How to Start a WordPress Blog for Under $10

Are you looking to start a blog but are intimidated by the costs associated with it? Fear not, as in this article, we will show you how to start a WordPress blog for under $10 using Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap. With this guide, you can start your blog with ease and without breaking the bank.

Introduction

Blogging is a great way to share your thoughts, expertise, and experiences with the world. However, many people are deterred by the costs of setting up a blog. In this article, we will show you how to start a WordPress blog for under $10 using Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap. With these two services, you can set up your blog quickly and easily without breaking the bank.

Why Use WordPress

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world. It is easy to use, customizable, and has a large community of users and developers. With WordPress, you can create a professional-looking blog without any technical knowledge or experience.

Why Choose Infinityfree Web Hosting and Namecheap

Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap are two affordable services that are perfect for bloggers on a budget. Infinityfree offers free web hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth, while Namecheap offers affordable domain name registration. Both services are reliable, easy to use, and perfect for bloggers who are just starting.

Register a Domain Name with Namecheap

The first step in setting up your blog is to register a domain name. Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. Namecheap offers affordable domain name registration, and you can register a domain name for as low as $0.88 for the first year. Here’s how to register a domain name with Namecheap:

1. Go to the Namecheap website and search for the domain name you want.
2. Select your desired domain name and add it to your cart.
3. Proceed to checkout and complete your purchase.

Use the Honey Extension to Get Domain Names for Cheaper on Namecheap

Namecheap offers affordable domain names, but you can save even more money by using the Honey extension. Honey is a free browser extension that automatically searches for and applies coupon codes when you shop online. Here’s how to use the Honey extension to get domain names for cheaper on Namecheap:

1. Install the Honey extension in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) by clicking HERE.
2. Go to the Namecheap website and select the domain name that you want to purchase.
3. Proceed to checkout and enter your payment information.
4. Click on the Honey icon in your browser’s toolbar and let Honey search for coupon codes.
5. If Honey finds a coupon code that applies to your purchase, it will automatically apply it and show you how much you saved.
6. Complete your purchase and enjoy your discounted domain name!

By using the Honey extension, you can save money on your domain name purchase and get a great deal on Namecheap’s already affordable prices.

Sign Up for Infinityfree Web Hosting

Once you have registered your domain name, you need to sign up for web hosting. Infinityfree offers free web hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth, making it perfect for bloggers on a budget. Here’s how to sign up for Infinityfree web hosting:

1. Go to the Infinityfree website and click on the “Sign Up” button.
2. Enter your email address and password to create an account.
3. Verify your email address and log in to your account.
4. Click on the “Create Account” button and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your free web hosting account.

Install WordPress on Infinityfree

Once you have signed up for web hosting, you need to install WordPress. WordPress is easy to install, and Infinityfree provides a simple one-click installer. Here’s how to install WordPress on Infinityfree:

1. Log in to your Infinityfree account.
2. Click on the “Control Panel” button.
3. Scroll down to the “Software” section and click on the “Softaculous Apps Installer” icon.
4. Click on the “WordPress” icon and follow the on-screen instructions to install WordPress.

Connect Your Domain Name to Your Web Hosting

Now that you have registered your domain name and installed WordPress on Infinityfree, you need to connect your domain name to your web hosting. This is a simple process that involves updating your domain name’s DNS settings. Here’s how to connect your domain name to your web hosting:

1. Log in to your Namecheap account.
2. Click on the “Domain List” button and select the domain name you want to use.
3. Click on the “Manage” button and navigate to the “Nameservers” section.
4. Select “Custom DNS” and enter the following nameservers:
   • ns1.epizy.com
   • ns2.epizy.com
5. Save your changes and wait for the DNS settings to propagate.

Install a Theme on WordPress

Now that you have connected your domain name to your web hosting, it’s time to install a theme on WordPress. A theme is a pre-designed template that determines the look and feel of your blog. WordPress offers thousands of free and paid themes, making it easy to find one that suits your needs. Here’s how to install a theme on WordPress:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “Appearance” section and click on “Themes.”
3. Click on the “Add New” button and browse for a theme that you like.
4. Click on the “Install” button and wait for the installation to complete.
5. Click on the “Activate” button to activate the theme.

Install Essential Plugins

Plugins are add-ons that add functionality to your WordPress blog. There are thousands of free and paid plugins available for WordPress, but some essential plugins include:

• Yoast SEO: A plugin that helps optimize your blog for search engines.
• Jetpack: A plugin that adds security, performance, and traffic stats to your blog.
• Contact Form 7: A plugin that allows you to create and manage contact forms.

Here’s how to install essential plugins:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “Plugins” section and click on “Add New.”
3. Search for the plugin you want to install and click on the “Install Now” button.
4. Wait for the installation to complete and click on the “Activate” button to activate the plugin.

Create Your First Blog Post

Now that you have set up your blog and installed essential plugins, it’s time to create your first blog post. Here’s how to create a blog post on WordPress:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “Posts” section and click on “Add New.”
3. Enter a title for your blog post and write your content.
4. Add images, videos, and other media to enhance your blog post.
5. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make your blog post easy to read.
6. Preview your blog post and click on the “Publish” button to make it live.

Customize Your Blog

Now that you have created your first blog post, it’s time to customize your blog. You can customize your blog by:

• Changing the color scheme and typography
• Adding a header image or logo
• Customizing the sidebar and footer
• Adding widgets, such as social media icons and search bars

Here’s how to customize your blog:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “Appearance” section and click on “Customize.”
3. Use the menu on the left to customize your blog.

Set Up Free SSL on Infinityfree

An SSL certificate is a security certificate that encrypts the connection between a web server and a web browser. It is essential for any website that collects sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or personal data. Infinityfree offers free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt, a free and open certificate authority. Here’s how to set up a free SSL certificate on Infinityfree:

1. Log in to your Infinityfree account.
2. Click on the “Control Panel” button.
3. Scroll down to the “Security” section and click on the “SSL/TLS” icon.
4. Click on the “Request SSL Certificate” button and select your domain name.
5. Click on the “Create Certificate” button and wait for the certificate to be created.
6. Click on the “Install” button next to your certificate and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

Once you have installed your SSL certificate, your website’s URL will start with “https” instead of “http”, indicating that your website is secure. You can verify that your SSL certificate is installed correctly by visiting your website and looking for the padlock icon in your web browser’s address bar.

By setting up a free SSL certificate on Infinityfree, you can ensure that your website is secure and your visitors’ data is protected.

Edit the .htaccess File to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

Once you have set up a free SSL certificate on Infinityfree, you need to redirect your HTTP traffic to HTTPS to ensure that your website is fully secure. You can do this by editing your .htaccess file, which is a configuration file that controls how your website behaves. Here’s how to edit the .htaccess file in Infinityfree to redirect HTTP to HTTPS using the provided code:

1. Log in to your Infinityfree account.
2. Click on the “Control Panel” button.
3. Scroll down to the “Files” section and click on the “File Manager” icon.
4. Navigate to the root directory of your website.
5. Look for the .htaccess file and right-click on it.
6. Click on “Edit” to open the file in the editor.
7. Paste the following code into the file:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP:X-Forwarded-Proto} !https
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteCond %{HTTP:CF-Visitor} !{“scheme”:”https”}
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^(.*)i=[^&]+(.*)$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /$1?%1%2 [R=301,L]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} http://www.YOURADDRESS.com
RewriteRule (.*) https://YOURADDRESS.COM/$1 [R=301,L]

8. Replace “YOURADDRESS” with your actual domain name.
9. Save the changes to the .htaccess file.

This code will redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS and ensure that your website is fully secure. It will also remove the “i=” parameter from your URLs, which is often used by spammers to inject malicious code into your website.

By editing your .htaccess file in Infinityfree, you can redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS and ensure that your website is fully secure and protected.

Promote Your Blog

Once you have set up your blog and created content, it’s time to promote your blog. Promoting your blog involves:

• Sharing your blog on social media
• Commenting on other blogs
• Guest posting on other blogs
• Participating in online forums and communities
• Using SEO strategies to improve your blog’s visibility in search engine results

Here are some tips for promoting your blog:

1. Use social media to share your blog posts and engage with your audience.
2. Comment on other blogs in your niche and leave a link to your blog in your comment.
3. Guest post on other blogs to reach new audiences and build backlinks to your blog.
4. Participate in online forums and communities related to your niche and share your expertise.
5. Use SEO strategies, such as keyword research and on-page optimization, to improve your blog’s visibility in search engine results.

Maintain Your Blog

Maintaining your blog is important to ensure that it runs smoothly and remains up-to-date. Here are some tips for maintaining your blog:

1. Update your WordPress and plugins regularly to ensure that your blog is secure and performs well.
2. Backup your blog regularly to ensure that your data is safe.
3. Monitor your blog’s performance using tools like Google Analytics and make changes as needed.
4. Respond to comments and engage with your audience to build relationships.
5. Keep your blog’s content fresh and relevant by regularly creating new content and updating old content.

Conclusion

Starting a WordPress blog doesn’t have to be expensive. With Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap, you can start a blog for under $10. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up your blog quickly and easily, and start sharing your thoughts, expertise, and experiences with the world.

FAQs

1. How much does it cost to start a WordPress blog with Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap?
   • You can start a WordPress blog with Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap for under $10.
2. Is it easy to set up a WordPress blog with Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap?
   • Yes, it is easy to set up a WordPress blog with Infinityfree web hosting and Namecheap. The process is outlined in this article.
3. Can I customize my WordPress blog?
   • Yes, you can customize your WordPress blog by changing the theme, color scheme, typography, header image or logo, and more.
4. How do I promote my WordPress blog?
   • You can promote your WordPress blog by sharing it on social media, commenting on other blogs, guest posting on other blogs, participating in online forums and communities, and using SEO strategies.
5. How do I maintain my WordPress blog?
   • You can maintain your WordPress blog by updating WordPress and plugins regularly, backing up your blog, monitoring its performance, responding to comments, and creating new content.