Setting Up a blog using WordPress: 7 Basic Steps

Setting up a blog with WordPress can be as simple as just taking the below 7 steps. So if all you’re looking for are the bare-bone points about how to set up a WordPress blog as a beginner these steps should be enough for you.

DISCLOSURE. This post may contain affiliate links. I will receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you use any link to buy something. Thanks.

You can keep reading to get the details in case you need more than these.

• Learn a few things about blogging.
• Choose a blogging niche.
• Get a domain name.
• Choose a blogging platform.
• Sign up with a web hosting company.
• Install the most needed plugins.
• Begin to blog like nobody’s business.

Remember to get the necessary equipment for your blogging career to take off smoothly. I think this is a no-brainer.

The most important basic blogging equipment in my opinion are your laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. There is so much to add as time goes on.

Following is a detailed explanation of the steps needed to start a blog as a beginner.

1. Enrol in a Free Blogging Course

You can take a free blogging course to learn the basics of setting up a WordPress website. One such course is the Alison WordPress Masterclass for Beginner Bloggers.

Remember, however, that although it is a great idea to enrol in a course to learn about blogging before starting a blog it is never an absolute necessity.

So if you want to start a blog as a beginner without taking an online blogging course for beginners, you can still find less formal ways to find out a lot about what it takes to be a blogger.

For instance, a quick search on Google will give you a wealth of beginner blogging resources from blogs and YouTube channels.

2. Select Your Niche

A blogging niche is basically the target market or audience for whose consumption you will be publishing content.

Here is a basic truth about blogging. It is not advisable to just publish posts for everyone out there. A blog needs to focus on just a tiny segment of your niche market to provide value and build authority over time.

Note also that there is so much to do with a blog that trying to be everything to everybody will drain your energy and force you to abandon the whole project out of fatigue and frustration.

You can find a lot of information on choosing a blogging niche in the below articles.

80+ Best Sub-Niches in Finance for Beginner Bloggers (and How to Make Them Work)

28 Profitable Sub-Niches in Fashion for Beginner Bloggers

How to Find a Profitable Sub-Niche for a New Blog

3. Buy a Domain Name

Another important step to take to start a blog as a beginner is to find and purchase your domain name. This domain name will form a vital part of your website’s address on the internet.

Here are a few factors to bear in mind as you search for a domain name. Please note that I find these to be very simple but effective ways of choosing a domain name that fits your goals best.

Granted, there are other ways to arrive at the same destination. So don’t just take my word for it. You can do additional about choosing a domain name.

Then settle on the one you consider most appropriate to your needs.

• Let the name of your blog reflect in the domain name. For example, this site’s name is Cegast Academy and its domain name is cegastacademy.com. Sometimes, this can make your SEO life a bit easier.
• It is better to have a relatively short, memorable domain name.
• For a domain extension, .com is the most popular. However, you might also want to consider .net, .org and others. It all depends on your personal needs and preferences.

Here is an article to guide you as you brainstorm the domain extension to work with.

So what do you do when you find out that your preferred domain name is already taken?

Do not despair. Get creative. You can either alter or add a few letters or edit your first choice.

Another way is to go for something similar. This domain availability search tool will suggest other variations of your domain name for you to consider.

4. Decide on Your Content Management System Platform

Would you prefer to create your blog and website on WordPress.org? I will recommend WordPress to you on any day.

Still, you might want to look a different way. Blogger, Drupal, Wix and Ghost are among the other blogging platforms out there.

Now if you wish to start your blog on a free blogging platform, there are great choices such as Google’s Blogger (Blogspot), Wix, WordPress.com and a host of others.

But remember that for a fully functional blog that will make it possible for you to monetize your traffic any way you want, it is best to choose WordPress.org or other paid CMS platforms.

5. Buy Hosting and Set Up Your Website

To start a truly professional blogging career, you need a self-hosted website rather than a free one. This is where a web hosting company comes in.

For most people who desire to start a blog as a beginner, shared hosting is the best choice. Among other considerations, shared hosting is less expensive than other hosting services like WordPress Managed Hosting.

In some instances, you can get your site running for as little as $3 per month.

Your blog needs a place it can call its own home on the internet. Though there are many web hosting companies, only a few are popular among both beginner bloggers and blogging pros.

Find below a list of web hosting companies to choose from. Popular web hosting service providers include Bluehost, GoDaddy, Siteground and Hostgator.

The good news is that even if you know very little about how to install WordPress and create a website, you have nothing to fear. A lot of these web hosting companies will assist you in setting everything up. Some do so as a FREE service to attract more clients.

6. Install Essential Plugins

A few plugins are a must for anyone who wants to start blogging as a beginner. This is key when you choose WordPress as your content management system and are using WordPress.org on a self-hosted website.

And since you may be starting your blog on a budget, your best bet is to go in for the most useful free WordPress plugins.

According to Neil Patel a widely respected digital marketing expert, the following are among the free plugins every beginner blogger must have on their WordPress blog.

• Jetpack by WordPress
• Akismet Anti Spam
• Yoast SEO
• WP Super Cache

There is a very large number of plugins and tools that one can install to start a blog as a beginner and watch it grow into a full-time income-generating business are many. And for almost every function of a WordPress website, there are scores of alternative tools to choose from.

To me, this is one of those things that make blogging a fascinating career. All you need to do is pick a few of these plugins to start with. As time goes on, your experience will teach you what to add and what to stop using.

Top 9 Plugins to Start an Educational Blog

Best 50+ Free Blogging Tools for Beginner Bloggers

7. Start Blogging

It is now time for you to start writing and publishing your best content online. In the blogging fraternity, there is a popular saying that ‘content is king’.

Much of what will come off your blog will depend on how much content you can publish. You need to do this on a consistent, regular basis.

So do not waste your time trying to make your site look ‘attractive’ at the expense of content creation.

Also, it is best to have a blogging schedule and work according to it as much as you can.

Finally, note that so long as you remain a blogger, there is never going to be an end to the competing ‘important’ blogging tasks to perform each day. Just bear in mind that writing stuff and publishing it is what matters the most among them all.

Final Thoughts

Now you know what steps to take to start a blog as a beginner. As I said at the beginning, there are many other things that one needs to do to start a new blog but some are better placed on the back burner for a future date. All you need to do first is to act quickly and boldly step in.

Do not allow fear, indecision or overwhelm to paralyse you or prevent you from starting a blog as a beginner.

Personally, experience has taught me something I want to share with you. And here is it.

When it comes to blogging, there is so much to occupy your time and make you feel confused and exhausted. But at the same time, it is possible to overcome all these by simplifying everything down to the basics.

Avoid unnecessary time-wasters. Do what is enough to allow you to start a blog today and then take your time to scale it over time.

Did you find this information useful? Then share it on your favourite social media platform by clicking one or more icons below. Thank you very much for sharing.

Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by PTG Market