How to Create a Professional Blog Website for Beginners with WordPress (Video Tutorial)

Hi there! I’m Bethany, a passionate writer who recently built a blog website using WordPress to share my stories and practical advice. Alongside my husband, Yoda, a seasoned webmaster with over 20 years of experience, we’ve created this step-by-step tutorial to help you build your own fully functional, professional blog website—or add a blog to an existing site—at virtually no cost. Whether you’re a beginner or just looking for a simple, effective guide, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in!

Why Build a Blog Website?

A blog is a fantastic way to share your ideas, connect with an audience, and even explore monetization opportunities. My site, selftastic.com, features mobile-friendly design, easy navigation, and a blog section—perfect for beginners. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to replicate this and customize it to your needs, all while keeping costs minimal.

What You’ll Need

• Web Hosting: The only hard cost, ranging from $3–$10/month. We recommend HostGator for reliability and perks like a free domain and SSL certificate.
• A Browser: Chrome or Firefox works best (avoid Safari, Opera, or Internet Explorer for compatibility).
• Internet Access: That’s it—no fancy software required!

Step 1: Get Web Hosting with HostGator

Your website needs a home, and that’s where web hosting comes in. After 30 years of hosting experience, Yoda swears by HostGator. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Visit HostGator: Go to hostgator.com/web-yoda for a special discount (up to 75% off + free domain).
2. Choose a Plan: The Hatchling Plan ($2.71/month for 12 months) is perfect for one domain. It includes unmetered bandwidth and a free SSL certificate.
3. Pick a Domain: Select a unique name (e.g., yourblog.com). If you already own one, you can use it.
4. Skip Extras: Decline add-ons like domain privacy or paid backups—we’ll show you free alternatives.
5. Checkout: Apply the web-yoda coupon code for the best deal (around $33/year with a free domain).

Once purchased, you’ll receive an email with your account details. If you’re using an existing domain, point it to HostGator’s nameservers (found in the email) via your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy).

Step 2: Install WordPress

WordPress is the free, user-friendly platform we’ll use to build your site. Here’s how to install it:

1. Log into HostGator cPanel: Use the link or credentials from your email.
2. Find Softaculous: Under “Website,” select “Softaculous Apps Installer.”
3. Install WordPress: Choose WordPress, select your domain, and set an admin username/password. Leave the protocol as HTTP for now (we’ll secure it later). Click “Install.”
4. Wait for Propagation: It may take 2 hours for your domain to work. Test it by visiting yourdomain.com. You’ll see a “Coming Soon” page or a basic WordPress site.

Step 3: Set Up Your Blog Website

Now, let’s build your site using the Astra theme and Elementor page builder—both free and powerful tools.

Clean Up the Default Setup

1. Remove Sample Content: In WordPress admin (yourdomain.com/wp-admin), go to Pages > All Pages, select all, and move to trash. Then, permanently delete them.
2. Delete Default Plugins: Go to Plugins, deactivate and delete all pre-installed ones.

Install the Astra Theme & Plugins

1. Download Astra: Get it from webyoda.com/themes under selftastic.com. Upload via Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme, then activate.
2. Add Plugins: From webyoda.com/plugins (selftastic.com section), download and upload these via Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin:
   • Astra Starter Sites
   • Header Footer for Elementor
   • Profile Press (for blog avatars)
   • Social Sharing by Danny
   • Classic Editor & Widgets
   • Duplicate Page
   • Really Simple SSL (for later) Activate each one.

Build with a Starter Template

1. Import a Template: Go to Appearance > Starter Templates, select Elementor, and choose the free “Cosmetics” template (or any you like). Install it—it takes seconds!
2. Preview: Visit your site and reload. You’ll see a pre-built site with a homepage, about page, and more.

Step 4: Customize Your Blog Website

Let’s make it yours, starting with the homepage and adding a blog.

Homepage Tweaks

1. Edit with Elementor: Go to Pages > Home > Edit with Elementor. Adjust the logo, fonts, and colors via Appearance > Customize > Header Builder and Global > Colors.
2. Optimize for Mobile: In Elementor, switch to mobile view (bottom icon) and tweak padding, font sizes, and sections for a smooth experience.

Add a Blog Page

1. Create a Blog Page: Duplicate the “About” page (Pages > Duplicate), rename it “Blog,” and set it as your posts page (Appearance > Customize > Homepage Settings > Posts Page > Blog).
2. Add Posts: Go to Posts > Add New. Input a title, content, category (e.g., “Life Lessons”), tags, and a featured image (800px wide). Publish a few posts.
3. Customize Posts: Update the author name (Users > Edit Profile) and avatar (Profile Press > Settings). Add a sidebar (Appearance > Customize > Sidebar > Right Sidebar) with widgets like Recent Posts and Tag Cloud (Appearance > Widgets).

Enhance with Free CSS (Optional)

For better blog spacing/fonts:

• Copy CSS from webyoda.com/selftastic (under “Adjust Blog Post Font and Spacing”).
• Paste into Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS. Publish and reload your blog page.

Step 5: Secure Your Site

Secure pages boost trust and SEO:

1. Activate SSL: Install “Really Simple SSL” (Plugins > Add New > Upload), go to Settings > SSL, and activate if a certificate is detected.
2. Update URLs: In Elementor > Tools > Replace URL, change http://yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com. Reload your site—look for the lock icon!

Step 6: Boost Search Engine Visibility

Avoid these common mistakes:

1. Enable Indexing: Go to Settings > Reading and uncheck “Discourage search engines from indexing this site.”
2. Install Yoast SEO: Add it via Plugins > Add New > Search “Yoast” for powerful SEO tools.
3. Stay Secure & Mobile-Friendly: Done already!
4. Get Backlinks: Encourage other sites to link to you. Check jose1.com for tips (use promo code web-yoda for 50% off their services).

Final Thoughts

Congratulations—you’ve built a professional blog website for next to nothing! It’s mobile-friendly, easy to update, and ready to grow. Need help? Drop a comment below—I’d love to assist. If you found this useful, please like, subscribe, or share. Happy blogging!