It allowed me to unleash my creativity, connect with awesome like-minded people, and make money in the process.
In this post, I'll show you exactly how to build your blog from the ground up without spending a ton of money (my readers also get a discount through this link).
So... can you really make money blogging?
Yep. I've been making over $10,000 every month for a few months now. Check out my latest income report here.
If you've ever wondered whether you should have a blog of your own, please do it. I know there's something you're passionate about, whether it's makeup, fashion, fitness, or whatever else you're in love with. Follow your creative dreams. You never know where they could take you!
Here's what I'm going to cover:
The Basics
Getting your own domain and hosting is the way to go. This means you'll have your own site, like www.crueltyfreekitty.com.
I also strongly recommend WordPress to build your blog. It's easy and free. WordPress trumps Blogger/Blogspot, and it's more affordable than Squarespace. If you don't know how to install WordPress, I'll show you exactly how to set it up in this post.
If you already have a blog hosted on Blogspot or Tumblr, making the switch is totally worth it. You get to keep all your existing posts and transfer them.
Myths And Facts
There are a few myths about having your own domain and hosting, so let me set them straight right now.
Myth #1: Running your own blog is expensive.
You can have your own, self-hosted blog for under 4$ a month. Don't go with anything more expensive than that, because it's unnecessary. BlueHost offers the best prices, and you get a free domain.
Myth #2: It's hard and confusing to set up!
I'm not particularly computer-savvy, and I still managed to do it! I'll show you how simple it is and guide you through the whole process.
Myth #3: It's impossible to make any money with a small blog.
Odds are you're going to be making more than what you're paying to run your blog. One of the advantages of having your own, self-hosted blog is having the freedom to monetize it.
Myth #4: It's really hard to make a blog look good with WordPress.
There's a ton of pretty themes you can choose from, including free ones. Installing a theme is quick and easy. You don't even need to know any kind of coding or have experience with web design. Using WordPress will make your blog look better since it's more customizable than Blogspot.
Boom! Myths debunked. No excuses. Creating your own blog is simple, cheap, and awesome.
What Should I Blog About?
It's important to know specifically what your focus will be. A focused blog makes blogging easier. Here are some examples.
- Reviews. If you're a product junkie, you can write helpful reviews.
- >Makeup artistry. If you've got skills, you can show off your looks.
- Swatches. Good swatches can be hard to find. Everybody loves dupes.
- Budget beauty. You could focus on drugstore and affordable brands.
- Nails. If you love nail polish and have a talent for nail art, you could make it your main focus.
- Jane-of-all-trades.> If you love ALL things beauty, you can figure out your focus as you blog.
What Equipment Do I Need?
You don't absolutely need any tools to start blogging, but this is what I recommend for a beginner:
- A basic camera. You can use any digital camera, a DSLR, or your iPhone. Some bloggers even use their phone's camera.
- Photoshop or a free alternative. Editing your photos will make them look professional no matter what camera you use.
- Natural light. You don't need photography equipment when starting out. Natural light is the best light to shoot in. You can always buy studio lighting along the way.
The Fun Part: Your Domain Name
Once you figure out the topic of your future blog, you're ready for one of my favorite parts: picking a domain name!
Start thinking of a potential domain name by brainstorming and expanding on your subject. Your domain name should be memorable and brandable above all.
Enter your ideas below to check if they're available.
A good tip is using your first name as part of your domain. Think of blogs like "karlascloset.com", "viviannadoesmakeup.com" or "deliciouslyella.com". Try it with your blog!
1. Sign Up With BlueHost
The first thing you need to do is find a webhost. The most popular one is BlueHost, which I recommend going with. They offer cheap hosting and a free domain name.
Go to BlueHost and click "Get Started Now".
Select the basic plan.
You need to find a good domain name that isn't taken. I recommend going with a .com, but whatever floats your boat. Click next.
Now create your account by filling out your contact info.
Pick your plan, and pick whatever additional features you want. The only extra I recommend is getting domain privacy if you want your information to be hidden. Click "Next".
Next, choose your package. Bluehost offers plans for 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months. I recommend going with the 36-month plan to get the best price, but keep in mind that you'll pay for the full package up front. For example, if you select the 36-month package at $2.95/month, your total will be $106.20.
Enter your payment information.
The final step is choosing a password for your account. Make this password extra hard to crack by using uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Once your account is created, log into your dashboard at Bluehost.com.
2. Install WordPress
Next, you want to install WordPress. This step is super quick and easy!
In your BlueHost account, click on cPanel. Click "Install Wordpress".
Click "Start".
Select your domain and click "check domain".
Enter your blog info and click "Install Now".
Once it's done installing, you'll receive your WordPress login information by e-mail.
Go to www.yoursite.com/wp-admin/ and sign in!
Last Step: Make It Pretty
Install a theme to make your blog look nice.
On the left side, select "Appearance" and click "Themes". Click "Add new". You can now browse thousands of themes. Try selecting features such as "right sidebar" or colors. If you're stumped, try searching for "themify" or "fashionista". There's a lot of free themes. Have fun with it!
You're Ready For Your First Post
In the left menu, select "Posts" and click "Add new". Write your first post and click "publish"!
That's it!
If you followed this step-by-step guide and signed up with BlueHost, you just realized how easy it really is to start your own blog.
I hope this tutorial has been helpful. Good luck on your journey!
Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?
Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download
Thank you Suzy for such simple yet in-depth guide. I have been following your work for quite sometime now and I really appreciate how much efforts you put into creating this list of cruelty-free brands. Kudos!
I am also willing to start a beauty blog like this your ideas are really helped me !
thanks a lot .
Thank you for your kind comment, good luck!
Thanks for sharing your blog with all of us. An informative blog list you provide.
Thank you for the kind comment, Kelly!
thank you for sharing such an informative blog post. It’s really helpful for many of us. you just made an effort to make us feel blogging is damn easy as a beginner.Will start my blog on WordPress.com super soon.
I just started to create my own beauty blog at http://www.missmakeup.com.au
I would love for you to check it out and give me some feedback
Thanks for sharing with us, as newbie this is very worth full and i will try to start my beauty and health related blog.
well done, i should start
Right now I have a very neglected website that I started a few years ago. Lately I’ve been thinking about getting back to blogging at my site again. Currently I have Host Gator as my provider and my website platform is WordPress. If I decide to switch my provider to Blue Host, is it easy to do? Do I just need to sign up with Blue Host or is it more complicated than that?
Hi,
Thanks so much for writing this post. I just moved my blog to wordpress and my traffic dropped drastically. I did everything right, except for changing the permalink format when I did it. I wish I had read this post before migrating.
You’re genius! Your Blog is beautiul! You made every step so easy to follow. Thank you so much!
hey suzana, you always wrote awesome and this too very amazing article… thanks for sharing
Thank you very much for this post. I would like to create such a great blog. I love it.
Hello,
thanks for this fabulous blog and very helpful information.
I have been working to create my own beauty brand and it has been so much work, and having a great blog to go with it seems like the best move nest. Thanks so much for the amazing blog and inspiring information.
Hey Suzana, thanks for sharing these tips.
I’m doing beauty product reviews on Twitter and Instagram. Is this an okay way to “blog”? How do I get PR packages to sample and review?
How exactly do you get people to look at your self hosting site, is there a good way to advertise it or do people just find it?
I have been looking for an article like this for some time, thank you for the thoughtful guide! I am thinking about starting my own beauty product review blog, and this was extremely helpful. If you have the time, I have a few additional questions about the process:
1) How do you go about montetizing your content, and what is the best use of the ads throughout your site?
2) How to obtain sponsors for product reviews? I know a lot of this can come from branding yourself and quality content. But what is the best way to start out if you can’t afford many pieces to review? In general, I would love to read a guide by you outlining the best and realistic ways of making money in 2018 by blogging.
3) What is the best way to reach viewers, and most importantly gain followers of your content? Do you mostly interact with others through WordPress specifically?
I would love to hear more insight about starting a blog via your expertise. Again thank you for providing such useful content with this post.
Hi Suzana. Great post!
For me the issue with blogging is promotion. I never have any issues with setting up a blog or creating content.
I am kind of an introvert when it comes to social media that seems totally necessary for promoting the blog and attracting followers.
Do you have something you can share with me so I can feel even slightly motivated?
This was full of delicious information. Thank you so much!!!❤️?????
Thanks for amazing idea
Thank you so much 🙂 can you please tell us how much time did google take to put your website on the google search when you first started? And how often did you post before that happened? 🙂
Hi Suzi! I’ve used your website for years but only just noticed this post – it’s brilliant! I’m starting on the journey to creating my own website about natural alternatives for the home and have really struggled with all the options available for hosting and blogs. I am currently using Weebly to create my website because I want to edit and create pages from my iPad and this app had a good rating. I have just had a look at the WordPress app and some people seem to have problems with it on an iPad.
So, I have two questions – do you have experience with the WordPress app? Also, can I transfer what I already have with Weebly across to WordPress?
Hi! I don’t have experience with the WordPress app unfortunately, and I’ve also never used Weebly. My guess is that you can transfer everything to WordPress, but you might have to ask Weebly. Sorry for the lack of helpful info, but I’m wishing you the best of luck!
Hi CFK,
After reading your simple “start a blog” page, I am happy to say I have done it. I am very much an amateur so I would appreciate any feedback you may have to improve my blog
Thank you for the push I needed
Gracie Talks Beauty
x
Awesome! Its great experience to visit this blog, this blog is very useful for makeup and fashion point of view. If anybody wants to enhance their beauty, then they can visit us once Semi Permanent Eyelash Extensions in High street, Kensington
Hello, I’m getting to this very late in the game, but I’ve recently decided to take the plunge into makeup blogging and I can’t think of a good name for my website. Any suggestions? Nothing seems to flow well with my name.
If Jayna is your name, it’s a great name and I think you should use it in your domain. Jaynabeauty.com is simple and more versatile, or Makeupbyjayna.com if you’re all about makeup.
I’ve just started on a new website but which is under affiliate program how do you use gain more traffic especially if it’s a new website?
This is so helpful! I just started blogging and this was probably the most helpful post I found!
Thank you!
Hi, thanks so much for the useful tips. I’m wondering if you do product reviews & you don’t have any images of the actual product itself for you to take photos of, can you use images of the product from the company’s website without their permission or do you have to email & ask them every time? I’m just wondering how much of an issue copyright is here? If you have any advice it would be really helpful! Thanks x
Its really very nice to read this blog. It is very informative and the content used is very interesting. Would like to read few more blogs like this. Good Luck.
Hi! I found your blogs after looking up how to start makeup blogs. I’ve had a blog before but got busy and I had to take it down. But I’m starting a new chapter in my life and my coworker suggested making a makeup blog because I love makeup. I’ve been reading your blogs on starting blogs and monetizing them.
I was just wondering how often you posted at the beginning and did you start posting less or more as time went by? I’m not very outgoing on social media, but I wouldn’t mind changing that.
Thank you so much, and I hope you keep making blogs on these things! I love your attitude!
Hi Hannah, thank you! I was posting more when I started, and started posting less as time went on. I write posts about blogging on my other site, so those might be useful if you’re a beginner. For example here’s my post about monetizing a blog. 🙂
What does BlueHost do? As in, why do I need to sign up via that? Can’t I just make a normal WordPress account? (I’m really new to this!)
Love your blog! I just started mine and it’s quite the journey. I’m still figuring the in’s and out’s with widgets and such. But, I’m having a lot of fun with it. (hoping to make a little extra money in the future too!) 🙂
Hi! This blog post was very helpful and inspiring as it took the “scary” out of starting a blog. Is there another post about monetizing or how to get affiliate links? need to know how exactly to get money to the blog.
Hi Melanie! Check out my posts on monetizing here:
– Blogger’s Guide to Affiliate Links
– 35 Ways To Monetize a Blog
🙂
Hi Suzi, thank you so much for this post. it is super helpful. i’m thinking of starting my blog in about two months. so far I’ve just been doing research and getting to understand how everything works. i just have one question regarding social medias for the blog. when creating a social media for the blog, how do you get followers that will add traffic to the blog? also should i create the social media accounts first and find a way to get followers and then create my blog so i can already have my social media followers to go in it? or should i create the blog first and then the social media accounts? sorry for the long comment but it’d be really helpful if you could answer. Thank you
I would like to start a beauty skin care blog that has links, reviews, Hauls etc I used to work for Sephora and am a medical esthetician and I am licensed in cosmetic laser. How do people get free products by talking, promoting or reviewing their beauty products? Also I was going to use WordPress. Does it matter if you get the one that has ads on it or not ? And if I have WordPress why do I have to do that other thing the blue …. thing ? If WordPress already gives you a domain/site name ?
Hi! What theme do you use? I’ve done everything and now I’m just trying to find a theme and figure out how to customize things : I love the way yours is set up and tried to look up RoseVibe on the themes but couldn’t find it 🙁 how did you get yours onto wordpress?
Hi Shelly! I made this theme from scratch, so I’m glad that you like it! I’m sorry I don’t know of anything similar I can suggest. :/
From where can i find disclaimers and policies template.
Is there any standard format available.
hi, I opened a blog with wordpress but I don’t know how to learn from it..I actually opened it for free..can you please tell me what steps to take
thank you SO MUCH for this advice, it is inspiring me to write my own blog, which I have been thinking about for a while. I love how helpful you are and willing to lift others up and help them! This is what it is all about 🙂
Do you know any website that I can copy and paste pictures of makeup into my blog.please email me on my private email adress.
Thanks so much for this! I just launched my own blog last week via WordPress. Good to know I can use the same site through BlueHost. I’ve been blogging forothers for years, and have always found WordPress to be the best and easiest to use.
Thank you so much this really helped but I just wanted to ask you something. Does the BlueHost discount that you’re doing last for a certain amount of time or forever? Thanks.
Great article it seriously inspired me to take the plunge and create a beauty/fashion blog. Since those are my two loves… do you have any tips for running an instagram based blog?
Hi Suzi! Am i free to change my domain name anytime i want? If i change my mind or thought of something better? 🙂
Great tips, I will have to look into it! Check out my tips at:
https://effiore.com/5-makeup-products-you-didnt-know-you-needed/
Thank you, I am starting out and a post like this is really useful.
Thanks, just set up my own cruelty free beauty blog and this is really helpful xx
Very nice Article and good for startup bloggers also your site is beautiful and best coding theme.
I already created one in
Blogger, should I switch? It’s pretty good looking, but not perfect http://www.lipsdotloveit.com
I already started one on blogger. Should I change to WordPress??
Hello, sorry in advance if this has already been asked. I just started a blog on WordPress and would like to also get a host site like Bluehost. My question is, since I am doing it backwards, do I need to update my wordpress to personal for $3/month to get my domain without the .wordpress.com? This is all BRAND new to me and I just want to make sure I’m making the right choices and not wasting any money on the way.
Thank you
Thank you so much for such an informative way to start a blog. I want to start and am currently researching. This was the most helpful! My question is, when did you decide to just go for it? I’m brainstorming right now and getting my creative juices flowing! But I want to take the plunge soon!
wow, what a comprehensive guide. Well written and very savvy. You bring up some great points for newbie bloggers, I came from a design background to it was easy to set it up, but you have done a brilliant job of debunking the myths.
Nice tips! It is just awesome. I will add in my list & i am also suggest to my friends to read your post.
This article was super informative!! For a while I’ve wanted to start blogging of some sort, like actually blogging and not just keeping up my tumblr lol. Being a male who is very into makeup and beauty I want my blog to focus mainly on that. However, I want the general theme to be things I love and am interested in so I want to blog about music as well (I keep up with new music and artists heavily) and some lifestyle posts as well. I don’t know if that’s too wide of a range of things but that is what really represents me and I don’t want to have to make separate blogs to write about all of it.
My question for you Suzi is how do you like start your blog off after getting it all set up. Do you just launch into your first content post or like is your first entry a biography piece of sorts? Like one that will introduce yourself, your interests, and what you will be blogging about. The first post is always the hardest for me haha.
Thank you for putting this entire article together! It was extremely helpful and made me really decide to pursue this!
Hey Ryan, thanks! Honestly it takes a while in the beginning to figure out exactly what you want your blog to be. During my first year, I was posting more personal content but I eventually found that I prefer focusing on providing information. Your first posts aren’t that important and you might even end up deleting them, so go with your gut and see where it takes you!
What a great post, Suzi! I think it really helped us out because while we’re a fashion platform, we’re trying to divert more attention to style guides, reviews and articles about fashion/beauty in general. Will definitely let my bosses know about your article 😉
In Malaysia, we do have bloggers, but most of them switched lanes to social media now. For us, we have like a mini blog for our users. Here’s our style guides: https://shopprapp.com/style-guides
Hope the article inspires you, Suzi, as yours did to me.
Love,
June from Shoppr
Wow! I just stumbled upon your blog and I love it so much! The layout is gorgeous. I was told I should use a certain theme but yours looks so much prettier. Any particular wordpress theme recommendations? I would love to hear your favorites 🙂
Thank you! I don’t have any recommendations for free themes right now (I’m sorry!) but I’ll look into it.
Really great information! I’m so glad I came across this post because I have been hesitant to start a blog for quite some time as I thought it would just be too complicated, but you inspired me to take the plunge!!
I just signed up with bluehost, and am in the process of installing WordPress.. When do you think it is necessary to sign up with AdVerse?
Hi Connie! Awesome, you finally took the plunge! 😀 If you mean AdSense, you can sign up whenever you want as long as your site has some content on it. Make sure you have a privacy policy when you do. I just checked out your blog and it looks so pretty. Nice job!
I have never used blue host before. It might be popular in the US. For anyone in England which is where I am based I would recommend one.com for hosting. I use them and I’m pretty happy. They provide statistics as well as word press integration which is only a few step process. Their Interface has recently been updated. It’s now looking fresh and modern making it even easier to use. Highly recommended.
Milena x
http://milenakrecisz.com
Thanks for encouraging words and support!
It’s very useful article. I found some answers on my questions! Thank’s to the author! And i also have one question about what theme i can buy to do a nice, cool and attractive blog? I research some themes and stop on Avada. It is is, undoubtedly, one of the most advanced design solutions for WordPress with nearly endless customization possibilities and a vast selection of premade design variations. That’s a review about it – https://www.templatemonster.com/blog/avada-5-0-vs-monstroid-2/ in competition with another good theme. What can you advise to me? Please help me to make a choise.
Thank you very much for your tips! I wanted to ask you how can you make your images ‘pinnable’ if using wordpress.com? I read many tutorial but they are only for wordpress.org.
As well, what would happen if I don’t use Blue Host?
You can’t monetize a blog that isn’t self-hosted as easily, and you don’t have the same control over it. Basically, you don’t really own your blog unless it’s self-hosted (it could be with Bluehost, or with any other host).
Hi Suzi, thanks so much for this, it’s very helpful! The one thing I really need help with is knowing how to spread awareness of my blog? How do I put it out there and drive traffic towards it? I’m so clueless!
Go to rosevibe.com and get the free article on how to get traffic. 🙂
Im very interested in starting my own blog and have been thinking about it for a while now. I love makeup and I have a lot of things planned to do, including starting a youtube channel and coming out with my own eyeshadows. yay. Although, what you said about the topics to write about, would it be a problem to blog about all of those, the top 4 as those are what I focus on most of the time. Would this be hard or should I try and choose one topic??
I think many youtubers make the mistake of not having a blog. Youtube is a third-party platform and it’s a bit like putting all your eggs in one basket (which you don’t even own).
BUT if you want to do youtube and don’t want to grow a blog, I don’t see why you should get a self-hosted site. Grow your youtube first, and then invest in your blog once you’re monetizing your youtube channel.
I really enjoyed this post it’s really informative… I’ve been blogging for a few months now and I love it! Although my last blog didn’t get a lot of views, likes or comments as my previous and it’s kind of disheartened me. I’d like to know what was wrong with it but I haven’t received any feed back. Kind of stuck on what to write about next too. Xx
Hi, I’ve been toying around with the idea of starting a blog for 7 years now (I know I’m awful) I’m currently working as a Hair & Makeup Artist and would like to start a beauty blog. I already have an an existing website, should I still use wordpress via BlueHost? I should be able to link it onto my website right? Also my biggest dilemma is not thinking that I can create content that will be good, resulting in writers block. Do you have any suggestions on overcoming this?
Write freely without backspacing or editing! Don’t overthink it. Once you’re done writing, then you can edit. This tends to work for me. I also like to plan an outline of my post and all the sections before I start. And keep in mind that blog-writing isn’t easy, and everybody struggles at first, especially if you’re used to writing essays (which blog posts are not!).
You can definitely switch to self-hosted WordPress with Bluehost. If you have a blog somewhere else, you’ll have to export it to WordPress. If it’s a domain, you’ll have to redirect the domain to your new blog. If you let me know the details, maybe I can help!
Besides photoshop, what are your favorite photo editing software or websites to use?
I only like and use Photoshop, but you can also use Canva (especially for graphics and pins). GIMP is a free option but it’s not as good.
Hi! I’m a newbie attempting to start a blog as well (career burnout). I noticed that you don’t use Google Adsense on your site (not listed in your income breakdown). Is there a reason for that? Just trying to learn and avoid any potential mistakes!
http://www.lipstickonapiggie.com
Google Adsense is fine when you’re starting out, but you mostly get paid per click only. I also get higher earnings with ad networks, plus they pay per impression/every time the ad is viewed.
Thanks for the response! Since I’m just starting out, I think I’ll probably stick with Adsense, then look into the ad networks once my readership (hopefully) increases. Hoping for the best!
Hello 🙂 I am currently starting my own blog. So why is it important to get Bluehost and not just use wordpress on its own?
Thanks, Kristyn
With WordPress.com, your blog belongs to WordPress and you have little to no control. You also can’t monetize your blog using third-party ads (my biggest source of revenue right now). With a self-hosted blog (Bluehost + WordPress.org) you have full control and your content is yours to monetize however you want.
Thanks so much! I’ll be sure to get Bluehost along with wordpress.
Can you give me an example of how you monetize your blog using third party ads?
I use a company called AdThrive and they’ve been pretty good! I think AdThrive requires a minimum number of monthly pageviews to join (I don’t know it offhand, it might be between 60,000 and 100,000).
I just read the blog post and I have started my own website! I am using wordpress and a free theme that I have tweaked to my liking!
I have been crawling the web to find all the proper add-ins and how to format the website! You can definitely do it too! This is the first website I have setup and Im super stoked and appreciate the article! I am linking to my Instagram for traffic, do you have any recommendations in this department?
If you would check out my blog and let me know what you think I would really appreciate it!
http://lizziesjourney.com/2016/12/30/a-christmas-date/
xoxo,
Lizzie
Hey Lizzie, your blog looks great! What exactly do you mean with the Instagram question though?
I love my little blog and I’m SO happy that I decided to start it, but I wish it would grow a little faster! I’ve been at it for nine months and it’s growing a little, but not as much as I would like. Do you have any advice?
http://thebookwormbeauty.com
Hi Ashley! One thing I noticed is that your social media links at the top don’t work.
How hard will it be for readers to find my blog? How long will it take to gain a least a handful of readers?
How can i earn money ,?who will give me? Can i know the answer please
Hey Suzi! I just finished your blog course and it was awesome and so informative. I still had one question though, when applying to Bluehost are all those add ons necessary? Specifically the domain privacy protection?
Hey Beatriz, glad to hear you liked the course! You don’t need any of the add-ons, except maybe the privacy protection. If you get that one, no one will be able to trace the domain back to your name and address. I think it’s very good to have, but it’s optional.
Hello! Thank you for this amazing post! Do you have any tips for someone who wants to start a beauty blog but is still a teenager? Will I be able to monetize my blog even though I’m still underage? Thank you in advance!
Hey Alice! I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t monetize your blog. When you do start making money, just keep in mind that it’s a source of income when doing your taxes.
Hi Stacie! Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
I just made a free blogging course which I think might be helpful to you. It’s for those who don’t already have a blog (or who just started blogging), but I also go over more in-depth topics (traffic, monetization) and I think it’s going to answer your questions.
You can find it on Rosevibe (scroll to the bottom of any post). That’s a blog I recently launched to help other bloggers turn their blog into a business.
Hi, I just started blogging. Can you give me some advice on how you started to promote your blog in the beginning? Here is my blog http://www.chic-not-chic.com, feel free to check it out, and comment below to give me some advice 🙂 thank you!!!
Great advice. As a new blogger, I definitely had a tough time starting out. I mean, I am still in the beginning stages of my blog, but knowing that other beauty bloggers makes it a little easier knowing i’m not alone here. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for this post, it’s by far one of the most helpful things I’ve read! I’m planning to start a blog about creating and sometimes reviewing natural beauty products soon… the only things I’m missing are a name and a host… I’ll definitely have to look into BlueHost for that.
Thanks Sarah, glad it helped. 🙂
I am 17 and really want a beauty blog as a career. I love beauty but I use more natural products and I’m not sure if anyone will want to read anything i review because there are already so many beauty blogs out there already. I have so many questions, but I’ll just ask a few. How do you keep up with beauty trends? like how often should I I review products and post about them? I Don’t have a lot tons of money to buy products, how do I start a blog without as much? also my mom is very skeptic that I can have a career blogging. Was it hard when you started out? what were your experiences? thanks so much!
Hi Reagan! Blogging as a full-time job definitely isn’t easy. You don’t need to publish posts daily, but consistency is important, and keeping up with trends is a daily task (I use Google Alerts). A lot of beauty bloggers publish posts daily, and I recommend posting at least 3x a week when you’re starting out.
You can always start as a hobby and see what happens. It took me a long time (over a year) to earn a full-time income. I don’t want to demotivate you, but it’s a lot of work and research! You can check out my blogging progress here: October Income Report.
What do you mean about “If you choose a monthly term, there’s a possibility that
your website could go down every month”. Couldn’t the same thing happen
with the 12 month plan?
Great tips, thanks!
Thanks Angela! It wouldn’t happen with the 12-month plan since you’re paying in advance.
Great advice!! I already have a blog slowly in progress (happylifesimplified.com) but I am wondering how to mention products that I am excited about or great deals on products or clothing. I’m not affiliated with any brands or companies so I want to make sure I go about it the right way. Any info would be great. Thank you
Ashley
Hi Ashley! What exactly do you mean? You’re totally free to post about any brand you want. Reviews and roundup posts come to mind.
I already have a blog, but I want to go about getting a host. I just have the free wordpress one (https://poshpennychic.wordpress.com ) and I don’t have wordpress installed on my device. I am confused about what to do. Could someone please help me?Thanks!
Hi Jessica. WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two different things, which is probably why it’s confusing! If you want to get hosting, you can’t keep your existing WordPress.com. However you can move all your posts to the new WordPress.org once you have it.
This tutorial (Bluehost and WordPress.org) is what you’re looking for, and then you can transfer your posts. Hope this helps. If not, let me know! 🙂
Hello! Ive been planning to make a beauty blog so I can share some of my beauty tips. Your blog helps me a lot in my ideas. Thank you
Hey Tomiko, glad it was helpful!! Self-promotion might feel awkward at first, but you just have to get over the hump. Don’t let it deter you!
Hello! Awesome post. I recently started my blog: lifeismessyandbrilliant.com
I bought the domain in WordPress, but not the host. I currently get around 1000 views every months. When would it be ok to buy the host, does the number of visitors matter?
I’m not looking to make a lot of money out of my blog, but a little bit to give me some independence. Does the ads in WordPress work or how do I get more exposure for advertisement?
Thank you!
Hey! 1000 visitors a month is a great start. If you’re thinking about monetizing and you’re serious about blogging, I wouldn’t wait. I’ve been self-hosted since the beginning when I had 0 visitors and I don’t regret anything!
Hey Kat! That seems like an interesting blog idea, so feel free to link me once you decide to go for it! Of course it’s always a good idea to narrow your focus, but fashion and beauty are closely enough related and I feel like it’s a great asset to add your artistic spin. I feel like having one website/blog is better. You can have different “categories” on your blog when you use WordPress and add them to your menu or wherever on the site.
Do you want to work as an illustrator/artist? If so, that should definitely be the focus of your blog. If I could draw, I would probably use my own illustrations and art within my posts about beauty and cosmetology. If you have an illustration portfolio and you’re offering your services, it should be obvious to any new reader that you’re all about illustration.
I hope you figure it out! Brainstorming and organizing your ideas is the hardest part, but everything is doable if you use wordpress.
Hey Mapiah! Yes, you can sign up with BlueHost and have an online store. For blogging, I make money through affiliate links and ads mostly. I wrote this post about the main ways I monetize by blog. 🙂
Hi Suzi, tks for sharing such an encouraging piece! I just started dabbling with blogging. Not quite sure where this new found interest is taking me but I do enjoy the creative process and find building something from scratch both fufilling and exciting ?. I’m still learning and tweaking my site along the way. Here’s my site if u are keen to take a look: http://hausofboo.weebly.com
If u did, would be wonderful to get some feedback on it ?
Pris
Looks awesome, good luck with everything! I would always recommend getting your own domain if you want to do this long-term.
Tks so much Suzi 🙂
This looks GORGEOUS! Congrats!
Congrats! Did you export your old posts from Blogger? I would definitely transfer everything, and make sure your blogspot URL redirects to your new domain. Don’t delete! This way, if anyone ends up on your blogspot link, they’ll go straight to your new site.
Here’s how to transfer your posts:
1. Follow this guide and install WordPress
2. In Blogspot, go to Setting > Other > Export blog
3. In WordPress, go to Tools > Import > Blogger
You’ll get an .xml file from Blogspot that you’ll need to import into WordPress. It should be easy to do, but let me know if you have any trouble.
Hi Suzi, thanks for this post – I have a blog with blogger / http://www.thedecemberdaze.blogspot.co.uk I love the name and the theme, which I purchased – If I get my own domain can I keep my current theme? Thank you 🙂 x
Unfortunately you’ll have to find another theme. 🙁 Maybe the designer you bought the theme from has a WordPress version as well?
It’s definitely easier to get traffic if you have your own domain, as opposed to blogger. 🙁
Hi! How come? Sorry if that’s a stupid question. $5 a month is expensive when converted to my country’s currency. 🙁
Hey Itzel, I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for your kind words. 🙂
To answer your question:
1. Follow this guide and install WordPress
2. In Blogspot, go to Setting > Other > Export blog
3. In WordPress, go to Tools > Import > Blogger
You’ll get an .xml file from Blogspot that you’ll need to import into WordPress. It should be easy to do, but let me know if you have any trouble.
Glad to hear that, Kelsey. Good luck with your new blog! 🙂
Thank you Bella! Hope it’s helpful to you!
Glad it was helpful, Chelsea!!
Thank you so much for supporting my site, Misha! I really, truly appreciate it! Good luck with your switch. 🙂
Hi Suzi, I really2 like your blog. I recently found it as I was trying to find list of cruelty-free cosmetic brands. Speaking about blog, I bought my own domain from WordPress for about 18 USD / year. Yet, I found it difficult to organize it. My question is, is it possible to go to BlueHost with a bought domain name already? Or how does it work? I’m totally newbie and confused with all these things about blogging, so I would really appreciate it if you help me out with it. Thank you, Suzi 🙂
PS: Btw my blog is mishajohanna.com if you wanna have a look.
Hi Misha, awesome blog! You seem so interesting. 🙂 To answer your question, yes, you can definitely go with BlueHost if you already have a domain. I usually buy my domain names separately from hosting and there’s no problem. When you sign up, choose your plan and then select “I have a domain name” on the right. Hope this helps!
How do I purchase my own domain name
I use namecheap for all my domains!
Hi! I attempted to follow this step by step process which really motivated to get started. Unfortunately with blue host you have to pay upfront the entire amount for a year total. You didn’t mention that. Did you have to do That as well?
Yes, they do require everyone to pay upfront. But you can cancel and get your full money back if you change your mind within 30 days.
okay! Do you have to pay upfront again the second time around after, 36 months for example? Thanks for responding by the way 🙂 also, what’s an inexpensive alternative to that?
You do have to renew for another 36 months. I know it might seem like a lot up front, but Bluehost is actually the inexpensive alternative in terms of monthly fees! If you’re serious about blogging, this is my cheapest recommendation. 🙂
I currently have a wordpress.com blog and have been considering upgrading to the premium plan on wordpress because i want to be able to customise my blog more and have a domain name. Do you think it is easier to just go with wordpress’s plans or use bluehost? And is bluehost pretty easy to use? because i am so confused right now haha. Thanks!
https://victoriarelf.wordpress.com/
BlueHost is really simple, which is part of the reason why I recommend it for beginners! I personally wouldn’t go with the WordPress upgrades because they’re pretty overpriced for what you get. Also, if anything in particular is confusing you, I’ll be glad to help!
Hi Kaitlyn! There are a lot of free themes to choose from if you’re not 100% happy with the Fashionista theme. You can browse themes easily under Appearance > Themes. If you want to tweak your current themes, you can too, but you’ll need to learn CSS basics. I hope one of these options works for you. If you want more help, feel free to ask me!
this has been so hepful to me. i just started my beaty blog using bluehost. thank you !! rejonalovesmakeup.com
Awesome to hear, Rejona! Have fun with your new blog!!
Hi Vaneska 🙂 You don’t need to go with that option IMO. In your place, I’d go with the basic plan and just move everything, which shouldn’t be a problem for you.
Ok, thank you so much!
Great tips! Thank you! (: I have been thinking about moving over to wordpress because I have read in many reviews that bloggers like it better than blogger. Definitely going to make the switch sometime soon.
Definitely a good switch to make! Do you have a cruelty-free blog?! I wanted to check it out, but the link in your profile isn’t working. 🙁
Thanks! By following these instructions, you’ll get a self-hosted blog using WordPress. I think you’ve come to the right place. 🙂
Thanks Suzi. 🙂
I am thinking about starting a blog and have been researching. Your article is by far one of the best I’ve read! Thank you!
Awesome, thank you so much and good luck with your blog! Let me know how it goes.
I’m getting cold feet. Thinking,,,
Aw, what’s making you reconsider?
The time commitment (full time job) and that I’m not a professional in the beauty world; just a user who has tried tons of products (I love products). On the positive side, I think there is blog space for mature skinned (read: over 60 yrs) individuals. This would be a hobby (no expectations for income or product endorsements). Just want to be sure I could accomplish this and have balance in my life.
To be honest, it sounds like there’s definite potential. You’re right that there’s a need for mature skin blogs, and you definitely don’t need any credentials as long as you have good knowledge and experience. Don’t worry about that part at all! If you decide to go ahead with it, I wish you the best of luck. I’ll be here if you want to talk about it more. 🙂
Thanks for encouraging words and support!
about how much a month do you pay for your blog?
I only pay for hosting and domain name, which comes to just under $5 total per month.
I have a free wordpress blog at the moment, would I be able to turn this into my own domain name instead of “domainname.wordpress.com” using bluehost? Thank you!
Absolutely, you can transfer from wordpress.com to wordpress.org pretty easily once you get your domain/hosting with bluehost.
If you need help with that, just ask!
Great article (: it inspired me ^^
Hey Lucy, I’m glad to hear that! Good luck with everything. 🙂
Thank you so much! I would not have been able to do that without this step by step post. Your blog is amazing and has really helped me on my adventure to switching to cruelty free. <3
Carley, that’s awesome! Thanks so much for your kind words, and don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any questions or issues! 🙂
Companies of every size are interested in ad space though! And the rates are generally dependent on the number of impressions, so a small company or etsy seller might be interested.
A small blog can EASILY make up for the cost of hosting + domain name. I might go over everything soon if there’s interest. 🙂
Oh, I’d love that! 🙂
Also, Happy Easter!
Happy Easter! 😀
Thank you for this post, Suzy. My blog is currently under GoDaddy, but reading what you wrote about Bluehost made me think I should probably transfer to them.
Yep, moving to wordpress.org website was such a lift!
I looked into bluehost, but went with GoDaddy in the end. It was just generally cheaper speaking and their customer service is top notch!
Now, I’d love you to elaborate myth #3…
Like how much can you make off of ads (because from the research I’ve done, it’s not much), what do you use, and what do you recommend? 🙂
GoDaddy’s cheapest plan is $6.99 a month and they put you on a super slow server! It’s really not something I’d recommend! They’ll offer cheap domains for the signup but bump the price to 15$ the next year.
For ads, it really depends. The income depends either on impressions or clicks. I use Adsense but I’m not happy with that, mostly because of the random nature of the ads. There are “ad networks” you can join, but the good ones aren’t easy to join (I’m on waiting lists and the wait can be long). Those ad networks have the advantage of not having to do anything yourself, but the best option would be to sell your own ad space.
TL;DR ad networks or selling your own ads!
I’ve been thinking about switching to self hosting. I’ll be saving this for post for when I finally get round to taking the plunge! 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration! Being a newbie isn’t easy, but it’s worth it