How to Build a Blog with a CMS
BeginnerQuick Answer
TL;DR
To build a blog with a CMS, choose a platform (WordPress for simplicity, Ghost for publishing focus, or a headless CMS like Sanity for developer control), set up your content structure (posts, categories, authors), design your templates, and start publishing. WordPress gets you blogging fastest with one-click installs and thousands of themes. For custom blogs, pair a headless CMS with Next.js or Astro for complete design control and better performance.
Key Takeaways
- WordPress gets you blogging fastest—install, choose a theme, and publish within an hour
- Ghost is purpose-built for professional publishing with built-in newsletters and memberships
- Headless CMS + static site generator produces the fastest, most customizable blogs but requires development skills
- Essential blog features: categories/tags, author profiles, RSS feed, SEO metadata, and social sharing
- Content structure decisions made early (categories, URL patterns) are difficult to change later