Step by step guide... bluehost, wordpress & blogging

Hi, I am Mark Slym and this is my first post on Wordpress platform. Like most of the fellow bloggers, I started with Blogger.com, which is damn easy for starters like me, but the missing link is limited functionality. As a result I planned to shift to Wordpress and with this my journey starts on a new ship.

Hosting Platform

After researching across the web, for suitable Hosting service I finally zeroed down on BLUEHOST.COM. There are many good things about it and one of them is that; Wordpress.org recommends it with highest rating.

- Bluehost is very affordable - just $6.95/month
- With it you get a free domain name for life
- And you can host multiple domains and websites on one account
- Bluehost provides 24/7 customer support, and they really do answer the phone and fix problems fast.
- They give you unlimited space and transfer bandwidth
- Also, BlueHost promises to make any WordPress updates available to you within 24 hours, so that you can keep your WordPress installation up to date with the latest security fixes and new features with minimal effort.

To get your own Bluehost account click here

Purchased Bluehost... now what?

I was afraid about having no idea about wordpress & codings, and if some problem happened; how I will tackle it, but soon I found my fear to be baseless.
I was googling around to find suitable videos and guidance to proceed further and very soon, my laptop was full of downloaded videos and tutorials, still I was having no idea what to do?

I was looking for something, that could provide me step-by-step guidance at one place ... one stop shop, but failed to locate.
To rescue myself, I watched these tutorials one by one and short-listed the best tutorials (that I am presenting in my collection below), so that novice bloggers like me can be benefited in future.


1) Installing wordpress on bluehost using Simple Scripts click here

2) Wordpress theme After your wordpress is installed next most important step is to select your wordpress theme, I have listed some of themes that I liked, but if you will google, you may locate some better options meeting your requirements.

a) Newsweek theme is available for free and awards great functionality and creativity to blogger.
b) Simple Balance is again a free theme, and requires less understanding of coding.
c) Indomagz blog theme is also a free theme and looks great.
d) Arthemia is a Premium theme available for US$70 although free version is also available.
e) Thesis theme is again a premium theme and personal copy is available for $87.

Installing theme on Wordpress

Most of the Wordpress themes have installing instructions enclosed with them, still you can get fair idea by watching the video... click here

Now once you are ready with desired theme uploaded, check your website; how it looks and if it is "OK" you have almost completed the task, Congratulations ;-)

Now let us add some more functionality to it by adding some plugins and widgets.

What are Plugins and Widgets?

Answer - Plugin and Widget

a) How to install Plugin?
b) How to add Widget?

Below, find some of the must plugins, which I have installed-
i. All in One SEO
ii. Google Sitemap Generator
iii. Why do work Adsense
iv. Ping Optimiser; Read, Download, Update your default Ping list

Analysing Traffic

Other important aspect is analysing the incoming traffic-
Statcounter, register a free account and add a piece of code to widget area.
Google Analytics Plugin, register a free account and again add code.

With all above you must feel proud to have a fully functional good looking website, further you can customize appearance and functionality as per your likes.

I hope above steps will make life a bit easier.
If you know better tutorials for the above steps or you think something is missing... please add a comment so that I can update for benefit of newcomers.



Note - this page is regularly updated