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Have you ever dreamed about having your own business?
A blog is a simple way to start a business sharing what you love. It can be about your family, traveling, fashion, cooking, auto repair, gaming, architecture, homeschool, and so much more. Blogging is sharing your passion with the world. Plus, bloggers can make money with a successful blog.
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Why We Blog
Blogging has always been a major part of our business. We have been in the blogging business for 20+ years. We have own and run over 100 blogs over the years. We have learned and tested the best ways to quickly grow a blog and business.
Our blogs and social media have provided us income, advertising opportunities, tv roles, free travel around the world, and much more.
Here is a picture from our recent Disney Cruise, completely paid for by Disney, including airfare. Blogging has completely changed our lifestyle! It can do the same for you, too.
Should I Use a Free or Paid Web Hosting?
Your first step to blogging is finding a blogging platform, web hosting, or hosting provider to host your blog. These go by different names, but think of this as the home for your blog.
We know you are thinking it? Should I use a free hosting or paid for web hosting?
There are several companies that offer free blogs. Some of these companies include Tumblr or Wix. If you ever want to make money blogging, you need to actually pay for your web hosting.
Most free web hosting do not allow you to participate in any monetization, including Google AdSense. This means it is only for personal use.
If you want to create a blogging business, you should use paid web hosting. You can set up a blog for as little as $3.95 per month. This includes a free domain name. It is super cheap!
How Do I Find a Web Hosting Company?
When we started our own blog, we got frustrated. It was tough to find a good server company, install wordpress, add a wordpress theme, add Google Analytics, add plugins, etc. Our first year, we spent a lot of time hitting and missing! This is typical for new bloggers.
I was thrilled when I found a company that took all of the guess work out of setting up a first blog. Not only did they give you a domain name (blog name) for FREE, but with one click you could set up a wordpress dashboard. It was so simple!
This company is called Blue Host.
This hosting company makes it easy to set up a blog in just minutes, including adding the WordPress plug in. All blogs should be in the WordPress format and you usually need html knowledge, but with Blue Host you don’t.
They make it easy for you to start and run a blog.
Get Started Now with a WordPress Site
I am going to walk you through the process of setting up your first website using Blue Host. You can watch this video below or scroll down to the step by step instructions.
Create a Blog Step #1
Go to Blue Host to sign up for an account.
Create a Blog Step #2
The first big step is select the plan best for you. The price does change base on how long you pre-pay for your account. If you pay for 36 months, the price can be as low as $3.95 per month.
That is an amazing price for good hosting.
One of our hosting plans runs $60 a month. Blue Host prices from $3.95-5.95 a month is amazing. We already have several of our newer websites on Blue Host.
Create a Blog Step #3
The next step is selecting your website name or domain name. A domain name is is the address that your customer will type into Google to search for your website.
One of the reasons we LOVE Blue Host is because the domain name is included with the cost of your account. Normally you have to pay a separate fee to the domain registry to buy your domain. You also have to remember to renew it every year.
Blue Host can set it up as an auto renew for you AND the domain name is FREE! That is a win-win!
This next step is when you select or search for your domain name. On the left side, you will just type in your domain name and search to see if it is available.
You may have to try several different names to find one that is available.
Be sure you follow the steps in the Start a Blog in 5 Days Challenge to make sure you are picking the best domain name to build your blog. You can click here to take this free course. You will learn all about creating the best domain name for your new business.
Create a Blog Step #4
Your next step is to create an account with Blue Host. You can sign up quickly via Google or complete the form with all of your personal details.
Create a Blog Step #5
The next step in creating your blog is picking the service you want for your website. I know we mentioned earlier, but the longer term you have with Blue Host the more you will save.
When starting a new blog, it may be hard to look 2 or 3 years down the road. With search engines, they like to see sites that plan on being around for awhile.
You improve ranking for longer term domain names and service vs a domain name and service that renews every year. Just a little tip when starting your blog.
The final step is adding your payment details.
Create a Blog Step #6
This is my favorite step…start blogging!
Once you create and pay for your account, you will get an email and you can literally start creating your website or blog within minutes. Blue Host is one of the easiest hosting companies to work with and they are one of the best.
How Do I Start Building My Blog Design?
Now that you have set up your first blog, it is now time to start build your blog design, add wordpress plugins, create your home page, add your contact page, etc.
If you want a little more guidance on how to take your blog to the next level, we have a free course called Start a Blog in 5 Days Challenge. This 5 day email course will help you start blogging. You will also get access to a bonus video on how to design your blog.
Highlights of the Start a Blog in 5 Days Course:
- How to Find Your Ideal Customer
- How to Create a Social Marketing Powerhouse
- How to Maximize your Blog for Finding Followers for YOU
- Create the Perfect Logo for your Blog, at a Super Cheap Price Tag
- Common Blogger Mistakes & How to Prevent Them!
- How to Save Time with Schedules
- Insider Tips on Creating Fans that Will Share Your Blog Posts for You
- How to Make Money with Your Blog
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Yoast SEO
- Best Plugins to Help Your Blog Run 24/7 for You
- How to Make Money Blogging with Affiliate Programs and More
- Bonus How to Set Up Your WordPress Blog Theme and Design in Blue Host
- And Much More . . .
Click on the link below and sign up today for this free course.
FREE Start a Blog in 5 Days Challenge
We are excited you are going down this blogging journey. It has been amazing for our family. We hope it creates a new lifestyle for you and your family.
