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How to Start a Personal Website or Blog: A Beginners Guide

Woman developing web site

Learning how to start a personal website or blog is an exciting step towards developing your online presence. But it can be hard to know where to begin. This step-by-step guide will point you in the right direction.
Get Web Hosting and Download WordPress

Web hosting is the physical computers (referred to as servers) that provide storage space for your website. One of the cheapest and most popular hosting options is Bluehost. To help you get started, this hosting platform provides a 1-click download link for WordPress - the most popular content management system. If you don’t want to pay for hosting, you can always get a “free” website on Wix or Squarespace, but hidden fees could end up costing you more in the long run.

Get a Domain Name

Your domain name should be unique and easy to remember. Stay away from using punctuation or symbols as this will make it more difficult for people to search. Before you get too attached, make sure your domain name isn’t already taken. You should also check to see if your domain name is available on Instagram and Twitter in case you want to expand your site’s brand to other social media platforms in the future.

Download a Theme

You can choose from a number of free themes on WordPress or invest in a premium theme. If you are don’t have any experience building a website, a premium them may be the best choice. Premium themes usually cost between $20 and $50, and provide tech support, pre-built layouts, and additional formatting options. Popular sites where you can find themes include Official WordPress theme repository, Themify, and Theme Forest.

Set Up an About Page

When people visit a website for the first time, they usually go straight to the “About” page to learn more. For this reason, it is often the most-visited page on a website. Make a good first impression by writing a clear and concise segment that showcases the value that your blog has for readers, what it is about, and what makes you unique.

Learn the Basics of SEO

Unfortunately, having quality content and a stunning website design are not enough to make your website or blog successful. SEO stands for search engine optimization, which ensures that your website will rank higher in search engines. You can attempt to teach yourself the basics of SEO or invest in professional help to give your website a better chance of being seen.

Now that all the hard work is done, you are ready upload your first post. We hope this article helped give you some guidance on how to start a personal website or blog. Good luck!