How to Start a Blog in 2025: Complete Beginner's Guide

Learn how to start a blog step by step. From choosing your niche to making money blogging, get proven strategies for starting a successful blog.

In 2010, Emily Weiss launched Into The Gloss—a simple site built on candid beauty routines and products people actually used. Five years later, that blog became the foundation for Glossier, a company now valued at over $1.8 billion. 

Epic Gardening followed a similar path. Kevin Espiritu began posting plant tips more than a decade ago. Today, his brand has exploded into a YouTube channel, podcast, and thriving online store. That store alone now drives 90% of the company's revenue.

This guide shows you how to start your own blog in 2025—so you can build traffic, authority, and a business that lasts.

What is a blog?

A blog is a regularly updated website or web page where individuals or businesses publish articles, opinions, or educational content. Blog posts typically appear in reverse chronological order (newest first) and can include text, images, videos, and links.

You might start a blog to:

• Share your expertise and experiences
• Teach valuable skills
• Build your reputation as an expert
• Grow an email list
• Make money

Or you may be motivated by several of these goals.

Why start a blog in 2025?

Every year, someone declares that blogging is dead. And every year, the numbers prove otherwise. Let’s look at some of the common misconceptions.

“Nobody reads blogs anymore.”

As of 2025, there are over 600 million blogs worldwide, making up 31.6% of all websites. In a recent HubSpot survey, 29% of respondents said they read one to four blog posts per month to learn something new, for entertainment, or to follow industry trends.

“Attention spans are shrinking.”

Maybe, but not for valuable content. Long-form posts (2,000 or more words) consistently rank higher in search and keep readers engaged longer. In fact, 68% of marketers increased their production of long-form content in the past year; 39% say long-form content helps combat creative fatigue, and 33% say it directly increases ROI.

“You can’t make money blogging.”

Not true. ZipRecruiter reports that bloggers in the US earn an average of $62,275 per year, or about $30 per hour. And that’s theaverage—at the top end, some full-time bloggers report making well into six figures annually through a mix of ad revenue, affiliate income, and product sales.

Blog income potential and timelines

According to ProBlogger’s survey of 1,508 bloggers, 4% make over $10,000/month (six figures annually) and 9% earn $1,000 or more per month (a solid part-time income). 

Cofounder of RightBlogger Ryan Robinson has more than 500,000 monthly readers. Based on his experience, he says professional bloggers might anticipate the following income milestones:

Earning level	Timeline	Notes
$100 per month	6–12 months	Early stage; usually from affiliate links, ads, or small sponsorships.
$1,000 per month	1–2 years	Consistent posting, SEO traction, and basic monetization strategies kick in.
$10,000 per month	3–4 years	Full-time income level; requires diversified monetization (ads, affiliates, products, services).
$25,000 per month	4–5 years	High-growth blogs with strong traffic and multiple revenue streams.
$50,000 per month	5–6 years	Top-tier earners; usually with established brand authority, products, and/or teams.

10 steps to start your first blog

Follow these 10 steps to move from idea to published blog, with a solid foundation for growth, readers, and revenue.

1. Choose your blog niche

With AI writing tools making it easier than ever to create content at scale, you might wonder how to stand out. Focus on two key strategies: finding a specific niche and creating content that offers unique value to readers.

Look for a niche that's narrow but deep. This helps you create consistent content without running out of ideas, build expertise in a specific area, and connect with a dedicated audience that shares your interests.

Even within a competitive niche, you can differentiate your blog. You might focus on your local area, like a New York–focused food blog, or dig deep into a specific segment, like vegan baking. Develop a unique writing style or create more comprehensive content than your competitors.

Take Epic Gardening, for example. Founder Kevin Espiritu saw an opportunity to make complex gardening topics like hydroponics more accessible to everyday gardeners. “The content we make is designed to help you become a better gardener,” Kevin told Shopify Masters. 

Source: Epic Gardening

2. Conduct keyword research and validate your idea

You need to know if people are actually searching for your topic—and whether you can realistically compete for their clicks. 

This step is about two things: 

1. Demand: Are people Googling it?
2. Competition: Can you rank for it?

Say you want to blog about sustainable fashion. That’s broad. Narrow it down: “eco-friendly denim,” “capsule wardrobes,” or “secondhand designer finds.” Each of these is a potential content angle—but you need data to back it up.

Plug your ideas into keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool.

Look at:

• Search volume: Are at least a few hundred to a few thousand people searching monthly? That’s a healthy sign of interest.
• Competition/difficulty score: High search volume with sky-high competition means you’ll struggle to rank. Aim for medium difficulty keywords.
• Related topics: Keyword tools often surface related phrases. For “capsule wardrobe,” you might also see “minimalist closet” or “10 x 10 challenge.” These spinoffs can become blog post ideas later.

💡Pro tip: Don’t chase big numbers alone. Everyone wants to rank for “best jeans” or “marketing strategy,” but those keywords are brutally competitive and dominated by established sites. If you’re just starting out, focus on long-tail keywords: those longer, more specific search terms with lower search volume and less competition. Use a tool like AnswerThePublic to discover phrases real people are searching for.

3. Choose a blogging platform

Before you write your first blog post, set up your hosting and content management system (CMS). 

If you use Shopify, setting up your blog is simple. Your Shopify store comes with a built-in blog called “News.” To write your first post, go to Online Store > Blog Posts in your Shopify admin. Your blog automatically matches your Shopify theme.

Start a blog on Shopify.

Not using Shopify? You have plenty of other blogging platforms worth considering. For example, you can start with a self-hosted WordPress blog and add the Shopify Buy Now button later to make your blog content shoppable.

When choosing your platform, look for one that:

• Meets your web-hosting needs
• Is easy to use
• Requires minimal technical skills
• Can grow with your business

Think about the future of your blog, too. As your brand grows and traffic increases, you might want to change your site's look or add new features. Make sure your platform offers helpful plugins and apps for tasks like:

• Optimizing site performance
• Running backups
• Marketing your blog
• Managing content

4. Set up your blog domain and hosting

Your domain is your blog’s address, and hosting is where all the content lives. You can’t have one without the other. Follow this four-part checklist to get started.

Pick a domain that passes these six checks:

1. Short and readable: Aim for 15 or fewer characters, easy to say out loud.
2. Brandable: Unique over keyword-stuffed (e.g., seedandsoil.com > bestgardeningtipsblog.com).
3. No hyphens/numbers: These make URLs harder to remember and easier to mistype.
4. Right TLD: Use .com if available; .co, .io (tech), and .store (ecom) are fine backups.
5. No conflicts: Do a quick trademark and Google search.
6. Handle check: See if the same handle is free on the socials you’ll use.

Not sure what to call your blog? Shopify’s Free Domain Name Generator helps you brainstorm ideas and instantly check availability. Just type in a keyword to see creative, brandable options before someone else grabs them.

Buy the domain:

• Buy inside your platform (easiest): If you’re using Shopify, you can buy your domain directly from your dashboard under Settings > Domains. Shopify handles the technical setup for you: DNS records are automatically pointed at your store; your SSL certificate (the little padlock in the browser) is installed instantly, so your site is secure from day one. (Or purchase your domain name with Shopify directly here.)
• Buy from a domain registrar (flexible): If you want to keep your domain separate from your platform (some people prefer this for flexibility), register it with services like Shopify.

Connect the domain to your platform:

If you chose Shopify (hosting included):

1. Go to Settings > Domains > Buy new or Connect existing.
2. If connecting an existing domain, choose automatic connection (if your registrar supports it).
3. If you must do it manually, update DNS at your registrar:
• A record: Point your root (yourdomain.com) to Shopify’s host (Shopify shows the current target inside the connect flow).
• CNAME (www): Point www to Shopify’s provided hostname (e.g., shops.myshopify.com).
4. Back in Shopify, click Verify connection, set it as Primary domain, and ensure SSL shows as Active.

If you chose WordPress.org (self-hosted):

1. Pick a managed WordPress host and create your site (one-click install).
2. Point the domain to your host—either update nameservers to the host’s or set A/CNAME records as they provide.
3. Enable a free SSL certificate (Let’s Encrypt) and force HTTPS.
4. In WordPress: set Settings > Permalinks > Post name, enable caching (host tool or a lightweight plugin), and turn on the host’s CDN if offered.

Here’s what you get when you choose domain hosting with Shopify:

• Secure hosting included: When you buy your domain through Shopify, DNS and SSL are automatically configured. 
• Free subdomains: Add as many subdomains as you like—for example, keep your blog on blog.yourstore.com while your storefront lives at yourstore.com. You can also add unlimited subdirectories (like /collections or /blog-posts) to organize content.
• Forwarding email: Create unlimited forwarding addresses (e.g., sales@yourdomain.com) and send them to the inbox of your choice.
• WHOIS privacy: Shopify keeps your registration details private. Your personal information never shows up in public records.
• Affordable pricing: Domains start at just US$14 per year, and you can cancel at any time. Choose from standard .com, country-specific, or over 50 premium extensions for a completely personalized brand name.

Your pre-launch action items—make sure:

• Your blog loads quickly on mobile and desktop
• You see the padlock (SSL) next to your URL
• “yourdomain.com/robots.txt” and “/sitemap.xml” load properly
• You’ve connected Google Search Console and Analytics for tracking

5. Pick your blog name

Running a blog for your existing business? You can keep the focus on your brand name by calling your blog “News” or “Blog.” You can also get creative with your branding: Canyon Coffee calls their blog “Journal” while CAP Beauty uses The Thinking CAP.

If your blog is your brand’s primary marketing tool, pick a name that's:

• Memorable
• Easy to pronounce
• Simple to spell
• Different from competitors

Your blog name should give readers a clear idea of what to expect from your content.

📚Read:Blog Name Ideas: 5 Ways To Generate Names for Your Blog

6. Build your email list from day one

Email subscribers are your most valuable audience. They’ve chosen to hear from you directly, without relying on the algorithm-driven recommendations. 

According to Litmus’s State of Email Report 2025, for every $1 spent on email marketing, 35% of marketers see $10–$36 in return. Retail and ecommerce perform even better, with an average return of about $45 for every $1 spent.

Take Lily Ugbaja, for example. She started her blog, FindingBalance.Mom, as a way to earn from home while raising her son. Lily monetized in just two weeks by leaning hard on email marketing.

“I used emails to promote my products and relevant affiliate products with tripwires and Facebook groups,” she explains. “You add lead magnets to your site so people sign up after reading your article. Instead of a success page, you share a one-time offer—a low-end product at a super discounted rate, $7 in my case.”

So don’t wait. Even if you’re only getting 50 visitors per month, capturing emails means you're turning traffic into traction. 

Here’s how to start:

1. Choose an email service provider (ESP): Start simple. Options like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Beehiiv, or Klaviyo (great if you’re planning ecommerce) make it easy to design sign-up forms and automate welcome sequences. Shopify also integrates seamlessly with ESPs if you’re blogging and selling under one roof.
2. Embed opt-in forms:
• Place a signup form in your blog’s header or footer so it’s always visible.
• Add inline opt-ins inside posts (“Want my full list of eco-friendly wardrobe staples? Get it here.”).
• Use exit-intent popups sparingly to catch readers before they leave.
3. Offer a lead magnet: A freebie can make the difference between someone bouncing and subscribing. Examples: a checklist, a short guide, or a discount if you’re running an ecommerce blog.
4. Keep the sign-up friction low: Ask for the bare minimum information (just email, maybe first name). Every extra field reduces signups.

If you’re building your blog inside Shopify, you already have email marketing tools built right in. Shopify Email is pre-installed and can be set up in just a few clicks:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Shopify Email or head to Settings > Notifications and follow the prompts to install.
2. Confirm your sender email so emails go out from your brand’s address (and don’t show @shopifyemail.com). If you’re using a third-party domain, you’ll need to add SPF and DKIM records to authenticate it.
3. Once installed and configured, Shopify Email lets you send branded newsletters, automated welcome series, and promotional campaigns.

7. Decide on your content types

Regular posting builds a successful blog. Create a content strategy to guide your publishing schedule and keep you focused.

Consider these content types:

• Evergreen content: Educational articles that stay relevant over time
• Topical content: Posts about current trends and news
• Curated content: Roundups and commentary on industry news
• Feature pieces: In-depth interviews and profiles

Try creating recurring features that mix these content types. Canyon Coffee, for example, alternates between quick recipe posts and longer interview pieces called “Morning Rituals.”

Source: Canyon Coffee

8. Create a content calendar

Avoid running out of ideas by planning your content in advance. Your calendar should track:

• Content types and topics
• Target audiences
• Distribution channels
• Publication dates

Plan your posts at least a month ahead and stick to a consistent schedule. This helps readers know when to expect fresh content.

💡Pro tip: Use HubSpot’s free, editable blog editorial calendar templates to keep your content organized.

Source: HubSpot

9. Write your first blog post

Before writing your first blog post, create an outline with headings and key points to guide your work. As you write, back up your claims with personal experience or data, and link to credible sources to build trust with readers.

Get feedback from a colleague or friend before publishing. Fresh eyes can catch gaps, awkward phrasing, or missed opportunities you might overlook.

Add the finishing touches:

• Craft an engaging, clear blog post title that signals the value of your post.
• Add relevant images or graphics to break up text and keep readers scrolling.
• Format for readability with short paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points.

10. Design your blog for readers

Good design keeps readers engaged. Bad design makes them bounce, no matter how brilliant your content may be.

Here’s how to design a reader-friendly blog:

• Keep it scannable:
  • Use short paragraphs (2–4 lines max).
  • Break content with headings, subheadings, and bullet points so readers can find what they need quickly.
  • Bold or highlight key phrases to draw attention to must-know information.
• Use white space generously: Crowded layouts overwhelm readers. Adding breathing room between text blocks, images, and buttons makes your blog feel professional and easy to navigate.
• Add images that serve a purpose: Relevant visuals, charts, or screenshots break up text and reinforce your message. Avoid stock-photo overload—readers scroll past generic imagery.
• Optimize for mobile-first design: More than 50% of global web traffic comes from mobile. Test your site on your phone:
  • Does text resize properly?
  • Are buttons big enough to tap?
  • Do images load quickly?
• Guide readers with structure: Add calls-to-action (CTAs). Whether it’s subscribing to your email list, checking out a related article, or browsing your store, design CTAs to stand out—using buttons or colored boxes—without overwhelming the page.

For example, Scary Mommy’s blog design feels approachable: big visuals, clear categories, and easy-to-scan layouts that keep busy parents scrolling with ease.

Scary Mommy shows how bold visuals and clear sections make a blog feel inviting and easy to browse.

Blog ideas for beginners

Here are some high-volume blog business ideas that are beginner-friendly—plus information on who they attract and how they can make you money.

1. Personal finance

People always want practical help with money—think budgeting, investing, and financial independence.

According to Backlinko, finance keywords are competitive, but not impossible to rank for with consistent, quality content. And with an average cost-per-click (CPC) of $6.27 for terms like “financial management,” advertisers are willing to pay top dollar for traffic. That translates to excellent monetization opportunities through affiliate programs, sponsored content, or digital products.

“I decided to add printables—and soon other digital products—to diversify my income and put more control in my own hands,” says Dylan Houlihan, founder of the blog-based website Swift Salary. “So far, I let readers decide how much they’d like to pay for my printables, which is why revenue numbers haven’t been crazy. However, I have clocked over 800 downloads, so I’m quite proud of that.”

2. Health and wellness

The global wellness market is massive—McKinsey puts it at $2 trillion—and blog readers continue to fuel it. From home workouts to stress management tips, content in this space never runs out of demand.

You’re likely catering to health-conscious readers, beginners starting fitness routines, or people managing their diet and mental health.

Monetize your content with sponsored posts for wellness brands, affiliate links for supplements and gear, or digital courses and coaching programs.

3. Tech and AI

AI is everywhere in 2025, and people want to know which tools actually work and how to use them. Add in gadgets, software tutorials, and app reviews, and you’ve got a blog niche with endless content angles.

The global AI market is expected to reach $407 billion by the end of 2027. You can earn money from affiliate commissions on software-as-a-service (SaaS) products and gadgets, sponsored posts from tech brands, and ad revenue from high-volume keywords like “best AI tools for students.”

4. Digital marketing and making money online

Businesses of all sizes are hungry for practical strategies that help them increase visibility and drive sales. Bloggers who share tips on SEO, social media, or freelancing can build a steady following.

Elementor highlights “digital marketing” as the most profitable blog niche for 2025, noting its broad scope from SEO and content marketing to social media strategies.

The main benefit here is that your blog doubles as a portfolio: when readers see you ranking on Google and writing smart content, they’ll trust you to handle their marketing. Common services include SEO audits, social media management, or paid ads consulting. Even a handful of clients can quickly out-earn ads or affiliates.

“If you’re in the B2B space, consulting is a big revenue generator,” says Mushfiq Sarker, founder of The Website Flip. “If you have some expertise and people are genuinely reading your content, consider what kind of consulting you could do for them. It’s a high-revenue, low-commitment way to make money blogging.”

Once you establish authority, SaaS companies and agencies will pay to feature their tools or services on your site.

5. Food and recipes

Food is one of the most reliable blogging niches out there. People never stop searching for recipes—and that evergreen demand makes food content a safe bet for long-term growth.

Food blogs generate strong ad revenue from display networks like Mediavine or Gourmet Ads. Reported RPMs (revenue per 1,000 pageviews) range from $10–$20, with seasonal peaks even higher.

Some established food bloggers earn significant income; Starter Story reports that average weekly revenue for food bloggers hovers around $2,190, translating to $8,700 per month. 

How to promote your blog

Hitting “Publish” doesn’t guarantee readers. To actually get eyes on your work, you need distribution. And in blogging, three channels dominate—SEO, social media, and collaborations. 

SEO basics for new bloggers

Search engine optimization (SEO) is how your blog gets discovered on Google. Start with the fundamentals:

• Keyword placement: Use your target keyword in the title, first paragraph, subheadings, and meta description. Don’t overstuff—keep it natural.
• On-page structure: Break posts into scannable sections with clear H2 and H3 headings. Google favors content that’s easy to read.
• Internal linking: When you publish new content, add internal links to older posts so traffic flows across your site.
• Fast load times: Compress images and use a clean blog theme. Site speed is a ranking factor.

Social media strategy

SEO takes time, but social media promotions give your blog posts an instant boost. The key is not being everywhere, but choosing platforms where your readers already hang out:

• Pinterest: A goldmine for food, DIY, travel, and lifestyle blogs. Create vertical graphics with clear titles to drive clicks.
• LinkedIn: Best for B2B niches like marketing, career advice, and finance. Repurpose blog insights into quick LinkedIn posts.
• Instagram and TikTok: Perfect for visual niches—recipes, fashion, wellness. Pair a short video or carousel with a link back to your blog.
• Twitter/X: Still useful for news, tech, and thought leadership. Share snippets, charts, or quick tips that link back to longer posts.

💡Pro tip: Don’t just share links. Pull out bite-sized insights or visuals from your post and share them natively—then add the link. This increases engagement and drives more traffic than a plain “new blog post” announcement.

Guest blogging and collaborations

Your blog doesn’t—and can’t—grow in isolation. Collaborating with other creators can accelerate your reach:

• Identify relevant blogs: Use tools like Ahrefs or just Google “[your niche] blog” and make a list of sites that accept guest posts or feature contributor content.
• Pitch smart: Send a short, polite email offering a specific topic idea that fits their audience. Show you’ve actually read their blog. Example: “I noticed your readers loved your post on beginner SEO tips. I’d love to contribute a fresh angle on using free keyword tools to get started.”
• Reciprocal partnerships: Offer to trade guest posts, or link to each other’s content where relevant. This builds backlinks (great for SEO) and introduces you to each other’s audiences.
• Collaborate beyond blogs: Co-host a webinar, record a podcast, or cross-promote on social media. The goal is to share overlapping audiences and expand reach.

How to make money blogging

You can make money blogging in 2025, but success doesn’t come overnight. Here’s what earning looks like today, how quickly it ramps up, and the legal basics you need to cover.

Monetization methods ranked by timeline

Blog monetization starts with building traffic, but how you use that traffic depends on your goals. You might focus on high traffic volume to generate passive income through display ads, or target specific audiences with buying intent to sell products or services.

• Affiliate marketing is often the quickest path to revenue—many blogs start earning this way within the first few months. For example, with the Shopify Affiliate Program, you can earn up to $150 in commission every time a referral signs up and starts paying full price for specific subscription plans.
• Between months 6 and 24, most bloggers diversify into email marketing, digital products, and sponsored content. 
• Beyond two years, the most successful blogs add high-ROI streams like courses, consulting, or memberships.

Epic Gardening’s journey shows how your strategy can evolve. Kevin started with traditional blog monetization—display ads, affiliate marketing, and brand partnerships. Later he expanded into ecommerce. “In gardening, like [with] cooking, or carpentry, or a lot of these home hobbies, there’s a lot of gear that you can get into if you really want to,” he explains.

Remember, though: a sustainable blog needs to make money, but quality should always come first.

Kevin watches reader comments closely to gauge their response to product mentions. “There's a limit to how much you can promote your product before people start to get frustrated,” he explains.

“But if you don't mention it enough, well, you're not using the advantage of having a platform. And so you have to find some happy medium.”

Setting realistic income expectations

The way your income scales depends on two key factors: how much content you publish and how much traffic you attract.

Here’s how earnings scale with content and audience growth:

• By post volume:
• 0–49 posts: ~$17 per month
• 100–299 posts: ~$548 per month
• 500–999 posts: ~$6,316 per month
• 1,000+ posts: ~$7,982 per month on average
• By monthly page views:
• <5K views: ~$47 per month
• 25K–49,999 views: ~$1,034 per month
• 50K–99,999 views: ~$5,065 per month
• 500K–999,999 views: ~$18,950 per month
• By traffic: Blog owners with 10,000 to 100,000 monthly page views often earn between $0.02–$0.10 per page view from ads—that’s anywhere from $200 to $10,000 per month.
• By monetization type:
• Sponsored articles typically range from $25 to $750 per post depending on niche and audience size. 
• Digital products like courses or guides can push earnings to $10,000 or more per month. 

About 30% of bloggers report starting to make money within their first six months of blogging, and 28% reach a full-time income within two years.

Legal and tax considerations

Skip the boring compliance stuff, and you risk fines, lost readers, or worse: your site going dark. Here’s what you need to cover:

• Privacy policy and terms of service: If you’re collecting emails, running ads, or taking payments, you need these policies to cover your entire blog, not just individual blog posts. Plus, under the EU’s General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), it’s the law.
• Income reporting and taxes: Yes, even your side-hustle blog counts. Track your revenue and expenses, register as needed in your country, and stay ahead on estimated taxes.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance: Transparency builds trust. Disclose sponsored posts and affiliate links clearly—something as simple as “This post contains affiliate links; I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you” keeps you on the right side of the rules.
• Data protection (GDPR/CCPA): If you're collecting any customer data (like emails), make sure it’s stored securely, consent is obtained, and users can opt out or request deletion.

Maintain and grow your blog

To keep your blog moving forward, you’ll need to track what’s working and double down on it.

Update content regularly

Growing your blog means both creating new content and updating existing posts. Publishing new blog posts regularly trains your audience—and Google—to come back for more. Refresh older content to:

• Add new information
• Link to related posts
• Remove outdated details
• Update your writing style
• Fix broken links

Epic Gardening focuses on accuracy in their updates. “We focus a lot on trying to make sure all of our facts are correct, not only to our own experience as gardeners, but also [ensuring] there's something out there we can point to, like a [scientific] study, that confirms this is good advice,” says Kevin.

Track your progress

If you want your blog to grow beyond a passion project, treat it like a business— successful businesses track numbers.

• Traffic metrics: Keep an eye on page views, unique visitors, and bounce rate to review which blog post ideas resonate with your audience. Google Analytics 4 is the classic option, but if you want something cleaner and more privacy-friendly, try Plausible or Fathom.
• Engagement metrics: Look at how readers interact with your content: time spent on page, comments, shares, and email sign-ups. Most blog platforms (WordPress, Ghost, etc.) already give you a quick readout, and you can pair that with built-in social analytics.
• Revenue metrics: Track RPM, affiliate clicks, product sales, and sponsorship income. Ad networks and affiliate dashboards will give you raw numbers, but some creators pull everything into a single reporting view so they can see the whole picture at once.

If you’re on WordPress, you can also install plugins like MonsterInsights to get more detailed reports without leaving your dashboard.

We also recommend building a dashboard in Looker Studio or any other lightweight analytics tool to set up a one-stop view of your core numbers. This saves you from digging through five tabs every time you want an update.

💡Pro tip: Pick one day each month to check your metrics. Compare them to last month, note what’s moving up or down, and decide what to double down on. Treat it like a retro meeting for your blog: identify what worked, what didn’t, and what you’re trying next.

How to start a blog FAQ

How can I start blogging as a beginner?

Pick a niche, choose a platform (like Shopify or WordPress), buy a domain, and publish your first post. Focus on consistency over perfection—your first few posts are about learning and building momentum.

Do bloggers get paid money?

Yes. Bloggers make money through ads, affiliate links, sponsored posts, selling digital products, or running online stores. Income ranges widely—some earn a little side cash, while others build full-time businesses.

What is the 80/20 rule for blogging?

The 80/20 rule says 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. In blogging, that usually means a small number of high-performing posts bring in most of your traffic and revenue. Identify and double down on those winners.

How do I start a business blog?

Define your target audience, map blog topics to customer questions, and publish content that builds trust and drives traffic back to your products or services. Use CTAs and email signups to turn readers into leads or buyers.

How easy is it to start a blog?

Technically, very easy—you can set up a blog in under an hour with platforms like Shopify, WordPress, or Squarespace. The challenge is sticking with it long enough to grow traffic and earn income.

How do I start a blog with no money?

Here's how to start with minimal investment:

1. Choose your blog name.
2. Pick a web hosting provider.
3. Select a free Shopify or WordPress theme.
4. Write and publish your first post.
5. Promote your content.
6. Add monetization methods.

How much does it cost to start a blog?

You can get started for under $100 (domain + basic web hosting + free theme). A more polished setup with premium hosting, a WordPress theme, and a few paid plugins usually runs $300–$600. If you go all-in with custom design, branding, and pro tools, expect to spend $1,000 or more.