How To Start A WordPress Blog -Checklist
1. Register a Domain Name
Do this step first, as you’ll need to enter your domain name when you set up your hosting account.
I use Instant Domain Search to locate available domain names, and then register them at GoDaddy.com. Only register your domain here, skip the other offers. You always want to set up your hosting separately from your domain.
-Tip for choosing a good domain name
2. Set up your Hosting Account
I use HostGator to host my WordPress blogs because they make it easy to install, and they have great online & phone support. They are also very inexpensive at less than $10/month for unlimited domains, sites and/or blogs on that one account.
Use this link or click on the image above, and use the coupon code “wordpress”. That will give you the first month free (or, for a penny – which is about as close to free as you can get).
3. Update Nameservers
Check your email for the account details for your new hosting account. Inside this email you’ll find 2 nameservers. Keep the email open and go back to GoDaddy.com. Log in to your account, find your new domain name, and edit the nameservers to the two shown in your HostGator email.
It can take up to 72 hours for your domain name to point to your new hosting account, so you want to do these steps right away.
4. Install WordPress
You don’t have to download WordPress and then try to manually install it yourself – that’s doing things the hard way. Instead, go back to your HostGator welcome message and find the link to your control panel. You will have to use the temporary IP Address link since your domain hasn’t propagated yet. Log in to your control panel with the username and password in that same email.
Once you log in, scroll down and look for the Fantastico button. It’s towards the bottom, under Software/Services. Under the navigation on the left, choose WordPress and follow the instructions to install your WordPress blog.
5. Choose a WordPress Theme
While you’re waiting for the domain to propagate, do a search for “free wordpress themes”. Pick one (or pick a few) and download the zip files. Unzip or extract the files.
Next you’ll need to upload your new theme to your hosting account. I prefer FTP, but you can also upload files from within the control panel. Upload the entire theme folder to the wp-content/themes directory in your account. If you need help, see this 6 1/2 minute video: How To Change, Edit, or Install a Wordpress Theme.
6. Still Waiting?
At this point you are probably still waiting for your domain name to propagate (meaning the nameserver update hasn’t taken effect yet so you still can’t see your new WordPress blog when you type your domain name into a browser).
There isn’t much you can do at this point since most of your links – including your WordPress admin login – depend on the domain name. So while you are waiting, decide what your first few blog posts will be about. This is a good time to do some keyword research. I use Free WordTracker – just put in words related to your topic to get some good 2-3 word phrases to start with.
Now open Notepad and write a few blog posts, based on the keyword phrases you selected. It’s a great starting point because you know people are searching those phrases, and are specifically interested in those topics. Save your notepad file and go have dinner.
7. WordPress Customization
Once your domain is working, you’ll be able to log in to the WordPress dashboard. Just go to yourdomain/wp-admin/ in a browser, and put in the username and password you chose when you installed WordPress on your hosting account.
Now that you’re logged in – Welcome to WordPress!! – follow these steps:
- activate your new theme (under appearance > themes)
- change permalink structure -help
- edit/delete the default post (Hello World) and delete the test comment
- fill out About Me page -help
- edit/add categories
- install comment spam plugin
Now you’re all set and ready to blog! 
Be sure to sign up for Problogger’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series. This will give you a great start, and a perfect blueprint to follow. Even if you’ve been blogging for years, it’s a profitable series to follow. I signed up myself! 
If you need help with the technical lingo, the code, or advanced things like widgets & customization, see: Beginning Blogger
Best,
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I have just started my first blog, this information is great for me, thanks
Marc C
Lynn,
Wish I’d had this step-by-step guide when I started my blog in earnest back in 2007. This all made sense to me, but then I’ve been at it for going on 2 years now.
I have a tip about writing blog posts. I noticed that you suggested creating them in Notepad. I avoid that program at all costs. I truly HATE it!
My first choice is Word because I do a lot of heavy editing (anal retentive), and clunky text editors make me crazy. I want full-function search and replace, the ability to select a column of text instead of a contiguous segment, and other advanced editing provisions not available in “low-end” text editors.
Now, before everyone jumps on me about how Word has all these codes embedded that can interfere with the way your posts look when you copy and paste them into your blog editor, let me give you my tip:
As I said, I don’t do any Word formatting **see note below**. I copy the text and then HERE’S THE TIP: drop it into the HTML tab of my blog post, (not the WYSIWYG editor tab). Ta-da! Not a single drop of MS code that way. Then you click the WYSIWYG tab and make it all look pretty in the WordPress editor.
If you want to speed up the process a bit and already know which parts you want to use special formatting on, here’s another tip. Create easy-to-remember codes that tell you where to apply what formatting when you finally get into your blog editor:
BOLD – B_the text you want to bold_B
ITALICS – I_the text you want in italics_I
CENTERED – C_the text you want centered_C
BULLETED LIST – *_the item you want bulleted_*
NUMBERED LIST – #_the items you want numbered_#
LINK (clickable) – L_the link you want to make live_L
If you wish these to stand out, use more than one character, e.g. – BBB_text_BBB
If you’re feeling brave, you can also do some pre-coding as you compose your posts in Word. In this way, the formatting is done ahead. But if this seems too hard, just ignore it.
bold text
italic text
centered text
links Link Title
(This last one is the hardest, but the others are dead simple.)
Hope this is useful.
Deb Gallardo
Follow me @debgallardo on Twitter.
Well, I tried to show the code, but this fancy new blog format converted it into formatted text! LOL
By the time I explained (since I’m unable to SHOW you the code) you’d be so confused that I gave up trying to figure out how to word it clearly. Here’s a link for a sort-of “okay” explanation:
http://www.web-source.net/html_codes_chart.htm
Follow me @debgallardo on Twitter.
I’m sure this perfectly fine for you, but still don’t understand what you have against Notepad? If you would be so kind as to explain any problems(Wordpad problems and IE problems also, one for standards the other for adding stuff,I understand these)
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Funny you did this post just as I was setting up one myself. I decided to try a manual install this time just for the experience. I ended up uninstalling and using the automated install because, in spite of considerable effort, the editing control wouldn’t appear. One thing newbies need to consider about WordPress is that, in spite of widespread use, support is pretty haphazard. You’ve got the WordPress.org forum, but often you get little or no response there. My advise is to line up someone more experienced to help with questions. You’ll have some.
I did run across this excellent article on SEO optimization for WordPress by Joost de Valk. He recommends a bunch of good plugins.
http://yoast.com/articles/wordpress-seo/
–Wade
Follow me @wade_watson on Twitter.
Your timing couldn’t be more perfect, now if I had only seen it before trying to walk a person through installing a Theme. In any case I quickly copied and pasted your URL for the post into a PM for the person.
Once again you prove that if there is one your the most gracious “Internet Marketing Queen” as you continue too reach out with real help and not the usual over-priced crap that so many IM’ers do. KUDO’s
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Thank you, Robert
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Here’s a couple of Wordpress themes that I’ve found allow you to do some customization without messing with the theme editor.
Atahualpa http://wordpress.bytesforall.com
This one is free but they do ask for a donation. Has lots of options for customizing colors, fonts, sidebars, widgets and header images. Also place to paste tracking codes like Google Analytics.
Affiliate Theme http://www.affiliatetheme.net
This one is $97 for a single domain and $147 for unlimited domains. It has 6 different page templates and makes it easy to make a static sales page with a promotion box and call to action button. Lots of video tutorials. $147 version comes with 10 niche header images. Tracking code boxes.
Follow me @chriscobb on Twitter.
Thanks for posting the two hyperlinks, though price wise the first is more inviting. Have already uploaded it to my Blog and when I get it tweaked enough will switch over to it.Also have it installed in a Local server via MOWES(Modular Web Services)which is on a USB stick (and is not OS dependent)
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Excellent walk-through, Lynn! I’m nervous about doing domain research anywhere other than the URL bar, though, because of domain squatters. Is that site somehow different from doing research with a domain or hosting company? Like, is it blocked from ne’er do wells spying eyes?
Follow me @lisamariemary on Twitter.
Honestly, I’m not sure. I usually find & buy at the same time and never had a problem with my domain getting snatched up in the time it takes to go to GoDaddy and register it.
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Lisa Marie Mary, et al
I understand your “nervousness” re: domain research.
And, Lynn, I, too use “Instant Domain” search.
Perhaps this will ease your mind, Lisa Marie. They have an encrypted link. At Instant Domain, it says:
“Your domain name search results are not being recorded.
Pressing enter or return will take you directly to
GoDaddy where you can purchase your domain.
Click here to encrypt your searches. (Slower…)”
*********************end of Instant Domain comment.
So, when you “click here”, you are switched to the encrypted address bar where you enter the domain you want to search.
I write all my blog posts in Notepad too. NEVER in the Wordpress editor or any other word processor. I was just paid by a client the other week to go in and clean every single blog post he had ever written because Word had embedded a ton of tags that weren’t closed. What a disaster. I usually hand code while I’m writing my post. Once you do it enough, it’s actually faster than highlighting your text and clicking the format button.
I love checklists – especially about WordPress!
I feel the same about about Notepad as Deb does and I’ve been trying different approaches. I’ll certainly try Deb’s method and see how I get on with it.
I think the text editor is a major weakness of WordPress even with all the plugin help available
All The Best
Alex
Follow me @AlexNewell on Twitter.
Lynn-
Excellent post! Just finishing repurposing the 4 week Blogging 101 teleseminar I did in January into a new product and this is an awesome checklist to make sure new bloggers don’t miss anything!
Looking forward to following along with ProBlogger for the next 31 days for some tips and tricks from a expert. Whenever I get stuck I just hop over to your forum (http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/forum/)and get all the info I need there!
Really love your new look!
@Tina_Williams
Follow me @Tina_Williams on Twitter.
Thank you, Tina
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Lynn
Sorry for a stupid question, but I could not find anyone to tell me this: Why would you want to host your own Wordpress when Wordpress hosts it for you for free?
Thanks.
Sincerely
George Tran
Author of “The Social Marketing Manifesto”
Success Strategies for Small Businesses using Social Media
http://www.socialmarketingman.com
http://www.twitter.com/georgetran
Read the TOS for Wordpress.com you aren’t allowed commerical activity(think online sales), the plugins you can use are restricted as are themes.
Think of Wordpress.com as a bicycle with training wheels and a parent close by. Wheras Wordpress.org is Lance Armstrong winning the Tour of France( okay, not really but it is night and day in there differences).In fact if get good enough only your imagination will be the thing holding you in what your Blog or CMS becomes
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Lovely metaphor Robert – I’ll remember that next time I have to explain the differences.
Alex
Follow me @AlexNewell on Twitter.
Thanks for the answer Robert
Good to know.
Do you know if there are plug-ins for Blogger that does the same? My other blog is on Blogger.com.
Sincerely
George Tran
Author of “The Social Marketing Manifesto”
Success Strategies for Small Businesses using Social Media
http://www.socialmarketingman.com
http://www.twitter.com/georgetran
Sorry I don’t have the answer. Try posting in our Blogging Forum. Odds are there are few if any plug in’s available(but that’s just an “educated” guess)Blogger is a little more relaxed about online activities but they can delete you at a moments notice. Unless you really can’t afford a web hosting fee there is little if any reason to use Blogger. It is possible to import Blogger blogs into Word Press.
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Your most welcome, which is not to say that there is anything wrong with training wheels for bicycles &/or learning Word Press on wordpress.com.
But sooner or later if your doing to do any real bicycle riding at the very least you have to take the training wheels(and more likely get a 3 or speed bike)
Same situation applies to getting a Self-hosted version of Wp from wordpress.org. You are in control and within the limits of software can do pretty much what you can dream, or pay for.
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Thanks again Robert
I tried Blogger because it was with Google. It has some cool features and I did not think much further than just putting up a blog for my content.
Your information is appreciated.
Sincerely
George Tran
Author of “The Social Marketing Manifesto”
Success Strategies for Small Businesses using Social Media
http://www.socialmarketingman.com
http://www.twitter.com/georgetran
I try to do the optimal use and this post really help me to find out WordPress from the beginning.
Thanks
Thank you so much for this valuable peice of information. I never appreciated this type of information because someone else built my blog using wordpress and I thought that was it. I did not realize that I would have to tweak it or even create another one.
This is really great information.
Thanks
Iyabo Asani
http://AuthenticChangeCoach.com
You might consider printing the article and putting the printed article in a Folder for reference and ease of use.
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Wow, I wish I’d found this information 6 months ago!!! Thank you for sharing and keep it up… please.
George,
See this post:
http://www.clicknewz.com/782/blogger-vs-wordpress/
You can interchange “blogger” and “wordpress.com” in that article in addition to the points Robert made above
Hope that helps!
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Great Wordpress guidelines. As for posting, I’ve found Windows Live Writer to really simplify elegant posts, making it very easy to add photos and create beautiful layouts without any need for photoshop. I’ve written more about it here:
http://swanjournalforwomen.com/windows-live-writer-desktop-blogging/
Is Windows Live easier than copying and pasting pictures or is it just the same.
I’ve never tried it – you should try both and see which one you prefer.
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Lisa Marie Mary,
I replied upthread re: your comment about Instant Domain search and your concern over someone latching on to any searches you do.
In case you don’t see it, I will repeat it here.
I also use Instant Domain Search. They have a regular search feature and they have an “encrypted” feature. The encrypted feature is a little slower, they say.
And they state they do not save any searches.
Lynn,
Where were you and your instructions when I needed you about a year ago?
Actually, these are terrific. And I’m keeping them close at hand…because I never can have too many. Repetition, for me, is wonderful.
Thank you.
Great post! I’m always finding useful things on this blog. Thanks again – I’ll be subscribing to this RSS feed!
[...] If you need help with that one of my new mastermind partners, Lynn Terry, has created a step by step checklist for setting up wordpress on her blog at [...]
Can you explain why you always want to setup the hosting at a different place than the domain registrar.
Because under the TOS(Terms of Service)the web hosting company can own your content if you have registered the domain with them and also host the domain on there servers.Which means the content would be there’s if you tried to move.
Follow me @nar321 on Twitter.
Lynn, why is it important to always set up your hosting separately from your domain. I use godaddy for both because their customer service is soooo good!!
Great article, I have gone through a checklist similar to this and got my blog up and running in a matter of hours.
Good stuff to see lynn, appreciate the simple information!
I think you wrong. Before register a domain name, you should research your keyword and your niche then register a domain on godaddy, namecheap, name.com ( use coupon code for cheap price
).
I really love hostgator. After buy a hosting, you install wordpress.
Try find a nice theme (very important) and use some plugin better for SEO and your working
Hey Lynn,
I received an Attitude of Gratitude Award from Wahm-Articles.com and I’ve nominated you as one of my choices to receive it as well. I’ve listened to you speak via WahmTalkRadio and I think you’re pretty darn grateful for what you’ve earned in life through hard work in affiliate marketing and you share a lot of information. If you accept this recognition, please read the post about what to do next…
http://www.halloffamemoms.com/2009/04/attitude-of-gratitude-award-and-some-more-news/
Thanks Lynn!
Tracy
This is a great step by step article!
Really informative especially to newbies on the blogging habit or business.
Wordpress’ famous 5 minute installation is great as a starting point. It really does take only 5 minutes, and you can do it even if you are not computer savvy.
Great post.
I’ve been thinking in set up a blog but find it a bit confuse,but
your guide is a good tutorial to do it.
I’ll be back to your blog,there is lots of good information here.
Thank’s for your help.
Also it’s good to install the following plugins:
- All-in-one SEO Pack;
- Google XML Sitemap;
Sometimes WP-Page-Numbers and DoFollow plugins are necessary.
And, at last, I recommend to use Simple Tags plugin for tag and similar post management.
Lynn, I forgot about burning RSS feed by FeedBurner and install a feedburner plugin to replave all RSS links to feedburner links on the blog.
(New Post) If you need help with the technical lingo, the code, or advanced things like widgets & customization, see: Beginning Blogger
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
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Hi this is s.domiannames
Lynn, I forgot about burning RSS feed by FeedBurner and install a feedburner plugin to replave all RSS links to feedburner links on the blog.