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If you have an email address and something to say, you can be up and blogging in minutes with a WordPress blog. This page outlines how to use the free WordPress.com service to create a blog.
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Introduction
- WordPress is a free blog publishing system known for its ease of use, search engine friendly pages, and theme/plug-in architecture. WordPress.com is its hosted solution, where all you need is a name for your blog, an email address, and access to the Internet. Let's get started with WordPress.com!
Step 1: Sign Up With WordPress
- Signing up with WordPress is quick and easy.
- Access the WordPress.com website
- Click on the Sign Up Now icon.
- Create a user name and password, provide your email address and agree to the legal conditions.
- Select the circle that says Gimme a Blog, and proceed to the next page.
- Choose a domain name and title for your blog.
- You'll be sent an email with a link to activate your blog.
- Click through the link to complete the sign up process.
Step 2: Create Your WordPress Profile
- After activating your blog, you'll have a choice of View your Site or Login. Login with the user name and password you created in step 1. This will take you to your Dashboard page.
- At the top of the Dashboard, there will be a link to update your about page. Click on that link.
- Add a few sentences about yourself to the text box in the middle of the page.
- preview your changes by using the preview button in the top right hand corner of the page.
- If the page looks good to you, return to the edit page and click on the update page button immediately below the preview button. This will save your profile.
- You can update your profile at any time by returning to the Dashboard.
Step 3: Select a WordPress Template
- WordPress starts you out with a standard template. Before posting, you'll want to customize the appearance of your blog.
- Click on the Appearance button which you'll find on the lower left of the dashboard.
- That will take you to a manage themes page.
- Select a template, and click Activate once you've decided which one works for you.
- You can change your template at any time, using either a standard WordPress template or a third party design.
Step 4: Write Your First WordPress Post
- WordPress' editor functions the same way traditional word processing software does, so it's intuitive and easy to use.
- Select Posts from the left hand column on the dashboard.
- Select Add New
- Write the title for your post in the space immediately under Add New Post.
- Write your post in the text box, using the toolbar above the box to customize the font, add images, bulleted lists, and so on.
- Preview and update your blog the same way you did for your profile.
- Congratulations! You're published.
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