How I Got Started With WordPress And My Blog Goals

Last updated on August 10th, 2018 at 03:47 pm

You’ve heard everyone say how easy it is to get started with WordPress. However, when you download the software it’s like trying to learn a foreign language. I wanted to share how I got started with WordPress, so you can see that I come from a non-techie background.

Today, I am going to share how I got started with WordPress. I didn’t just one day decide to set up a blog out of the blue.

Nope for this to work, I first have to take you back about 12 years ago. I was working as a postal carrier. I hated it and drove to work everyday crying because I hated my job.

That’s when my entrepreneurial journey began. I knew there had to be something better than continuing to work a job that I hated.

I didn’t start creating WordPress sites right out of the gate. Instead I took several different entrepreneurial routes from rental houses, MLM to pretty much dipping toes into anything I could try.

Fast forward about 5 years after leaving the post office, I discovered WordPress.

How I Got Started With WordPress

Was a complete mess, an associate said she needed a new website for a children’s book she was selling. I have always felt confident in my abilities (even if I don’t have them). Not sure if that’s a good quality or a bad one?

The excitement of having my first paying client is hard to explain. I truly believed that I was going to knock out her site in an hour and make big bank.

She paid me for part of the project, and I got started right away. I could just taste the bitter sweetness of having checks rolling in from me working on WordPress sites.

She even used my Hostgator affiliate link. 🙂

This little experience gave me pie in the sky dreams. I started dreaming about all the money I could make from offering my services to people.

If only I knew how hard it was going to be. Turns out that my first client gig was unprofitable.

It Took Me Over 8 Hours to Setup My First Site

It was a nightmare trying to get WordPress setup on cPanel. I don’t remember if they had Fantastico at that time? There weren’t nearly as many WordPress tutorial sites online back then as there are now.

It took me well over 2 weeks to get a little 5 page website up and looking semi-decent. Although the client was happy with it, I wasn’t. I had pretty much worked for free, when you take into account how much time I spent on it.

My first experience with WordPress sucked…plain and simple. That experience put a dent in my self-confidence.

It took me several years to offer my WordPress services to anyone. I didn’t feel confident that I could offer my services for clients.

After that, I took several different paths with WordPress. Finally, 3 years ago, I felt confident to start offering my services again.

What Took Me So Long to Offer My WordPress Services

I probably could’ve offered my WordPress services a lot sooner than I did. The only reason that I didn’t was that I always felt like I didn’t know enough to offer my services.

That little voice in my head kept saying “I wasn’t skilled enough for people to pay me.”

So guess what.

I ended taking a 2-year course at the local community college because I thought I would learn a lot more. That was a complete waste of time.

Sure I got a 2-year degree from it, but I didn’t learn anything that I didn’t already know. So don’t let that little voice control you or keep you from pursuing your dreams.

Who knows where I would be today had I just listened to my gut, not the little voice in my head.

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My Freelancing Business

Today, I get to work from home working with WordPress for clients. They pay me, even though it isn’t the pie in the sky income that I dreamed about, it is nice to NOT have to commute to a job.

I finally was able to create the dream life I dreamt about years ago during my first WordPress experience.

Well now, I am not happy with my freelancing business.

What I didn’t realize is that I created a JOB for myself. I have to deal with clients, deadlines and collecting payments.

This isn’t why I wanted to work for myself. I didn’t want another job.

Nope, I am looking for more passive freedom, without having to deal with clients. Now don’t get me wrong, not all clients are bad to work with. However, there are some that I could do without.

Yes, I still do offer my limited WordPress services. As I mentioned I am moving away from freelancing, so not sure how long I’ll continue offering those services.

I still have 2 freelance clients I have been working for years. One of my clients’ contracts comes up for renewal this September.

I’ve already made up my mind, I am NOT going to be renewing that contract again.

I am focused on growing this blog and don’t want to keep more than one client.

Unfortunately, I do still need to keep my other client. As soon as this blog is making a sustainable income, I will let her know that I can no longer offer my services.

Who’s Susan

So who am I and why do I share WordPress tutorials and Genesis tutorials on my blog? I’m no one special at least NOT to you.

I’ve self-taught myself everything I know about WordPress. Thanks to Desktop Server, which allows me to setup WordPress locally.

I’m NOT a developer or a designer. But I’ve learned enough about WordPress to share my personal experience with it.

I don’t claim to know everything about WordPress. But I am very familiar with the basics and am kind of a Jackie (you know someone who knows a little bit about everything) when it comes to WordPress.

Plus I know what non-techie people struggle with.

I used to be one of them. There are still things that I struggle with but I know enough to tweak this or tweak that.

You can read more about me here.

Why I Love Sharing WordPress Tutorials

My goal is to help non-techies understand that they can start, manage and grow their own WordPress blog. After working with clients, I have realized that women tend to let WordPress scare them more than men.

I’m not saying that only women have techie issues. I have worked with several men as well who know nothing about WordPress.

If you’re a non-techie who wants to learn the basics of getting started with WordPress, I know that my blog can help you. However, just know that most of my tutorials are geared towards beginners.

You can sign up for my Free 7 Day WordPress course here.

I know what it’s like to struggle at the beginning. Dealing with the techie things can make you want to pull your hair out. Not to mention, it can make you feel like quitting before you actually get started.

If you can’t find a specific tutorial on my blog, there are several other blogs you can turn to for help. Not to mention YouTube is a gold mine for teaching yourself anything you want to learn. You can check out my YouTube channel for more tutorials.

When I’m Not Working On WordPress

You can find me walking or lifting weights, or just spending time outdoors. (only if the sun is shining.) I’m not much of a cold weather person.

I love exercising and make it a point to get away from the computer at least 2 hours a day to make time for it. It’s much easier during the warmer months. I walk at least four miles per 4x per week.

It’s nice getting away from the computer, plus that walking time gives me time to think.

I’m still not sure if I love walking because of the work out clothes. I love buying those wet-dry cooling clothes for exercising.

Take a look at some of my favorite walking gear.

My favorite pair of walking shoes. I also own a pair of neon green ones as well.

I also have a bright orange workout shirt that matches my Saucony Runpops.

Because I work from home, I don’t own a lot of professional clothing. That’s one of the downsides of working from home.

My regular day to day work clothes are nothing more than a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt. I love working from home, there’s no dress code.

Learning WordPress Isn’t Hard

I know that above I said that learning WordPress is hard. It can be if you’re trying to learn it the way that I did. All alone without any guidance.

However, I wrote an eBook that will help you get started with your WordPress journey. It’s neatly packed into getting a blog setup from start to finish.

If you haven’t checked it out you can pick it up here.

It’s packed with step-by-step tutorials…you know how in-depth my tutorials are. I know that it will help you get your WordPress blog started on the right foot.

My Blog Goals

My blog goals are pretty simple. Basically, I write my tutorials and blogging tips to help non-techies like you get started with WordPress.

You may not realize it, but I actually cater my tutorials for women. I know I don’t have the typical feminine theme or colors that women love.

However, I do know that the techie side of blogging is usually harder for women. I know because it was for me several years ago 🙂

If you don’t struggle with the techie side then that’s awesome. Maybe, you’ll learn something from the blogging tips. Don’t forget that every month, I share what I am doing to grow this blog.

I know and understand what it’s like to struggle in the beginning when you’re just getting started. It’s not fun and can make you think like you don’t have what it takes to create a successful blog.

Related: How to Deal With Blogger Comparison

Sometimes that fear can be so paralyzing that it keeps you from starting your own blog.

Be Brave Follow Your Goals

If you’re reading this blog, then chances are you’re trying to start a blog so you can create a different lifestyle for yourself.

I think it’s great, just know that it’s going to take a lot of hard work. Setting up the blog is the easy part, you’ll have to find ways to keep yourself motivated at the beginning.

However, if you’re goals are strong enough and you know what you want to accomplish, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t succeed. Many people have been able to start a blog to create the lifestyle they desire.

Who Cares What Others Say

One of the things that holds so many of us back from starting a blog, is we feel that we don’t have anything important to say or we don’t have any special skills. That’s not true and don’t believe that for a minute.

You do have something you can share with the world. It may take you a while to figure out what that it is, after all, we are our worst own critics.

When I started blogging, I floundered around in several different niches because I couldn’t figure out what my skills were.

In fact, that’s what caused me to fail with my fourth blog. Yup, I’ve failed before. Now I blog about teaching non-techie’s who want to start WordPress how to use it to create a lifestyle they desire. Along the way I also share my personal opinions, views and other stuff I think you’ll like.

Related: My 6 Month Blog Update and Improved Growth

Maybe you’re ready to join me and start creating the life that you design. NOT the one that someone else tells you that is right for you.

If you’ve been holding back starting on a self-hosted blog because you don’t think you’re techie enough, I’ve got you covered. Guess what, you don’t have to know everything from the start.

Sign up for my free 7 day WordPress Course, which will teach you the basics of WordPress. By the end, you’ll have a brand new blog set up. Customization and design NOT included in the free course. But don’t worry, you’ll learn that as you continue blogging.

Related: How to Start a Blog On SiteGround

Final Take Away

Don’t believe for a minute that you don’t have anything to say and you can’t start a blog. You don’t have to be techie to get started with WordPress.

Plus your blog doesn’t have to beautiful to start. I don’t care what anyone tells you. The important thing is to get started.

You may not know 100% what you want to start blogging about. That’s the great thing about blogging, you can always find your passion through your writing.

Do you enjoy writing about debt, you can share tips of how you’re paying down your debt. Or maybe you love fishing. You could share your experiences of what it’s like to go fishing and the different types of fishing tackle you use.

Honestly the world is waiting to hear from you. You just have to start your blog today and work hard on finding your tribe of people who want to hear from you.

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