Hey there!
I’ve been getting the same questions from people so frequently that I decided to write a blog post about it! So if you have any questions contact me (any one of the 489 available ways will do) and I’ll see about adding some new information!
As you might already have guessed, I like to do everything DIY style… including this site! So if you’re looking to start your own blog with little to no cost like I did, read my answers to the most frequently asked questions I get about my blog below.
*This page contains affiliate links which means if you click the link and make a purchase, I get a small commission. This page is specifically about how I started my blog. I’ve been very successful and if you’re thinking about starting a blog I want you to be successful too! So I only share the things that have worked for me and my blog but there are so many marketing tactics, hosting services and niches that it won’t be hard for you to find your own path that works specifically for your blog.
Hosting
I use my own hosting and I’ve done that since day 1. I use Bluehost and have no complaints at all! They have really good customer service and if you ever accidentally delete your entire blog you had been working on for 11 months they’re there to offer a shoulder to cry on.
They also have this free domain name checker which I love. (I actually buy a lot of domains for other purposes.) You can type in a domain name, and if it’s not available they suggest ones that are similar and actually available. It’s a great way to start getting ideas for what your domain name will be. (Because you’re most likely not going to get exactly what you want with 500 million blogs out there.)
Why Use Your Own Hosting
When I started my blog I did all the research about hosting your own site versus using a blogging platform and I came up with conclusion that it made sense to get my own hosting. So I’m going to really quickly list all the reasons why you should just go with self hosting now instead of doing it in the future.
- You technically don’t own your content when using blogging platforms.
- Blogging platforms can shut you down with no warning at all for (almost) no reason at all!
- If you ever want to really make the big bucks with your blog (or even little bucks) it’s
- Your domain will look like “example.blogspot.com” instead of “example.com.”
- Your advertising and affiliate options are fewer because of more rules and regulations.
- You can’t add all kinds of plugins to your site.
- It’s really annoying to migrate everything over to your own hosting later.
Okay… is that reason enough? Just trust me, go with the self hosting. When I started my blog, this was the ONLY cost I incurred for the first year. Just think of it like I did, what other hobby (or career if that’s what you’re after) can you start and maintain for such a minimal cost?
So go and start that blog! Well, keep reading this post and then go start that blog!
Platform
What platform do you use for your blog?
I use wordpress.org (not wordpress.com!) and I love it. It’s user friendly (and even more so ever since I downloaded my theme,) and incredibly easy to use wordpress.org with bluehost, I believe they call it “one click install.” I’m pretty sure it was more than one click but it’s still really easy to do.
Truthfully, I didn’t even do research about any other self hosted blogging platforms because I’ve heard nothing but good things about wordpress and they were right.
So my suggestion is go with wordpress!
Website
Did someone make your website for you?
Hell no! I love figuring out new things and challenging myself to do something I never thought was possible. Who woulda thought I could build a website.
I am incredibly proud to to say that I created this site entirely on my own. Well, I can’t say entirely on my own… I use one of the best themes available, hands down. It’s called “Highend” and I believe there’s a link in my footer below. Until October of 2016 I was using free themes and constantly changing the theme because I was never happy. I felt like I was always starting over with my blog!
This theme cost me $40 (I found a discount on another blog…) and it was the best $40 I’ve ever spent on blogging. I was just telling someone the other day – It’s almost like anything I can dream up for my website or for a blog post or a page I can make it happen with this theme. It’s incredibly customizeable which was something I was looking for… but would also work for someone who wants a simple theme because they have a “minimal” look as well. Later down the blogging road if you want to add all the bells and whistles you still can with this theme, there’s no need to purchase a new one.
My advice on the theme is play around with a few free ones to see what blog features you desire and then make sure the theme you purchase has at least those core features.
Random Blogging Tips:
- I constantly use this website when I have questions about grammar.
- When you upload pictures, rename the files before you upload them. It helps with SEO, especially if you use the keywords you’re trying to rank for!
- You’ll hear this a lot, but blog consistently! Content and consistency are king. One without the other just won’t do.
- Comment on blogs you genuinely read and like! You’d be surprised how much traffic you can get from leaving comments on your favorite blogs. Make sure to be sincere and don’t just do it to gain the traffic.
That’s all the information I have for you now, I hope to update . If you have any other questions let me know! I really love to help!
