1. Pick a host.
A host? You might ask. What exactly is a host? Don’t worry; I was in the exact same boat! Think of the host as a humongous filing cabinet. Previously, you were borrowing one from Jim or Sally down the street (aka WordPress.com, blogspot.com, etc.), but you just bought a brand new shiny black model (aka a host) and can’t wait to move in!
So how do you go about choosing your new filing cabinet? It’s the same as with online shopping—you look at the options, compare their costs and features, and read reviews that other customers have posted.
In January 2013, I began researching different hosts. I started by browsing through several options and picked out a few that sounded reasonable. After scouring each individual site, I narrowed my list down to 5 finalists. (Click on each logo in the image below to visit their website!)
I compared 7 categories, including the price per year, privacy package, backup package, and domain name cost. But before selecting my top choice, I looked into what a few reputable food blogs used.
After a month of research, I finally picked BlueHost. I’m very happy with their service and haven’t had any issues so far!
(Note: Be sure to write down your FTP Host, FTP Username, and FTP Password. You’ll need them in Step 5!)
Other Steps in This Series…
Step 3: Pick a Website Builder
Step 5: Save, Export, and Upload Your Content
Step 7: Add Email and RSS Subscription Options
Step 8: Reach Out to Old Readers
Bonus: 4 Features of a Successful Blog
