How to Start a Blog That Makes Money (Start Today)

A blog is an online journal where you publish content on a regular basis.

It can cover any topic you’re passionate about – from food to fashion, travel to technology.

People start blogs for many reasons:

• To share their knowledge or expertise on a particular subject. For example, a food blogger may share recipes and tips for home cooks.

• To document their lives or adventures through photos, videos, and stories. Travel bloggers often use their sites to highlight their journeys.

• To promote a business, brand, or service. Company blogs allow brands to engage directly with customers.

• To make money through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling products. Many bloggers leverage their sites to generate income.

• For creative expression. Blogs allow writers, photographers, and artists to showcase their talents.

• To influence and build a community. Bloggers with a large following can shape opinions and connect with supporters.

No matter the motivation, blogs let individuals publish content on the web without needing to code or hire web developers.

With a few clicks, anyone can set up a blog and begin broadcasting their thoughts to the world.

Choose a Niche (This Can Be Tricky)

Picking the right niche and blog topic is one of the most important decisions when starting a blog.

Your niche should be something you’re genuinely passionate about, have experience with, and can create expert content around.

Avoid overly broad niches like “health” or “technology” – drill down and focus on a specific subset instead.

For example, instead of a general health blog, you could create one focused on nutrition for athletes, healthy meal plans, or holistic wellness. Get specific.

This allows you to really establish yourself as an authority and thought leader in your niche.

Make a list of your interests, skills, education, and job experience.

Look for overlaps that could align into a cohesive niche.

Think about topics you naturally gravitate towards and subjects you feel confident writing extensively about.

Research potential niches to ensure there is sufficient interest and search volume.

You want to choose something with enough demand, but not so crowded that you’ll get buried.

Use keyword research tools to get data – look for niches with buyer intent and opportunities to rank well organically over time.

Align your niche with your target audience – create a blog that caters to their needs, challenges, interests, and goals.

Build a loyal community around your niche by really understanding your readers.

This connection and understanding will come across in your writing.

Choose a niche you enjoy writing about and can stick with long-term.

Don’t just chase ephemeral trends or force yourself into an area you have no knowledge of.

Your niche should feel authentic and reflect your true passions.

Get A Domain Name (You Can Buy This On Your Hosting Platform Too)

Choosing the right domain name is one of the most important decisions when starting a blog.

Your domain name is your brand and identity online, so you’ll want something memorable, short, and easy to spell.

When brainstorming domain names, focus on choosing a name related to your blog’s niche and topic.

For example, if you’re starting a blog about baking, include a keyword like “bakes” or “baking” in the domain.

You can also consider using your own name in the URL.

Once you’ve settled on a domain name, the next step is to check domain name availability and register it.

There are many domain registrars to choose from, but some popular ones are GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Bluehost.

To check for availability, simply type your desired domain name into the domain search bar of the registrar’s website.

If it’s available to register, then proceed by purchasing and registering it.

If your preferred domain is taken, try different variations by changing words or adding prefixes/suffixes until you find something available.

Some tips when registering a domain:

• Opt for a .com extension when available since it’s the most common
• Register for 1-10 years to secure the domain long-term
• Set it to auto-renew to prevent forgetting when it expires
• Enable private registration to keep your contact info private

Choosing the perfect domain name and registering it is one of the most fun parts of starting a blog!

With a little brainstorming, you can find an available domain that perfectly represents you and your blog.

Find A Blogging Platform

When starting a blog, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right blogging platform.

The platform you select will determine the features available to you, how easy your site is to use and manage, and even impacts your search engine optimization.

There are a few major blogging platforms that most beginners choose from:

WordPress (This is what I use with Bluehost)

WordPress is by far the most popular blogging platform, powering over 30% of the web.

The open-source software is extremely flexible and customizable, with thousands of free themes and plugins available.

This allows you to tailor the design and functionality of your blog exactly how you want.

WordPress is also known for its excellent SEO capabilities out of the box.

The self-hosted WordPress.org is recommended for more technical users who want full control, while the free WordPress.com hosted version is easier for beginners.

Blogger (I started here)

Owned by Google, Blogger is a popular free blogging platform that is very easy to use.

Simply choose a template, customize your design, and start blogging. It has solid integration with other Google products.

However, Blogger is quite limited in terms of customization, monetization options, and SEO features compared to WordPress.

Wix

Wix is another platform talked about a ton for a Website Builder.

You can also use it for blogging if you want to too.

Shopify

We all know Shopify is most likely for selling eCommerce products.

But:

I’ve had articles rank quite well on it and I didn’t feel I did the best job on my content.

So if you have a product to sell too, this could be an amazing platform.

Medium

Medium is a trendy blogging platform focused on storytelling in a magazine-style format. It has an elegant minimalist design and is very easy to get up and running quickly.

Medium handles hosting, security, and design so you can focus just on writing great content.

However, you don’t own your blog on Medium or have access to core website files. You’re also limited in customization options and monetization avenues.

Tumblr

Tumblr is a microblogging platform best suited for short-form, visual content like photos, GIFs and quotes.

The reblogging and social sharing focus makes it easy for posts to go viral.

Tumblr offers fun customization with endless multimedia theme options.

But it lacks the content management tools, SEO capabilities and monetization options of other platforms.

When assessing blogging platforms, be sure to evaluate the features, design flexibility, ease of use, and monetization opportunities to determine the best fit for your blog goals and technical abilities.

WordPress offers the most well-rounded package for most beginner bloggers.

Customize Your Design

A blog’s design and layout is crucial for engaging readers and establishing your brand.

Don’t just go with the default theme – take the time to tweak it to match your niche and preferences.

Tips for Selecting a Theme

• Focus on readability by choosing a clean, simple layout with plenty of white space. Avoid cluttered designs.
• Pick a theme that is mobile-responsive so your blog looks great on all devices.
• Choose a theme that lets you showcase visuals like photos and videos.
• Find a theme that matches your niche – a food blog needs a different look than a fashion blog.
• Read theme reviews and check how easy it is to customize before purchasing. More options are better.

Customizing Your Layout

• Most blogging platforms let you edit layouts, fonts, colors and more. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you get the look you want.
• Use an accent color that matches your brand. This can be in buttons, headings or links.
• Make sure text is dark enough to easily read. Light grays on white backgrounds can strain eyes.
• Limit each page to a single sidebar column. Multiple sidebars create clutter.
• Pick font pairings that complement each other. Don’t use more than 2-3 fonts total.
• Add your brand logo and social media icons to build familiarity.
• Use ample white space between sections to make the design clean.
• Enable large featured images to make your posts more eye-catching.

Customizing your design takes time but is worth the investment.

Tweaking your theme to match your brand leaves a professional impression on readers.

Don’t settle for the default – make your blog uniquely yours.

Just a simple thing to throw at you.

If you want some easy-to-use drag-and-drop themes consider going with Thrive Architect, Divi, or Elemntor Pro.

All offer some of the easiest solutions.

I am using Thrive Architect and once you have it down it’s super easy to use.

Write Compelling Content

Engaging content is the lifeblood of a successful blog.

Here are some tips for crafting compelling blog posts that will resonate with your readers:

Begin with a strong headline

Your headline is often the first thing readers see, so make it count.

Craft a headline that’s compelling yet aligned with your post topic.

Some effective formulas include using a numbered list, asking a question, identifying a common problem, or promising value to the reader upfront.

Structure your content

Break up long blocks of text with headers, lists, images, quotes, and other formatting elements to make the content skimmable.

Use an intro paragraph that summarizes the post followed by detailed sections that elaborate on each key point.

End with a conclusion summarizing your main ideas.

Show, don’t just tell

Engage readers by incorporating examples, stats, anecdotes, case studies, how-to steps, and photos/videos.

These types of show elements help demonstrate your points and make the content more interesting.

Link to other resources

Linking to other reputable sources shows you’ve done your research and provides the reader with additional places to learn more.

However, don’t overdo it.

Focus first on providing robust original value in your own content.

Optimize for SEO

Research keywords and incorporate the primary terms throughout your content naturally to help it rank in search engines.

However, don’t let SEO distract you from creating an excellent user experience.

Promote reader engagement

Ask thoughtful questions, encourage comments, request feedback, invite sharing, and otherwise develop a two-way conversation with your audience.

This helps build a community around your blog.

The most compelling blogs provide in-depth, engaging content tailored specifically to the interests of their niche audience.

Develop authoritative expertise readers won’t find elsewhere, and you’ll earn an enthusiastic following.

Promote Your Blog

Driving traffic to your new blog is crucial for growing an audience and gaining influence.

Here are some of the top ways to promote your blog:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Optimize your content and site for search engines by using relevant keywords, meta descriptions, alt text on images, etc. Produce high-quality content that answers search queries to improve rankings.

• Social Media – Promote your blog content across social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and others. Share posts in relevant Facebook Groups and Subreddits. Engage with your audience.

• Email Marketing – Build an email subscriber list and send regular newsletters with your best content. Offer an incentive like a freebie to encourage signups. Send broadcast emails when you publish new posts.

• Guest Posting – Write and publish posts on other blogs in your niche to expose your blog to new audiences. Aim for reputable blogs that get good traffic.

• Link Building – Reach out to other sites and ask to exchange links through banners, buttons, or text links. Focus on high-quality niche sites.

• Advertising – Consider paid ads on Google, social media, or relevant websites. Target keywords and locations. Start small to test performance.

• Partnerships – Team up with complementary blogs and businesses to cross-promote content, run contests, or create joint products.

• Influencers – Connect with industry influencers and thought leaders and ask them to share or link to your posts. Provide value to them first.

The key is using multiple strategies together for amplification.

Continue testing to see which performs best for your niche and audience.

Make Money from Blogging

There are several effective ways to monetize your blog and start earning an income from all the hard work you’ve put into creating great content. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular blog monetization options:

Advertising

• Display ads – Banner ads, text ads, and native ads placed throughout your site are a fast and easy way to earn money. Networks like Google AdSense allow you to quickly monetize your site through their massive advertising pool.

• Affiliate marketing – Promote relevant products and services and earn a commission when your readers make a purchase after clicking your affiliate links. Amazon Associates and CJ Affiliate are some top affiliate programs to check out.

• Sponsored posts – Get paid by brands to create blog content promoting their products/services. Ensure sponsored posts align with your niche and disclose sponsored content to maintain reader trust.

Selling Your Own Products/Services

• Digital products – Create and sell your own ebooks, online courses, video tutorials, templates, and other digital downloads. These don’t require inventory or shipping.

• Physical products – Design your own physical products like t-shirts, crafts, etc. and sell them through your site. Consider print-on-demand dropshipping to save on inventory.

• Services – Offer paid services like consulting, freelance writing, social media management, etc. This leverages your expertise.

• Memberships – Offer exclusive membership sites with premium content, forums, deals, and more for a monthly/annual fee.

Donations and Tipping

• Donations – Allow readers to make voluntary donations if they find value in your content.

• Tipping – Integrate tips or “digital patronage” platforms like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee where readers can leave tips.

With the right monetization strategy tailored to your goals and niche, you can build a successful business around your blog and turn your passion into profits.

Build an Email List (It’s Important)

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow and engage with your audience.

An email list allows you to directly reach your subscribers, keep them updated on new content, promote products/services, and build lasting relationships.

When starting a blog, make building your email list a top priority from day one.

Don’t wait until you have thousands of readers before you start collecting emails.

Even a small, engaged list will help your blog grow.

Here are some tips for building your email list:

• Add an opt-in form on your blog – Display a lead capture form prominently in your sidebar or after blog posts so readers can easily subscribe. Offer an incentive like a freebie to encourage sign-ups.

• Promote your list – Mention your newsletter in blog posts, social media, and anywhere else you engage with your audience. Send new subscribers a welcome email when they join.

• Deliver value with each email – Don’t spam your list with constant promotions/sales pitches. Provide useful tips, exclusive content, or behind-the-scenes info to show your expertise.

• Make it easy to subscribe – Allow subscription by email address or integrating options like Google/Facebook signup. Minimize the steps to subscribe.

• Offer a lead magnet – A free downloadable resource (e.g. ebook, template, or toolkit) given in exchange for an email address.

• Add popups/scroll boxes – Use popups or boxes that slide in as visitors scroll to prompt email subscriptions. But don’t overdo it.

• Segment your list – Separate your list based on interests and engagement level, then tailor your emails accordingly.

• Automate emails – Set up welcome sequences, re-engagement campaigns, promotions, etc to automatically go out. Saves you time.

The larger your email list, the more blog traffic, leads, and revenue you can generate over time.

Continue nurturing and growing your list, and it will reward you for years to come.

Here are my top 5 email marketing options if you need some to test out.

Keep Creating Content 

Consistently creating new content is one of the most important aspects of growing a successful blog over time.

Here are some tips to help you maintain consistency and continually expand your blog:

• Have an editorial calendar. Plan out your blog posts weeks or months in advance. This will help you stay on track and always have new content in the pipeline. Know the topics and headlines you want to cover in advance.

• Vary your content types. Don’t just publish blog posts. Create guides, quizzes, videos, podcast episodes, visual assets like infographics, and more. This provides variety for your readers.

• Set a content creation schedule. This could be daily, multiple times per week, weekly, etc. Find a pace you can stick to long-term. Then actually stick to it. Consistency over a long period of time is crucial.

• Write evergreen content. In addition to trending topics and current events, focus on creating evergreen blog posts. These are posts that will still be useful and relevant months or years later. Evergreen content has greater longevity.

• Promote old content too. Don’t just promote your new posts. Go back and refresh old blog posts with new information, then re-promote them. Reviving your best older content can often lead to more traffic.

• Bring in guest contributors. Recruit industry experts and influencers to write guest posts for your blog. This provides more content while also expanding your reach. But ensure their posts match your niche and quality standards.

• Interlink your content. Reference your related content within new posts through links. This develops a robust internal linking structure over time.

• Expand into other formats. Don’t limit yourself to the written word. Launch a YouTube channel, start a podcast, create an online course, and more. Diversify your offerings while staying on-brand.

• Optimize for SEO. Research keywords, include meta descriptions, use alt text, improve page speed, and employ other search engine optimization techniques. This will help your content rank higher in search engines over time.

• Pay attention to analytics. See which posts do well and learn from them. Understand your traffic sources. Use this info to create more of what works while phasing out what doesn’t.

• Don’t neglect promotion. Allocate time for social media, email newsletters, pitching to other sites, optimizing headlines, and other promotional work to expand your reach. Promotion and distribution are just as important as creation.

Focus on providing value, staying consistent over the long haul, and continually improving.

Maintain this discipline, and your blog will continue growing and succeeding.

FAQ: How to Start a Blog That Makes Money

Q1: What is “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” and how do I use it?

A: “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” is a comprehensive guide that walks you through the process of creating and monetizing a successful blog. To get started, simply follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the guide. You’ll learn how to choose a profitable niche, set up your blog, create compelling content, drive traffic, and monetize your blog through various strategies such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and digital products.

Q2: What are the key features and benefits of “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money”?

A: “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” offers a range of features and benefits to help you kickstart your money-making blog journey. Some key features include:

Comprehensive Guidance: The guide provides detailed, actionable steps from niche selection to monetization, ensuring you have a clear roadmap for success.
Monetization Strategies: Learn proven methods to monetize your blog effectively, including affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and product creation.
Traffic Generation Techniques: Discover valuable tips to drive targeted traffic to your blog, increasing your chances of earning income.
Expert Insights: Benefit from expert tips and advice from successful bloggers who share their experiences and strategies for making money from blogging.
By using “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money,” you’ll gain the knowledge and tools to build a profitable blog that generates income while doing what you love.

Q3: What are some common problems bloggers face, and how does “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” address them?

A: As a blogger, you may encounter common challenges such as attracting traffic, finding profitable niches, and monetizing your blog effectively. “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” addresses these issues by providing:

Traffic Generation Strategies: The guide dives into various ways to attract targeted traffic, including SEO techniques, social media strategies, and content marketing.
Niche Selection Guidance: It helps you identify profitable niches and provides tips for narrowing down your focus to maximize your income potential.
Monetization Insights: You’ll learn proven methods to monetize your blog and overcome hurdles like low conversion rates or finding suitable affiliate partnerships.
With these solutions and tips, “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” equips you with the knowledge and guidance to overcome common blogging challenges.

Q4: Is “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” worth the investment?

A: Absolutely! “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” offers incredible value for aspiring bloggers who want to build a profitable online presence. It provides a step-by-step roadmap, expert insights, and practical strategies to increase your chances of success. By investing in this guide, you’ll save time and effort while gaining valuable knowledge that can potentially earn you a substantial income through your blog. Plus, the return on investment can be significant compared to the modest cost of the guide.

Q5: How does “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” compare to its competitors?

A: “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” stands out from its competitors due to its comprehensive approach, actionable strategies, and affordability. Unlike some other blogging guides, it covers every aspect of starting and monetizing a blog without overwhelming you with unnecessary information. The guide also emphasizes practical implementation, providing specific steps and techniques to achieve your blogging goals. Furthermore, “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” offers excellent value for its price, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.

Q6: What are the warranty, shipping, and return policies for “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money”?

A: Since “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” is a digital product, there are no warranty, shipping, or return policies associated with it. Once you purchase the guide, you’ll have immediate access to download and start using it right away. Should you have any questions or require assistance while using the guide, our customer support team is available to help you.

Q7: Do you have any troubleshooting tips or maintenance advice for using “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money”?

A: To ensure a smooth experience with “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money,” here are a few troubleshooting tips and maintenance advice:

Regular Updates: Stay updated with the latest blogging trends and strategies by actively seeking and implementing new knowledge in your blogging journey.
Technical Support: Should you encounter any technical issues, please reach out to our customer support team for prompt assistance.
Implementing Feedback: Continually evaluate your blog’s performance and user experience. Be open to feedback from your audience and optimize your blog accordingly.
Remember, blogging requires dedication and consistent effort. Following the steps outlined in “How to Start a Blog That Makes Money” and actively maintaining your blog will increase your chances of success.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Overall creating a blog isn’t that hard once you get going.

Consistency like we talked about is key and having a plan.

As you grind it out day to day you will start to see that engagement and traffic grow.

Remember to help first and go from there.