Want to start a blog? Excellent decision. Blogging remains one of the most effective ways to share your perspective, contribute valuable information, and potentially build a long-term income stream.
After managing more than 50 blogs over the years, we realized there were many steps we could have streamlined if we had the experience we have today. With that in mind, we created a step-by-step starter tutorial to help you launch a WordPress blog the right way, with both style and strategy from day one.
This guide is based on using a DWHS Website Hosting account with the built-in auto installer. If you already have hosting, you can skip ahead to the WordPress installation steps.
Step 1: Register a Domain Name
To secure your domain, we recommend:
http://www.ezdomainname.com
Step 2: Obtain Web Hosting
For reliable hosting, visit:
http://www.dwhs.net
The $3 per month Micro Plan is sufficient for getting started. As your blog grows, you can upgrade at any time with no added transition fees through DWHS.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Log into your cPanel and click the Fantastico icon. From there, select WordPress and install the latest version using the guided setup.
Step 4: Log Into Your Blog Dashboard
Once installation is complete, access your admin panel and navigate to:
Appearance > Themes
The default themes are functional but basic. To create a stronger first impression, browse popular themes here:
https://wordpress.org/extend/themes/browse/popular/
After selecting a theme, upload it via FTP to:
blog folder > wp-content > themes
Return to your dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes, and activate your new design.
Step 5: Promote Your Blog with Ping Services
To notify search engines and directories when you publish content, go to:
Settings > Writing > Update Services
Add the following ping list (updated 2026):
https://rpc.pingomatic.com/
https://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2
https://ping.feedburner.com
https://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2
https://api.my.yahoo.com/rss/ping
https://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2
https://ping.blo.gs
https://ping.bitacoras.com
https://bitacoras.net/ping
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/XMLRPC
https://ping.fc2.com/
https://rpc.twingly.com/
Here is the combined and cleaned list using only active or still-responsive ping services from both gro
Notes
- Ping-O-Matic already distributes notifications to multiple downstream services, so large manual lists are no longer necessary.
- Google Blog Search ping still responds, though Google’s blog search product itself is no longer prominent.
- FeedBurner ping remains functional for feed update signaling.
- Yahoo endpoints respond but have limited modern SEO impact.
If the goal is SEO and indexing, modern focus should be on XML sitemaps, Search Console submission, and feed optimization rather than maintaining large ping lists.
Step 6: Create Original Content
Content is the core of your blog. A good rule is to include one featured image at the top of each post. Use WordPress medium sizing so images remain consistent and visually balanced across your site.
Step 7: Enhance Functionality with Plugins
To expand your blog’s capabilities:
- Add a contact form plugin to allow reader communication. Create a contact page and embed the form code.
- Install a sitemap plugin to assist search engine indexing and SEO visibility.
- Add social bookmarking or sharing plugins so readers can easily save and distribute your content.
DWHS hosting accounts already include detailed visitor statistics within cPanel, so additional analytics plugins are optional. Avoid installing unnecessary plugins, as excessive add-ons can slow performance and increase server load.
Step 8: Final Design Customization
To make your blog truly stand out, you may want to customize your header, sidebar, and graphical elements. This can be done by editing theme files through FTP within your themes directory. If design work is outside your scope, outsourcing to a web designer is a practical option.
With the right foundation, your WordPress blog will be positioned for growth, visibility, and long-term success.