Last updated: January 4, 2019
Today, you will learn all about easily creating a blog on your own and how to start a WordPress blog. Blogging is what changed my life and allowed me to make thousands of dollars a month, all by doing something that I love. Plus, you can start a money-making blog for just a few dollars a month! Below, I have included discounted pricing that I personally negotiated with Bluehost so that all of you can start a blog for cheap. You will also receive a free blog domain through my link too. Act quick though because I’m not sure how long these low prices will last!
Click here to start a blog on WordPress, then use the tutorial below for the easy directions.
If you're looking to start a WordPress blog for cheap, then choosing Bluehost for your hosting needs may be your answer. Bluehost is a great web host and I personally have had a great experience with them.
Blogging has been one of the best things ever for me. As you can tell from my business income reports, I now make over $100,000 a month from my blogging-related services. I earned over $979,000 in 2016 through blogging, over $1,500,000 in 2017, and over $1,600,000 in 2018.
I am able to work from home, I can travel whenever I want, I have a flexible schedule and more. I am absolutely loving life and I can't believe how much my life has improved in just the past few years.
Anyone can make money with a blog, and I was able to make the money back that I paid for blog hosting very quickly. It is well worth it to pay for blog hosting and I'm sure you will be able to make your money back quickly as well.
Bluehost is one of the top web hosting companies in 2019 and you can start your own blog with them for as low as $2.75 a month (this low price is through my link only)! Also, if you sign up using my link, then you will get your domain for free if you purchase a 12 month or longer hosting plan (a $15 value). I highly recommend signing up for the 12 month hosting plan through Bluehost. It's affordable and you can save a lot of money by signing up for at least 12 months. If you want a better deal, the best value would be purchasing a 36 month plan, as your monthly rate is much lower over the long run.
You may be thinking, “Well I can just start on Blogger for a little cheaper and learn how to make a blog that way” NOOOOO… Don't do that. There are so many reasons for why a Blogger/Blogspot blog is a really bad idea, and why you should instead setup a WordPress blog on Bluehost.
If you are interested in ever making money off your blog, freelancing or turning it into a business, then paying for your hosting, such as through Bluehost, is a MUST. It's extremely cheap as well to go through Bluehost AND you get a free domain. You can run any of your own advertisements, affiliate links, direct advertising, etc. with a blog ran on Bluehost. Making money on Blogger or any other free blogging platform is very difficult, and in many cases never happens. Most advertisers and companies tend to run away from Blogger websites because they don’t view them as professional as self-hosted WordPress blogs, so that’s another big reason to use Bluehost.
Also, if you take a look at my past income reports, you can tell that my income through blogging didn't take off until right at the exact moment I switched to WordPress. That's a lot of proof right there that being self-hosted on WordPress is the way to go!
Read more about why you should pay for blog hosting here.
There are many reasons for why you may want to choose Bluehost for your WordPress blog and I honestly believe they are one of the best web hosting providers. These reasons include:
- It's easy to use. Yes, ANYONE can create a WordPress blog easily with my tutorial below. Bluehost makes it very easy to create a WordPress blog.
- Bluehost web hosting offers technical support.
- Bluehost is extremely affordable and they offer cheap web hosting. You can have a blog of your own and the only real expense you need to pay is the cheap blog hosting which starts at just $2.75 per month.
- You get a FREE blog domain.
- WordPress through Bluehost is FREE.
- Bluehost offers a guarantee in case you determine that it is not for you. If you sign up for Bluehost, but you are confused for any reason (such as how to set it up, picking a plan, pricing, etc.), you can always send me an email and I can help you out.
- You will be self-hosted. If you want to monetize your blog, then you will want to be self-hosted.
- You will appear much more professional to readers, companies, and so on if you are self-hosted on Bluehost than being on Blogspot.
First, you will need to head on over to Bluehost to do any of this. There are many web hosting companies out there, but Bluehost is honestly one of the best. There is a reason why many bloggers choose Bluehost for their web hosting needs.
If you plan on starting a blog on Bluehost and you are interested in learning how to start a blog on WordPress, continue below. Remember, if you sign up for Bluehost, but you are confused for any reason (such as how to set it up, picking a plan, pricing, etc.), you can always send me an email and I can help you out. That's what I'm here for so don't be afraid to send me an email.
Click here to start the process.
How to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost
1. Register your domain name.
You can click here to purchase a domain name and create a blog, then continue to follow the easy steps below.
The very first thing you will need to do when starting a WordPress blog on Bluehost is to think about what you want your domain name to be. This can be tough, and I would give some serious thought to this.
I don't even remember how I came up with my blog name. It's a long one though and at times I regret it. Trying to spell out my blog name to people who don't know about it can get frustrating because they don't know if I'm saying “cents” or “sense!”
You can get your domain directly through Bluehost and make the whole process very easy. If you do this, you can get a FREE domain for the first year as long as you buy 12 months worth of Bluehost web hosting. This makes it well worth it to sign up for at least 12 months of hosting as you will be saving a good amount of money this way. You also get a cheaper monthly price when you buy at least 12 months of hosting, so the free domain just makes it even better. If you want an even better deal, the best value would be purchasing a 36 month plan, as your monthly rate is much lower over the long run. If you decide to get the free domain, just continue to the next step as you can buy your hosting and get the free domain all in one step.
The “Basic” package is most likely all you will need.
2. Buy hosting for your blog.
Setting up a WordPress blog on Bluehost is very easy. First, we will talk about the costs of blogging:
- To receive the cheapest price to start a blog, then choosing the “Basic” plan is really all you need. It's only $2.75 per month through my link (due upfront in full) if you sign up for 36 months, which is a great price. If you sign up for a 24 month plan, then the price is $3.95 per month. If you sign up for a 12 month plan, then the price is $4.95 per month. $4.95 is still extremely affordable and it's a great plan to choose (especially since you get a free domain at this price still!). If you are unsure about blogging, I would sign up for the 12 month plan as this is still a great price and very affordable for one year of blogging. If you purchase a 12 month plan, your total price is only $59 a year, which is still a great price. Plus, you still receive the free domain name when you sign up for 12 months or more which saves you money. The best value would be purchasing a 36 month plan, as your monthly rate is much lower over the long run.
- The Basic plan is all you really need for now, so skip the Plus and Business Pro plans as they are more expensive. You can always change it later to a different plan if you want to (and just pay the difference), so there is no need to sign up for extra that you do not need.
- The other item you may want to pay for when it comes to blogging is Domain Privacy Protection, which is only $0.99 per month. This is so that your contact information stays safe.
- Other than the above, you do not need the other items that Bluehost sells, so I would uncheck any of the extras that are listed.
- Remember, if you sign up using my link, then you will get your domain for free if you purchase a 12 month or longer blog hosting plan.
I want to reiterate why you should purchase at least a 12 month hosting plan. Month-to-month is less effective, and I highly recommend signing up for a minimum of 12 months for many reasons. By signing up for a minimum of 12 months, you will receive a free domain name, lower pricing, and you won't have to deal with an expired website after each month. For example, if hosting is not renewed or if the card expires, then your website is down and you risk losing business (visitors/traffic) when you pay on a month-to-month basis. It's also exceptionally more expensive to pay month-by-month rather than in one lump sum. The more years you sign up for, the less you pay.
Blog hosting will most likely cost you around $59 a year on average, or $99 for 3 years, which is a great deal! If you purchase a 12 month plan, your total price is only $59 a year, which is a great price. The best value would be purchasing a 36 month plan, as your monthly rate is much lower over the long run.
When you are ready to create your blog, follow the steps below to buy hosting for your blog.
- Go to Bluehost and click the “Get Started Now” button.
- Click on the package you are interested in.
- Enter your domain name you registered with earlier, or sign up for a new domain name here.
- Enter your personal and payment information.
- Next you will be asked to enter a password. Make sure it's secure as this information is very important.
If you have any problems, please send me an email at michelle@makingsenseofcents.com. I have a great person at Bluehost who can help solve any of your issues quickly and easily!
3. Connect your domain and your hosting.
Note: You can skip this section (Section 3) if you buy your domain directly through Bluehost.
If you buy your domain through Go Daddy, then you will need to connect your domain to your hosting account. Go Daddy has a full support page for setting nameservers for your domain names. Below is a snippet:
“When you register a domain name with us, we set it up on our parked nameservers so a temporary page displays when visitors go to your website. After you determine which hosting provider to use, you can change your domain name's nameservers to remove the parked page and activate your domain name.
If you registered your domain name with another provider, you can still purchase a hosting account with us, use our Off-site DNS services, or use our CashParking® or Quick Content services. If you do any of those, you must view your nameservers in your account with us, and then set the nameservers with your domain name registrar.”
How to modify your DNS Nameservers when you are using Go Daddy for your domain and Bluehost for your hosting:
- Log into the GoDaddy.com Account Manager.
- Select Manage Domains from the Domain Names drop-down menu or the Manage Your Account list.
- Select the domain name you wish to modify using the checkboxes and then click Set Name Servers.
- Enter your updated name server information in the spaces provided under the blue Name Servers heading on the right side of your page and click Save Changes at the bottom. Your entries should look like this: ns1.bluehost.com; ns2.bluehost.com.
You will then need to add the domain you bought (such as through GoDaddy) as an addon domain to your Bluehost web hosting. You can do this by clicking on “Domains” when logged into your Bluehost web hosting account and then clicking on “assign.” Follow the steps and it is very easy!
4. Install WordPress on Bluehost.
Okay, this is probably the step that all of you have been waiting for. If you want to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost then continue reading.
This part isn't hard at all. Bluehost makes it very easy to create a WordPress blog and it is FREE.
- After you create your password, Bluehost guides you through exactly what you need to do in order to start a blog.
- First, Bluehost will ask you to pick a theme. You can just pick a random one here or find one that you actually like. You can change it later so it's not a big deal or just scroll to the bottom and skip this step. Remember, there are many free ones too!
- Click on “Start Building”
- On the next screen, you can choose “Business” or “Personal” – it's up to you. Or, you can click the “I don't need help.”
WOOHOO! You now have a WordPress blog. You will have to work on the design and producing high-quality content, of course. Good luck!
If you sign up for Bluehost, but you are confused for any reason (such as how to set it up, picking a plan, pricing, etc.), you can always send me an email and I can help you out. That's what I'm here for so don't be afraid to send me an email at michelle@makingsenseofcents.com
Some general tips for how to navigate WordPress:
- You can add and create new posts by clicking on “Posts” on the left-hand side when you are logged in.
- If you want to add an image, click on “Media” on the left-hand side.
- You can go to “Appearance,” then “Widgets” in order to add items to your sidebar, footer, and so on.
- If you are looking for a way to send newsletters or emails to your readers, I recommend Convertkit.
- If you are looking into the actual design of your blog, Genesis seems to always be the most popular. Genesis is used on my blog, and I highly recommend it. Or, there are free themes through WordPress you can use too. Just go to “Appearance” on the left-hand side when you are logged into your WordPress website and click on “Themes,” then activate whichever one you are interested in testing out. By doing this, you can start designing your website easily! Another option would be to buy a premade blog design, such as through Beautiful Dawn Designs. She provides great premade designs for just $45 and this is probably the easiest and quickest design option.
- EDIT January, 2018: I recommend checking out my online course for bloggers, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. I earn over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing and I share my exact strategy and tips in this very informative online course. If you're a blogger (even if you're a new blogger!), then you NEED this course.
Here are more blogging-related posts you should take a look at after you learn how to start a WordPress blog:
- Why You Should Start a Blog – So Many Positives!
- Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics
- How To Make Money Blogging
- How To Become A Successful Staff Writer for Blogs
- How To Promote Your Blog Through Networking
- 9 Helpful Blogging Tips For New Bloggers
- What To Think About Before You Start A Blog
- How To Start A Blog – Tips for a Beginner
- Ways To Make Pennies, Hundreds or Thousands A Month By Blogging
- How To Know If Freelance Blogging Is Right For You
- How do I increase my affiliate income? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
- Do I need millions of page views a month in order to make money blogging? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
- How do you build websites up to sell them? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
- Do only celebrities make money through owning websites? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
- How much money can a person make blogging? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
- Where does blog income come from? – Scroll down to this section when you open this link.
Do you have a blog? Do you use Bluehost for blogging? Share your blogging mistakes as well! Hope you enjoyed my tutorial on how to start a WordPress blog on Bluehost.
Related Posts
How I Made $979,321 In 2016 – My December Online Income Report and Annual Wrap Up
75+ Ways To Make Extra Money
$13,673 December Income – My Monthly Online Income Report and 2014 Wrap Up
$15,151 in March – My Monthly Online Income Report Plus Traffic Stats
How To Start A Blog – Tips for a Beginner
How To Make Money Blogging
Hi Michelle,
I just made my blog on wordpress. So would I automatically be on Bluehost or would I need to sign up or start a new one through them?
Did you purchase hosting on Bluehost?
I have the similar question from Ashanta but I didn’t purchase a hosting on Bluehost. What do I do next to follow your steps? Thank you.
Have you done what’s in Step #4?
No, I didnt. Can I integrate my word press to blue host when I signed up automatically or do I need to start from scratch? Because I already purchased WordPress individually. Thank you so much for your time I’m very eager to learn how to be a blogger.
You’ll want to be self-hosted.
I very much like how the setup flow of WordPress is integrated on Bluehost. It’s super easy! Self hosted is key to have a succesful blog. Thank you for this elaborated overview 🙂
Do you have suggestions on how to chose a domain name? Or do they just assign you one? Yes I am a beginner.
Hey! This should help you out – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2018/04/making-money-from-a-blog.html
Hi Elizabeth,
What I normally do to come up of a good domainname is searching for synonyms. Google can help you with that. 🙂
Ronald
Hi Michelle,
First, thanks for all you do. I was recently turned on to your blog through the FI community and find it totally inspiring.
My question (and if you’ve addressed this elsewhere, if so feel free to send me to that post) is that I’m what hardware (tablet, full laptop, etc) and operating system (Mac, windows) you used and/or wish you did. I’m at a juncture where I’m ready to jump into he blogging world but also going to have to purchase something new (laptop died, aging iPad on last legs) and would love any input or warning of unexpected pitfalls you’ve experienced along the way.
Thanks in advance and keep on keeping on!
i was wondering how to actually choose a great theme? I have one, but i can’t use it the way I want to. i want to have a menu header with drop down options, like yours, but previews don’t let you know if you can do that with their options…what do i do?
I am so pleased to have landed on this blog. I am retired so can spend loads of time on building a blog on WP. I have been recommended to use the Divi Theme from Elegant Themes. Not sure if that’s good advice or not. Please recommend a good easy to use theme. It must be easy to use as I am not techie nor a coder.
I haven’t yet decided on a niche for my blog but before I do, I should read as much as I can on your blog to hopefully get my brain juices flowing.
I will sign up for Bluehost shortly. Is there an advantage to have a domain name that represents the niche of the blog, or could it be a generic name?
Michelle, inspiring article. I wish I read your article years ago. I still vividly remember the days I paid $750 for a not-so-great web design. I could have designed it much better than that using WordPress as you mentioned. However, after several years, I have been running a successful blog and co-founder of a successful company. I like the way you generously giving out information without expecting anything in return. I would love to interview for our new blog post titled Successful bloggers list. Please let me know if you could spare a few minutes? Thanks.
I’d love to take part. Just send me an email 🙂
Thanks. I emailed you as you requested..
Where would you suggest I go to get help with setting up the WP theme? I’m currently using a free theme, and I created a header in the recommended dimensions they specified, but it won’t show my complete header when I visit the site. It cuts it down to a sliver. I’m used to working with Wix which is very user friendly, and WP is quite the struggle for me 🙁
Really excited to get my blog up and running!
If you find creating your own design is too difficult, I recommend looking at just purchasing a premade design. You can often find them for less than $50.
Hi Michelle! I have been following you for a long time but am just now creating a blog through BlueHost. I saw that you recommended this particular wbsite so I purchased a theme from Beautiful Dawn Designs and also paid for my theme to be installed. It has been 2 days since I paid for all of this and I still don’t have my theme on my blog. I can’t get in touch with them so I don”t know what to do.
Have you emailed them?
Aloha Mrs. Michelle,
I’ve been reading a bunch of blog posts mostly from your cite and I have been just a scaredy-cat starting my blog. I’d really like to do some serious blog-learning first (does that make sense) so I can feel more confident. Would you happen to have a suggestion or a post about a good course to take for beginner bloggers? Blogging in general not really how to make money yet but that’s included that would be good too.. Thank you!! 🙂
Here’s my affiliate link for the course I recommend – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/launchyourblog
I just started my blog through your link to Bluehost. I have so much to learn and I look forward to growing my blog using your tips and tricks. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
Just watched your video with Jeff Rose. I am looking to create a site not to make money, but to give people the ability to help others in need. My site is on Blue Host but not developed. The site is Help4Others.com. I have always had a passion and have done a lot to help the homeless and people that struggle with addiction. Because of this people constantly ask me how they can help others, thus the site. I struggle with a way to put those in need together with those that want to help. I feel I am one or 2 ideas away from making this work.Your video came to me in a random search for information on blogging. Perhaps there is a reason for that. I have paid Blue host for help making the blog, but to date I am at a standstill as to how to make this work. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hello!
Thank you for your comment. Have you started writing blog posts?
Hi.. I am considering purchasing your course for affiliate marketing. However, I already have a blog on Blogger platform. I seem to struggle with WordPress. In 2014 I managed to take a course at FIT NYC “The Product Developers Guide to Social Networking, Blogging and Fashion Digital Marketing” Our Profesor suggest to Use Blogger… NoW I am confused. I am ready to monetize Blog I have put A lot of time into this blog. Am also already an affiliate of BLUEHost. Here is My http://www.uvcmagazine.com My question is if I take your course can I Stil monetize Blog? Thank you.
Yes, the course just goes over affiliate marketing strategy, which can be applied to any platform. I do recommend being self-hosted, though.
Thank you so Much!! I will create another Blog SOON Just have to come up with the Concept.
Hi Michelle,
I am considering the Genesis Framework. At what point in your blogging career did you invest in Genesis? I am about to launch my first blog and wonder if it is wise investment from start-up. And then I’m confused if I should purchase the cheaper Genesis plan or the expensive one? What will I need?
I did it, I made a blog.. I’m even more scared now that I’ve given my credit card information to create it.. here we go.
You can do it!
Hi Michelle,
Im new to this. I am creating a website on Wix and created a tab for a blog I want to create, is Wix a good tool to use?
Personally, I recommend WordPress over Wix.
do i have to purchase a plan on wordpress too or a free blog would work?
If you get Bluehost, then WordPress is free.
Hi Michelle,
Are you still using Genesis?
Thanks.
Yes.
Hi Michelle,
I was looking at your blog and on the bottom, it says “© 2018 MAKING SENSE OF CENTS
DESIGN BY SWOON & CO. CREATIVE” and I was wondering if it is the same as Genesis. What exactly is Swoon and Co, if you don’t mind me asking.
Thank you so much in advance.
That is the web designer. She used Genesis.
I just started a WordPress account today. I’ve been since 10AM and I’m still lost. I can’t figure out how to get the background looking nice. I can’t figure out how to add affiliate links. It won’t let me sign in to add the app to my desktop. Customer support looks like it’s only chat or email. I can’t even find the link for chat. Ready to hang it up already. Any help would be appreciated.
Are you on Bluehost?
Also, since 10 am isn’t much time 🙂 It’s a new thing for you, so it’ll take time to learn.
I clicked on your link, so I am assuming so. I finally got someone to answer me back in chat. However, was no help. Said I need to contact WordPress.org,not .com. Apparently I needed to register there. I tried, but still have not received an email. I can’t get any support to walk me through, just get directed to forums which are no help.
Well, they don’t typically help you in designing your website. If you’re looking for an easier way to design your website, I recommend simply purchasing a premade design as talked about in this tutorial (here’s my affiliate link for the company I recommend – https://makingsenseofcents.com/blogdesign). It’s super affordable and makes it a lot easier!
Hi Michelle,
Thank your for the article. I am wondering why we would need Bluehost if we use WordPress.com.
I thought the paid version of WP.com was hosting.
Can you please clarify?
Thank you
No, that is not self-hosting.
Hello,
I found you on the Side Hustle Nation podcast…which, itself, I’d only found two days ago.
Man, that’s a lot of money you earn! Probably more than some people in the U.S. will earn in their entire working career. And, for some of the lowest-earners in poverty-stricken countries, that would be something like 30 lifetimes.
Does your current income feel weird to you? Or, because you’ve been so successful for so long, is $1.5M (or more) now “normal”? That *had* to feel like the Twilight Zone, at least in the beginning, right?
I’m fascinating by the idea. I’m trying to imagine being able to do anything that I wanted or needed to do.
Anyway, congratulations on your success!
It still feels weird to this day.
Thank you!
I think that signifies you’re a reasonable and well-adjusted person! 🙂
Happy Holidays!
Hi Michelle, I just found your website a few days ago and am planning on getting started with my blog and also am going to sign up for your affiliate marketing course soon. On the Bluehost site where it has the package extras you said all we needed was the domain privacy protection but the’s not listed anymore as it appears they’ve changed since you first posted this blog. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
The pictures here are updated to this very day 🙂 They just change occasionally and go back and forth.
You can add the domain privacy right after you purchase if you don’t see it – simply contact Bluehost.
Okay thanks Michelle, I can’t wait to get started!
Michelle,
This seems to be the answer to my situation. I’m getting older and am ready to work from home. You said you made over $1M? Is it really possible to do this? It almost seems to good to be true though I know that you have worked very hard to get to this point. You are an inspiration to me and have convinced me to give this a try. I will admit I’m a little nervous. I’m not the best writer and my vocabulary needs improvement but I feel confident I can do this. Thank you for your guidance.
Blogging is a lot of work, so it’s not “too good to be true.”
🙂
Hi Michelle, thanks for the great advice and a well-written blog to make this easier for newbies such as myself. I’ve followed your instructions to set up with Bluehost/Wordpress – I’m just wondering do you think it’s wise to apply for a trademark for the domain name/name/site? And is it worth it to create an LLC? Thank you!
nice post so informative keep sharing like this post i will be so helpful for me
I honestly agree that starting a blog is extremely easy! But, in order to stay drive organic traffic from search engines is the hardest part of online marketing. Can you please share any good tips to drive traffic for free? No paid advertising etc.
I followed your advice but can’t seem to find my blog anywhere. I set it up with bluenote and made a wordpress blog. I tried to type in my address in the url, but it says it doesn’t exist. I feel I missed a step here. When I go into the generator, my blog is there and it’s glorious. I’m afraid that I will be the only who can see it, though. Does it take more than a day for the blog to appear?
Have you contacted Bluehost? Usually, there’s a launch button that you have to press.
just like Kyle Taylor from ThePennyHoarder.com , I too started out on blogspot back in the day before I even knew what a web hosting plan was and how to install WordPress. I would never go back to a free blogging platform because a person doesn’t have complete functionality and control over their blog nor the administrative backend. I recommend to everyone to start a self hosted WordPress blog on their own dedicated web hosting plan and make sure you pay a few years up front for your web hosting bill so that your online business goals uninterrupted. Take Michelle’s blue host web hosting plan and run with it 🙂
Hi Michelle! I’m planning on starting a blog that would also include a companion package of digital documents that readers could purchase and download (or preferably get access to via Google Docs). I was looking at WordPress and it looks like I’d need a business account for that. Am I correct? It doesn’t seem like I can sell anything on a site that I’d get through your affiliate links here.
Hey Christy!
Not sure if I understand your question. If you are self-hosted on WordPress, then you can do whatever you want on it.
Hello:
I’m really liking all your posts, they help a lot when you know nothing about starting a blog.
I have a question: When signing with Bluehost, you get to install WordPress for free. But I looked into WordPress packages and I was wondering which is the one you obtain through Bluehost (Basic, Premium or Business).
Thank you so much and keep up with your great work.
I recommend just getting the cheapest one.
Hi Michelle, Great article…I’ve been a blogger for years but recently have been looking into switching over to WordPress. Probably should’ve done that awhile back. Anywhoooo, I bought my .com domain through godaddy. Do you suggest just switching everything over, I’m trying to make this as easy as possible but I’ve got a bunch of content I’ll have to go through on my current blog first…thoughts?
Michelle, this is the most detailed post I’ve seen on setting up a blog. I wrote one on using Site ground since it’s who I currently use but it looks like it would benefit me to switch to Blue Host. Wow. Definitely a drastic price difference. Thanks for sharing!
So it may be important to note that if you register a domain with GoDaddy, you must wait 60 days to transfer this domaine to WordPress. This is a huge headache and I wish I had been aware of this issue.
Why are you transferring the domain to WordPress? Shouldn’t you just be pointing it?
What is “self-hosted”? How much does that cost?
It’s what is talked about in this blog post.