How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies (2024)

How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies (1)

Ever read of the success story of bloggers and their hugely successful blog?

And you probably keep on reading all over the Net that you can make money blogging…

Finally, you have overcome the fears of starting a blog?

Now you are asking yourself:

How am I suppose to do this?
Where am I suppose to start?

It is not as hard as you might think. This guide was put together to document the way I started mine and to help you not make some of the mistakes I made.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may get a commission at no cost to you. Please see the Disclaimer for additional information.

Related Post

The complete Affiliate Marketing Guide

It might be a little different then others you have saw because I have decided to recommission my old Ipad to create and manage my blog.
It’s a 2 in 1 guide!

Following the guide, the complete process shouldn’t take too much time, and your blog should be set up properly to start earning money right away.

What’s the plan?

In this tutorial you will:

  • Learn how to set up and start a monetized blog, step-by-step;
  • Learn about some hosting plans and options;
  • Get a Free domain name with Bluehost

Although a blog set up is fast and straight forward, making money out of it is not as easy. Building a successful blog is time consuming. You will need to put some good hard work and time into it to make it profitable.

Don’t panic!

It can be done! You just need to keep your focus. Don’t forget: Keep the Dream alive!

Blog Subject

You want to choose a subject for which you want to write about, a subject you like and that you are passionate about. Otherwise, blogging won’t be fun, it will be tedious and boring, and you will be back to the like of your old office job.

Subject Niche

What is a niche?
A niche is a small and specialized subject on a main topic, normally you will choose a subject that is in high demand.

Are you a Subject Matter Expert on something?
Do you have a passion?
You need to pick a subject that you know and that you love. The coming months will be trying for you and you must keep going is you want to succeed. That will be much easier if you love your subject and if you keep your passion alight, because it will be your main driver until you start making money.

Another consideration is that, to make money, people need to read your blog. You need to write post that will be helpful to them, a post that will contain the information to solve the problem they are facing.

Let’s be honest, most people don’t care how you live your life. Your life experience might be useful to explain how you solved the problem and how it can apply to someone else. But other than that, you shouldn’t be talking about you too much.

Blog and domain name

They need not be the same, depending on the availability of the domain name. However, it is easier for your future “fans” to remember your blog’s address if it corresponds to your blog name.

Picking the right name for your blog will not be easy.

Agreed that it’s not as hard or definitive as choosing your children’s name, but you want to pick a name that will represent not only your subject, but yourself. It should have the following characteristics:

  • Short;
  • Easy to remember; and
  • Easy to spell.

Once you think you have your name, you need to make sure that the domain is not already owned by someone else. You can use this Bluehost tool to check the availability.

Having issues finding the right name?

A brainstorm might help you here.
Take a pen/pencil and a piece of paper…
Thinking of yourself, your subject(s), how you feel about it (those), write down every ideas/words/concept that you can think off. Don’t be shy of letting your mind loose!
Look at the ideas and word and try to combine them, to switch the order of the words.
Select some names with high potential and run them through your family and friends.

Congratulation!
After all that good work, you have selected a name!

The next step is to select the blogging platform and hosting solution on which to build the foundation of your new dream blog.

Selecting your blogging platform

If you are reading this, you are probably like I was a few months ago, a perfect Newbie in the blogging world. You are probably in this game of creating a successful blog to make some spare change (or more, who knows!).

You need to understand one crucial thing:
You will not be able to make any kind of money using a free blog hosting.

To be in the blogging business, you will need a self-hosted blog (more on this later) on a platform that will allow you to customize your website as you see fit.

There are several reasons for that:

  • A monetized blog uses ads. Free blog hosts will limit and restrict the ads you can put on your website;
  • The second monetization asset is affiliate marketing. Some of them will not accept a site hosted on a free platform;
  • Free platform might even insert there own ads, in unplanned location, into your blog posts;
  • You will not own the content you create. That is the most important reason why not to choose a free platform;
  • Most of them have almost no customization options; and
  • Very limited customer support, if any.

The Most Popular Free Blogging Platform

Currently, the most popular free blogging platform in the world, is wordpress.org. The platform allows you to have a self-hosted website, you do not need to host your files on there servers. Being free is not the only reason why I chooses it for thedreamingdad.com:

  • Over 45 000 plugging to help you;
  • Incredible customer support;
  • The huge user base make’s it easy to find answers to your questions;
  • Easy and flexible. You do not need to have a background in Website design to use it;
  • Full customization possible; and
  • Free and paid themes are available.

Blog Hosting

Your Blog and Domain name are chosen, you have selected your blogging platform and you, probably, have some good post ideas. Your future website will need to reside somewhere, it need to be hosted on someone’s servers.

There are numerous options out there both paid and free. However, you are probably in for the money, as explained before, you need to stay away from the free options.

In my humble opinion, the best web host for a beginner is Bluehost . I have selected them for those reasons:

  • Excellent and friendly 24/7 customer service (I’ve used it more then once);
  • WordPress recommended Webhosting;
  • Free domain name when you purchase a 12-month (or more) plan ( with this link ​);
  • Affordable for beginners with few resources to spare, or those who are unsure;
  • Easy to use;
  • Safe; and
  • Excellent WordPress integration.

Setting up your web hosting

I said easy to use? It is also easy to set up! Just click on the Get Started Now green arrow and the user friendly process will be started.

How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies (2)

Plan selection

The second step is to select the type of plan you want to purchase. You can select the Basic package because it already contains everything that you need to start your blog. As a new blogger, you do not need all the extra from the other 2 packages. That being said, you are free to choose the packages that suits you.

As with most long term plan/package purchase, buying the longest package will save you the most money (50% in this case). I would purchase a plan that is at least 12-months:

  • A free domain name, for 12-months, is included with a plan of 12-months (or more);
  • The monthly cost is less then a per month package; and
  • If you are commited to own and mangage a blog, having those 12-months already paid, will give you an extra reason to keep pushing through the hard time.

My recommendation, and this is what I have done, is to purchase the 36-months package. I really want this endeavor to succeed and 3 years give me a nice buffer to make it work. Also, I prefer spending the less total amount of money.

Extra options

If you are in my position, you do not want to spend an enormous amount of resources.
You do not need the extra option offered, yet. Unchecked them all, except the “domain privacy” one (see further why), to save a good amount of money(close to 8$/month).

Domain Privacy
I strongly suggest that you keep that little check box ticked.
Otherwise, your personal contact information will be available publicly to people who are using the whois service. In that case you might end up being stormed by undesired email and phone calls.
0.99$/month is a no brainer for your peace of mind, you need to keep it.

What if I already have a domain name?

You already have a domain name purchased with another Web hosting service but you want to move to BlueHost? Fear not, It can be done. You will need to link your domain name to your Bluehost account.
Simply chose the second option in the Getting started page instead of registering a new domain name. You will need to login into your current web hosting service account management and follow the specific instructions.

Still unsure how to do it?
You are having issues that you can’t resolve?
Contact Bluehost customer services, they will be more then happy to help you out.

Secure your account

GRATZ!
You now have successfully set-up a web hosting service for your future blog! Now that your account is set-up, the next step is to create a password for your account.

WordPress integration

BlueHost is completely integrated with WordPress. It will install WordPress with one click in less then 5 minutes! One more reason to select BlueHost! It’s easy as 1 2 3!

You will be ready to start your blog in a blink of an eye!

But there one final step to be really ready: select a theme for your Blog.

Theme selection

What is a WordPress theme?

A theme simply define the look and feel of your blog. It provide the framework that you can customize and that your blog will be build upon. Most of the theme will be defining:

  • Widget location;
  • Page layout;
  • Colors;
  • Fonts; and
  • Navigation menu.
    They vary in customization options from“Way too much option”to“super strict”. You can find the most popularhere
    Look at the different options and select something that represent you, something that you feel comfortable looking at. Yes, it can be changed at a later date.

The Genesis Framework Revolution

You probably read it again and again:

Genesis Framework… Genesis Framework… Genesis Framework.

By now, you are probably wondering what is that framework and what is special about it.
Here is a short explanation:
A WordPress Theme Framework, like the Genesis Framework, is a set of code libraries that are used be developers to ease the creation of a theme. It’s a foundation on which the developer build their themes to speed up their development time. It also make sure that the basics of a website theme are covered and are easier to maintain.

The question is:
Why would you choose to invest in a paid theme?
The first reason is that those themes are often more polished than the free one. They have a professional look that is hard to beat using a free theme. Also, the themes built upon those framework are often speed and SEO optimized, which gives you another advantages. All the themes comes with multiple layers and high security, mobile responsive page (which is very important in this age of mobile phones) and custom templates. Their are also plenty [other feature that you can find listed here].

Here are some of the favorites:

Maker Pro

Maker Pro is a simple, modern and minimalist theme that will make your content amazing. It’s an elegant way to start off any blog.

Refined Pro

Refined Pro is a classic, timeless, elegant theme that will give you a great foundation to beautifully showcase your picture and content. It’s a very good choice to start an online store due to it’s integration with WooCommerce.

Cook’d Pro

Cook’d Pro is a minimalist, mouth watering, easy on the eye theme. The minimalism makes it a super fast loading and super delicious theme for the cooks among you.

Start building your blog one post at a time.

Once your theme is selected, you can start building your Blog. Just click on the Start Building blue button and Voilà!

WordPress on Ipad

For those of you who want to use either there tablet or phone to quickly create content on the go, WordPress as created an app that you can easily download by searching your respective Application store (Google Store or Apple Store).

I am really sorry for Android users, but I only have an old Ipad to use and test upon. But the steps should be pretty similar.

Once you open up the application, you can either create a WordPress.com site or connect a self-hosted website to your account.

You need to log into the application either with your WordPress account password or through Google. I am, personally, a fan of Google login, it makes my life easier.

During the first log in, the application will ask you for you WordPress log in credential to link your blog to the application. Just fill in the required fields.

TADAM you are now ready to go!

WordPress Application

The application is very similar to the WordPress Dashboard and you can access your website dashboard directly is you desire.

The app has some nice features:

  • Manage your blogs plugin;
  • Easily create a post or a page from the starting window;
  • Respond to comments;
  • Share on your social media account;
  • Load media to your WordPress media library directly from your tablet of mobile photo app; and
  • Customize your theme. You are now good to go to publish your first post!

You are now at the very beginning of a wonderful endeavor, a glorious journey to a successful blog!
It will not be always easy, it will take up some of your time, but in the end it will be very rewarding.

And don’t forget: Keep the dream alive!

Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links.
At no additional charge to you, I receive a small commission whenever a product is purchased through these links. The Dreaming Dad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Enjoyed this post?

Follow us on Pinterest for additional awesome ideas!​

Ultimate Maple and Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Food, Recipes

Ultimate Maple and Bourbon BBQ Sauce

This sweet, spicy and syrupy all-purpose BBQ sauce will give an extra OOOMPH to any BBQ meal! This post may contain affiliate links. If you…

Pork Roast Loin à la BBQ Ribs

Food, Recipes

Pork Roast Loin à la BBQ Ribs

A gorgeously delicious slowly roasted Pork Loin Roast. This piece of juicy tenderness will conquer even the die hard pork loin haters! The BBQ Ribs flavoring makes it a winner in every BBQ.

Mylo – Invest your spare change – Review

Money

Mylo – Invest your spare change – Review

Do you want to invest some of your money but you don't know where to start?You've done your research on the different investing options, such as brokers and banks, but you are unable or unwilling to meet the minimum balance?Investing is not an easy concept. There are so much information on the internet about all the options and what to do that it is difficult to figure out where to start.I do have a good option for you, Mylo!

3 High-Yield Dividend Investing Tips

Money

3 High-Yield Dividend Investing Tips

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may get a commission at no cost to you. Please see the Disclaimer…

How to make money with Paid online survey website

Money

How to make money with Paid online survey website

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may get a commission at no cost to you. Please see the Disclaimer…

Basic Investment Terms that every investor should know

Money

Basic Investment Terms that every investor should know

These basic investment terms will help any investor understand the investment lingo. All beginning investors should start by learning these investment terms.

Popular Posts

Passive Income or How to make Money while sleeping at the beach6K Total Shares

Investing 101 for beginners6K Total Shares

How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies4K Total Shares

15 easy ways to make an extra 100$ per day in your free time3K Total Shares

Books to read for financial savvyness3K Total Shares

Passive Income: The Basics3K Total Shares

Guide to Increase Dividend Income2K Total Shares

Good financial habit to keep you out of trouble2K Total Shares

Becoming a Successful Dividend Growth Investor2K Total Shares

10 tried money saving tips that will save you thousands of dollars each year2K Total Shares

Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links.
At no additional charge to you, I receive a small commission whenever a product is purchased through these links. The Dreaming Dad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies (2024)

FAQs

How to successfully start and set up a blog as an Income Stream for Newbies? ›

Writing a blog doesn't have to be just a hobby, it can also be a way to make money, generate a profit and live on your own terms. With the right approach you can turn your website traffic into cash in a variety of ways. Follow these tips to grow your audience, build your reputation and make your content profitable.

Can a beginner make money blogging? ›

Writing a blog doesn't have to be just a hobby, it can also be a way to make money, generate a profit and live on your own terms. With the right approach you can turn your website traffic into cash in a variety of ways. Follow these tips to grow your audience, build your reputation and make your content profitable.

How long does it take to make $1000 per month blogging? ›

In most cases, you should expect it to take at least 6 to 12 months (minimum) of consistent blogging & promoting your content to start earning something from your blog. When it comes to making $1,000/mo in blog income, expect that to take 1 to 2 years of consistent effort for most people.

Can you make $10,000 a month blogging? ›

Making $10,000/month with a blog is everybody's dream. That's when you're finally making the big bucks. 6-figures per year! You're making a huge amount for relatively little work, especially when you compare it to most real-world careers.

How to start blogging for beginners? ›

12 Steps a beginner can take to start a blog
  1. Choose a subject. The first thing you need to do to start a blog is choose a subject. ...
  2. Choose a name. ...
  3. Register your domain name. ...
  4. Find a web host. ...
  5. Set up your blog. ...
  6. Create a custom blog email address. ...
  7. Create your social media accounts. ...
  8. Install blog plugins.

Which blog is best for earning? ›

Best Blogging Platforms to Make Money in 2024
  • WordPress. WordPress.org. WordPress.com.
  • Medium.
  • Blogger.
  • Squarespace.
  • Wix.
  • Ghost.
  • Tumblr.
  • Weebly.
Mar 22, 2024

Which is the best niche for blogging? ›

89 Blog Niche Ideas to Consider
  • Product Reviews. With so many brands and product releases, detailed and honest reviews are in high demand. ...
  • Makeup Tutorials. Step-by-step makeup tutorials are incredibly popular. ...
  • Hair Care Tips. ...
  • Skincare Tips. ...
  • Fashion Trends. ...
  • Entrepreneurship. ...
  • Freelancing. ...
  • Financial Management.
Jun 18, 2024

Is it realistic to make money blogging? ›

Blogging is a small business idea with the potential to make thousands of dollars per month, whether by driving product sales for your own brand, earning commission from affiliate programs, or creating a space for digital ad sales.

How many followers does a blog need to make money? ›

Blog owners with 10,000 to 100,000 monthly page views often earn between 2 cents and 10 cents for each page view from advertising, equating to $200 to $10,000 per month. Sponsored articles range in price from $25 to $750 for each post, depending on the size of the audience, genre, and individual sponsorship agreement.

How often should I post on my blog to make money? ›

The short answer to how often to blog is as frequently as possible. 57% of companies that post daily report strong results. However, a higher blog frequency won't deliver results unless you produce quality content. The best strategy is to pick a schedule you can manage and be consistent.

What is the fastest way to make money blogging? ›

Ad Networks

Joining an ad network is one of the most common ways that bloggers make money. Basically, you just sign up with one — such as Google Adsense or Media.net — and then ads get displayed on your site.

How to start a blog for free and get paid? ›

One of the easiest ways to make money as a beginner blogger is to sell ad space on your blog. You can register with platforms like Google Adsense, Mediavine, Media, and others. By adding a piece of code to your blog, ads will be added to your content, and you can earn money when your visitors click on them.

Can I blog about my life and make money? ›

Yes, it is indeed possible to make money blogging about your life. To be successful, it's crucial to find your niche, the specific topic or area of life you enjoy and feel passionate about. This not only helps to keep you motivated but also attracts the right audience who share similar interests.

Can I start blog with no money? ›

There are many free blogging platforms, image editing tools, and other resources that can help you get started. Do your research and explore the options available to you before investing in paid tools. Another way to save money is by taking advantage of free trials.

Can you realistically make money blogging? ›

Blogging is a small business idea with the potential to make thousands of dollars per month, whether by driving product sales for your own brand, earning commission from affiliate programs, or creating a space for digital ad sales.

What are the odds of making money blogging? ›

According to recent research, it takes an average of 21 months to start making money with a blog. However, that is just the average. The statistics show that 28% of bloggers start earning money from blogging within 6 months and 34% are making a full-time income within 2 years of starting their blog.

Is starting a blog a good side hustle? ›

With the ability to work from anywhere and at any time, bloggers have the freedom to create content on their own terms. This flexibility allows individuals to balance their blogging endeavors with other commitments, making it an ideal side hustle for those seeking additional income or creative fulfillment.

Top Articles
Online Grocery Shopping Trends Among Millennials and Gen Z — Chicory
Learn about crypto with Worldcoin
The Largest Banks - ​​How to Transfer Money With Only Card Number and CVV (2024)
What happened to Lori Petty? What is she doing today? Wiki
Rek Funerals
Find All Subdomains
The Idol - watch tv show streaming online
Calamity Hallowed Ore
Dark Souls 2 Soft Cap
Southland Goldendoodles
Clairememory Scam
What Does Dwb Mean In Instagram
Miami Valley Hospital Central Scheduling
How Many Slices Are In A Large Pizza? | Number Of Pizzas To Order For Your Next Party
Pwc Transparency Report
60 X 60 Christmas Tablecloths
25Cc To Tbsp
Parent Resources - Padua Franciscan High School
Noaa Ilx
Account Suspended
Hdmovie 2
Joan M. Wallace - Baker Swan Funeral Home
MyCase Pricing | Start Your 10-Day Free Trial Today
Reicks View Farms Grain Bids
Foodsmart Jonesboro Ar Weekly Ad
Worthington Industries Red Jacket
3 Ways to Format a Computer - wikiHow
Osrs Important Letter
Ridge Culver Wegmans Pharmacy
Average weekly earnings in Great Britain
Sitting Human Silhouette Demonologist
Rocketpult Infinite Fuel
Does Iherb Accept Ebt
Tal 3L Zeus Replacement Lid
Merge Dragons Totem Grid
Cheetah Pitbull For Sale
Sabrina Scharf Net Worth
Complete List of Orange County Cities + Map (2024) — Orange County Insiders | Tips for locals & visitors
Jetblue 1919
Santa Clara County prepares for possible ‘tripledemic,’ with mask mandates for health care settings next month
Thotsbook Com
Craigslist Com St Cloud Mn
How To Customise Mii QR Codes in Tomodachi Life?
Paperlessemployee/Dollartree
Pas Bcbs Prefix
Underground Weather Tropical
Oak Hill, Blue Owl Lead Record Finastra Private Credit Loan
Edict Of Force Poe
Glowforge Forum
Psalm 46 New International Version
Asisn Massage Near Me
E. 81 St. Deli Menu
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5797

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.