New to WordPress

New to WordPress – How to Start a Free Blog
Are you new to WordPress? There is no need to worry as here are the simple steps to start using WordPress in creating free blogs. The following are the 9 steps in using WordPress to start blogging:
Step 1: Sign up for a free WordPress account
The very first step is to visit http://wordpress.com and register for a free WordPress account with only a valid email address. An email address is used for only one WordPress account only.

Step 2: Entering information
Next, you would have to choose a username which no other users are using and password. After reading the terms and condition and if you agree with these, you will be directed to a page. Here, one can choose to start blogging straight away or leave until you have time to start creating blogs.

Step 3: Creating new blog
To start, a name for your blog domain is required and the name ends with ‘.wordpress.com’ to make it easier for visitors to access the blog pages that they want to visit by typing the name into their internet browsers. The domain name cannot be changed once decided, but users choose put titles of their blog and users can change these anytime. Users can choose the languages and decide whether their blog pages are opened for public or for members only. If a user chose public viewing, search engines will be able to search these.

Step 4: Active account
An account is active when every detail in the previous step has been filled in. you will be notified when you have completed that step and an email will be sent to confirm the login details.

Step 5: WordPress Dashboard
Once login details are confirmed, you can log into you own WordPress blog and you can start personalizing your dashboard. Here, you can choose the themes, colour, updating profile, adding users, writing posts and designing your blog page. Whenever you come across a problem that you cannot figure out, there is always a help section and forums where you can search and ask for solutions to the problems.

Step 6: Dashboard Toolbar
The toolbar allows users to navigate WordPress for creating posts, personalization and adding additional features for easy access.

Step 7: Choosing a Theme
Users can choose from a huge variety of themes to suit their taste and personalize the pages to their own creativity. From the dashboard toolbar, direct your mouse to ‘Presentation’ tab and select ‘Themes’ to choose which themes that you like. You can choose according to the content of your blog. After some time fiddling around, you will turn into an expert and from then you can upload other features that suit your blog.

Step 8: Sidebars and widgets
Adding widgets allow customization of the sidebar of blogs and this feature can be found under the ‘Presentation’ tab in the dashboard toolbar. Widgets let the users to add features such as RSS feeds, calendar, search tools and text boxes and this is much easier with only the used of the mouse without the need to enter codes.

Step 9: First blog post
You are ready to start writing up your blog posts once you are familiar with the features. Coming up with a title and there you go: you can start writing up. When you are done with writing and customization, you can just click on ‘Publish’ button and the post is there in your blog page.