Most Easy Guide On How To Start A Blog With No Money That Works

I was unemployed, recently divorced, and on the lookout for a passion project that had eluded me for the better part of my 50 years on this planet. how to start a blog with no money.

Fast forward to today, and my website, which you are currently visiting, has over 16 million visitors.

That is not meant to be boastful. I say that because perhaps the craziest thing about this whole journey is that I wasn’t a “writer” in the traditional sense, and from a technical perspective I didn’t know the first thing about how to start a blog.

I started a blog with a spare $10 and it grew into something that other people noticed. Along the way, I learned how to do everything. From defining my message, buying a domain name, figuring out this whole hosting business, growing a social media following, and eventually finding a way to make some money from the whole thing.

In the beginning, the one thing that held me back from starting was the fear of not knowing how or where to start. The fear of not measuring up. The terror of failing.

Today I want to help you overcome all of those things. Firstly, if I’m good enough to get started then so are you. If I can make this happen then so can you. If I can overcome the challenges of being unemployed and divorced to build something of note, then so can you.

Most Easy Guide On How To Start A Blog With No Money That Works

So what about the fear of not knowing where to start?

That’s what the rest of this blog post is all about. I want to teach you how to start a blog from scratch and discover the passion that will empower your life with the greatest gift of all – choice.

Let’s dive into it.

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Why should you start a blog in the first place?
Step 1 – Find your passion and write a mission statement
Step 2 – Discover your tribe
Step 3 – Develop a memorable brand
Step 4 – Choose a web host Step 5 – Setup your hosting account
Step 6 – Pick a blogging platform
Step 7 – Create compelling content

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Why should you start a blog in the first place?
People start blogs for all sorts of reasons…

To educate, to have a voice, to make money. It’s important to understand your driving force. The reason you start is the reason you will keep going. The reason you will get up every morning at 4am while everyone else is happily sleeping, to write your next inspired piece of content.

For me it was about the power of the social web. My blog was a publishing machine that gave me a voice to the masses, it gave my audience a voice, it helped the little guy get noticed in a world of inflated egos and celebrity clickbait headlines.

Blogging helped me make some noise and leave a little dent on this universe.

But it’s also more than that. Above all else, blogging is a platform for self development.

It drives you to:

Learn by doing
Document your knowledge
Embrace a life discipline
Network and connect with a global audience
It won’t happen overnight, but all of this is within your reach if you just start.

How To Start A Blog In Any Niche With No Technical Experience And (Almost) No Money
So if you are ready and willing to get started, here’s a shortcut to my 7-step success formula.

Step 1 – Find your passion and write a mission statement

Your passion closely aligns to your “why” for starting a blog in the first place.

This will act as a guiding light to keep you on track. Keep you energized. Keep you turning up every day when it all feels too hard.

What is it that makes you tick? What do you love? What topics inspire you and help you write with ease?

Finding your passion is an essential part of sustaining a blog in the long term. It will help you find like-minded people who are excited about the same things as you, and it will motivate you to push that little bit harder when it feels like your wheels are spinning.

You want to be able to define your passion in a succinct mission statement – 20 words or less. For me, it is all about winning at business and life in a digital world. What is it for you?

One approach you can take to defining your blog’s mission statement is with Porter Gale’s 4-steps:

Make a list of your interests and passions
Discover the sweet spot at the intersection
Describe your tone – Witty, Irreverent, Inspirational etc
Write the mission statement that distills your passions
Start A Blog: Finding Your Passion

For you this might be obvious, it may be subconscious, or it could be buried deep down within. Either way you need to find it and document it. Post it on your wall. Read it every day.

It will keep you on track.

Step 2 – Discover your tribe

Traffic, shares, open rates, click throughs… all of it means nothing if you can’t connect with the human on the other side of the technology.

The most successful bloggers find a way to connect on a very personal level with their audience. I call this your tribe.

Your tribe are the people who turn up day after day, waiting for your next piece of blogging wisdom.

You don’t pay for them to turn up (at least you don’t have to). Instead they turn up because they share your passion. They crave a sense of community and association with the other people in your tribe. They want to comment, share and interact with you.

Without a tribe your blog will die a slow death.

So how do you find your tribe and engage with them online?

Here are some tips:

Understand their fears, dreams, problems and challenges – write about them
Where do they hangout online? Twitter? Facebook? Somewhere else? – be there consistently
Who else do they respect in your niche? – align yourself to these people
What other publications do they read? – write for them
Your tribe members share your passion, and your goal is to turn your blog into a community for these individuals to connect. You will be forever relevant in your niche if you can achieve this.

Step 3 – Develop a memorable brand

I wanted to stand out, so I got a friend to create a caricature of my head…

How will you stand out?

Your blog’s name and brand is more than just a URL. It says something about you and your passion. You need to find something that is memorable, catchy, but also meaningful and congruent to your tribe.

Here are some tips for developing a memorable brand:

Brainstorm 10 alternatives.
Test them with your potential tribe.
Buy your domain name… right here, right now.
Get a logo designed. It’s easy on a site like UpWork.
Create consistent and memorable images for free with a tool like Canva.
Use your new branding elements everywhere… literally.

Step 4 – Choose a web host

Ok so you know your passion, and you have a pretty good idea about where your tribe are hanging out online. Now it’s time to actually get your blog up and running.

This is the technical stuff, but I will try to make it is simple as possible for you.

You can have a blog up and running in a few simple clicks using WordPress.com – but I wouldn’t recommend going down that path.

When I originally started that’s how I did it, and as my traffic expanded it got to a point where I needed to undertake a huge site migration. It’s giving me a headache.

To avoid the same problems, I recommend creating a self-hosted website.

In the most basic terms, every website on the internet need a web host. It’s a secure storage location for all of your data, material, and blog articles.

If you choose with a self-hosted option, your hosting company will be able to scale with you, so you won’t have to worry about slow load times or website downtime in the future.

“That appears to be quite costly!”

Managing a self-hosted website used to be pricey and only available to web developers or techies who knew how to code their way to success. However, hosting services like Bluehost have made it affordable and accessible to everyone.

Here at JeffBullas.com, I use Bluehost, and they’ve managed our rapid traffic surge admirably. The good news is that as a long-term client, Bluehost has provided me with a fantastic discount that I can pass on to my tribe members (that’s you).

Sign up now for a great monthly rate of $2.95. Where I live, you can’t even get a cup of coffee for that price!

Step 5: Create a hosting account.

It’s time to get set up so you can start blogging after you’ve chosen a web host.

I learn best by using screenshots, so let me show you how to get your blog up and running using Bluehost.

Go to the Bluehost homepage and select “get started now.”

Webhosting is required to start a blog.

Choose your plan from there.

Create a Blog: Select a Hosting Plan

The next step is to choose a domain name. They will let you acquire a domain name throughout the enrollment process if you didn’t buy one when you were building your brand identification. At this point, there are a few steps to take, but they will guide you every step of the way.

Create a Blog: Choose a Domain Name

If the domain you want is available, you can proceed to the signup procedure, where you’ll fill out the remainder of your contact information, confirm your hosting package, and lastly submit your payment information.

The last step in the registration procedure is to choose a password.

Create a Password for Your Blog:

That’s all; your Bluehost account is now ready to use. It shouldn’t take more than 5 to 10 minutes to complete the process.

Sign up with Bluehost today and take advantage of our exclusive offer.

6. Choosing a blogging platform.

After you’ve set up your hosting account, the following step is to choose a blogging platform. (I promise we’re almost there!)

There are numerous options available, ranging from Blogger to Tumblr, SquareSpace, and others.

WordPress.org is where I started, and it has evolved with my site, so that’s where I recommend you start.

But I’m not the only one who feels WordPress is a fantastic alternative… WordPress is the platform of choice for 25% of all websites online, and it is specifically developed for bloggers.

Log into your Bluehost account and look for the “Install WordPress” icon in your home dashboard to get started with WordPress:

Install WordPress to start a blog.

You will then be asked to select a domain for WordPress to be installed on – you will most likely only have one, so select that from the drop down box.

Create a Blog: Choose a Domain

After that, fill out the form with your site’s information. Your “Site Name,” which you can choose yourself, as well as an email address, username, and password for the primary contact for the site – that’s you! – are the most important pieces of information they’re searching for at this point.

Create a blog by entering your WordPress admin information.

Allow Bluehost to work its magic for a few moments, and you’ll get a notification that says “Your installation was successful” on your screen.

Starting a Blog: A Successful Installation

Now you can go to your WordPress installation at ‘yourdomainname.com/wp-login’ and log in with your username and password to see what’s going on behind the scenes of your new site!

Login to WordPress to start a blog

One of the default themes will take over the appearance and feel of your WordPress site. You can start blogging right away with this design, or you can improve your look with a premium theme from your Bluehost account.

Step 7 – Create appealing content Now that your website is up and operating, your excuses are soon wearing thin.

It’s time to become serious about blogging.

The most talented bloggers… In this noisy world, the ones who build a name for themselves. They’re the ones who amass a fan base of tens of thousands. Those who make a living doing what they love. There is one thing they all share in common.

They produce excellent information on a consistent basis.

So, what constitutes excellent content? What makes a blog post interesting to read?

Here’s a basic rundown:

It has a headline that makes you want to click on it.
It tells a story that is inextricably linked to the headline.
It’s jam-packed with visual cues and a variety of media.
With bullet points, subheaders, and smart design throughout, it’s simple to scan.
It concentrates on a single topic, and the rest of the piece develops a compelling argument for that point.
It encourages readers to take action – share it on social media, leave a comment, join your mailing list — anything that will help you advance your relationship.
Bringing things to a close
You came to this page hoping to learn how to start a blog…

So, what exactly are you waiting for?

You’ve got the tricks, tools, and strategies to pull it off. You are the only one who is keeping you back. Your anxieties. Your inner monologue.

So get over your worries of failing and go for it. If I can do it, so can you.

Are you ready to begin?

It only takes the cost of a cup of coffee.

 

 

 

 

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