Since I started blogging a little over ten years ago I have consistently made more than $10,000+ a year while working a full-time job.
It’s been a perfect side hustle to diversify my 9-5 income, but it’s become more than that. It’s led to getting a book deal and writin books, interviews on local and national television, and becoming an expert in something that is totally different than what I do for my full-time job. It’s something that I can work on from anywhere, which is important to me.
The extra money I’ve made has not only allowed my wife and I to make progress on our student loan debt, build an emergency fund, travel, and make some major house renovations.
None of this would have been possible if I didn’t make the leap and start a blog.
In short, blogging has had a huge impact on my life – both financially and otherwise. I am not the only one with a story like this. There are many people who are consistently making thousands of dollars a month from their blogs, or who even make enough money to quit their job.
Because I’ve been a blogger for over ten years I’ve been able to see some of these remarkable stories play out. From creating a side income – whose impact shouldn’t be understated – to seeing people build a brand and business from nothing to a six figures, it’s incredible the opportunities out there for those willing to put in the effort.
The one thing all these successful bloggers have in common is this: they started a blog. Without taking this critical first step it’s impossible to make money blogging. It’s easy to think about “someday” starting a blog, but honestly the sooner you start one the better. By starting a blog today you are already far ahead of the millions of people who have the idea of blogging but have not (and may never) take the critical first step of starting a blog.
There are free blog options such as “Blogger,” and many people make the mistake of starting a blog on one of these free platforms. The problem with free hosting options is that advertisers do not like them. They like the self-hosted blogs and do not take the blogs on free hosting seriously.
I’ve seen many bloggers go through the headache of transitioning from a free hosting platform to a paid, self-hosted one like Bluehost and some have spent an entire weekend going through the process and working out bugs. Don’t make that mistake! The process can be so complicated that I completely abandoned one of my Blogger blogs instead of go through the headache of transitioning to Bluehost.
I have started a number of websites over the past 10+ years and helped many others get started. Since switching to Bluehost for web hosting I have always recommended them to people who are looking to start a blog. They are highly rated, offer affordable pricing, and make starting a WordPress blog extremely easy with their 1-click WordPress installation.
Bluehost offers a free domain name – and the best possible price – when you register through my link.
If you want to start a blog that makes money you are going to want to start one on Bluehost. Bluehost offers many advantages, including:
- Affordable – by using my link you get hosting for just $2.95 per month, which is less than $36 a year.
- Free Domain Name – you will get a free domain name when you sign up for hosting on Bluehost using my link
- Extremely Easy WordPress Installation – Bluehost has a “one-click” WordPress installation
- 24/7 Tech Support – Bluehost tech support is available 24/7 and has been outstanding every time I’ve used them
- Attractive to Advertisers – having a self-hosted blog is attractive to advertisers and will make it easier to make money blogging
- 30-Day Money Back Guarantee – if you cancel within 30 days you receive a full refund on your hosting service
- Extended Money Back Guarantee – if you cancel after 30 days you receive a prorated refund for the remainder of your hosting term
As you can see there are a ton of benefits of using BlueHost to start your blog. With their money-back guarantee there is very little risk of starting a blog through BlueHost, and so much potential for making money blogging.
If you want to start a blog on BlueHost click here to get the lowest possible price and a free domain name and then follow through the rest of the tutorial.
1) Choose a Hosting Option
Once you have gone to BlueHost you will see the various hosting options. I highly recommend using the “Starter” package. Even though there are two higher-priced packages, there is nothing in the higher-priced packages that you need.
Keep in mind that this option is very affordable for self-hosting a website and comes with a money-back guarantee. If you decide within 30 days blogging isn’t for you, you can get your full payment refunded. Even at 10, 11, or however many months in, if you decide you don’t want Bluehost web hosting you will get refunded for any months you paid for but haven’t used yet.
You can also always upgrade to the other accounts if you reach any of the space limits from the basic account.
2) Choose a Free Domain Name
When you sign up for Bluehost using my link you get a free domain name. This is an ~$15 value if you had bought the domain name.
Once you click on the Starter package in the previous step you will be brought to a screen where you enter the domain name you want.
I will be the first to admit it’s not easy to choose a domain name. I got lucky by finding Young Adult Money, as many domains with “money” in it are already taken. But even Young Adult Money isn’t a perfect domain name.
It’s easy to overthink a domain name, but in all honesty the value of your blog will not be in the name but in the content you put out. There are many hugely successful blogs out there with obscure domain names.
It will almost for sure take a few attempts to find a domain name that isn’t already taken. Think of something unique (or not unique – i.e. Young Adult Money haha) and once you find one that is not taken, grab it. Just think of something that sounds good to you and you are good to go!
Once you have a free domain, you simply need to complete your registration and you officially have a blog! I would choose none of the extras on the last screen as they are just going to increase the cost of starting a blog.
The only one that I would consider is the $0.50 a month for “Domain Privacy Protection.” It’s not necessary, but it does shield and protect your information as a website owner.
Note: you can skip the section below and go straight to “Install WordPress” if you are registering a free domain name.
Already have a domain name?
If you already have a domain name that you bought on a site like GoDaddy, it’s easy to connect your domain name to Bluehost. Instead of registering a new domain, just choose the second option on the page and enter the domain you would like to be linked to your Bluehost hosting.
Here are the directions for connecting your GoDaddy domain to Bluehost:
To modify, add, or delete name servers (DNS) for your domain(s):
- Log in to the GoDaddy.com Account Manager.
- Select Manage Domains from the Domain Names drop-down menu or the Manage Your Account list.
- Select the domain name you wish to modify using the checkboxes and then click Set Name Servers.
- Enter your updated name server information in the spaces provided under the blue Name Servers heading on the right side of your page and click Save Changes at the bottom. Your entries should look like this:
ns1.bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com
This can all be done within the cpanel once you have purchased hosting. If you run into issues do not hesitate to email me. When I first got BlueHost I already had a domain, so I’ve personally gone through these steps a few times.
3) Install WordPress
Once you have signed up for an account, login to your Bluehost account and go to hosting -> cpanel.
Once on this page, scroll down to website builders and find the Install WordPress icon.
Once you click the Install WordPress icon, you simply need to click install and choose the domain you are installing WordPress to. You will then set up your login information.
To log into your WordPress blog, go to your domain name and add /wp-admin to the end of the domain. This will pull up the user and password fields that allow you to log into WordPress.
Just like that you have a living breathing WordPress blog. Congrats!
Remember, if you have ANY questions at all do not hesitate to ask. I am happy to help you with any blogging questions just as I’ve helped many others set up a blog.
Start a blog by clicking here to get the lowest possible price and a free domain name and get started today!
Blogging Tips for New Bloggers
As I said earlier, I have over 10 years of blogging experience and have made thousands of dollars blogging. I do not say that to brag, but to make it clear that I can attest to the fact that it is possible to make money blogging. If I can do it, you can too.
Here are area few tips I have for new bloggers:
- Commit to 6 Months – While I don’t have a statistic to prove this, a common quote that floats around the blogosphere is “most bloggers quit within the first six months.” When you start your blog, consider making a a deal with yourself to blog for at least six months. If you still want to quit, you can, but at least you gave yourself a decent amount of time to build up content and truly give blogging a try.
If you are hesitant about starting a blog on Bluehost because of the potential that you won’t like blogging, remember that they offer a refund for unused months that you already paid for. Even if you decide to quit after 3, 6, or any number of months you will get a refund for the remaining months you already paid for. There is very little risk in giving Bluehost – and blogging – a try.
- Connect with other Bloggers – The biggest mistake new bloggers make is thinking that traffic will simply appear. The reality is that getting ranked in search engines is difficult for established blogs and unlikely for brand new blogs. The best way to get some initial traffic and links to your site is by commenting on other blogs in your niche. This is extremely important for new bloggers!
- Plan ahead whenever possible – Many established bloggers do not write their posts on the fly. Instead, they plan their posts. This helps in situations where something unavoidable – an illness, a late night at the office, etc. makes it difficult to write a post the night before it goes live. Consider using an editorial calendar to plan posts in advance.
While this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the tips I would give to new bloggers, it should provide a good start for those who are looking to start a blog. Remember, it’s more important to actually start your blog than to have it be perfect from day one.
If you have any questions about Bluehost or blogging, do not hesitate to send me an email. I have been blogging for years and have helped many people start a blog, so I’m happy to help you as well.
Start a blog by clicking here to get the lowest possible price and a free domain name and get started today!
Check out some of our favorite personal finance resources:
Are you getting the best credit card rewards? Check out the top cash back credit card offers (updated daily)
Make extra money: 15 ways to make money from your computer
Get the First Chapter Free!
Join our online community and get the first chapter of the book Student Loan Solution absolutely FREE!
I think all of our readers are going to be well equipped to start a blog!! :)
Great guidance. When I got into blogging, I jumped in blindly with the intent of using the blog to augment the book I had just written, not to make money. However, the blog has changed quite a bit – and generating revenue is now a consideration – more than two years later.
Nice guide, DC! It isn’t that had to start a blog at all.
So does most of your blog income come from ads?
I wish I had this guide when I was first getting started, and I wish I had got such a great deal with Bluehost as well :) Definitely the right time to start a blog.
Nice guide DC! Starting a blog isn’t that difficult at all. I know if I can do it then pretty much anyone else can.
One of the things I tell people looking to get into professional blogging is to work from the outside in. If you give off the appearance of professionalism- and self-hosted is a must in that regard – others will treat you like a professional resource.
Financegirl Thanks! I certainly hope so!
RetirementSavvy One of the nice things about blogging is that it’s easy to pivot and change the focus of your blog. I started as a “general personal finance blog” but now have a more focused approach.
Holly at ClubThrifty Thanks Holly! It’s incredible how easy it is to start one and how little financial risk there is to going the self-hosted route.
Pretend to Be Poor Yes, a large percentage of it. Would be happy to discuss this with you in more detail via email. Feel free to reach out!
Reelika @Financially Wise On Heels I paid quite a bit more than this for my Bluehost hosting when I first began. It’s nice to see they are driving the price point down and making it very affordable for new bloggers.
FrugalRules Haha I think you should think a little higher of yourself, John! But thanks for the feedback, glad you found the post useful!
stefanieoconnel Great point, Stefanie, and another reason to go the self-hosted route. It’s painful to transition from free to self-hosted, and if you stick with blogging you will need to switch to self-hosting to be taken seriously. The sooner the better.
Great tips, DC. They have really made it easier and easier to start a blog. It just seems intimidating but once you dig in, it’s not very difficult to start one. The real commitment, as you already pointed out, is sticking with it and doing the work to create a successful blog. I naively underestimated the amount of work it took. The good thing is connecting with other bloggers and readers is fun! :)
I like how you threw in that “most bloggers quit within 6 months.” Blogging is a commitment like most say, it’s like running a business. Maybe an article on how you got over the 6 months hump? That’d be good to know!
Unless you have an image driven blog, wordpress with self-hosting is the way to go. I’m constantly kicking myself over choosing Weebly (which was perfect for the cooking blog that I took down), and not paying a hundred dollars more to move over to wordpress.
I plan to eventually move just a few of my seminal pieces to a wordpress site with bluehost, but it’s a pain in the ass to do so.
ShannonRyan Thanks Shannon. Actually starting the blog is easy, and the rest is as complicated as you want it to be in my opinion : ) You could literally work on a blog 80 hours a week and still have more you could do. But you also could spend 2 hours a week working on it and that’s just fine as well.
Jen Li I’m always up for article ideas! After 3+ years of personal finance blogging I know how difficult it can be to continue to come up with new content. I do think that if you can get past 6 months you likely will stick with it long-term and ultimately end up making a new monthly side income that will persist month-after-month.
Hannah UnplannedFinance I noticed that you didn’t use WordPress, but in all honesty unless you talked to someone who has been blogging for a few years it wouldn’t necessarily seem like a bad idea. I used to use Blogger for my first political blog and instead of transitioning to WordPress/BlueHost I simply abandoned it. You seem pretty committed to blogging so I’m sure you will make the switch and not miss a beat.
DC you’re a powerhouse buddy! :)
It’s really great to still be in contact and it’s motivating to see how you’ve evolved as well..
Looking forward to having that beer or 2, down under one of these days ha
I’m starting up a blog soon on financial coaching and really helping people to be accountable
DC @ Young Adult Money True! You know how they say it takes a habit 21 days to stick? I guess it takes 6 months for blogging!
mycareercrusade Thanks for the kind words, man! I’m humbled! Definitely need to make it out there, or we can meet up in Vegas sometime haha.
I’m looking forward to your new project!
Six months is a great suggestion for new bloggers. Those first months are certainly the most work with the least return. I am only a very part time blogger and have still made enough money to offset some of our bills. It’s a great feeling to create something that earns income while sitting on your couch.
Hannah UnplannedFinance Use Grayson Bell when you’re ready to move. His rates are more than reasonable, especially since he works fast. And he’s very timely in his responses.
Ha, I started a blog because I was on disability with a small contract part-time gig, and my husband was on unemployment. We were trying to pay off debt despite that and tons of medical expenses. And I got tired of all the two-income households bemoaning how hard it was to get out of the debt. Not that it isn’t hard, mind you, but I started to wonder why there weren’t blogs for people who couldn’t be frugal paragons because of various limitations — and people who didn’t have anything to cut out of their budget.
I figured I’d get bored with it after a month or two. I usually lose interest in projects But that was… uh… over 7 years ago, I think.
Eyesonthedollar Agree 100% with everything you said, Kim. I think months 3-6 are the toughest because the first couple of months it’s easy to be motivated by the “newness” of it all.
AbigailP I agree there is a serious lack of blogs that are geared towards people with health limitations and/or who have cut everything out of expenses but still need more money to bridge the gap. 7 years is a long time, congrats!
I got into blogging because I wanted to show people that they could pay off debt and still have somewhat of a life. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I’m glad I started this journey.
Jason @ The Butler Journal Great story, Jason! Blogging definitely has it’s ups and downs, but i think it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’d always be thinking “what if” plus be missing out on a lot of side hustle money if I had decided to not start one.
DC @ Young Adult Money mycareercrusade Haha not sure if I’ll be heading to Vegas anytime soon but yeah that sounds like a plan :)
Will keep you in the loop and you’ll see it on Facebook too! It’s really around focusing on the discipline to GID (Get it done) :) ha
mycareercrusade DC @ Young Adult Money Awesome concept and really looking forward to it! Well then we’ll have to visit you down in Australia sometime!
This is an awesome resource DC!! When I started my blog a little over 2 years ago, I had never even read another blog and had no clue what blogging entailed. I just knew that I wanted to share my thoughts on money. I could have saved myself A LOT of headaches over the first year if I had something like this. :-)
Thank you for being positive. I recently converted my blog to a pf blog just because a lot of pf blogs seems to be out of touch with the average person. A lot of blogs out there are too preachy, make you feel bad for going out to a nice meal, or for buying a candy bar. Most people can’t live ascetically and I wanted a pf blog where I could share my knowledge as well.
I read some stats about how in 2014 there were 3 billion internet users worldwide. That number will keep on climbing as more people around the world get connected to the internet. I think the time to start blogging is now. Also a lot of readers love to read different sites to get different perspectives so I believe there is room for many of us to share the internet pie.
I’ve read about how blogs can open up doors to people to work for a 9-5 or to go and become freelancers.
blonde_finance Thanks Shannon! Haha well you live and you learn, right? I’m thankful for my few years of blogging prior to starting Young Adult Money. I’m not sure I would have lasted those first few months if I hadn’t prepared myself for a lot of time sunk into the blog.
EverydayMoxie Great perspective on blogging! I think you hit the nail on the head about some pf blogs being too preachy. It’s tough because it’s natural as a blogger to take a hard stance, but with personal finance the key word is “personal.” No one person’s situation is the same as another person’s situation.
hello thank you for your article, I recently started a blog using wordpress and bluehost, Its been a while since I wanted to start a blog, since 2012 but did not really know about all these informations but now I am fully committed and enjoy these bits of informations!!!
lupieaccessory No problem! Glad you found it useful!
Certainly a self hosted blog is a must. I started with Blogger and lost all my posts!
I almost want to shout to people “DON’T START WITH BLOGGER!” I have seen some successfully shift to WordPress but it’s such a pain and you never know what problems you will run into.
Do you recommend paying for a theme or designing your own (if you don’t have prior experience)?
Hi Regina – It totally depends on your budget. To be honest it’s SO much easier to have a designer create your site so it’s just the way you want it, but it will run you about $1,500 (includes the coding/backend work) or more than that. I had Liz Theresa design mine but paid for Nuts and Bolts to do the coding. If you have Liz’s coder do the backend work it’s a lot cheaper than the route I went and I’ve heard no complaints from others who used her coder.
Now most people don’t want to put thousands of dollars into their sites. I’d say look for a premium theme you like and then tweak it until it’s “good enough.” I had a pretty ugly/unprofessional/un-ideal site for about 3 1/2 years until I paid a designer, but it served it’s purpose. There are a lot of nice themes out there for $150 or less that will work. The toughest thing now imo is that there are SO MANY themes you can buy that it can take hours and hours to find one.
Also feel free to email me with any questions you have – DC at YoungAdultMoney.com
As someone who relatively just started, this was great to read. Thanks for posting.