My blog is my first step into the business world. When I started my blog, I had intentions to build it up and monetize it. I have spent the last two years doing research and trying to determine “my nitch.”

I have read countless blog posts and explored what other bloggers do for inspiration. I just knew I had to start. But when I started my blog I needed some guidance!

I had to start from somewhere, and it won’t be perfect but I can’t learn from it if I don’t just start. I thought it would be easy and simple, because that was what everyone made it out to seem, but that is not the case at all!

Blogging takes a lot of time, energy and effort!

I have only started this journey, but I know it will be time before I see the results I want to see. I am okay with this, because I am learning and I am enjoying every step I take to get where I want to be.

1. Get your blog started in 10 minutes! (that is a lie…)

This is a yes and a no. You can sign up for a domain and hosting site in ten minutes, but there is no way you are going to hit that “launch” button in less than ten minutes.

Before you can do that you have to understand word press (to find the damn launch button!), write posts, pick a theme, pick a niche, download photos and the list goes on and on.

I knew the first time I hit launch my site wouldn’t be a 100% perfect, but it is not supposed. Remember you are suppose to change things up.  Create new ideas that appeal to your audience. Just start with a simple site and build from there.

I bought my domain two years ago, then I invested in an actual blogging course to help me understand what I was doing. I want to say about 2 months after I bought that course, I actually launched my blog.

So the truth? About a month is the average time it takes to start a blog.

Lots of planning goes into it, but it is well worth the time and effort.

 2. I Used the Webhost Support System when I started to Blog

I didn’t know they even had a support team! When I actually used it, which was a simple chat with one of their technicians, it saved me a lot of stress.

I couldn’t find something or make something work the way I wanted to was stressing me out and causing me to use lots of precious time to resolve.

The first time I reached out to them for support, in a couple of minutes she said “Your problem should be resolved now, go double check” and I was amazed!

I couldn’t figure it out for the life of me and she did it like that.

Obviously these technicians aren’t going to set up your whole blog for you, but for the technical stuff that you may not understand right away, this is why they are there. Use it! It is free! I can’t stress this enough.

   3. Learn from other Bloggers when you start

When other people are successful, you see it and want the same success. It is simple, everyone wants to be a successful entrepreneur and own their own business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it is possible for everyone to achieve.

If other bloggers are having success, then they must be doing something right. I read a lot about being creative, and share your writing with the world, but not much about following in others footsteps.

I am not telling you to copy other bloggers, because that is not right. Instead learn from their examples. For example: I notice right away other bloggers’ setup, how their sidebars are, their themes and categories.

I make note of what is attractive to me when I visit their site and if my site contains the features that I like on others’.  I don’t like to read blog posts with ads all the way through it, so I try on my own blog not filtrate everything with ads as well.

I know from my own experience of reading blogs as a guest for a long time what keeps me on certain sites longer and I try to keep this in mind when creating my own site.

4. Free vs. Paid Courses when starting to blog

Bloggers have both of these on their sites, this is how they drive traffic and sales. I have taken many free courses and paid for a handful of others. I have only bought courses through bloggers I have completely trusted and can connect with. This is what has made their paid courses completely worth it for me.

I trust them, and I know their information and is honest and true. I believe you can learn a lot through courses but paying for the right ones can pay off in the end.

The free courses are your introduction to the paid ones.

If the blogger has given you good information and you have learned something new through their free course, more than likely their paid course will be worth it too. It is up to you as the consumer which blogger you can connect with and you trust to give you the right guidance.

I do believe I have gotten my money’s worth out of the courses I have paid for and I would do it all over again if I had too. The courses have not only saved me a lot of time and energy, but they have given me ideas and scenarios I never would have thought of until that blogger brought it to my attention.

As I continue my blogging journey, I know this list will continue to get longer and longer.

I will learn and grow in my business and probably hit a few roadblocks along the way. This is fine, as long I don’t give up!

I hope this list helps prepare you for your own blogging journey. Just remember not to give up! There is always a solution to every problem and to have fun!!