Start a Big Money Blog TODAY
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Often, the hardest step is just getting started.
So let’s take aim at that, and get your big-money blog started TODAY.
I tried several times to launch my first blog, and failed. My problem- I always looked at the whole process as one huge monolith, and I never took the first step. I didn’t know where to start.
Don’t do what I did!
Don’t get intimidated because you don’t know how to accomplish the 3rd or the 5th step, and never start the 1st step!
Do the simple things I outline in this post, and you’ll have a blog up and running by the end of the day, ready to make money.
All you’ll need is:
Hosting and a domain name
+
A website theme
That’s it! It’s that simple. Follow this post, do these simple things, and you’ll have your own blog online and ready to make big money!
So let’s get started and get you even closer to making money online!
Step 1- Get Hosting and a Domain.
For the purpose of this post, I am advising “self-hosting”. If you want more information about this, check out my more in-depth post here.
If you’re not sure if you’re going to stick with blogging, or maybe you’re not interested in monetizing your site, you can go with a free blog instead of self-hosting.
A free blog will have an address like this- www.thenewmoneytree.wordpress.com.
The “.wordpress.com” gives it away as a free blog, and you instantly give up a bit of credibility. You’ll always get beat out in your SEO and many won’t take you seriously.
So if you want this blog to be a money-maker, let’s set you up with self-hosting. It’s much simpler than it sounds and you won’t need any technical experience.
I prefer Bluehost for self-hosting. I’ve had several hosting providers, and I really like Bluehost the best.
There are a few reasons for that, but the main one is customer service. In one or two clicks, you can be in a chat window with an expert who is genuinely happy to help you, regardless of how much of a “beginner” you are.
And see how inexpensive it is? For less than $4/month you’ll look like a pro by avoiding the “.wordpress.com” domain and gain instant street cred over the free blogs.
To start the sign-up process, you’ll need a domain name. This is more or less the name of your blog.
I try to advise people not to spend too much time on this. Or at least, don’t let this be what stops you from moving forward. Think of something easy-ish to remember and that pertains to your blog content.
I gave myself 5 minutes to think of a domain name and thenewmoneytree.com was born.
Think of a few domain names, plug them into this box below to see if one is available. Then pick your hosting plan. I like the 3-year option because it offers the biggest discount.
Then just follow the Bluehost process to finish setting it up.
Keep in mind- sometimes provisioning a new domain and hosting can take a little time. Maybe even 24 hours. Unfortunately that’s just how the internet works. But don’t let that discourage you, we’re so close!
Once you sign up with Bluehost and pick your hosting plan, you’ll need to install WordPress.
Bluehost makes this super easy with a one-click WordPress install button.
During the sign-up process you should have gotten a link to your control panel, which is kind of the “back end” of your website. Somewhere on that control panel you’ll see a “Install WordPress” button. Literally one click 🙂
2. Create your website.
Once WordPress is installed, you’ll have access to your site and can start configuring it.
You technically have a website, but first impressions are important in this industry, so if someone lands on your website and it looks like every other blog out there because you’re using a free theme, you’ll lose them as a reader.
So you need to make it pop. This is way easier than it seems with themes.
I used to get stuck on this step. But now there are lots of sites out there that sell really high-quality themes and they make this step much easier.
My personal favorite: Creative Market. I really like their themes, but they also offer lots of other really great resources. They’re just a great company in general and a great group of people.
There’s also Themeforest.com.
Browse around, find one you like, download it, and throw it on your WordPress site. Creative Market, Themeforest, and WordPress all have easy instructions to help you install your new theme.
Setting up your new theme and getting familiar with its features is a process. There can be a learning curve, and you may feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Everyone feels that way at first! Just keep working through it, eventually you’ll be able to make any adjustments to your site with your eyes closed.
At some point in the process of setting up your theme, you’ll be asked for a site logo. Unless you have experience as a graphic designer, you’re going to want to outsource this.
Head over to fiverr.com and start searching for a freelancer.
There are literally thousands of people waiting to build your logo, and sometimes for as low as $5. They usually turn work around in less than a day, sometimes they offer delivery in less than hour!
The logo for thenewmoneytree.com was created and delivered in less than 30 minutes.
By now you should have your website up and running, with your own logos, and you should be reasonably happy with how it looks.
You did it! Wasn’t that easy? 🙂