I was initially going to title this article “How to create the purr-fect pet blog” but it sounded too cheesy.
Anyhow…
I get a lot of emails from readers telling me how they love the look of this site (thanks ya’ll) and I also get quite a few questions on how they can start a blog of their own.
I’ve realized that a lot of pet owners tend to hesitate when it comes to creating a blog. They think that it’s expensive and that there’s a lot of coding and other technicalities and crap involved.
I’m here to tell you that creating a pet blog is as easy as abc. And contrary to popular belief, it’s also inexpensive and damn right simple to implement.
After reading this post, you’ll learn how to find your hosting, create a URL, build the look of your your blog – all in under 3 minutes (maybe a tiny bit longer if you’re inexperienced with WordPress).
The longest part of this process is finding your theme… but that’s also the most fun part.
Shall we get started?
1. Domain name and hosting
Creating a domain name and finding your hosting can all be done in one place and in one go.
From experience, I would highly recommend that you use [bl id=”882″]Bluehost[/bl]. The hosting is only $3.95 per month (using the link) and they also have a great service.
Because of the discount, I recently purchased a few more hosting accounts for some personal sites. Not only is the hosting low-cost but it also comes with other features as well. Such as a free domain name, unlimited email accounts and a $100 Google advertising offer.
During the signup process, you’ll need to first create your custom URL. I managed to find a pretty cool name generator that you may find interesting: impossibility.org
After, it’ll take you to another page and ask you to enter your personal details and choose your payment package.
2. Install WordPress
The next step is to install WordPress, which is basically a content management system. It was built for people who’re looking to build blogs and write articles without much effort.
Now, after logging into your Bluehost control panel, scroll down to the ‘Blogs’ category and click on ‘Wordpress’.
Simply click install and it will take you to the next section.
On this part, choose your domain name then click ‘Complete’. After taking this step, you’ll be given your login details so be sure to keep them safe as you’ll need to use them on a regular basis.
3. Install theme
Ok, so this is the fun part. You’ll probably be spending a couple of hours (I spent 4) searching for your theme and testing them out.
There are two great sites I’ve got experience with, so I’ll list them out to you.
1) ElegantThemes
If you’re on a tight budget, then [bl id=”886″]ElegantThemes[/bl] is the way to go. You can get all 87 of their themes for only $69 (that’s less than $1 per theme).
2) Genesis Framework
If you have a bit more money to invest, then I would HIGHLY recommend that you purchase your theme from [bl id=”887″]StudioPress[/bl].
I’ve poured a lot of money down the drain purchasing different themes and then finding issues with them later. I then started to see numerous popular bloggers giving some seriously good feedback for the Genesis framework.
So what did I do?
I straightaway purchased my first theme from them and… let’s just say that I would gladly pay double of what they’re asking.
Not only do they sell awesome themes, but since they all run on the Genesis framework, the backend of all their themes is simply mind-blowing.
FINALLY, it’s time to install your portfolio theme
Sign in to your WordPress. The URL should be something like this:
http://YOUR URL/wp-login.php
After you’ve logged in, click Appearance (on the left sidebar)> Themes> Install Themes> Upload.
And you’re all set!
There’s a few important plugins (most of which are free) that you need to install, in order to prevent your site being hacked. One of them being Limit Login Attempts.
Once you’re logged into your WordPress account, to install a plugin, just go to your sidebar on the left, hover your mouse over ‘Plugins’ and click ‘Add new’.
I recommend that you don’t install too many plugins as it could slow down your site.
But I think I’ll create a new post on all of the important plugins as well as how to optimize your blog for search engines in order to get free traffic to your site in the future.
I’m thinking of also writing an article on how to monetize your blog so you can start earning some passive income from your site. Be sure to subscribe on the sidebar if you’re interested.
*I contacted Bluehost and managed to acquire a special link to get superfast hosting for only $3.95 a month (usually $6.95/mo). Be sure to grab the offer while it lasts. [bl id=”882″]Click here[/bl] to view more details.
