Information overload is a common problem for new bloggers. Trying to figure out how to do exactly what you want is sometimes an impossible task. With that being said, I have created a small series, called “How to Create a Blog from Scratch” to help organize my thoughts and to help any new blogger who is searching for good information that is all available in one location.

By now, you should have your blog up and running. Many people run out a sign up for as many affiliate programs as possible right away. I have added a few ads on this blog, but if you are seriously trying to make money, you should concentrate on providing quality content first, then worry about making money. With this blog, I am simply documenting everything I learn, in one central location, to make it easier for beginning bloggers to make money online.

Steps Six and Seven are truly optional steps. After Installing Wordpress On Your Blog, you will note that you have the standard template, or theme. You do not have to settle for this theme. In fact, there are thousands of themes available for you to download. To do so, all you have to do is the following steps:

And that is all there is to it. You do the exact same thing for any new plugin that you want to install. The only difference is that you drop the file into the “PlugIns” folder instead of the “themes” folder.
How to Create a Blog from Scratch - Recap
1. Step One - Get Your Own Domain Name. You can read how here
2. Step Two - Get Hosting at HostGator
3. Step Three - Transfer Your Name Servers from GoDaddy to HostGator
4. Step Four - Install WordPress
5. Step Five - Download a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program
6. Step Six and Seven - Install a new Theme and PlugIns (optional)

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Step Five - File Transfer Protocol
When I starting blogging, file transfer protocol (FTP) seemed like another language to me. Most “experts” just tell you to upload this to your server, but they never really tell you how to do that. To upload files to your server, you simply need the right software. You can go out and buy the newish, most expensive, FTP program out there, but all you really need is filezilla. FileZilla is a free FTP program that you can download here. Simply follow the directions and download the software to a place on your computer that is easy to find.

Once you have the software downloaded, all you need to do is the following steps:
1. Click file —>Site Manager
2. Click New Site
3. Type in your Host IP address that Host-Gator sent to you when you signed up.
4. Change the server type to FTP
5. Change the log in info to “normal”
6. Put in your username and password from Host-Gator.

And your done! Now you can quickly upload program from your computer directly to your server. Please note that when you download items to your server, they should go into the “public_html” folder.

How to Create a Blog from Scratch - Recap
1. Step One - Get Your Own Domain Name. You can read how here
2. Step Two - Get Hosting at HostGator
3. Step Three - Transfer Your Name Servers from GoDaddy to HostGator
4. Step Four - Install WordPress
5. Step Five - Download a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program

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Enter “gdp0314n” when you check out to claim your savings. This makes each new .com domain name only $8.49 and .info domain names at $2.54. At that price, I am going to buy a few more to use as affiliate marketing domains.

Step Four - Install WordPress on Your Blog
When I was starting this blog, this was perhaps the most intimidating step for me. WordPress boasts about their one click installation but I was not too sure. I have had many experts tell me how easy something is, only to find out it is easy if you understand the IT lingo and html gibberish. I understand neither, so I was worried when I started.

As it turns out, this is perhaps the easiest of all of the steps. It truly is a one click installation process. Here are the steps you need to take to install the latest version of WordPress.

1. Log into your domain at www.yourdomainname.com/cpanel
2. Scroll down and find the Fantastico Deluxe icon and click it
3. Find WordPress on the left side bar and click that
4. Click on New Installation and you are done

You should be able to visit your blog now with the introductory page loaded properly. Now you simply log into www.yourdomainname.com/wp-admin and start writing. If you never wanted to add another thing you could just stop here. If you want to change themes, add plugins, and utilize a FTP file transfer program, you will want to make sure you read Steps 5 - 7, which will be posted over the next couple of days.

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How to Create a Blog from Scratch - Recap
1. Step One - Get Your Own Domain Name. You can read how here
2. Step Two - Get Hosting at HostGator
3. Step Three - Transfer Your Name Servers from GoDaddy to HostGator
4. Step Four - Install WordPress

Step Three - Transfer Your Name Servers

If you purchased your domain name and hosting package from GoDaddy, you may not need to do the following steps. I think it may all be done for you, but I am not sure.

I purchase my domain names from GoDaddy and my hosting from HostGator so I will briefly talk about what I had to do for this step.

With GoDaddy it is simply a matter doing the following steps:
1. Log Into Your Account at GoDaddy
2. Click on My Account
3. Click on Manage Domains
4. Click on the Domain Name you are working on
5. Click on Name Servers
6. Copy and Paste the Name Servers that were sent to you from HostGator when you signed up

If you purchased your domain name at NameCheap, perform the following steps:
1. Log Into Your Account with NameCheap
2. Click on Domains in Your Account
3. Click transfer DNS to webhost
4. Copy and paste the name servers that were sent to you from HostGator when you signed up

Once you have successfully performed these steps, you will be ready for Step Four of How to Create a Blog from Scratch.

How to Create a Blog from Scratch - Recap
1. Step One - Get Your Own Domain Name. You can read how here
2. Step Two - Get Hosting at HostGator
3. Step Three - Transfer Your Name Servers from GoDaddy to HostGator