Starting a blog is easier than you think.

People ask me questions all the time about how I started blogging. I answered a few questions on my Instagram stories about it but I will finish my Q&A on this post for future reference. I will talk about some things I did to start a blog and share some tips on how to have your own someday.

Q: What made you want to get started?

A: It all began after I was married. Taz bought me my domain name from BlueHost and told me to do something with it. Since I am a Journalist, I love to write! This led to the idea to start a  blog since I am a shopaholic and there’s nothing I love more than a good deal. Another reason hit me after a couple months of blogging: I want to help women (primarily) feel comfortable in their own skin. I see tons of women online that think they need fake eyelashes, a tummy tuck, tanned skin from a bottle, etc. While none of those things are bad by any means, I wanted to show products that enhance natural beauty and embrace individual personalities.

Q: Who takes your pictures?

A: I am incredibly lucky! I married one of the best in the business: the one and only Taz Smith! Despite my bias, I know for a fact I would not have gotten this far without him. He takes care of a lot of the back end and then takes every single one of my pictures. Editing pictures just isn’t for me so I am very happy to have him. If didn’t marry a photographer and can’t take pictures yourself, search on Craigslist or other local sites for free photoshoots because there’s always someone wanting to build their portfolio. Plus, you’ll save some cash!

Q: Do you make money blogging?

A: Yes! I am hesitant to admit this because it just started happening only two months ago. It’s taken 10 months of hustling to start a blog and get it off the ground in order to make a profit. I do a lot of affiliate work, which I am not counting, but that took four months of hard work also. If you are looking for a “get rich quick” venture, then blogging is NOT for you. I  start a blog to share my passion for all things fun and uplifting, not just to make a buck. In the beginning, I was convinced only my mom read my posts and I was totally fine with that! I think if one person gets something out of this, that’s good enough for me.

Q: How do you gain collaborations?

A: Hustle. Hustle. Hustle. In the beginning, I reviewed products I already had to gain more content. Once I had a few posts under my belt, I reached out to different companies that had my same follower count/engagement so that the collaboration would benefit both parties. Reach out to people with different ideas of collaborations and they will be more open to listen. I received dozens of rejections, but why would you want to work with someone who doesn’t want to work with you? Move on and once you find those who are willing, it makes all the difference.

Q: How do you drive more people to your website?

A: In May, I did a website “revamping” where I picked a different theme and organization. My theme came with a plug-in for Yoast which is an SEO platform. Yoast helps you rank higher on search engines by giving you cues of what to include in each post. This helps me a ton. Plus, make sure you are using keywords that don’t have a million results for that search. Pick lesser used keywords in order to rank higher.

How to Start a Blog

1. Figure out what you want to share with the world
2. Buy a hosting plan (I use BlueHost which is on sale for $3.95 a month!) and get a domain name for free!
3. Set up your blogging platform (I use WordPress!)
4. Buy a theme for ultimate customization
5. Blog away!

I know it sounds easier than it actually is. Learning how to start a blog takes a lot more work than I ever anticipated. However, I would never trade this experience for anything! I learned so much and met the best people. Thank you all for supporting me through this journey! I hope this information will inspire you to start a blog of your own someday.

XOXO Kayla