Every piece of content begins with an idea, experience, photograph, lesson, or message I want to share. These are the tools that help me turn those ideas into blog posts, social media content, videos, printables, and resources for my readers.
WordPress.org
My website is built with the self-hosted version of WordPress.org. WordPress gives me ownership and flexibility over my website while allowing me to publish blog posts, create resource pages, organize photo galleries, share affiliate links, and continue expanding my website as my vision grows.
There was definitely a learning curve when I first began, but learning WordPress also taught me valuable website-building skills that I can now use to help other people, businesses, churches, and ministries bring their own messages online.
Hostinger
Hostinger provides the web hosting that keeps my WordPress website online. My hosting account gives me a place to install WordPress, manage my website, connect my domain, and access the technical tools needed to keep everything running.
For someone building a self-hosted WordPress website, the hosting company is essentially the home where all the website’s content and files live.
Divi
I use Divi to visually design my WordPress website. Divi allows me to create customized pages and layouts without having to code everything from scratch.
I use it to design:
- Blog-post layouts
- Resource and affiliate pages
- Image galleries
- Landing pages
- “Start Here” pages
- About and contact pages
- Buttons, calls to action, and opt-in areas
- Mobile-friendly website layouts
Divi has given me the creative freedom to build a website that reflects my personality, photography, message, and the different parts of Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures.
Canva
Canva is one of my most frequently used creative tools. It allows me to turn my ideas, photographs, and written content into polished visual resources—even though I didn’t begin with a professional graphic-design background.
I use Canva to create:
- Blog featured images
- Pinterest pins
- Facebook and Instagram graphics
- Printable prayers and Bible studies
- Workbooks and lead magnets
- Affiliate-resource graphics
- Promotional materials
- Book and devotional layouts
- Social media images
- Branded templates
Using consistent colors, fonts, and imagery in Canva also helps the different parts of my content feel connected and recognizable.
ChatGPT
I use ChatGPT as a creative assistant throughout my content-creation process. Many times, I begin with an unorganized collection of personal thoughts, voice-to-text notes, photographs, Bible verses, memories, or lessons God has been teaching me.
ChatGPT helps me organize those thoughts into something clearer and easier for my readers to follow.
Some of the ways I use it include:
- Brainstorming blog-post ideas and titles
- Creating outlines
- Organizing my thoughts and experiences
- Editing grammar and improving readability
- Finding places where a post needs more explanation
- Developing social media captions from a larger blog post
- Creating SEO titles and meta descriptions
- Writing image names, captions, and alt text
- Repurposing one message for different platforms
- Brainstorming Pinterest pin titles and descriptions
- Planning videos, printables, and future content
- Researching supporting information that I can verify and personalize
ChatGPT doesn’t replace my voice, testimony, beliefs, experiences, or creativity. Those things are still mine. I see it as a tool that helps me communicate what is already on my heart—especially when I know what I want to say but need help bringing all the pieces together.
CapCut
I use CapCut to edit video content for social media and YouTube. It helps me combine clips and photographs, trim videos, add music or voiceovers, include text on the screen, create captions, and turn longer experiences into shorter videos.
Video allows me to bring people into the moment in a different way than written content. Whether I’m sharing a travel experience, something from my faith journey, a natural-living change, or a behind-the-scenes part of my life, CapCut helps me shape those moments into stories I can share.
Linktree
Linktree gives me one central place where people can find my website, blog posts, social media platforms, recommended resources, and other important links.
This is especially helpful on platforms that only provide space for one main link. Instead of continually changing that link, I can direct people to my Linktree and allow them to choose what they would like to explore.
My Own Photography and Videos
My personal photography is one of the most important parts of Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures. Whenever possible, I use my own photographs and videos to help readers experience the places I visit, the beauty of God’s creation, and the real-life stories behind my writing.
My images aren’t only decorative. They preserve memories, document my journey, and often become the inspiration for the message itself.
A photograph may eventually become:
- A blog post
- A devotional
- A Facebook reflection
- A Pinterest pin
- A short video
- A prayer
- A book page
- A reminder to slow down and notice God’s presence
My Future Email Community
Email marketing is another important part of content creation, although it is one area I am intentionally preparing for rather than rushing into.
I already have an email audience of more than 10,000 people, but I haven’t selected my long-term email service provider yet. Before I begin sending regular emails, I want my blog to be fully established and I want to have enough time to serve my subscribers consistently.
Eventually, I would love to use my email community to share:
- New blog posts
- Personal faith and travel updates
- Encouragement for difficult and waiting seasons
- Printable prayers and Bible studies
- Natural-living resources
- Devotionals
- New videos and projects
- Recommended products and resources
- Behind-the-scenes updates from my journey
I don’t want to send emails simply because a marketing rule says I should. I want each email to offer something meaningful, encouraging, useful, or personal.
When the time is right, I’ll choose an email platform that can support an established list, organize subscribers according to their interests, create automated welcome sequences, deliver free resources, and grow with the future needs of my blog.
Turning One Message Into Social Media Content
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I don’t need a completely different idea for every platform.
For example, one experience or lesson may begin as a detailed blog post. From there, I can turn it into:
- A personal Facebook post
- A shorter Instagram caption
- Several Pinterest pins
- A short video or Reel
- A longer YouTube video
- A printable prayer or reflection page
- An email to my subscribers
- A podcast conversation
- A guest post that explores a related part of the story
I may pull one meaningful quote from the original article and place it over a photograph in Canva. I can use CapCut to combine video clips with a voiceover, create Pinterest graphics that lead readers to the complete post, and use ChatGPT to help adapt the original message for each platform.
Repurposing content isn’t about posting the exact same words everywhere. It is about allowing one meaningful message to take several forms so it can reach people in the ways they prefer to read, watch, listen, or learn.
What I’ve Learned About Becoming a Content Creator
You don’t have to wait until you have the perfect website, the best equipment, thousands of followers, or a complete business plan.
Begin with what you have.
Share what you know. Tell the truth about what you’re learning. Create something that helps one person. Learn a new skill when you need it, and don’t be afraid to improve your work as you grow.
I didn’t begin because I knew how to do everything. I began with a story, a calling, and a desire to use my experiences for something meaningful. The technical skills came one lesson, one course, one blog post, and one imperfect attempt at a time.
If God has placed a message on your heart, your first step may not be to understand the entire journey. It may simply be to begin.
Ready to Start Creating?
If you’ve been dreaming of starting a blog or learning how to create income from the content you share, these are two of the educational resources that helped me understand the process:
- Create and Go Six-Figure Blog Builder: For learning how to build a blog, create content, grow an audience, use Pinterest, develop an email list, and build a blogging business.
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing: For learning how affiliate marketing works and how to incorporate it into useful, trustworthy content.
You do not have to figure everything out overnight. Choose one step, learn what you need for that step, and allow your knowledge, confidence, and message to grow from there.
Work With Me
One of my favorite parts of content creation is connecting with other people who have meaningful stories, helpful resources, and messages worth sharing.
I believe collaboration can be much more powerful than competition. When bloggers, podcasters, ministries, small businesses, and other creators support one another, we can introduce our audiences to valuable voices while creating something none of us would have created alone.
I am open to opportunities such as:
- Writing guest posts for other blogs and websites
- Welcoming relevant guest contributors to my blog
- Appearing as a guest on podcasts
- Participating in interviews and meaningful conversations
- Collaborating on faith-based content
- Sharing travel, natural-living, photography, or healing resources
- Reviewing products that genuinely align with my life and values
- Creating sponsored content with carefully selected brands
- Promoting relevant books, courses, ministries, or events
- Collaborating on Bible studies, printables, and digital resources
- Cross-promoting complementary blog posts and projects
- Helping churches, ministries, or beginning bloggers establish an online presence
The best collaborations are genuine, mutually supportive, and valuable to the people we serve. I am especially interested in working with Christian creators, ministries, podcasters, travel and outdoor brands, natural-living businesses, photographers, authors, and women who use their stories to encourage others.
I only consider partnerships that fit naturally with my faith, values, lifestyle, and the purpose of Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures. The trust I have with my readers will always matter more to me than accepting an opportunity simply because it is paid.
If you believe your message, ministry, product, podcast, or project would be a meaningful fit, I would love to learn more about you and explore how we might support one another.
Let’s Work Together
A Final Encouragement for New Content Creators
You don’t need to have every platform, tool, system, and marketing strategy figured out before you begin.
I am still learning, refining my website, developing my content, and preparing for future pieces such as consistent email marketing. Building something meaningful takes time.
Start with the message God has placed on your heart. Use the tools available to you. Learn one skill at a time, and allow your work to grow alongside you.
Your first post doesn’t need to be perfect. Your first video may feel awkward. Your first website may change many times. Every piece you create teaches you something that helps you create the next one.
I didn’t begin because I already knew how to do everything. I began because I had stories to share, lessons I had learned, and a desire to use my experiences to encourage someone else.
The skills came one course, one tool, one blog post, and one imperfect step at a time.
✨ Grace, adventure, and faith along the journey
Sharla – Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures
Don’t forget — go somewhere new, heal the way God designed, and glorify Him in the journey.
My Challenge to YOU: Go somewhere new, heal the way God designed, and give Him all the glory in all you do.
About Sharla
Hi, I'm Sharla—a veteran, traveler, empty nester, dog mom to Buster, and follower of Jesus. Through Sharla's Wanderlust Adventures, I share faith-filled travel experiences, Christian retreats, natural wellness, Bible studies, and the lessons God teaches me along the journey.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on this site, I may earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only share tools, resources, and products I’ve personally used, researched, or believe genuinely support healing.