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
Brandy
Katie! Just wanted to leave a post telling you how helpful this has been for me. It actually gave me the ambition to build a blog myself!
I’m still young in my 20’s but I feel like accomplishing a successful blog will be a great goal to work towards, that will allow me to live a comfortable life at home with my future family!
Thank you :)
Katie
Aww Brandy! That is so great!! :) I’m happy to hear I could help give you that ambition- you’re going to rock it, girl!
xo
Laura
Thank you so much! Just used this guide to help get my blog up and running. :)
Kimberlee
Thank you so much for this! It helped me get my site started. Now for some content and behind-the-scenes work before I launch! :)
Meghan Woodcox
This is so helpful- thank you! One question I have is, when you started, did you just write a new blog post daily? Or did you have a few blog posts already saved up before showing everyone your blog?
Katie
Hi Meghan! I just started one day and began writing posts each day. I know of people who have “launched” a blog with several posts already there. I think it’s a matter of personal preference. I will say that it’s almost impossible to have an audience right out of the gate, so having a lot of content there might be a waste. I hope that helps!
Jackie Howell
Oh I am so happy she asked this question. That’s been on my mind, just wondering how people started. Thank you for clearing that up. :)
Kathryn A.
It is always inspiring to read about other bloggers’ success. I have had a fashion blog for plus size women over 50 since last summer. You have given me the inspiration to start a lifestyle blog about my life with my international, special needs family. Thanks!
Courtney
Hello! Quick question…What is the difference between the “hatchling plan” and the “baby plan” and can I change later down the road? My current goal is to start a lifestyle blog, but in the future I would maybe like to start a separate blog separated to math resources.
Katie
Hi Courtney! The difference between plans is the size of website that it can handle. The hatchling plan is perfect for new blogs and probabaly will serve fine for the first year or so. Upgrading plans is also super easy and is as simple as a 3 minute chat with their customer service.
Madison
How did you find your website name? It is so cute and simple and what I am striving for! Coming from a girl currently stuck on her website name.
Katie
Hey Madison! Gosh, that was several years ago, but I remember just trying to think of something short, unique and not too specific. I wanted to be able to change my topic as I wanted without having to worry about the name. Example: katieatewhat.com would leave me in the food zone, just like katieworewhat.com would make it tough to pivot away from fashion. I hope that helps!
Madison
Thank you Katie! I’ve found my short and simple name thanks to you, but I’m struggling on finding it available on social media. Did you struggle too with that? Would it hurt me to simply add the word blog at the end of my @ name? Sorry for the bombarding questions. ????
Amy
Hey Katie,
I started a blog a little while ago. I was wondering how you went about generating more views for your blog? Did they just appear for you over time or did you have to actively comment on other people’s blogs etc.?
Hope this makes sense! (also I love your blog, it is a real inspiration for me!)
Katie
Hi Amy, all of my best blogging advice (including a lot about building an audience and views) is found in my email list. You can sign up for thta here: https://www.katiedidwhat.com/free-social-media-course-and-blogging-email-series/
We also have a few YouTube videos about blogging, which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRmiUZlMOZ_Uo4lsF9_wnrowaRzvwsqNv
I hope that helps!
Sarah
Thank you for such an in depth, detailed post. I am pleased to know I do all of the tips, but my photography could use a bit of work perhaps. Building slowly, but enjoying the process as much as the writing. Learning new skills and possibly in time a new business. x
Somia @pixel2graphic
Hi katie! i am just planning to start new blog and and i just completed read your blog, i am gonna bookmark it. because to be honest its the one of the best blog about starting a new lifestyle blog. Thank you so much.
Amanda
Thanks Katie! This has been so helpful!! I just recently started blogging. I never realized how complicated it is and how much work goes in it! Love your blog!
Krystal Ray
This was wonderful! Thank you so much! I have been wanting to start a blog for years but just couldn’t find the right information presented in just the right way to boost my confidence. To say the least I have officially started my blog now thanks to you! ♥
Ana Paula
Hello Katie im starting my blog this week and im looking for inspiration and your blog truly motivated me I can’t wait to finish! Keep up your awesome work.
Katie
Aw, Ana, thank you for your sweet comment! I’m so excited for you! Best of luck, girl!
xo
Kayla
Hi Katie! Thanks for all the great info. I unfortunately am one of the people that got baited by Wix’s advertising. I just started a blog about two weeks ago and want to make the switch now before I get too invested in Wix. (Good thing I can still get a refund before 30 days!)
I can’t transfer all my stuff straight over right? I have to start from scratch?
Thank you!
Katie
Hey! Glad this is helpful!! I don’t think you can switch if you’re canceling, so yes, I thiiink you’d have to start over. Happy you’re making the switch, though, and choosing WordPress instead, and that it isn’t too late! Good choice! ;)
xo
Dee
Love your post it’s super useful! I’ve been roaming the intrerwebs for hours trying to find tips on how to get traffic to my blog and actually build a following. I’ve had my blog for a few months now but still literally get a handful of views per day. :( do you have any tips for gaining traffic?
http://www.stylememoires.com
Katie
Hi Dee! I have an email series here with blogging tips including tips gaining traffic: https://www.katiedidwhat.com/free-social-media-course-and-blogging-email-series/
I also have a youtube channel with blogging tips. You can see that here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRmiUZlMOZ_Uo4lsF9_wnrowaRzvwsqNv
I hope that helps!
Dee
Thank you! Signed up for the email series right away and will watch the video as soon as I can grab a moment hahaha. Thank you again!
Rachel
Thank you for this great advice! Now to figure out what I actually want to write about.. and make it look good! :)
Katie
Awesome! So glad you love the advice- best of luck, Rachel! :)
xo
Rebecca
Kate, I have been thinking about starting a blog my self for along time. I just never knew what to write or even where to start and this article helps more than you know. I have absolutely loved reading your articles I have spent hours reading and I love it all!
Domenic Savaglio
Thank you Katie, this was so helpful! Thanks to you, I finally started my blog!
AbbeyHill Caswell
Hey Katie!
Im reading multiple comments praising you and your words and I couldn’t agree more!!
I have had a writing blog for a while, but now I am trying to transition to a lifetstyle blog! You have been my go-to source for information! I love that you are relatable and honest, I would love some more advice!
Thanks in advance
AbbeyHill
AbbeyHill Caswell
Whoops!
Typed the wrong email!
AbbeyHill Caswell
Diane
Great information it’s now given me motivation to give it a go.
Sam
Hi Katie!
I’ve been really interested in starting my own blog for quite some time, but the one thing that seems to hold me back is not knowing what to do with the very first post? It sounds silly, but it intimidates me so much!
What was your first post about? Did you introduce yourself or did you just jump right in and introduce yourself a few posts down the road?
Anyway, your blog is so sweet!
Thanks for the help.
Katie
Hi Sam! So I always tell people not to get hung up on the first post. It’s not the first post, or 2nd, or 3rd or… that will make or break your blog. I do like to save a lot of the introductions/about stuff for a separate “About Me” page that is always at the top of my site. For fun, check out my first post ever here: https://www.katiedidwhat.com/new-year-new-blog/
I hpoe that helps!
xo
Charlene
HI, Kate.
I stumbled upon this post from Pinterest. I actually started a health blog on WordPress, and posted ONE post. Now the thing is, Iam not posting anything anymore cuz I feel like I have to do research for things about health. Plus, I also want to blog about the aper craftings I am doing as well as being a tacher.
Do they all mesh well into a ifestyle blog? I mean, so far, the lifestyle blog are about moms and cooking, and stuff, and I am not a mom, and cooking is not my strong suit. I don’t want to open up 3 different blogs just so I can have a niche blog for all three. I can’t even keep up with one!
Am I making sense? I feel like I’m rambling on. Haha. Anyway, what do you suggest or recommend, just stick to that health blog?
Katie
Hi Charlene,
Yes, you can surely write about those 3 things on the same blog. The beauty of a lifestyle blog is that it’s based on YOUR lifestyle. So, if that includes health-related topics, crafts and posts about teaching, there’s nothing wrong with that! I would avoid sticking to just one topic, unless you really want to do a lot of research and spend time coming up with interesting ways to write posts about the same topic. I hope that helps!
Grace
Loved this post! I recently started a blog and have been dabbling in the lifestyle department and I have been contemplating what more content to put on the site and how to better it. This post was such a help.
Let me know what ya’ll think.
http://www.auroragraceco.com
Katie
Glad to hear it was a help! Your blog looks great so far! :)
Mary
Hey lady! Such a small world. I had a date with Cait Z the other day and you came up as we talked about blogging, and she said you’re local and go to Capital! So crazy!
Anyways…
I’ve always used squarespace because I really like their simple//minimalist design and easy-to-use platform… but I have yet to figure out how to actually bring a solid income from all this and it seems every blogger out there that’s making money is using WordPress instead. I don’t know if this is just coincidence, or if it really does matter which site you use? If this is a long-answer question feel free to shoot me an email! Just a mama trying to make some money while my hubs is away for the army haha. Could use all the help I can get!
Xo,
Mary
Katie
Hey girl!! Such a small world!! I love Cait! :) I totally understand wanting to make money from your blog and think it’s awesome that you want to do this! It’s not easy, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! As for which platform, I think it’s easier to make money on WordPress simply because I think the platform is easier to use. It has really great plug-ins that make running the website a bit easier. I’m just a big fan of WordPress! I can’t speak too much about Squarespace since I’ve never used it, I just know what works for me! Best of luck girl and maybe I’ll see you around!! Please say hi if you see me at Capital!
xo
Gloria Rosario
Hi Katie,
I am a new subscriber, thank you for sharing so many tips on how to start your own blog! I have been thinking of creating a blog for a few months now. What is keeping me away from creating it is that I am passionate about many topics, and I don’t know what topics to narrow it down to, you know what I mean. My question to you is what helped you in deciding what topics to write about? I apologize for the long comment and may the Lord continue to bless you always. Gloria
Katie
Gloria,
I just wrote about what inetrested me at the beginning. I think if you do that, after a while, your focus will narrow and you’ll find yourself going in a more specific direction. I wouldn’t get too hung up on deciding exactly what to write at this point though!
cia
Hi Katie,
I have a blog on WordPress and I find it too difficult to categorize my topic too technical for me. And so I stopped writing and now I am on the push to start again, your tips made it clearer. I wonder, is it illegal to use googled photos? even on giving credits to the photo owner?Thanks
Katie
I stay away from using photos that aren’t mine. There are sites out there where you can find free to use photos, but sometimes photos wind up there that photographers did not authorize. Just to be safe, I don’t use googled photos or any stock photos. I hoep that helps!
America
Thank you for this article. I have tossed around the idea of starting a blog for a while, and reading this gave me the push I needed to get started. I am still nervous, but I am excited to see what the future brings.
Amanda Wright
Katie,
First off, let me say that I love your blog! I am a subscriber and follow you on instagram and I love your posts!
This page in particular has been SO helpful to me. I had been blogging on wordpress.com for a few months, and really wanted to jump start my blog on a more serious platform. I felt super intimidated though, because I really didn’t know how. Your tutorial really helped walk me through the process, so thank you so much for that! I successfully launched my new blog with your help and I am forever grateful! (www.amandasawkwords.com if you were wondering) :)
You rock girl! Thanks so much!
Katie
Thank you so much for the kind words Amanda! Glad to hear the page was helpful! Your blog looks great too! :)
Breanna
Hi Katie! I’m new to your blog, but have already fallen in love with it because I love how you’re lending out so much great advice for free to help build up other bloggers/potential bloggers. I was also wondering what exactly you meant by the domain cost “starting” at under $3? Do you just mean that over time with changes in packages it will probably cost more? I already have a blog, but I’d really like to have my own domain and I’ve been looking for something that doesn’t cost too much every month.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Katie
Breanna, thank you for the kind words! Yes, under $3/month is the starting rate for a domain and hosting with HostGator. As your blog, audience and traffic grow, your plan will need to grow too. The idea is that if you’re growing enough to need a better plan, you’ll be making enough money to cover it. I hope that helps!
Mary Bradley
Hi Katie!
I have been wanting to start a blog for over a year now. Just recently, due to some personal events, I have decided to actually move on it. While I have had this post pinned on Pinterest for a while, I looked at it AFTER I begin my on wix.com. I’ve heard only great things about wix and so far it is working great. I currently have the free version but plan to obtain my own domain within a few months after I can save a little money. I decided not to use WordPress because it seemed more expensive at the time. Ok, I just gave a whole back story just to get here… lol. I love to write! This can be poems, just my random thoughts or about some things I’m going through. This is the type of blog I would like to make. Would this be considered a life style blog or just a writing blog? I have already written some post due to me just writing mostly everything down anyways. I just kind of need some guidance. I would love to have a mentor such as yourself to just help with that aspect. I’m not trying to blog for the monetary benefit (although it would be nice). I just want to share my thoughts/ problems (and solutions) with others that may be able to relate as well.
Katie
Hi Mary!
It’s definitely okay to start with a free platform and then move things over, so don’t worry about that! It’s so great that you’re not thinking of money right off the bat. That’s how I started years ago and I always encourage people to start a blog because they want to write and share, as opposed to starting one just to make money. While I am not able to individually provide advice, I do have an email series with some guidance. You can find it here: https://www.katiedidwhat.com/free-social-media-course-and-blogging-email-series/ I will also say that I just write whatever I want and whatever my life is about. That’s the beauty of a lifestyle blog- you call the shots. Everything fits into the lifestyle category! Anyway, I hope that helps a bit!
xo
Ashley Ziegler
There are many things I am passionate about sharing on my blog, but with that, one of them is my faith. I know that religion can be a VERY touchy subject for a lot of people and I wonder if that’s not really an area that, if I included, would still bring success to a blog I created. I post about it on Instagram and it’s really great but I just wonder if it’s really a good idea on a blog or not.
Also, I really want to get into blogging but I’m nervous. Haha every other entrepreneur adventure I’ve been on has “failed,” but blogging is something that I am always doing and have for the past 8 years!
Katie
Hi Ashley!
It’s definitely a personal preference as to how much you want to write about your faith on your blog. I personally have an “I Believe” section in my top menu where I’ve written about my faith. I include it in blog posts often because it is part of who I am. Again, it’s all about personal preference there and I don’t think writing about your faith “too much” will make you fail or succeed.
It sounds like, since you’ve been blogging for so long, it’s a good idea to try and turn it into something profitable. Hopefully this gives you the push you need! :) Best of luck in your journey!
xo
Stephanie Fraley
Finally decided to write to you, Katie! First of all, I want to say, that I’m your big fan! You and your family are so cute and amazing! You admire and inspire me every day! I also wanted to thank you for the wonderful article thanks to which I (an unsure girl throwing about her blog and in any way hesitating to do this) overcame her fear and started her blog! For half a year now I have my blog about education, which is read by thousands of people! Thank you! My content even steals sometimes (by the way, I can always track this by checking in the plagiarism checker, like http://www.unicheck.com ), which I think is awful, but at the same time, it says that people have something to steal :). Therefore, to the same beginners, as I once was, I want to advise not to be afraid and start blogging now! If you love it, you will succeed! And with such a great guide from Katie, you will necessarily succeed, good luck!
Katie
Thank you so much for the kind words Stephanie and congratulations on your blog’s success! I’m so glad you came back to share you story, hopefully it inspires others to get started!
Alyssa
Hi Katie! Loving this post and actually thinking about taking the plunge into the blogging world. Question: do you use your phone to take your photos or do you recommend a better camera?
Katie
I use both my phone (iphone 7+) and my camera (canon 5d mark III), depending on what content I’m shooting! I have a whole page with what I use to blog here: https://www.katiedidwhat.com/things-i-use-to-blog/ Hope that helps!! :) You don’t have to have the nicest, most expensive camera to start blogging though!! The key is knowing how to use whatever it is you’ve got! Best of luck, girl, if you do decide to start!
xo
Emily Cline
Can you give an estimate for start up costs if I follow all of your recommendations above? I really want to start blogging but I’m hesitating about how this would work for me and my family and I’m nervous about a big first investment.
Katie
HostGator lets you choose how much you want to pay up front. You can sign up for 3 years, 1 year, or even one month. The way it works though, is that the longer you commit, the less you pay. If you’re unsure though, I’d recommend signing up for only one year, or even one month to start. You can use a free blog theme to start and save about $130 there. I do recommend starting out with at least a year. The reason being is that I have seen so many people start out with one month and quit. If you’re only into it for a month, quitting is too easy, but if you commit to a year right off the bat, you’re more likely to turn it into something great! So, to get a blog up and running for the whole year, with hosting and a domain, according to the test I just did, it would be just under $83. I hope that helps!
Emily Cline
Thank you, Katie!
Sydney Horton
Hi, Katie!
I just wanted to stop by here and say thank you! I first found this post on Pinterest at the end of last year and it basically helped finally get my blog up and running. Now I have been following you on Instagram for a few months (I watch your stories everyday! lol) and totally forgot this was where I found you until I stumbled upon this article again. I was starting to feel discouraged and kind of like my blog was never going to take off, but now re-reading this post I am inspired to keep on keeping on!
So thank you so very much. See ya on Insta! :)
Katie
Hi Sydney!
Thank you for coming back and writitng this! I’m so glad you found me! So happy to hear that this post re-encouraged you! Blogging is tough in the beginning for sure. I blogged for about a year before anyone other than my own family read it! I hope you keep pressing on! :)
xo
Miss Jae
Hello:
Thank you for your article, it is very informative. I am interested in starting a lifestyle blog and have been researching posts similar to this one. I noticed someone mentioning that they made the mistake of starting with WordPress.com, rather than WordPress.org, and later had to go through a hassle of switching. In your post, you don’t specify which one to use. Does it matter?
Katie
I recommend wordpress.org. This means you pay for your own hosting and have full control over your site. WordPress.com is a fre platform that can be restrictive when it comes to advertising, plugin usage and more. Switching is a pain and starting a wordpress.org blog with HostGator is so inexpensive, I always recommend just starting out with that.
Yvette
Hi Katie
I’ve just about read all your posts, love your site.
I need a little guidance if you have the time. I’ve been blogging seriously for about a year now. I have a gift site which I love because it allows me to be creative. In all the courses I’ve taken I’ve always been told to narrow my niche down, don’t be too broad. Micro-niche is best BUT…I’ve always wanted to blog about my Keto lifestyle which has been very successful, my travels and my blogging experience. Is it ok to put all these into a lifestyle blog or are the topics just too broad, especially if you want to monetize your blog? I really am torn at the moment as to what to do.
I suppose what I’m thinking is if someone is interested in learning how to blog, why would they want to see travel info.
Also, do you focus on keyword research for your articles so that Google and other search engines can find you or do you feel you don’t really need it?
Thank you for your time.
Katie
Hi Yvette!
I always tell people not to worry about a niche or anything like that. My blog is a lifestyle blog and I simply write about whatever I want. It’s whatever is going on in my life. Sometimes that’s about my kids, sometimes it’s about my diet, sometimes it’s a makeup tutorial, etc. I don’t do much keyword research because I don’t want that changing the way I write. I hope that helps!
Yvette
Thank you for your quick response Katie. You’ve inspired me to just ‘go for it’.
I have so many ideas running through my mind at the moment. If nothing else, I’m going to have fun with this. All the best to you and your family. I have subscribed and am looking forward to your next post.
Mia
This was so helpful!!! I love reading your stuff. When you blog are you allowed to mention a place you visited or like where you bought something? I’ve been trying to start one for a while but I didn’t know if that was something I could just do or what!? I don’t want to get sued lol
Katie
Awww thanks girl! So glad this was helpful! And OF COURSE, you can always mention anything you want! :) As long as you don’t steal other’s content (pictures, etc) without credit, you are good to go! I am always sharing products/places/companies that I love, and most of the time it isn’t “sponsored” and I’m not working with them- I just genuinely love them! It turns out to be free exposure for them, so everybody wins! So yes, to answer your question: you can absolutely always mention a place you visited or something that you like, after all, it’s your blog! :)
xo
Tammi
Katie, thank you for this. Perhaps I could ask for some advice? How do you describe your lifestyle blog to your audience? I am doing events around me, book reviews, some fitness tips, as well as current thoughts and opinions. My target audience is 20-somethings, the ones who aren’t really social butterflies, have no kids and need ideas on how to enjoy life without selling a kidney basically. I feel a bit chaotic in my thought process though and can’t find the right words for my “about page”
Katie
Hi Tammi,
I would just write a bit about yourself and what you like. Give a little back story to your life. Since it’s a lifestyle blog about you, that route would work best. Also, it’s important to know that you can change your about page anytime. I make changes to mine pretty frequently as my own life changes. I hope that helps!
Madison
Hi Katie!
I’m super excited to get started on this. However, as a second year grad student I don’t have any money. I went to buy my domain and everything looked good, but HostGator wanted to charge me $60 for hosting add-ons. What are those? Just want to make sure I need them! Thanks :)
Katie
Hey Madison! I explain the add-ons a bit down the page here. Basically, the only add-on you really want is domain provacy protection and they add that on toward the top of the registration page. The 4-5 other add-ons down from that are unneccessary. I hope that helps!