WordPress review quick take: Our top choice for anyone wanting a blog because it’s easy to start and extremely user-friendly to use.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a very popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to easily create and manage websites and blogs. It offers a user-friendly interface, customizable themes, and a wide range of plugins to enhance functionality.
Side Hustle Potential
Starting a blog might be easy. You can actually get started within minutes. But it does take time and effort to get traffic to your website. However, you can start earning money if you create valuable content that people enjoy reading and love sharing.
- Monetize with ads: Display advertisements on your blog using ad networks like Google AdSense or affiliate marketing programs to earn revenue based on clicks or conversions.
- Offer services: Utilize your blog as a platform to showcase your expertise and offer services such as consulting, coaching, or freelance writing.
- Sell products: Set up an online store on your blog using plugins like WooCommerce to sell physical or digital products, courses, or memberships.
- Affiliate marketing: Promote products or services related to your niche and earn commissions for sales generated through your affiliate links.
Who is WordPress Best For
Starting a WordPress blog is ideal for just about anyone, but consider the following:
- If you’re passionate about sharing your knowledge, experiences, or interests. It shows up in your writing.
- If you’re an entrepreneur looking to establish an online presence and monetize expertise.
- If you’re an existing business owner wanting to drive traffic, generate leads, and build brand authority through content marketing.
There’s a good chance you’re just someone who simply wants to write and make money from writing. A WordPress blog is ideal to get you started because of its simplicity and ease of use.
Why Consider Using WordPress
The platform offers several advantages:
- Ease of use: WordPress is beginner-friendly, with intuitive tools and templates that make creating and managing a professional-looking blog without technical expertise easy.
- Customization: Choose from thousands of free and premium themes and plugins to customize your blog’s design, functionality, and features according to your preferences.
- SEO-friendly: WordPress is designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, offering features such as clean code, customizable permalinks, and SEO plugins to improve your site’s visibility and ranking on search engines. Basically, it’s easy for search engines like Google to read and rank your posts so others can find them when they search for info.
- Community support: Benefit from a large and active community of users, developers, and support forums where you can seek advice, troubleshoot issues, and stay updated on the latest trends and developments.
Ideas or Topics to Write About
You should write about topics you’re personally interested in and have knowledge about. But you certainly can find niche topics that people want to learn about and make money that way.
- Personal blog: Share your personal experiences, stories, or reflections on topics such as travel, fitness, parenting, or hobbies.
- Niche blog: Focus on a specific niche or industry, such as food, fashion, technology, finance, or health, and provide valuable content, tips, and insights for your target audience.
- How-to guides: Create informative and instructional guides, tutorials, or DIY projects related to your area of expertise or interests.
- Product reviews: Write honest and detailed reviews of products, services, or tools relevant to your niche, and include affiliate links to earn commissions from sales.
How to Start a WordPress Blog
Here are easy steps to take to get your WordPress blog started.
Step 1: Choose a domain name
Select a unique and memorable domain name for your blog that reflects your brand or niche.
Check out Siteground (you can register your domain name and get a hosting plan). It’s our top choice for hosting WordPress blogs.
Step 2: Select a hosting provider
Choose a reliable web hosting provider that offers WordPress hosting plans with features like one-click WordPress installation, SSL certificates, and 24/7 customer support.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Install WordPress on your hosting server using the one-click installation option provided by your hosting provider.
Again, take a look at Siteground because they offer one-click WordPress installation.
Step 4: Choose a theme
Select a WordPress theme that suits your blog’s style, layout, and functionality requirements. You can choose from free themes in the WordPress theme directory (the best place to start) or invest in a premium theme for more customization options.
Once you settle on a theme, you can choose to change it later if it doesn’t suit you. Don’t keep yourself from starting because you don’t have a theme you absolutely love at first.
Step 5: Customize your blog
Customize your blog’s appearance, layout, and features using the WordPress customizer and theme settings. Add your logo, customize colors and fonts, and configure sidebar widgets and navigation menus. This is not as complicated as it seems. In just a few hours, you’ll have a blog worthy of sharing with your family and friends.
Step 6 Create Content
Start creating and publishing content for your blog, including blog posts, articles, images, and videos. Focus on providing valuable, informative, and engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
It’s best to publish at least 3-4 articles before you start sharing your blog with others. This makes sure when you tell people you’re blogging, they can read more than one post.
Step 7: Install Essential Plugins
Plugins are like apps you can add to your WordPress blog. They help you do all sorts of things, from spam protection to contact us forms.
Install essential WordPress plugins to enhance your blog’s functionality and performance, such as Yoast SEO for SEO optimization, Akismet for spam protection, and Jetpack for security and analytics. WordPress makes it easy to install essential plugins that protect your site. Eventually, you may want different plugins. You’ll learn this along the way.
Tools You’ll Need
WordPress.org
Download and install the WordPress software from WordPress.org to self-host your blog and have full control over your site’s customization and features. This is the preferred option if you’re looking to monetize your blog. When you sign up with Siteground Hosting, they’ll help install WordPress on your new domain.
Web Hosting
Choose a reputable web hosting provider such as Bluehost, SiteGround, or HostGator to host your WordPress blog and ensure reliable performance and security.
WordPress Themes
Browse and choose a suitable WordPress theme from the WordPress theme directory or third-party theme marketplaces like ThemeForest or Elegant Themes.
WordPress Plugins
Install essential WordPress plugins to enhance your blog’s functionality and optimize performance, such as SEO, security, and social media sharing plugins.
Our WordPress Review
WordPress (WordPress.org or a WordPress install through a web host provider) is a great way to have a blog because you have full control, customization, and the ability to monetize your website traffic. This is often what’s called self-hosted WordPress because you have your own web host.
Another option is WordPress.com, where you can start a blog that WordPress hosts. It offers a similar interface and ease of use, but you’re limited in customizing and controlling your site.
We recommend going with a self-hosted WordPress if you’re looking to turn the blog into a money maker. Check out Siteground (for the best-managed WordPress sites) or Bluehost (for beginners).
WordPress Alternatives
Some WordPress alternatives include Substack and Medium. Both these platforms allow you to start writing and earning money without the need to self-host, install apps, or maintain the tech side of blogging.
A benefit from using the platforms is the built-in audience. The only major drawback of using Substack or Medium is the lack of customization and lack of ownership of the platform.
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