How to Find Cheap WordPress Hosting
You have a fresh new blog idea. You’re bursting with inspiration and want to share your passion with the world. But where do you start? You need a web host, but fear the words “web host” conjure up images of bloated websites and steep bills. Is this really what you want for your blog?
It’s a fair question. Web hosting can seem complicated, especially since you’re not exactly sure how much you’ll need. There are so many different web hosts to choose from, all promising to give you a great experience for a low price. But how do you find the best host for your needs?
You have a lot of choices when it comes to web hosts. You might be considering shared hosting, which is exactly what it sounds like — you trade your own server space for marketing offers, and other people’s content is added to your site. Virtual private servers (VPS) give you a dedicated server where you can install a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). You can also get a free domain name with any hosting plan. You might be familiar with Google Apps, which are also great for blogging. They’re a fully featured blog platform that you can use to build your own blog or website. You can install WordPress on any of these web hosts, and it’s incredibly easy to set up a blog or site with Google Apps.
Now that you have your web host picked out, the next step is to choose a platform for your blog. There are hundreds of different blog hosting platforms out there, all fully featured and ready to go. You’ll find everything from simple free blogs that you can install in minutes to complex e-commerce platforms that can boost your sales. It’s a jungle out there, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Pick a Blogging Platform
Before you start buying equipment for your new blog, you need to pick a blogging platform. Even though you have a web host picked out, you still need a platform-specific application such as WordPress to create and maintain your blog. If you already use social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter to communicate with your audience, consider using those platforms to create your blog. The advantage is that you can use existing social media accounts to easily connect with your readers. Plus, you can take advantage of all the free resources offered by these platforms.
On the other hand, if you’re still using blogger or a different blogging platform, consider trying out WordPress.com. With WordPress.com, you can install WordPress on any of the web hosts mentioned above. You don’t need to purchase a domain name separately; WordPress.com will manage the DNS for you. They also provide you with a free website and a free hosted blog to get you started. If you need additional features, you can upgrade to their “Plus” plan for $12/mo.
Decide On A Name For Your Blog
The name for your blog is one of the most important aspects of your online presence. This is the first thing visitors will see when they visit your site. It will also be used to find and connect with you on social media platforms. It’s best to choose a unique and memorable name that will stick out in your industry. As a general rule, avoid using “generic” titles like “Anime Blog” or “Lolita’s Fashion Blog” — your main audience will most likely be an interested audience. Instead, pick a title that will intrigue and excite your readers.
Buy The Right Equipment
When you’re starting a new blog, it’s important to invest in good equipment. In addition to a web host and a blogging platform, you’ll need a microphone, a video camera, and a computer or mobile device to create and post content to your blog. If possible, take advantage of a platform like Squarespace’s Tasks feature to integrate your equipment purchases and set up a checklist for yourself. This will help you avoid any nasty surprises once you get started.
Create A Plan For Content Sharing
Just because you have a blog does not mean you can throw together any old content and call it a day. To make the most of your website, you need to plan out an editorial calendar. This will help you stay consistent and ensure that your blog posts are of a high quality. You don’t want to post something and then realize that it was actually bad. A blog is only as good as its content, and you can bet your followers are going to have something to say about that.
Curate Content For Your Blog
People love reading and seeing content that is both well written and interesting to the eye. To get the most out of your website, you need to add some “wow” factor — a unique perspective that will engage your readers, especially the ones who are already familiar with your industry. While you don’t need to go overboard and hire a writer to churn out content for you, considering the option is not a bad idea. Editors are great at finding the best articles and putting them together in a way that makes reading easier for the average person. An editor can take a complex topic and break it down into easy-to-understand and interesting bite-sized chunks. Some good examples of well-written and interesting content can be found on Forbes, The New York Times, and other major publications. If you can find a way to work with an experienced and talented editorial team, it can dramatically improve the quality of your blog. Even though you’re just starting out, consider looking for a team to help build your blog into something special.
Regularly Post To Stay Consistent
Consistency is important when it comes to building an audience. When you post frequently and keep your material interesting, your readers will come back for more. To get the most out of your blog, try posting at least once every two weeks. This will ensure that you stay interesting to your audience and help build credibility.
Make Money With Affiliate Marketing
One of the simplest ways of making money from a blog is with affiliate marketing. This is a technique where you promote another company’s products or services in exchange for a commission when a sale is made. You can use various marketing platforms to promote products, but you’ll find the most success when you use affiliate programs. There are many different affiliate marketing networks that you can join to get started, and the best part is that you can earn money without having to spend a penny.
One of the most popular and respected affiliate marketing networks is Shopify. They are a complete e-commerce solution that makes it easy to set up a shop online. As a beginner, you can use their affiliate program to earn a commission for each purchase made through your blog (or any other site you might want to use).
The great thing about this type of affiliate marketing arrangement is that you don’t need to have a lot of money to get started. You can simply set up a small blog (with a free account on WordPress) to gather funds. Once you’re able to generate a regular stream of income, you can then invest in more sophisticated advertising or payment systems.
Use Social Media To Build An Audience
Blogs aren’t the only things that can generate income — you can join various social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to start making money online. As a general rule, you can use social media to follow and connect with people who are in your industry. If you can become a known voice in your industry, you’ll be able to attract potential customers who are looking for information on your topic. Remember — you can always choose to “unfollow” someone if they’re not relevant to your niche or interest.
One of the simplest ways to make money on Twitter is with “hashtags.” When you use the # symbol followed by a hashtag — such as #bloggerpro, #bestbuy, or #iwaspieces – you’re able to connect with other users who are interested in your topic. When people see your tweet, it will display the hashtag — which can then be used to see other relevant tweets. You can take advantage of this by curating content from other users in your industry and replying to others with a relevant tidbit you’ve picked up along the way.
Blogs and other content-based websites aren’t the only places you can make money online — you can run a paid subscription website, sell and promote your own products, and become an affiliate marketer for different companies.
As you can see, there are many different ways to make money online. But the most important thing to understand is that you don’t need to have a large audience to succeed — you just need to find a way to make money online that suits your needs. Keep this in mind as you begin your journey to becoming a successful blogger.