How to Get Your Blog Up & Running Plus Start Building Your List for Less Than $5
If you’re ready to start your business, but don’t have a lot of money, I have some good news for you. You can get everything you need, all for less than the cost of a pizza. A lot less actually!
When you’re starting your online business, the 3 most important things are your URL (your website name), your website hosting, and your email marketing (so you can build your list.)
A Place to Start Blogging
The first thing you should do when you’re getting started is to get hosting. This way you’ll have a place to put your blog. If you’re looking for something low cost but still very good and reputable, I’d use something like Bluehost or Hostmonster. In fact, I do use both of them. (Why both? I have a lot of websites and so I split them among the two accounts. You’ll only need one, so don’t worry about that.) You’ll be able to get hosting for under $5 per month. Now I think that’s a great deal in itself, but it gets even better. With many web hosting companies (including the two I use and recommend) you’ll get your domain name for FREE for the first year.
Your Own Domain Name
Seriously! You’ll get your first domain for free when you get a hosting account with most companies. You need a domain so someone knows what to type into their URL to get to you. So make sure you pick a domain name that fits what you want to blog about…and know that you won’t have to pay for it for the entire first year! (After that it’s only around $10 per year, so don’t worry that it’ll be expensive later.)
So now you’re paying less than $5 and you’ll have hosting and a domain name.
A Way to Build and Email Your List
All that’s left is to start building your list! Oh wait. That’s going to be the expensive part, right?
Nope! In fact, not only will it not cost you a lot…but you can start building your list for FREE with Aweber!
I use Aweber, and really like them. I’ve been using them since 2006 (when they didn’t have a free option) and have been very happy with them. Any time I’ve had a question or concern, they have always been right there to help me.
Recently, they added a free option. Obviously there are some limitations. But for someone starting out, it’s perfect!
For free, you can have up to 500 people on your list, and you can send up to 3,000 emails per month. Want to do more than that? Then you can switch over to a paid account. But really…if you already have more than 500 people on your list or are sending more than 3,000 emails per month, I bet you’re doing well enough that you’ll be HAPPY to switch over to a paid account with Aweber!
Now you have web hosting, a domain name for a year, AND a way to build your list, all for less than $5 for your first month. And the only other fee you have is the less than $5 per month for your hosting account, depending on what hosting you purchased.
Isn’t that awesome? So if you thought it was expensive to start a business, you’ll be happy to know that it really isn’t!
Next Steps
What’s the first thing you should do once you have your hosting, domain, and email marketing?
Create your blog so that you can start posting to it and start building your list.
The great thing is that your hosting account will have a button so that you can do a 1-click WordPress install. Then you’re all set to start blogging. Sure you’ll eventually want a nice picture or logo, but for now text is good!
In Aweber you’ll create a list and a subscribe box, and you can copy and paste some code to put into your new WordPress theme. Then, you’re all set to start blogging and building your list!
Enjoy,
