My first love is teaching and my second love is writing. So blogging about teaching and teaching about blogging makes perfect sense to me. Maybe you are like me and want to share your love for teaching with the world? Maybe you want to showcase products you create or write tips for other teachers? Or maybe you have another passion such as cooking, dieting, or gardening that you want to write about. Whatever your goals might be, sharing your experiences and knowledge on your very own blog is the way to go. Follow the five easy steps below to start a WordPress blog today.
As a teacher, I always had a blog to share what we were working in the classroom. When I taught sixth grade, the students wrote many of the posts for our class blog as part of our writing curriculum. It was a great way to encourage students to write for the real world. Students loved seeing their words and images in print. It also served as an effective communication tool since parents loved seeing what we were doing in the classroom. It was a win-win-win for everyone!
The Benefits of Blogging
Nowadays, I am blogging for a different purpose and audience...to help teachers. I am a teacher-author. I write curriculum, create resources, and write articles for elementary teachers. Becoming a teacher-author and blogger has changed my life in so many ways. It has allowed me to share my passion for teaching and show the educational resources that I create and sell in my Teachers Pay Teachers store in detail. It has also allowed me to share my journey with the world.
A few years ago, I left the classroom and started writing from home fulltime. Today, I have a flexible schedule that is completely different from my past career as a teacher where every minute of the day was planned. I am loving life! I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful for this amazing opportunity that I never thought was possible.
If you want to give blogging a try, then using Bluehost may be a great option for you. Bluehost is one of the best hosting companies around and you start your own blog for as little as $3.95 per month. Bluehost has excellent 24/7 customer service too. Follow the five simple steps below to get started.
Follow these 5 Easy Steps to Set Up Your WordPress Blog:
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Step 1: Pick a Domain Name
What should you name your new blog? Your domain name is how visitors find you online. It is the first step in getting your website started. Short and catchy names that are easy to remember usually perform the best. It’s also best practice to choose a domain name that is closely related to your business or topic. Sometimes this can be difficult because many of the popular names have already been taken. If you need help picking a name, there are tools called domain name generators that can help.
After you have carefully picked your domain name and have searched to make sure it's available, then it's time to purchase your new little corner of the internet. I recommend buying your domain name directly from Bluehost because it will make the whole process so simple. Plus you’ll also get your domain name registered for free for a year by signing up with one of their plans.
If you already own a domain name or buy a domain name from another site such as GoDaddy, you will need to switch over the DNS nameservers to point to Bluehost when it's time to link it all together.
Step 2: Buy a Hosting Plan on Bluehost
Go to Bluehost and click the get started now button.
Select the package you are interested in.
(You can save money by purchasing a whole year or more of service instead of paying month by month.)
Sign up for a new domain name or enter the domain name you registered previously.
Enter your name, address, and payment information.
Select a password. Be sure to make note of it for future reference.
Step 3: Pick a WordPress Theme
If you’ve chosen Bluehost for hosting, WordPress will be automatically installed for you. All you have to do is click, ‘Login’ and choose a theme. Not sure which theme you want, that's okay. You can always go back and change it later.
Another option is to have someone design your blog or website for you. If you choose to go this way, then I highly recommend Jumping Jax Designs. Becca is awesome. I have worked with her on three different websites and she has always done an amazing job. She will work with you to get it just how you want it. She also offers logo design and branding if you are looking for a complete all in one package.
Step 4: Customize Your Blog
Let the fun begin! You are ready to start designing your site with your color choices, font styles, and other elements that will help to express your style and personality. You can do this from the WordPress Dashboard. The Dashboard is the area that allows you to control what people see when they come to your site.
From the dashboard, you can:
- Add a new blog post
- Add a new page to your website
- Add a "SHOP" page to sell your own products
- Change the theme or design of your site
- Change the layout of your site
- View your traffic & statistics
- Edit a post
- Publish or schedule a post
- Add images to your posts
- Add links in your posts
It's best to spend some time learning the WordPress dashboard by reviewing some of the features that you will use most often.
Now, it's time to dive in and write your first post. As a new blogger, here are some things you might want to mention in your first post.
People want to connect with others on a deeper level so tell them:
- What have been your experiences in life?
- Who are you as a person?
- Who are you as a professional?
- What will this blog mainly be about?
The more you tell about yourself, the more your readers will trust you and want to hear what you have to say.
Step 5: It's Time to Launch Your New Blog
Thanks to Bluehost, with these five easy steps you will have your blog up and published in no time!
Check out our Resources Section for more great tips and tutorials!