How to Create a Blog in 2025

• Fri, Jan 17, 2025
• 3-minute read

Why Start a Blog?

Starting a blog is a great way to share your knowledge, express your creativity, and build an online presence. Whether you’re writing about technology, travel, food, or personal experiences, a blog can help you connect with like-minded individuals and even open up new opportunities.

How to Start a Blog

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a blog using Hugo, a fast and flexible static site generator, and hosting it on GitHub Pages.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following tools installed:

1. Git: Install Git from Git Guides.
   After installation, configure your Git username and email:

   git config --global user.name "Your Name"
   git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
   

2. Go: Download and install Go from Go’s official website.

3. Hugo: Install Hugo by following the instructions on the Hugo installation page.
   If you’re on Windows, you can install Hugo using Winget:

   winget install Hugo.Hugo.Extended
   

Building the Website

Step 1: Create a New Hugo Site

Run the following command to create a new Hugo site:

hugo new site [YourWebsiteName]
cd [YourWebsiteName]
ls

Step 2: Select a Hugo Theme

Browse the Hugo Themes website and choose a theme you like.
Once you’ve selected a theme, copy its repository URL.

Step 3: Install the Theme

Add the theme as a Git submodule:

git submodule add -f [RepositoryUrl].git themes/[ThemeName]

Step 4: Configure the Theme

Most themes come with an exampleSite folder. Copy the hugo.toml (or config.toml) file from the exampleSite folder and replace the one in your project directory.
Edit the hugo.toml file to configure your site’s name, profile picture, links, and other details.

Step 5: Add Content

Create .md (Markdown) files in the content folder for your blog posts or pages. Follow the structure of the exampleSite folder to organize your content.

Step 6: Add Static Files

• Images: Place images in the static/images folder.
  Example: static/images/your-image.jpg
• Files: Place downloadable files (e.g., PDFs) in the static/files folder.
  Example: static/files/your-cv.pdf
• Favicons: Place favicon files in the static/favicons folder.

Step 7: Configure the Portfolio

If your theme supports a portfolio page, copy the portfolio.yml file from the exampleSite folder to Website/data/portfolio.yml and customize it.

Build and Deploy the Website

Step 1: Build the Site

Run the following command to generate the static files:

hugo

Step 2: Initialize Git in the public Folder

cd public
git init

Step 3: Create a GitHub Repository

Create a new repository on GitHub with the name [githubUsername].github.io. This will allow you to host your site on GitHub Pages.

Step 4: Push Your Code to GitHub

Add the remote repository and push your code:

git remote add origin <remote_repo_url>
git add .
git commit -m "first commit"
git push -u origin main

Step 5: Enable GitHub Pages

1. Go to your repository on GitHub.
2. Click on Settings.
3. In the sidebar, click Pages.
4. Under Build and deployment, select Deploy from a branch.
5. Choose the branch (e.g., main) and click Save.

Step 6: View Your Website

Visit https://[githubUsername].github.io to see your live website. Note that it may take up to 10 minutes for changes to propagate.

Custom Domain (Optional)

If you have a custom domain (e.g., from Namecheap, .TECH, or Name.com), you can configure it in your GitHub Pages settings. Follow the documentation provided by your domain registrar to link it to GitHub Pages.

Acknowledgments

This guide was inspired by NetworkChuck’s video. Check it out for a visual walkthrough!