Self Hosted CMS Platforms

Self-Hosted Blogging Made Easy with Ghost

Discover Ghost, your self-hosted blogging companion, for effortless creativity and control over your online presence.

Jeremy

Jeremy

— 5 min read
Self-Hosted Blogging Made Easy with Ghost

Tired of struggling with complex blogging platforms that distract you from your writing? Meet Ghost, a streamlined solution that allows you to concentrate on your content. With the option for self-hosting, speed, and reliability, Ghost might be just what you're looking for.

What is Ghost CMS?

Ghost CMS, or Ghost, is a well-known open-source content management system launched in 2013. It's designed for creating and managing blogs and publications with a focus on simplicity and speedy content creation. Ghost can be self-hosted, giving you control over your website's hosting environment.

Do you remember the days when Blogger and Tumblr were the main choices for creating a blog? Well, it's understandable if you don't, but blogging today relies on the time you can spare. With technology always advancing, our patience with older tech diminishes. We often shift to the newest and best options. In my opinion that is Ghost!

Ghost key Features

  • Markdown Magic: Ghost lets you write with Markdown, a simple text formatting language that makes writing a easy, free from distractions.
  • Sleek and Simple: The interface keeps it clean, focusing on your content, so you won't get lost in the clutter.
  • SEO Made Easy: Ghost has built-in tools to help your content shine on search engines, with custom meta tags and URL structures.
  • Your Site, Your Way: Customize your Ghost-based site with themes and extensions, and cards tailoring it to your style and needs.
  • Swift Loading: Ghost is all about speed and efficiency, ensuring your pages load quickly for your readers.
  • Monetization Made Simple: For those looking to make a profit, Ghost has built-in support for creating paid memberships and subscriptions.
  • Freedom to Tinker: Ghost is open source, meaning the code is open for everyone to tinker with, enhance, and share.
  • Adaptable Design: Ghost CMS themes are built to be responsive, making sure your content looks great on all sorts of devices, from smartphones to tablets.

Self-Host Ghost using Docker Compose

You will need a host machine with Docker and Docker Compose installed for this example. If you need assistance, see our guide Install Docker and Portainer on Debian for Self-Hosting.

Below is an example of how Ghost can be self-hosted using Docker Compose.

version: '3'
services:
  ghost-server:
    image: ghost
    cap_add:
      - CAP_SYS_NICE
    security_opt:
      - seccomp:unconfined
    restart: always
    ports:
      - 2368:2368
    depends_on:
      - ghost-db
    environment:
      url: https://your-domain.com
      database__client: mysql
      database__connection__host: ghost-db
      database__connection__user: root
      database__connection__password: V3ryS3cretP@ss
      database__connection__database: ghost
    volumes:
      - /docker/ghost/content:/var/lib/ghost/content

  ghost-db:
    image: mysql:8
    security_opt:
    - seccomp:unconfined
    restart: always
    command: --default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: V3ryS3cretP@ss
    volumes:
      - /docker/ghost/mysql:/var/lib/mysql

You should change the URL to your domain name and the database password to something more secure. We have a more detailed guide on installing and self-hosting Ghost here.

The Ghost admin dashboard is simple and easy to navigate. You can enable dark mode so it's easier on the eyes.

Personally, I love writing in Ghost, and a lot of it has to do with the built-in card feature. These cards give you the freedom to get creative and elevate the look of your articles with minimal effort.

Ghost is all about helping creators grow their fanbase through subscriptions. They've simplified it with features like subscription forms and exclusive content for your subscribers. Personally, I lean toward making knowledge freely available, as I've mentioned in my article on archiving Noted and our strong belief in knowledge as a fundamental human right, so that feature doesn't align with my approach. However, I also recognize how it can be a valuable way to generate income.

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Run your own instance of Ghost for as little as $1.9/Month with PikaPods! – Start free with $5 welcome credit 🤗

If you're thinking about making the switch from WordPress to Ghost, let Ghost do the talking! Instead of hearing it from me, check out what Ghost has to say directly. Explore their platform, read their blog, and see for yourself why so many bloggers and content creators are loving Ghost. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Final Notes and Thoughts

In case you didn't catch on, we've chosen Ghost as our website platform here at Noted. Personally, I'm a big fan of Ghost, so I might be a bit partial. But let me tell you, over the past couple of years, Ghost has truly inspired me to get creative with my content. It's all thanks to the the amazing built-in cards that make content creation a whole lot more exciting.

While I may not be the biggest fan of hiding content behind paywalls, Ghost is a versatile tool that creators can use in many ways, including monetization. So, give it a try, let your words flow, and see how Ghost can help you craft your digital presence or create a private place for you to dump your ideas and thoughts.

Learn more about Ghost by visiting the following links:

Ghost website: https://ghost.org

Ghost on Github: https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost

Ghost on X: https://twitter.com/Ghost

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