How to Start a Blog in 2024 10 Easy Steps
Is it still possible to make money blogging in 2024? Yes – it is!
Most likely you’ve found your way to this post because you’re searching about starting a blog or how to make money online.
Maybe you’ve read about other successful bloggers and their stories and you want to see how you could do the same thing.
I’m here to tell you that you can get paid for blogging in 2024.
If you have no clue how to begin? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people just like you have started successful blogs.
I started my own blog with similar doubts, but I stuck with it and learned along the way and blogging become my primary source of income – giving me financial freedom and the ability to work from home.
One of the most common questions I received from friends and readers was how to start a blog. I remember being just like you and staring at the computer, thinking, ‘How do I do this? This seems so overwhelming.’
My blog changed my life, and I’m passionate about helping others achieve the same level of success that I did.
If you want to start a blog, I promise you, it’s quick and easy and painless. Trust me. When I started I knew nothing about computers or starting a blog and I was able to do it with Bluehost in literally under 10 minutes!
What qualifies me to give you blogging advice?
Now, you may be wondering, who am I and what makes me qualified to tell you how to start a blog? That’s a good question – there are so many websites out there telling you how to start a blog, so why should you listen to me?
I’ve been blogging since 2006, and I taught myself everything I know (read my story here). I grew my blog from an idea to over 4 million pageviews per month. Eventually, I was able to quit my nursing job and work from home, and I earned well over $25k per month. Eventually, I sold the blog for six figures, which gave me financial freedom to pursue other ventures.
So….you’ve come to the right place if you’ve always wanted to start a blog and want some guidance. I promise you, I’m nothing special and had no clue what I was doing at first. I really just want to help you achieve your goal – I put together this easy 10 step tutorial to make it easy for you. YOU CAN DO THIS!
10 Steps to Start a Blog in 2024
Step 1: Find Your Niche
The first thing you need to do is pick a topic. You should pick a topic that you are interested in, but also one that can last for a long time and has high search volume. If your blog is about something people are searching for, then it is more likely to get traffic from Google searches. My blog was about celebrity babies and my blog name was celebritybabyscoop.com. I got a lot of traffic from google because keywords (what people were searching for) were in my blog name.
- Parenting and Family
- Personal Finance
- Health and Wellness
- Lifestyle and Travel
- Tech and Gadgets
Your niche should combine your passions with what your audience is searching for. The more targeted your niche, the easier it is to attract a dedicated readership.
Step 2: Pick a Blog Name
Your blog name should reflect your niche and be easy to remember. Here are a few tips:
- Make it relevant to your niche (e.g., “HealthyMomLife” for a health blog).
- Keep it short and simple.
- Avoid numbers and hyphens, as these can make the name harder to share.
Once you’ve brainstormed a few names, check to see if the domain name is available using tools like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
CelebrityBabyScoop.com was a little longer than I would have liked, but it contained the keywords my readers were typing in to google.
Step 3: Choose Blogging Platform & Hosting
The most popular blogging platform is WordPress, which offers flexibility, customization, and scalability as your blog grows. You’ll need a self-hosted WordPress.org site to access advanced features like plugins and SEO tools.
For blog hosting, some reliable options are:
- Bluehost (beginner-friendly and affordable)
- SiteGround (fast and secure)
- HostGator (great customer support)
Step 4: Install a Theme
Your blog’s design is the first thing visitors will notice. Choose a theme that’s responsive (works on all devices), professional, and aligns with your niche. WordPress offers both free and paid themes, and you can customize them further to match your brand.
Popular theme platforms include:
Kadence (lightweight and customizable) – This is what I use.
Astra (fast and flexible)
Divi (drag-and-drop builder)
Step 5: Set Up Essential Plugins
Plugins add extra features and functionality to your blog. Some essential plugins for beginners are:
- Yoast SEO (for search engine optimization)
- WP Rocket (to improve site speed)
- MonsterInsights (for Google Analytics)
- Akismet (for spam protection)
Step 6: Create Quality Content
Before you launch your blog, create 5-10 high-quality posts that solve your audience’s problems, answer common questions, or provide valuable tips. Make sure each post is at least 1,000 words, well-researched, and engaging. Your content should also include:
Visuals (images, infographics, or videos)
Internal Links (linking to other posts on your blog)
External Links (citing reliable sources)
Step 7: Focus on SEO
Social media is another tool that can be used as part of an overall strategy for building an audience around your content. There are many different platforms out there; some people prefer Facebook because more people have accounts on that platform than any other social network (and if someone doesn’t have one yet then they probably know someone who does). Other options include Twitter and Instagram which tend towards visual content like photos or videos rather than text posts although these sites do allow users some flexibility when deciding how much text vs graphics should be included in any given post depending on what kind of message they’re trying convey through their feed/stream etc…
Step 8: Build an Email List
Building an email list is crucial for staying connected with your readers. Offer a freebie (like a guide, checklist, or printable) in exchange for an email sign-up. Some tools to help you get started:
- Mailchimp (free for up to 2,000 subscribers)
- ConvertKit (excellent for bloggers)
- MailerLite (great for automation)
Having an email list ensures that you can communicate directly with your audience, no matter what happens to social media algorithms.
Step 9: Promote Your Blog on Social Media
Start building your audience by promoting your blog on social media platforms like:
- Instagram: Share snippets of blog posts or behind-the-scenes content.
- Pinterest: Create eye-catching pins that link back to your blog.
- Twitter: Share short, engaging tips or blog links.
Don’t forget to join online communities in your niche (like Facebook groups or Reddit threads) to promote your content and network with other bloggers.
Step 10: Monetize Your Blog
Once you have a steady stream of content and traffic, you can start earning money through your blog. Common ways to monetize include:
- Affiliate Marketing: Promote products and earn commissions.
- Ad Networks: Like Google AdSense or Mediavine.
- Sponsored Posts: Partner with brands to create content.
- Selling Digital Products: eBooks, printables, or courses.
It takes time to reach a high-income level, but with consistent effort, many bloggers make $1,000 to $10,000 per month.
Look at these bloggers who started out just like you and grew their blog to thousands a month!
- What Mommy Does – $7,000+/mo
- The Realistic Mama – $24,000+/mo
- What Moms Love – $30,000+/mo
- The Busy Budgeter – $86,000+/mo
- Mommy on Purpose – $5,100+/mo
I wrote a post outlining exactly how I made money blogging – you can read it here.
I have tried to make this guide as simple as possible for you. I learned everything by taking action and searching on Google whenever I got stuck. I have no background in computers or blogging. In fact, I am a nurse who was willing to put in the time, even when I felt tired, to make my dreams come true. Remember, if I can do it, so can you. It’s never too late to turn your dreams into reality.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links.
Thanks for the post, this is something I’ve been wanting to do and I’m going to go for it!