{"id":6115,"date":"2020-04-06T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T13:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=6115"},"modified":"2020-10-15T11:11:25","modified_gmt":"2020-10-15T09:11:25","slug":"how-to-set-up-a-wordpress-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-set-up-a-wordpress-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up a WordPress Blog in 5 Simple Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Starting a blog is one of the most rewarding things you can do online. You don\u2019t need to be a particularly good writer to do it. You can get into it without a content plan, a budget, or a whole lot of time, and still reach the people who\u2019ll appreciate whatever you\u2019re offering.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But you can also take the other route. You can invest heavily in a blog with the goal of pulling serious audience numbers. And when the people start showing up, you can benefit from all kinds of opportunities that come with having a large following, including monetization options.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can get lots of different benefits from blogging, but only if you\u2019re willing to do it the right way from the get-go. When it comes to picking a content management system for a blog, WordPress is the perfect choice. <strong>You can set up a WordPress blog in no more than five simple steps \u2014 and we\u2019re going to go through every one of them<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So buckle up, as we\u2019re going to show you how to:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#think-things-through-first\">Think Things Through First<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#hosting-and-domain\">Find Good Hosting and Register a Domain<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#install-wordpress\">Install WordPress<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#customize-the-blog\">Customize the Blog<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#start-creating-content\">Start Creating Content<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;70px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">1. <a id=\"think-things-through-first\"><\/a>Figure Out Some Important Things First<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Figure-Out-Some-Important-Things-First.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Figure Out Some Important Things First\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Figure-Out-Some-Important-Things-First.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Figure-Out-Some-Important-Things-First-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Figure-Out-Some-Important-Things-First-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The first step in a new endeavor is usually the hardest, right? Well, luckily for you, the first step towards setting up an awesome WordPress blog doesn\u2019t require you to do anything except think. And you\u2019ll need to make a couple of decisions, too.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>There are certain things about your blog you should know well before you start thinking about the technical side of setting it up, let alone actually creating the content<\/strong>. You\u2019ll need to look deep inside and do your best to answer some difficult questions, which include:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What niche am I going to write for? <\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What will separate my blog from the competitors\u2019?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Who\u2019s going to read my blog?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Do I plan to monetize my blog, and if yes, how?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">If I don\u2019t plan to monetize my blog, what do I expect from it?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What am I going to do to promote and grow my blog?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Will I be eventually open to third-party postings?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What am I going to call my blog?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]There\u2019s no definitive list of questions you need to answer beforehand, but you should get the gist of it \u2014 it won\u2019t be a good idea to leave important decisions about the nature of the blog for later. <strong>Tackle them head-on, and your blog will have a much better start<\/strong>. At the very least, you should figure out the things that will influence your blog the most right out of the gate.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">2. <a id=\"hosting-and-domain\"><\/a>Sort Out Hosting and Domain Registration<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The blog has to live somewhere, and it needs an address. Your best bet would be to find a decent host to house your blog \u2014 that\u2019s usually a better idea than self-hosting, i.e. hosting a website on your own computer. As for the address, there are certain dos and don\u2019ts you\u2019d be wise to get acquainted with. <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-a-domain-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Choosing and registering a domain name<\/a> is very important, so take this step seriously. <strong>The choices you make here tend to stick, and you\u2019ll need to put in an extra effort to unstick them.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Pick the Right Hosting Options<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sort-Out-Hosting-and-Domain-Registration.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Sort Out Hosting and Domain Registration\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sort-Out-Hosting-and-Domain-Registration.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sort-Out-Hosting-and-Domain-Registration-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sort-Out-Hosting-and-Domain-Registration-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Let\u2019s address one important question right off the bat: you\u2019ll want to use the type of WordPress that requires your website to have a host. You might wonder what\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org<\/a>, and you might be tempted to use WordPress.com. But that would be a bad idea for a variety of reasons, including the lack of control over ads displayed with your content. <strong>You want the WordPress you can install on a server you choose<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The nature of that server is one of the things you would usually consider when choosing a host<\/strong>. It\u2019s not the only one, of course. If you want to be reasonably thorough, you should at least find out:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Which server types does it have available and at which price points?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What\u2019s included in the package and how easy it is to scale up\/down?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">What do current and former customers have to say about the host?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Who owns your domain name if you register it with them?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]You want a stable, reliable host for your blog. <strong>If you\u2019re dead set on using WordPress, you can look for a host with a dedicated WordPress hosting option. But you should also remember to plan for the future and see how well your potential host would handle a traffic increase, and at what cost. <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Take Care of the Domain Name<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Take-Care-of-the-Domain-Name.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Take Care of the Domain Name\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Take-Care-of-the-Domain-Name.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Take-Care-of-the-Domain-Name-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Take-Care-of-the-Domain-Name-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The domain name you choose for your website will follow it\u2026 until you decide to change it. But it\u2019s an ordeal, what with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-301-redirects-in-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">redirects you have to set up<\/a>. <strong>Domain names aren\u2019t one of the things you should pick on a whim \u2013 you should invest enough time into coming up with it to ensure you have a good one. <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In general, you must understand a bit more about domain names than just what they are and how to get them. A couple of things you should know are:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">It\u2019s best to keep domain names reasonably short and as memorable as possible. <\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">The best top-level domain for most types of websites, including blogs, is .com. <\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Domain names that are unambiguous when it comes to spelling are better.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">It would be good to have a name that reflects your niche and is brandable. <\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">It\u2019s never a good idea to use an existing brand name for your blog. <\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]The domain name you end up choosing should feel and sound good to you. When you find a couple that fit, you can go ahead and ask your host to check if your top pick is already taken. <strong>Most hosts also serve as registrars \u2014 entities that will register your domain name for a fee \u2014 and they\u2019ll also be to tell you whether the name is taken<\/strong>. Keep working down your list until you find one that\u2019s free, and then pounce on it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;81px&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#f0f0f0&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;top-picks-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#f0f0f0&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">3. <a id=\"install-wordpress\"><\/a>Install WordPress<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Install-WordPress.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Install WordPress\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Install-WordPress.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Install-WordPress-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Install-WordPress-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Now that you have taken care of the hosting and your website\u2019s address, you can finally start creating your blog. <strong>You\u2019ll start with the installation of WordPress usually<\/strong>. Depending on the type of hosting you chose, your level of involvement with the installation of WordPress can vary. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Some hosts will include WordPress installation in their initial offering. In that case, your blog-to-be will be waiting for you when you\u2019re ready to start populating it with content. Other hosts will have a nifty one-click installer option waiting for you in cPanel, or whatever else they\u2019re using for their back end.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Those are the no-fuss options. If you\u2019re a fan of DIY and don\u2019t mind getting your hands dirty, you can try to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-install-wordpress\/\">install WordPress manually<\/a> <strong>using the famous \u201cfive-minute installation.\u201d<\/strong> Here are the broad steps you\u2019ll need to take:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Prepare the necessary software.<\/strong> You\u2019ll need the WordPress installation files (unpacked) as well as a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client such as FileZilla or WinSCP.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Create a database on your server.<\/strong> This is something you do from the host&#8217;s control panel which you use to access your server, or directly from phpMyAdmin.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Create a new user account.<\/strong> The exact process will depend on what you\u2019re using to access your server\u2019s back end.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Upload the WordPress files to your server.<\/strong> You\u2019ll use an FTP client for it, and you\u2019ll have to connect your database from the WordPress installation screen.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Run the actual five-minute installation.<\/strong> Up until this moment you were setting up all you need for the smooth sailing that is the installation.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]By the end of the process, you should be left with a fully functional, if a bit rudimentary and barren, WordPress website that\u2019s ready to display whatever you want to put up on it. Generally, before you start populating it with content, you\u2019ll want to consider customizing its looks and adding a couple of functionalities to it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">4. <a id=\"customize-the-blog\"><\/a>Customize the Blog<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Customize-the-Blog.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Customize the Blog\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Customize-the-Blog.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Customize-the-Blog-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Customize-the-Blog-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When it comes to tailoring your WordPress blog to whatever you\u2019ve envisioned, you have two things you need to consider. The first is what your website looks like and how it behaves. <strong>That\u2019s where you\u2019ll use WordPress themes and WordPress page builders<\/strong>. For additional functionalities, and being able to do things such as monitoring your website\u2019s performance, you\u2019ll have to refer to plugins.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Change How Your Blog Looks with WordPress Themes<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The easiest way to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-are-wordpress-themes\/\">understand WordPress themes and their importance<\/a> is by thinking about themes as bundles of files that, when installed, alter the way your website looks, somewhat alter the way it behaves, and most importantly give you the option to take the alteration process into your own hands.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Themes are often shipped with page builders, which are plugins that allow you to further customize the way a theme looks and behaves. <strong>They can include widgets and add-ons that add functionalities to your website<\/strong>. It\u2019s very easy to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-install-wordpress-theme\/\">install WordPress themes<\/a>. You\u2019ll probably have a harder time deciding which <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-category\/blog-magazine-wordpress-themes\/\">blog or magazine WordPress theme<\/a> to choose.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Expand What Your Blog Can Do With Plugins<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]One of the best things about WordPress is that there\u2019s a plugin for everything. Do you want to add a timeline to your blog? Take your pick of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-timeline-plugins\/\">WordPress timeline plugins<\/a>. Want to add a shop to your blog? You can use a plugin for that, as well. Want to use sticky posts to make some of your content stand out? Actually, you don\u2019t need a plugin for that, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-make-wordpress-sticky-posts\/\">making sticky posts<\/a> is a regular WordPress feature.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can see where this is going, however \u2013 <strong>a plugin is a way to add something important to your blog, and there\u2019s no limit to the things you can add<\/strong>. That\u2019s not permission to go on a WordPress plugin rampage, however, and download as many of them as you possibly can \u2014 that would probably slow down your website to a crawl.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s important to choose wisely the plugins you intend to use. For a blog, here is a couple you might want to prioritize getting:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Yoast SEO<\/strong>, because SEO is very important for any website, and a blog especially. Alternatively, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/is-rank-math-best-free-wordpress-seo-plugin\/\">use Rank Math for free<\/a> and get the same benefits of premium Yoast.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Contact Form 7, because sooner or later you\u2019ll want to start building a mailing list. Maybe do it sooner than later, that\u2019s the common wisdom with mailing lists.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Jetpack<\/strong>, because it packs everything you need to launch your blog into the stratosphere, from social sharing to image optimization.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Google XML Sitemaps<\/strong>, because if a blog has appeared online and Google hasn\u2019t indexed it, did the blog really appear?<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]With time, you\u2019ll figure out which additional plugins you need for your blog. \u201cNeed\u201d being the key word here, remember, because installing plugins you don\u2019t actually need can do more harm than good. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">5. <a id=\"start-creating-content\"><\/a>Start Creating Content<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Start-Creating-Content.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Start Creating Content\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Start-Creating-Content.png 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Start-Creating-Content-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Start-Creating-Content-620x350.png 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When your blog starts looking like something you\u2019d be proud to be associated with, and when it has all the things you need to govern its growth over the foreseeable future, it\u2019s time to start doing the one thing you\u2019ve wanted to do all along. And that\u2019s \u2014 add pages to the blog.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Yup, you\u2019ve read that right, add a page to the blog. <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/difference-between-posts-and-pages-wp\/\">Pages and posts are not the same<\/a>, of course, and blogging is mostly concerned with creating posts. <strong>However, every blog will need at least a couple of pages, and you better take care of those first<\/strong>. Some of the useful pages a blog should have include:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;23px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>The \u201cAbout Us\/Me\u201d page<\/strong> \u2014 the place where you provide the basic information about you and the blog.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>A custom Error 404 page<\/strong> \u2014 these pages make hitting a wall a fun experience and prevent people from leaving your website.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>A page for whatever you\u2019re selling<\/strong> \u2014 when you start selling things, you\u2019ll need to have a product\/service page for your offering.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>A \u201cContact Us\u201d page<\/strong> \u2014 a page where you can provide your contact information or at least put up contact form.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>The \u201cArchives\u201d page<\/strong> \u2014 a page where people can go to easily access all of the content you ever published on the blog.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong> \u201cPrivacy Policy\u201d page<\/strong> \u2014 with increased concerns around privacy and online tracking, having a privacy policy and making it available is a must.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item \">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>A \u201cStart Here\u201c page<\/strong> \u2014 a page that showcases the content you\u2019d want new visitors to read first, you should build it even before you have said content. Be ambitious.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]And with that, you\u2019ll be ready to start writing your very first blog post. We\u2019ll leave that up to you completely \u2014 <strong>express yourself the way you want, cover the topics that are close to your heart, and build a community that will support your writing effort<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Or do something else \u2014 pick a topic that\u2019s profitable, or controversial, and express it in an experimental way that takes you out of your comfort zone. It\u2019s your blog. You can do whatever you like with it.The only catch with it is that, if you want to have an audience, you have to create content that stands out among all the other content that occupies your niche. <strong>So think about the quality and what your audience would expect to read, and always look for ways to give your content a unique spin that people will come to associate with your blog<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Let\u2019s Wrap It Up!<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Having a blog is one of the easiest ways to start carving out your own corner of cyberspace. It can be a rewarding experience, or a frustrating one, or one that pays off materially \u2014 whatever you make off it. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But to get to the point where you\u2019re thinking up ways to attract an audience or how to monetize the blog, you\u2019ll need to set it up. Hopefully, this article pointed you in the right direction for that \u2014 these five steps are indeed simple even if at times they don\u2019t look like that to a novice. So arm yourself with patience and anticipation, and get to setting up your very own WordPress blog![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need help with setting up a WordPress blog? This guide will walk you through it in five simple steps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9295,"featured_media":8037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[46,14,13],"class_list":["post-6115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-blogging","tag-core","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6115\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}