How to Make Money with your Blog step by step (even if you are technically challenged)
Before you can Make Money with your blog step by step, let’s start with the obvious. You need an idea.
So you have a great idea, a totally unique voice and you are ready to take the plunge and (insert epic music and deepen voice) BECOME A BLOGGER!!!
Does this sound familiar? You don’t have a lot of extra cash but you want to set things up so you can earn a side income or maybe earn a living as a blogger. You really like writing but are totally technically challenged.
Fear Not!!! That was me too..100%. Now, here I am, still on the slow side of technology but blogging away, having fun, and actually earning income. Want to know how I did it?
Excellent!
Here’s my no nonsense advice to start blogging with minimal frustration: Click on every single one of these links on this page in order and read the directions for a step by step hand holding to take you from awesome ideas to official blogger. It’s the blueprint for what I did and you seem to be enjoying this site. 🙂
TRANSPARENCY: A few of the links do have costs involved. (After all, you are starting up a business) If you purchase from these links I may or may not earn a commission. This is one of the ways the blog earns an income. There is no extra cost to you. In fact, most of the time, I broker a discount by using these links. Just want to keep it real. Now that’s out of the way…Here we go!
On to Make Money with your blog step by step!!!!!
Step One BLUE HOST
Choosing a site name and a domain name. If you are already thinking ‘I have no idea what she just said’, that’s OK! I’ll use me as the example. (Because I started this adventure at absolute ground zero level) My site name is This Family Blog. I chose it because the whole site is about our family and I didn’t know where that would take me exactly but I knew that family would always be the core.
(To keep it simple: Site name=Biz Name)
The domain name is the web address, just like a house address. Mine is https://www.thisfamilyblog.com This can be as creative or simple as you want to be. I recommend something related to what you are writing about. I also recommend you try to stick to a .com address. It’s easiest to remember and easiest for programs and platforms to work with. Trust me, I tried other addresses including .blog. Save yourself the hassle. Stick with .com
(Domain name=Biz Address)
TIP: Check HERE to see if your domain choice is available. (Don’t worry, it’s free)
Got your domain name in your head? Checked it on the link above? GREAT!!!
Next go to BLUEHOST to host your site. Think of Bluehost as the building that you put your business in.
(Bluehost=Building for Biz)
The current rate is just under $60/year for the basic plan. My cheap self looked around and this is a really great rate, especially for a start up biz and especially for what all you get. (In full disclosure, I chose the three year plan. Better rate, more protection because as I may have mentioned, I’m a technical idiot and need it simple and done correctly because technical difficulties make me cry).
Tip: if you want to understand more about why I chose Bluehost, Read: How to Start an Adventure Blog
BLUEHOST is your friend.
Step Two CONSTANT CONTACT
Read: Why Every Blogger Needs an Email List
Bottom line here is using this link gives you two months of Constant Contact free while you get on your blogging feet and then it’s minimal after that (like 43/month minimal) and , you’ll be using this to make some $$ so that’s excellent news!!! Templates make life easy for pop ups, sign ups, mail outs.
(Constant Contact=Personal Mailman/Sales Agent)
For more information read Why Every Blogger Needs an Email List. If you are looking for regular readership and to make any money at all, you need to make this investment.
Step Three THEME
This is a personal choice. And a fun one!!!! I think clean and simple is always a good look for blogs. There are free themes (and you’ll have access to some at BLUEHOST ) you can use for sure but they tend to be ‘light’ in design choices and variations. Purchasing a full theme gives you not only options but usually a support team to ask all the questions you can think of. And if you are anything like me, you will have some. So if cash is uber tight at first, go free. You can always upgrade later.
HERE is a great place to go for a BUNCH to choose from! If you have some extra cash, design it exactly the way you want from the beginning.
Restored 316 is another fun site. Very feminine. This is a fun little quiz to take to help you decide your style: Which theme is best for your website? Quiz
Restored 316(Theme=Decor)
This covers the beginning set up for how to Make Money with your blog step by step
Feeling like you need more? Here is more: How to Start an Adventure Blog
READ ALL ABOUT MY BLOGGING JOURNEY
My very first Blog Post
My first month as a Blogger
Six Months of Blogging
Why My Blog Didn’t Fail the First Year
Boom! You are set up! Congratulations! Go get coffee and tell me all about it below so I can celebrate with you!
We interrupt all this blog talk to remind you this blog is all about history and Americana and fun so please take a moment to realize these gold stars (and silver) are amazing law badges. They are housed at the Gene Autry Museum of the West. Excellent. Thank you. Carry on.
Tip: The first steps in actual blogging include writing the About Me section and your first Blog Post.
Like this no brainer stuff? Want your hand held a bit longer? (Like through the first month of blogging?) I function best with to do lists, especially in foreign territory. In that spirit, here are a couple of step by step tutorials on running your blog as a business. These courses do cost money but I feel they are good classes worth the investment. I used them, I liked them and if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t post them.
30 DAY GUIDE TO Building a Blog
STARTING A BLOG
Have questions or thoughts or are you stuck?
I’m no genius but chances are I’ve made so many mistakes I might just have an answer for you (or can point you in the right direction for better answers) Comment below!
Protect Your Site
If you have a little more money to invest, I highly recommend a Website Security company. Think of it as your home security system for your new property you just invested in (which you did). SITELOCK
What a great step-by-step guide for beginners!
What a great step-by-step guide for beginners!
Great post for new or potential bloggers.
Awesome help for a new blogger or someone interested in the process.
This is a great list of resources for a newbie blogger!!
You see all these pins on Pinterest about starting a blog, but you really need some type of road map. This would be perfect for first time bloggers.
Great step-by-step tips for getting up and running, it can be overwhelming at first! Thanks so much for sharing ?
Great tips. It wasn’t too long ago when I was searching for all that information.
Great tips! I remember how difficult it was in the beginning!
LOL yup! Hoping this is a ‘Blogging for idiots’ kind of guide. 🙂
All right on the money in terms of tips! I remember the early days well?
ha! PTSD?
Great list. I must say that building an email list is what I struggle with most. I need to make it a stronger focus.
It is a struggle for everyone I think
Great tips for those starting a blog 🙂 Blogging is so therapeutic!
It IS isn’t it?
It’s great how you break down the blogging process. I still haven’t mastered it by any means, but it’s a lot easier and quicker than it was at first. Great post!
Thank you Ramae! It’s a process I think but at least this serves as a step by step don’t get overwhelmed tick off the boxes kind of guide 🙂
Great post with great tips. Thanks for sharing.
I appreciate that Lina
Such a great step-by-step for new bloggers!
Thank you Kristi!
I went into blogging not having a clue as what to do. However, I find posts like this and community are so helpful. Little by little I am getting there.
It’s a process but thank you for the kind words. The hope is to make it simple for others
Starting a blog back in January was definitely a leap for me. I had no idea what I was doing! I’m glad that I started though. It’s definitely something that one must learn through trial and (many) errors. I’m about to reach my six-month mark, so I look forward to writing a “What to Expect and What to Avoid” post. ?
Whoo Hoo!! I will be reading it!
These are really great tips to get someone started! I love blogging!
Thank you Tricia!! I do too!
Love that you are sharing the “how tos” to creating a blog. Having my blog is one of my absolute favorite things!!
Thank you Brittany! It’s something I really enjoy too! Hopefully this guide makes it easy for others too
Thanks for the helpful information! Great for newbie bloggers!
YAY! THat’s exactly what I was going for!
Wonderful tips on how to start blogging. It is truly the hardest to begin. I’ve had several blogs started but they never went live until my Living Yogi Life. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Yeah, it can be very daunting. Hopefully this guide breaks it down super easy for folks thinking about it 😉
I have absolutely LOVED having a blog! It’s such a great outlet for me! This is a great step by step guide to starting a blog.
Thank you Charlene! I appreciate that!
You truly make it easy in this step by step guide!! Everyone should start a blog, even if they only use it for themselves and their family!!
Thank you Holly! I was very skeptical at first… I even made fun of the stereotypes…but I have come to absolutely love blogging and the blogging community. I think there are many reasons to blog and for so many positive reasons!
Thank you for this helpful step-by-step outline! The links make it much easier to follow 🙂
Awesome! I was hoping that is how it would play. Thank you for the feedback!
Thanks for sharing! Great post!
Thank you for reading Robin!
Great tips! I started blogging recently and so far I love it!
Oh I’m so glad! It is a lot of fun 🙂 Welcome to our world!