Publish on a subdomain, or without a website yet
LazySEO writes articles and publishes them into a blog platform (a CMS) such as WordPress, Ghost or Webflow. It does not host a website for you. So if you only have a domain, or want a blog on a subdomain like blog.yourdomain.com, you first need a blog platform running there. The simplest route for most people is WordPress, which almost every web host can install in one click.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026.
Before you start
- A domain name you control (where you bought it, or where its DNS is managed).
- Web hosting that offers one-click WordPress (LWS, Hostinger, OVHcloud, SiteGround and most cPanel hosts with Softaculous do), or an account on a hosted platform such as Ghost(Pro).
Step by step
1Create the subdomain
In your hosting control panel, open the Domains or Subdomains section and create the subdomain, for example
blog.yourdomain.com. Point it to its own folder (often suggested automatically, likepublic_html/blog). If your domain is registered with your host, the DNS record is usually created for you; otherwise see "DNS basics" below.2Install WordPress on it
Use your host's one-click installer (called Softaculous, an "Auto installer", "WordPress toolkit" or similar). Choose the subdomain as the install location, leave the directory field empty so WordPress sits at the root of the subdomain, and pick an admin username and a strong password.
3Turn on HTTPS
Enable the free SSL certificate (often Let's Encrypt) for the subdomain in your hosting panel, then check that
https://blog.yourdomain.comloads with a padlock. WordPress only offers application passwords over HTTPS, and LazySEO needs one.4Prepare WordPress
- In Settings → General, make sure both addresses start with https://.
- In Settings → Permalinks, choose Post name for readable post addresses. LazySEO works with any setting, including Plain.
- Pick a theme and add a link to the blog from your main site, so visitors and search engines can find it.
5Connect it to LazySEO
Follow the WordPress guide and use
https://blog.yourdomain.comas the Site URL.
Other ways to get a blog
- Ghost(Pro): hosted Ghost, no server to manage. Connect your own domain or subdomain in Ghost, then follow the Ghost guide.
- Webflow: a site plan with the CMS, connected to your domain in Webflow's publishing settings. Then follow the Webflow guide.
- Shopify: if you sell online with Shopify, your store already includes a blog. See the Shopify guide.
Subdomain or subfolder: which is better for SEO?
A subfolder (yourdomain.com/blog) keeps the blog under your main site, so links and authority the blog earns are generally consolidated with the rest of your domain. It is usually the safer choice when your main site's platform can host the blog itself, or when your developer can serve WordPress under /blog.
A subdomain (blog.yourdomain.com) also works fine. Google crawls and ranks it as part of the web like any other site; it may just take a little longer to build authority of its own. It is often the practical choice when the main site runs on a platform that can't host a blog. Either way, link to the blog from your main navigation and link back from articles to your main pages.
DNS basics
If your domain's DNS is managed somewhere other than your host (for example at your registrar or Cloudflare), you add one record there yourself:
| Record | Name / Host | Points to | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | blog | Your host's IP address (e.g. 203.0.113.10) | Your host gives you an IP address. |
| CNAME | blog | A hostname from your host or platform (e.g. yourname.ghost.io) | Your host or platform gives you a hostname. |
- Your host or platform tells you which one to use and the exact value. Use one of them for the subdomain, not both.
- DNS changes usually work within minutes but can take up to 48 hours. Turn on HTTPS after the subdomain loads.
Troubleshooting
The subdomain shows "site can't be reached".
The DNS record is missing or hasn't updated yet. Check the A or CNAME record and wait a little.
The browser warns that the connection is not private.
The SSL certificate isn't active for the subdomain yet. Enable it in your hosting panel (it can take a few minutes after DNS works).
There is no "Application Passwords" section in WordPress.
WordPress hides it when the site isn't on HTTPS. Turn on SSL and make sure the WordPress and site addresses in Settings → General start with https://.
Frequently asked questions
Can LazySEO publish if I don't have a website at all?
LazySEO needs a blog platform to publish into. Install WordPress on your domain or a subdomain with your host, or create a Ghost(Pro) site, then connect it.
Is a subdomain bad for SEO?
No. A subfolder such as yourdomain.com/blog generally keeps authority consolidated with your main site, but a subdomain such as blog.yourdomain.com works fine too. Link it from your main site so search engines and visitors find it.
Which record do I need, A or CNAME?
Use an A record when your host gives you an IP address, and a CNAME record when it gives you a hostname. Your host or platform tells you which one.
Still stuck?
Email support@lazyseo.io with the error message from LazySEO and we'll help you connect.