The process of getting started with your blog is very simple and for most people this can be done within 10-15 minutes. This is pretty quick process and quite easy to implement, especially since most web hosting companies now provide simply one-click WordPress installation services.
However, let’s not jump ahead too far. There are still a couple things we need to decide on before actually going live with our new site.
Getting Started with Your Blog in 2 Simple Steps
Before going live with your blog, there are a few things you are first going to need to decide on.
- What domain name do you want to use?
- Where are you going to host your site?
These questions seem simple enough, but the decision you make will greatly affect the longterm value and growth of your site.
I’m going to cover each of these topics in-depth below.
Choosing Your Domain Name
As mentioned earlier, the domain name is the actual address for your web site or blog. For example, this site’s domain name is blogging.org. It doesn’t matter where you are located in the world, if you go to the internet and type in “blogging.org” you are going to end up at this site.
Now it’s time for you to pick a domain name for your site. When choosing a domain name, you are probably going to have to get a little original. Nearly all generic domain names are already taken, as no two domain names are alike.
TIP: If your name is available as a domain name, I would definitely secure it as soon as possible. I secured my name for my blog (ZacJohnson.com) years ago, otherwise it would have been taken and owned by someone else.
Here are a few other valuable points you should consider when register the domain name for your site.
- Keep it short and memorable
- Use keywords relating to your site topic
- Stay away from using “K” instead of “C” (as in “CASH” vs. “KASH)
- Avoid numbers and dashes in your domain name
- Always try to secure a .com address — if not .com, then go for .net or .org
When it comes time for you to register your domain name, you can do this through NameCheap, GoDaddy or through your web hosting company (see below).
Choose a Quality Web Host
Every web site or blog on the internet needs a web hosting service to store their content and make it accessible through out the world. When choosing a web host, you are going to want to find one that caters to your needs, fits your budget and is also reliable. The process of finding which web hosting service is best for you can be quite a lengthy and frustrating process.
Lucky for you, I’ve had the chance to host with many different companies over the years and the one I recommend to all of my visitors is HostGator. They are one of the largest web hosting companies in the world and host millions of sites. They currently have a promotion going on for Blogging.org referrals and you can get setup for as low as $3.47 per month! (click the image below to get started)
When signing up for your hosting account through HostGator, you can also pick a domain name to register through their service as well. This will make the process of going live with your site even easier and faster.
Once setup, your site will then be accessible through the world and you can instantly start creating content for your site when it’s live. If you aren’t sure how to get started with this, simply shoot me an email and I can install WordPress and help you get started at no extra cost. This is just an added service that I provide for all Blogging.org visitors.
Click here to get started with HostGator!
In the next part of the “How to Start a Blog” series, we will be covering the simple process of how to install WordPress on your new HostGator account. This process only takes a few minutes and with my easy to follow tutorial and guide, it will be a breeze!