How to Start a Blog and Make Money - $10k+/Month in 2024 (Step-by-Step)

Summary

The video script offers an in-depth guide for aspiring bloggers, emphasizing the potential for substantial income through blogging. It highlights the importance of understanding monetization strategies, recommending affiliate marketing over traditional ads like Google AdSense, especially for new blogs with low traffic. The speaker, a successful full-time blogger, shares personal experiences and strategies, such as leveraging large affiliate networks and selling digital products for higher commissions. The script also provides actionable steps for starting a blog, including choosing a profitable niche, selecting a domain name, setting up a self-hosted WordPress blog with a reliable hosting provider, and focusing on driving traffic through platforms like Pinterest. The summary serves as a motivational call to action, encouraging potential bloggers to start their journey and learn from the provided resources.

Takeaways

• 💼 Starting a blog can be a lucrative career with the potential to earn a substantial income, as the speaker does over $10,000/month on average.
• 🏡 The flexibility of blogging allows for working from home and setting your own schedule, which is beneficial for those with family commitments.
• 🚀 For new bloggers, focusing on affiliate marketing rather than Google Adsense is recommended due to higher potential earnings, especially with digital products.
• 🔗 Building partnerships with large affiliate networks or directly with product sellers can yield significant commissions, particularly in niches like fashion and software reviews.
• 📈 Once a blog has significant traffic (around 10,000 monthly sessions), it's more beneficial to consider display ads through networks like Ezoic or Monumetric.
• 🚫 Avoid applying for Google Adsense too early due to the risk of getting banned and closing doors for future premium ad networks.
• 📉 Display ads on a new blog with low traffic are not recommended as they yield very low income.
• 🎨 Selling services through a blog can be a good way to generate income while growing the audience, especially for skills that can be offered remotely.
• 🛍️ Creating and selling your own digital products, such as eBooks or online courses, can be highly profitable with minimal support required.
• 📝 Choosing a profitable niche is crucial for a successful and monetizable blog, and it's important to research the most profitable niches for the current year.
• 🌐 Focusing on one traffic platform at a time is more effective than spreading efforts across multiple platforms, with Pinterest being a recommended starting point for many niches.
• 💻 Using a self-hosted WordPress blog is essential for monetization and growth, avoiding limitations associated with free platforms.

Q & A

Is starting a blog still a viable option for income generation in the current digital landscape?

Yes, starting a blog can still be a lucrative venture. The script highlights that with the right strategies, such as affiliate marketing and focusing on a profitable niche, it is possible to earn a significant income, as evidenced by the speaker earning over $10,000 per month from blogging.

What are the initial costs and benefits associated with starting a blog?

The initial costs of starting a blog are quite low, which includes domain registration and hosting. The benefits are high return on investment (ROI), working from home, and having control over one's schedule, making it a flexible option for individuals like stay-at-home parents.

Why might it not be advisable to apply for Google AdSense immediately upon starting a blog?

Applying for Google AdSense right away might not be beneficial, especially with low traffic. The earnings from display ads can be minimal (less than $10 per month) when traffic is low, which isn't worth the potential distraction from the site's content and user experience.

What is the recommended monetization strategy for a new blog?

The recommended strategy is affiliate marketing. This involves promoting products within your blog's niche through affiliate networks like Impact, CJ Affiliates, ShareaSale, reWardStyle, ClickBank, and Partnerstack, which can offer higher commission rates than traditional ad networks.

What are some high-commission affiliate products that can be promoted on a blog?

High-commission affiliate products often include digital products like eBooks, online courses, and legal templates, which typically offer commissions of about 30% to 85% due to their high profit margins.

When should a blogger consider adding display ads to their blog?

Display ads should be considered when the blog's traffic reaches at least 10,000 monthly sessions. At this point, a blogger can apply to advertising networks like Ezoic or Monumetric, which also require integration with Google AdSense.

Why is Pinterest highlighted as a good traffic source for new blogs?

Pinterest is user-friendly for new blogs, as it can provide traffic quickly and is not dependent on domain authority. It is also popular in the United States, which is beneficial for meeting the audience criteria of some ad networks like Mediavine.

How can offering services on a blog help with income while the blog grows?

Offering services such as content writing, editing, virtual assistance, or other skilled work can provide a steady income stream while the blog audience grows. This allows the blogger to leverage their existing skills and the blog as a marketing platform.

What are some advantages of selling your own digital products on a blog?

Selling digital products offers a high return on investment with minimal support required. They can include eBooks, printable files, patterns, templates, stock photos, and legal documents. These products can generate significant income without the need for paid advertising.

Why is it important to choose the right niche when starting a blog?

Choosing the right niche is crucial for profitability. A niche should align with the blogger's interests and expertise but also be marketable and appealing to an audience that is likely to engage and convert into income through various monetization strategies.

What are some tips for choosing a domain name for a new blog?

A good domain name should be short, easy to remember, and preferably use the .com zone. It should avoid numbers, hyphens, and misspellings. The domain can be the blogger's name if it's not too common, allowing flexibility in the blog's content and niche.

Why is it recommended to start with a self-hosted blog instead of a free platform?

A self-hosted blog provides more control, flexibility, and monetization opportunities. Free platforms may limit the types of ads that can be run and are less attractive to affiliate networks. Self-hosting is also a requirement for many premium ad networks and is essential for long-term blogging success.