These days, anyone can start a blog or create a simple website in a matter of hours. However, getting that website to work and look just the way you want it to takes a lot more time. Most people don’t realize that and end up giving up long before the work is done.
If you don’t have the time to customize a blog or a website from scratch, you can benefit from using WordPress. Some services do all the heavy lifting for you, including installing the templates and tools you need to start working right away.
In this article, we’re going to introduce you to a service that lets you set up a fully working WordPress blog or freelance portfolio in minutes and takes care of maintenance for you. Let’s talk about our new Propel Site service!
Why Use Propel Site for Your Portfolio or Blog
When it comes to websites, most people look for the cheapest hosting service they can find. After all, if you don’t have much experience running a blog or setting up a portfolio, you don’t want to spend too much money on getting everything ready.
Here’s the problem, though – not all hosting services offer the same quality of service. With ‘cheap’ hosting plans (around $5-10 or less per month) you usually get a shared service with few extras. That can work if you choose a good provider and you know your way around WordPress, but for first-time users, it can be a headache.
Propel Site, on the other hand, is what we call a managed WordPress hosting service. To illustrate what that means, here’s how the process of launching a new website with Propel Site works:
- You choose a ready-to-go WordPress template or design for your site.
- You choose what kind of plan you want to use.
- You sit back while we put together your website.
- When the site is ready, you get to use several pre-built pages depending on your needs, which you can quickly and fully customize.
- Propel Site takes care of website maintenance for you (backups, updates, site optimization, and more).
The goal of managed WordPress hosting is to provide you with a more hands-off service. Propel Site takes care of working out all the kinks from website setup to maintenance so you can focus on writing blog posts and updating your portfolio.
How to Create a Blog or a Freelance Writer’s Portfolio Using Propel Site (4 Steps)
Propel Site is different from other WordPress web hosts in that you can start designing your site before you even sign up. Let’s talk about how that works!
Step 1: Choose a Blog or Portfolio Blueprint
Usually, you don’t get to choose and install a WordPress theme until after your site is up. Using Propel Site, you can pick from a broad selection of themes perfect for blogs and portfolios before you even sign up so you know what you’ll be getting:
All the themes we use include a selection of pre-built pages that fit most websites. With those pre-built pages, you can jump right in with customization such as changing colors, adding images, and uploading your logo. Then, you’re in a business!
Another plus of being able to select themes upfront is that you can look for reviews and comparisons before you sign up for anything. All of the themes you can choose from are premium options and they’re included with your subscription.
Once you find the perfect theme for your freelance site, mouse over it and click on the option that says Launch Site.
Step 2: Select a Service Plan
Unlike other hosting providers, Propel Site keeps it simple when it comes to selecting a plan. You can choose between a monthly or a yearly payment schedule, but in either case, you get the same features and performance:
On top of the features we’d already mentioned, you also get access to premium Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plugins, a visual builder, caching, and lead generation tools. All of those plugins come ready to go as soon as your website is up.
Go ahead and select the payment schedule you prefer, then click on the LAUNCH SITE NOW button.
Step 3: Complete Your Website Setup
Now comes the ‘boring’ part of website setup. You’ll need to fill out a simple contact information form and select a payment method:
Propel Site supports all major credit and debit card providers and it processes purchases using Stripe, so you can use your preferred method.
Step 4: Customize Your WordPress Blog or Portfolio
As soon as your website is ready, you’ll be able to log into WordPress and get access to your dashboard. From here, you can tweak every aspect of your site using the Block Editor and the WordPress customizer:
Remember that with Propel Site, you get a website with several pre-built pages set up for you. That means instead of starting from scratch, you can customize the pages you need in a matter of minutes. Once they’re ready, you can get to work on your website’s content!
Conclusion
If you’re a DIY-kind of person and you have experience using WordPress, then you can choose any web host or platform you want. However, if you’re working on your first blog or you don’t have the technical skills to create an online portfolio, a service such as Propel Site can make your life a lot easier.
As most managed WordPress hosting providers do, Propel Site costs a bit more than cheap shared plans. For that price, though, you get a white-glove hosting service that sets up a WordPress website for you and takes care of maintenance tasks. Plus, you get access to WordPress experts that can help you with any questions you might have.
Do you have any questions about how to use Propel Site? Ask away in the comments section below!