In this step-by-step guide, I’m going to show you how to start a blog and make money in 2021.
If you’ve read any of these kinds of posts before, this is likely the part where I should be telling you how I’ve been blogging for “X” amount of years and how lucrative it’s been so far.
This is far from that.
I have nothing against anyone’s success (those are things I aspire for) but I want you to know I wrote this post without having made a single dime from this site.
The point being this post isn’t based on previous accolades but on the things I plan on implementing myself and the direction I see blogging headed in 2021 and beyond.
This also won’t be your typical run of the mill “just follow these steps” to launch your blog.
There’s a lot of pertinent information you need to know as a new blogger and I’m going to cover a lot of those things as well.
If you’re pressed for time, you can click on this link to jump straight to the steps.
Or better yet I can email you a FREE copy of my Blogging Course. All you need to do is fill out your best info below.
If you’re really serious and interested in how to start a blog and make money online as a complete beginner, you’re going to enjoy this guide.
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Table of Contents
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission. And that comes at no extra cost to you. Please feel free to read my Affiliate Disclosure for more info.
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START A BLOG
1 - The Odds Are NOT In Your Favor
There are currently over 500 million blogs online and there will be millions more launched by the time you’re done reading this post.
That’s a lot of competition.
Granted not everyone blogs about the same thing but that’s still a lot of blogs businesses vying for people’s attention.
The most appalling statistic is the fact that over 90% of all new blogs will fail.
90 PERCENT!!
That’s a huge number but I believe it really comes down to if you see it as an advantage or disadvantage.
ADVANTAGE: If you’re consistent enough you have an opportunity to be amongst the top tier of people who’ve started a blog and are actually making money from it.
DISADVANTAGE: You give up before you even get started.
I think we both like the former.
2 - Blogging Requires Time and Effort
There’s just no way around it.
You’ll need to dedicate ample time and effort for your blog.
The question you’re probably asking yourself is “how much time do you need?”
Truth is there’s no definitive answer to that question. The more time you have, the better.
But I’m certain you probably have a full-time job and other things that take up your schedule.
That doesn’t make things impossible.
You just need to figure out how much time you can dedicate to your blog and reserve that time strictly for that purpose.
It’s a lot of work but it can be done.
Worthy Read: Is Blogging Easy?
3 - You Will Need to Invest In Your Blog
Can you start a blog for free?
Sure you can.
But should you?
I’ll let you know right now if you’re reading a post about “how to start a blog and make money online” then you need to realize what you’re really interested in is starting a business!
It’s tough for any business to thrive without any investments.
4 - Content is King
You need to start doing your content research right now.
Subpar content won’t get you anywhere. Not in this day and age.
You should focus on quality content all the time.
Everything you’re going to publish or create should be of value to your readers or anyone who comes across your blog.
SIDE NOTE:
I’m going to admit value is a term that gets tossed around very loosely and I’m guilty of that problem.
But the definition of value will ultimately come down to your audience’s needs.
In essence what I’m telling you is you’ll need to spend enough time figuring out what they need and how to solve those problems.
There’s a subtle difference between teaching someone how to find the best running shoes and teaching someone how to run a 7 minute mile.
2 different things yet valuable to the person who’s looking for it.
Yes, you may be a complete beginner but you need to start processing everything you do in that manner.
It’ll have a huge impact on your content and in your business as a whole.
5 - Be Prepared to Learn Continuously
Your blogging journey never ends.
Not even after you start making money from your blog.
There will always be something for you to learn and new skills for you to pick up.
The blogging landscape has changed a lot from what it used to be and will definitely continue to change.
Don’t get left behind.
With all those points in mind, let’s take a look at how to start that money-making blog of yours.
Specifically a WordPress blog.
HOW TO START A WORDPRESS BLOG
Everything in this “how to start a blog” guide is centered around WordPress.
It’s by far the best blogging platform you’ll ever come across.
Without going into a lot of detail, here are some important facts about WordPress and why I recommend it:
- Over 33% of all websites are powered by WordPress
- It’s very flexible and easy to use
- It’s extremely safe and secure
- It’s loved by most Search Engines like Google
The names are similar but there’s a big difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
The difference comes down to who is doing the hosting for your blog i.e do you own the website or is it proprietary to someone else.
WordPress.org gives you full control of your website or blog.
Meaning you have the freedom to do as you see fit.
However you’ll need to sign up for web hosting first.
WordPress.com on the other hand is free to use but has a lot of limitations especially when it comes to making money with your blog.
Needless to say we’re going with WordPress.org.
See: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Key Differences and Which One You Should Use
Short answer is Yes you can.
Sites like Weebly, Wix and Squarespace are other blogging platforms you can use as well.
However in my experience you just don’t have as much flexibility as you do with the WordPress.org CMS.
Yes it is possible but I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.
The “free” options often come with a lot of limitations and they’re just tough to monetize.
You want something with a lot of flexibility and the freedom to do as you see fit.
You can’t have any of that without spending some kind of money.
Good news is that starting a blog is very affordable and I’ll show you how.
WordPress (.org) is literally built for blogging and is the only smart option I’d recommend for anyone interested in how to start a blog.
It’s flexible, it gives you freedom & unlimited control over your site and you can monetize it as you see fit.
In order for you to get started with the WordPress CMS* you’ll need your own domain (web name) and a hosting platform which we’ll cover in the steps below.
(*CMS stands for Content Management System: Just think of it as a piece of software.)
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO START A BLOG FROM SCRATCH
1 - Pick Your Niche
A niche simply refers to a specific topic you’re going to cover on your blog.
What exactly is your website or blog going to be about?
And if you think of your blog as a business and one you’re potentially going to make some money from, then the pertinent questions to ask yourself are:
- Who’s your target audience?
- What issues or problems do they have?
- What solutions can you offer for them?
Ideally the topic could be something you already have some experience in or something you’re interested in or passionate about.
But what you’re really looking for is a blog niche that’s profitable.
The goal of your blog is to provide value for anyone who’s interested in what you have to say.
For example I’m in the blogging niche and naturally any new bloggers would like to know how to start a blog and make money from it.
Hence this post.
Picking your niche (read as picking the right niche) is the most critical step for every blogger.
Everything else you do especially when it comes to making money will depend on the niche or topic you select.
That said, I don’t want you to get stuck trying to find the “perfect” idea.
The important thing you need to do is get started and evolve as your blog grows.
That’s where all the time, effort and research pays off.
As a cheatsheet, you can take a look at what other established bloggers within your niche are already doing.
Do not copy them but use it as a form of research to determine if it’s something worth pursuing.
2 - Pick Your Domain Name
Your domain name is the name of your blog.
Ideally you want to pick a name that reflects your niche or the topic you’re blogging about.
That’s what I did for this blog.
Again this is another area you don’t want to waste too much time trying to find the “perfect” idea or name.
What matters most to your audience is your content – not your domain name.
Think of a name like Apple.
What comes to mind? Fruit or Giant Tech company?
Think about Amazon.
I bet you forgot that is also the name of the 2nd largest river in the world.
Point is your domain name should not hold you back.
Here are a few guidelines to help you:
- Keep it short. Makes it easier for people to remember
- Pick something unique. Allows you to stand out from the crowd
- If possible go with a .com extension. It’s what most people are familiar with
- Make it easy to spell and pronounce
- Use your name. No better representation of yourself
If you’re still feeling stuck you can use a domain name generator such as Namemesh or Domainwheel.
NAMECHEAP – Something for you to Consider
You can choose to either:
- Get your domain name and hosting plan from the same provider OR
- Get your domain name and hosting plan from 2 different companies.
As a common practice, I prefer to purchase my domain name separate from my hosting provider.
So what I did was I purchased my domain name on Namecheap then linked it to SiteGround which is my hosting provider.
It’s not the most convenient option if you’re a beginner but I like it just in terms of flexibility or say maybe I decide to change my hosting provider in the future.
Just something for you to consider.
3 - Select Your Hosting Provider
Your hosting platform is where you get your own share of the internet real estate.
This is where you will host your website or blog and how you’ll get it online.
This is also how you’ll be able to get access to the WordPress CMS I mentioned earlier.
My hosting provider of choice is SiteGround.
- They are an official WordPress recommended hosting provider
- 1-click WordPress install
- 24/7 customer support
- Fast and reliable servers (meaning your site will rarely experience any down times)
- Free SSL certificates aka “https” (It’s an added layer of security required for most websites)
- Free Email
- It is affordable
You can read my complete Siteground review here.
SiteGround Walkthrough
In this simple walkthrough, I’m going to show you how to sign up for and get started with SiteGround.
The steps here are just the basic ones you’ll need to setup your WordPress hosting and have your site up and running.
I go more in-depth into all the SiteGround specifics in my SiteGround review.
You should land on a page that looks similar to the image above.
This is where you’ll choose your hosting.
You’re given 3 options to select from:
- Web Hosting
- (Managed) WordPress Hosting
- WooCommerce Hosting
Select the Web Hosting option. That’s what you’ll need for right now.
2 - Select Your Plan
My recommendation is you select the GrowBig Plan.
It gives you more value for your money in terms of what you need right now as a new blogger.
- More web space (20 GB)
- Can handle more monthly visitors without slowing down (up to 25,000 monthly visits)
- Can be used for unlimited websites (in case you plan on adding more down the road)
- Plus all the other premium features included
It’s the best choice for you to host your blog without worrying about making changes in the immediate future.
3 - Enter Your Domain
You have 2 options here.
You either register a new domain or transfer a domain you already own.
The difference is SiteGround does charge you a fee ($15.95/year) to register a new domain with them.
If you purchased a domain with Namecheap as I previously suggested, this is where you’d enter your site.
So just select the appropriate option for you and proceed over to the next screen.
**P.S. There’s no option for you to skip this step and come back later.**
All you’re doing here is creating your own SiteGround account.
Just fill in the required information.
In this final step you’ll review everything you selected to make sure it’s all correct.
You also have the option to select between a 12, 24 and 36 month period.
The longer the period, the more money you save down the road but keep in mind your upfront cost will be higher.
Personally I’d recommend the 24 month period. The discounts are worth it and it allows you enough time to grow your blog to where it eventually pays for itself.
You also don’t need to pay for the yearly SG scanner because there are other plugins you can download to keep your site safe. (more on those later)
Once you’ve gone through all the steps and completed your payment, you’re all set.
The next 2 things you’ll want to do before you move on are:
- Install WordPress (It’s a simple 1-click install)
- Point your Website to SiteGround (That’s only if you purchased your domain with Namecheap or somewhere else)
4 - Pick Your Theme
Once you’ve chosen your domain name, purchased your hosting plan and installed WordPress, your site is just about ready to go live.
Your next step is selecting a theme.
The theme is essentially the design and appearance of your blog i.e what everyone will see once they visit your website.
Designing your website is a fun process but it can also easily become overwhelming if you’re not tech savvy.
The good news is there are plenty of free themes you can use and all you need to do is simply download and install them.
How to Install A Theme On Your New WordPress Blog
1 – Login to your WordPress Admin area.
Next go to Appearance then select Themes.
2 – You should already have a few options to choose from.
If you want to add a new theme, simply click on Add New.
3 – On this page you can either search for the theme of your choice or upload a new theme by clicking on Upload Theme.
Note: If you’re uploading a theme, make sure it’s a zip file.
4 – Once you’ve found a theme you like, click on the Install button to have it installed in WordPress.
5 – From there all you have to do is Activate the theme or you can do a Live Preview first to see what it looks like.
A Quick Note About Themes
You have the option to get a free or paid theme.
You don’t need a premium theme right out the gate. A free theme will work just fine.
That said, design DOES matter.
Good design builds trust in your reader’s mind.
Think of it as the first impression.
People will judge the quality of your content based on the looks of your website.
Of course you don’t have any control over anyone’s opinion but you have control over the design of your website.
Don’t obsess over it but at the very least keep things neat & tidy and make your content very easily accessible.
My recommendations are either GeneratePress or Astra.
5 - Install Your Essential WordPress Plugins
Here’s the proper definition of what a WordPress plugin is:
“A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites.” – wpbeginner
Simply put, they add more features to your site so you can do more things.
Think of them as the apps on your phone.
Here are 5 essential plugins you’ll need to get started with:
I - Yoast SEO
Yoast is excellent for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) purposes.
It allows you to optimize your content so you can rank higher within the search engines.
The quality of your content will still matter but Yoast acts as a neat guide to make sure you’re doing the right things.
You have the option of both the free and paid version. (The free version works just fine)
II - Google Analytics
The Google Analytics plugin allows you to keep track of your website’s performance and statistics.
It gives you details such as your web traffic, where the traffic is coming from, your most popular posts and a lot more.
It’s completely free but you’ll need to create a Google analytics account first then link your site to it.
III - Social Sharing
You need a means for your visitors to share your content and interact with you outside of your blogs.
There are several social sharing plugins to choose from.
Two options I’d recommend are Social Snap or Social Warfare.
Note: Most of the social sharing plugins are free to download but you’ll notice that a lot of their enhanced features are often only on their pro or paid versions.
IV - Email Service Provider (ESP)
As a blogger, you’ll need qualified leads from Day 1.
These are people who will enjoy your content and could become your potential customers.
As your blog grows you’ll need to get emails, build your tribe and eventually do some email marketing.
That’s where your ESP comes in handy.
You can’t use your regular email account for mass emails because it’s against the law and they’ll likely be marked as spam.
I use MailerLite for all email marketing purposes.
I love MailerLite for a number of reasons:
- It’s very beginner friendly and easy to use
- It’s FREE for your first 1000 subscribers and the pricing after that is still very affordable
- It integrates easily with WordPress and many other platforms
- Lots of automation and design elements – even with the free version
In my opinion it’s the best email service provider to use if you’re on a modest budget or are just getting started .
V - Image Optimization
You’re obviously going to be uploading a lot of images to your blog as time goes by.
While images are great and they help enhance the overall user experience, they do take up a lot of storage space and can potentially slow down your site.
The best way to avoid that is by using a plugin that compresses your images.
A good plugin for image optimization is ShortPixel.
Bonus - Elementor
If you enjoy the designing and changing elements on your website to fit the exact ideas you have in mind then you’ll really enjoy Elementor.
It is by far one of the best plugins I’ve come across that allows you to build a beautiful, fully customized website without any restrictions.
Other Plugins to Consider
- Site Security to keep your site safe from unwanted hackers (Sucuri Security)
- Site Speed – Speed is vital not only for your readers but for SEO purposes as well (WP Rocket)
- Cache – Stores data temporarily and reloads them to help reduce page loading times (W3 Total Cache)
- Backup – Just in case something happens to your site (UpdraftPlus)
How Many Plugins is too Many?
Don’t go crazy with the plugins.
If you have too many they’ll all just end up slowing down your site and even worse, could cause it to crash.
The general recommendation is 10 – 20, with less than 10 being ideal. (and there are still arguments to be made both for and against those numbers)
As a rule of thumb, stick to the ones you really need.
It’s also important to pay attention to your overall site performance after you add any new plugin.
If your site slows down or you notice any other changes then go back and uninstall the plugin before things get worse.
6 - Add Content To Your New Blog (Essential Pages)
You obviously don’t want to send people to a naked website.
There are some basic or essential pages most readers expect to find on your website.
These pages represent what your blog is about, what your readers should expect from you and who you are.
- About Page
This page is exactly what the name suggests.
It’s an opportunity for you to share your story and connect with your readers.
Try not to make it completely about yourself but also add in the value and benefits your readers could get from you.
Tell me what you think of my About Page.
- Disclosures
These pages are important for legal purposes.
You know, the stuff that nobody pays attention to till it’s necessary.
There are a few options here depending on what your site has to offer.
- Terms of Service
- Privacy Policy
- Affiliate Disclosure
- Medical Disclaimer
- Contact Form
Pretty much self-explanatory.
This form allows people to get in touch with you for questions, suggestions, advertising opportunities and so on.
- Resources Page (Optional)
This page isn’t absolutely necessary when you’re just getting started but it’s something you should consider down the road.
It’s basically a page with a collection of tools or products you’d recommend to your readers.
Not just random products but ones that will actually help them achieve whatever goal they may be working on.
- Your First Post(s)
Last but definitely not least is your first post or couple of posts.
Give your visitors something to read so they can spend more time on your site.
Once again this needs to be something of value and should be beneficial to your target audience.
BRIEF SUMMARY ON HOW TO START A BLOG
Here’s a quick review of all the steps we’ve covered so far:
-
- Picked Your Niche (a.k.a Your Blogging Topic)
- Picked Your Domain Name
- Selected Your Hosting Provider (SiteGround)
- Chose A Theme for Your Blog
- Installed Your Essential Plugins
- Added Some Content (or at the very least plan on doing so)
Besides maybe a few tech hiccups here or there, that’s all it takes for you to start a blog.
Follow all those steps and your website should be live and ready to go.
But you are here because you want to learn how to start a blog AND make money.
The latter part is crucial because without it you don’t have a business and you’ll really just be blogging for the sake of it.
So let’s take a look at the different ways you can make money blogging.
10 PROVEN & EVERGREEN WAYS TO START A BLOG AND MAKE MONEY
Here are the 10 best ways you can start a blog and make money online:
- Advertising
- Affiliate Marketing
- Sponsored Posts
- Ebooks
- Online Courses
- Membership Sites
- Consulting
- Freelance Services
- Ecommerce
- Email Marketing
YOU’RE BUILDING A BLOG BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY!
One of 2 things happened after you read that last statement:
- It’s either a light bulb clicked in your head OR
- You said “How dare you?”
I’m certain most people reading this will probably have the 2nd reaction.
But I know you’re smart enough to understand the point I’m trying to make.
Think about this for a second…
How did you get your food today?
What about the roof over your head?
The device you’re reading this post on.
You had to pay for all of those things right?
And I’m sure you’re well aware that all of those businesses made some kind of profit from those sales. They did provide you with a service after all.
The point is you’ll pay for something if it’s valuable to you.
Now ask yourself these questions:
“Do you think your blog will be VALUABLE to your audience?”
“Do you think you’ll be able to offer services in a similar manner to what other legitimate businesses do?”
If your answer is Yes, then why don’t you deserve to get paid for it?
Are your services not as worthy?
Here’s a reminder – You’re building a legitimate business!
A business that will help others and one that will eventually make money.
Embrace it and go out there and provide as much value as you can to your audience.
You’ll get rewarded in return.
There’s nothing wrong with seeing the value in yourself and the quality of your content.
Just my own 2 cents.
1 - Advertising
One of the first ways you can monetize your blog is with the help of Ads simply because they’re easy to set up and get started with.
You apply to an ad network, get approved, then you run the ads on your website and get paid based on the number of clicks, conversions or whatever the requirements may be.
Needless to say your ad income relies heavily on traffic.
The more clicks you can generate, the higher your income – which means you need a lot of people visiting your website.
So if you can grow your blog traffic quickly, ads are one way to start making money.
Keep in mind ads can sometimes be very distracting to your visitors so try not to go overboard if you use them.
Some popular advertising networks for bloggers include:
2 - Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the process of earning a commission by promoting other people’s products.
You act as the middle-man between your audience’s problems and the solutions that can help them.
One of the good things about affiliate marketing is there’s no need to create any product(s) yourself.
For example: I am an affiliate for SiteGround.
I get a small commission every time someone uses my links to purchase a hosting plan or other services on their website.
I don’t feel guilty about making that referral because it’s something of value to anyone interested in how to start a blog and it is something you can appreciate because it’s helpful.
You find a product that’s of value to your audience (preferably one that you’ve tried before or currently use), promote it to them and earn commissions for the sales.
The most important aspect of affiliate marketing is to build trust with your audience instead of just throwing things at them.
You can lean more about this lucrative method to make money online in my Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Beginners.
3 - Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are also commonly referred to as Promoted posts.
You get paid by someone else (could be a brand, a company, or another blogger) to talk about their product on your site.
You can reach out to brands or they can reach out to you to create sponsored posts.
The good thing about sponsored posts is you’re in total control of your pricing rates.
However you should know that the quality of your audience is very important here.
4 - Ebooks
Selling ebooks is another great way to make money online.
Ebooks are a lot easier to create than a traditional book and anyone can self-publish theirs.
But just like everything else you’ve seen so far, your ebook needs to cater to your niche and really needs to solve a particular problem for them.
You’ll also need to work on your marketing skills so you can attract a large, quality audience and generate more sales.
5 - Online Courses
Online courses are the bread and butter for most bloggers and internet marketers.
The right course at the right time to the right audience can lead to a 5, 6 or even 7 figure income for any blogger.
It does take some time, experience and lots of research to create a successful online course but the rewards are well worth the effort.
Your ability to market your course is what makes the difference between the success stories and the ones who simply tried.
6 - Membership Site
Paid membership sites are an excellent way for you to build a steady recurring income.
Essentially people pay to get access to your content (Could be videos, articles, reports, tutorials, etc).
You can also set your payments to monthly, annually or whatever structure you see fit.
If you’re wondering whether people would pay for access or why they would do it, just know the answer is Yes.
That’s simply because we all pay for something if it makes our lives (or journey) easier and if it’s of value to us.
It’s the same way you pay for Netflix, your phone bill or a gym membership.
If you can build a loyal community and show your credibility as an expert, it’s possible to make money with a membership site.
7 - Consulting
If you are an expert or have some authority in any particular field, you can make money online offering help and advice to others.
Don’t let the terms expert & authority intimidate you.
If you have some experience or are willing to dedicate the time to learn about any particular topic, you can turn that knowledge into a profitable consulting business.
It could be 1-1 consulting, group sessions or you could even convert all of that into a marketable online course.
8 - Freelance Services
It’s no secret that people will pay others for skills they need help with.
You pay a mechanic to help with your car, a plumber fixes things around your house and so on.
As a freelancer, your job is to provide services to others for a fee.
There are a lot of skills that are in high demand online.
People need writers, web designers, social media managers, virtual assistants and so on.
If you possess any of those skills you can turn it into a decent part-time side hustle or even a lucrative full-time job.
9 - Ecommerce
Ecommerce isn’t quite the traditional way of blogging but the idea here is it’s also possible for you to incorporate products as part of your money making strategy.
These could be items you created yourself or maybe part of an affiliate marketing program.
For example if you’re a fashion blogger you could create your own clothing or accessories.
It’s not uncommon to see health or fitness bloggers create their own products (supplements, clothing, fitness accessories, etc) and sell them to their audience.
If you can create something your audience will love then you can market it to them.
One way you can incorporate blogging into your eCommerce site is by writing content that your audience can relate to.
10 - Email Marketing
Last but definitely not least is Email Marketing.
Remember I mentioned you need to focus on building your Email list right from Day 1.
You should always strive to convert your visitors into subscribers.
The whole idea behind this is “mainly to create brand awareness and build loyalty and trust by reaching out to people via email.” – BlogTyrant
Your email list comprises people who’ve opted in because in one way or another they appreciated something you had to offer them.
Email marketing by far outperforms any other marketing channel you could have.
A 3,800% ROI to be exact! (You can find more email marketing statistics here)
Let’s make one thing very, very clear though – Your email list is not a “selling list!”
Nobody likes being bombarded with sales emails everyday and that in no way is the intended purpose of an email list.
Your goal is to build a loyal audience – that’s it!
So while it’s true that the “money is in the list”, please don’t make yours full of disgusting spam and every-other-email-is-a-sale pitch.
More on Making Money Online
All of the 10 methods we just looked at are really just strategies or tactics in a much bigger system.
You can pick one or you can use multiple approaches. There’s no one size fits all here.
At the end of the day the only way to make money with your blog is to consistently provide value to your visitors.
What I really want you to remember is your goal is to help others.
The reason a mom and pop shop can coexist with the big chain companies is because they continue to deliver a valuable personal experience and they build a loyal community.
Starting your blog and making money online isn’t any different from that.
You don’t need all the fanciest things a blog could have and you certainly don’t need to be the loudest one in the room.
All you need is an audience that trusts you and can continue to rely on you for valuable information.
That’s how you build a blog business that thrives.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON HOW TO START A BLOG AND MAKE MONEY FROM IT
If you’ve been following along then you’re ready to launch your own blog.
It’s a pretty exciting feeling to build something that belongs to you and can help others.
I wish I could tell you that everything will be smooth from here on out.
Unfortunately it won’t be and I think it’s only fair that I tell you your hardest days are still ahead.
This isn’t meant to scare you but to help you set realistic expectations for yourself.
Your success as a blogger rarely happens overnight. It comes with consistency.
That’s the part most people who write on this particular subject fail to include.
It’s easy to sell you on the dream but it becomes a huge frustration when things don’t go your way and you’re unprepared for them.
Getting a blog online takes no time at all.
Don’t get lost in the design of things or feel like you need to create the perfect site.
None of that matters if you lack quality content – content that your target audience needs and is willing to pay for.
Your job right now is to get started.
You don’t need all the answers and you certainly don’t need perfection.
You get better along the way as you settle into things.
That’s why I chose not to make this post a simple “affiliate” walkthrough.
It’s not that I don’t love the commissions (I’ll be extremely appreciative if you signed up using my links) but I don’t want you to feel completely overwhelmed or unprepared.
The fact that you’ve read this far tells me you’re ready for the challenge and this is something you want to do.
Moving Forward
Congratulations again on starting your own blog, you now have just about everything you need.
These are just some of the important things I want you to focus on as you move forward and as your blog grows.
1 - Quality Content
Content is King.
Quality Content is supreme.
If you’re not going to do anything else just ensure that your content is one your visitors will enjoy reading.
You be the judge of my own content.
If you feel it’s lacking, please let me know where I can improve.
I seriously mean that.
2 - SEO
Search Engine Optimization is a long-term strategy that starts right now.
Getting to page 1 of Google or any other search engine will deliver outstanding results for your business.
I encourage you to read SEO For Bloggers. It covers everything you’ll need to create content that really resonates well with your audience AND Google.
3 - Traffic
I guess this ties into the previous point but this is another reminder that you should always work on growing your traffic.
While it’ll be nice to get all the traffic in the world, your goal is to get quality leads.
People who like what you have to offer.
This site for example won’t make any sense to anyone who isn’t interested in blogging at all.
4 - Your Email List
I know this sounds like a broken record but it’s just that important.
Build your audience and grow your subscriber list.
I also want you to know you’re not on this journey alone.
This is as much of my journey as it is yours and there’s no better feeling than having someone along the way who can share in your experiences.
Everything in this post is based on the research I’ve done, where I started and the things I’ll definitely continue to work on.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I hope that as I continue to document my own blogging journey, I can continue to be of help to you.
FAQ on How to Start A Blog and Make Money Online
Here are 10 different ways you can monetize your blog:
- Advertising
- Affiliate Marketing
- Sponsored Posts
- Ebooks
- Online Courses
- Membership Sites
- Consulting
- Freelance Services
- Ecommerce
- Email Marketing
All of those strategies could work very well for your blog but at the end of the day you need to focus on creating quality content first.
Your audience’s needs comes first.
There’s no specific amount of money you can make with your blog. The potential is limitless.
However the sad truth is most people won’t make any money at all.
So instead of trying to figure out how much you can make, you should focus instead on what you need to do to start making money online.
It ultimately comes down to a few basic steps:
- Create quality content that gets people attention.
- Then use that attention and content to build trust.
- If your audience can trust you then they’re more likely to purchase from you.
Yes blogging is worth it and will continue to be in the foreseeable future.
The better question is if it’s worth it to you?
If you’re willing to put in the time and effort and are willing to stay committed then yes it’s something you should do.
It does take some time before you start getting the results you want.
The amount of pageviews you’ll need depends on your marketing strategy and how you plan on monetizing your blog.
For example different advertising companies require different amounts of views before you even get approved to run ads.
If you’re doing Email Marketing then you don’t really need a huge list.
At the end of the day it isn’t just the size of your audience that matters but the quality of your leads.
Yes.
As long as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) continues to be relevant so too will be blogging.
Blogging is one of the best ways to create content that will get you to the top of the search engines.
So yes it’s still relevant because it’s an excellent way to get free organic traffic and drive more visitors to your website.
A website is essentially a static page. It’s what holds everything together.
A blog on the other hand can be part of a website or a website on its own.
The biggest difference is your blog is regularly updated with new content.
Think of a website as a house and your blog is one of the rooms in it.
