How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 2024 (Even as a Beginner)
Hey there, lovely! If you're here, you’re probably thinking about starting your very own blog - and let me tell you, that's such an exciting journey to embark on! 🎉
But first, let me be real with you. I’m no pro (yet!), but I’ve been doing this for 7 years, and my first website katverse.com was all about The Sims 4. Yup, that’s where I started - playing with my pixelated dolls and talking about it with my fellow simmers! Fast forward to today, and I run this cozy little corner of the internet focused on cozy living, cozy hobbies, and well, mostly cozy gaming. So, if I can figure out this whole blogging thing, trust me, you can too!
In this post, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve done to start and grow my blogs, what I’ve learned, and how you can start making money with your own blog, even as a total beginner. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Find Your Niche and Blog What You Love
The first thing you need to do when starting your blog is finding your niche. This might sound intimidating, but really, it's just about figuring out what you love talking about.
For me, it was super easy at first because I loved talking about The Sims 4, and that became my niche for a while. Then, I moved on to a more general, cozy living vibe - think cozy gaming, hobbies like reading or journaling, and just living a slow, comfy life.
Some other niche ideas you can explore include:
- Lifestyle: From home decor to wellness tips, the sky’s the limit here.
- Food and Recipes: Everyone loves food, right? Share your cooking tips and favorite recipes.
- Fashion: Are you obsessed with style and trends? Turn it into a blog!
- Tech Reviews: If you’re a gadget geek, reviewing tech products is a great option.
- Travel: If you’re always on the move, document your journeys!
The key to picking a niche is writing about what excites you, because trust me - you’ll be talking about it A LOT. And remember that you don’t have to lock yourself into one niche forever. Just start with something you love, and you can always evolve later!
Step 2: Choose a Blogging Platform (I Use WordPress!)
Okay, now that you've got your niche down, let’s talk platforms. There are a ton of options out there - Blogger, Wix, Squarespace, but I’m sticking to WordPress because that’s what I’ve used for all my blogs.
Why WordPress, you ask?
- It’s super customizable.
- It's beginner-friendly, but can grow with you.
- There are so many plugins to help you optimize your site and make blogging easier (hello, Yoast SEO!).
If you’re serious about blogging, I 100% recommend going with WordPress.
Step 3: Secure Your Hosting (I Use Hostinger, but There’s More!)
Once you’ve decided on your platform, you’ll need to get hosting. Basically, hosting is where your blog "lives" on the internet. Here are a few great hosting options to consider:
- Hostinger: This is what I personally use. They offer one-click WordPress installation and very affordable plans, and I have a special 20% off link you can use! (Check out Hostinger here).
- Bluehost: A popular option for new bloggers. They also offer one-click WordPress installation.
- GoDaddy: Known for their domain services, but their hosting is reliable too.
Once you have your hosting, you’ll need to pick a domain name. This is one of the most fun (but sometimes stressful) parts of starting a blog. Make sure your domain is memorable, easy to spell, and not too long.
Pro tip: If your dream domain name is taken, try adding words like “the,” “blog,” or “official” to make it unique.
Step 4: Design Your Blog (Etsy for the Win!)
Now for the fun part - designing your blog! When I started, I was totally overwhelmed by design. But then I found Etsy, and it has been a total game-changer for me. Etsy has a ton of gorgeous, easy-to-use WordPress themes, often at super affordable prices.
One of my favorite sellers is Studiosaroya. Their themes are not only beautiful but also beginner-friendly. Trust me, a good design can really make your blog stand out, but if you’re on a tight budget, using a free WordPress theme is totally okay too! The main thing is to keep your design clean and user-friendly.
Step 5: Monetize Your Blog (Yes, You Can Make Money!)
Let’s get into the juicy stuff - how to make money blogging. There are a few ways I’ve been able to monetize my blogs, and while I’m not rolling in dough yet, it’s definitely been profitable. In fact, for years it has been my main source of income. Here are some ideas:
- Affiliate Marketing: This is where you recommend products and earn a commission if someone buys through your link. I use affiliate programs like Amazon, and it’s a great way to make passive income. I started doing this quite recently so I can't talk too much about it yet.
- Ads: I use a combination of Google AdSense and Ezoic for ads. Google AdSense takes some time to set up, but once you start getting more traffic, Ezoic can help you earn more.
- Sponsored Posts: This one is trickier, especially when you're starting, but once you gain traction, brands may pay you to promote their products.
- Digital Products: Whether it’s selling printables, e-books, or even online courses, digital products are a fantastic way to make money. It’s all about finding what your audience would love.
Step 6: Learn SEO (It’s Not as Scary as It Sounds)
You’ve probably heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), but what is it, really? SEO is basically how you get your blog posts to show up on Google when people search for stuff. And trust me, learning SEO is key if you want to get traffic to your blog.
The good news is that you don’t have to be an SEO wizard to start. I use a plugin called Yoast SEO (free version!) that walks you through optimizing each post. It tells you if your post is too short, if you’ve used your keyphrase enough times, and even helps with your readability.
If you’re just starting out, focus on using your keyphrase naturally in your blog titles, headings, and throughout your content. (BTW, the keyphrase for this post is “how to start a blog and make money” 😉).
Step 7: Be Patient and Stay Consistent
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it - blogging takes time. In fact, it can take up to a year before you really start seeing significant money come in. For the first few months, you might only see a few cents here and there (unless you get super lucky or already have a big following). But don’t give up!
The most important thing is to be consistent. Post regularly, engage with your audience, and keep learning. Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. And trust me, consistency pays off in the long run. Before you know it, you'll see those small wins turn into something bigger.
Conclusion: You’ve Got This!
So, there you have it - a beginner’s guide to starting a blog and making money. I know it can feel overwhelming, but trust me, if I can do it, so can you. Blogging has been one of the most rewarding (and fun!) things I’ve ever done, and it can be for you too.
Remember, find your niche, pick a platform like WordPress, design a site you love, and stay consistent. And most importantly, have fun with it! Don’t stress if you don’t see instant results; it’s all part of the journey.