I get asked about blogging ALL. THE. TIME. It is shocking how little information is out there about the very beginning basics of starting a blog: the terminology, and the structure of a blog.
Whether you are considering starting a blog as a hobby or as a business, START HERE! Understanding the terms and structure in the beginning will make your journey SO MUCH EASIER!
The Basics of Blogging – Terminology
BLOG – A blog is a website, typically with many different pages, that you can design and use to talk about whatever your little heart desires. You can add words, videos, images, and/or music.
DOMAIN NAME – A domain name is the “www.(whatever).com” that is the internet address of your blog. A domain name must be purchased.
HOSTING – Hosting refers to where your blog (with your unique domain name) is sitting on the internet. Also known as “web server space”.
BLOGGING PLATFORM – The blogging platform is the online software you use to create your blog.
THEME – The theme refers to the look and layout of your blog. A blogging platform will provide free themes you can use, or you can buy and install your own theme from a third party.
The Basics of Blogging – Structure – AKA Putting It All Together
Now that you know the terms, let’s put it all together.
I like to use the analogy of a shopping mall. Imagine your blog is a store in the mall. Your domain name is the name of your store. The hosting is the particular mall where your store is located. The blogging platform is the engineer who provides shelving for your product (content). And the theme is the designer who makes it all pretty and inviting.
Using this blog as an example… my domain name is themultitaskingmomsclub.com. My hosting is through a company called BlueHost. The blogging platform I use is WordPress. And I bought my theme from Bluchic.
OK, OK. Before you go running for the hills screaming “Nevermind! It’s too complicated!”, hear me out.
STARTING A BLOG IS NOT AS DIFFICULT AS IT SEEMS!
You can start a blog with BlueHost in just a few easy steps. Bluehost will take you through the process of finding a domain name, setting up their hosting, and linking to the WordPress blogging platform… all in just about 5 minutes. IT REALLY IS THAT EASY! Yea!!!
Note: Starting a blog does cost money. But, with BlueHost, you pay just one fee for your domain name (actually it will be free for the first year), your hosting, and access to the WordPress blogging platform. Also, WordPress offers free themes, so you do not *need* to spend money on that just yet, or ever, if you choose.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to start a blog, NOW IS THE TIME. Now that you understand the basics of starting a blog, the sky’s the limit!
