Make Extra Money / Side Hustles

You don’t need to be computer code savvy to start a blog!

In fact, I think it’s easier if you aren’t. Starting a blog is really super easy!  Especially if you have someone to help walk you through all the steps and provide you with all the must have tools to help you get your blog off the ground.

Blogging is great!

I am a part time blogger making a great income from home.  This means I make a great income to support my family, working from home (or the local coffee shop) writing posts like the one you are reading right now.

In fact, I make more money in less hours blogging than I do at my corporate job.  I am not going to lie, blogging is awesome.

I get to help people every single day and I get to stay home with my family.

Working from home, coffee shops and pajamas. 

As a blogger I get to work from home, or the local coffee shop, on vacation, on my patio or anywhere I can take my laptop. I can work in my pajamas or my favorite yoga pants.  But honestly, working from home gives me the opportunity to work around my family’s schedule.  Which is a win-win.

Blogging and computers – what if I’m not computer savvy?

When people think about blogging 98% of the time it is related to computers.  So what if you aren’t computer savvy? Don’t stress it!

If you know the basic like where the mouse is, general use of the keyboard and how to get to places on the internet you are more than ready to start a blog.

Just remember blogging is a journey, you will learn so much along the way. Right now you may not know how to start a blog, but by the end of this post you could be blogging.

When I started blogging, there were terms and ideas that just sent me into a spin, but I’ve learned a ton since I started and honestly I still have lots to learn.

So don’t sweat the technical stuff, besides this is why blog hosting companies have technical support departments.

Do you love to write?  Do you love to help people? Do you know a lot about something and want to share it? 

If you answered yes to any of these, blogging may just be the job for you. Besides where else do you get to start up a business for almost nothing?  No second mortgages, no investors.

100% purely you, your voice and your ideas. The investment is your time and I can tell you that your lack of computer skills won’t be a problem.

So how do you start a blog when you aren’t good with computers?

You rely on modern technology, a great hosting company and step by step instruction.  Below we are going to run through all the easy to follow steps and by the end of this your blog could be up and running.

What are you going to write about? 

Choose a blog topic that you are passionate about. One you can write about or talk about over and over again.  Don’t choose a field that others have chosen simply because they are successful at it.  Choose to share your gifts and skills with the world via blogging.

If you are an amazing cook, blog about it.  If you have a background in decorating and DIY, blog about it. If you have a love for coffee, blog about it.

The easiest blog topics to make money at or monetize are topics that help people.  Topics that require answers, solutions, products and services.

Now it’s time to set up your blog. 

Exciting!! Once you are all set up and blogging make sure to send me a message with your blog information so I can share it with my audience.  I love reading new blogs and there is always room for more voices (bloggers).

Choosing a name for your blog. 

You want to choose a name that will stand out above the masses. A name that tells your reader what your blog is about.  Grab a piece of paper and brainstorm a few ideas.  Ask a friend their opinion of the names.  See what sticks.

While you are brainstorming blog names write down the ideas you have for blog topics. What do you intend on writing about? All of this will help spark ideas.

You don’t want to have a name that is hard to spell or too long. Your intention is for your reader to remember your website name and to come to your blog site often.

Once you figure out what you want to name your blog, you need to find out if the name is available.  The name of your blog will be your domain name.   Domain names can range in price from $10 to $1,999 depending on who owns the rights to the domain name.

If you are going to go with Bluehost for hosting as we did, then your domain name is actually free! It is included in the $3.49/month plan from Bluehost.

Finding the right hosting company. 

A hosting company is the company that broadcasts your blog to the world. They are open 24/7, so even when you are spending time with your family your blog is up and running and being viewed.   Essentially this is how blogs make passive income, but more about that later.

My hosting recommendation is Bluehost – I love how easy it was to set up my blog with Bluehost.  They are perfect for someone who is not great with computers. I was able to call them or chat with them online when ever I ran into a problem.   The technical support team at Bluehost is available 24/7 so no need to worry about time difference or working late in the evening.   You can get Bluehost for about $3.49/per month through my discount link.

Once you sign up with Bluehost you will want to activate the WordPress application.  WordPress is the blog publishing software that will help you create your blog.  Now essentially you have a blog, a fresh canvas for your ideas.

You will need to choose a theme.  A theme is what people see when they go to your website. The style, the placement of pictures, words and columns are all part of the “theme” you choose for your blog.

Choosing the right theme for your blog. 

A theme determines what your blog will look like. It is the book cover, the display suite of your blog.  The theme you choose will determine what your blog viewers see. Your theme will also do a large majority of the technical computer stuff.

So the key here is to pick a theme that you like, one that will appeal to your readers and display your content in the best way.   Note: you can upgrade or change your theme at a future date, so don’t go crazy with a super expensive theme right away.

I recommend going with a Genesis Framework and a child theme which are the standard for professional bloggers. You can get these through many companies like StudioPress or Pretty Darn Cute Design which is who created our theme.

When you start making money with your blog you can hire a web designer to get a more professional unique design.

Once your theme is set up you can choose fonts and colors. Remember white space is your friend, don’t make your blog to busy – you want your reader to be able to find the information they need and to hang out for awhile.

Creating a logo for your blog. 

You have your theme. You have your blog name.  Now you need a logo. You can go to canva.com and create a blog logo using their software. Get creative, make it memorable.

Start writing your blog. 

Now, it is time for the fun stuff. All you need to do is sign into your blog dashboard and click on the “post” area and start creating your first blog post.

You will need to create graphics for your posts. 

A picture is worth a 1000 words and they attract your reader.  Before I mentioned canva.com you can use the tools Canva has create to design all the different graphics you need for your blog. Now if you are not that graphically creative you can hire someone to help you with the artistic side of blogging.

Important Note: Do not search the web and download an image used by others and post it on your blog.  This is a big licencing no, no.  If you are going to use photos on your blog you will need to purchase them, or take them yourself to ensure you have the rights to the image use.

Now you have a blog!

It is time to celebrate.  You have set up your hosting, your blog theme and WordPress.  Your blog has a name and a url (www.whatyoucallyourblog.com). You wrote your first blog post with images. Happy dance you are one your way to becoming a full time blogger.

Now is the perfect time time to look into the must have blogging tools.

Tools that will help you create, organize, monetize and develop your blog.

Making money from your blog. 

Is your goal to create an income from your blog?  Wouldn’t it be great to work from home and make enough money to support your family?

If this is your goal Elite Blog Academy is where you need to be. They only open their doors once a year, but they will teach you everything you need to know to make your blog a money maker.

Elite Blog Academy is self paced so if you are currently working or busy with family stuff you can make it fit your schedule and blogging needs.

Elite Blog Academy is only offered once a year so your best bet is to get on the waiting list here.

The path I took to be a money making blogger. 

I am going to let you in on a little secret I started my blogging journey while I was working full time in a corporate job and homeschooling my child. So no matter how full your schedule is you can do this I am proof you can.

Yes, you may get a little less sleep.  You may have to choose blogging over coffee with friends but the rewards are worth it. I can now say that blogging pays for our groceries and our vacations.  And I have met some great people.  The opportunities are endless.

If you are wanting to make money from blogging you need to invest the time. Invest in you – take the courses.  Treat it like a job and it will reward you. If you make money invest it back into your blog or your education.

If you want to know what worked for me. The best way is to sign up for my bloggers newsletter and you can instantly download the must have blogging tools which will make a world of difference in your blog.  You will find numerous blogging tools to help get you started.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity