Do you want your voice to be heard? A passion you want to share? A product you’re trying to promote? Or maybe, you just want to work towards an income that comes from your laptop while you sip on a cup of coffee. If this sounds like you, it’s time to get started on your blog!
(Note that there may be affiliate links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own.)
While there are way more bloggers out there now than there used to be, the blogging space is relatively small compared to what the rest of the world is doing. I mean think about how many people you know who actually blog and take it seriously enough for it to be a business.
People will never stop seeking information online, and as cheesy as it sounds, you have a unique voice that people are dying to hear.
A little over 2 years ago, I started my blog just to write for fun with 0 intention on making money with it. Now, here I am writing like it’s my job. Because it is my job. If I can do it, you can do it too.
When to Get Started
So, you’ve probably been going back and forth in your mind thinking about if you should start a blog.
“Will anyone even read what I write?”
“Maybe I’ll just make one anonymously.”
“I don’t even know where to start!”
That was me. I went back and forth about starting literally since high school. The couple blogs I did start I went under an alias. (Not kidding you guys.) I was super self-conscious.
The reality? Nobody will see it until you’re ready for people to see it. I spent a few months keeping it a secret so that I could start adding content. You don’t have to do this, but if you’re nervous about putting yourself out there this is something to keep in mind.
So many people get stuck in the “preparation phase” and never end up launching their blog. Don’t put too much stress onto it. Take it step-by-step and you’ll be so happy throughout the process!
The Easy Step-By-Step Process in a Nut Shell
- Choose a domain name.
- Get a hosting service.
- Install WordPress.
- Start writing.
Step By Step Process
Choose your domain name.
Most websites will charge you to buy the domain name, but if you use Bluehost then the domain name is included. Picking a good name can be tricky, but try to make a decision within a week or 2.
If you have some keywords or ideas, you can check them with the hosting company I use (Bluehost) and they’ll also give you similar ideas as well. That’s actually how “Build Strong Vibes” was born! You can always brand yourself by making it your first and last name or your first and last name then your niche. (Ex: susiesmithhealth.com)
Get a hosting service.
There are literally thousands of hosting services to choose from, but personally, I highly recommend Bluehost for multiple reasons.
– Bluehost is easy to use! When you’re starting off, you will want simplicity, trust me. This is a huge reason I recommend their service.
– Their service offers fast load times – which is extremely important when trying to attract clients. If your page doesn’t load well, people will look elsewhere.
– Bluehost is affordable! Their prices are already hard to beat, and luckily I have a special coupon code just for my readers. (Get it automatically by clicking the banner below) Not only that, but they have a 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied.
– Their customer service is amazing! They have 24/7 support, along with hundreds of tutorials on everything you will need to know.
– As mentioned above, your domain name is included for free.
BONUS money saving tip: Get $10 cash back from your Bluehost purchase by first signing up with Ebates
Install WordPress.
This step is pretty easy once Bluehost is installed. All you have to do is log in to your account and pick a theme to get started. Everything is really customizable, and it’ll walk you through the entire process.
Start Writing
Don’t stress yourself out about this part too much. Remember, you don’t want to be like everyone else who gets stuck in the preparation phase. The best way to create a killer blog is simply to start and learn along the way! You can always save drafts of your work until you’re ready to release it into cyberspace!
How to Earn Money
There are a few ways that you can make an income with blogging. It is totally possible to replace your income this year with blogging as long as you stick to it and stay consistent.
Affiliate Marketing
This is where most bloggers make their money from. One of the best things about affiliate marketing is that it’s free to get started, and you do not necessarily need a blog – you can do social media.
Michelle earns $100,000 blogging monthly, (yes, MONTHLY!!) and $50,000 of that is from affiliate marketing. I took her course about a month ago and my affiliate income tripled! It’s one of my favorite ways to make money online.
Sponsored Posts
This is another awesome way that you can start earning income with blogging. Brands pay me to try their products and then write a blog post about it. It’s a win for me because I get to try new products for free and get paid a good chunk, but brands get their products in front of my audience – which is a win for them as well.
One thing that has helped me land blogging brand deals exponentially is having a decently sized Instagram account. This year, I went from around 3,000 followers to over 17,000 and my numbers are constantly growing. Lately, I’ve been averaging about 2-3,000 new followers per month. Most of my income comes from this. Learn more about how I make a living here.
Ads
You may have noticed that there are some ads on my site. When you see my ad, I make money. Pretty cool, huh?
So many people get stuck on two things when starting a blog.
1.) “I’m scared to start because I’m not ready for people to see it.”
(Nobody will be able to find it unless you want them to, PROMISE)
2.) “I’m afraid nobody will see my blog and I won’t make anything.”
(If you utilize social media sites, people will see your blog. Pinterest and Instagram have been huge for me this year!)
Look, I totally get it. Starting something from scratch is scary. Once you get started though, you will wish you had started sooner. I made all of my money back my first month after launching my blog! There’s no reason you can’t either.
Save for Later
