The platform that powers 40% of the web. Here's how to use it for your indie blog — no affiliate links, no sponsored picks, just honest guidance.
WordPress is open-source software that lets you build and manage a website. There are two flavors: WordPress.org (self-hosted, full control) and WordPress.com (managed hosting, simpler but more limited). This guide focuses on .org.
With the largest ecosystem of themes and plugins, WordPress can do virtually anything. The trade-off: more power means more responsibility — you handle updates, hosting, and security.
You enjoy customizing things. You want control over every detail of your blog's design and functionality.
You plan to grow your blog over time — maybe add a store, memberships, or complex features down the road.
You plan to publish frequently and need robust content management, categories, scheduling, and media handling.
Before you start
Managed WordPress hosting (recommended for most people): SiteGround, Cloudways, or Flywheel ($10-30/mo). WordPress comes pre-installed, updates are handled for you, and support knows WordPress inside out.
VPS hosting (cheaper, more technical): Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or Vultr ($5-10/mo). You install WordPress yourself, but you save money and have full server control.
Managed hosting: Usually one-click. Look for "WordPress installer" or "auto installer" in your host's dashboard. Done in under a minute.
VPS: You can install manually, or use a panel like Coolify, Ploi, or RunCloud to simplify server management.
Keep it simple. A clean, fast theme matters more than flashy features. Start with the default theme (Twenty Twenty-Five) — it's well-designed and performant.
If you want something different, GeneratePress and Flavor are lightweight, well-maintained options. Most minimal themes are free or under $60.
Fewer plugins = faster, more secure site. Here's what you actually need:
That's it. RSS is built into WordPress — no plugin needed.
The block editor (Gutenberg) is solid for writing. Write something real — an introduction, a topic you care about, an opinion. Don't overthink it.
Before publishing, set your permalink structure: go to Settings → Permalinks and select "Post name". This gives you clean URLs like yourdomain.com/my-first-post.
WordPress includes RSS by default. Your feed lives at yourdomain.com/feed/. Visit it to make sure it's working.
For the best reader experience, go to Settings → Reading and set the feed to show "Full text" (not "Summary"). Readers love full-content feeds.
Write 2-4 posts before you share your blog widely — give visitors something to read.
Set up an About page. Readers want to know who's writing.
Don't obsess over analytics yet. Write for the joy of it first.
Join a community — WordPress forums, indie web groups, or blogging communities.
Set a sustainable cadence. Weekly or bi-weekly is great. Daily will burn you out.
If WordPress feels like more than you need, Ghost offers a streamlined writing experience with less maintenance, or try our simple platforms for zero-complexity blogging.