Start a Blog and Make Money Online: The Ultimate Blogging Guide for Newbies

Have you ever thought about starting a blog? With over 600 million blogs on the internet, blogging is one of the most popular ways for people to express themselves creatively, share knowledge, and even generate income.

If you’re a newbie looking to start a blog and hopefully make some money from it, you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know, from choosing a niche and setting up your site, to attracting readers and eventually monetizing your blog.

Why Start a Blog?

Here are some of the main reasons you should consider starting your own blog:

• Share your passion or expertise – Blogging allows you to write about a topic you’re passionate about and provide value to readers interested in your niche.
• Express your creativity – You can use your blog as an outlet for creative writing and self-expression.
• Influence and help others – By blogging you can share your experiences, tips and advice to help or inspire others.
• Establish credibility – A blog can enhance your professional reputation and expertise in a field.
• Make money – Successful blogs can generate income through advertising, affiliate marketing, digital products and more.
• Be your own boss – As a blogger you have full control over your work and can work anywhere with an internet connection.

No matter what draws you to blogging, starting your own blog has never been easier. With a few simple steps you can get your blog up and running in no time.

How to Start a Blog in 9 Easy Steps

Follow this step-by-step guide to start your own blog today:

1. Choose Your Blog Niche

The very first thing you need to do is decide on a blog niche.

Your niche is your blog’s subject focus. This should be something you’re passionate about and can write a lot of content around.

Some popular blogging niches include:

• Health and fitness
• Food and cooking
• Travel
• Parenting and family
• Fashion and beauty
• Personal finance
• Home improvement
• Self-help and motivational
• Technology and gadgets

Make sure to choose a specific enough niche to create an authoritative site on. Avoid niches that are too broad like “lifestyle” or “women’s interests”.

Once you’ve selected your niche, you can move onto the next steps.

2. Find the Right Blogging Platform

The next key decision is choosing a blogging platform to build your site. Some top options include:

• WordPress.org – Most popular platform used by over 60% of all sites. Lots of customization options.
• Blogger – Free blogging service from Google. Limited customization.
• Wix – Drag and drop website builder with integrated blogging features.
• Squarespace – Beautiful templates and easy customization.

WordPress.org is usually the best choice for a serious blog. The open source CMS gives you full control and ownership of your site. There are also thousands of plugins, themes and customization options.

3. Register a Domain Name

Now it’s time to get your own domain name or URL for your blog.

Your domain should be short, memorable and contain your primary keyword. For example:

• healthylivingjourney.com
• foodloversblog.com
• mytraveladventures.net

Purchase your domain name from a registrar like Bluehost. Expect to pay around $15 per year.

4. Find Web Hosting

In order to publish your blog online, you’ll need web hosting.

Web hosts store your blog’s files on their servers and deliver your content to site visitors. The best web hosting option for WordPress blogs is shared hosting.

Some top picks for affordable and reliable WordPress hosting include:

• Bluehost – Popular managed WordPress hosting starting at $2.75 per month.
• SiteGround – Fast WordPress hosting with free CDN and auto updates.
• A2 Hosting – Optimized WordPress hosting for faster page loads.

Look for a plan that includes WordPress installation, daily backups, and hosting for multiple websites.

5. Install WordPress

With your hosting account set up, you can now install WordPress on your account.

Most hosts make this an easy 1-click process. Just log into your account and look for a “WordPress Install” option.

Once installed, you can access your WordPress dashboard to start building your blog.

6. Customize Your Blog Design

Next, it’s time to work on your blog’s look and feel by customizing the design.

Start by choosing a free WordPress theme that suits your niche. Search the WordPress theme directory or use a recommendation tool.

Some popular free themes for bloggers include:

• Astra
• GeneratePress
• OceanWP
• Sydney
• PopularFX

Install and activate the theme from your WordPress dashboard. Then use the customization options to tweak colors, fonts, layout and other design elements.

You can further customize your blog’s design manually or by hiring a developer.

7. Create Logo, Graphics and Media

Every great blog needs a logo, photos, graphics and other media.

Here are some easy ways to create visual content for your blog:

• Design a logo using Canva or Looka.
• Find free stock photos on Unsplash or Pexels.
• Create graphics with Canva or Venngage.
• Make videos with Biteable or Animoto.
• Hire a designer on Fiverr for custom graphics.

Images and videos help make your content more visually engaging.

8. Write Quality Blog Content

Now the fun part…writing blog posts!

Aim to publish at least two new blog posts per week. Make sure your content is:

• High-quality – Write in-depth posts that add value for readers. Include tips, how-tos, roundups etc.
• Optimized – Use target keywords and optimize posts for SEO.
• Engaging – Create compelling headlines and introductions. Use lists, images, quotes and videos to draw readers in.
• Shareable – Write content that naturally encourages social shares.

Focus on informational posts around 500-1500 words long to start. The most valuable tool for any blogger is a content calendar to plan upcoming posts.

9. Promote Your Blog

Creating content is just the first step. To build an audience you need to actively promote your blog.

Some effective ways to market a new blog include:

• Submit your latest posts to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
• Participate in relevant online communities and forums. Provide value and link back to your content.
• Connect with influencers in your niche and guest post on their blogs.
• Build backlinks by contributing guest posts to other sites.
• Share your posts on forums like Reddit, StumbleUpon and Quora.
• Tell friends and family about your new blog and ask them to share it.
• Include social sharing buttons on posts to encourage sharing.

With persistence and consistency, you can steadily grow your blog’s readership.

How to Make Money Blogging for Beginners

Once your blog is up and running, you can start implementing different monetization strategies. Here are some of the most popular ways to make money blogging:

Display Advertising

One of the easiest ways to generate revenue is by joining an ad network like Google AdSense. Apply and place ads on your site once approved. You earn money when visitors click on the ads.

Contextual text ads usually have the highest click-through rates and earnings. Place them strategically within your content.

Affiliate Programs

Sign up for affiliate programs relevant to your niche and promote affiliate products/services on your site. You earn a commission for each sale you refer via affiliate links.

Top affiliate platforms include:

• Amazon Associates – Earn up to 10% commission on Amazon products.
• ShareASale – Thousands of affiliate programs across all verticals.
• Rakuten – Large affiliate network with over 2500 merchants.
• Impact – Leading affiliate network focused on digital products.

Only recommend products you genuinely like and find value in. Transparency builds reader trust.

Sell Your Own Digital Products

Create your own digital products like eBooks, courses, cheat sheets and more. Sell them on your blog or third party marketplace.

Some popular platforms to sell your digital products include:

• E-junkie
• Gumroad
• Teachable
• Selz

Information products related to your niche tend to convert well. Offer high perceived value at a reasonable price point.

Consulting/Freelancing Services

Offer your expertise as a consultant or freelancer to blog readers. This could involve services like:

• Social media management
• Content creation
• Website design
• SEO services
• Video creation
• Data analysis

List your services and pricing on your blog or third party sites like Fiverr.

Memberships and Courses

Consider offering exclusive members-only content and community access for a monthly fee. You can also create premium online courses on hot topics in your niche.

Use a platform like MemberMouse or Kajabi to host and sell access. This recurring revenue stream can be quite lucrative.

Sell Advertising and Sponsorships

Once you achieve a sizable audience, you can approach relevant brands to advertise or sponsor your blog. Common options include:

• Sponsored posts
• Text link ads
• Banner ads
• Contest sponsorships
• Giveaway sponsorships
• Brand ambassador roles

Come up with creative and customized sponsor packages for brands. Make sure to disclose sponsored content.

Crowdfunding and Donations

Superfans may donate to your blog if you provide a ton of value consistently. You can also run one-time crowdfunding campaigns for special projects.

Enable PayPal donations or use a crowdfunding platform like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee.

Be judicious sending too many donation requests which can annoy readers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Blog

Still have some questions about how to start a successful money-making blog as a beginner? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

How much does it cost to start a blog?

Starting a blog with WordPress can cost as little as $25-40 for the first year. You’ll need to buy a domain ($15), shared hosting ($5-10 per month) and optional premium theme ($60 per year). Many free themes are also very customizable.

Can you make money blogging?

Yes, you can absolutely make money blogging once you achieve some consistent traffic. With hard work and persistence, it’s possible to earn anything from a few hundred to tens of thousands per month. But it does take time to build an audience and income streams.

How long until my blog makes money?

Most bloggers don’t start making decent income for 6-12 months. Building traffic and implementing monetization takes patience. With consistent hard work, you may earn your first $100 within a couple months. But it takes 6-12 months to scale up earnings.

Do I need to be a good writer to start a blog?

No specific writing experience is required. You can easily improve writing skills over time. Focus on providing valuable information readers want in a conversational style. Authenticity is more important than perfect writing.

How do I promote my blog?

Some effective ways to promote a new blog include social media marketing, SEO optimization, building backlinks, guest posting, online community engagement, and word-of-mouth promotion.

What should I blog about starting out?

As a beginner focus on blogging about evergreen topics and basics within your niche. For example “Blogging for Beginners”. Provide lots of tips and actionable advice. Then expand into more advanced topics over time.

Starting a successful blog that makes money takes dedication and hard work. But it can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor, both creatively and financially. With the right approach and persistence, anyone can turn blogging into a viable income source and business. Use this comprehensive guide to start your blogging journey off right.