My Success Story- why I’m so passionate about showing you how to start a lifestyle blog.
Blogging began as a hobby and has transformed into so much more than that for me. For more than 13 years, I’ve been able to come here, share bits about my life and connect with so many others! I started out sharing mainly my life, then incorporated fashion, then pregnancy, motherhood and parenting. Essentially, the blog has grown with me!
That’s the biggest reason that I want to show others how to start a lifestyle blog. It has opened so many doors and presented many opportunities that wouldn’t have been there without this blog of mine. Blogging has allowed me to do what I love and to stay at home with my babies. It has allowed me to create my own schedule and express myself in ways I never knew were possible before.
I had no idea at the time, but blogging has now set me up to be able to homeschool my kids, which I am so thankful for!
I know what you’re thinking- “I don’t know how to start a lifestyle blog” and “it just seems so hard to do” or “it’s too late to start a blog”- well I’m here to show you that a blog can be created easily by just following a few steps! And starting is the KEY to blogging! I had no plan when I started, other than to just share my life.
How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
1: Choose Your Blog’s Topic
2: Choose Your Platform
3: Get URL and Domain
4: Get Hosting
5: Install WordPress
6: Install a Theme
7: Publish Your First Post
What is a lifestyle blog?
A lifestyle blog is simply a blog where you write about things going on in your life! It can be very general, or can focus on one aspect of your life (like motherhood or fashion) with some other content mixed in every now and then. It’s really a wide-open option, which is why I recommend it!
You can start a blog related to anything though! Some of the most popular blogging categories are: food, lifestyle, parenting, fitness and finance.
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to launch your own blog.
I created this one-page PDF printable with an 8-week launch checklist. If you do everything on this checklist, you’ll be well on your way to your first profitable month!
Before We Begin: Why create a lifestyle blog?
There are so many great reasons to start a blog today! Let’s talk about the obvious one first – money. Yes, you can earn money blogging. Within just a couple of years, I was making a notable income from the blog, after about 5 years I was making a full-time income and was able to leave my job! The good news for you, is that it’s easier to build a blog FAST in today’s world. I didn’t have Instagram, or even really Facebook at the time I started. Now, you have so many avenues to build a blog audience quickly! The best part is that because I make a living from my blog, I am able to stay home with my babies and work from here!
Don’t let anyone try and tell you blogging is an easy, get rich quick thing. It takes a LOT of work, but I still believe it is one of the BEST businesses a stay-at-home-mom, student (or anyone!) can start because of the LOW startup cost and unlimited potential.
I’ve been able to live a life I only dreamt about when I was waiting tables at a restaurant 12 years ago. I am able to wake up every day and do exactly what I want to do!
So, are you ready to start your blogging journey?
Print this pdf checklist to help make sure you complete all of the steps!
Step 1: choose your blog topic
What are you interested in?
Blogging about what interests you is very important. If you like the topic, and are interested in what you’re writing about, your readers will pick up on that. You’ll also enjoy doing it more and that is especially important if you’re going to stick with it.
Even if you’re blogging as a business, it should still be fun and something that you enjoy. If you start out writing for the sole purpose of making money, people will see straight through that.
What are you good at?
If you have a particular skill that you think should be shared with the world, a blog is the perfect place to do it! Do you excel in the kitchen? Start a food blog! Are your friends always asking you for fashion advice? Perhaps fashion blogging is the way to go.
If you can offer tips and generally help people out, they will flock to your blog.
Step 2: choose the proper platform
WordPress all the way
I won’t even discuss other options because I am so passionate about WordPress as a blogging platform. Here are a few reasons why WordPress is the best platform for blogging:
- Great for beginners
- Tons of free themes available
- Easily customizable, even if you have no coding knowledge
- There are tons of free plugins that make just about everything easier
- WordPress is the most commonly used platform, and therefore there are tons of resources out there providing help, should you get stuck
Why not a free platform?
There are many reasons why you should avoid using a free platform for your blog. Among them are:
- Some free platforms put their own ads on your site
- Most free platforms restrict your ability to put ads on your site or make any money at all
- There is virtually no support available and even something as simple as a design change warrants a cost (thus becoming not free)
- You will have an ugly URL, such as www.yourblog.blogspot.com
- Most importantly, you don’t own your blog when it’s on a free platform – it’s literally like building your house on land that you don’t own
Let me address that last point again. If your blog is on a free platform, you do not own the blog, or the URL. This means (and it has happened before) that your blog could be shut down at the drop of a hat, for any reason they see fit. Some blogs have been shut down because the blogger was working with a company that the platform owners don’t like. You don’t want to put your blog in someone else’s hands just to save five bucks a month.
Step 3: snag your URL or domain name
If you already have a domain name, click this page to see how to get HostGator hosting set up for your existing domain.
Ok, now that you’ve got your blog topic and are ready to set up your WordPress blog, it’s time to get a domain name. This will be your website’s address, or what goes here: www.YOURSITE.com.
Tips on choosing a domain name:
- Make it as short as you can. The shorter it is, the easier it is for people to remember and type.
- Make sure it conveys your blog’s message. While trying to keep it short, be sure to include something about yourself or your blog’s message in the URL.
- Don’t steal. It’s best not to copy someone else’s idea when it comes to your blog. I also don’t recommend using brand names in your URL.
Step 4: Get hosting
It’s time to click right here to head over to HostGator to get your domain and hosting.
I am a HostGator affiliate and get a commission when you use my links to save up to an extra 60% off your plan. I could be an affiliate for any company, but I choose HostGator due to their incredibly low costs and awesome 24/7 customer support. Their one-click WordPress install is perfect for people who are starting new blogs.
When you use the exclusive links on this post, plans start at under $5/month $3/month!
Note – I have an exclusive 40% off code up to 60% off deal for HostGator plans. Normal affiliates get a 25% off code to offer their readers, but I asked for more and you get to reap the benefits!
Choose a plan and you’ll be at this screen:
Next, you’ll enter the domain name aka your blog’s web address. The first couple you enter might already be taken. Don’t get discouraged! There are still great, unclaimed domain names out there!
Upon entering an available domain, you will see that it is available and it will be automatically added to your cart (as shown above).
You will then be given the option to add the .net and .org versions of your domain. I generally do not do this and only buy the .com domain.
You’ll also see a checkbox for “Domain Privacy Protection”. You want to keep this checked. It’s $10/year, but it prevents your registration information from being public information. This keeps your email address, phone number and even physical address from being public information. Instead, they will see HostGator’s company information.
Scroll down a bit to see this screen:
Confirm your hosting package and billing cycle length and then create an account username and password.
After that, scroll down and enter your billing info. Their site is 100% secure.
Note: if at any point during this process you get stuck, feel free to contact me (info at the bottom of post) or jump on the phone and call HostGator at 1-866-96-GATOR or click the “live chat” button in the top right portion of their page and they’ll be happy to help you out.
Scroll down a bit more for some extra options. You don’t NEED any of these, as they can all be achieved outside of HostGator. For example, there are plugins to back up your blog and to improve security. Basically, I’d take note as to what these add-ons do and look for ways to do them yourself. It’s cheaper and more effective.
If you used any of the links in this post, the next section will have code KDW60 already entered to get your 60% discount!
Underneath of that, you’ll be able to review your order. It will look something like this:
Check the box that you agree to their terms, move forward and complete your payment.
Whew!
Step 5: install WordPress
Once payment is complete, you’ll receive an email within a few minutes confirming your purchase and containing important information. I recommend forwarding this email to another email address that you own so it is in two places just in case.
Note: check your spam folder for the next couple of days to make sure nothing lands there. I am hearing that the email from LaunchPad (who HostGator uses to register your domain name) is ending up in spam folders. You’ll want that email to finalize your registration!
In the email will be a link to your control panel aka cpanel. You’re going to want to click that. You’ll have to login. The login and password will be in the email as well.
Now that you’re past that screen, you should get to your cPanel. This is the “back end” of your site and where all of the key technical matters will take place. It will look like this:
DON’T click the Build a New WordPress Site icon! We’re going to Install WordPress from a different location.
In the cpanel, you’ll see a LOT of icons. Ignore them all for now. You don’t want to spend a lot of time here unless you really know what you are doing. What we will do here is install WordPress. With HostGator, it is actually very easy to install WordPress on a domain. In your cPanel, scroll down and look for a “Software/Services” section. It’ll look like this:
Click QuickInstall to move forward.
Then choose WordPress:
Choose your domain from the dropdown and leave the directory box blank:
Next, you’ll be at the WordPress install screen.
Fill out the boxes on that next screen and click install. Install will take a couple of minutes and then you’ll see this screen:
From there, copy your password and click “login” use your username and password from the previous screen and login!
Note: While most blogs will be able to be accessed right away, this process could take up to 48 hours. A very few amount of blogs will have to wait up to 48 hours, due to their location in comparison to the HostGator data servers. Feel free to use the HostGator chat support found right on their site to ask them for updates on this process.
This is what your WordPress dashboard will look like:
Aaaaaaand that is how to start a lifestyle blog that is self-hosted on WordPress.
Whew! We made it! Was it easy? Do you have questions? Leave a comment below, email me [email protected] or catch me on Twitter @RealZackReyes. I’m happy to walk you through this process!
Step 6: find a theme that you like
At this point, you might want to take a look at our How to Set Up a WordPress Blog course here.
Hold your mouse over “Appearance” and click “Themes” to browse the hundreds of free WordPress themes available.
Look for a theme toward the top (probably the top 20 or so) of the “popular” themes section. You’ll find that by hovering on “appearance” then clicking “themes” then click “add new” and you’ll see the top themes.
The free themes have gotten really good and you should be comfortable picking one of those to get you started.
Step 7: publish your first post
When you’re ready to post, hover over the “Posts” option and a new dropdown menu will appear. Click New Post and you’re off and running! Congratulations- you have just started your own lifestyle blog!
To delete the original post that they put there, click all posts and you’ll see an option to trash that “Hello World” post.
Visit MoreFromYourBlog.com for tips on gaining traffic, increasing your social media following, making money from your blog and much, much more.
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Tips for Blogging Success
-Write about what you love. What are you passionate about? What makes you excited and really makes you you? If you write about things that you truly love, chances are your writing will be better and others will love reading it!
-Be consistent. Whether you’re blogging once a day or once a week, consistency is key!
-Be ethical. Disclose properly for products and payments received in return for posts, and also don’t plagiarize or steal ideas and images.
-Make your blog beautiful! Spend time (or money) making the small design details of your blog perfect for you!
-Be active on social media. Don’t automate all of your accounts. Rather, be present on each platform that you’re trying to build. People like you for you and your personality should sine through!
-Take pride in the pictures that you put on your blog. This is all yours- own it!
-Steer clear of any blog drama! It is not worth your time. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say anything at all!
-Most importantly: HAVE FUN! If you’re not enjoying what you are doing, you are more likely to give up. Plus, it will come through in your content, and others will be able to tell that you aren’t enjoying it, too.
To give you an idea of lifestyle blog content, some of my favorite posts are about my daughter turning one, what I did on a recent weekend and a list of things that make me happy. You see, lifestyle blogging truly can simply be all about you and your life! Document it all on a blog and see where it takes you!
Now go on with your blog self! ;)
Did you have any questions on how to start a lifestyle blog? Comment below and I’ll try and answer!
xo
Gloria
I just want to say, thank you for all of this great info. It was super helpful. I’ve always thought about starting a blog, but after reading this I decided to just go ahead and do it! I’m enjoying it so far and have been researching a lot about it. I think I’ve found my new hobby.
I have to say, I first found your blog after googling how to start a blog, but I have also been enjoying all of your other content you have on here. I look forward to following more of your posts!
Courtney
found this post very helpful! i’ve been struggling to keep my blog going after not much success, but this inspired me to keep it up!
Katie
Aww Courtney! That’s great to hear! I’m so glad this helped you :)
xo
Mandy
Hi Katie,
You’ve been a major inspiration for me as I start my blog! I recently got one of your emails and in it you talk about Viglink. What’s the best way to use that? I’m used to Amazon affiliate linking, and am not totally understanding Viglink. Any help you can offer is much appreciated!
Thanks,
Mandy
Katie
Hi Mandy, we use Viglink to create quick affilate links for tons of online merchants. I recommend installing their Bookmarklet (Viglink deeplink) to your browser. Then, you simply click that when you’re on a product page from say Macy’s.com or Target.com and it’ll give you an affiliate link for that page that you can earn money from! I hope that helps!
Nikki Stein
Thank you for the motivation! I’ve been struggling to find my niche to really kick my blog into gear, but defining with just being a Lifestyle Blog is what I am accepting and going to run with. Appreciate the post :)
Kristen
Hi Katie!
thank you so much for this post. We recently became a one income family and I am really hoping I can use my love of writing as extra cash. Your information has been the most easy to follow that I have seen so far as i am starting my blog. I am good with the writing, not so much the technical stuff. I am working on content for journaling prompts and would like to build a email list, etc.
One question, does using WordPress Premium work as hosting? i paid for the service and own the url but am not sure if I still need something on top of that like you suggested, Host Gator, is also needed.
thanks :)
Kristen
http://www.cassidymarierose.com
Katie
Hi Kristen!
Glad to hear it was helpful! Ok, so WordPress Premium is good, but the regular package costs $8.25 per month and HostGator hosting can come out to less than that. Especially if you use my code! Also, HostGator hosted WordPress sites don’t have WordPress (or any) branding – that costs $25/month to remove through WordPress without HostGator. I hope that helps!
Cindy Jones
Thank you for all the helpful information. I’ve used free sites since 2007 and wished I would’ve gone with a paid site from the beginning. Oh well… enjoyed looking through your blog!
Kacey Simpson
I love how you said Blogging has allowed you to stay home with your babies. I am fur baby mom and recently started a blog for that reason!! Great minds think alike:) I just stumbled accross your blog for the first time and for sure by the time I am done reading this it will be in my favorites bar! Thank you so much for the great advice. If you have a free moment, feel free to stop by!
-much love
kaceyleeco.weebly.com
Violeta Boanta
Katie’s blog was the last missing key of motivation that I needed in order to create my blog. Thank you for breaking down every step for “us” newbies. You’re an inspiration!
Katie
Oh wow, thank you so much for the high praise!! I’m so glad to hear that!! :)
xo
Jennifer
Thank you so much for all the info on blogging. I just started my blog and it can be overwhelming – but I absolutely love it and your post has been such a great guide.
Ameline
I’m so happy I found this guide, I have been seriously considering starting a blog but I have had no idea where to start! This is wonderful. I am curious about which plan you would recommend on HostGator for someone like me who is just starting out? Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Katie
Hi Ameline! So glad you found this helpful! I recommend starting with the hatchling plan and then upgrading to the baby plan once your blog gets off the ground. Upgrading is super easy and they are happy to help you whenever you are ready for it. I see no reason to start with anything but the smallest plan though!
xo
Leah Goetz
Your Christmas looked lovely!! Loved the Pj’s!
I also stumbled upon your page when I googled “how to start a blog”!
I’m very excited to get mine finished. My goal is to have it up and first post done by January 1! Starting the new year out right ;)
Do you or your husband have great tips/tools for SEO? That side of everything is still so new to me!
I’m looking forward to following your blog :)
Emma
Hi Katie! Your tutorial was very detailed and easy to follow! I have read a lot of blog posts on “easy” ways to start a blog and none have been this simple or detailed. I have been considering blogging, I love to write but I dont have the confidence to do it yet… Tha k you for your wonderful post!
Katie
Aw you’re so welcome, Emma! I’m glad to hear that! :) Best of luck with blogging!!
xo
Tracie
this is so helpful. I wanna start blogging as soon as possible. o my name is Tracie by the way.
Jess
Great post, very informative for a new blogger like me !
Shaina
I was looking into creating a blog. This was so helpful! I think I will pay the 3 bucks a month on WordPress instead of using a free site. It looks more user friendly and I want to have the more control of my blog than not have any. I also am a Mother of two and have a culinary arts degree. Need somewhere to share my recipe ideas!
Danielle
Hi Katie. Thank you for sharing this, I’m so happy to have found your blog and love reading your posts (your family is adorable). I have a question about premium themes on wordpress and hostgator… I purchased a premium theme through studiopress but have no idea on how to import it into hostgator? Any help/insight is greatly appreciated :)
Thanks a bunch!
Danielle
Katie
Danielle,
Great choice on getting a Studiopress theme! Ok, so you have to install the theme on WordPress. This tutorial walks you through that process: https://www.web-savvy-marketing.com/2014/09/installing-the-genesis-framework-and-child-theme/
Feel free to email me ([email protected]) if this doesn’t help enough.
xo
Danielle
Worked like a charm, your the best! Thank you Katie!!!
Annie
Hi Katie! Thank you for this wonderful guide! I’ve wanted to start a blog for years but never knew how, was too nervous for people to see, and scared for failure. But after reading this I took the plunge and just made mine live! Creating a blog is harder then it looks, but I’m excited to see where it goes! Thanks :)
Katie
That is so awesome to hear!!! I’m really glad you took the plunge- I hope you enjoy it! And best of luck with all things blogging!
xo
Alexander Hendrickson
Great ideas on here! You’re an inspiration with all that you’ve accomplished. Always love reading your articles. If I ever need a little pick-me-up on my own efforts, you’ve always got something in what you say that helps.
Katie
Aww that is so nice to hear!! Thanks for the kind words, and best of luck with everything!! You’ve got this!
xo
Krissy
This was HUGE help. I read this a couple of months ago and started my blog – so thank YOU! Such great motivation!
Deanna
Thank you for all of your excellent advice, Katie. I am very new to blogging but I am inspired by people like you who are willing to share information with others to help them get started. I wish you continued success! Thanks again!
Katie
You’re welcome! I’m glad you find it helpful and inspiring! :)
xo
Lauren
Hi Katie
I bought a domain through site builder. It’s a website and I wanted it to be a blog not really a website where I can’t have people subscribe to my blog or get updates. Can I use that domain in word press or do I need to use a host website for a new domain
Thanks for your help
Katie
Hi Lauren,
I am not finding whether you can transfer it or not. You could always start a chat with HostGator support and see what they say.
Jenna
You mentioned that the “extras” were not necessary because it is possible to implement those things outside of HostGator. Is this also true about getting the professional email address? Thanks!
Katie
Hi Jenna,
Yep! You can create new email addresses right from your cPanel. Here’s a tutorial on that: http://support.hostgator.com/articles/how-to-addremove-an-email-account
Jenna
Thanks! :))
Erin
Thank you so much for the helpful information. I’m a mom of five and really want to get into blogging, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. You’re help is greatly appreciated!
Katie
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you found this helpful! :) Best of luck!!
xo
Jenna
Another question: The themes listed in studiopress link are great, but they cost a lot more than the premium ones offered through the wordpress dashboard. However, I don’t see a way to tell if the ones on the wordpress dashboard come with the genesis framework or not. So confused. :/
Monica Gilliam
Katie, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! I had never heard of your site until researching how to start a blog of my own. I can honestly say that you and your husband have made this process SO much easier than I could have imagined. I am still chasing my tail most days, but I am moving forward thanks to you. I have looked at countless blogs covering the basics, and have found that your site is the easiest to read and comprehend in a layout that is not overwhelming. No matter what, I always come back to you for more.
Keep following what you are called to do, it blesses so many more people than you could possibly know! :)
Kate Eadie
I just started a blog and I really hope it takes off. This article was really helpful! It is still a work in progress right now, but once I have more content on there, I hope I can make it more public and get noticed.
Thank you!
TheFisayo
Nice Narrative! What I found really helpful was the sample income for blogging on the sidebar. I’d love if you recommend the affiliates program to join, and how they work. Thanks
Katie
Thanks! We’ve got a post about affiliate links on our other site here: http://morefromyourblog.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-using-affiliate-links-on-your-blog/
xo
Andrea
Hey Katie,
your post is amazing, it’s really helpfull!
I still have a question maybe it’s silly but I don’t get it, if you have to pay Hostgator per month,
why do I have at the end like 200 dollars?
I don’t want to annoy you with that, but I am a student and that amount of money is a lot
if I have to pay it all immediately.
Greetings from Luxembourg :)
Katie
Hi Andrea! The $200 amount is probably for 3 years of service. There is a place on that page where you can change to 2 years, one year or even monthly. That said, the monthly option is the most expensive per month. If you pay a year (or more) up front, it’s less per month. I hope that helps!
Lucy
Hi Katie,
Thanks so much for this post! I literally (as in, just this week) started my own blog after thinking about it for quite a while. However, I am currently using the free, wordpress.com host (part of the focus of my blog is on saving money, as I’m currently a PhD student so have minimal cash), and although I want to change when I do have the funds available, I’m not sure when exactly I will be able to do that. What would you suggest as a time-frame to aim for switching to a paid host?
Thanks again!
Lucy x
Katie
Hi Lucy! So exciting you’ve started a blog! I recommend switching whenever you’re comfortable. A ton of money-saving blogs have paid hosting, so I wouldn’t feel like you’re being hypocritical or anything. I would switch whenever you were financially comfortable doing so. You also want to be sure you’re committed to blogging before you make the switch! I hope that helps and I hope you enjoy blogging!
xo
Sara
Hi Katie,
Your article is a gem! But i’m kind of struggling in understanding how wordpress works. I have purchased my domain through godaddy.com but would like to use wordpress as my blogging platform. I thought to have a free theme but would my website show as mydomain.wordpress.com? how can i switch it to mydomain.com?
I would really appreciate your help.
Katie
Hi Sara! Ok, so you can set up a HostGator account as the tutorial shows above, just click “I already have this domain” at the top and go from there. Then, you can use this tutorial to make everything work together: http://support.hostgator.com/articles/how-to-change-godaddy-name-servers
I hope that helps!
Tia Mac
Hi Katie!
I just want to thank you for this blog. I’m currently pregnant and was looking for an at-home job that’s easy for me and help me balance work with my daughter and newborn when she arrives in May. I’ve been told numerous occasions to start a blog because I give good advice and that I love talking about my life so why not get paid for it lol. I’m very shy so I kept this idea on the back burner for the longest, but when I found this blog, I decided I’m going to jump headfirst and try it. Even if it doesn’t work out financially, I’ll enjoy having an outlet to talk about any and everything. I made my introductory blog and now I just have to sit down and organize all my ideas so I’ll stay consistent and not burn out so quickly. I just want to thank you for giving me the confidence to do this. I’m definitely hoping you can visit my blog on and off and tell me what you think and what things I can improve on. You’re my jump start inspiration. Thank you again!!.
Amanda
Thank you for this post! I have been struggling trying to find ideal freebies and services I can provide with my blog directed towards mothers and creating a Buisness. This has inspired me to continue creating and believing.
Katie
So glad to hear that Amanda! :)
sydney
I’ve read all your information on starting a blog and have been procrastinating starting my own because it sounds so expensive! I know you said you recommend a premium theme (specifically genesis) but are there any free themes that you would recommend? Or what the real harm would be in choosing a free theme?
Katie
Sydney, there are definitely free themes out there! If you go to “Appearance” then “Themes” in your WordPress dashboard, you can see thousands of free themes available. The reason we recommend Genesis themes is that they are easy to edit, well built (which means they don’t crash for WordPress updates or plugin usage) and exceptionally good looking. If you find a free theme that you like, by all means go for it!
Lyndsay Edwards
Great advice for newbie bloggers – thanks for sharing :)
Amanda Bernardini
Hi Katie,
I have read your blog and it had been an amazing help! I feel I can start my own blog now. My only issue is I like everything! A lot of sites have told me to pick ONE thing that interests me and go with it. Well, I have a mini farm and love to talk about that, and my best friend and I are making wood projects and I love to talk about that, and also I love to bake and try pinterest ideas, so I would love to talk about that. Is that all okay to blog about in one blog? I don’t think that I could just talk about one thing.
Amanda
Katie
I’m so glad it was helpful! :) YES, Amanda, talk about everything! It’s your blog, your passions, and I am full-heartedly behind sharing and talking about what makes you passionate, however many different things that may be! Your readers will love you for you and you’ll probably find those who share similar interests! I say go for it!
xo
Jen
These are some really great tips. I’ve recently started an instagram account with a theme of female empowerment where I feature quotes by women, and I use the captions to express my opinions and offer practical advice based on the quote. The whole idea is based on following the example and advice of successful women in order to be successful. A kind of pep talk, basically, in terms of “if she could do it, then so can I.”
I assume that the written word isn’t exciting enough for most people, and my content is being overlooked. It’s been difficult to attract engaged followers because my account does not feature photos, although it does have art and infographics that support the content. I do receive some authentic engagement and average around 50 likes per post, but I have noticed that many of my followers are the type that are just looking for a follower themselves and aren’t interested in the content. The turnover rate is high, and I won’t follow everyone who follows me just to get my numbers up.
I would like to eventually start a blog, but I wanted to try instagram first to see what kind of feedback I would receive for my writing and content. Is it possible to have a successful blog or instagram without photos? I’m not a photographer, and I’m not doing this for an excuse to take selfies. I genuinely want to inspire women and girls through my writing, and I would like to do this in a way that isn’t boring just because there are no photos.
I’m sorry this is a bit long. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sami
This is an awesome post, thank you! It’s reassuring to see other mothers succeed while staying at home. While I haven’t quite had the courage to take three plunge into blogginh, you give me hope.
Katie
Aw what an awesome thing to say! I’m glad this was reassuring- you can totally do it!! :)
xo
Ann
Hi Katie, Such an inspiring post! This has given me the nudge I need to start my blog. I have a couple questions. I was born in the Caribbean and still live in the Caribbean, Do you think that this will be a hinderance in making money from my blog?
Also which is better to use with wordpress, Google docs or microsoft word? Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Katie
Hi Ann,
The country you live in won’t have much of a hinderance on making money. As long as you can build an audience, making money won’t be a challenge. As for the 2nd question, I can’t answer that because I don’t use either. I just write and edit my posts within WordPress.
I hope that helps!
Sarah
Hello Katie!
I am looking to start a blog and stumbled across yours. Your content was very helpful!
My question is… Do I need to build up some content of my own before I publish my first blog? What I mean is… do I publish my blog with only one post on it and continue to post every few days? Or should I wait a bit and publish a few things at once. Then continue adding new posts? I hope this makes sense.. Thank you in advance of any advice you can offer.
Sarah
Eliza
You are a blessing! I followed this post step by step and it really helped. I love your writing voice and flow, girl. Keep it up!:)