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If you are interested in sharing your hobbies, interests or expertise on your own blog, here are just a few of the tools and resources you will need.
Self-hosted website
The most important thing to consider if you are wanting to make money with your blog, is that a self-hosted blog is the only way to go. WordPress.org is different than WordPress.com. Many people get the two mixed up. WordPress.org allows you to monetize your blog. WordPress.com does not allow you to monetize your blog. There are features that WordPress.org allows you to do, since it is self-hosted. You can customize your site exactly the way you’d like and it is so easy to use. 33% of the web uses WordPress! Check out the differences of WordPress.org and WordPress.com below.
Hosting
I recommend starting your blog with a hosting plan from Bluehost. Not only are they reliable and offer great customer service, but they power over 2 million websites worldwide! They make it a breeze to get your WordPress.org blog off the ground and running! Chose a 1, 2 or 3 year hosting plan with Bluehost, get free domain for a year and WordPress will automatically be downloaded for you! Click here for more information.
Email service provider
You will need an email marketing provider for your blog. If you plan to monetize your blog, an email list is needed in order for your blog to be successful. Constant Contact is the email list provider I recommend. They even offer a 60 day FREE TRIAL, set up takes minutes, and no credit card is needed! Find out all about Constant Contact and why every blogger should have an email list.
Blogging course
A blogging course is definitely needed if you plan on monetizing your blog. This premium course, Blogging Blastoff, is designed to cover all aspects of blogging, such as blogging legally, setup, social media, SEO, promoting, writing posts, and much , much more! The Blogging Blastoff course is offered every month. It is ONLY open for enrollment for a week; the week before the course is scheduled to start. For more information on the curriculum, go to bloggingblastoff.com