Are you pumped to learn how to start a blog and make money while you sleep? Trust me, it’s way easier than it sounds! If you’re on the hunt for a simple guide to get your blog up and running, you’re in the right place. I’ve got you covered, and I’m excited to help you get started!
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Blogging is super appealing for so many reasons. It gives you a platform to share your thoughts, ideas, and expertise with the world while making your mark online. Plus, it’s an awesome way to turn your passion into a real career. And let’s be real—making money from home is a pretty sweet deal!
So, how do you start a blog?
When I first started blogging, I didn’t keep at it for a while. I’d leave my blog stagnant, and I wouldn’t make any money because I wasn’t promoting myself on Pinterest.
I had a lot of questions, such as:
- how can I make money blogging?
- how do I start a blog?
- what are the best blogging sites?
- web hosting? what in the world!?
I’m here to help answer some of your questions! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
What is a blog?
Blogs are awesome online platforms where you can share your thoughts, connect with readers, and even make some sweet dough. Everyone has their reasons for starting a blog, and in this post, we’ll dive into some key blogging tips. Plus, we’ll cover all the steps on how to get your own blog up and running to start making that moolah! Let’s get started!
Why should I start a blog?
I know, I know. You’re probably wondering why you need to start a blog. If you are an individual who is passionate about something, whether it be fashion, travel, beauty, etc., or if you’re a mom who wants to post about her experience, or even a student looking for some extra college money, this is the right option for you.
The world of blogging is vast and ever-expanding, with over 2 million blogs published online. In the US alone, there are more than 30 million bloggers passionately sharing their thoughts and ideas. Now, just think about how many talented bloggers there are out there in the world, spreading inspiration and knowledge to every corner of the globe. The possibilities are truly awe-inspiring!
I totally get it; those numbers can be intimidating. You’re probably thinking, “How can I stand out when there are so many others doing the same thing?” Well, here’s a suggestion: try using Pinterest to promote yourself and create unique content.
So how do I do it?
If you want to start a blog, all you need is a little bit of money to kickstart it, some blogging goals, and a tutorial on how to start a blog (that’s where I come in!)
Making money online is usually the first reason for starting a new blog. Many bloggers are making 6-figure incomes with their blogs! It doesn’t happen overnight, though. They work hard to build their audience to get where they’re at now.
With blogging, it provides you with a platform to showcase your skills. Talk about your interests. Tell your stories. Give your advice or product recommendations. And most importantly, it allows you to be yourself.
What niche should I choose?
If you’ve decided to start a blog, you’ll want to choose a niche. Some examples are:
- health & fitness
- travel
- beauty
- fashion
- food
- mom blog
and so many more!
Doing research and looking at other blogs will help give you some inspiration, but don’t copy. Be true to yourself, and you’ll gain an audience in no time.
What should I name my blog?
To start a blog, you need something to blog about and a domain name of your own. You can talk about many things on a blog over time. I chose to use my blog as a lifestyle blog.
One thing I recommend, though, is if you’re going to blog about one thing, make sure your name works for that niche. Don’t name your blog “cookingwith(name).com” and blog about traveling or fashion. You could always use your first and last name as your domain so you can talk about anything.
Finding the perfect domain name for your blog can be challenging, but fret not! You don’t have to put your dreams on hold. Start your blog without a domain and claim it later. Don’t let anything hold you back from starting this exciting journey, even if you don’t have a domain just yet.
Website Hosting
This is the most important step, but don’t worry, it’s easy! You’ll need to host your blog. I use Bluehost to host my domain.
Alright, so you might be thinking, “what on earth is web hosting?” Well, think of it as buying land for your house. It’s the space on the internet where you store all your website’s files.
Bluehost normally starts at $11.99/mo, but you can start your blog using my link for $2.95/mo for the first year. This also includes 1 free domain for a year.
Why should I use Bluehost to start a blog?
Bluehost has partnered with WordPress for quite a while now, making WordPress.org completely free if you decide to use it. WordPress.org allows you to customize your blog how you want.
They offer a wide variety of options to customize your site how you want. Bluehost takes care of everything technical, so it’s perfect if you’re not tech-savvy.
- Bluehost is easy to use.
- They offer technical support.
- You get a FREE blog domain.
- They offer a guarantee in case you think Bluehost is not for you.
- By self-hosting your website, you will have the freedom to monetize your blog.
More importantly, Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like what they have to offer or if they’re not for you, you can cancel your subscription at any time within 30 days of purchase and get a full refund on your hosting service.
Getting started with Bluehost
Once you click on one of the links above, you will be taken to a page that looks like this:
Just click on “get started,” and it’ll take you to another page where you can pick your hosting plan. I suggest going with the “basic” plan since it’s got all the essentials to get your blog up and running.
Once you choose your plan, you will be taken to a page that looks like this:
If you already have a domain purchased elsewhere, you can enter it in the “use a domain you own” box. But if you don’t have a domain, that’s okay! You can type it into the “new domain” box or skip this step and create a domain later.
After that, you’ll be taken to a screen like this:
Here is where you’ll fill out your contact information. This information is needed to access your account. Remember which email you use so you can contact Bluehost’s support team for any technical issues.
After you fill out that information, you’ll scroll down and find something that looks like this:
If you’re looking to save some serious cash, go for the 36-month plan. But hey, if you only want the 12-month plan, that works too! It’s all about finding what suits your needs and budget.
Along with the package, you have the option to add some cool extras. Keep in mind though, that these are totally up to you and not mandatory at all!
After that, you’ll choose your plan and package extras, you’ll need to make your purchase. You can choose to pay by credit card or PayPal.
Congratulations!
You just purchased web hosting for your blog! Click on “Create account” on the next screen so you can access the blog you just created.
Bluehost will take you to a new screen to set a password. This will be the password that you use to log in to Bluehost to access your blog, so of course, be sure to remember it! After you click “create password,” you will be taken to the next page, where you can finally log in to that blog you just created.
Once you hit that “log in to WordPress” button, it will take you straight to the login page. There, you’ll need to input all the account details you carefully selected earlier. After logging in successfully, get ready because it’s time to kickstart your website setup!
When you click “start setup,” you’ll be asked a series of questions about what kind of blog you’re starting. I personally recommended selecting “personal” and then “blog” later down the road.
After you determine what kind of blog you’re starting, click “continue set up.” You’ll eventually be asked what your top priority is for starting your blog. Here, I recommend picking “publishing,” which just means that you’ll be writing and releasing content on your blog. This does not mean you can’t sell products down the road. These answers have no impact on what you can do with your blog.
After this, you’ll be prompted to fill in details about your website, such as your name, tagline, etc. If you don’t have this information yet, don’t worry. You can always go back and add them in or even change them down the road. After this, click “next”.
We’re almost there…
Bluehost’s design setup screen will be after this. I usually just skip this by hitting “next” any chance I get. Because I don’t like their website builder, I click “next” through this setup. I would prefer to use a pre-built theme (mostly because I’m not too tech-savvy, and I don’t have time to build my own website).
You’ll be asked about plugins once you click “next” after the page layouts section. I recommend selecting yes to JetPack, Yoast, and Akismet. You can choose whichever plugins you like.
After that, you’ll land on the main WordPress page, where you will be prompted to complete the setup. It’s the page you’ll see every time you log in to your Bluehost account and click on “WordPress.” This is where all the magic happens – writing blog posts, adding pages, and sprucing up the design of your blog.
You did it! Congrats! You now have your very own blog, and you’re all set to start making it your own. Get ready to customize your website, write awesome blog posts, and share your amazing content with the world!
Related: Top Passive Income Ideas to Grow Your Blog Income
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