How to Start a Blog and Make Money: 10 Essential Steps

Do you want to create a new blog? In this comprehensive article, I have discussed everything about blogging, such as the definition of blogging, the best blogging platforms, making money with blogging, and the necessary steps to start a blog and make money online for free as a beginner.

Building a money-making blog is definitely the best way to make passive income and a sustainable online business. Blogging is a platform for individuals who aspire to become experts in their field or have topics they wish to share with others. It doesn’t require significant upfront costs, and it can also generate enormous income through methods such as affiliate marketing and sponsored posts.

If you would like to add extra income or build a full-time blogging career, there are many ways in which starting your blog can help with that.

This guide will help you through the fundamental steps necessary for starting a blog, including the selection of a profitable niche and the effective monetization method for your blog, enabling you to start generating revenue from your content.

What is Blogging?

Blogging is the act of consistently writing and publishing posts on a website to provide insights, opinions, or information on any topic. Blogs, a concept first introduced from the term “weblog,” are primarily written and used as a personal diary on the web where people share their experiences and notes about lifestyle, finance & business, technology, DIY & crafting, cooking, home decoration, traveling, gardening, etc. Most blogs are updated regularly with helpful content and cover a wide range of topics. The blog is a platform where people can learn new things and reply to comments about their questions or queries.

Why Do You Need a Blog?

If you’re looking for a way to generate income passively or even while you sleep, blogging is the best option. Furthermore, a regular job is insufficient to support our family adequately. In this situation, generating a side income is essential for our improved standard of living. A blog has the potential to generate substantial income while working part-time in your spare time. Why would you miss out on this? Start creating a blog today and create a source of passive income for your life.

Fastest Ways to Make Money Blogging

Blogging is a long-term passive income idea. There is no shortcut way to make money. You have to work hard for the first 3 months without any revenue or income. When your blog reaches a good amount of traffic, you can start making money with various monetization methods. Here are a few of the fastest ways to make money blogging:

• Affiliate marketing: One of the fastest methods for you to start earning income from a blog. This means you can earn affiliate commissions when readers buy products or services through your affiliate links. Some of the well-known programs are Amazon Associates, CJ and ShareASale.
• Promoted Posts: If you work with brands and do sponsored posts, then it can give you fast money. They pay you to write about their products or services, and the amount you get is determined based on your audience and how engaged they are.
• Ads: Putting ads on your blog via ad networks like Google AdSense can help you earn money while you sleep if your blog already has some traffic going to it.
• Digital products or courses: After you have established your niche, you can create digital products to start generating revenue very quickly, for example, e-books or courses.

These strategies, when combined, allow bloggers to make their first bucks quickly while also building long-term income streams.

10 Best Blogging Platforms to Start a Blog and Make Money

If you search on Google, you will find a lot of free blogging platforms that allow you to create a blog in minutes. Here are the 10 best blogging platforms and website or blog builders to start a blog and make money in 2024:

1. WordPress.org

WordPress.org is a free platform that enables you to have complete control of the content on their site. Matt Mullenweg made this in 2003, and the reason it is popular is the flexibility that it offers. You can create your personal blogging website using this free platform.

• Monetization Options: Ads, affiliate marketing, selling products, sponsorships.
• Why It’s Best: Offers complete control and flexibility with thousands of plugins to expand functionality.
• Cost: Free to use, but hosting costs start at $2-5/month.

2. Medium

Medium was developed in 2012 by Evan Williams, who is well-known as one of the co-founders of Twitter. It is a site that promotes engaging content and a good community.

• Monetization Options: Medium Partner Program (earn based on reader engagement).
• Why It’s Best: Great for writers who want to focus on content without a technical setup.
• Cost: Free to use, but a paid membership starts at $15/month, which unlocks additional features.

3. Blogger

Blogger is a free platform owned by Google. It was launched in 1999 by Pyra Labs, and it is simple and easy to use and integrates with Google ads. It was purchased by Google in 2003. By using this free platform for beginners, you can start a blog and make money online for free.

• Monetization Options: Google AdSense, affiliate marketing.
• Why It’s Best: Simple and free platform for beginners with easy integration into Google services.
• Cost: Free.

4. Wix

Wix was started in 2006 by three men: Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami and Giora Kaplan. Nowadays, it is a website builder that targets people without knowledge of tech-enabled websites.

• Monetization Options: Ads, memberships, subscriptions.
• Why It’s Best: Drag-and-drop interface with customizable templates for non-tech-savvy users.
• Cost: Free plan available; premium plans start at $17/month.

5. Squarespace

The company Squarespace was established in 2003 by Anthony Casalena with a vision of operating a blog hosting service. The intention has materialized over time as Squarespace is now a website creator that has eCommerce functionalities as well.

• Monetization Options: Paywall, product sales, services.
• Why It’s Best: Beautiful design templates and built-in eCommerce tools.
• Cost: Paid plans start at $16/month.

6. Ghost

Ghost, created in 2013 by John O’Nolan, is a content-focused, tool-enabled, open-source replacement for WordPress targeted at people wishing to minimize bulk on their website. It was developed as a page to host pure content.

• Monetization Options: Memberships, subscriptions.
• Why It’s Best: Ideal for content creators focused on simplicity and fast publishing.
• Cost: Starts at $9/month.

7. Kajabi

Kajabi was founded by Kenny Rueter in 2010, providing comprehensive support from website design to email marketing and payment processing. It targets creators who produce courses and memberships focusing on selling digital products.

• Monetization Options: Course sales, memberships, email marketing.
• Why It’s Best: Perfect for bloggers who also want to sell courses or digital products.
• Cost: Starts at $27/month.

8. Tumblr

Tumblr is a fusion of social networks with blogging tools that provides a unique microblogging experience, which was started by David Karp in 2007.

• Monetization Options: Ads, affiliate marketing, Post+ subscriptions.
• Why It’s Best: Social media integration makes it easy to share and promote content.
• Cost: Free.

9. HubPages

On December 12th, 2006, Paul Edmondson launched Hubpages, designed as a revenue-share platform allowing users to post articles on any topic and get paid through ads.

• Monetization Options: Revenue-sharing from ads (60% split), affiliate marketing.
• Why It’s Best: Great for freelance writers looking for multiple income streams.
• Cost: Free.

10. Weebly

David Rusenko started Weebly in 2006 as a simple web construction tool for university students to publish their portfolios online.

• Monetization Options: Ads, product sales, affiliate marketing.
• Why It’s Best: Simple drag-and-drop editor for easy customization and monetization.
• Cost: Free plan available; premium plans start at $10/month.

Each platform offers unique features and monetization options, so choose based on your goals and technical expertise.

How To Create A Blog For Free On Google And Earn Money

Here is a step-by-step guide about how to create a blog for free on Google and earn money that allows you to set up your blog through Blogger. It is free for all; you can monetize it through AdSense and affiliate ads.

1. Register a Blogger account

Check out Blogger.com and log in with a Google account. Try selecting the “Create a Blog” tab; from there, pick a name for the blog, a URL, and also a theme. Edit the layout of your blog and even the templates using Blogger tools.

2. Focus on Writing Articles

Focus on writing articles about engaging topics and topics of your niche. Update your blog with new posts on a consistent basis to engage the audience.

3. Apply for Google AdService

Once you put out some content, consider applying for Google Adsense. It gives you the ability to showcase ads on your blog. Google will assess whether or not your blog is eligible, and if everything goes well, then you will be free to generate money from their ads through clicks or impressions. Because it automatically places the most suitable advertisements for your blog, AdSense is one of the quickest techniques to earn cash.

4. Implement Affiliate Marketing

Create an account on networks related to your blog, like Amazon Associates. Add affiliate links to your posts to promote products. You will get commissions for every purchase made through these links by readers.

5. Post Sponsored Advertisements

When your traffic increases, you might also be approached for sponsored content by the brands. You can bill them to publish posts advertising their products or their services.

By following these steps and directing your focus on increasing traffic, you can start making money from your free Google blog. If you want to earn money with Blogger in 10-12 minutes, put some hot or seasonal affiliate links in your blog posts, then share them on social media sites, especially on relevant Facebook groups. This way, you will get instant traffic to your blog and earn money.

Income Potential of a Blog

A blog can give you a limitless income. A money-making blog can give you passive income for a lifetime. The standard monetization methods are display ads, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, selling personal services/courses, etc. You do not need to work for a lifetime. You have to work hard for the first few months; then, your blog will generate money on autopilot.

So, why are you waiting for? Decide to start a new blog and make money today.

How to Start a Blog and Make Money: 10 Essential Steps

Step 1: Choose Your Niche

You have to pick a topic based on your interests and expertise before you even start blogging. The niche you choose will determine your blog’s topics and audience.

Common niches include:

• Personal Finance
• Health and Fitness
• Travel
• Food and recipes
• Technology
• Parenting
• DIY projects

Step 2: Select a Blogging Platform

There are several platforms for blogging that you can pick from. Here are two popular choices:

• WordPress.org: This is a self-hosted platform where you have complete control of the blog. First, you need to purchase a domain and web hosting.
• WordPress.com: WordPress.com is a hosted platform that offers limited control yet is user-friendly for beginners.
• Blogger: A free platform for beginners owned by Google.

Step 3: Get a Domain Name and Web Hosting

Domain Name: Pick a domain name that represents what your blog is all about—something simple to remember and ideally has main keywords in it. For example, if you are writing about fitness, a domain like “fitlifestyle.com” would work well.

Web Hosting: You need a web host to store your blog files on. Some popular web hosting services are:

• Bluehost (Top Recommendation for WordPress)
• SiteGround
• HostGator

How to Set It Up:

• Choose a trustworthy hosting provider and buy a plan.
• Register your domain
• You have the option to install WordPress through your host dashboard, which offers a one-click installation.

Domain and hosting are the crucial part to start a blog and make money.

Step 4: Install a Theme and Customize Your Blog

After installing WordPress, you can select a theme that represents the outline of your blog. WordPress has free and premium themes.

• Free Themes: The WordPress theme directory contains free themes that are better suited for beginners.
• Premium Themes: Premium themes provide additional features and a fully customizable option (e.g., Astra, Divi, GeneratePress).

After selecting a theme:

• Personalize it with your own logo, colours, and fonts, as well as add widgets like social media buttons or a search bar.

Step 5: Install Essential Plugins

A plugin adds additional functionality to your WordPress blog. Here are some basic plugins for beginners to use:

• Yoast SEO: Yoast SEO optimizes your content for search engines.
• WP Super Cache: Improves site speed by caching content.
• Akismet: Akismet is a tool that helps prevent spam in your comments.
• Google Analytics: Google Analytics for WordPress tracks website traffic and user behaviour.

Step 6: Create Essential Pages

Here are four essential pages you need to create on your site before writing any blog posts.

• About Us: Create an About page to introduce yourself and explain your blog.
• Contact Page: Provide a way for readers and potential collaborators to get in touch with you.
• Privacy Policy: The Privacy Policy Page is essential for sites that collect personal data.
• Terms of Service Page: If you plan to sell products or services, having a Terms of Service page is crucial.

These pages are important for your blog to make money from Google AdSense.

Step 7: Start Writing Blog Posts

Now is the right moment to start creating content. Here are the steps that you will need to follow to write your first article:

• Keyword Research: You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs to find keywords that are relevant to your niche.
• Content Structure: Use headings (H1, H2, H3) to structure your content and make it easier to read.
• Write Engaging Content: Write excellent content. Your posts should provide answers, solve problems, and be valuable.
• Add Images: When writing long textual posts, insert relevant images that are of high quality to hold viewers’ interest and make the text presentable. Websites like Unsplash and Pexels offer free images.

Create a posting schedule that is consistent, whether it be once a week or twice a month.

Step 8: Optimize for SEO

To get search engine traffic, optimize your blog for SEO.

• On-page SEO: Include target keywords in your title, meta description, and throughout the content.
• Image Optimization: Use alt text for images, describing them using relevant keywords.
• Internal Linking: Link to other blog posts within your site to improve navigation and SEO.
• Use SEO Plugins: As mentioned earlier, Yoast SEO or RankMath can guide you through proper optimization.

The better you do SEO, the more traffic you will get that leads to more money.

Step 9: Promote Your Blog

Once you have published a few blog posts, begin promoting your blog and growing your audience.

• Social Media: Share your blog posts through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list using tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
• Guest Posting: You can increase your exposure by guest posting on other blogs in your niche.
• Join Blogging Communities: Be a part of blogging forums or Facebook groups and communicate with people who have the same interests as you.

Step 10: Monetize Your Blog

Once you have started your blog and got more traffic, you can make money. Some of the most common methods of monetizing a blog are:

• Affiliate Marketing: You recommend products, and you make a commission when someone buys them through an affiliate program like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or CJ Affiliate.
• Google AdSense: You can place ads on your blog and receive payment based on the number of visits or clicks.
• Sponsored Content: Work with brands to write paid blog posts.
• Sell Digital Products: You can sell eBooks, courses, or printables that relate to your niche.

Step 11: Analyze and Improve

Use tools such as Google Analytics to monitor the performance of your blog regularly. You should monitor:

• The sources of traffic include search engines and social media.
• Check out the most popular posts to see which topics resonate the most.
• User behaviour refers to the duration of time visitors spend on your website.

Make improvements based on these insights, such as updating old content or speeding up the loading times of your site, and focus more than ever before.

Conclusion

By following the above tips, you can start a blog and make money. Blogging can be a very satisfying journey, allowing you to share your knowledge or expertise with others while earning money at the same time. You can make your blog popular if you follow these steps and are consistent with your posts, promotions, and SEO work.