How To Start A Blog In 153 Easy Steps

I’m sorry, but if I see one more blog post titled “How to start a blog in 3 easy steps” I’m going to scream. Starting a blog is HARD and there are so many more steps to take than just 3! I can’t even count how many steps I took when I started my first blog, but it was certainly more than 3. It took me 6 months of studying every blog post I could find and just plain trial and error, before my blog was ready to go.

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Maybe I’m just a bit jaded, but all those posts about starting a blog in 3 easy steps only show you how to sign up for a hosting company. And if you take a second to wonder why? It’s because those bloggers are affiliates for that hosting company and get paid every time someone signs up to create a website through their link.

Now, I don’t have anything against bloggers making money – Heck, I’m a blogger trying to make money! But what gets me is that those posts get you all the way through signing up and then leave you completely hanging. What about the other 150 steps to actually creating a blog? Crickets. Signing up for a domain and hosting is only the start of the wonderful blogging journey.

I know how hard it is to start a blog, but I also know how fulfilling it is once you actually get past that hurdle of creating your blog and can share your message with the world.
Those first three steps of signing up for a domain and hosting are actually the easiest things you have to do. Then you have to:

  • Design your blog
  • Write your blog posts
  • Share your posts on social media
  • Find your ideal readers
  • Monetize your blog
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And that is still the first 6 months of your blogging journey! When I started thinking about how much those “3 easy step” posts leave out – I knew I had to help. There were so many times I almost gave up on my dream blog after those first 3 steps and if I had, I wouldn’t have the blog I have now.

The Mom Blog Mentor course takes you through those first three steps and then KEEPS GOING with everything else you need to know to create a successful blog.

Back to those first 3 steps – I cover those steps in Day 2 of the Mom Blog Mentor course. That’s right, it’s just one day out of 25 days of course content.

Here’s a Sneak Peak at Day 2 of the Mom Blogging 101 Course {this course is currently not open to new students}

What do you need to start a blog?

Two things:

• You need a website address (xyz.com) purchased through somewhere like GoDaddy or SiteGround
• You need somewhere to “put” your website, which is called hosting.

Other options:

There are some free options available such as WordPress.com and Blogger.com. This course covers setting up a “self-hosted” “WordPress.org” blog however.

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What’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

With WordPress.com:

• You don’t own your content
• You can’t easily place ads
• You don’t have as many options for themes and customization
• It is mostly free to set up and host, but there are additional fees

With WordPress.org:

• You own your own content
• You can set up Google Adsense
• You can use any WordPress theme or plugin
• You pay for the website domain and hosting

Even if you intend to just start this as a hobby blog, you want to start it the RIGHT way, which means buying your domain and hosting instead of going the cheaper route. Most hobbies aren’t free, and blogging is no different.

Can you switch later? Yes, but its time and effort and I don’t recommend it.

Your Domain

This is your permanent address on the internet. When I started my blog over a year ago, I headed over to a popular company that I no longer use and purchased the domain and hosting all at the same time. It took about 15 minutes to make the purchase.

Can you purchase your address from one company and host with another? Yes, BUT it is more complicated for beginners, so I don’t recommend it.

How much does your domain cost? It will depend on what type of address you choose, the popularity of the name and any specials the company has. Usually it is $.99-$20 per year.

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Keep in mind, specials are usually for first time buyers, your second year will usually cost more.

Before purchasing your domain:

• .com is better than any other ending since it is perceived as more professional and legitimate.
• Should you use your name or a blog name? It depends on what your goals are. If you want to brand yourself as an expert, you can use your name. If you want to write a more general, lifestyle blog, you can choose a blog name. Personally, I prefer going the blog name route.
• Do some searches to make sure it’s not already trademarked or taken by someone else.
• Make sure your name (or an easy shortening of the name) is available on all the social media platforms. Check out KnowEm to easily check usernames at once.

Your Hosting

This is where your domain will live. The hosting company has computer servers that will house and manage the files associated to your website. It’s important to choose a reputable hosting company. You can always switch later if you need to.

If you haven’t purchased your domain and hosting yet, head over to Siteground now. They are the company I use now and I love them.

How much does hosting cost? Hosting costs can vary a lot! In this area, it’s really “You get what you pay for”. You don’t need an expensive plan in the beginning. Beginning hosting can cost anywhere from $5 per month and upwards. It is usually paid by year. So, if you choose a plan that is $5 per month, your cost will be $60 when you make your purchase.

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Things to consider when purchasing hosting:

• Set up recurring payments. You don’t want you blog to disappear next year if you forget to make a payment.
• DO – add on privacy protection. This will hide your personal information from being shown if someone attempts to find the owner of your blog. It will cut down on your spam and also protect your privacy.
• DON’T – add on any additional features that you don’t need. Some of the ones you don’t need are: adding your site to search engines and protection services.

Ok, it’s time to choose your domain and hosting (if you haven’t already). Head over to Siteground now and purchase your domain and hosting.

When you’re done, sign up for the Mom Blogging 101 course to learn everything you need to do NEXT.

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