Start A Blog

This is a guide to help you start your own blog.

Many people have asked me how to start a weight loss blog and even found my blog searching for advice on how to create a weight loss blog.  I love helping people start blogging and the following instructions will get you started (with a fully created blog) in less than an hour. EASY!

*note: I’ve updated this page in Jan 2013 to make it easier. Enjoy blogging, friends!

Start A Weight Loss/Healthy Living Blog NOW

Starting a new blog might seem overwhelming but it only takes a few steps. The whole process is quite simple and you’ll have your new blog up and running in no time.

Step 1: Buy A Domain

The first step in starting a new blog is to name your blog.

Spend some time thinking about this. I started out at a different name than amerrylife.com and had to switch. It’s a hassle so make sure you choose something you like upfront.

You can register your domain with your hosting package, but I no longer recommend doing that. If you change hosting it becomes a hassle. You should register your domain at a separate place from your hosting.

I recommend GoDaddy for domains. I use it for all my domains and so does the web design company I work for. It’s great for domains and the price will cost you between $7 and $20 a year.

Register Your Domain with GoDaddy

1. Go to GoDaddy.com to register your new domain.
2. Enter your desired domain
3. Follow the prompts.
4. Enter any coupons you may have and finish the checkout.

Do not use GoDaddy for hosting. I do not recommend them for this service though they are great with domains.

Step 2: Buy Hosting

Your blog needs a place to live. Your new hosting account is where your blog is going to reside.

Hosting is generally rather inexpensive and will only cost you between $4 and $10 a month. Considering your blog gets a nice play to stay, that’s a deal.

Buy Your Hosting With Hostmonster

1. Go to Hostmonster
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your domain that you got from GoDaddy in step 1
4. Enter your account and billing information.
5. Choose your hosting package. You have the choice of 12 months, 24 months or 36 months. Your hosting will be cheaper per month with the longer timeframe you choose.
   
6. Unclick the SiteLock Domain Security and Site Backup Pro and Search Engine Jumpstart and any other boxes checked. You don’t need these.
7. Click “next”.
8. You will receive a confirmation in your email inbox with login details.

Step 3: Change Your Nameservers

This sounds more complicated than it is, promise. You just have to tell GoDaddy where your blog is going to live. Here is a short {and easy to follow} video tutorial on how to change the name server on your domain with GoDaddy.

Step 4: Set Up WordPress

1. Login to your new Hostmonster account
2. In your control panel find the icon “Simple Scripts” under the “Software/Services” section.
3. Click “WordPress” under “Blogs”
4. Click “Install”
5. Specify what domain you want Worpress to be installed on.
6. Choose your “Advanced Options” (not necessary)
7. 7. Agree to Hostmonster Terms of Service.
8. 8. Click “Complete”

You are finished! Hostmonster is cool and does all the work for you. WordPress is now uploaded to your domain and ready for you to make it an awesome blog.

Step 5: Next Steps

You will receive an email with a temporary username and password to your blog and the login address for your WordPress dashboard.  When you get this go in and immediately change the username and password to whatever you want, just make sure it is secure.

Login to your new blog at http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin or http://yourdomain.com/wp-login.php and get started!

You can choose a theme and start your first post. For more on what to do after you’ve started the blog, keep reading.

WOOHOOO!! You did it!!  You just created your own domain and your own-self hosted blog.  Way to go. :)

Moving A WordPress Blog to Self-Hosting

If you aren’t starting from the very beginning and have decided to move a wordpress.com blog to your own domain name with self-hosting, you should follow the above steps to create a new wordpress blog on your domain and then you will have to export and import your old blog posts into the new one.  These steps a for a wordpress.com blogger.

EXPORTING AND IMPORTING YOUR OLD BLOG

1. Login to your OLD blog, at WordPress.com.
2. From the Dashboard, on the left, click “Tools.” Under that, click “Export.”
3. Choose “All Authors” in the dropdown box, and click “Download Export File.”
4. Save the file in place where you’ll be able to find it.
5. Login to your NEW blog.
6. From the Dashboard, on the left, click “Tools.” Under that, click “Import.”
   
7. In the list of choices, click “WordPress.”
8. Find the file using “Browse,” then click “Upload file and import.”
9. When you are asked to map authors, decide whether you want everything from your old blog to be under a single author name, which by default will be your current user name. If you want multiple author names, you’ll need to create new users, which you can do in your new blog’s Dashboard.

Finished!  You blog is nice and shiny and new now!  Go back to your old blog and write a new post redirecting your readers to your new site.  It is probably a good idea not to delete your old blog due to scammy spammer activities.  You can go back and make it private or delete the posts (not the blog) or just redirect it and leave it all up.

For Blogger Users

Like I said before, I use and LOVE WordPress.  And it’s now super easy to switch from Blogger to WordPress.  You don’t have to do any exporting and importing – WordPress does it all for you.  So if you have ever wanted to switch, now is a great time.  Here are the instructions:

1. Log in to your WordPress blog. From the Dashboard, on the left, click “Tools.” Under than, click “Blogger.”
2. You have to let WordPress access your Blogger account, so click “Authorize” and then “Grant access.”
3. You will then be taken back to WordPress and your blogger blog(s) will be listed. Click on the “Import” button on the right of your blog listing under “The Magic Button.”
4. After it imports click the button again to set authors.
5. When you are asked to map authors, decide whether you want everything from your old blog to be under a single author name, which by default will be your current user name. If you want multiple author names, you’ll need to create new users, which you can do in your new blog’s Dashboard.
6. Click “Save changes” and you are done! The old blogger posts will appear in your WordPress blog complete with comments and all.

If you are happy with your Blogger blog and only want to create a new domain name that will be easier for people to remember than yourblog.blogspot.com, I’m happy to say domain mapping is also super easy with Blogger blogs.  Check out this tutorial on how to get a custom domain name for your Blogger blog (you can even buy a domain through Blogger, it’s that easy).

Questions?

If you encounter any questions along the way, so feel free to send me questions via my contact form or send me a message on Twitter at @amerrylife.  I’ll be happy to help you.

When in doubt, go to wordpress.org and type your question in the search box.  They have great support pages that can help  Also, don’t hestitate to call up the people at Hostmonster, your new hosting company.  They have great tech support and can talk you through any problem. Never panic over delays or snags.

And if you still feel completely lost or just don’t want to do this, fill out the contact form and I will set up a new blog for you for the extremely low fee of $25.00.  ;)

Awesome Bloggers Who Have Done It!

• Alison – Waisting Duxie
• Amanda – The Health Happy Girl
• Becky – Life Ain’t Always Beautiful
• Jason – The Big Mouth Blog
• Kelli – Food, Fitness, & Fun in All 50 States
• Kendra – Voice In Recovery
• Meegan – redstar5 – Work In Progress
• Melissa – The Journey To Marvelous
• Poppy – From Fried Chicken To Tofu
• Rachel – Grown Up Rachel
• Randi – Kickin Fat
• Rita – The Giggly Bits
• Roder – Time I Finish What I Started
• Sarah – Skinny Genes
• The Fat Kid – Memoirs Of A Fat Kid

If you have made the switch using my directions then let me know.  I’ll add you to the growing list of awesome bloggers!  (Links are good for your blog, so you definitely want one here.) Congrats to all you have made the switch and started their own blogs! :)

More: How To Create An Awesome Blog

After giving out advice and being asked a ton of questions about how to create a weight loss blog that is well read and visited (and even makes you some money), I decided to compile all my knowledge into a section on the site about blogging. You can get all the info on these pages:

• Important WordPress Settings
• WordPress Plugins
• WordPress Themes
• Blog Security Tips
• Types of Health Blogs
• Deciding Why You Want to Blog
• Blogging Tips
• More Quick Blogging Tips
• Weight Loss Blogging Tips
• How to Increase Blog Traffic
• SEO For Health Blogging
• On Site SEO Tips
• External SEO Tips
• Blog Monetization Tips
• Opportunities From Blogging
• Blogging Action Plan

I also highly recommend the e-book 31 Days To Build A Better Blog from Darren Rowse, aka ProBlogger. It will lead you through a month of exercise to improve your blog drastically. Thousands of bloggers have used it to improve their blogs because it actually helps.

*Note* There are affiliate links in this post. I earn a small commission if you choose to use the products and services I’ve recommended. Thank you so much in advance for your support!