New Blog Design – 2023 Update

Oooh! What do you think? Are things looking fresh around here? As someone who loves moving furniture around every once in a while, changing things up with a new blog design is just as satisfying to me. I do it all myself and today I’ll share some of the tools and tricks that I use to make my own website.

How to Start a Website

You need a HOST and a DOMAIN and a platform to help you build the website. Think of the host as the building, providing the basic structure, security, and storage space. The domain is the address. And the platform is the interior: layout, furniture, design.

My host is Bluehost.  I bought my domain (the actual website: bacchusclass.ca) through Bluehost. Then I connected them to WordPress.com which is the platform that allows me to actually build the website.

That’s the basic process. It took a lot of Googling and YouTubing to get to this point, but I’ve never had a question for which I haven’t been able to find an answer. Through this learning curve, I’ve learned some very basic html codes but you don’t have to know any to set up a basic website or blog.

Graphic Design for a New Blog

I make all of my graphics, including my header and logo. I use the free version of Canva for all of it. Before Canva I used PowerPoint or Google Slides. I have a post about how I make logos and other graphics for my TPT store, and it’s the same process I used here. You can find it (with step-by-step instructions!) here: Let’s Make a Logo and Personalize Your TPT Store Together

I use the free version of MailChimp for my email list. Right now, it’s an automated email that sends out the links to new posts from my blog each week. Check out Mailchimp for easy-to-use email services.

Use Themes for New Blog Design

Themes are like your personal interior designer. Everything in a theme can be customized, depending on your level of ability, but it’s best to choose one with a good reputation because if (when) something goes wrong, you can rely on a good theme to have you covered.

To find a good theme, search “best free themes” and scan the first few articles. You’ll generally find some similarities in the recommendations.

My theme is Hueman. When you install the theme, keep in mind it won’t look exactly like the prototype. You’ll have to choose the widgets (individual pieces of furniture, in the house metaphor) like a search bar, a list of categories, or an image, and place them in the section of the theme you’d like them to go.

There are personalization options, with colours, fonts, and headings. This is the easiest way to impact the style of your website.

Summary

Designing a blog for teachers can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With the right tools and resources, you can create a powerful platform to share your knowledge and expertise with the world.

Whether you use WordPress or another service, it’s important to choose the right platform for your needs. Do your research before starting! You’ll also need to consider graphic design elements like fonts, colors, and images that will help make your blog look professional. Finally, you’ll need to ensure a reliable hosting service such as Bluehost so that your blog is always available when needed.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to start designing your very own blog!

Do you want more information about designing a website? Let me know in the comments!