory – Leave blank
Admin Access Data – Admin Username – Type admin and enter a password.
Base Configuration – Admin Nickname – admin
Admin email – your email address
Site name – What you are going to call your blog.
Description – What you are going to call your blog again.
Click on install WordPress and on the next page click on Finish Installation.

Congratulations, you are now ready to start adding content to your new Blog!!

Just sign in to your WordPress Administration area (found at  ‘yourdomain.com/wp-admin’) and away you go!!