Articles · Built in Public
We built a Ghost site from scratch. Here's every step.
Talk is cheap, so here are receipts: a complete Ghost publication — custom theme, real content, live on the internet — built and screenshotted end to end. The finished site is live here; this is how it was made.
Ghost runs in minutes — this is what a fresh install looks like with the stock theme. Already faster and cleaner than a WordPress setup, but it looks like every other Ghost site on the internet. That's the part we fix.
This is the whole reason creators move: the editor. Write, hit Publish, and the post is on your site and in every subscriber's inbox. No plugin chain, no exporting to a second newsletter tool. The dashboard tracks members and paid subscriptions in the same place.
This is where a build earns its price. We designed a theme from scratch — serif editorial headlines, a dark hero, tagged essay cards — in the same design language as this site. Your version gets your brand, not a template thousands of others use.
Posts, pages, tags, and authors all flow through the theme automatically. In a client build this step is your migration: every WordPress or Substack post imported, formatted, and redirected so Google follows you.
The finished publication is deployed and public: The Rare Bird — rarebird-demo.pages.dev. Click through it. Read the essays (they're real advice, not lorem ipsum). That site is the deliverable — and yours would carry your brand, your content, and your subscribers, on a platform you own.
Common questions
How long does a Ghost site build take?
This demo — install, custom theme, content, live deployment — was built in one working session. A full client build with your brand, content migration, newsletter setup, and paid memberships typically ships in 2–3 weeks.
Can I see the finished site?
Yes — the demo is live at rarebird-demo.pages.dev. Everything on it (theme, typography, content flow) was built from scratch as shown in this walkthrough.
What does a build like this cost?
Done-for-you Ghost sites start at $5,000: custom theme designed around your content, migration from WordPress or Substack, newsletter and membership setup, and a crash course so you can run it yourself. Monthly support is optional.
Can I do this myself instead?
Absolutely — Ghost is simple enough that many creators do. Our free WordPress Escape Plan maps the whole move step by step, including the redirect rule that protects your Google traffic. If you get partway and want help, that's what we're for.