To get a Ghost publication live, set its identity in Ghost Admin, choose a design, write and preview a post, then publish it to your website, send it as an email newsletter, or do both. Memberships and a custom domain are optional features you can add when your publication needs them.
What Ghost does
Ghost brings together a publication website, writing and publishing tools, memberships, and email newsletters. Ghost describes it as “a powerful, open-source publishing platform that enables you to create, publish, and monetize your content all in one place.” Ghost, The Ghost Manual.
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A post can appear on the website, go to readers as a newsletter, or do both. Posts can also include media and appear in areas such as the homepage, tag and author collections, and RSS feeds. Ghost’s publishing options.
Set up your publication
1. Enter the publication details
In Ghost Admin, set your publication title and description. Review the publication language and timezone, along with metadata and social cards. The timezone matters: scheduled and published dates use the timezone configured for the publication. Publication settings and timezone settings.
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2. Choose a starting theme
Ghost’s getting-started guide identifies Source as the default theme. You can begin with it and revisit the design after your site has content. Ghost also points to free official themes and a marketplace for premium third-party themes. Choose based on your publication’s format—such as a blog, newsletter, magazine, photography site, or archive—and the features you need, rather than assuming one theme suits every site. Ghost’s setup guide and Ghost themes.
Write, preview, and publish a post
3. Create the post
In Ghost Admin, open Posts and create a new post. Add your text and any media. Before publishing, set the URL, tags, authorship, excerpt, access level, and metadata as needed for that post. Ghost’s publishing options.
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4. Preview the post
Use the preview options to check how the post appears on desktop and mobile, and how it will look in email if you plan to send it as a newsletter. Ghost also describes the option to send a test email. Previewing helps catch layout or content issues before readers see the post. Ghost’s publishing options.
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Select whether to publish on the website, send by email, or use both destinations. If you schedule the post, its timing follows the publication timezone you set in General settings. Ghost notes that deleting a post is permanent, so treat deletion as a final action rather than a routine way to undo a draft. Ghost’s publishing options.
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Decide how readers can join
Membership settings determine who can sign up, while post access settings determine who can read a particular piece of content. They are related but separate choices.
Choose a signup model
Ghost membership signup can be open, limited to paid members, invitation-only, or disabled. Open signup is appropriate when you want readers to join freely; invitation-only restricts who can become a member. If you turn signup off, readers cannot join through the publication’s signup flow. Ghost’s members guide.
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- The 2024 ERG guide helps satisfy 49 CFR 172.602 DOT requirement. This requirement states that hazmat shipments be accompanied by emergency response info.
- Pocketbook aids in emergency preparedness, planning, and training with ERGs numerically indexed and color-coded to help emergency responders find vital information fast.
- 2024 Updates: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released a comprehensive summary of updates. Most significantly a QR code on the back cover that provides access to critical incident reporting information.
- Other changes for 2024 have been made to continue to provide the most accurate emergency response information to help all front-line persons and all first responders stay safe during transportation emergencies.
- Specifications: 4" x 5 1/2" Pocketbook Size, English, Spiralbound. Copyright 2024.
Set access for each post
A post can be public, available to members, limited to paid members, or restricted to selected tiers. Decide whether your publication’s core content should remain open, whether membership unlocks additional work, or whether specific paid tiers should receive distinct access. Post access settings.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFor a free newsletter, open signup and member access can support a simple reader relationship. For a paid publication, align signup eligibility and post access with the tiers you actually offer; a paid-only signup setting and a members-only post do not mean the same thing. Ghost’s members guide and post access settings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Connect a custom domain if you need one
Ghost(Pro) documents custom-domain setup through DNS records, and Ghost says Ghost(Pro) sites receive SSL certificates by default. Ghost recommends a subdomain arrangement. DNS values depend on the specific setup, so follow Ghost’s current domain instructions rather than copying generic records from another configuration. Ghost’s custom-domain guide.
Choose a hosting route and design around your needs
Ghost(Pro) is Ghost’s hosted route, and its documentation covers setup and custom domains. When deciding how to host, consider who will operate the site and handle setup and maintenance, how much technical control you need, and whether your intended domain arrangement is supported. The guidance here does not establish a current provider-by-provider comparison, so verify the responsibilities and capabilities of any hosting option before choosing it. Ghost’s custom-domain guide.
For themes, compare the visual design and required features against your publication type. Ghost’s official materials offer examples and theme choices, but do not name a universal best theme. Ghost’s setup guide and Ghost themes.
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