How to Start a Blog to Earn Money

So you want to start a blog, or know what the heck to do with the blog you already have??? Good! You have come to the right place! I’ve designed a beginner’s blogging course just for you! I wasted so much time and money trying to learn how to blog. I couldn’t find current information that matched the edition of platforms that I have. When I would find a video that looked promising, either I couldn’t understand the speaker’s accent, or it was in too technical of a language that I couldn’t understand. I made costly mistakes that I had to pay to have fixed, when I hadn’t yet made a dime on my blog. So I set out to design a course of the basic fundamentals that we need to know to begin blogging-correctly! Follow these steps, and sign up for my course How to Start a Blog to Earn Money! Sign up quickly, we begin January 10, 2022, and spots are limited!!!

This course is best designed for those who want to blog, or who are blogging. It works best for DIY, Home Decor, Food, Organization, or Fashion niches, although any blogger could benefit! If you have a goal to earn money by blogging, this course is for you! If you already have a blog, go ahead and read through this to be sure that you have completed all the steps!

How to Set Up a Blog

You will need to have a wordpress.org site to take this course. WordPress.com is a free blogging site, but it cannot be monetized. You do not need to have a site prior to starting, although it would be a good idea so that you can add actual content and practice during the course.

Step 1-Pick a Name for Your Blog

The first step to starting a blog is to pick a name. If you already have a public account on social media, then your blog name should match your account name. For example, my Instagram handle is @faithandfarmhouseblog, my Facebook is Faith and Farmhouse, my Pinterest is Faith and Farmhouse. And my website is faithandfarmhouse.com.

Be sure to google the name you are thinking of to be sure that it is not already out there on social media, especially as a website, or trademarked!

Step 2-Register Your Domain Name

Once you pick a name, you will need to register it as a domain name. This is renewed annually, as long as you want to keep your website! To monetize and best appear in Google searches, you want a name that ends in .com!!! (the first mistake I made as a new blogger was to choose .us. Don’t do that!!!) You can use companies like GoDaddy, Google Domain, or the host that you choose can usually register your domain name as well. This is generally a more cost-effective and seamless way to do it. (Mistake #2 that I made as a new blogger, I used GoDaddy to register my domain name, and later found out that my site host could do it. Not the biggest of deals, thank goodness!) Rates vary, so use what best works for you. I pay about $38 every two years to keep my domain name.

Step 3-Select a Host for Your Blog

Next, you need to have your wordpress.org site hosted. You want to chose a host that provides you an email address at no additional cost. You really should have an email that ends in your website so that you look professional. For example, my email is danielle@faithandfarmhouse.com. It is helpful if the host you choose a host that can register your domain name for you, as previously discussed. You want a host that has excellent tech support and customer service with a live chat option, and provides backups of your site free of charge. Myself, and most of my blogger friends, use SiteGround. They have been an incredible help to me via live chat when I have questions or technical issues on my site, they are reasonably priced, and check all of the boxes. *I do earn a small commission if you sign up with them through this link. I pay about $190 annually, or you can choose to pay around $15 monthly.

Step 4-Install WordPress

The next step is to install wordpress.org. Most site hosts will help you with this step.

Step 5-Select a Website Design

Once you have your wordpress.org site installed on your computer, you will want to start looking for website design, unless you are good at code, or know a website designer! Website designs can be in the thousands of dollars, so I recommend looking on Etsy for a website design. I bought mine for under $200, installed! (I may earn a small commission if you purchase a website design through this Etsy link.)

Here are some things you need to research when shopping for a website design (also called template):

• It needs to be compatible with WordPress

• It needs to be on the Genesis Framework

• Is installation available?

• Do they have good reviews?

• Do they have a large number of reviews, both current and past?

• Can you customize it yourself?

• Are they located in the US, and do they provide customer service?

A good tip is to message them with a question, and see what the response time is, as well as their grasp of English. This will be a good indicator about the customer service they provide! I chose Eclair Designs. They have so many beautiful designs, and are extremely affordable! My theme is no longer available, but I think I paid about $69 for it, and I paid $35 additional for installation.

Wheh!

I know it sounds like a lot!!! But just take your time, and go step by step through the process. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! You can reach me via email or send me a message on Instagram. Again, this is not all necessary to complete by the time we start in January, but it is helpful! Keep this bookmarked as a reference!

Sign up for the Beginning Blogging Course!

Sign up quickly!!! We begin January 10, 2022, and spots are limited!!! Just click here to sign up!!!

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