How to Start a Blog & make money

I’m so happy that you finally decided to start a blog. Thank you for being here. I’m asked quite frequently about how to start a blog. So, In this post, I’ll try my best to explain things in really simple steps. As I’ve experienced, I don’t want you to face the difficulties in starting a blog.

In this guide, I share everything I’ve learned along the way in my blogging career. Especially those who have no previous experience and want step-by-step instructions.

Why you should start a blog?

There are many reasons you might consider it. Here are a few popular ones:

• Earn Money while working from the privacy of home.
• Become a better writer.
• Make more friends.
• Discover what you can do.
• Share your thoughts or opinions.

See how beneficial it is to blog? Let’s start and build you blog.

The 5 basic steps to start a blog

These are the main sections we’ll cover. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you right through.

1. What to blog about
2. Choose a blogging platform
3. Find a host and pick a domain name
4. Install WordPress
5. Customise, Design & Post your blog!

Step 1: What to blog about

We start a blog to promote our business, company or organization (product(s) or service(s) or a cause) or We start a blog to share our experience, views & thoughts, opinions or reviews or maybe for fun.

Blogging for the later one, i.e. a Personal blog is more flexible. As you have a vast variety of topics to blog about. You can blog about something you enjoy, you know better about, you want to share YOUR experience about that topic or anything. You can blog about food & drink, fashion & beauty, technology & business, health & fitness, education & career. The topics are endless, whatever suits you is the best bet to go with.

The important thing to consider is, that you stick to a not too broad niche/topic. So, to establish yourself as an authority in that niche.

Step 2: Choose a blogging platform

There are many blogging platforms you can use to start a blog. There are free and paid services. The free services are limited or in other words you don’t own them, they can be shut down anytime. The paid-for services are not limited, you have the freedom to do anything with them. And they aren’t too much expensive.

What I and many other bloggers or mum bloggers use is WordPress. It’s by far, the most popular blogging platform (source).

Why I use WordPres? Because it’s more flexible, has more features and easy-to-add functionality, It’s easy-to-use and has a large community of people who share tools and ideas.

There are two versions of WordPress, the Hosted, and Self-Hosted. In short, the hosted WordPress blogs are often referred to as “WordPress.com blogs.” and the Self-hosted WordPress blogs are often referred to as “WordPress.org blogs.” (recommended)

In this guide, we will be using the self-hosted WordPress blog.

Step 3: Find a web hosting and pick a domain name

A web hosting company provides server space for your blog. In other words, this allows others to find your site on the internet around the world.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are referral links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you make a purchase. Don’t worry, I am using the same web hosting, so you can trust me.

Let’s Start a Blog! Click here to go to iPage (this link will open in a new window so you can reference these instructions as you work).

Once the page opens, click the pink Sign Up Now button.

By the way, the images you see here may vary slightly from the ones you see on your screen. This is because iPage never stops making site improvements. You might even catch them on a sale! Don’t worry, the general process is the same.

Pick a Domain name

A domain name is the web address of a website which we search by typing it in the address bar. For example, amumblogger.com is my domain.

On this screen, you will choose a domain.

Select the Register a new domain if you don’t have a domain, enter a new domain name in the box. (See tips for choosing a domain below). And Click Check Availability button.

Tips for choosing a domain name:

• Choose an easy to remember and easy to share domain name!
• Choose a .com if possible. Up to 75% of all websites are “.com” domains.
• Make it easy to type, say and spell.
• Make it brandable like. Your domain name will be your brand. Some names speak for themselves. When you hear the name, you know what the website is about.
• Don’t make it too long and complex.
• Avoid hyphens, numbers, obscure terms or confusing strings of words.
• If you’re not sure what to use, go with your name.

Once your domain is available, you will be redirected to another page.

Select your plan and fill in details

On the screen below, you will have to enter your contact information, payment information and purchase information (which is basically selecting your plan).

Purchase information: Choose your plan wisely. I would suggest going with one that suits your budget. You can upgrade at any time later on.

It’s better to have Domain Privacy checked. It keeps your contact information private so no one can send you spam. I highly recommend domain privacy.

Website Essentials: Leave the rest unselected. You will know when you need them but not now. Skip them all and click the Checkout button.

That’s it! You have successfully bought your domain and hosting!

Now a little more information to provide about your blog. You can skip this step if you don’t like. But there is no harm if you fill in the information. Click Submit then.

Now on this screen, Skip all of these Recommended for you things and click No Thanks!

Woohoo! You have completed the domain and hosting setup. Click the Log in now.

Before You Begin… On this page, you have to set a password. So, enter your password, Select the security question and enter your answer. Mention me in the referral box and check the agree to terms of service. Click Save & Continue.

Step 5: Install WordPress

Now let’s install WordPress. Click the WordPress icon in the Website section.

and click Install now.

Now click select the domain you purchased to start with. Leave the directory empty and click Check Domain.

It will check the domain.

And you will see a progress bar now at the top. Wait a little more.

and you are done. Congratulations! you have installed WordPress.

Yay!!! That’s it. You are done with domain and hosting.

Step 6: Customize & Design your blog!

Now let’s make your blog pretty! WordPress uses themes to change the visual design of your blogs. And themes determine many of the visual aspects of a blog like the colours and fonts, navigations and social menus, headers and footers and so on.

But as I’m not a web designer or coding girl, I don’t know much about the technicalities. That’s why I choose the Genesis Framework which is used for building themes. So, to make your blog design pretty, choose any theme from StudioPress, Pretty Darn Cute Designs, Feast Design Co, Restored 316 Designs or Elegant Themes. They all offer beautiful and lovely themes.

Check out Lindsey Riel’s themes at Pretty Darn Cute Designs, They all are as feminine, lovely and beautiful as she is. Same are the Feast Design Co and Restored 316 Designs, feminine, minimal and pretty.

Please let me know which theme you buy. I am curious about your choice.

What Next?

That’s how to start a blog! It’s easy to start a blog, the learning process goes on. You will learn a lot with the passage of time. All you need is dedication and patience.

Now the fun part, start posting!

If you ever have any questions about the technical side of setting up a blog, I’m here to help you. You can ask in the comments section or you can contact me.

If this post helped you, Please consider sharing it with others who might appreciate it as well!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures