I’m finding out that quite a few of my readers are interested in starting a blog of their own (or they have just started one)! I think this is an awesome move and can be financially profitable as well! I started this blog in August of 2010 and I am now making over $1,000 a month (just from this blog alone)! By starting this venture, it has really opened my eyes to all of the money that can be made online.
In order to help all of you guys (and girls) start your own blog, I decided to put together a bunch of resources that I wish I had when I first started out!
Just so you know I’m not trying to hide it, some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that I get a small compensation if you make an order. There is no extra cost to you, so please show your love by ordering through these links! 
Web Hosting
If you want to start a new blog, I would choose one of the below web hosts.
iPage – they have great customer service and are quite inexpensive (I use this host and only paid $44 for the first year!)
Bluehost - many of my friends use this service and have great things to say about it. I’ve actually never heard negative things about them.
HostGator – Get 25% off your hosting by entering in this coupon code: LAMF25OFFCOUPON . This is a very affordable option and if you’re worried about your site being down, they provide an 99.9% uptime guarantee.
WordPress Themes
Atahualpa – this is a free theme that I use for this site. It offers tons of options and is relatively easy to use.
Thesis – this theme has an initial cost, but it really looks sweet! It’s what all the big dogs use for their sites.
Helpful WordPress Plug-ins
When you initially set up your site, it’s going to be pretty basic. Here are the plug-ins that I use for my site to make it more personable and profitable!
If you are unsure how to download the plug-ins with the links I have provided, you can always go into your WordPress Plug-ins, “Add New”, and search the exact name I have provided. Then you can just click, “Install Now”.
Fast Secure Contact Form – If you want your readers (or potential advertisers) to be able to contact you via a contact form, this is the best one that I have found.
Simple Google Sitemap XML generates a valid Google XML sitemap, which can then be used with Google’s Webmaster Tools.
Tweet, Like, Google +1, and Share – this is an awesome plug-in that allows people to Tweet, Like, or Google +1 your posts!
WordPress SEO – This plug-in really boosts your Search Engine Optimization and you’ll almost immediately see your Google Search traffic increase.
Thank Me Later – This is a great plug-in that automatically sends an email to your commenters! Make sure that you set it up to only send an email to newcomers though, otherwise it just gets annoying for repeat commenters.
Growmap Anti Spambot – if you are receiving a ton of spam comments, this plug-in will eliminate nearly all of those simply by adding a check-box below your comment window. Your commenters will just have to check the box to prove they aren’t a spam-bot. I like this plug-in way better than Captcha because I think it’s less annoying for my readers.
SEO Smart Links – this plug-in will automatically set up links to certain words that you type in your posts. I use this so that it links, “Make More Money” to my page about making more money. It’s pretty slick.
CommentLuv – other bloggers like to have their latest posts shown when they comment on your site. It’s a good incentive for them to comment. This plug-in does just that.
If you have any additional questions about a blog start-up, send me an email through my Contact Form. Then I can help you out right away and potentially add some more info here for the next person that has the same question!
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