Alright, let’s get to the goooood stuff! You’re probably reading this post because 1.) you want to create a blog and need to know how, 2.) you just finished the first part of this series (How To Create A Blog: Know Your Passion (opens in a new tab)), or 3.) you’re just really bored right now. And that’s totally fine, friend. I’m so excited to share all of my resources with you today!
Now, before we get started on learning how to create a blog, I want to just go ahead and throw this out there: Don’t get overwhelmed! It’s a lot of info, the process will be confusing at first, but stick with it and one day it’ll be second nature. Hopefully this how-to will be helpful, but if you have any questions be sure to ask them in the comments below! Also, these are the resources that worked for me and that I used to start up Jar Of Lemons. (opens in a new tab) There are LOTS of options and resources out there, so do what’s best for YOU!
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. These are products that I know, trust, and love!
Here are the logistics of how to create a blog:
1.) Get a hosting company and domain name
According to Tech Tage, you should think of your blog as a person that’s looking for a house. The person (your blog) needs a place to live, so you’re purchasing a house AND an address. The web host is the actual house where the blog will live, and the address will be your domain name.
Choosing your domain name is one of the best parts! If you completed the Know Your Passion step before this post, then you should have a general idea of what your blog will be centered around. I chose the name Jar Of Lemons because even though I knew that it would be a food blog, I wanted a name that would allow me to explore other topics if I ever wanted to! Today, I’m grateful I did that since I’m starting to add in more fitness focused posts.
I use 1&1 (opens in a new tab) for hosting and my domain name and purchased the 1&1 Unlimited Basic (opens in a new tab) plan. It’s only 0.99$/month for the first year, then 7.99$/month after that! With this option, you get website hosting, emails, and the domain name all in one package deal. Personally, I think it’s pretty great!
I know that they also have an easy, 3-step website builder called MyWebsite, (opens in a new tab) but I’ve never used it. This might be a great option if you’re just wanting a website up and going quickly!
2.) Download your blogging platform
This is what you will actually use to write posts and publish them. Think of it as the interior of the “house”! So for this step I chose to use WordPress. (opens in a new tab) It’s super user-friendly and FREE! I have friends that use Squarespace (opens in a new tab) and love it as well, but I’ve always only used WordPress. (opens in a new tab) 😉
3.) Get a theme
Your theme is basically how the outside of your “house” looks. It’s the face of your blog! If you saw my blog before the recent face lift, I was using a paid version of the Theme In Progress – Sueva theme. (opens in a new tab)
My current website was built using the Genesis Framework. (opens in a new tab) I highly recommend this if you’re wanting something a little more unique to your style! You can also grab a great StudioPress theme (opens in a new tab) to go with it, as well.
So once you have these 3 steps done, your blog should pretty much be up and running! Play around with it, learn how to use it. It’ll take a little bit of time, but it’ll become easier to use over time!
Now that you’ve learned how to create a blog, here are some of the “essentials” that I use to actually make blog posts happen:
1.) DSLR Camera + Lens
There are tons of options out there when it comes to DSLR’s and lenses, but I LOVE my Canon 7D! (opens in a new tab) Sadly, it’s been discontinued, but you can still buy it on Amazon. (opens in a new tab) I’ve heard the Canon70D (opens in a new tab) is really great as well, if you’re looking for a newer camera body!
As far as lenses go, my go-to lens is the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. (opens in a new tab) It’s an amazing deal if you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive lens that takes great photos!
2.) Adobe Creative Cloud (opens in a new tab)
I use Lightroom (opens in a new tab) to edit photos and Photoshop (opens in a new tab) to create graphics (for Pinterest and other things). For me, it made sense to use the Creative Cloud (opens in a new tab) since I knew that I would eventually need to use Illustrator (opens in a new tab) and InDesign (opens in a new tab) for ebook’s (like the Free 5-Day Nutrition Plan). However, you can purchase each one separately or use something like Canva to create graphics!
3.) Props
This really only applies if you’re creating a food blog like I did! Here’s a list of my favorite props:
- Erickson Woodworks
- These Amazing Bowls (opens in a new tab)
- Good Napkins (opens in a new tab)
- Old silverware from antique shops!
If you’re anything like me, finding props will be NO problem. The real problem is telling yourself “no” when you want every bowl in the store!
4.) Lighting
In an ideal world, natural light would be abundant and perfect. However, that’s not always the case. Currently I just use my windows, but if you don’t have good window lighting (or if you’re wanting to do product shots/shots where you need to manipulate the light), I definitely recommend investing in good lighting! The good news is that it doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive.
You could use daylight bulbs, (opens in a new tab) or if you’re looking for an easy food photography light, the Lowel Ego (opens in a new tab) is a great one!
So hopefully now you have a starting place for the logistics of how to create a blog! In the next post, I’ll be talking about what I did to find my niche! (opens in a new tab)
