How To Start A Blog With Our FREE Blog Tutorial….

This blog tutorial will walk you through setting up your very own self-hosted WordPress blog. This tutorial will walk you through every step needed to get your new blog set up and running. When you are done with this blog tutorial, you will have a new blog!

Make sure you go over every step within this blogging tutorial. It may seem a bit over whelming, but I will guide you through the entire process! Bookmark this page now, so you can come back if you need to reference it again!

Step One

You will need a domain name for your blog. If you already have a domain name, you can move to step two. If you do not have a domain name you need to register one.  You can register your domain name for $6.95 with the coupon code below.

Open a new window and go to http://www.godaddy.com and do a search for a domain name you would like to use. Once you have found one, follow the checkout process to register the domain name.

ENTER IN COUPON CODE: cjcdeal96

You do not need any of the other products or services they offer. DO NOT set up your hosting with GoDaddy. They are great for cheap domain names but their hosting is not the best.

Once your domain name order has been processed you will get an email from GoDaddy confirming the registration.

Note: Make sure you write down the GoDaddy login name and password, as you will need it later.

Step Two

This step will guide you through setting up your website hosting.

1. You can order your web hosting here. (will open a new window so you can continue reading) You will need the “BABY” plan, which is $7.95 a month, but you can get started for just .1 with the coupon code wordpress.
2. Click Order Hosting Now.
3. On the next page you will be asked if you want to Register New Domain or will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only. You will want to select I will use My Existing Domain and update My Nameservers only.
4. Click Next
5. Enter in the coupon code wordpress and click calculate totals.
6. You will then be shown a page that shows your order and should show your adjusted total due as .1
7. Click Continue and Enter in your billing info and process with your checkout.

When you are done you will get an email from Host Gator confirming your order, with your login info and dns server info/name servers. It normally takes about 15-30 minutes to get your welcome email.

Step One and Step Two Are Required To Go To The Next Step.

Step Three

Once you have got your hosting website email, locate the name server information and you will need to do the following…

1. Go to http://www.godaddy.com
2. Login to your account
3. Once logged in, you will see a green bar at the top of the page with links. Click on Domains and then select My Domains.
4. This will load your domain control panel. Select the domain you just registered by checking the box and then click on nameservers.
5. Click the Custom nameservers options.
6. Clear out the nameservers in the two slots and enter in the nameservers you were given in your hosting welcome email.
7. Once you enter in both nameservers from your welcome email, click the OK button.

Your domain name will now be pointed to your new hosting account within 24 hours. It generally only takes a few hours, but please allow 24 hours for the domain to propagate to the new server.

Step Four

We are getting ready to set your blog up! Open a new browser and go to yournewdomain.com/cpanel replace yournewdomain.com with the new domain name you registered.

Example:

• if your domain is 12345.com enter in 12345.com/cpanel
• if your domain is mommameia.com enter in mommameia.com/cpanel

You will be prompted to enter in your user name and password. If you do not remember what user name you selected, just go back and look in your website email from the hosting company.

Note: If it says the domain can not be found, it is ok. This means the domain name has not propagated to the new server. Wait a few hours and try again.

• Once you are able to login you will see many icons. Locate the smiley that says fantastico and click on it.
• On the new page look to your left and find the link under Blogs that says WordPress.
• Click On WordPress
• You will see some info and a navy blue link that says New Installation and you want to click that.

You will now be asked a series of questions.

• Install on domain- Select your domain name
• Install in directory- Leave Blank
• Administrator-username- Select a username you want to use to login to your blog.
• Password- Select the password you want to use to login to your blog.
• Admin nickname- The name you want people to see.
• Admin e-mail- Your contact email.
• Site Name- Name of the blog.
• Description- Short description of the blog.

After your enter in all of the details

• Click on Install WordPress
• When the next screen comes up click on Finish Installation

You want to copy the next page and email it to yourself or print the page so you have a copy of the admin login page, password, ect.

Congratulations! Your new blog is set up!

You are now ready to enter into your blogs admin area. You can access this going to yournewdomain.com/wp-admin remember to replace yournewdomain.com with the domain name you will be using for the blog.

Take a look around and get familiar with the blog dashboard. This will be where you manage your new blog from.

Now you will need to follow the following links to learn how to…

• Configure Your Settings
• Make a new page or post
• Use Plugins
• Changing the theme (design)