Updated regularly. This post may contain affiliate links. 
One thing is for sure: everyone is talking about how to stay at home and how to start a blog that earns money!

We’re all capable of becoming financially independent, but what makes someone successful with a website or blog?

It’s simple. Passion and dedication. With those 2 things, you can do anything.

Have you considered how much more you accomplish when you decide to stick with something? Most defeat comes from a lack of dedication. 

Let’s get started with how to start a blog of your own!

Once you dedicate yourself to blogging, it’s impossible not to earn money.

Why Did I Start a Lifestyle Blog?

Truth? I wanted to quit my job.

The thought of heeding someone else’s business plans and goals started to wear on me emotionally. Why am I killing myself for someone else’s dream, when every office and corporation felt the same?

I needed freedom and a plan! With a plan, it’s possible to accomplish almost anything. I knew I wanted to earn money with my blog.

Remember, it’s never too late to change your life and start with a new stream of income.

When you believe that, you are believing in yourself. We all deserve to live our best lives and live free!

What is hosting? Why do you need it?

Hosting provides a secure server where your website’s information is stored. It’s also what makes your website available online. 

Why Should I Trust Bluehost When There Are So Many Other Hosting Providers?

I’ve used several other hosting providers over the years, and they were subpar in comparison. Subpar is an understatement. There was no value and no customer service when things went downhill. 

With Bluehost, you can depend on their entire network to step in and offer solutions. 

You can start a blog and host it online with Bluehost. That’s less than a cup of coffee to create a new lifestyle for you and your family. That’s going to be a whole lot cheaper than any other business or storefront.

Bluehost is recognized as one of the most affordable and reliable hosting companies due to their incredibly secure servers and diamond-standard customer service. In addition to that, you receive:

• WordPress is installed for FREE! It’s easy, too. So easy.
• Unlimited email addresses
  
• 24 hours customer service
• Satisfaction guaranteed

When you are self-hosted, your brand looks polished and professional, and you’ll be putting your best foot forward.

Does the thought of WordPress.org hold you back?

It scared me too. I tried to use WordPress several times, only to be confused and frustrated with their setup process.

Bluehost takes all that worry and torment away with their 1 click install. 

Your domain (site name) is FREE with Bluehost and so is WordPress.org. If you have been struggling with creating a professional-looking site, WordPress.org brings it together in minutes.

Forget paying someone for a WordPress setup, Bluehost does it for free.

Tailwind is my favorite marketing tool. Tailwind allows you to schedule your content on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. It’s one of the most highly effective tools to help bloggers grow their influence on the internet. If you’re interested in your free month-long trial, you can get access to the awesome power of Tailwind here for free. To learn all about my daily Pinterest activity to gain me over 3 million monthly views see here. 

How to Start a Lifestyle Blog That Earns Money with Bluehost

Think of Your Domain Name

Start a list of favorite words and phrases to get you thinking. You can use your name, but remember you will be sharing this everywhere. 

Your blog name represents you and your business, consider what you want to convey to your reader.

• Choose a domain that is easy to type, say, and remember.
  
• Use a .com domain. It looks more professional than a .biz or .net. If your blog domain name isn’t available on .com go back to the drawing board because it’s important.
  
• Be mindful of typecasting. ‘Saralovescoupons’ sounds like a pretty good name, right? But, be careful with names like that because you might want to branch out with your topics later.

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing There are tons of ways to make money on your blog. If you want to make money by promoting a company or affiliate, you need Michelle’s course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. Save yourself from frustration, Michelle has it figured out for us.

Let’s Get Started!

Choose the Basic Plan  

The Basic Plan is perfect for new bloggers. Your biggest savings will be by choosing the 36-month option. Bluehost offers a full refund on yearly plans. By buying upfront, you are 100% guaranteed. 

Register Your New Domain Name 

When you start a blog it’s completely FREE to register your domain name with Bluehost and The Rising Damsel.

If you already have a domain name and plan to transfer to Bluehost, take care of that during this step. 

Type In Your Account Information

Package Add-on Page

I recommend SiteLock Domain Security to keep your personal information safe. Next, you will enter credit card information and create a secure password for your site.

Enter your payment info.

Selecting next will prompt you to create a secure password for your new domain. 

Next, choose your Theme. Have no fear you can skip this step or change it later. 

You did it! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You’re the proud owner of a squeaky clean new domain!

Next, you are brought to your new WordPress.org dashboard:

You can launch by clicking the Bluehost button on the top right of your dashboard.

With the WordPress dashboard, you can create, tweak, and save before you launch to give yourself time to produce something you are proud of. 

That’s it! You did it! Congratulations! You completed the steps to setting up your blog. Get excited for the next steps of your journey because now is when you start to earn, and you earn by gaining trust.

How to Start a Lifestyle Blog – 101

Tips and Tricks for Initial Setup and Profit

I’m not going to leave you now! You wanted to start a blog! Let’s do this!

These are necessary welcome elements to include so your reader can quickly get to know you and start to trust your brand! Please be aware this information is for a site on WordPress.org.

Initial Blog Setup

Choose a Theme / Layout

Your layout is important! It allows a reader to analyze your site’s content immediately.

I’ve been blogging for a long, long time, and I’ve spent hundreds of hours trying to achieve professional layouts without purchasing themes.

It never works.

WordPress allows you to choose a theme easily. Just make sure and choose a good theme for your content. Some themes are more article-based vs sales for instance.

Make a Logo and Add as Header 

A logo is your first impression on a reader and will draw them in to click.

Make sure that your blog’s name is easy to read! Edit your photo in Canva 

*It’s a good idea to create brand cohesion by setting one of your logo colors as a ‘link’ color.*

To add your header, you will need to click Appearance –> Customize.

The customized dashboard will look different from the previous menu. Select ‘Header Image’ and then click ‘Add New’. The image will be resized to fit automatically.

Choose a Profile Picture and Write a Welcome Message

Everyone will want to see your beautiful face! Think of something catchy to put under your picture to introduce you and your blog. 

Insert your picture by navigating to Appearance –> Widgets and searching ‘Image (Jetpack)’. Drag your widget to where you would like it to appear on your blog while still in the widgets section.

Keep a Niche in the Back of Your Mind

You can create your niche, you don’t have to conform to anything. What’s important is that you blog consistently. 

When you connect with your genuine content your readers will relate to your sincerity and keep coming back for more!

Pages to Put in Your Menu Bar

About You

Your reader wants to know about you. What makes you unique, and should I trust you? You’re creating credibility as well as making a friend, adding pictures, and making yourself memorable.

This is where you want to highlight your credentials, and achievements, and where your blog has been featured. Remember to add your favorite posts to get your readers involved.

Contact Page

Make it easy for your readers and affiliates to contact you with a ‘Contact’ page. You never know when someone will come knocking on your blog door to set up ongoing ad space.

You might even score some freebies! If your information isn’t easily accessible you could get passed up.

Remember to set up an email address specifically for your blog.

Categories 

When deciding what to write about, blog categories will provide clarity. Categories also allow your readers to quickly scan your site and zero in on what interests them. 

Think about your categories as you would Pinterest boards.

Sometimes our interests find a way to co-mingle. As you develop your blog, you can introduce subcategories. This helps to break down the category even further.

Resources Page

Highlight all the tools that your blog uses. This space also provides a great place for links to all of your most trusted affiliate brands when you monetize.

A few examples: Where and how do you earn extra money? What programs do you use to edit your photographs? What are your favorite stores and brand names? It all comes down to what do you use and what works for your blog.

Resources are needed from chefs, mommy bloggers, crafters, and health gurus to fashionistas and tech bloggers.

Success is inspiring. Other people are going to want to know what reputable companies helped you gain that success. Don’t forget to add your affiliate links!

Ready for more tips about how to start a blog? Head over for part 2 of starting your blog here: Ultimate Tips and Widgets for Monetization for immediate results. 

What will be your main goal for blogging? Are you a master chef or are you planning a mommy blog to supplement your income? Is there something that has been holding you back? I would love to hear. 

There’s a way to make money online for everyone. I love hearing what inspires others! I can’t wait to hear how your setup went. Please feel free to leave me any questions you may have. I’m more than happy to help.  

---

Stop Wasting Time!

Use my research so that you can start earning money on your creation too!

 In 7 days I will show you all the secrets to start a blog that will get you followers, make money, and allow you to stay at home. Click to Access.

Subscribe now to get even more tricks from The Rising Damsel’s private library. 

No more waiting for a promotion, no more begging for a raise, no more long commutes to work! We are strong, smart, educated people and the world is ready for us and our ideas!

Work at home, raise your kids, make extra money, and start a blog. You can earn from your site and I will walk you through the exact steps to ensure your setup and blogging success.

• Blogging with Bluehost and WordPress can be set up in less than 10 minutes
• Get a FREE Domain Name through The Rising Damsel and Bluehost
• Host for $1.99 per month through Bluehost
• 24-hour customer service with Bluehost
• Free access to wordpress.org
• The ability to control your future and your finances through blog monetization.

Bluehost’s quick setup makes it simple. When you decide to start a blog message me at samanthaj@therisingdamsel.com. I am happy to work one-on-one with you to get you up and running.

Want all the freebies and access to The Rising Damsel’s Free Library filled with tons of deals and printables? Subscribe to the blog and get the password. You will have 24×7 access to guides and printables that will completely revolutionize your follow counts, along with exclusive savings from major companies updated weekly. 

Find The Rising Damsel on Pinterest!

Join my Facebook Group Connect and Share for Success. I’d love to help spread your content. 

If you are looking for a free Tailwind Tribe, try The Rising Damsel’s brand new one: Promote Your Blog – A Rising Damsel Tribe. Much Love!! Together, we will be great! Questions and comments are always welcome. I hope this post inspires you. 

My Go-To Resources

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Is the best course to learn affiliate marketing. Michelle is an expert who has made millions with affiliate marketing. I loved her course, and it launched my ability to make money with affiliate marketing. It will work for you too.

Tailwind is my favorite marketing tool. Tailwind allows you to schedule your content on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. It’s one of the most highly effective tools to help bloggers grow their influence on the internet. If you’re interested in your free month-long trial, you can get access to the awesome power of Tailwind here for free. To learn all about my daily Pinterest activity, click here! 

Bluehost website hosting changed my life. Freedom to not go to an office is what I strived for my entire life. Success with blogging wouldn’t have been possible without hosting through Bluehost. Bluehost lets you start taking steps toward independence. Stop spinning your wheels, get hosting, and start earning.