How To Start A Profitable Blog

A question I get a lot is “why did you start a blog”? Well, it’s pretty simple, really. I have a family I adore. I wanted to make money from home and have the flexibility to raise my kids and not make a tiresome commute. Quite honestly, I didn’t want to be on someone else’s schedule and miss everyday moments with my family. {You can read more about them here}

With four kids at four different schools and enough activities to need a full-time chauffeur, finding something that let me keep my own schedule…and make money…was key!

Reading an article in a business magazine about Abby Lawson and the success of her blog, Just a Girl and Her Blog, I got inspired to do this blogging thing! I love cooking, baking and making my house a home, so I decided to start a blog and inspire others! Abby’s book Building a Framework started it all! It was invaluable resource after I had my blog up and running…so let’s get you up and running!

It’s Easy to Start a Blog

It’s so easy to go through the process of setting your blog up, I know you can totally do this too! The entire process of getting your blog setup and ready to use should only take about 20 minutes. No technical expertise is required. Pretty easy, right? Let’s get started!

Step 1 – Decide What You Want to Blog About

Do you have a talent for making things? Are you good at inspiring others to reach their fitness goals? Do you have a knack for home decor? Are you a talented cook or baker? Whatever it is that inspires you will likely inspire others! Pick something you enjoy.

You don’t have to have all the answers about what you’re going to blog about, just a general idea so that you can  lay the groundwork, but it should:

• Be something you’re knowledgeable and passionate about.
• Be something you can create some discussion and community around.
• Be a niche where you can create authority.

The goal with my blog is to make moms’ lives simpler with everyday solutions for tasty food, fun crafts and inspiration DIYs.

Do you have a blog name you’re thinking about? Use the handy domain checker below. Just enter a domain name and it will tell you if it’s available. So easy!!

Step 2 – Choose a Blogging Platform

You’re probably saying…what’s a blogging platform, I don’t even have a blog? Well, it’s how your blog is built or its foundation. If you want to monetize and have a profitable blog down the road, then I highly suggest building it with WordPress. There are other free options, but trust me, you will have better success over the long run and better security with WordPress. Plus,  you won’t have to move it later.

Step 3 – Find a Host for Your Site

To start a blog you need a host. A web host is a company that stores all of your images and content for your blog and delivers them to visitors when they visit your site. You must have a web host in order to have a blog.

There are hundreds of different web hosts you can choose from, but my recommendation for your blog is Bluehost. I’ve been with Bluehost for several years now with this site and one other I own, and I highly recommend them. They make everything to set up your blog so simple and their customer service has always been great. Either by phone or live chat, they’ve been very responsive and willing to take the time to help!

Bluehost also has a technical support line that is open 24/7, so if you ever need them, they’re there for you. Plus, you get one free domain name with them. Nice!

 

Let’s do this! Click the GET STARTED NOW button on the Bluehost site and use this page a reference.

Choose the plan you’d like to start with. I like the ‘Plus’ plan because you get more features. You can totally choose the basic and upgrade later. Note that all plans come with one free domain (for one year only), which is great.

Step 4 – Pick a Domain Name

This is the fun part! What will you name your site? Do you have something in mind you’ve been thinking about? My domain name is SuburbanSimplicity.com and I purchased the domain through Bluehost.

You may or may not already have a domain. If you need a domain, you can easily check to see if the domain name you want is available by entering it in the box below.

On this screen you’ll either input your brand new domain or enter your existing domain.

If you don’t have a domain, enter a new domain name in the left hand box. Make sure “.com” or the correct extension of your choice is selected from the drop down menu beside it.

If you’ve already registered a domain name, enter it in the right hand box (don’t worry, it won’t mess things up if you’re using the domain elsewhere, this only identifies your account).

Click the blue ‘next’ button.

Enter Your Account Information

Make sure you enter a working email address. This is where all pertinent account information will be sent that you will need later.

The next screen will look like this…

Step 5 – Install WordPress

Once you’ve created your password, it’s time to login to your cPanel (like your dashboard) and install WordPress.

Click the cPanel tab at the top left.

Once logged into your cPanel, click the Install WordPress icon under Website.

Start the WordPress Install

Next, you’ll get a window that looks something like this. Click the start button to begin the WordPress installation process.

Select Where to Install WordPress

Choose your domain from the dropdown menu if it’s not already chosen for you. Leave the directory field blank unless you have a good reason to create a subfolder, which is unlikely if you are just getting starting your blog.

Click Check Domain.

You are seriously almost there! Follow the instructions on the screen by first clicking Show Advanced Options. Enter your site name (Suburban Simplicity, Joan Doe’s Blog, Cute Puppies, etc). This is different than your domain which ends in .com or something similar.

Now, choose an Admin Username (for security reasons, do not use “admin” or your site name as your username). Choose a secure password. These will be what you use to login to WordPress once it’s installed. Enter your email address (again, all site information will be sent to this address, so look for it there).

Click you have read the terms and conditions. Then click Install Now

Design and Use Your New Blog!

Yay! You are now the proud owner of your own self hosted website! Congratulations! It’s time to start blogging about what you’re passionate about! Whether it be DIY, food, crafts, your kids, animals, fashion, whatever – get going! Blogging is such a fun way to share your hobbies, talents, lifestyle, and so much more.

There are so many things you can do to customize your blog. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time. One of the first things I did to personalize my blog was purchase a pretty theme (how your site is displayed to visitors). The one I like is the Blossom theme from Restored316 designs. All their designs are lovely and so versatile, plus there are great tutorials and FAQs on the Restored316 site.

Blogging is a journey – so enjoy!