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How to Start a Blog for Profit and Work From Home

(THIS POST PROBABLY CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY IS REALLY BORING, BUT YOU CAN FIND IT HERE.)

Thinking about starting a blog?

Maybe it’s been on your mind for a while. You know you have important things to say. You want a new hobby. Or You’ve read the income reports and thought “why not me”? (And yes, why not you?)In this post I’ll show you exactly how to start a blog.

Blogging completely changed my life (and I make over $10,000/month in under two years with my blog!)  It’s absolutely crazy that a hobby you can start for less than 4$/month (there is a special 60% discount on hosting for my readers available through this tutorial) can turn into something like this.

Click here to start your blog  – then click the “get started” button (and follow the tutorial below for more guidance if needed.)

Remember – there’s nothing quite as bitter as regretting not trying something you KNOW you want to do. I knew I wanted to try blogging – for profit – so I could work from home. And I knew the only way to find out if I could do it was to jump in with both feet.

And I have to say, I’m pretty happy I jumped. I love blogging. I’m making (real) money. (Read my income reports here!) Blogging is one of the best risks (if you can call less than 4$ per month a risk) I have ever taken.

You’ll never know what you could create for yourself if you don’t try. And the best part is, you don’t even have to put on real clothes or leave the house. You just need to be committed to putting in the effort.

From your couch.

It is worth doing.

How to start a blog:

STEP 1 – choose a hosting plan.

You can click here to register your domain name and start your blog. (Click the “get started” button on that page! Then follow along with me here):

I honestly think the basic cheapest plan is just fine for most people starting out!

screenshot of bluehost hosting package options

 

STEP 2 – choose a domain name:

Your domain name is your www.blogname.com.

PICK ONE YOU LOVE (this is hardest part of starting a blog). I made the terrible, no good, very bad mistake of picking one I was ok with. And then I wasted a month of my life (and some money) moving everything I had already created to the new website, one with a name I do love.

You can see if the name you want is available by plugging it in at bluehost.com(just click get started under any of the plans, and the first screen that comes up will look like the image below, this is where you can check domain names.)

domain set up screen on bluehost website

Things to keep in mind while choosing a domain name:

  • Short is good. Short is easy to remember, and easy to type.
  • Don’t use something that sounds just like something else that’s already famous. Be your own famous!
  • Your own name is always a good fall back (www.yourname.com comes with the added bonus of not trapping you in a box regarding the subject of your blog).
  • Really think long and hard before purchasing a name that doesn’t end in .com. It’s the most professional looking, and you’re more likely to be taken seriously with a .com

 

STEP 3 – create your account:

This is where you fill in your personal info and payment details.

One thing to note – they will try to upsell you on a few things… in my opinion, brand new bloggers only need to get the Domain Privacy and Protection. This keeps your personal information from becoming public, and you ABSOLUTELY want to have it.

Skip the other “extras” for now!

STEP 4. – Complete your set up

Follow the prompts! (This part has changed a little since I bought my last blog, and I have to get updated images + info)! It’s all very straightforward, however, and if you run into any trouble, contact bluehost support! That’s what they are there for.

STEP 5. Log in to your WordPress dashboard

Go to your website and login. In your internet address bar enter www.yourdomainname.com/admin. This will take you to your login page, (and WordPress is already installed on your website, because you did that with the customer support people).

login screen of the wordpress dashboard

Once logged in you will see your WordPress dashboard.

(You’re gonna get really comfortable here.)

Congratulations – you own a website! Your own little piece of the internet, where you will create something amazing. And, if you do it right, you will inspire readers, connect with new friends and make money while you’re at it.

It’s gonna be awesome.

If you  have no idea what to do next, be sure to check out my completely FREE 13 part mini course – How to Start a Blog and MAKE MONEY! 

Or just move right on to the next step – and it’s the fun part. Choosing and installing a theme. Your theme is the way your blog looks. It’s the fonts, the colors, the layout. There are THOUSANDS of free and paid for themes to choose from. It’s mind boggling actually!

Oh, and there is a little bit of picky house keeping we can do in WordPress before we do anything else too.

So let’s get started on that… shall we?

On to the next step – Choosing a theme →

 

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Looking for other blogging tips? Check out these posts:
Choosing a Theme You Love
Creating Your First Blog Post in WordPress

5 Very Important Things to do Before You Start Blogging
WordPress Settings, Permalinks & Google Analytics
How to Install WordPress Plugins

7 Ways to Make Your Blog Look Less Like a “Newbie” Blog
Printable Blog Organization Binder
Affiliate Marketing: Can YOU Really Make Money With It

Or have a look at my Favorite Blogging Resources HERE




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28 thoughts on “How to Start a Blog for Profit and Work From Home”

  1. Thanks for your how to start a blog post. I have felt this inner push to start a blog for a few months now, but I also feel a lot of inner resistance. Your instructional post has helped me believe I can actually do it.

    Reply
    • So glad you enjoyed it Terry! Good luck on your blogging journey 🙂

      Reply
  2. I loveee writing, I actually almost went to college for journalism, but I no longer partake in the social media world. Would this be a problem for me if I am looking to make a profit in blogging?

    Reply
    • Hi Amarra 🙂 Probably not what you want to hear, but yes. IT will be very hard to get enough traffic to get your name out there and make a profit without social media. THAT said, you can think about freelance writing or ghost writing for OTHER bloggers, and that would certainly be a great option!

      Reply
  3. Hi Carly, I am just starting out. I have written my first post however have not posted it yet. I am currently using wordpress for free online, what is the difference between using that and downloading it?
    Also i noticed you chose the $399 option, is there a cheaper option or free option for beginners? I have a lot of resistance from my girlfriend and spending that kind of money will get my in trouble. I also have some personal skepticism so that doesn’t help either.

    Reply
    • HI Chris – congrats on starting your blog! That’s so exciting! There is a HUGE difference between using wordpress.com and wordpress.org. The free version isn’s really suitable for having a money making blog. It’s very hard to monetize on that platform. I explain a bit more in depth here in the truth about starting a profitable blog.

      There is no free option to have a self hosted blog, no, but in that picture that 399 is not selected. That’s just if you can’t figure out how to install it yourself. (Which you can, by following along with my tutorial!) Sorry for the confusion! You can absolutely just use the cheapest option and upgrade when the time comes. I do believe that starting a blog is like investing in a business… you do have to put some money out! But usually it’s about 4 dollars per month 🙂

      Reply
  4. Thank you Carly, I have been wanting to start a blog for awhile but most people want you to pay for their course or ebook. I lost my job over 7 years ago and people look at me and see gray hair. I am older but not over the hill. I really want to do this just need to do as you and jump in with both feet.

    Reply
    • Hi Kimberly – I’m excited for you!You can absolutely blog with ANY colour of hair! I DO recommend buying one of those books or courses eventually though, because blogging can be an uphill battle without a solid foundation.

      Reply
  5. Maybe I’m super stupid but I still don’t know how it is you make money… after all of that (super useful explanations) I still don’t get how is it that you get paid. Im serious about trying to start a blog and I really wanna know how it works (the money making part) HELP! THANKS.

    Reply
    • HI Jade – I’m SURE you’re not stupid. I didn’t know how you got paid to begin with either! You get paid by the ad networks that run ads on your blog, or if you are an affiliate for any products then you get paid a portion of the sale of the product. It takes time to make money blogging, because you need a solid amount of people stopping by your blog to view your ads or purchase products that you talk about.

      Reply
  6. Thank you for your helpful info! I am finding myself returning to it often! One thing I am still unsure about is: It seems if I start with my wordpress.com account then I will get the domain name for free and will not have to pay for it when I sign up with siteground.com. Is this accurate? I really to feel like a fish out of water, but I can learn. Thanks for any help you can give!

    Reply
    • Hi Jennifer! No — you have to pay for the domain name or else it won’t truly be just yourURL.com… the free ones will be something like yourURL.wordpress.com, and you don’t want that. siteground will help you get all set up with the domain name! (Or you can buy it anywhere and then transfer it to siteground, but that’s just more hassle!) Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂 Good luck on your blogging journey!

      Reply
  7. Your overall blog and this specific info about starting a blog is fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us. It’s time for me to upgrade my laptop and I have skills with both Mac and PC. My question – is Mac or PC preferred for creating and publishing content? Do you know what is most used by bloggers, what do you use, and does it really matter? (Do Siteground and WordPress function equally well on both platforms?) Thanks again!

    Reply
    • O boy Donna I have NO Idea to be honest! I bet they do function equally well tho, or that is something I am SURE we would hear about in blogland.

      Reply
      • Carly is a God send!!!! I just started my blog because I quit my job for complications with my second pregnancy. Mommy on purpose was the first option in my goggle search for blogging and it has CHANGED everything. The real life tips for getting this blogging thing down has been so helpful! I even enrolled in her recommended courses because I trust this advice to the core. Thank you carly for being a genuine friend and teacher!

  8. This series is beyond helpful. I came here literally everyday during the prep for my first blog, which I launched on Monday! I am still working on perfecting it, but you have helped so much!

    Reply
  9. Hi Carly! Thank you for all of the information in your posts! I am starting a blog thanks to your info. I have a question for you – Can you create a logo using Divi? Thanks! Erin

    Reply
    • not really – you’ll still need to create in an editor and upload it!

      Reply
  10. I have a domain name that I purchased through go daddy… now I have no idea what to do! Is go daddy also a host, Like you mentioned like siteground is? Confused on how to go about starting a blog. And how everything connects. Thank you!

    Reply
    • if you have a domain purchased through go daddy (or anywhere else) you can still start your blog on siteground. It is actually good practice to have your domain name and your blog hosting on different companies 🙂 That way you are not “all in” with one company!

      Reply
  11. I just wanted to say I love your blog & always look forward to your e-mails. You’ve really inspired me to take that leap & give the blogging world a shot. I’ve been considering it for almost a year now but have been too chicken. So thank you!

    P.S. – Congrats on the new bundle of joy! I hope you & your family are enjoying mommy’s time off. =)

    Reply
    • Thank you!!! <3 I wish you ALL THE BEST with your blog Deanna!

      Reply
  12. Hi Carly

    Your content on blogging is brilliant. So much value. Please do write more. Would be great to know about your approach to writing blog posts.

    Reply
    • Hi Pritam, I’m not sure I understand your question completely. I’m SO grateful you found my content helpful though!

      Reply
  13. Hello!
    I thought your blog was super helpful and it helped me take the leap to get started on mine! So I created a domain name and I purchased the package on site ground. I received confirmation emails on everything, followed the steps, and logged into my.siteground to get started. I got to step 4 and nothing on my.siteground will even load for me to ask for help on downloading wordpress or do ANYTHING for that matter on the page. All that comes up is the site ground logo with a message saying “Getting there…”
    I’m not sure where to go from here or if I did something wrong. Please help!!
    Thank you,
    Marissa

    Reply
    • I did the whole set up, went on bluehost through the link and followed the process. I was so excited I finally was creating my blog when I started having issues with loading and customizing. It takes forever and sometimes even refreshing it it’s stays on loading. I reached out to tech support I’m hoping they can help if not I’m going with a refund. I really wanted it to be this easy, hopefully it’s fixable.

      Reply

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