• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • View Cart
  • About
  • Get Started
    • Done-For-You Installation
  • Shop
    • WordPress Themes
    • Flourish Bundle
    • Social Media Templates

Coded Creative

WordPress Themes + Design Templates for Creative Business Owners

  • Showcase
  • Blog
  • Support
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
    • Done-For-You Installation
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Showcase

How to Start A Blog

Every single day more and more new blogs are popping up around the internet. People are turning to blogs as a creative outlet, a way to create income to support their family, and even as a way to simply document their life. We’re constantly inspired by people looking to start a new journey online, one that we’ve both enjoyed so much.

However, it can be kind of confusing to navigate all of the steps when you’re just getting started. We always see people ask what they really need to get started, the best resources to use, and how to set themselves up for success from the very beginning. So we wanted to share with you the five steps you’ll want to take to get your blog started on the right foot!


How to start your blog

PICK YOUR NAME + DOMAIN

The hardest part when it comes to starting a blog is picking the name. We both went through a variety of cute and clever names for our blogs, but ultimately, we both landed on using our own names. Obviously, that might not be the best decision for you, but don’t stress too much! It is possible to change your domain and name of your blog without a lot of extra work, so even if you pick something and you decide you don’t like it later, you’re not stuck with it.

The best recommendation we have is to do some good ol’ fashion googling to see what names are available. Kory loves to use Domainr when trying to decide on a name for something because it’ll easily tell you what domains are available for what you put in.

Once you pick a name, you’ll want to purchase your domain. We both recommend buying your domain from Namecheap. It’s easy to do, and depending on what domain you go with, your domain shouldn’t cost more than $15 / year.

PURCHASE YOUR HOSTING

After you’ve purchased your domain, it’s time to secure your hosting. This is where most people end up regretting their decision. It’s so easy to take a look at what’s out there and feel confused about all of the options but also want to get the cheapest thing available. Unfortunately, the cheap options for hosting usually end up causing you the most issues.

We recommend Siteground or Flywheel for your hosting because they’re both incredible companies and are extremely reliable.

Once you’ve purchased your hosting, you’ll want to connect your domain name to it. You’ll want to connect your domain name by pointing your URL to the nameservers of your hosting account. If you’re not sure how exactly to do this, we recommend getting in touch with customer support for your domain name.

INSTALL WORDPRESS

After you’ve hooked up your domain and hosting, it’s time to install WordPress. Most hosting companies have a one click install option, which means they do the hard work for you. If you went with Flywheel or another managed WordPress host, your site will already be setup for you based on the details you put in when you were purchasing your account.

After WordPress is installed, you should be able to go to YOURURL.com/wp-admin to access your login page and then your WordPress dashboard!

CHOOSE THE BEST THEME FOR YOU

Once you’ve done all of the hard work for the previous three steps, you’re ready to start having some fun! We currently have 11 easily customizable WordPress themes that you can choose from for your own blog. We have different levels for our themes because we know that everyone is at different points in their journey, which means we all need something a little different.

So here’s a break down of our three theme types to help you decide which is right for you:

  • Starter Themes are basic themes that are good for bloggers within their first 6 months to a year of blogging, who may be blogging as a hobby, and aren’t necessarily sure where they want to go with their blog yet. These themes are easily customizable, which means you can change out the fonts, colors, logo, and widget areas to best fit you.
  • Premium Themes are the next step up, and these feature an additional custom page to help boost your blog. The additional page depends on your theme, but these are also easily customizable. These themes are perfect for bloggers who’ve been publishing posts for 1-2 years and are looking for something a little more sophisticated.
  • Deluxe Themes are the last step up in our shop, and these are perfect for bloggers or business owners who are looking to have a totally custom site with more advanced features.

All of our themes are mobile responsive, easily customizable, and built on the Genesis framework.

INSTALL YOUR THEME + START BLOGGING!

Once you’ve picked your theme and purchased it, the next step is installing it on your own site. Installing your theme from us is incredibly simple!

First you’ll UNZIP the file that you got from us. Inside, you’ll see a few different files including the Genesis framework and your child theme as additional .zip files.

Next, you’ll log into your site and go to Appearance > Themes, click Add New, and then Upload. You’ll navigate to where the folder is saved on your site and upload the Genesis .zip file first, and then you’ll repeat the process and install your child theme .zip file second.

Once your child theme has been installed, you’ll see a screen that looks like this:

Sugar 1

You’ll then click Activate, and then you’ll be taken to your main Themes page, where you’ll see your theme has been installed:

Sugar 2

From there, you can use the Installation PDF that came with your theme to learn how to customize your theme to fit your blog and brand.


Once you have your site all set up, make sure to let us know or Twitter by tagging us @codedcreative or using the hashtag #codedcreative on Instagram, so that we can see your new site!

Instagram Feed

Did I ever tell you about the time when I was work Did I ever tell you about the time when I was working on 3 theme designs simultaneously? No? Well, now I am.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Last summer as I was in the final trimester of pregnancy and getting ready for my maternity leave I was flooded with inspiration.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It was the first time all year I felt excited about creating and had so many ideas I wanted to bring to life.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So I started working on one theme, and then I got a hit of inspiration for another (which came to be June and launched in October), and then another.

This is the inspiration images from the last one that I was working on. We have so much going on in our personal life here, but I hope to bring it to life soon!

#wearethecreativeeconomy #createyourpurpose #creativecultivate #fempreneur #womenwithaplan #businessownerlife #herestothecreatives #sayyestosuccess #hustleandheart #findyourflock #thegramgang
You sit down to start working on your brand new ho You sit down to start working on your brand new homepage for your website and you... 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
a. Get it all done easily on the first try,
b. Click around to check out other sites for inspiration before diving in with confidence, or
c. Give up and turn on your favorite show.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The homepage of your site can be one of the most fun but also most overwhelming to put together because it's the first thing people see on your site - it sets the impression of you and your business, so you don't want to get it wrong.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here are a few tips to help you create a strategic homepage:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Set expectations right away. Consider using the above-the-fold section to tell people what you do and who you do it for.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Include a clear call-to-action based on what you want viewers to do + why they likely landed on your site somewhere on the page (and make it easy to find).
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Show off your expertise by including some client testimonials or customer reviews for your services or products.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Tell people a little about yourself. Include a headshot and a concise paragraph with info on what you do and why in a relevant way.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉🏽 Bonus tip!! Remember that whitespace is your friend! You don't have to overload your homepage (or any page on your site for that matter) with ALL THE THINGS. Keep it simple.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#herestothecreatives #sayyestosuccess #hustleandheart #findyourflock #thegramgang #hersuccess #dreamersanddoers #createalifeyoulove #calledtocreate #creativeentrepeneur #creativebiz #creativepreneurs #createlounge #thecreativegrid #savvybusinesswomen #intentionalbusiness #yayforbusiness #hustlewithease #makersandthinkers #smallbizsquad
Raise your hand if you've tried other WordPress th Raise your hand if you've tried other WordPress themes and felt frustrated when it came time to try to set it up on your site? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Yep, I've been there, and I know so many of you have as well.

So many people get turned off of WordPress the first time they try it because they bought that ~beautiful~ theme, and when they started trying to use it they had no clue what they were doing.

When I started working on the June theme last summer, I knew that I wanted to make the theme as easy as possible to setup so my customers would be able to get started easier.

I'm so thrilled that when @julirayebednorz grabbed the theme she had the easiest experience setting it up on her blog, and her blog looks beautiful with it installed!

Swipe ➡️ to take a look!

If you're a blogger looking for a new theme, I hope you'll head to my shop and check out the June theme! I know you'll love it as much as Raye!

#wearethecreativeeconomy #createyourpurpose #creativecultivate #fempreneur #womenwithaplan #makersandthinkers #girlbosshustle #smallbizsquad #bossbabetribe #womenpreneur #workfromwherever #beingboss #therisingtidesociety #standwithsmall #smallandmightybusiness #bloomyellow #intentionalbusiness
Hellooooo February! This is a big month for my fam Hellooooo February! This is a big month for my family, and I can tell you with confidence it will be fueled by all the caffeine.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This month we're officially packing up and moving back to South Carolina, and I've been a bundle of anxious nerves over it for the past month already. Moving is one thing, but moving with a 3yo + a 6mo = 🙃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But here's to staying positive, hoping things go smoothly, and feeling grateful for all of the upsides of this big move (including no more deployments for my husband!!). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#alifeofintention #authenticliving #wholeheartedliving #pursuewhatislovely #createyourhappy #thatmomlife #workfromhomemama #lifeonpurpose #mompreneurs #theimperfectwoman
I mean, seriously - can I get an amen? 🙏🏼👏🏽 The number of times I've said this in the past 3 years is well.. you get it 😅🤣 Tag a fellow mompreneur who you know will get it! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#shemeansbusiness #savvybusinessowner #smallbizlife #supportsmallbusiness #supportsmallbusinesses #theimperfectboss #babeswhohustle #communityovercompetition #whereiwork #workfromhomelife #workfromanywhere #laptoplifestyle #lessworkmorelife #businessbydesign #femaleentrepreneurassociation #staybossyladies #herbusiness #mompreneurlife #mompreneurs #wahmlife #momsinbiz #sayyestosuccess #thisgirlmeansbusiness #womenwithaplan #femaleceo #creativeentrepreneurs #creativeentrepeneur #creativewomen
STORY TIME // As the new year rolled over, I sat d STORY TIME // As the new year rolled over, I sat down a couple of weeks ago to tie up my bookkeeping for 2020, and I was anxious getting ready to find out what my final numbers were for the year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You see, if you're new around here 2020 was a year just like everyone else's, but it also wasn't. I spent the first several months of the year coping with morning sickness while taking card of a toddler while my husband was deployed. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
During summer I was hit with idea after idea for this business, and I worked as hard as I could to get things launched and updated before my second kiddo was born. Then I took time away from both this business and a separate business I have working 1:1 with clients. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And I knew that it was possible that my income was going to take a decent hit from the rollercoaster of all of that paired with what was going on in the world.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But you know what I saw? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I made more money last year than I ever had in business. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That means I made more money while…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉🏽 Focusing on taking care of myself and my family⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉🏽 Pouring my energy solely into projects that lit me up⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉🏽 Working hard when I wanted and taking time off when I needed to⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I made more money while posting less on social media, publishing less than a dozen blog posts, and heck, not even sending emails super consistently throughout the year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My point in sharing this is that you can succeed doing things your way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sure, you can't just spend all day watching Netflix waiting for clients or customers to show up on their own. But you don't have to drive yourself into the ground to make it happen either. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you're still setting your goals for the year or feeling bad about how last year went, I hope you'll take this message to heart as you move forward throughout 2021!
Do you have a goal this year to work on your websi Do you have a goal this year to work on your website? Or maybe you want to finally start that blog you've been daydreaming about?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
WordPress is one of the leading website platforms for business owners and bloggers, and frankly, it's no surprise why! I recommend it to almost everyone because⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1️⃣ You have complete freedom⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
With WordPress you can accomplish virtually anything on your website - function, design, you name it!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2️⃣ It's easy to get started⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Purchase your domain and hosting, install WordPress, choose and install your theme, and boom! You're already on your way!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3️⃣ Incredibly affordable⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Other platforms charge an arm and a leg, but with WordPress all you pay for is your domain and hosting. Any extra costs come from your theme or getting custom features added!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4️⃣ Versatile⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are hundreds of different niches of businesses and blogs using WordPress. If you can dream it up, WordPress can work for you.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Why do YOU love WordPress? Tell me in the comments 👇🏽 below!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#herestothecreatives #sayyestosuccess #hustleandheart #findyourflock #thegramgang #hersuccess #dreamersanddoers #createalifeyoulove #calledtocreate #creativeentrepeneur #creativebiz #creativepreneurs #createlounge #thecreativegrid #savvybusinesswomen #intentionalbusiness #yayforbusiness #hustlewithease #makersandthinkers #smallbizsquad
This is important 👉🏽 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟷 𝚢𝚎𝚝.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There was a time where I would sit down for a week or two in December and refresh where I was and set goals for the next 12 months. Then January would roll around, and I'd feel excited and eager to hit the ground running.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But then my boyfriend (now husband) joined the military. And then I had kids. And then I found myself waking up in January realizing I hadn't set any goals yet, and I felt so behind compared to everyone else.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Friend, you are not behind if you haven't set goals yet. Frankly, after the year we all had last year, I don't blame you. In fact, I don't have any big goals for 2021 yet either. And THAT'S OKAY.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But... if you're feeling inspired and you don't know where to start, I compiled tips from 13 online biz experts to help you figure out where you should invest your time this year and help you start setting some goals. And I turned that into a 60+ page PDF that you can get right now FOR FREE at the link in my bio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It features some of my favorite ladies like... @msaleia, @goingultraviolet, @socialsavvyhq, @jessjordana, @solstudiomarketing, @vanessakynes, @modernleadersco, @mariahmagazinestudio, @mrsamandawarfield, @tiannatye, @aliciahendersonbiz, and @wealthovernow. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Head to my bio to grab it right now for free and start working on setting some goals that feel good for 2021!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#wearethecreativeeconomy #createyourpurpose #creativecultivate #fempreneur #womenwithaplan #businessownerlife #herestothecreatives #sayyestosuccess #hustleandheart #findyourflock #thegramgang #hersuccess #dreamersanddoers #createalifeyoulove #calledtocreate #creativeentrepeneur

Footer

It’s time to finally create your lead magnet.

Let me help you get noticed, build an audience of potential customers, and grow your business faster with an irresistible lead magnet! Click the button below to grab this free guide plus get weekly emails to help you grow your business + hit your goals this year!

I want the guide!
  • Affiliates
  • Changelog
  • Support
  • Resources
  • FAQ
  • Contact
© 2016 - 2020 | Coded Creative | Terms + Privacy Policy



This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn More.