You’re probably here on my website because you’re looking for some fun recipes or how to make a particular sugar cookie design. I’m so glad you’re here- welcome! But I’m sure that you have some good ideas too, right? Maybe they’re not baking ideas. Maybe you’re awesome at restoring furniture. Maybe you can write a great video game walk through. Or maybe you just want to make a blog to share family updates and photos with the world. For the longest time, I wanted to get blogging but the entire thing just seemed so… intimidating. I went into blogging with absolutely zero experience and the expectation that it was going to be so darn impossible to figure out. But it doesn’t have to be impossible! It can be fun, and it can actually make you money too! My baking motto applies here as well: If I can do it, you can do it! Let’s break down the steps and get you blogging about something that motivates you!
Step 1: You Need a Great Web Host.
Honestly, I found the most intimidating part of blogging to be this first step. Sure, you can use a free service that will give you some of the features and include their name in the domain, but everyone that wants a to feel like a true online presence really wants their own ‘.com’ to share around. But… how to get a .com domain? I did a ton of research before deciding to use bluehost. They partner with WordPress so you can all the customer support of a true web hosting powerhouse and all the award winning features of WordPress. And for everything you get with bluehost, it’s an incredible value. As of this writing, you can get hosting at low as $3.95 per month, and your domain name is free. You just follow their simple steps, choose the plan you want, and you’ll be staring at your own .com URL in a few minutes. You can click the banner below to get started.
Step 2: Use WordPress Wisely!
Once you’ve gotten your domain straightened away, you’ll be encouraged to use WordPress as a vehicle to create your content. Although you don’t have to use WordPress, I encourage you to do so! I’m using it now and it couldn’t be easier. You’ll be presented with all your blogging tools on the left, and your work space in the center. The meat of your blog will come under the ‘Posts’ tab, which you can see highlighted in my screen capture below. There are lots of other optional tools that you can elect to install (these are called ‘Plugins’) to customize your blog to exactly how you want it. WordPress offers so many excellent themes to customize exactly how your website will appear to visitors- many are free, and some are paid themes. I encourage you to start with a free theme while you learn your way around WordPress and then upgrade if you see something you really enjoy. As of this writing, I am using a paid theme called “Bakes and Cakes”, which I find a completely adorable name for a blog theme.
Step 3: Now What?
Okay, you’ve done the hard stuff: you’ve gotten your URL and you’ve linked it to WordPress. You’ve written a post or two. And then you check that little ‘stats’ button to see your traffic and… nothing. Nobody seems to know that you’re even out there. You have one hit you’re pretty sure is from your grandma, and then ten from yourself looking to see if anyone else has come by. Now it’s time to network! If you’re a recipe blogger like me, a lot of your traffic will come from people seeing a photo of what you can make and clicking on over to see how they can make it too. That means you will rely heavily on image-friendly sites like Pinterest, Yummly, or Instagram. If you’re awesome at fixing up cars or something that is a complicated step-by-step process, maybe YouTube will be your best friend. If you’re offering professional advice, take a look at LinkedIn. Whatever you use, it’s important to start building up your presence online. Comment on other people’s blogs or Instagram stories. Follow people on Pinterest and you will often get a follow back. You want to drive traffic to your site, because…
Step 4: You Can Make Money Blogging!
You, yes, you, sitting right there reading this article- you can absolutely make money blogging. I didn’t realize the income potential when I started my blog, and now I make significant money every single month. What’s so cool about being a blogger is that you do the work (writing a post) one time and then it can earn you passive income for the rest of the life of your blog. The key is to drive traffic. The more eyeballs on your content, the more earning potential for you. There are many ways to earn money while blogging, and I’ll touch on a few of them here.
- Google AdSense. Adsense is sort of like the OG way to make money blogging. Basically, you allow Google to place ads on your website and they pay you for the views and clicks that the ads receive. Google decides which targeted ads to run and what a ‘valuable’ click is, so while it’s not the most transparent process, as your traffic grows your earnings will accrue. It’s a great way to make money with no more effort than copying a code into your website HTML (don’t get intimidated, Google will explain how when you sign up) one time.
- Amazon Associate Program. Amazon runs an amazing program that may be the perfect solution for a blogger that uses a consumable resource (supplies for a food blogger, or yarn for a crafter, or car parts for a repair blog) because you can link literally anything that Amazon sells to a personal affiliate account and Amazon will credit you if someone orders through your link. When you sign up to be an Associate, you have three months to make three sales- so don’t sign up for it the day you register your domain. Wait until you have some traffic first to give yourself the best chance to make those initial sales in under the time limit.
- Other affiliate marketing programs. Stores with a serious online presence like Walmart and Ebay will also pay you when someone clicks a link on your blog that leads to their merchandise and a purchase.
Step 5: Believe in Yourself!
I think that this is the most important step. You have interesting things to say, cool talents to share, and helpful products to sell. You’re totally capable of making great content and getting that content distributed in a meaningful way. Blogging is a marathon and not a sprint (most of us never go ‘viral’ or achieve crazy overnight fame) but steady progress and increasing traffic will yield results. Unlike pyramid schemes you need to buy into or pressuring friends to purchase products made by other people, you’re showcasing your own, unique content in an enjoyable, no-pressure format. It’s rewarding emotionally (and financially!) and it feels great to know people are listening to what you have to say. You’re already ahead of the game, because you’re motivated enough to read this article all the way to the end. Everything starts with one click. Give yourself the opportunity to try something new and I’m willing to bet you’ll impress yourself. Get started today!