Blogging for Beginners: Day 2

Choosing a Host, Installing WordPress, and Selecting Branding


Ready for Day 2?

Welcome back for Day 2 of Blogging for Beginners!

Today, we’ll cover the essentials of website hosting and its impact on your blog’s success. By selecting the perfect hosting provider, you’ll have a foundation for optimal performance and long-term growth of your blog.

Today’s session is designed to be action based and help you to sign up for hosting to start your blog! Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Exploring Different Hosting Options

Just like finding the right pair of shoes, selecting the perfect website host is all about understanding your needs and preferences. As a beginning blogger, there are many hosts out there but they are not all created equal. You’ll want to pick one that is affordable and reliable as a beginning blogger.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Hosting Provider

Like any investment, choosing your hosting provider is all about sifting through the options and finding what works best for your unique situation. As you navigate the sea of hosting providers, consider:

  • Reliability: Can you trust your host to deliver consistent, uninterrupted service 24/7?
  • Performance: Does the hosting provider have enough resources to ensure your blog loads quickly, keeping your readers happy and engaged?
  • Support: When you have questions or run into technical issues, will you receive timely and helpful assistance?
  • Scalability: Will the hosting provider be able to grow with your blog as your needs and ambitions evolve?
  • Pricing: Does the cost match the features, benefits, and performance of the hosting provider?

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

As we discussed a bit on Day 1, there are two different WordPress sites! WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two very different platforms, although they are both related to building websites using WordPress. Again let’s cover the difference:

  1. WordPress.com: This is a hosted service. That means when you build a website on WordPress.com, it’s hosted on THEIR servers. You don’t need to buy separate hosting or manage technical aspects such as security and backups – that’s all done for you. However, the trade-off is less control. You have limited customization options and you can’t upload custom themes or plugins. There are different plans, including free and premium, each offering different levels of features and flexibility.
  2. WordPress.org: This is the home of the free, open-source WordPress software that you can download and install on your own web host. With WordPress.org, you have full control over your website. You can customize it to your heart’s content, upload custom themes, install any plugins, and even modify the site’s code if you want. However, you are responsible for buying and setting up your own hosting, and you also have to manage site security, performance, and backups yourself.

In simpler terms, WordPress.com is like renting an apartment where everything is taken care of but you have limited freedom to redecorate. WordPress.org is like owning a house – you can paint the walls any color you like, but you have to fix the plumbing if it breaks!

If you want to start a blog that you plan to monetize you will want to use WordPress.org for your website, which means you will need to pick a hosting provider to house your blog.

Selecting The Right Hosting Provider

In this lesson, I am happy to share that I have partnered with Dreamhost, one of the most reputable and reliable hosting providers in the industry for new bloggers. I have personally chosen Dreamhost as my preferred hosting provider for new bloggers, and I highly recommend them for your blogging journey.

By partnering with Dreamhost, I can offer you an exclusive discount! If you use my affiliate link to set up your blog with Dreamhost, you will not only gain access to their exceptional hosting services but you will lock in a great discount for 1-3 years of your blogging journey.

Their WordPress Starter plan includes 1 year plan starts at $2.99 a month (just $34 for 1 year of self hosting) and their 3 year plan drops down to $2.59 a month (just $94 for 3 years of self hosting). That’s a great value and discount! Dreamhost will also provide 1 year of a FREE website domain through their service (that’s a $12 value all included!).

There is also the WordPress Unlimited package which we love if you plan to setup more than one blog! This package ends up being $2.99 a month for a year commitment or $3.95 a month for 3 year commitment. If you plan to have branded email this is the package to go with as it also includes unlimited emails for your websites or blogs!

Use this link to grab your discount!

As an added bonus, I am happy to offer you 45 days of one-on-one email coaching on the technical pieces of setting up your blog if you sign up with my hosting partner! This means that as you start on your blogging adventure with Dreamhost, I’ll be right by your side, answering your questions, providing insights, and assisting you every step of the way.

This personalized coaching will help you overcome any hurdles, maximize your blog’s potential, and accelerate your growth as a blogger. If you are not tech savvy this is a great opportunity for you to have someone in tech right there with you as you setup your blog!

Please use the form below to let me know you’ve signed up with my affiliate link to start email coaching.

Please note that this offer is exclusively available to those who choose Dreamhost through the above link. Offering affiliate marketing in this course allows me to keep the course free and help as many new bloggers as possible.

Blog coaching form

More About Dreamhost

Dreamhost’s hosting plans offer exceptional features, including ample storage, reliable bandwidth, robust security measures, regular backups, and outstanding customer support. By choosing Dreamhost through my affiliate link, you not only benefit from their top-tier hosting services but also gain access to my personalized coaching to supercharge your blogging journey.

To take advantage of this offer, simply use my affiliate link during your website setup process with Dreamhost. Once you’ve completed the setup, reach out to me via the form above, and we’ll kickstart our 45 days of one-on-one coaching together. Let’s make your blogging dreams a reality!

Need to switch hosts?

Did you previously sign up with a host you don’t really like? We’ve all been there done that. No worries! I can help you migrate your site to a new host. Depending on the size of your website and if you want to have multiple blogs I recommend Dreamhost, Cloudways, or BigScoots for this process. All three offer easy migration services too!

Dreamhost has an Unlimited websites option and Cloudways offers a full server for unlimited WordPress installs. Big Scoots has the best customer service in the industry and has a package that allows up to 5 websites on one account! These options are really best if you are looking to scale your blog quickly and don’t have a tight budget for starting your blog.

Depending on your goals these hosts can be great options for multiple blog ideas you might have which would all need different WordPress installs at an affordable rate. Please reach out to me if you want to switch hosts and we can talk about the best path forward.

Signing Up For Dreamhost

I’ve made a short video to walk you through step-by-step everything you need to sign up for Dreamhost in the video below. After you sign up we will jump into picking a theme, and selecting your plugins.

Use this link to grab your discount!

Logo and Website Colors

Once you’ve chosen your blog name and signed up for hosting, it’s time to think about your branding. Branding encompasses various elements, such as colors, logo, and overall visual identity, that will represent your blog. Let’s look at some key considerations to help you create a cohesive and appealing brand.

Website Colors

First, think about the colors that would work well on your website and in your logo. Coolors have the power to evoke emotions and create a distinct atmosphere. Consider selecting a color palette that aligns with your blog’s theme and target audience.

For example, if you’re running a fitness blog, vibrant and energetic colors may be suitable, while a minimalist blog might benefit from more neutral tones.

Coolors.co is a great website if you are stuck on what colors to select!

Next, let’s discuss designing your logo. As a beginner, you have a few options to consider. If you’re looking for a free option, you can use Canva, which provides user-friendly design tools and templates. Canva is a great choice for creating a simple and professional-looking logo without any design experience. Canva also has a pro option if you want to upgrade to get more features.

If you’re willing to invest in more advanced design tools, you can explore paid options such as PicMonkey or Adobe Creative Cloud. These platforms offer more advanced features and customization options for designing your logo. They are suitable for bloggers who want more creative control and are willing to learn and experiment with design.

Alternatively, if you prefer to work with a professional designer, you can collaborate with a freelance web designer on platforms like Fiverr. Freelancers on Fiverr offer logo design services at various price points, allowing you to find a designer who meets your needs and budget.

Remember, your logo is an essential part of your brand identity. It’s worth investing time and effort into creating a logo that represents your blog and resonates with your audience.

You’ve Completed Day 2!

Congratulations! We’ve covered a lot! Everything from selecting a blog name that accurately represents your topic and signing up for hosting and installing WordPress. And thinking about your blog colors from your blog name.

Tomorrow, we will talk about picking a theme and installing it on WordPress!

BAck to Day 1
  • Disclaimer: I use affiliate marketing in this course! the main reason I can keep this resource free is I rely on reader support through affiliate marketing. if you use one of my links to purchase a product or service I RECEIVE a small COMMISSION at no additional cost to you