How to start a blog: and make money
Updated: Mar 30
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links if you want to know more about that click here.
In the digital age, blogging has become a popular way to express oneself and share valuable information with the world. But did you know it's also possible to make a significant income through blogging? In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to start a money-making blog, the various ways to monetize it, and the types of blogs that tend to be most successful.
There are countless success stories of regular folks who have started a blog, grew it over time, and quit their jobs to run the blog full time. Here is a quick list:
Click here to start a blog with Wix and get 50% off, then follow the steps below to launch your very own money-making blog. If you want to know why I selected Wix as my blogging platform of choice go here.
Using Wix as your blogging tool is cheap, easy, and comes with a ton of accessories that other blogging tools just can't touch. Check it out, on other blogging sites, they promote starting a blog for as little as $2.95/month. That is just for the basic plan and to get that price you have to sign up for 3 YEARS! Plus, they strip down the features so you have to spend more money!
After you add in features like Codeguard (standard with all Wix sites), SEO tools (again standard with Wix), SSL (free with Wix), SiteLock (fee with Wix), you are looking at an additional $16.25 per month, on top of the $2.95 fee. Compare that with Wix "Unlimited" plan and you can see that Wix is a much better value.
Wix throws in a $150 voucher for Google Ads and another $150 for Microsoft Edge advertising. That's $300 you can use to drive traffic to your website. I took advantage of that $300 and increased site views by 150% within the first 3 months of launching my site! That traffic increase helped me convert my first affiliate sales and being to show me just how powerful blogging as a way of life can be.
As I was searching for ways to make some additional income, I found a ton, but none of them had the type of potential and freedom of writing a blog. There are a ton of bloggers out there that have turned it into their full-time job. A job where they have total freedom to work from anywhere and chose their own hours. If that sounds like something you would be interested in, follow the steps below and get your journey started.
Now let’s start to dig into more of the basics that you should put in place when getting your blog built. These are all things that I read about as I was researching how to build a blog and all tools that I utilize nearly every day to make sure The Saving Dude is taking steps forward.
How to Start a Blog
Starting a blog can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. Follow these steps to get your blog up and running:
Choose your niche: Identify a topic that you're passionate about and have knowledge in. This will help you create engaging and valuable content for your readers.
Select a blogging platform: Popular platforms include WordPress, Blogger, and Wix (this is my preferred tool and if you click this link you will get 50% off!). Research the features and pricing of each platform to determine the best fit for your needs.
Pick a domain name: Your domain name should be unique, memorable, and related to your niche. Use a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap to secure your domain. If you are struggling for ideas, hit up ChatGPT.
Set up hosting: Choose a reliable web hosting provider, such as Bluehost or SiteGround, to store your blog's files and data.
Install your blogging platform: Follow the instructions provided by your chosen platform to install the software on your hosting account.
Choose a theme and customize your blog: Pick a visually appealing and user-friendly theme, then personalize it to reflect your brand and style.
Create valuable content: Write high-quality, engaging blog posts that provide value to your readers and establish you as an expert in your niche.
Promote your blog: Utilize social media, email marketing, and guest posting to increase your blog's visibility and attract more readers.
Ways to Make Money with your Blog
Now that your blog is up and running, let's dive into the various ways you can monetize it:
Affiliate marketing: Promote products or services from other companies and earn a commission for each sale generated through your unique affiliate link.
Display ads: Use platforms like Google AdSense to display advertisements on your blog, earning revenue based on impressions or clicks.
Sponsored content: Partner with brands to create content that promotes their products or services, charging a fee for the exposure.
Sell digital products: Create and sell ebooks, online courses, or printable resources related to your niche.
Offer services: Provide consulting, coaching, or freelance services to your audience.
Membership site: Create exclusive content and charge a recurring fee for access to a members-only section of your blog.
Donations: Accept donations from your readers to help support your blog's ongoing costs and content creation.
Types of Blogs to Start
There are numerous blog niches that can generate substantial income. Some of the most profitable blog categories include:
Technology blogs: Cover topics like gadgets, software, and industry news.
Travel blogging: Share your travel experiences, tips, and destination recommendations.
Personal finance: Offer advice on budgeting, investing, and saving money.
Health and wellness: Provide guidance on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
Lifestyle: Curate content on a variety of topics, such as fashion, home decor, and personal development.
Answering Your Questions
How do you start a blog? As outlined earlier, follow the step-by-step process provided in the "How to Start a Blog" section.
How do you start a blog and make money? Once your blog is established, implement the monetization strategies discussed in the "Ways to Make Money with your Blog" section.
**What is the fastest way to make money blogging?** The fastest way to make money blogging may vary depending on your niche and audience. However, affiliate marketing and display ads are often considered the quickest monetization methods to implement.
What blogs make the most money? Blogs that focus on profitable niches, such as technology, travel, personal finance, health and wellness, and lifestyle, tend to make the most money.
Can you make money blogging? Yes, many bloggers have successfully turned their passion into a profitable business by implementing various monetization strategies.
What is the best way to make money online? The best way to make money online depends on your skills, interests, and goals. Blogging, affiliate marketing, freelancing, and selling digital products are all popular options.
How do bloggers make money? Bloggers make money through a variety of methods, including affiliate marketing, display ads, sponsored content, selling digital products, offering services, creating membership sites, and accepting donations.
How do you monetize a blog? Monetize your blog by implementing one or more of the strategies discussed in the "Ways to Make Money with your Blog" section.
The Basics
The most important step of building our your blog is finding the right platform to support your work. I chose to launch my blog on Wix because they offered a comprehensive suite of tools at a cost substantially lower than what it would have cost me on WordPress. I signed up for the 1-year subscription because they offered me a free web domain and a much cheaper rate. Signing up for a year simply makes sense, if you are going to start a blog, then you need to commit to a full year of work in order to get your blog off the ground.
When I looked into WordPress as an option is was very enticing, but after looking deeper the initial cost of $3 to set up my website ballooned into hundreds of dollars when I added domain registrations, site design, site features, and some things that I thought were super basic parts of building a website that just didn't come with sign up.
Wix provided all those tools and a ton of additional design and site features at a cost that ended up being less than WordPress + all the features needed. WordPress seems like a great option for building your website because a huge portion of the internet runs off WordPress, but once you start to break down your all-in costs you realize that Wix is better bang for your buck.
That's 100% of the reason why The Saving Dude is built by Wix because we get more for our dollar by utilizing Wix as a blogging platform.
One last thing I'll say, sign up for the year long subscription. If you want to build a website and get the best possible cost (i.e. save money) then go for the year long subscription. You get all the same features, including a free web domain, and
If you want to use Wix and get a discount on your subscription, click here.
Website - I use Wix
Wix has been a wonderful tool to set up The Saving Dude and host it. They offer so many cool tools and make it super easy to go from sign up to the full-fledged website in a few minutes. The help they have provided via chat and email when I came up against something I didn't know how to do, has been outstanding. In addition, the number of users being so large makes it really easy to find an answer to my questions via a quick Google search. Click here to go to Wix and start your own site.
One of the most important things you can do for your blog is to create a self-hosted version. This is the difference between https://daisythebulldog.wixsite.com and https://daisythebulldog.com. The second link looks much more professional and when trying to turn it into an affiliate marketing tool you have to be self-hosted or most affiliate programs just won't let you sign up.
Wix is awesome and makes this super easy and will include free hosting if you sign up through my link. In addition, you will get a $150 voucher to both Google Ads and Bing, but only if you sign up for the annual plan, to help get your blog off the ground faster! Here is a quick recap of the best way to set up your blog through Wix
Set up your basic design ( you don't need a blog name or domain just yet
Sign up for the annual plan to get a great deal and become self-hosted
Use your Google and Bing vouchers to get your blog rolling!
One of the other amazing parts about Wix is their easy to use platform. Even more amazing is the all-in-one nature of the platform. When researching the best products to launch a website I saw a lot about Bluehost. More about the pros/cons of WordPress/Bluehost vs Wix here, but for now, let me walk you through the simple 14 click process that gets you from the link above to a site designed by AI and ready for your amazing content.
Click 1: Start Now
Not a lot to say here, just click the "Start Now" button to keep your setup moving along
Click 2: Signup
This is a pretty standard sign up page. Its nice that you can quickly get started using the one click Facebook or Google buttons.
At this point, if you already have your email address set up for your blog I'd suggest using that. This allows you to keep all your credentials in one place.