Your 2-minute quick start cheat sheet

 

Your 2-minute quick start cheat sheet

Looking for a barebones, quick start guide to get started as fast as possible? In this section, we won’t cover everything, only the essential steps. Everything is covered in way more detail below, so jump down if you hit a snag.

First head to Hostinger and sign up for the WordPress Starter plan. It’s just $3.99 per month and you will also get a free domain name with your hosting plan!

Next, follow the instructions to set up your Hostinger account and now you officially have your own little piece of the internet. Congrats!

But, don’t celebrate too hard just yet—we’re not quite finished. From there, you need to:

• Install WordPress (your blogging platform)
• Choose and install a cheap/affordable theme
• Customize your new theme
• Write and publish your first blog post
• Stick to a regular publishing schedule

After you have your first few posts under your belt and traffic starts to flow in, you can start thinking about how you want to make your first $1. 

From selling ad space to digital/physical product offerings and affiliate marketing, there are dozens of monetization methods you can explore.

Now let’s go through the whole process in detail. Here are the 10 steps to take:

1. Unleash ideas within you
2. Choose a name for your new blog
3. Get web hosting from Hostinger
4. Get familiar with WordPress
5. Install a WordPress Theme
6. Customize Your Blog
7. Brainstorm Blog Topics
8. Write Your First Masterpiece
9. Create an Editorial Calendar
10. Monetize Your Blog

Step 1. Unleash ideas within you

If you want to create a blog, you don’t need a revolutionary idea. But, your blog should be focused on something specific.

Remember that no idea is truly unique, no matter how good it is.

But you have unique experiences. You have a distinct voice. And you probably have a vibrant personality that will attract others who want to hear about your experiences.

When it comes to choosing your blog’s niche, there are two key questions to ask yourself.

1. Do I Enjoy Learning About This Topic?

If you don’t love the topic, it’ll show in your writing. You shouldn’t even start a blog if you don’t love what you’re blogging about.

Whatever topic you pick, you need to love it, and be naturally curious about it.

If not, you’ll run out of ideas quickly. Most importantly, you won’t be able to consistently create content that will build your audience.

If you are still lost, think about what people come to you for advice on. Do friends or family ask you for fitness tips? Recipe ideas? Career advice? You know what you can best speak to.

2. Are Others Interested in The Same Things?

You might feel like the only 23-year-old who’s obsessed with knitting. But there are others out there.

Do a quick Google search and you’ll find 539,000 results aimed at people just like you.

You might be wondering if your idea is too quirky. Or, is it too broad? My advice is to get as focused as you can on something you’re genuinely interested in.

If you want to start a travel blog, for example, stay away from generic words like “travel.” Choose a more specific topic, like “backpacking.”