How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (2023)

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (1)

This post was last updated on April 30, 2023.

If you’re wondering how to create a blog, you’ve come to the right place. As a blogger myself, I can tell you it’s a rewarding way to hone your writing skills, explore new ideas, and build an online presence that revolves around your passions and expertise. You’ll get the chance to inspire, educate, and entertain your readers—and as your blog grows, you can even start making money and turn it into a full-time job.

In other words, blogging is the first step toward finally pursuing your dream job or favorite hobby, so you really can’t go wrong. While starting a blog might seem daunting, I’m going to walk you through every step to make it as smooth and successful as possible. The process is actually quite easy, and you’ll have your blog up and running before you know it.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll find all the guidance and tools you’ll need to start a blog. You’ll learn how to get your website off the ground, write your first blog post and draw in loyal readers. Sounds exciting? Let’s dive in.

How to start a blog

  1. Choose a blogging platform. Use a platform that offers customizable templates.

  2. Pick a hosting platform. Consider a platform with good bandwidth, uptime and customer support.

  3. Find the right niche. Narrow down your theme and have a specific audience in mind.

  4. Select a blog name and domain. Choose a descriptive name that piques readers’ interests.

  5. Set up and design your blog. Include imagery and effects that reflect your theme.

  6. Brainstorm blog topics. Write down all your ideas before narrowing down topic selections.

  7. Write your first blog post. Engage your audience with a killer title and use headers to make the content skimmable.

  8. Create an editorial calendar. Create a calendar to help you publish consistently and hold yourself accountable.

  9. Promote your blog. Use marketing strategies to expand your reach.

  10. Make money blogging. Take advantage of opportunities to monetize your blog.

In this complete how to blog A to Z tutorial, we’ll cover everything from choosing your blogging platform to making money from your written work. With a little bit of guidance, you can get your blog online in 30 minutes or less.

This is going to be the most comprehensive advice you’ll find on building a successful blog from scratch. If you want to start a blog fast, though, feel free to use the numbered steps above as a quick cheat sheet. You can go directly to the step you need the most help with, or grab a cup of coffee and read it all the way through.

Ready to get blogging? Get started with Wix today.

What is a blog?

While a blog can encompass an entire website or simply be its own section of a website, this is a place to share content about a topic you’re passionate about. A blog will typically include both written and visual elements published in an easy-to-read, article format so visitors can swiftly browse and find what they’re looking for. And with over 31.7 million blogs in the US alone, you can literally find blogs about every subject out there, from home renovation to baking to local business marketing strategies. Once you’ve established a community of readers, the possibilities are truly endless.

Why start a blog?

People start blogs for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

  • Share your ideas with the world. Sometimes you just want to be heard and get your ideas out into the universe. This is where a blog can help—it’s a form of communication and space that’s entirely your own. You can use your creativity and passion to create a space customized exactly to your liking where you can share your ideas, expertise and experiences.

  • Promote a product or service. Blogging for business is a great way to engage potential customers and provide more information about a product or service. Additionally, blogging does wonders for a website's SEO.

  • Earn revenue. Blogging can be lucrative with time and continued effort. The best way to see the monetary fruits of your labor is by posting quality content regularly that draws in new readers and brings more traffic to your website. This will help your blog gain advertisers and can also boost your status as an online influencer, which can open up the door for affiliate marketing.

  • Build an online community. Thanks to the internet, we no longer need to live in the same city, state or even country to feel connected to others. A blog creates a space to share your story, ideas and start conversations with people all over the world with mutual interests. A blog typically has a comments section where your readers can speak with you directly, allowing you to engage in conversation and build relationships.

Now that you have a better understanding of the reasons behind starting a blog, let's explore the steps you need to take to create one, from ideation to publication.

Ready to start your blog now? Sign up with Wix today.

01. Choose a blogging platform

The first step in starting a blog is to select a blogging platform or Content Management System (CMS) for publishing your content. A quick Google search will show you that there are several different sites available that suit bloggers from all industries. I recommend Wix because it’s a good all-around blogging platform that satisfies most needs.

Wix’s blogging platform is fairly straightforward to get the hang of, and it offers a variety of attractive design options and templates to work with. In addition, it comes with features to analyze your blog’s performance and monetize your content, which will come in handy as you setup your blog and build your readership.

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How much does it cost to start a blog?

When researching how to start a blog, one of the biggest questions people have is how much it costs. On many platforms, starting a blog is completely free.

You can decide at any point whether you’d like to upgrade to a variety of different plans, depending on your budget and needs.

02. Pick a hosting platform

Once you select your preferred blogging platform, you’ll need to choose a hosting platform. A blog, like other types of websites, requires a host. This essentially stores websites on a server under a unique address so that visitors can easily reach them.

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On some blogging platforms, hosting is already included, so you won’t need to find a separate web host when setting up your blog. In that case, you can skip this step and move to Step 3.

With other website builders, such as WordPress, you will need to find and pay for a separate web hosting platform. Some popular options include:

  • BlueHost

  • HostGator

  • GoDaddy

  • DreamHost

If you’re not sure which web hosting platform to choose, take into account these factors:

  • Uptime: The amount of time that the server hosting your website is up and running. A strong uptime rate (99.95% or above) is a good indication that the host’s servers perform well.

  • Bandwidth: The amount of data your website can transfer to visitors over a certain period of time. This factor is based on the size of your website pages as well as the amount of traffic you expect. This quick bandwidth calculator can help you determine your site’s bandwidth.

  • Customer support: Customer service you can contact in the event something goes wrong. Ideally, your hosting provider should offer an online help center, offer callbacks and respond to questions and concerns on social media.

Once you’ve chosen your blogging platform and hosting provider, you can start coming up with your blog idea.

Don’t worry about picking and registering your domain name just yet. We’ll walk through that process together in Step 4.

03. Find the right profitable blog niche

Let’s move away from the technical and dive into the more theoretical. Take a step back and think about the main element that will form the foundation of your blog, from its URL and domain name to its content and design: your blog’s niche. What, exactly, do you want your blog to be about?

There is virtually no limit when it comes to your choice of subjects. The most crucial thing is that you select a specific topic area that will be the central focus of your entire blog and its content strategy.

Possible blog types range from fashion blogs to marketing blogs to book blogs or food blogs. Because there are lots of other blogs focusing on the same subjects, you’ll need a way to stand out while still writing about what you love.

Here are three simple steps for choosing the perfect blog niche—one that not only is in line with your passions, but one that you can also monetize and grow:

  1. Narrow down your interests

  2. Research your audience

  3. Check if it’s profitable

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Narrow down your interests

When you start a blog, think long term. To motivate yourself to blog regularly, you’ll need to write about something you’re genuinely interested in. If you choose a topic solely on the basis of its being popular or profitable, your efforts will peter out pretty quickly, along with your entire blog content strategy.

If you aren’t sure right off the bat what you should be blogging about, that’s okay. Begin with a simple brainstorming session about subjects you like. What do you get excited talking about? What are you eager to learn more about?

Now, write down the first five to 10 interests that come to mind. For the sake of example, let’s say:

  • Travel

  • Cooking

  • Family

  • Music

  • Hiking

Next, think about your more specific interests within these subject areas and add them to your list. Your additions might look something like this:

  • Backpacking in Southeast Asia

  • Vegan recipes

  • Raising twins

  • Indie rock music

  • Hiking in the Rockies

Don’t worry about these niches being perfect just yet. You’ll research them more thoroughly in the next steps.

Research your audience

The next step of starting and creating a blog is to learn which topics people are interested in reading about. If your blog gains traction, you can eventually start making money from it and become a full-time blogger.

You can determine the demand for any given niche with a bit of market research. Begin by taking a look at Google Trends, which shows you how many people are searching for a particular topic. The more searches a topic gets, the more public demand it has.

For instance, let’s type “vegan recipes” into Google Trends. In the image below, you’ll see that there’s a relatively stable level of interest in this topic, so it’s a good candidate for a blog niche.

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“Paleo recipes,” on the other hand, has a much lower degree of interest. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea—some bloggers prefer to write for a more specific crowd if they have a unique specialty—but it does mean there are fewer people interested in that particular subject area.

If Google Trends reveals that interest in a subject area is either very low or declining, then that topic is unlikely to gain traction.

Check if it’s profitable

Whether you run a personal blog or a professional one, it’s a good idea to check whether your niche is profitable. Even if you’re starting out as a hobby blogger, you’ll want to think about future monetization options in the event that your blogging efforts evolve into a career.

There are multiple ways to earn money as a blogger, but one of the most common methods is affiliate marketing. As an affiliate, you’ll work together with a specific company, providing a link to their products within your blog, and earning a commission for any sale made through your site.

Considering whether you could blog as an affiliate is a good way to figure out if your niche is profitable. Think about the kinds of “best of” or “how to” posts you might write. For instance, “Best kitchen appliances for easy cooking” or “How to make carrot cake in 10 minutes.” In both instances, you could include an affiliate link to your favorite food processor or electric mixer and make money for each purchase made through your blog.

You don’t need to plan out your money-making strategy just yet, but thinking generally about profitable opportunities can help you choose a niche. For now, focus on starting your blog—we’ll talk more about making money blogging in Step 10.

04. Select a blog name and domain

As you think about how to make a blog, the question of what to name it is probably lurking somewhere in the back of your mind.

There are three main routes you can go with your blog's name. These include:

  • Your first and last name

  • The name of your business (if you have one)

  • A creative new name

When choosing your blog’s name, you should also think about the personality you want it to reflect. Should it be formal and professional? Sweet and romantic? Edgy and offbeat? If you’re stuck on names for your blog, this blog name generator is a helpful source of inspiration.

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Once you decide, you should also go ahead and choose your domain name for your blog. Also referred to as a URL, a domain is a site’s address on the web (this website’s domain name, for example, is www.wix.com). Typically, your domain name will be the same as, or at least influenced by, the name of your blog.

05. Set up and design your blog

  1. Choose a blog template

  2. Decide which pages to include

  3. Get indexed on search engines

  4. Create a blog logo

At this point, you’ve chosen a blogging and hosting platform, domain name and blog niche. You’re now equipped with all the basics for setting up your blog. Here's how to optimize your blog design:

Choose a blog template

The first part of setup for a blog is selecting a template. Like your blog’s name, its look and feel will be an important part of its personality.

The most efficient way to get your blog up and running is to choose a pre-designed blog template. Afterwards, you can customize it based on your preferences.

Be sure to pick one that conveys your blog’s subject area. There are website templates for bloggers of any genre, whether you’re a food blogger, photography blogger or business blogger. As you browse, think about the mood you want your website to communicate, for example. whether it’s classic, modern, rugged or minimalist.

You should also take that into account as you further personalize the template with your preferred colors. Color psychology plays a huge role in forming your audience’s impression of your blog. As you choose a color palette, keep in mind the feelings and attitudes that different colors evoke. Blue, for instance, tends to evoke dependability and trust, while yellow evokes energy and joy.

If you’re unsure of which templates to choose, these blog examples serve as a helpful source of design inspiration.

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Decide which pages to include

Once you’ve chosen a template, think about which pages to include. Most blogs include more than just a section to display their posts. They might also include an online store, as in the image below, or a contact page.

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Here's an overview of the different options when designing your blog:

01. Contact page: This is a place to put your email address so that fans and potential business partners can reach out to you. You can also include a contact form so that people can send a message directly through your site.

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02. About page: This tells visitors who you are, what you do, and why you do it, providing some context behind your blog and humanizing your content.

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03. Online store: You’ll also want to add a separate online store page if you’re thinking of selling items related to your blog. You can call this page “Products” or “Shop.”

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If you want to beef up your blog with even more pages, a Tutorials page, Now Trending page or Author’s Pick page are all popular options.

Furthermore, some blogs opt to place their posts directly on the homepage, while others keep their homepages and blog pages separate. If you do this, make sure to include a navigation menu so that visitors can easily access your blog as well as any other pages.

There’s no right or wrong way to set up a blog, so play around with different options to see what best suits your style and personality. Keep in mind that you can always add or remove pages over time as your blog evolves.

Get indexed on search engines

Another part of starting a blog is making sure it’s visible on Google and other search engines. This is crucial if you want your content to pop up in search results, so you’ll want to take care of this step right away.

First, make sure your site is indexed on Google. Essentially, this means giving Google a heads up that your blog exists. You can do this by submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console.

Pro tip: Google Search Console is not only important for indexing your site, but it’s also a valuable platform that you’ll be using throughout your blogging journey. It tells you important data about your blog’s site visitors and clicks, which you can use to improve your content.

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To find out whether your site is already included in Google’s search index, do a quick site search (a site search uses your homepage URL and takes the form of site:yourblogname.com). If your blog pops up in the search results, then your site is already indexed.

Create a blog logo

Finally, polish off your site with an attractive blog logo. This is another way to add personality to your site, and it’s an essential step if you want to create a blog that evolves into a recognizable brand.

One option is to design your own or outsource the task, but you can also use an online logo maker. These tools give you plenty of room to customize your logo with your preferred colors, fonts and icons, and tend to be quicker and more affordable than hiring a professional designer.

Once you create your logo, place it in the upper left-hand corner of your website, and link it to your homepage. This will help brand your content while improving the navigation experience for readers.

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06. Brainstorm blog topics

On the technical side, your blog is now setup and ready to go. It’s time to start thinking about which topics you’ll get started with.

Begin by thinking about your experiences, successes, failures or discoveries related to your niche. What insights can you share? What ideas are you looking to explore in-depth?

As you think of topics, try to get into your readers’ heads. Here are some questions to guide you through the brainstorming process:

  • What characteristics does my target audience possess?

  • What subjects does my target audience get excited about?

  • What challenges does my target audience face?

You can also come up with ideas using the topic cluster model. Essentially, this is a tightly organized system that strings together related posts using a series of internal links. While this process is usually considered part of SEO, you can also think of it as a mind map for coming up with ideas.

By this model, think about a broad topic—say, recipes—and then divide that up into smaller subtopics, like dinner recipes or brunch recipes. Then, divide those up into even more specific topics, like 20-minute dinner recipes, mimosa recipes, and cake decoration ideas. Any of these topics could be its own blog post.

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If you’re still stuck, this list of blog ideas can help jumpstart the brainstorming process. They include:

  • A 30 before 30 list (also 40 before 40, or 50 before 50)

  • Your sources of inspiration

  • Beginners’ guides

  • Time-saving hacks

  • A challenge you’ve faced

Use these ideas to guide you, but feel free to add your own creative twist based on your niche.

07. Write your first blog post

  1. Start with keyword research

  2. Come up with a blog post title

  3. Outline your main points

  4. Write engaging content

  5. Insert images

  6. Optimize for SEO

  7. Edit and publish

Now that you’ve come up with ideas, you’re ready to dive into the writing. Let’s go over how to write a blog post from start to finish:

Start with keyword research

Finding the right keywords is crucial for getting people to read your posts. By targeting certain phrases with your article, you increase the chances of your blog appearing on search results pages for those queries.

Let’s say, for instance, that you want to share a carrot cake recipe in your blog. You’ll want to target keywords such as:

  • Carrot cake

  • Carrot cake recipe

  • Best carrot cake recipe

  • How to make carrot cake

Depending on your topic, some keywords may be more obvious than others. You can refine your keywords using free keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner or you can use more robust paid options like SEMrush or Ahrefs.

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Next, you’ll need to strategically target your selected keywords throughout your article. This means two things: First, you’ll need to sprinkle those phrases throughout your post (but try to do so as organically as possible—no one likes unnatural keyword stuffing). Second, you should structure your article based on the format you see in the top 10 search results for those keywords.

Let’s say, for example, that you want to write an article about your favorite carrot cake recipe. Start by checking your competitors—the top 10 search results on Google for the keyword “carrot cake recipe.”

When you type that phrase into the search engine, you’ll notice that the top results are written as numbered steps, rather than as a story. You can therefore assume that most readers prefer the list format for these types of posts. In order to provide valuable content to your readers—and to rank high on Google as a result—you’ll want your own post to assume a similar format.

Likewise, you’ll want to touch on all the main points covered by your competitors. This doesn’t mean you can’t be be creative. It’s just to say that in addition to sharing your own original insights, you should cover all the bases.

To continue with our example, let’s assume that when you look up “carrot cake recipe,” the top search results include a section about how to make cream cheese frosting. This is an indicator that many readers find this content helpful. In addition, it shows that Google has a preference for articles including that detail. You’d be wise, then, to touch on this idea in your own article.

Outline your main points

Keyword research gives you an idea of the best format for your blog post, as well as which sections to include. This naturally segues into the outline stage of the writing process.

First, choose which type of blog post you’d like to write. Will it be a how-to guide? A product recommendation? An op-ed? Whichever blog post template you choose, you’ll want to have a clear idea in mind before structuring the outline.

Then, use headers and subheaders to break up your content into organized, bite-sized chunks. Beneath each heading, make bulleted notes of the main points you’ll include in each section. This will be the skeleton of your first blog post.

Feel free to use this downloadable blog post template to help with your outline. All you need to do is fill in the blanks:

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Come up with a blog post title

The next part of starting a blog article is coming up with a strong title. You can come up with your blog titles at any stage of the planning process, but the best ideas often arise as you build your outline.

A blog title is a small but mighty piece of content. Often, it makes the difference between whether or not people click on your article.

To make your blog titles catchy and compelling, put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Think about what might interest and excite them, and try the following strategies:

  • Be clear and direct

  • Promise value

  • Appeal to your readers’ emotions

  • Pique their curiosity

  • Use humor, alliteration or wordplay

Here are a few fill-in-the-blank blog title ideas to help you:

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Here’s more information on how to write a headline that stands out. If you’re curious about diving more into what makes a headline a success, Buzzsumo’s shared headlines study is also an insightful resource.

Write engaging content

Now, it’s time to start typing away. Keep in mind that you’ll need an introduction, body text broken up by headers and subheaders, and a conclusion (optional).

In the introduction, grab your audience’s attention with a captivating anecdote, a compelling quote or statistic, or an interesting fact. Then, share a brief summary of what the article is about, making sure to grab the interest of your readers.

Next, write the body text, using your outline as a guide. This is where you share your knowledge and expertise as a blogger. Be sure to avoid fluff; writing for the sake of writing is one of the biggest blogging mistakes. Instead, make sure each sentence is meaningful, and dive straight into sharing your original insights and actionable tips. You should also use a tone of voice that resonates with your audience, whether it’s funny and casual or serious and formal.

Finally, wrap up the post with a concluding section. While not every blog includes this final bit, it’s a nice way to tie your ideas together and share your closing thoughts.

Keep in mind that writing a blog post can take several hours, and it’s a process that shouldn’t be rushed. Set aside at least half a day to write your first draft.

Insert images

As you start your blog, remember that your choice of images can strengthen readers’ overall impression of your article. Whether you add photos, screenshots or illustrations to your articles, they should be functional as well as beautiful. Make sure they convey your main points and highlight important examples in the post.

If you don’t have your own images, begin by browsing free stock photos on the web. Pexels and Unsplash are both popular sites for gathering visual material. While you might eventually want to use photos you take yourself, stock photos are a quick way to get your blog started.

Optimize for SEO

Once you create your content, there are a couple things you’ll need to take care of before hitting Publish. These steps primarily revolve around strategy, from improving your blog SEO to generating conversions through your article. Here’s a quick post-writing checklist to guide you:

  • Double check your keywords: Quickly search your content (CTRL+F) to review your use of keywords. Did you include all the keywords you intended to? If not, check to see whether there are any other opportunities to incorporate the keywords throughout your article. (Keep in mind that keyword stuffing is considered a bad practice, and search engines can penalize you for it. Incorporate them naturally into the text, rather than forcing them in.)

  • Add internal links: One trick up every bloggers’ sleeve is to link between their blog posts (also known as the practice of internal linking). This helps improve your posts’ SEO, and it also encourages your readers to browse your other articles. Rather than linking randomly, you should link between primarily related blog posts; this is better for SEO, and it also makes the links more valuable to your readers. If you’re just starting a blog and don’t have much content yet, don’t forget to go back into your posts and add in the links later.

  • Incorporate CTAs: The next trick in the book is to include calls-to-action (CTAs) throughout the article. These little snippets of content often take the form of phrases such as Buy Now, Subscribe, or Read More. By placing call-to-action buttons in your article, you can direct readers to buy your products, subscribe to your newsletter, or click for further reading.

  • Use alt text: Because Google can’t read photos, bloggers often add a short description to each image (ideally using keywords) to help the search engine understand what is being displayed. This description, called alt text, helps your images show up in Google image searches.

  • Write your post’s metadata: Metadata is the term for the text used to display a web page in Google search results. This includes the meta title (also known as the title tag) and meta description. Sometimes, the meta title is the same as the title of your blog post, while other times, you’ll want to choose a slightly different title for displaying your post. There’s no right or wrong here, so long as your title is engaging and includes your most important keyword. The meta description, which is the short snippet of text beneath the meta title, should also include your main keywords and should preview the article’s main points.

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  • Choose your URL: Every webpage has a dedicated URL, and your blog posts are no different. A strong URL helps your articles rank high on search engine results pages, and typically contains a keyword. Blog post URLs often take the form of www.yourdomainname.com/blog-post-keyword or www.yourdomainname.com/blog/blog-post-keyword. If you’re unsure, set aside time to browse this guide on how to properly structure URLs. Most blog posts will generate a URL for you automatically, but it’s good to know that you can go in and customize the URL for each blog post as needed.

Edit and publish

You now have everything you need for your first blog post. Give it a couple reads, and share it with family members or friends to review. It’s always helpful to have a second, third, or fourth pair of eyes.

When you think your article is ready to go, upload it to your blog. Your blogging platform will also have a place for you to type in the metadata and URL. Once that’s done, hit Publish and let the celebrations begin.

08. Create an editorial calendar

Whew! You’ve just written your first blog post. Take a break, and when you’re ready, plan out the rest of the month’s posting schedule.

Creating an editorial calendar is an important part of starting a blog. It’s an effective way to ensure you publish content consistently, letting you hold yourself accountable as a writer and ensuring you don’t deviate from your blogging goals. Your readers want new content, and you need to deliver. Plus, search engines take into account how frequently you publish when determining your site’s overall ranking.

You probably already have a handful of topics from your brainstorming session in Step 6. If not, use the same process to come up with new ideas. Once you have at least 10 or so ideas, start building a content calendar.

Your calendar doesn’t need to cost a thing, and it certainly doesn’t require the use of unfamiliar tools or platforms. Open up Excel or Google Sheets, and start building a schedule from there. The columns you use are completely up to you, but you’ll probably want to create different sections for the publishing date, blog title, main keywords, article status and comments.

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Pro tip: If you know you’re prone to procrastination (aren't we all?), open up a Google Calendar and fill in your deadlines there. You can even set aside blocks of time in your calendar for writing.

How often should you blog?

When learning how to start a blog, a big question people ask is how often they should be publishing new content. As a rule of thumb, the more often you blog, the more traffic you get. There’s no black-or-white answer for exactly how frequently that is, but studies have pointed us to a few important statistics:

  • 11 or more posts per month yields a noticeable increase in traffic. Among small companies of 10 or fewer employees, those who published at least 11 blog posts a month had twice as much traffic as those who published two to five blogs a month.

  • Small companies also found that publishing at least 11 posts per month yields twice as many leads as those publishing six to 10 monthly articles. This is important if your goal is to obtain subscribers, sell products or work as an affiliate (more on that in Step 10).

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How often you blog also depends on your goals. If your main goal is to generate brand awareness, start with one to two new posts per week. On the other hand, if you’re primarily aiming to increase blog traffic, you should ideally be writing three to four new posts per week.

Keep all this in mind as you create your editorial calendar, but make your goals small and achievable. If you set unrealistic deadlines that you can’t meet, you’ll get thrown off course and even discouraged.

You can always ramp up your efforts once you get used to publishing and make it a habit to stick to your schedule. In addition, remember that you can always bring in guest contributors to up the quantity of published content each week.

09. Promote your blog

  1. Share on social media

  2. Create a blog newsletter

  3. Write for other sites

  4. Reach out to an existing community

  5. Participate in question and discussion sites

  6. Invest in paid ads

  7. Try new content formats

At this stage, you have everything you need to start a blog. These last couple of steps will focus on how to spread the word about your blog and grow it into a serious monetization tool.

In order to get readers, you’ll need to find creative ways to drive traffic to your site. While improving your SEO is an important step, the following methods can also help you promote your blog. Note that most of them are completely free, while a few (like advertising) are paid.

  • Share on social media: Social media is an excellent place to post your content and draw attention to your blog. Whether you promote your blog on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, it’s a great way to reach new readers.

  • Create a blog newsletter: Send out a weekly email newsletter to engage your readers and get them coming back to your blog for more. This will help you sustain a loyal fan base. To get subscribers to your blog email list in the first place, include a prominent Subscribe button in your website’s navigation bar, footer, and within your blog posts.

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  • Write for other sites: Strengthen your reputation as a writer and expert in your niche by publishing content outside your own website. Consider opening a Medium account and making a name for yourself there, or post articles on LinkedIn. You should also keep an eye out for guest blogging opportunities, which are offered by publications such as Forbes and Entrepreneur.

  • Reach out to an existing community: Facebook groups, forums and LinkedIn groups are gathering places for people interested in a particular topic. If you find an online community that’s relevant to your blog niche, share your website with them and network among their group members.

  • Participate in question and discussion sites: Sites such as Quora and Reddit give you the opportunity to highlight your blog in discussion threads. Use one of your blog posts to answer a question or follow up on a comment, but be sure to come across as helpful and informative rather than promotional.

  • Invest in paid ads: In addition to sharing posts on social media, you can boost your posts with a paid promotion so that they reach more people. Likewise, you can pay for Google ads and reach new users through the search engine.

  • Try new content formats: Expand your reach even further by trying new content formats. These essentially repurpose the same information provided in your posts. For instance, you can turn your blog posts into videos and start a YouTube channel. You might even create a podcast or offer a webinar. The sky's the limit.

10. Make money blogging

  1. Affiliate marketing

  2. Advertise within your blog

  3. Offer paid subscriptions

  4. Write sponsored content

  5. Sell e-books and merchandise

  6. Provide consulting services

If you’re looking to start a blog with a large readership, chances are you’re also aiming to make money from your blog’s popularity. We touched on affiliate marketing earlier in the article, but let’s talk more about this and other money-making strategies that can help you generate passive income from your writing efforts.

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (22)

There are more ways than one to make money blogging. Here’s a quick overview of each method:

  • Affiliate marketing: This is one of the most common ways to make money blogging, and it’s easy to get started. Intermediate affiliates can earn between $300 to $3,000 per day, and that number only goes up with experience. There are plenty of affiliate marketing programs out there, but Amazon Associates is a popular choice for beginners.

  • Advertising within your blog: Another option is to display ads within your blog, which means you’re essentially selling your blog real estate as ad space. This is a fairly reliable way to make money, as you’ll be earning revenue with each click. If you’re thinking of taking this route, Google AdSense is by far one of the most lucrative and popular programs.

  • Offering paid subscriptions: You know how the New York Times makes you pay to read their content? You can do the same thing with your blog. While some of your articles should be free, you can also create exclusive content that readers can buy access to through a subscription plan.

  • Write sponsored content: Reach out to companies—or, as you blog grows, make it easy for brands to contact you—regarding sponsorship opportunities. You’ll be writing articles that promote those companies’ products, and the business, in turn, will compensate you for the posts.

  • Sell e-books and merchandise: You can also sell digital or physical goods directly from your site. This might include branded merchandise, products related to your field, or e-books and other online resources. One way to do this is by adding a Pay button to your homepage that your readers can click to browse your merchandise.

  • Provide consulting services: This approach involves making use of your professional experience and harnessing the knowledge you’ve gained as a professional blogger. Based on your insights and expertise, think about the kinds of consulting services you might be able to offer to your clients. If you’re writing a nutrition blog, one such idea could be making customized diet plans or working as a nutrition coach for clients.

For further details, take a look at this article on how to monetize a blog or check out the Wix Learn online course on monetizing your blog.

Blogging resources

As you learn how to create a blog, browse these blogging resources to help guide you through the writing process, SEO and more:

Blogging tools

Finally, online tools are a big part of launching a blog, since they make the process more streamlined and efficient. Here’s a quick list of some helpful blogging tools you can use to start a blog—don’t forget to bookmark them for future reference:

  • Google Keyword Planner: Get data about which keywords to use in your blog posts.

  • Google Analytics: Obtain insights into your blog’s data to strengthen its performance.

  • Google Search Console: Have a clear view of the number of website visitors and clicks your blog receives.

  • ShareThrough’s headline analyzer: Type in your headline and get feedback on its strengths and weaknesses.

  • Pexels: Find free stock photos for your blog articles.

  • Grammarly: Review your writing with an AI editing tool.

  • BuzzSumo: Keep track of trending content to create relevant, targeted posts.

  • Asana: Manage your writing schedule with an online task management tool.

How to start a blog infographic

That's all there is to it. Let's wrap up with a quick infographic:

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (23)

At this point, you have all the tools and resources you need for starting a blog. You couldn't have found a more rewarding endeavor, and I couldn't be more honored to help you get your blog off the ground. Feel free to bookmark this guide as a reference as you begin this new journey, and happy blogging!

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (24)

Start a blog FAQ

How can I start a blog for free?

First of all you'll need to choose a blogging platform with free user options. With Wix, for example, you can create a blog for free. You can also save money when starting a blog by writing all of your content yourself, and by using as many free content planning and keyword research tools as possible. You can also use stock images included within the template or editor of your blogging platform for free in most cases.

How do I make a successful blog?

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (25)

By Talia Cohen

Small Business Expert and Marketing Blogger

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023 (26)

By Rebecca Strehlow

Marketing Expert and Blogger

FAQs

How to Easily Start a Blog and Make Money in 2023? ›

But as the blogging landscape continues to evolve, one question remains: do blogs make money in 2023? Yes. Although the days of earning a full-time income from a single blog are long gone, there are still plenty of ways to monetize your blog and earn some extra cash.

Can you still make money blogging in 2023? ›

But as the blogging landscape continues to evolve, one question remains: do blogs make money in 2023? Yes. Although the days of earning a full-time income from a single blog are long gone, there are still plenty of ways to monetize your blog and earn some extra cash.

How do I make my blog successful in 2023? ›

How to Easily Start a Blog and Monetize It in 2023
  1. Choose a blogging platform. Use a platform that offers customizable templates.
  2. Pick a hosting platform. ...
  3. Find the right niche. ...
  4. Select a blog name and domain. ...
  5. Set up and design your blog. ...
  6. Brainstorm blog topics. ...
  7. Write your first blog post. ...
  8. Create an editorial calendar.
Apr 30, 2023

What is one major blogging trend predicted for 2023? ›

Therefore, one of the blogging trends that will be dominant in 2023 is cross-channel promotion. This marketing strategy integrates all your marketing channels and unifies their plans, data, and goals across the board. This is different from multi-channel marketing, which also uses several channels to attract customers.

How easy is it to start a blog and make money? ›

Blogging Is a Fast Way To Earn Money

While it's true that blogging can be used to earn an income, it's not something that will help you “get rich quick.” You need to build an audience that wants to purchase items from you before you can start earning any money.

How long does it take to make $100 blogging? ›

However, I know many more who've blogged for 2 to 3 years and are still struggling to reach a consistent $100/mo in blog income. Here's a quick breakdown of how I'd encourage setting expectations for the time to make money from a blog (from my own experience): Earning $100/mo blogging: 6 to 12 months.

Which niche is best for blogging in 2023? ›

The most profitable blog niches for 2023
  • Digital marketing.
  • Blogging and making money online.
  • Health and fitness.
  • Personal finance and investing.
  • Recipes and food.
  • Personal development and self-care.
Jan 7, 2023

What is the ideal blog length 2023? ›

Some content marketing experts suggest that 1500-2000 words are the ideal length of a blog post. However, many companies and brands stick to shorter blog length guidelines (500-750 words) to honor a specific element of their marketing strategy.

What percentage of blogs succeed? ›

An average of 30% of bloggers report success, while 38% is well above the benchmark.

How often should I blog to make money? ›

You should probably plan to publish about three blog posts per week, minimum, to make money as a blogger. Do some testing to see if need to increase your publishing volume. You should also test other factors, like the length of your blog posts.

Is it worth it to start a blog in 2023? ›

The world of blogging for business is flourishing and it isn't too late to jump on the bandwagon! In 2023, blogging should be just as relevant as ever, creating awesome results for businesses. With a little bit of time and effort, your carefully crafted blog articles will start to pay off.

What is replacing blogging? ›

Blogging isn't dead — it has simply evolved into something bigger than itself. It's part of a larger picture, one called content marketing. (This is what has replaced the “blogging” of yesteryear.) In a REALLY simplified nutshell — your Google ranking is more often than not directly related to your marketing efforts.

How long does it take for a beginner blogger to make money? ›

According to recent research, it takes an average of 20 months to start making money with a blog. However, that is just the average. The statistics show that 27% of bloggers start earning money from blogging within 6 months and 38% are making a full-time income within 2 years of starting their blog.

How much do first time bloggers make? ›

How much money can you make when blogging as a beginner? Finance blog Millennial Money reports that after just two years of building traffic and subscribers, bloggers can make upwards of $100,000 annually. Within the first year, bloggers can make $500-$2,000 per month.

Can you make $1,000 a month with a blog? ›

The short answer is yes, but the competition is tough. If you can start a blog in a niche that you're passionate about that isn't too saturated, and one where you can build a decent-sized audience, then you can absolutely crush it and make $1000 per month from blogging.

Do small blogs make money? ›

Some bloggers make no money, whereas some bloggers make more than enough to build a career around their blog. That being said, on average, a successful and established blogger can make around $45,000 per year. In your first year of blogging, you can expect to make around $500-$2000 per month.

How much money is a 1000 views on a blog? ›

How Much Do Bloggers Make Per 1,000 Views? Monetizing a blog with Google AdSense or another advertising platform may provide earnings of about $2 to $5 per 1,000 page views. A blog that receives 10,000 views per day may generate about $20 to $50 in income.

How much blogger pays for 1,000 views? ›

How much does AdSense pay per 1000 views? Roughly $0.2 – $2.5 per 1,000 views. Although it depends on many factors including the content of your site, location of your users, time on site and device breakdown.

Which type of blog is most popular? ›

Here are the most successful blogging categories.
  1. Food blogs. Food is one of the most popular blog categories. ...
  2. Travel blogs. Traveling is popular with most demographics, especially retired people. ...
  3. Health and fitness blogs. ...
  4. Lifestyle blogs. ...
  5. Fashion and beauty blogs. ...
  6. DIY craft blogs. ...
  7. Parenting blogs. ...
  8. Business blogs.

How many words should a blog post be? ›

Our experts suggest that 1500-2000 words is the ideal length of a blog post. Learn why and how to focus on writing quality content. Wondering what blog post length gets you ranking in the search engine results page (SERPs)?

Which blogger earns the most money? ›

Top 10 Highest Earning Bloggers 2021 (Earnings & Analysis)
  • Who are the highest earning bloggers? (And how much do they earn?)
  • #1: Timothy Sykes ($1 million per month)
  • #2: Chiara Ferragni ($250,000 per month)
  • #3: Melyssa Griffin ($238,000 per month)
  • #4: Sarah Titus ($200,000 per month)
  • #5: Pat Flynn ($200,000 per month)

How often should I write my blog? ›

Most experts agree that blogging two to four times per week is the best way to see increased traction from your content. This equates to somewhere around eleven to sixteen posts a month, depending on how set you are on the actual times per week you post new content.

How long should first blog post be? ›

After in-depth industry research and analyzing our very own results from the Wix Blog, we've found that the ideal blog post length is between 1,500 - 2,500 words, with a sweet spot right at 2,450.

How long should a daily blog post be? ›

Although your blog post length may vary depending on your topic and audience, it is often best to aim for about 1,500 to 2,000 words for articles or posts.

What makes a blog fail? ›

The blog isn't optimized for search.

Just when you think you've done all you can to optimize your blog, the algorithms change. But ignoring SEO altogether is another reason why blogs fail. You need people to find, read, and share your blog, yet that's nearly impossible without any optimization.

What is a realistic income from blogging? ›

On average, bloggers make around $45,000—with most bloggers earning somewhere between $38,440 to $51,906. However, there are a lot of variables that'll influence how much money you make blogging, so keep reading and I'll explain how to set the right expectations for your blog income.

Which blogs get the most traffic? ›

Lifestyle blogs are the most popular type of blogs you can find online. They have a variety of readers, interested in topics ranging from culture, arts, local news, and politics.

How long before blog gets traffic? ›

Blogging is a long-term investment

Firstly, it's important to remember that blogging is a long game. It's extremely rare to see instant results. In most cases, you won't start to see significant traffic to your blog for several months. Some say from three to six months, and others say 12-18 months.

Is it hard to have a successful blog? ›

While you can earn a ton of money blogging it is far from an overnight success. Understand that blogging is like anything great, it takes hard work and determination to make it work. To truly live the laptop lifestyle you need to get really good, build trust with an audience, and be ULTRA consistent with content.

How many blogs should I post a day? ›

According to Google 2022 updates, a minimum of 24 blog posts every day can boost the traffic by 30%, while more than 50 posts per day can boost the organic traffic by at least 77%.

Which blog should I start? ›

A travel blog if you're a globetrotter. A food blog if you love to cook or eat. A fashion blog if you have a great sense of style. A fitness blog if you're health-conscious.

How do bloggers get paid? ›

Most bloggers receive their money from some combination of the following: display ads, affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, product sales, services, memberships, and/or subscriptions. Do bloggers get paid for views? Bloggers get paid for views if they have ads on their blog, which are usually paid per view.

Is 2023 too late to start a blog? ›

2023 is not too late to start a blog, but you will want to get started!

How much does it cost to host a blog? ›

On average, you can expect to spend anywhere between $50 and $200 getting your blog set up. After that, your monthly costs should sit at around $20 to $60 per month. However, it really depends on what kind of blog you want to run, and what your long-term goals are.

Why do people quit blogging? ›

Here are some reasons why bloggers quit after choosing the wrong niche. Picked a niche that's too technical. Picked a niche that they know nothing about and therefore have gotten bored quickly. Picked a niche that they're not truly passionate about.

What is ghost blogging? ›

A blog that is created by an ad agency to enhance the public relations of a company. Also called a "proxy blog" or "pseudo blog," readers often tire of such content unless the writers are extremely knowledgeable and informative.

Will Blogger ever shut down? ›

As of now, there are no plans AFAIK to shut down blogger. For as many spam/ ads blogs there are, there are hundreds more good blogs.

How can I make money blogging right away? ›

Monetize Your Blog Content
  1. Make Money With Affiliate Marketing. ...
  2. Display Google AdSense on WordPress. ...
  3. Use a WordPress Advertising Plugin to Sell Ads Directly. ...
  4. Sell Sponsored Blog Posts. ...
  5. Get Paid to Write Reviews. ...
  6. Earn Money Online by Flipping Websites. ...
  7. Get Public Speaking Gigs as an Influencer.
Jan 1, 2023

How many views does blogger need to get paid? ›

10,000 to 100,000 Pageviews

Once you're past 10,000 monthly blog pageviews, things start to get lucrative. Only about 10% of blogs consistently exceed 50k average monthly views, and as you approach the 100k point, the revenue can increase dramatically.

What are the requirements to become a blogger? ›

Personal requirements for a Blogger
  • Creativity and originality.
  • Ability to pick out and emphasise relevant facts.
  • Able to write clearly and in a compelling manner.
  • Good concentration.
  • Technical ability to switch between styles and forms of writing.
  • Good time management and ability to handle pressure.

Is blogging good in 2023? ›

The world of blogging for business is flourishing and it isn't too late to jump on the bandwagon! In 2023, blogging should be just as relevant as ever, creating awesome results for businesses. With a little bit of time and effort, your carefully crafted blog articles will start to pay off.

How long should a blog post be 2023? ›

The ideal length of a blog post is anywhere between 750 to 5,000 words. That's the quick answer, but you can already tell by that massive range that the topic deserves a much deeper look. This blog post will explore the average blog post length in 2023 and how you can stay competitive with your blog content.

How long before a blog is successful? ›

On average, it takes 2-4 years to build a successful blog. Around the 2-year mark, you should have enough content and a large enough audience to begin experimenting with different monetization methods.

How many times a week should you post a blog? ›

This is a question that digital marketers have debated for years. While some swear by posting daily, there's actually a confirmed sweet spot when it comes to posting frequency. Most experts agree that blogging two to four times per week is the best way to see increased traction from your content.

How many blog posts should I have before going live? ›

Bloggers should have at least 10 to 15 posts ready to post before launching their blog in order to bring in meaningful traffic. Of course, that's just to start your blog. To build a decent following and sustain good traffic, you need to keep adding new blog content regularly.

How often should I post on my blog to make money? ›

You should probably plan to publish about three blog posts per week, minimum, to make money as a blogger. Do some testing to see if need to increase your publishing volume. You should also test other factors, like the length of your blog posts.

How can I make $100 a day? ›

How to make $100 a day: 19 simple, legit options
  1. Take online surveys. ...
  2. Get paid to open a bank account. ...
  3. Deliver groceries and goods. ...
  4. Earn just by using the right credit card when you spend. ...
  5. Watch videos online. ...
  6. Play games online. ...
  7. Walk dogs or pet-sit. ...
  8. Become an Amazon reseller.

What is the best way to get rich in 2023? ›

10 Ways for Millennials To Get Rich in 2023
  1. Become a Realtor. ...
  2. Get Into Aggressive Investing. ...
  3. Start a Digital Company. ...
  4. Take on Freelance Work. ...
  5. Become a Consultant. ...
  6. Offer Coaching Services. ...
  7. Start a Small Business. ...
  8. Jump on the Short-Term Rental Trend.
Mar 3, 2023

How to make $3,000 fast online? ›

How To Make $3,000 Fast
  1. Online Freelancing. One of the most straightforward ways to get $3,000 fast is to sell your skills online as a freelancer. ...
  2. Sell Stuff You Own. ...
  3. Try Driving Gigs That Pay. ...
  4. Complete Odd Jobs For Cash. ...
  5. Work Overtime. ...
  6. Start An Online Business. ...
  7. Consulting.
Aug 25, 2022

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