How to Start a Blog and Make Money - in 2025 (Step-by-Step)

Starting a blog sounds exciting, but let’s be real—you’re probably wondering if it's actually worth it in today's economy. Does blogging still bring in the kind of full-time income we're hearing about all the time? Well, I had those exact thoughts 7 years ago. And today? I’m a full-time blogger, earning over $10,000 per month. Blogging isn't just alive—it’s more accessible than ever, and yes, it still pays!

Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels

From easy-to-use AI tools to endless monetization options, launching a blog today opens up unreal opportunities. So if you’re just starting or need that extra push to get serious, I’m walking you through what works now. Plus, stick around till the end, because you won’t want to miss how you can make your first $1,000 quickly!

Is Blogging Still Relevant?

Blogging might seem like old news because people think the market is crowded or dominated by influencers. But the truth is, this couldn’t be further from reality. Blogging remains one of the most effective ways to build a personal brand, share your expertise, and make a real income—whether you're looking for a side hustle or full-time gig.

The biggest surprise? It’s way easier now to start a blog than it was when I began. You literally don’t need to know much about coding, web design, or even SEO. Thanks to AI, even if your grammar isn’t perfect, or English is your second language, you can write killer posts, optimize for Google, and create Pinterest-worthy visuals.

I know that sounds wild, but this is why I’m here—to show you how this can be your reality.

The Advantages of Starting a Blog in 2025

Starting a blog today is a game-changer. Gone are the days when blogging required tech know-how, or endless hours spent on formatting and editing. It's easier than ever, which is a huge confidence booster if you’re starting from scratch.

• You Don’t Need Specialized Skills: With powerful AI tools, you don’t need to be a perfect writer or an SEO whiz. These tools help with everything from content creation to optimization. 
• Global Reach: Unlike physical businesses, your blog is accessible worldwide, 24/7. Whether you’re growing an audience in your hometown or halfway across the globe, the possibilities are endless.
• AI Makes It Easier: Struggling with writer's block? AI can generate ideas, optimize your content, and even create images for platforms like Pinterest. These tools speed up the process, allowing you to focus on creating quality content instead of getting lost in the technical stuff.

Step 1: Picking a Profitable Niche

Choosing the right niche is the single most important step if you want to make money. Too often, beginners pick a niche based on personal interests without considering its earning potential. Yes, passion matters—but if your niche isn’t profitable, you won’t see much income.

Profitable niches include:  

• Home décor
• Recipes and food
• Weight loss and fitness
• Lifestyle, especially family, parenting, or personal development

If you've zeroed in on a niche, but you're unsure if it’s highly profitable, do a quick check: Are other blogs in that niche making money? Are there products or services commonly advertised?

Remember, these niches work exceptionally well on platforms like Pinterest, where users love to browse visually appealing content. Don’t fall into the trap of picking a niche just because you like writing about it. Fun isn’t always profitable.

Step 2: Choosing Your Blog Name and Domain

Once your niche is settled, the next step is picking your domain name. It’s like your blog's home on the internet. The name should be easy to remember and perfectly matched to what you're blogging about. Your domain has a huge impact on how your audience perceives you.

Follow these simple tips to make an impact:

• Keep it short and sweet—this helps people remember your site easily.
• Avoid numbers or hyphens, they make domain names hard to remember.  * Stick with a .com if possible. If that’s taken, a .co is a solid option too.
• Don’t overthink it. You can also use your own name as your domain, which gives you more flexibility down the line in case your niche changes.

Don't stress too much about finding the "perfect" domain. What matters most is that you get started, and the details will fall into place from there. If you’re still struggling, I’ve got resources that can help you brainstorm the ideal domain name with extra guidance right here.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Blog (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

Many beginners panic at the thought of actually setting up the blog…but trust me, it’s far simpler than you think. You can literally follow my step-by-step instructions and get everything live in under 15 minutes.

Here’s what you’ll need:

WordPress Is Your Best Bet

I always recommend WordPress when it comes to blogging. It’s the most powerful, yet beginner-friendly platform out there. Why? Because it’s totally flexible. Unlike Wix or Squarespace, you're not limited in what your blog can grow into.

Choose a Web Host Like Bluehost

Every blog needs web hosting. I recommend Bluehost—it’s affordable, beginner-friendly, and even offers 24/7 support in case you get stuck. Plus, they throw in a free domain for the first year. In fact, it’s the same host I started with years ago, and I’d still recommend them today.

Once you've sorted that, your blog will be up and running. Yes, seriously—it’s that fast!

Check out the Technical Setup Guide Here

Step 4: Customize Your Blog With a Stunning WordPress Theme

Now that your blog is live, it’s time to make it pretty—and by pretty, I mean functional, speedy, and user-friendly.

Go For: Lightweight AND Fast Themes

Here’s the truth: the theme you pick influences your site speed, which is a crucial factor for SEO. No one likes a slow website, and neither does Google. Luckily, there are plenty of themes optimized for speed and style.

Best Free Themes:

• Astra
• Kadence
• Neve
• OceanWP

If you want to splurge, GeneratePress is a fantastic premium theme known for speed and SEO.

The goal is to make your blog look professional and load quickly. You don’t want to lose out on traffic just because your theme is slowing things down.

Step 5: Setting Your Blog Up for SEO Success

If your blog isn’t optimized for search engines, it may never hit its full potential. That’s where SEO (search engine optimization) comes in. But don’t panic—it’s not as technical as it sounds, especially with tools like AIOSEO.

Install an SEO Plugin

A good SEO plugin will help you rank better on Google and other search engines. I strongly recommend downloading All In One SEO (AIOSEO). It’ll guide you through making your blog search-engine friendly, from your titles to your meta descriptions.

Here’s Why AIOSEO is a Must-Have:

• Keyword Rank Tracker: Find out how your site is ranking for specific keywords without needing extra expensive SEO tools!
• Content Monitoring: This will track your blog posts’ performance and even notify you if you're losing traffic. This way, you can fix content before it plummets in search results.
• SEO Revisions: Made an SEO edit and want to know if it worked? AIOSEO keeps a history of changes and tracks your ranking progress.

And here’s a bonus: AIOSEO integrates perfectly with Pinterest to verify your account and drive more traffic directly from the platform.

Step 6: Driving Traffic to Your Blog—Pinterest First, Then SEO

With your SEO in place, the next step is bringing in traffic. And while many bloggers focus only on Google, that can take months to yield serious results. That’s why I suggest starting with Pinterest for fast, consistent traffic.

Pinterest is ideal for blogs in niches like recipes, home décor, or lifestyle. Its audience is primarily female and highly visual, which makes the platform perfect for blogs with lots of stunning images or infographics.

You don’t need tons of content to start—you just need to design a few optimized Pinterest pins. Add the right keywords, post consistently, and you’ll start seeing results fast.

Curious about how I get 80k visitors/mo from Pinterest? Check out my Pinterest Masterclass!

Google SEO: Your Long-Term Traffic Goal

Pinterest brings quicker results, but for long-term, evergreen traffic, you’ll want to focus on Google SEO as well. It takes time, but keep consistent with creating optimized posts, and you’ll build sustainable traffic in the months ahead.

Step 7: Monetizing Your Blog—Finally, the Money Part

Let’s get down to business—how do bloggers actually make money?

The truth is, there isn’t just one way to monetize your blog. Here are the TOP three ways that work for most beginners and experts alike.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products. Even if your blog doesn’t have insane traffic yet, you can start earning with affiliate marketing right away thanks to high-commission digital products.

Check out affiliate networks like:

• CJ Affiliates
• ShareASale
• Impact
• Partnerstack

Even with just a few visitors, you can make money if you’re promoting high-commission items.

2. Display Ads

Once your traffic grows past 10,000 monthly sessions, consider ad networks like Ezoic, Monumetric, or Journey by Mediavine. Unlike Google Adsense, these networks pay much better! When you hit around 50k sessions, you’re eligible for premium networks like Mediavine, which offer even higher returns.

3. Selling Services or Digital Products

If you've got skills, offer up services like freelance writing, coaching, or consulting. Want passive income? Sell templates, courses, or eBooks. These are high-margin products, meaning you can make more profit per sale.

Step 8: Start an Email List—Own Your Audience

Here’s an important fact: you don’t own your Pinterest, Google, Instagram, or YouTube traffic. These platforms can—and do—change their algorithms, which could drastically reduce your viewership overnight. Scary, right? That’s why owning an email list is crucial.

Start collecting emails right away. Use a tool like WPForms to add email capture forms to your blog. It integrates easily with popular email services like ActiveCampaign, Kit, or Mailerlite, so you can start building your email list in no time.

Having an email list ensures you can always connect with your audience, even if your website traffic sees a dip.

Ready to Get Started?

Stop doubting yourself. Stop procrastinating. If you’ve even thought about getting into blogging, now is the time. The barriers are lower than ever, and I’m here to help you along the way.

To get started, I’ve created a free one-week blueprint that walks you through everything you need to know—from setting up the blog to hitting your first $1,000. Just check the link here to have the entire blueprint sent to your inbox.

Also, if you’re curious how I started and grew my blog, check out my income reports video for more inspiration. Let’s make this the year you finally start your profitable blog!