How to Get started
Contents
Before you get started you must first find a reason. This is because if ever things don’t go your way, it is your reason that will keep you going.
One of the reasons I started this blog was to educate people about money. This is because I care a great deal about people, and like most I love to make money.
The other reason I started this blog was to create a guide for college students.
I worked for a college and graduated college, and it bothered me how little they knew about money. One of the benefits I got from working at college was I got to experience both worlds.
On one end I seen an obsolete system and on the other end I witness greed.
If you think college is all that’s needed to be successful, you’re definitely a dreamer.
To be successful begins with desire; and the will to overcome constant failure.
To begin, I suggest you pick up one of the greatest books of all time Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon hill. After, read Rich dad’s Cash flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki to understand where you are today.
Now you know my reasons, before you begin find yours. The following will aid you on your journey, use them wisely and go for your dreams.
Leverage
If you’re struggling with success, it might be because you not using leveraged. To be successful you must use leverage, this is how the rich stays ahead of the poor.
One of the reasons rich people are so rich is because they use leverage to their advantage.
For instance Jay-z leverages music, and Oprah Winfrey leverages television. The same can be said that internet mogul John Chow leveraged blogging and Ashley Qualls leveraged Google.
What’s important is not the outlet their using, but the amount of people who follows them through those outlets. This means being rich is not only measured by money, but in the information age how much people you control.
If you don’t believe this theory, then the next section will inspire you. What you’ll find is it doesn’t take money to make money as long as the best things are free.
Free is the Key
Another secret to making money is found in the word FREE! I wrote about this in this blog, that The Best things are Free!
In the information age he who gives more gets the pot of gold. This is what having a blog can help you achieve, and explains why there’s younger millionaires today.
So the next time you think you should charge it might serve you well to think opposite. Just remember in the information age, one of the rules to making money is the best things are free.
Why start a Blog?
The reason you want to start a blog is because of its ability to be leverage. Not only can you leverage yourself, you can leverage people products as well.
If you leverage their products correctly you can earn commissions, or passive income. This depends on how well you monetize your blog, but for now lets discuss what a blog is?
What is a Blog?
A blog is simply a web page where an individual records their thoughts. It’s most effective when writing surrounding your passion; obviously mines are entrepreneurship and investing.
You’re content more likely will be different, but the idea is to write content that help others. By helping others you slowly gain their trust and later can sale them a product.
How to Start a Blog
Step 1) Get a Domain
Starting a blog is relatively easy, all you need is a domain, hosting, and a theme. It is best to register a domain relative to the goals of your site, this makes it easier for people to find it.
For example, if you wanted to create a site on how to train dogs, you might want to call it dogtrainingtips.com. Not only is this related to your content, users searching for dog training in Google will find you better.
Another thing to keep in mind is, always try to register with .com. This is because .com is more popular, not to mention branded in peoples minds.
There are many places to buy a domain, but a small investment of $10 will get you yours at GoDaddy.
To get 10% off your domain, simply visit Godaddy.com.
Step 2) Host your Domain
The next thing you going to need is a company to host your site. A host is a server that stores your web files and process its data to be viewed online.
Below are several companies to choose from but for my site I use HostGator. I recommend HostGator because their fast and reliable, and have 24/7 live support team that’s always happy to help.
To get 25% off hosting using HostGator, enter our coupon code moneyveh25 at HotGator.com
Hosting companies to choose from:
This concludes hosting for now; the next step is to connect your domain to your host.
Step 3) Connecting your Domain and Host
To connect your domain to your host is really no sweat. If you used GoDaddy to purchase your domain the following is how to get it done.
Login to your GoDaddy account; click Domains, then My Domains and then click on your domain. Now click on the Nameservers Icon and change the custom nameservers to the ones HostGator should have emailed you. Below is the format of how it should look.
NS1.HostGator.com
NS2.HostGator.com
Once this is done pat yourself on the back because now you can install your blog. To install your blog all that’s needed is to login to your HostGator account and install WordPress.
Step 4) Install WordPress with HostGator?
In case you didn’t know WordPress is top notch in the blogging platform area. It’s easy, reliable and great for editing sites especially if you’re a beginner like me.
If you used Hostgator as recommended earlier we will be installing WordPress using a quick install software called Fantastico. Not all hosts have Fantastico in their Cpanel but if you chose HostGator you will be fine.
So to start, go to YourDomain.com/cpanel. Login with the admin details your host provided, once logged in scroll to find Fantastico and click on it. Now on the left hand side is a link to WordPress, click it. Then click New Installation, fill in the form and then click Install WordPress. Now enter you’re domain in the URL and you should see your blog installed.
You can make changes by logging into your admin using your domain name in this format Yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Step 5) Finding a Theme
Now that your blog is set up, it is time to shop for a theme. By default WordPress displays its own which is similar to the image you see below.
WordPress default theme
Of-course we won’t be using this one because it’s the most common that everyone knows.
When searching for a theme you want something that’s not overused, plus have stunning appeal that have your visitors saying WOW!
To help you achieve this I put together a few that might spark interest. Some can be used for similar situations so choose one that’s right for you.
Elegant Themes
If you’re looking for great affordable design, feast your eyes on elegant themes.
Most other sites charge between $70 to $200 for a theme and the worst thing is, it’s just for one site. With Elegant Themes,if you choose their Personal Package you pay $69 annually for 76 themes.
The Developer Package however will cost you $89 annually, which comes with the availability of the Photoshop PSD files. In the end it’s what fits your preference so visit Elegantthemes.com
Genesis Themes
Genesis is a little priced on the high side but it’s definitely worth a look. The reason being is due to it’s displays plus it used by professional bloggers. Below it’s a sample if their theme and you can see what I mean. To see more visit studiopress.com.
Fame Themes
Fame theme is relatively new in the theme market but their definitely not to be sleep on. Although they just came to the market, they’re surviving because of their explosive looking themes.
One of the theme I recommend if you’re building a Magazine site is a theme name Codilight. Below is it’s image you can see others at Fametheme.com.
This concludes this section on how to get started, I hope these tips was useful. If it was, all that’s left is to start, the only one that can do that is of-course yourself.
As always please don’t forget to subscribe to this blog. Also if you think this can benefit others please share for sharing is caring.Take care.
Manny
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