Guide to Self-Hosting Ghost on DigitalOcean For Beginners

Dave Swift

Aug 17, 2022 — 3 min read

Join Dave from Profitable Tools as he demystifies the process of self-hosting the Ghost CMS using DigitalOcean. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring even those averse to command-line operations can successfully deploy their Ghost blog. Discover the benefits of self-hosting and learn how to leverage DigitalOcean's one-click installer for a seamless setup experience.

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Introduction to Self-Hosting Ghost

Why DigitalOcean?: Explore the advantages of using DigitalOcean for self-hosting Ghost, including the ease of use provided by their one-click installer and the opportunity to utilize $100 in free hosting credits.
Domain Name Requirement: Understand the necessity of owning a domain name to proceed with the tutorial and get tips on where to register one.

Setting Up on DigitalOcean

Creating a Droplet: Learn how to create a DigitalOcean droplet and why choosing the right plan is crucial for your Ghost blog's performance and cost-efficiency.
Installing Ghost: Follow a guided process to install Ghost using the one-click installer, ensuring you have the latest version of the CMS for your blog.
Domain and Email Configuration: Get detailed instructions on configuring your domain and setting up an email address for SSL certificate verification.

Finalizing the Installation

Completing the Ghost Setup: Discover how to finalize the Ghost setup by accessing the provided URL and completing the on-screen setup process.
User Account Switching: Understand the importance of switching to the Ghost-Manager user account for any future command-line operations to ensure the stability and security of your Ghost installation.

Considerations and Recommendations

Ghost Pro vs. Self-Hosting: Weigh the pros and cons of self-hosting Ghost compared to using Ghost Pro, especially considering factors like support, email sending services, and cost implications based on subscriber count.
Backup and Monitoring: Learn about the additional features DigitalOcean offers, such as backup services and monitoring tools, to enhance the reliability and performance of your Ghost blog.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Exploration and Future Guides: Encourages users to explore their new Ghost installation and hints at future content for more advanced configurations and optimizations.
Invitation for Feedback: Dave welcomes viewers to share their experiences, ask questions, and suggest topics for future tutorials to enhance their understanding and use of Ghost and DigitalOcean.