Start a Blog
As someone who needs a very flexible job because of my health and busy life, I knew that blogging would be the best option for me and my life.
And while I worked hard without any income for several months – all my hard work paid off when I was accepted into a premium ad network.
I’m making money from ads and affiliate income now and have branched out to start this blog you’re reading.
Blogging has given me the opportunity to be my own boss, call all the shots, have tons of flexibility, and do something I love by helping others with what I’ve learned along the way.
And you can do the same!
How do you know if blogging is right for you?
Love for Writing: Do you genuinely enjoy writing and sharing your ideas or experiences? Blogging involves creating a lot of content, so it helps if you actually like putting your thoughts into words. You don’t have to be well versed in grammar or a storyteller either. With the help of grammar tools like Grammarly, or shoot, even ChatGPT can correct your text, you’re good to go! And, writing for a blog that answers questions is much different than storytelling anyway.
Interest in a Specific Topic: Successful bloggers usually focus on a specific niche they’re passionate about. If there’s a topic you can’t stop thinking about, blogging about it could be a great fit. For example, I’m super passionate about writing in the money niche and know I’ll be able to write on this forever and a day. My other blog, which is parenting, is a niche I do enjoy but the passion does wax and wane. Ideally, you’d be better off with a niche that lights you up!
Willing to Learn: Blogging isn’t just about writing. You’ll also need to learn about SEO, social media, website management, and maybe even some design work. If you’re up for picking up new skills, you’ll likely find blogging rewarding. This is something that a lot of people don’t realize until they’re neck-deep in the process; it’s very much about learning as you go. Even learning how to use WordPress and the themes that go with it can be overwhelming at first. You just have to be willing to learn and work hard.
Patience and Persistence: Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick thing. It takes time to build an audience and start making money. If you’re cool with the long game and can stick with it, blogging could be for you. This is important to understand right from the get-go because, if you ask any successful blogger, they will tell you that it took months or longer to make money of any kind. Don’t let that discourage you – if you love what you do, you’ll dig in and push through until you’re making money.
Craving Flexibility: If you want a career that lets you work from anywhere and set your own hours, blogging offers that kind of freedom. Just know that you’ll need to be self-disciplined to make it work. Yes, please! I mean that is the ultimate goal for me but not everyone likes this kind of flexibility and no one standing over their shoulder checking in on them, directing them, or giving them job security. If you do like working for yourself and working alone, this could be a great option for you.
Comfortable with Monetization: To turn blogging into a career, you’ll need to figure out how to make money from it—whether that’s through ads, sponsored posts, affiliate links, or selling products. If you’re into trying out different ways to make money online, blogging might be a good fit. You also need to be organized in tracking your income sources and be willing to have your income wax and wane depending on the season or algorithm changes.
Enjoy Connecting with People: Successful bloggers build a community around their content. If you like interacting with readers and building relationships online, this is a good sign that blogging could be your thing. This is something I’m beginning to get more comfortable with but as someone who has sat on the sidelines of the blogging communities out there, I can attest that the bloggers with groups and Tiktok accounts, etc, seem to have a more well-rounded, and quicker to success business. It is not required but is a good idea to have a place/way to connect with your audience.
If these points sound like you, blogging might be the perfect career to explore. It’s creative, flexible, and can be a lot of fun if you’re ready to dive in and learn as you go.
How do you choose a niche?
Choosing a niche for your blog is a big deal, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Here are some tips to help figure it out.
- What Do You Love? Start by thinking about what you’re passionate about. What could you talk or write about for hours without getting bored? Whether it’s travel, cooking, fitness, or DIY projects, your passion is a great starting point because it’ll keep you motivated to keep creating content.
- What Are You Good At? Think about your skills or expertise. Do you have knowledge that others might find helpful or interesting? Maybe you’re awesome at organizing small spaces, or you’ve mastered the art of budgeting. A niche where you can offer value based on your skills is a win.
- What Do People Want to Read? It’s great to blog about something you love, but it’s even better if others are interested in it too. Do some research—check out what’s popular on Pinterest, Google Trends, or even within other blogs. This will give you an idea of what people are looking for.
- What’s Already Out There? Look at what’s already being blogged about in your potential niche. Is the space super crowded? If so, think about how you can bring a unique angle or voice to it. Standing out in a crowded niche can be tough, but it’s not impossible if you bring something fresh to the table.
- Test the Waters: If you’re stuck between a couple of ideas, try them out! Write a few posts on each topic and see which one you enjoy more and which one resonates more with your audience. Sometimes you won’t know what works best until you dive in and give it a shot.
Remember, you can always refine your niche over time as you get a better sense of what you enjoy and what your readers are into. The key is to start with something you’re excited about and see where it takes you!
How do you learn how to blog?
So, hear me out, k?
It’s my opinion that it’s best to invest in your blogging business right out of the gate by purchasing courses from other successful bloggers who’ve gone before you.
I know that isn’t the most appealing advice because a lot of us don’t have a lot of money to invest in something that feels a bit risky out of the box, but learning from those who went before you is a fantastic way to jump-start your business. As a blogger, you are a business owner, and you should look at investing in your blog as investing in the success of your business.
Before I got back into blogging, I purchased a blogging and Pinterest course bundle from the highly successful Sophia Lee of By Sophia Lee. It answered so many questions I had and gave me that jump-start I was just speaking about in my own business.
Since then, I’ve invested in another big blogging course by Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone, and smaller courses and eBooks by various other bloggers.
You can piece it all together by watching YouTube videos and signing up for newsletters but I do believe it’ll be more frustrating and time-consuming than if you purchased a course that held your hand through the process.
Courses and products I recommend
Courses
- Create Your Blog Dream – this course by Lisa Bass is perfect for the brand-new beginner to the idea of blogging as it walks you step by step through everything you need to know. It even helps you with hosting, setting up a theme, and so on.
- Perfecting Blogging – this course by Sophia Lee is what jump-started me into my blogging business. It’s the course that taught me how to treat blogging as a full business and not just a blog on the ‘net. She walks you through blogging, planning your content, and so much more. I also recommend Perfecting Pinterest, which will teach you about using Pinterest as a blogger, which has become a big tool for bloggers lately with the uncertainty of SEO. (Want to bundle them like I did? Click here for that.)
- Perfecting Email – this course is also by Sophia Lee and is all about using email marketing in your blogging business.
- Beginners Guide to Blogging eBook – this is an entry-level eBook by Sophia Lee of By Sophia Lee. If you just need a basic plan and don’t need an entire course that walks you step by step, like the ones I’ve already mentioned, this may be a good option for you.
- Art of Brand Sponsorship by Margaret Bourne is an affordable guide to getting those paid sponsorships we all want as bloggers.
- Blog Post Mastery by Margaret Bourne is an affordable guide all about writing your blog posts!
- Perfecting Social Media – a course all about using social media in your blogging business.
Products, etc.
- BigScoots Hosting – don’t buy the hype that BlueHost is the way to go for beginner bloggers. I’ve heard so many poor reviews about that hosting company. If you’re around the big successful bloggers, you’ll probably hear them say they use BigScoots for their business. It’s who I now use as well and I’ve had nothing but positive experiences and good things to say. And guess what? You don’t have to sign up for the pricey WordPress hosting (that can be a GREAT option down the line when your traffic grows) to get started with them. Look for the shared hosting option and start there. It’s what I use and I like it just fine! Just go to “products” and then “shared”, under the web hosting title, and choose the hosting option you’d like from there.
- The Fast Track Girl Printables – this site is by The Fast Track Girl and teaches you about creating printables in your business. Whether you want a printables arm of your blogging business or simply want to make printables to give away to your newsletter subscribers, this is a good course for that.
- Fast Track Accelerator – by The Fast Track Girl is for the person who wants to make printables a big part of their business. This is a full course and even includes done for free printables!
What blogging tools will I need?
Starting a blog is exciting, but it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what tools you actually need. Here’s a breakdown to help you get started:
Blogging Platform: First, you’ll need a place to host your blog. WordPress.org is super popular because it’s flexible and has tons of plugins. If you’re looking for something more beginner-friendly, platforms like Wix or Squarespace might be easier to start with but I don’t recommend them if you plan to make a full-time living at blogging. WordPress is the gold standard.
Domain Name: This is your blog’s address on the web (like www.yourblogname.com). You can register a domain through sites like Namecheap or GoDaddy. Some hosting services even offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up.
Web Hosting: You need a service to host your blog so it’s accessible on the internet. Bluehost, SiteGround, and DreamHost are popular choices but I personally recommend BigScoots as that’s what I use, love, and have had no trouble with. Many big bloggers use them as well. They all offer different plans depending on your needs and budget.
Theme/Design: The way your blog looks is important, so choose a theme that reflects your style. WordPress has free themes, which I don’t recommend, you can buy a premium one from places like Restored316Designs. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
Writing Tools: To create your blog posts, you might stick with WordPress’s built-in editor, but tools like Grammarly can help you catch typos and improve your writing. If you like planning your content in advance, tools like Google Docs or Evernote can help you organize your ideas.
SEO Tools: To help people find your blog, you’ll want to optimize your content for search engines. Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin that guides you through making your posts more search-engine friendly. Google Analytics is also essential for tracking your traffic and understanding what’s working. I like Keysearch.co for locating good keywords for your blog posts.
Email Marketing: Building an email list is key for growing your blog. Services like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or MailerLite help you create email campaigns and manage subscribers. You can also add sign-up forms to your blog to capture email addresses.
Social Media Tools: Promote your blog on social media with tools like Buffer or Hootsuite, which let you schedule posts across different platforms. Canva is great for creating eye-catching graphics to share on your blog and social media.
Backup and Security: Protect your hard work with regular backups. Plugins like UpdraftPlus can automatically back up your blog. You’ll also want security plugins like Wordfence to keep your site safe from hackers.
Monetization Tools: If you plan to make money from your blog, look into affiliate marketing platforms like Amazon Associates or ShareASale. You might also want to set up an account with Google AdSense to display ads on your site.
These tools will help you get your blog up and running smoothly.
You don’t need everything right away—just start with the basics, and add more as your blog grows!
Final Thoughts and Advice
Becoming a blogger is like starting a new adventure—you never really know where it’s going to take you, but that’s part of the fun! My final piece of advice? Just start. Don’t get too caught up in making everything perfect from day one.
Your blog will evolve as you go, and that’s totally normal. Focus on writing about what you love and sharing your unique perspective.
Consistency is key, so keep showing up even on days when it feels like no one is reading.
Over time, your audience will grow, and you’ll find your groove. Most importantly, enjoy the journey!
Blogging is a great way to connect with others, express yourself, and even make some extra income.
So take that leap, have fun with it, and remember—you’ve got this!