by JuliannaKunstler.com
Time to give your idea a name and a home.
This tutorial is geared towards setting up a WordPress blog.
Finding a domain name and a hosting provider - is an important step. In this tutorial I will suggest you some providers, but you can explore them on your own - I won't feel bad about it! :)
A domain name is just the address people type in the browser search bar, like “juliannakunstler.com”.
There's a wide range of domain name extensions available, including .com, .org, .net, .info, and many more.
.com is considered the best, but also the most popular so be aware that your preferred .com name may be registered already.
I recommend you get the .com if you can, as it’s easiest for most people to remember, but it’s OK to get an ending like .net or .co if your first choice isn’t available.
It also depends on your budget. Some domain names can be very expensive. Consider modifying and tweaking it a little.
Your name should be something that represents you and your area of interest.
• Keep the name short. The maximum length for domain names is 63 characters, but do not plan on using them all.
• Make it memorable. Try to stay away from awkward phrases or special characters, numbers, or symbols. A good way to check the name is to try to tell it somebody over the phone. If they got it - then great!
And really, do not invest your time into free domains. It does not look professional at all!
You can buy your domain name, site hosting and platform all in one place. Or you can different providers for these steps. Most hosting companies allow you to buy a name and hosting as a package, they might even give you a good deal on that.
Check name availability here:
Type a domain name you want for the blog and click the Search button.
Hopefully, your dream domain name is available!
If the name is already taken, try to modify it until you find something unique.
Once you decide on your domain name and have checked on its availability, you have two options:
You will need to wait 60 days before you can transfer a domain name between your domain name registrar and hosting provider. Or you can "point" to your domain using Domain mapping.
I, personally, use option 2.
Hosting is your site's home.
This is where you keep all files for the site.
This is also a place you call if you have any issues. So custom service is an important part of what the provider provides for you. Check customer service ratings and how much technical support they offer.
You can choose a hosting provider that will fit your goals:
Hosting providers offer different packages to host your site.
If you are just starting and need time to get familiar with how everything works - you can save some money by starting on a small scale.
Keep in mind that you can always upgrade the package when it is time to expand your site functionality. Start with a package that will suit your budget and goals.
Just so you know, you will need time to attract consistent traffic to your site - it will not happen overnight.
Below are the steps that show how to set up domain and hosting registration using WordPress.com.
Most hosting providers will have you follow very similar steps.
So if you are not using WordPress as your host - you can skip that part and go directly to "Inside WordPress" part.
Once you past registration and are in WordPress application - the interface of it looks exactly the same, no matter what provider you are using.
Create an account.
Follow the instructions: email, password.
Answer simple questions about your future site.
This will help the search engine find your blog.
So don't skip this step.
The next step is to assign your site the name you chose.
If you have already checked the availability of your dream domain - type it in here and proceed to purchasing.
If you have already purchased the domain - choose "Already own a domain" and follow the steps.
Click Select button to proceed with purchasing the domain name.
Then select your hosting plan.
You can start with a basic plan to learn the way the application works, and then upgrade it at any time.
When buying a domain, your contact details are added to a public database by law.
Buying private registration prevents you from being spammed with hundreds of calls from telemarketers— well worth it.
Complete the rest of the setup windows, including your payment options, etc.
Once you hit the last ENTER button - you are so ready to start!!!
Your website needs software to “power” it.
WordPress is the best way to go:
It is good for beginners (and advanced users)
You can add more functionality as your site grows (like paid adds, downloads, etc.)
It has plenty of free or paid templates to make your site look professional.
Once you have registered and logged in, you will be taken to WordPress dashboard.
This is where you will find your updates, statistics, tools, shortcuts, well... basically... everything.
There are a few things that you need to set up now. They are not visual, but very important - we need to keep the site safe, easy to manage, and allow the search engines to actually find you.
Permalinks are the permanent URLs to your individual pages and blog posts. The URL to each post should be permanent, and never change — hence the name permalink.
Choose "Post name" option for your permalinks - this will give each of your future post a descriptive name.
Descriptive names are easy for your visitors to find and remember, and, mostly important - the search engines will happily find them too.
A very important quick check - make sure you allow search engines to index your site.
That if you want your site to be ranked by Google (and other search engines) for any keyword. And you do want that!
Settings > Reading > Site Visibility.
Backups are always your most important asset in case something goes wrong with your computer or your site.
It is less painful if you have an updated backup.
As a website owner it is important to know how many people are visiting your site, what pages are most popular, etc. And that's only a start.
Knowing this data, you can improve visitor's experience and attract more visitors.
The most in-depth analytics is available for free! It's called Google Analytics.
Sign up and follow their guide.
To incorporate the Analytics into your site, you can use one of many available plugins. Just search for Google Analytics in Plugins section.
WordPress.com provides you with built-in stats that give you lots of information about your traffic, but if you need more information - you can use additional webmaster tools by major search engines and social sites.
For most sites, in order to verify your site for webmaster tools, you normally need to add a hidden “meta tag” to your page. Since you can’t edit the theme files of your site on WordPress.com, you can use this Tools option to gather some additional information on your site traffic that might be of interest to you.
There are links right below the heading to set up these tools.
