How to Start Your First Blog in 30 Minutes with Bluehost: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

Your domain name is your website address—like www.clickstartng.com.ng. It’s the first impression people will get of your blog. You want it to be memorable, relevant to your niche, and easy to type. A good domain name can help establish

your blog brand, make you stand out, and even improve your SEO ranking over time. Take time to brainstorm a name that reflects your niche or personal brand. For example, if you’re creating a travel blog, names like “WanderWithFaith.com”

or “BudgetJetSet.com” might be good options. Avoid hard-to-spell words, numbers, or anything confusing.

Here’s the good news: Bluehost gives you a free domain for your first year, so you don’t need to pay extra. When you sign up for hosting, you’ll be prompted to register your domain name right

away.

Tips for Choosing a Good Domain:

💡 Don’t overthink it. Focus on choosing a name that you’re comfortable with and ready to grow.

Hosting is the foundation of your blog. It’s what allows your website to be seen by the public 24/7. Without it, your blog can’t go live. Bluehost is widely trusted and highly

recommended for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, reliable

uptime, and automatic WordPress installation. It also includes free SSL (for

website security), free email, and 24/7 support—all important features for new bloggers.

You’ll be guided through every step, and the process takes less than 10 minutes. Bluehost’s plans are affordable—starting at just ₦2,500/month (when billed annually). For the value it offers, it’s a smart investment in your blogging journey.

Pro tip: Stick with the basic plan until your blog starts growing, then upgrade if needed. Avoid unnecessary upsells at checkout unless you really need them.

After completing your Bluehost registration, you’ll be prompted to install WordPress automatically. WordPress is the world’s most popular blogging platform, powering over 40% of all websites. It’s flexible, open-source, and beginner-friendly. With WordPress, you can build virtually any kind of website.

from a simple blog to a full e-commerce store—all without touching a line of code.

Installing WordPress with Bluehost is incredibly easy. Once inside your Bluehost dashboard:

That’s it. You now officially own a blog. You’ll get a login URL like

yourblog.com/wp-admin, where you can start customising everything—from

your homepage to your blog posts. Don’t worry if it feels confusing at first. WordPress becomes easier the more you use it.

A WordPress theme controls how your site looks and feels. Think of it like the design of your house. You want something that’s fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to customise. Thankfully, WordPress offers thousands of free themes that work well

for blogs, affiliate marketing, and even small businesses.

To choose your theme, go to your WordPress dashboard:

Click Appearance > Themes.

Click “Add New” to browse free options.

You can preview each theme before activating it. Look for themes that are

responsive (mobile-friendly), lightweight (loads fast), and easy to customise. Avoid complicated designs or themes that need advanced coding knowledge.

Recommended Free Themes:

Astra—Clean, fast, and beginner-friendly

Hello Elementor, Ideal if you want to use a page builder like Kadence.

Great mix of style and performance

After choosing your theme, click “Install” and then “Activate.” Don’t worry about perfecting the design on day one. You can always adjust it later.

Now comes the fun part: sharing your voice with the world. Your first blog post doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters most is getting started. Choose a topic that’s meaningful to you and helpful to your audience. A good first post could be a personal introduction, a how-to guide, or a story about why you started blogging.

To write:

Go to Posts > Add New.

Write a headline (e.g., “Welcome to My Blog” or “Why I Started Blogging”).

Add paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points for clarity.

Insert images using the “Add Media” button (use royalty-free images from

Pixabay or Unsplash)

Aim for 800–1,200 words in your first post. Use Grammarly to fix grammar issues and try to write in a friendly, helpful tone. Add a call-to-action at the end, such as asking readers to leave a comment or join your email list.

Once you’re satisfied, click Publish. Congratulations—you’r

e now a blogger!