If you have something interesting to say to the world, blogging can be tons of fun! It can also be a great way to make money online. If you don’t know where to begin though, trying to get started can be frustrating.
So, here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you acquire your own little corner of the internet:
Blog Software
First, you’ll need some blogging software, which you can download for FREE! I use WordPress, but you can also get what you need at Blogger and TypePad. There are many others, but these are a few of the biggies. They all have free “themes” which allow you to choose the layout and design you want. You’ll be able to pick one when setting up your account. Don’t be afraid to do some research to find the best blogging software for you.
You are pretty much ready to start blogging after downloading the software and completing the setup process, but there are several other things to consider if you want to build a large audience.
One of them is getting your own domain name.
Getting Your Own Domain Name
If you’re serious about blogging, you need your own domain name and web host. The free sites I listed previously have everything you need, but if you want to be taken seriously in the blogging world, you’ll eventually need to upgrade.
For instance, let’s say you want to start a health blog. Once you choose an address on WordPress, it will look something like this:
www.mycoolhealthblog.wordpress.com
This is perfectly fine, but for a more professional look, your own domain will look like this:
See, once you have your own domain, it has the look and feel of your very own site instead of a generic one and that will certainly help in your efforts to make money online.
Web Hosts
If you use WordPress for everything exclusively or one of the other companies I mentioned, they will be your web host. This means your site will run from their servers.
You can use your own domain on some of these, but I choose to use a separate company simply to keep better control of my sites.
I purchase all my domains through Bluehost and also use them as my web host. They own the servers on which my sites are run. Doing this affords me more freedom with making my blog look and work the way I like.
Bluehost works very seamlessly with WordPress which is one of the reasons I chose them. I’ve been with them for a decade and have no complaints.
I should also mention HostGator because I have heard great reviews about the company and know many people with online businesses that use them. They are worth a look, too.
There are many other companies that provide these services, so I encourage you to spend some time looking into it and reading reviews. You can get domains at these sites for around $10 – $12 for a year, and hosting options are also very reasonable with both.
With all this in place, you’ll have the look and feel of your very own professional blog.
Next, you’re going to want to personalize everything to make your blog your own.
Setting Up
So, you’ve got your blog software, your own domain name @ www.yourcoolblog.com, and a trusted company to host it.
As you begin getting everything set up, you will notice how many options there are for making it unique. Starting a blog is a lot like buying a new cell phone. Unless you read through the instruction manual, you will never understand everything it will do. Take your time with it and learn all you can. It will make things easier later.
With all the different free plugins and addons out there, there are literally hundreds of ways to tweak your site so it looks and acts exactly the way you wish. Once you have it set up perfectly for you, maintaining it is pretty simple. Getting to that point, though, can take some time.
It’ll all be worth it when you start to make money online.
Now, let’s talk about your theme.
Themes
Once I was blogging for a while, I decided I wanted more control over my blog’s design and function. In order to do this, I purchased a theme that was designed specifically for this purpose. This is not something you have to do, but keep it in mind as you become more involved with your audience. Growing a devoted following has a lot to do with your site’s layout and ease of use. Purchasing a new theme just made that easier.
There are two I have used that I would recommend if you ever have the desire to upgrade from the limited themes available in WordPress and other sites. They make personalizing your blog and making it truly unique much simpler and easier without having to know how to write HTML or how to program code.
The first one I used was called Catalyst Theme. I’m glad I began with this one because everything was point and click.
The theme I use for this blog was free as part of the Genesis Framework and it is my favorite thus far. If you are brand new to blogging, it is not one I would recommend you start with. Catalyst Theme is much better for first timers. However, if you have some knowledge of programming, Genesis is fantastic.
There are hundreds of these all over the web. As with anything else, research is the key.
Once you set up your new theme, it’s time to get some traffic and start blogging!
Getting Traffic
So how are people going to find you?
Without a system in place for getting visitors to your site, no one will ever know you are there. It would be like not ever telling your friends where you live and hoping they just randomly find you one day.
Here are some great ways to start building an audience.
1. Start with Friends – Give everyone your URL and ask them to pass it along to their friends. Your closest supporters will be happy to help.
2. Social Media – Post your updates to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other such places. This makes it easy for others to read your articles and share them with friends.
3. Search Engines – I highly recommend getting some books on optimizing your site so Google and other search engines can find you. This is a very important key to making money online. This kind of traffic is very valuable and can translate into major $$$. My favorites so far are SEO for 2012 by Odem and Allison and SEO Made Simple by Michael H. Fleischner. They are available for Kindle as well.
4. Get Linked Up – Ask others to place a link to your blog on their website.
5. Guest Blog – Submit articles to other blog sites that are already getting traffic. If they post it, you’ll possibly get some great exposure. Search for blogs similar to yours and ask if they are accepting guest blogs for consideration.
6. Share Buttons – Make your articles easy to share by placing social media “share” buttons on your site. These are located in the “plugins” section of your blog site software.
7. Say Something New – If you’re saying the same thing as everyone else on the internet, there will be no reason for anyone to return. Give a new perspective or analyze a topic from a new angle. Keep it fresh and people will come back.
8. Be a Resource – People who visit blogs are either looking for entertainment or good information. Be a source of both and you’ll be on your way to success.
9. Submit to Search Engines - Submit your URL to sites like Google and Yahoo. Doing so will put you on the map so people you don’t even know can find you.
10. Blog Often – If you’re only publishing new articles once a month or so, it will be easy for people to forget about you. Blog every day if you can, even if it’s only a few hundred words.
This list will get you started, but growing your site traffic is a never ending process.
Once you have some fans, you can monetize your blog and make some money. How sweet is that!
Making Money Online
There are many ways to earn an income from your blog. The most effective revenue generators will depend on WHO is visiting your site, how they got there, and what they are looking for.
The following are the best income earners from my own experience.
1. Adsense – These are targeted ads placed on your site by Google. You get paid when people click on them or buy products.
2. Chitika - Another ad company that targets ads based on the search terms people use to find your site and the subject matter of the page.
3. eBooks – If you have a special knowledge about a subject or are an authority in your field, write an eBook that people can purchase directly from your site.
4. Private ads – Get enough traffic and people will pay you to place their ads on your site.
5. Amazon - There are tons of ways to utlilize this gigantic and trusted product company.
It is imperative to review your income streams regularly to determine which are working best for you. Adjust them over time for best results.
And there you have it! It’s time to get blogging!
Have a question? Ask in the comments section (Speak Your Mind) and I’ll do my best to answer.
