Growing a blog to thousands of visitors a month, as we have done, has not been a walk in the park. In between toddler tantrums, diaper changes, and the constant demands of our full time baby, we've had to find time to write articles, discover matching images, and get the word out about our blog, mainly via Pinterest and Tailwind. After all what's the point of writing a blog if no one reads it?
Getting the blog setup in the first place took a bit of trial and error, but now we have a process that we use to build business websites and more blogs. Building a professional looking website is the foundation for turning side hustles into viable businesses, or making a blog into a business that gives you the flexibility to work from home. If you're a new parent looking to start your own online business, use these shortcuts to get you started!
1)Buy a domain
The web address visitors type in to get to your new website should be unique, relatively short, and memorable! Parenting is a full time job that we're committed to, so we came up with Full Time Baby.
To buy your own domain, visit a domain registrar service like Namecheap, and search for domain availability. Most hosting sites also have domain registration services, so you could actually buy your domain as you are signing up for a host. We like to have our domain and hosting services separate in case one of them gets compromised.
2)Purchase a hosting plan
Your new domain needs to be hosted on a server, typically on an annual plan. We've had good experiences with Bluehost and Hostgator, which also offer good customer service for beginners.
3)Install WordPress
WordPress is a content management system that allows easy and intuitive posting and update of your blog. A majority of the internet's blogs actually run on WordPress because it is incredibly easy to use. When you login to the control panel of your host you should see a 1-click WordPress installation.
4)Install A Theme
A theme is a background template that gives you the basic structure and look of your site. WordPress comes with a massive selection of free themes to get you started, which can be selected by going into Appearance -> Themes from your wordpress left sidebar.
5)Hit Publish
The world won't get to hear your online voice until you write a post and hit publish! Go for it, and let us know how it goes!
Questions? Ask away.
