Want to learn how to start a lifestyle blog as a beginner? You’re in the right place! I’ll take you step by step as you start a WordPress blog and monetize it with a FREE DOMAIN. Note: I’m an affiliate for Bluehost, which means you’ll get 60% off your web hosting (paying only $2.95 per month) and I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support, it helps me continue to create more resources for your blogging journey!
👇 USE THIS LINK FOR 60% OFF BLUEHOST WEB HOSTING
https://www.blogwithben.com/lifestyle
👇 WANT TO EARN INCOME WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE BLOG?
https://www.blogwithben.com/courses
YOAST SEO PLUGIN UPDATE
Yoast recently deployed an update to their plugin that changed some of the steps of the plugin configuration portion of this video. So, I created a separate video that walks you through the new steps. Please visit the link below to see the updated Yoast configuration walkthrough.
https://youtu.be/-HiQpdbteWU?t=223
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IN A NUTSHELL
By the end of this video, your self-hosted blog will be:
✅ Innovative & mobile responsive
✅ Built on a professional foundation (Bluehost & WordPress)
✅ Optimized for leads
✅ Ready for affiliate marketing
And, when you want to dig even deeper into blogging basics & monetization, grab my FREE eBook, the Blog Starter Kit — packed with tons of tips & tools for your success:
https://www.blogwithben.com/free-ebook
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TOPICS + TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
4:34 Video Outline
9:12 How to Start a Blog
28:34 How to Install a Theme*
32:38 How to Set Up WordPress
53:01 How to Configure WordPress Plugins
59:36 How to Create a Child Theme
1:10:22 How to Create Your Header, Logo, and Site Icon
1:27:26 How to Create Your Pages and Categories
1:39:37 How to Create Your Primary and Footer Menus
1:46:10 How to Set Your Color Scheme and Sidebar
2:00:43 How to Create an AWeber Opt-in Form
2:08:49 How to Add Your Instagram Feed to the Footer
2:14:11 How to Set Your Homepage Social Icons
2:17:01 How to Create Your About and Contact Pages
2:38:46 How to Create and Publish a Blog Post
2:56:20 How to Add Social Sharing Icons to a Blog Post
3:02:07 How to Configure the Homepage
3:07:35 How to Create an Alternative Sidebar
3:12:26 How to Configure the Footer
3:18:49 How to Monetize a Blog
3:31:33 SEO, Sitemap, and SSL Tips
3:39:55 How to Launch Your Blog
* The Bard WordPress theme can be used for any industry or niche. However, for this video, I’ll be showing you how to create a lifestyle blog.
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IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS VIDEO
1. Code Cheat Sheet
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y4kYh-veedIOfgm_p36kTDLb46aB4DOUVbNj2KHcsU8/edit?usp=sharing
2. Access to Bluehost’s Exclusive Offer for WordPress Bloggers (affiliate link)
https://www.blogwithben.com/lifestyle
3. Bard Free WordPress Theme
https://wp-royal.com/themes/item-bard-free/
4. Bard Pro WordPress Theme ONLY $29 (affiliate link)
https://r.freemius.com/1965/3074241/
5. Verify Your Domain on Google Search Console
6. The following link is a Google doc that lists ALL OF THE IMPORTANT LINKS that I mention in this video.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y422SF_ZsGyPP6q2FLXPL200Bbui3m4dObgUb46mALI/edit?usp=sharing
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RECOMMENDED PLUGINS
This Google doc lists all of the recommended plugins from this video:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TAqKqt9GFaNuejMUF7JLhBN-5793sNzqpf74dGqaT3g/edit?usp=sharing
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HOW TO MONETIZE YOUR BLOG
As an added bonus, this video shows you how to monetize your blog so you can start earning a passive income. Blogging has become a billion-dollar industry, and the sooner you get your foot in the door, the quicker you’ll be able to start generating revenue with your blog!
This Google doc lists all of the affiliate networks I recommend, as well as additional blog monetization resources:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UxdJPA5C21VunY4dpgvf3V7dSLLbHwyOZnOwEvMpWEA/edit?usp=sharing
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YOUR FREE BLOG STARTER KIT
Remember to grab your FREE copy of the Blog Starter Kit and learn even more tips & tools to build, grow, and monetize your blog. Inside, I’ll show you how to turn any blog into a thriving business: https://www.blogwithben.com/free-ebook/
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Thanks for watching!
#howtostartablog #howtocreateablog #wordpress #lifestyleblogger
Hi Ben, thank you so much for literally going through the step by step process!! I already started a blog following your food blog tutorial, but my blog has turned more into a lifestyle blog. I was wondering if it’s possible to switch themes? Currently using kale theme.
Hi Ben. I'm in the early stages of research to build my own blog site. I have a quick question for you regarding custom fonts & WordPress. Firstly, is this a possibility? I have seen elsewhere that you need to edit the CSS. Is this an easy thing to do? Appreciate your input.
ok here i go again – would you still recommend this theme Ben, thank you
Just signed up too x
Where is the mailing list i have to subscribe for the free e book?
Hey Ben, thanks for the tutorial! Love it! Thinking about going for the pro version so I would be able to edit the header size, I've tried testing the speed of the demo page but the score is quite low on mobile. Is this a fair score in your opinion, or would you recommend any other similar themes (ideally free or low cost). Once again, thank you!
Hi Ben, your videos are really very very helpful so thank you for posting it. I am about to start a new blog on beauty/lifestyle so should I follow this tutorial or are you going post any new video tutorial and plz make a video on silo structure seo or blog.
Thank you so much.
Ben – you are a complete Legend!!………. you should be rich………… this is the best tutorial ever………. all other tutorials pale into insignificance in comparison. Do you have Patreon?
Do you know how to link this to a Podcast?
I'm just about to see your video , I just watched a video that went on for 1hr .30 and got little from it but have more confidence in this.
I am NOT on blue host and I have severat site. Im lost about this child theme creation? Do I need it?
Sir in widget Image is not seeing plz helpp
hey ben, you are my savior you know! after going through tons of tutorials on how to make a lifestyle blog on wordpress, i literally couldn't understand concepts properly. Fortunately, i came across your channel hoping to get disappointed once again…guess what? You deserve gazillion subscribers. You not only helped me make my own blog but taught me core concepts of wordpress every beginner must know. Your video is highly informative and gold standard. I wish you all the success in the world. THANKYOU SO MUCH BEN! U gained one true subscriber today!!!
I love how detailed this tutorial is. I was hitting a wall with the details of my blog site and making my vision come to life. This is helping 100%. My live launch feels like it is going to be coming much sooner. Thank you.
I love all your videos
Thank you
hey ben thanks for the information.very big help for beginners like me …I really appreciate the effort.
What the name of you actual blog? I couldn’t find your site.
Hey Ben this is a fabulous tutorial. I have been able to follow along for the most part, but the only thing that i'm having trouble with is, 1) the custom html boxes. on the new WP it does not show as a box like yours does and you don't have the option for it to have title and then the body. How do I go around this? also the instagram plugin is significantly different.
Hi Ben, firstly let me tell you what everyone has told you, thank you for making this process so seamless and stress-free. Like many others who have commented, I have watched so many tutorials about starting a blog, this is my fifth blog, and I get frustrated every time because they skip steps, leave out steps and I am left with spending a ton of money and a haphazard blog. Not with you, you have laid out every step so that I am not frustrated and stressed out and my blog is really taking shape, I also realize that I am watching your tutorial two years late but as I stated previously, this is my fifth blog and it took me forever to find you. My only issue that I am experiencing is in setting up my right sidebar; in the customization section I see blocks on my blog but in your tutorial you have have actual widgets…did I miss a step setting up my sidebar widget or did I miss a step somewhere else? Please help me.
Hi, ben thank you for this fantastic tutorial, I built my first blog from this video. but I'm stuck right now coz there is a theme update and they say to update your child theme first and I don't know how to update it. so can you plz help me?
Hi Ben, the amount of value provided in this video is insane! For someone like me, who's at the early stages of building a website there are so many questions and this video was extremely helpful, literally step-by-step, clear and very informative(no BS or annoying hard selling). I really hope your channel gets a lot bigger, all I can say is BIG THANK YOU again.