Looking for a simple, easy guide that will teach you how to start a blog and make money in 2024?
You’ve come to the right place!
Kindly hold my illustrated hand, and let’s get started.
This is a super easy guide that you can follow especially if you have a zero-tech background.
You will learn how to choose a profitable blogging niche, set up a blog from scratch, and understand the fundamentals of blogging so you can grow quickly with ease.
I will also teach you how to write your first post and make money with your blog.
First of all…
Table of Contents
What is a Blog?
A Blog is a Website that is regularly updated with content displayed in reverse chronological order that either educates or entertains the reader.
I didn’t mean to scare you. Can we start over?
How do bloggers make money blogging?
1. A blog helps you gain clients
No matter how talented or skilled you are as an Artist/Designer/Illustrator/Writer/VA/Social Media Manager/etc., it will be difficult for you to build authority and establish yourself in your field if you don’t have a blog or some kind of online presence.
By continuously blogging about your expertise, people will start recognizing you in your field.
Whether you are a writer/artist/blogger, your blog will become your very own Portfolio.
Let me give you a small example.
Say, I’m a Website Designer.
This isn’t so hard to imagine because this is what I did for a living a few years ago.
Now say, I consistently publish posts related to website building, plugin installments, lists on how to optimize your website, and so on…
Someone who wants to know how to implement a WordPress plugin stumbles upon my post and realizes that I’m an Expert in Website Building.
They understand how complicated it is and instead of building it themselves, contact me and hire me to build their website.
And voila!
I’ve just earned a Website Deal via my blog!
So, this is the secret sauce to bagging clients.
Don’t try escaping. This bag is made of 200GSM paper.
Not only does having a blog make you look super professional, but it becomes very easy for your potential clients to find you and contact you.
And a Blog works for any field!
I’m currently an Illustrator and a Comic Artist.
And after launching my current website and continuing to blog, I slowly watched my email Inbox explode with Illustration requests.
The process is simple.
It goes like this…
See how easy-peasy it is?
2. A blog helps you make money online
Boy, I wish we had trees like this in real life…
Every Polly, Molly, and Dolly is starting a blog these days.
The main reason is it gives you flexibility.
People can make money online without having to work from 9-5.
The investment is low, and the pay-offs are high!
When it comes to blogging, your earning potential is limitless because there are tons of ways to make money blogging.
No doubt, when you initially start your blog, you have to put in a lot of effort to get it off the ground by writing damn good content consistently.
This blog is a little over a year old, and I am currently making anywhere between $4000-$5000 a month blogging, including my freelancing services.
You can read my 6th Month Blogging Income Report here.
3. A blog helps you build a Brand
Similar to what I said earlier, your blog will help you establish your brand.
This is very important if you want to pave the way for your personal Success. No matter what you want to be in the future, a Blog is a great way to get eyes on your brand and start a Business.
A Blog tells people your story.
Whether you want to sell digital products like eCourses or eBooks, be known as a Speaker, or just make a name for yourself, your blog will help you get there.
As you keep publishing posts that help establish your authority, you will create new opportunities for yourself in your field of business.
Thanks to my blog, I’ve received invitations to speak about my business in my local area, and it has only helped establish my Brand and Business better!
I’ve made countless digital product sales, and I’ve got more eyes on my Comics. It will only go further up from here.
How my blog made me my first $1000
I get a lot of emails every week asking me for tips related to blogging, and it brings back so many memories of when I first started.
I started my first blog in 2015 as a hobby.
It was called Mary Angela Designs. However, it doesn’t exist anymore. And for a whole year, I made peanuts. Well, not peanuts. Because, peanuts… you can sell.
I made zero nothing.
It was a hard pill to swallow. My blog was making no money.
And on October 11th, 2016, I’d had enough.
I made a plan to monetize my blog.
And I did.
It didn’t take me longer than two weeks to earn my first $300 when a woman hired me to create some doodles for her. I started offering my services on my website and signed up to be an Amazon Affiliate.
In November, I earned my first $1000 through my illustrating services and products.
READ MORE: 17 WAYS TO EASILY GAIN CLIENTS ONLINE + FREE WORKBOOK!
In December, I took a long break to modify my website to cater to the right crowd. And I spent more time writing a solid Business Plan.
And guess what happened?
My page views and subscribers doubled. I got 2000 subscribers in less than 30 days, which resulted in a massive boost in my Amazon affiliate sales.
In other words, I was able to make an income doing something I loved – writing and drawing.
All this while staying at home and having more time to give my beloved pooches.
So, in short, blogging helps you build a brand and name for yourself and helps you sell your products or services. And can be used to make money online.
Now, let’s learn how to start a blog and make money.
If you don’t have a blog or are thinking of starting one, I have a free 7-day email course (extremely detailed) that will help you start a blog that makes money on autopilot!
This post includes affiliate links to products I truly (from the bottom of my heart) recommend, meaning at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small percentage which I will use to buy my poor dogs food.
Do not start an online blog with the sole intention of making money
Starting a blog is super easy.
But continuing to blog consistently for an extended period is unbelievably hard. It takes time, patience, and a whole lot of grueling.
This is one of the main reasons why many bloggers eventually fail.
They enthusiastically start a blog and churn out blog posts faster than you can say “cheese cracker,” and within a few months, there’s not a peep from them.
You stop receiving their emails.
Their last updated blog post was three months ago.
And you never hear from them again.
Why?
Because they were just blogging to earn a quick buck.
They lose interest in blogging when the money doesn’t come rolling in ASAP.
It’s not that easy, Sarah…
They weren’t blogging for passion.
There was no zing.
The zing is crucial, hon because the zing is what fuels your writing.
And if you don’t have a zing, you don’t stand a chance to make money with your blog.
Therefore, you must have a passion for writing and being heard. You must be strong-willed and be ready to learn something new every single day.
And most importantly, you must treat your blog as a Business from Day 1 before you start an online blog.
Apart from that, you require a blogging niche.
What is a blog niche?
A blog niche means that every post you write in your blog will specifically cater to one type of audience or niche. Meaning you will be blogging about one specific topic.
But is having a blog niche really necessary?
I’m a die-hard fan of post-it notes.
Yes, mainly for two reasons.
1. Having a blog niche helps you grow faster
According to Google, by constantly talking about one topic, you become an expert in it.
Say you find a blog that has posts on
- Choosing the right pencils for shading
- The Best cross-hatching sketching technique
- Different types of paper to use for sketching
and so on…
By reading a number of these posts, you will automatically believe that the Blogger is an expert in sketching.
No questions asked!
These posts will also start ranking higher on Google.
Why?
Because Search Engines like Google like to show posts written by Experts, they believe these posts will enhance their user experience because the Blogger in question knows what they are talking about!
And having 50+ posts that are focused on one topic is the best way to do that. Google loves when you are super focused on one topic.
2. Having a blog niche helps you make money faster too
Imagine you have a DIY blog that teaches people to make origami.
Can you believe that this started out like a swan?
It becomes easier for you to sell origami tutorials to your readers because they are interested in them!
However, if your blog is about Travel and Origami, selling origami tutorials to all your readers will be slightly tricky.
Sure, there may be some readers interested in both Travel and Origami, but what are the chances that you will be able to make the same amount of sales?
Pretty less, right?
If you’re still not convinced, let me give you another example. Say you want to lose weight!
Which blog will you lean more towards?
- A Blog that has 15 posts on Fitness, 12 posts on Dieting, 15 posts on Exercise (or)
- A blog with 10 posts on Travel, 8 on Art, and 12 on Fitness?
Definitely the first one, right?
It’s human nature to associate people with just one thing.
We automatically believe the person is an expert in something if they are focused on one topic alone.
So, now that you understand how important a blog niche is, let’s move on to choosing a profitable blog niche.
The 2 Parameters for choosing your Blog Niche before you start an online blog
1. Your blogging niche should be closely related to what you’re passionate about and have some experience in.
To discover your blogging niche, ask yourself if this is something you’re passionate about. Think back on all the blog posts you like to read.
What do you really get excited about?
I am interested in creative hobbies.
I have made money as a Graphic Designer, a Web Designer, and an Illustrator, and I’ve sold a lot of digital products as well.
So, I know quite a bit about Online Businesses. And that’s why I’m comfortable teaching it to my audience.
Likewise, ask yourself, what is it that you’re passionate about?
What do you envision yourself teaching to your audience?
2. Your blog niche needs to focus on a problem that’s worldwide and has people ready to pay money for solutions
I’m sorry, but if you’re passionate about dogs, you should not create a blog on making socks for dogs.
This is the harsh truth about blogging. I don’t deny that it will be an adorable blog, but I doubt if people will be willing to spend money on it.
When you choose a niche, you have to make sure that you are solving a worldwide problem.
People spend money on solutions to problems that they really, really want to solve.
The easiest way to make sure that your niche is profitable is to go to Google Search and type the name of the niche you’re interested in.
If it’s pregnancy, then look at a few pregnancy blogs. See if they are successful. Watch how they’re monetizing their Blogs.
If it looks doable, you’ve found your perfect niche.
All in all, you have to find a niche that you are passionate about and is super profitable.
It means that you will have a strong base of readers who will love your blog and spend money on it.
You may be wondering if it has already been done before, why bother?
Because the demand is high.
If there are a lot of blogs in the niche you’ve chosen, you know for sure that there is super high demand. This will make it easier for you to monetize this niche!
If it is difficult to narrow down your niche, you can blog about 2-3 closely related topics and group them in a single niche.
Let me give you an example.
The other day, a young girl wrote to me because she blogged about beauty, fashion, and student life. She wanted to niche down and didn’t know if she should scrap her blog and start a new one or give up altogether.
I told her she didn’t need to start from scratch.
She could just rename her niche to Student Beauty Hacks, where her blog gives makeup and fashion tips for students who want to look their best!
Just know whom you’re writing for, and it will be super easy to figure out your niche!
You are now ready to start your blog.
What do Domain and Hosting actually mean?
A domain name is your website URL.
E.g.: (www.facebook.com or www.yahoo.com or www.straycurls.com) and your hosting is where your website will live – imagine it as a house where your little blog is going to stay.
The bigger your website/blog gets, the more housing space you require.
Now, first, we will name your Blog baby and then buy it a house for it to stay in.
Choosing a Domain Name
In the first step, we will only choose a domain name, not buy it.
Skip this step if you’ve already decided what your website will be called and you’re sure the domain is available.
How to come up with a good Domain Name?
The first step in choosing a domain name is not to fret about it too much.
There are a few rules to follow, but I’ll get to it in a minute.
Remember, no matter what domain name you go along with, it is your content that will take you to the final leagues.
Here are a few tips on choosing a good name before you start an online blog:
- Never keep your domain name too long. It will become confusing for repeat visitors.
- Make sure it’s easy to spell.
- Choose a .com because it’s super easy to remember.
- If you’re finding it hard to come up with a domain name, you can create something that describes the niche you’re in. For instance, take Saranya, who chose to go with One Fine Wallet because her blog is all about finance and savings.
- For inspiration, look up your competitors. Try not to keep it similar to theirs; you want to stand out!
- When all else fails, go with your own name. See how Kimi Kinsey is rocking her blog.
- Think of what you want to remember and use words that resonate with that!
My domain name is Stray Curls because I wanted people to associate me with curly hair. Plus, it’s really catchy!
It has nothing to do with blogging and online business, but hey, it works!
Please remember that people will love your blog no matter what your domain name is because they’re coming to read your content, not gawk at your blog’s URL.
Such great details here! I know I need to work on content upgrades and some passive income products but they keep getting pushed to the back burner in lieu of client projects! I am pretty sure I need to read your blog every morning for some motivation to do a little each day at least!
Hello Melanie,
I just hopped on over to your blog and OMG, I’m in love! Your recipes are mouth-watering. You’re right. Content upgrades are super important. I try and make one a month at least. It’s difficult when client work takes so much time. But it really helps in list-building. :D Thank you Melanie, let me know if I can help you with anything!
Lots of love,
Angela
Outstanding and unstoppable post to get someone started! Cheers!
Hi Rhonda!
Gosh I love your website name! Unstoppable Momma! Yes! Thank you so much! I’m so glad you loved the post. Do let me know if there is anything I can help you with.
Have a lovely day,
Angela
Hey Angela, awesome, awesome post! I found it very valuable, so thank you!
I’ve been blogging for the last 2 years however recently had a break from it for several months. I’m getting back into it because it really makes me sooooo happy! I totally agree about the point on consistency, something i’m working hard to achieve this year and in future! I would love for you to check out my blog MindBeauty: https://beautyisthemind.wordpress.com/.
P.s I’ll be switching to my own domain and getting rid of the .wordpress.com in the URL (as recommended haha!) really soon. I’ve only just started to think about the possibility of making $ from my blog. Something that will of course take lots of time and work. Thanks again for your awesome tips girl!!
Angelica x
Hey Angelica,
I’m so, so happy that you like it. :) 2 years is awesome! And it’s good to take a break from blogging sometimes. It starts giving you perspective and you’re able to see your goals clearly. I just hopped on over to your blog. I love it!
I feel you can make your About Page longer. I realized that mine is incredibly short too and I have to work on it this week.
Oh, you should definitely get your own domain! It will really make you look like a professional and help your blog make more money.
Lots of love,
Angela
I tried blogging but couldn’t be consistent because of college ? I should give it a shot again with your tips this time.. really helpful post as always ?
Hey Abhilasha!
I totally understand. College is a huge bummer. Lol. But once you’re done or get a nice break, you should resume blogging. I’m seriously enjoying it so much!
Lots of love,
Angela
Your blog site and advice are amazing! It’s easy to read, well organized, and definitely a site I will revisit. Thanks for the insights and for sharing your incredible talent. Today was the perfect day for me to read this. I was in need of some inspiration. Kindest Wishes for your continues success! ~ Mary at World of Writer Mom
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much. Super stoked that you love the blog! :) I’ve just started it and I’m so excited to be writing again. Blogging truly is a joy.
And we all need a little inspiration. I just visited your blog and it’s really nice. Gonna bookmark it and visit it when I’m a mom someday. Wishing you all the best with your blog too.
Lots of love,
Angela
Great ideas. I’m just starting out and this will help me out a lot! Thank you for the insight. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Hey Ivy,
I’m so glad you loved them. :) I’ve just started my blog and I will be rolling out a lot of tips soon. Weekly to be precise. Thank you so much for reading. :D
I just read your story on your blog and I’m really touched. You’re an inspiration to the world. Don’t ever stop blogging.
Hugs,
Angela
Hello Angela,
I found your site again, and I’m re-reading your posts. Super helpful! I started my blog a few years back. I got sidetracked with family and work and haven’t written anything for about a year. I’m starting back up again. I’m torn about choosing a niche. I would like to still stay in the same niche, but at the same time, I would like to write about other things. What do you think of a lifestyle niche? Right now it’s mostly about travel. Turns out that I don’t travel as much as I’d like to, but I still like traveling (mostly close to home). I’m find out that the thing I like about travel is the planning stages. Also, I’m wondering about the domain name that I’ve picked. livin the life of ivy. I like it, but I’m wondering if my name should be in it. What do you think?
Hey Ivy,
Welcome back! I love your domain name, it’s very catchy! But writing about lifestyle will make it a little harder to monetize because you’re not niched enough to sell products or cater to one type of audience. So, think about narrowing down. This post should help:
https://www.straycurls.com/profitable-blog-niche/
Lots of love,
Angela
You know, I’ll bookmark this or keep this on a list later on when I grow more successful. I maybe be starting now still, but any knowledge I can take helps. I would love to consider this later on. When I start marketing, I’ll consider this as a guide to help get me started. I still adore the guides you create and inspire new seeds and people. I love your artwork and the inspiration you give as always. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Jaron,
Thank you so much. I’m super glad you found this post helpful. And I’m still in my learning phase too. This blog is brand new and I have so much hope for it this year. :) I love being able to help people and I’m so lucky to have a platform where I can contribute so much!
Are you talking about marketing for your art? :)
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi
I am Abhinav
I am in high school . I am starting blogging about pets.So how much time I should given to writing blogs with studies studies.
Hey Abhinav,
I didn’t start a blog when I was in school and it’s been a while since I graduated, so I definitely cannot answer this question. You need to analyze your goals and figure out how much time you can schedule to your blog. It shouldn’t interfere with your studies.
Hello Angela,
Great pictures and amazing overview. I would like to use your suggestion in step “3. Comment on other Blogs”. :)
I want to provide a value for your readers by sharing my recorder video (less than 4 min) for step “3. Installing WordPress”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNWYQkJk7t4.
Thank you,
Levi at Passive Income Boost
Hey Levi,
That sounds great! So glad you found this post useful. And yes, your video is really good!
Warm regards,
Angela
Thanks for sharing these tips. I have just started working on a clothes site, wherein I up the best 3 cloth pieces every day. I don’t have any visitors there yet. Will definitely try out your ideas.
Thank you once again.
Hey Kavisha,
I took a look at your Website. Each picture goes to Jabong. That’s a little spammy. Create a blog post where you write about the different clothes that you like and use pictures to link to Jabong. That might work better. You need text in a website otherwise it’s not going to get you much traffic.
Also, because the motive is not clear, people may be leaving your website. There are no words on your Front page. It’s not quite clear what you’re trying to achieve from the look of your front page. So, try and work on it a bit more.
Wishing you all the best with your Website!
Lots of love,
Angela
Thank you so much Angela for having a look at the website.
Yeah, ill make changes to get data from other sites as well and not Jabong only.
I didn’t want to put in much text, but like you mentioned Iguess it’s not giving users the idea behind the site.
I will make in a few changes as per your suggestions. Thank you so much!
Hello Kavisha,
You are most welcome. It was my pleasure.
Yes! Take a look at similar websites in your niche so you get an idea of what topics you can talk about. Fill up your website with more links and helpful tutorials. A lot of Fashion Blogs do really, really well because they have an audience that’s yearning for fashion tips!
You’re going to rock it!
Lots of love,
Angela
This is extremely informative and detailed, Angela. I blog myself and am thinking of monetizing it. But, have been thinking it over multiple times which started to get overwhelming. Your post set things at ease and gives me confidence that it can be done and things can be achieved. Thank you for this post! ^_^
Hello Nikhila,
Thank you so much! So glad you loved this post. Of course monetization is possible. It’s difficult to start, but once you get the ball rolling, there’s no turning back! I’d also recommend having a niche. As soon as someone steps into your blog, they should know what it’s about! Lifestyle blogs (that are about a variation of topics) do well only if 5-10 blog posts are published per day. Otherwise it’s best to stick to one niche. :) That really helped me monetize mine.
Lots of love,
Angela
Wow! I did not know about that information regarding lifestyle blogs. Thanks much, Angela!
Love,
Nikhila.
Hey Nikhila,
Oh, it all comes with reading! :D Blogging is a never-ending journey of learning and researching. ;) Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be more than happy to help!
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi , I immensely love your blog and take it as an inspiration. I am a teenager and have just started blogging. Would really like you to check it out and give an honest review. :)
Hey Metamorphosisofanerd,
Thank you so much. I love your blog name. It’s really nice.
Change the background color from blue to white. It’s very difficult to read. Also, are you using stock photos? Because if you aren’t, you’re violating copyrights. Be careful. Don’t use any image from Google.
Also, write longer posts. The more detailed the better. :) Other than that, I think you’re good. Hope that helps.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be more than happy to help.
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi Angela I follow you on Instagram and that’s what led me here This is the BEST post about blogging I’ve ever read Keep up the great work I’m you’re 25 I didn’t know that I’m 25 too yayyy (sorry for the lack of punctuation my cracked phone screen isn’t allowing it lol) I had thought about blogging but was daunted by the thought of venturing into an unknown field as I’m from the medical side but I enjoy food and have a small baking business called Dr Baker Thanks for the amazing post will definitely come back to this when I start my own blog Cheers
Hello Nashoma,
Awww, thank you!
I don’t know if it’s the best post out there, but I know that I’ve given it my all. Blogging is so confusing especially in the first few months. Because there is so much to grasp. And not enough time to learn it all. So, that was the reason why I wanted to write this post – to help people who are in the same boat that I was.
And I totally understand the broken phone screen. Haha, I’ve been there, and done that! ;)
I think you should start your own Baking Blog. :) It will really help pick your Business up! A blog is a great way to gain exposure. Not to mention, your Google rankings will go up!
Take care and all the best!
Angela
Very useful post, thanks Angela. So many actionable tips and you make it sound so easy! I guess we are all looking for that solid strategy to start making money after doing the hard work to get our blogs up with a good number of quality posts. Appreciate your easy to understand writing style!
Hello Estie,
Thank you! Super stoked that you found it easy to read. That’s exactly what I aim for. I too like blog posts/books that are easy to read and to the point. Can’t stand it when they beat around the bush.
Trust me when I say that it’s totally possible if you believe in yourself and your blog. My first blog took me a whole year to start making chunk change. But this time, I was able to make a good amount in my 2nd month itself. It’s all about trying and testing different methods and paying attention to which one works!
What methods are you currently using to monetize yours? Maybe I can help!
Warm regards,
Angela
Thanks for your reply Angela. Any tips to do better at Amazon affiliate marketing will be greatly appreciated. For some reason, I have 10K clicks but no sales there…
Hello Estie,
10K clicks and no sales? No, definitely something is wrong. Your conversion rate should be a minimum of 1%. How many months have you had Amazon Affiliates now? And have you tried contacting Amazon to check if your Tracking ID is working fine?
Warm regards,
Angela
Hey Angela!
I don’t know if you remember me but like a couple of months back, I came across one of your comics and pinged you on Instagram. I think that time you didn’t have a blog. I asked you how did you start drawing and you were so nice and got back to me in a day. It motivated me and last month I started my own art channel. And believe me, I didn’t even know what a Wacom was! But it just happened because my boyfriend turns out to be a designer and he just lent it to me for a day. It’s been a month and I’m doing pretty well. I try to make one sketch a day. Most importantly though, I want to travel full-time and these days, I am creating platforms where I can document my travel stories… I just created a blog on WordPress. I have blogged before. In fact, I had like 3 blogs once but I never grew the number but as I saw you grow, it is so uneffing unbelievable! So I would like to put in your techniques and start out in a better way and don’t leave my blog hanging there. Maybe you can advice me on my art channel, if you’ve time: http://instagram.com/offmydeskdoodles. And here is my blog: https://offmydesk.home.blog/. I started it only a couple of days back so there is nothing there. But maybe I can write you a long detailed mail and you can suggest me something, anything… I don’t know, would you like that? Anyway, thanks for writing the blog. You are awesome!
Hello Kaus,
Of course I remember you! :) You’re such a sweetie pie. Yes, I didn’t have my blog back then. I’m so happy for you! You must be so excited to have started your own channel!
I just took a peek and your ideas are lovely! I feel you could definitely appeal to the Travel Lovers. :) You should mention that in your Instagram bio. And use more travel related hashtags. Check out this post where I post all the Instagram Tips I’ve used to gain over 100K followers. I talk about this specific Hashtag Strategy that worked for me. https://www.straycurls.com/gain-100k-followers-on-instagram/ It even includes a FREE ebook that you can use to help your account grow. I hope that helps.
Also, have a theme around your art. If you notice, most of my comics centered around Hair. So whoever follows me, generally loves hair related jokes. Have a theme like that – it can be about travel or anything else you’re passionate about.
Regarding your blog, mention that link in your bio. If possible, convert to a business account. It will help. And change the text to black. I am unable to read it properly. It’s a little hard at the moment.
It’s easier for me to reply to comments quickly, so feel free to ask me anything and I will help you as much as you can. If it’s too long then send me an email. :) But it will take me a little longer to respond.
Lots of love!
Angela
Hey Angela! thanks for replying again.
It took me a whole month to reply here. I have been so busy setting up my channels and other things. Turns out when you start working on your dream life, you gotta work really hard. Anyway, I am back with some new updates! First off, thanks for replying to me again. Seeing you and Debbie Draws, I’ve started replying to my comments too. Now the updates: I’ve started my own remote social media services so I can travel anytime, anywhere and I will only need a wifi. Things are coming together. I have some people who want to do the same thing as me and we have collaborated. It’s a work in progress but we are nailing it. Check out our brand new website baby here: http://thewifibunch.com/. I know it’s off topic, but I thought of sharing it because you’ve inspired me in so many ways that I am reaching out for my dreams. Second news: I’ve started my travel channels under the name Off My Desk. As recommended by you, I bought it on Bluehost. Earlier it was a free domain and now, I’ve got something of my own. Here’s the website: http://theoffmydesk.com/. As you mentioned in your blog on blogging and making money, I’ve tried to input most of the point but still, I think once you will have a look at it, you can tell me more about it. Let me know what you think? :) You’re so awesome, Angela. Keep doing the work you do. You’ve no idea how much you’ve inspired me.
Hello Kaus,
I totally understand. No rush!
I know how hard and time-consuming it is to start a blog. It’s a lot of work after that. Constantly pushing out posts and promoting. Not to mention the research that goes into blogging, phew!
Yes, when everything is upto you, you realize that you cannot absolutely afford to fail. So yes, working hard is a must!
Good, that you’re replying to comments. :D I checked out The Wifi Bunch. Loved the website. It’s so clean and to the point!
I wish you all the best with it! It looks fabulous.
You’ve started a new blog! Woohoo! And you’ve already discovered your niche! Super happy for you. There are so many things you can do to monetize your blog. I don’t like traveling but I do take lots of short trips with my husband. And we’re always looking for new backpacks. Maybe you could review some and link to some really good backpacks.
You could even write down some itineraries for people who want to go to Sri Lanka but don’t know where to stay. Additionally, you can review some restaurants and tell people what food they have to try!
I also look forward to visiting souvenir shops. And I love buying colorful skirts. If you have a list of places for those, you should write about it!
You can put in a lot of photos! And even make a resource page for travelers. Must carry items for traveling, that sort of thing? Each item can be an affiliate link of course. So, if people buy it, you make a commission. That’s affiliate marketing for you.
These are just a few things off the top of my head. The best way to grow is to learn from travel bloggers whom you admire. See what they do. Notice what they’re doing different and learn how to stand out. And by standing out, you will automatically gain an audience. The key is find your strengths and find a way to combine that with your blogging skills. :D
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment. I know for sure you’ll do amazingly well if you put your heart into your blog. :D
Feel free to ask me any questions.
Lots of love,
Angela
I’m glad you shifted from a free domain to a paid one. The benefits are out of this world.
Really helpful words thank you so much now I m thinking to start a blog also I want to make money out of it thanks again
Hey Azima,
Awesome! Yes, you go ahead and start your blog. Starting mine was the best decision I’ve ever made and I’m super happy. :D Let me know if you run into any hiccups and I’ll be glad to help you out!
Warm regards,
Angela
Ive been thinking about starting a blog and i love crafting, sewing, drawing and stuff like that. The only problem is that im in school so im worried it might be hard to be consistant so im not sure if i want to buy services yet. Is it ok to start out with free services and switch later if i really enjoy it ? And can do u several themes? Like i wanted to do creative stuff like i said and life advice ( like how to be happy and stuff like tgat .
Hello Annika,
Start your blog! Don’t hesitate. I’d suggest not giving away your services for free. You shouldn’t undervalue your work. You are spending time on it, why not charge? :)
If you’re busy and you’re unable to take work, you can always inform people that you’re not accepting work right now. It’s totally alright. :)
I’d suggest sticking to one niche. People get confused when you blog about too many things. I made that mistake with my first blog so getting traffic was really difficult!
Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be more than happy to help you.
Lots of love,
Angela
When it comes to monetization, I’ve tried it all.
I started with Adsense… but was let down by the low CPCs.
Then I promoted affiliate products… but I couldn’t get the traffic to convert.
Then I tried CPA marketing… and quickly realized that it was THE best way to monetize.
(In fact, CPA helped one of my sites go from 0 to $10k/month in record time), so as a blogger I
suggest to join (maxbounty-mostCPA-peerfly) and choose YOUR niche, suitable offers and then start write some blogs about those offers. I guarantee that you reach out your money goals.
Hello San,
Sounds an awful lot like Brian Dean’s post! I did check it out though and it’s a superb read! :D
Warm regards,
Angela
why did you stop using your Instagram?
Hello Naina,
A glitch affected my account on Instagram on January, 2018. People told me that they’re unable to like my posts or follow me. I’m not shadow-banned or anything. It’s just a glitch. I consulted a few Instagram Analysts who told me that I needed to reach out to Instagram and ask them to refresh my data entry.
But I’ve tried for 3 months and they aren’t responding to me. So I had 2 options. Either to start a new account or start something else altogether. I chose the latter option. Because it would break my heart to start a new account and have the same thing happen, again.
Angela
You should try your IG account again :) I just followed you and liked a post! Love all your illustrations and posts captions!!! I think they might have fixed it and it’s all good now :)
Hello Michele,
Nope, the glitch is still present in my account. I am going to make a brand new account soon. Yes, I’ll be starting from scratch. Here’s hoping for the best. :)
And thank you so much, you’re so sweet.
Warm regards,
Angela
Dear Angela,
First of all, I’m obsessed with your drawings and website! Keep up the amazing work!
The one thing that I find so hard is being consistent. I’m in college and combining blogging with school work kills me from time to time.
Also, it’s so hard to gain followers that like me and everything I do! I feel like I’m in the same zone for 2 years already where nothing has happened whilist I try so hard to create good content and it takes me so long to create a good post.
It’s my absolute dream to gain more followers and to interact with my audience.
If you want to take a look at my website:
http://www.mylotte.co.uk
thank you so much for sharing your tips with us! It has been really helpful <3
Love,
Mylotte
Hello Mylotte,
Thank you so much. :) You are super sweet.
It is difficult to be consistent since you’re juggling classes and school work. But try sticking to a plan. Maybe you can work on it during the weekends or early in the mornings. Just 2-3 hours a day should suffice for now. Your photos are unbelievably pretty, so you should definitely stick to Instagram for promotion.
Aside from that, I have a post that will help you get more comments and blog engagement. You can see it here.
https://www.straycurls.com/get-tons-of-blog-comments/
This will really help you. It’s all the tips that worked for me. :) Don’t ever stop blogging. It’s hard in the beginning but eventually it will pick up.
Pumpkin Spice Lattes and love,
Angela
Hello, just read your article. Well yes, it’s overwhelming but a great inspiration too. I already started one but on WordPress and as you rightly said, it didn’t work but now after my exams I’m trying out one more…and for that this was surely awesome background help. I’m pinning this for reference. Thankyou for all the effort you have put up. Especially knowing that you are an engineer and could still have such an beautiful blog that too in India, (p.s. my knowledge about bluehost and converkit is adoringly negligible) as I’m from science background too.
Hello Devashree,
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment. :) Ha ha, yes. I’m an Engineer. But I haven’t used any of my Engineering Skills for this Blog. :P Oh, you’re in the Science Branch too? How sweet! :D What did you study?
As for Bluehost and ConvertKit, it’s a little hard, but once you understand how they help you, blogging becomes much easier! :D
Hugs,
Angela
Hello!
I’ve literally spent all noon reading your posts :’ ).
I’ve already created my own blog, but those extra parts with tips and hacks just made my life easier!
You go step by step, little by little, starting on how to first create your own blog and finishing on how to earn your life from it!
And I’m so grateful for it, how you always remember back when YOU started your own blog and, with all the necessary skills done, you lead us on how you are now. A successful blogger.
I would looove if you checked my blog, it’s still a bit rubbish, but I have to work on it. Step by step. Like you always say.
It’s right here! http://ireswaytolive.com/
Do you think it’s a good name? And any extra personal blog help?
It will make me so happy : ).
Merry Christmas everyone!
Hello Irene,
Awwww, first of all, thank you so much for your kind words. I really love the ideas you come up with, so if you have more ideas of posts that I should write, do let me know! :D
Yes, starting a blog is so easy! But earning from it is definitely a challenge. I do intend on writing a post on creating your own products and selling it via SendOwl as well. I’m currently focusing on posts that teach my readers on gaining traffic.
Your blog is lovely. Are you by any chance English? Because the way you talk is so very English and it’s very sweet. <3
I have a couple of tips for your Blog:
1. Include more photos in your Blog. In your About Page and Blog.
2. Sprinkle more stock photos in your Posts. It's currently too wordy and slightly difficult to read.
3. Include sub-headers and break up your text a little more so that there's more space.
4. Create a logo. And do include links to your Social Media.
Other than that, it's really good! :D
Happy Christmas!
Angela
Thank you for all these amazing posts!! Definitely have bookmarked you for later and will highlight several of your posts in future articles :) Just started working on my website full time and I’m looking forward to diving into all the things you’ve talked about here :) Do you collaborate often with other bloggers? :) Thank you and Merry Christmas/Happy New Years!
Hello Michele,
Aww, you’re so sweet. Thank you for bookmarking the post! If you subscribe to my newsletter, you will get updated for each post I write. :)
I’m still waiting to reach a certain level before I start guest posting. But I do currently include backlinks to other blogs and share their posts on Social Media. I also love engaging with other Bloggers on Facebook.
Wishing you all the best with your Blog!
Happy New Year!
Angela
Hi!!
OMG! I can’t believe you actually checked my blog! And I’m so happy you gave me tips to improve it!
My real origin is Spanish, and I am living in Spain right now, but I study in an English school so it makes my life much easier when wanting to write English blog posts. (You can check my welcome page here —> https://ireswaytolive.com/welcome/)
Yeah, I am currently working on upgrading my blog’s quality, and adding more photos. (One question: what does stock photo mean? I have a slight idea of it, but I don’t really know 100%)
And creating a logo.
And including sub-headers.
Again, I am sooo grateful, happy, excited, breath-taken that you checked my blog out!
After following all your tips – or at least working on them – and always looking forward to learn more things from you, I can’t believe you, my biggest role model, has visited my blog.
So, again, thank you.
Irene.
Hello Irene!
You’re Spanish? How lovely! I have a pen pal in Venezuela! So, I know a little bit about your Culture! :D
Your English is absolutely lovely. I’ve studied British English too! I was born and brought up in UAE.
A stock photo is a photo that is free to use and doesn’t come infringe on any copyright violations. Check out http://www.unsplash.com as they have unlimited stock photos!
Thank you so much for your kind words,
Angela
Hi Angela! This is the second post I have fully read of yours, and I don’t do that very often unless it’s a cooking blog post (usually because I just want to finish the recipe! Lol). I love the way you communicate and how clean your site is. That’s actually the main reason I don’t finish/hardly start reading a blog post is because of the clutter and craziness happening on the site. I also think it’s the main reason I was able to finish your posts! Simple and clean, informative and entertaining! Thank you for breaking this process down and really explaining it. Yes, it is a little overwhelming, but I can take baby steps better if I can understand them ;) Great blog.
Hello Kirsten,
You are so sweet, I am truly honoured that you’ve read more than 1 blog post. I hope you continue to read more, because I have so much planned for 2019!
Yes, I do believe that clutter drives people away so my primary aim has always been to make my text more readable. However it has come with loads of experience and reading. Blogging is a continuous learning experience.
Sometimes, I feel like kicking myself for not monetizing my Blog with ads because it would mean a lot more extra income each month, but then I remember that making my readers comfortable and building trust is more important than monetizing because it indeed goes a long way.
Yes, this blog post is slightly overwhelming, ha ha. I will try to make a short PDF that you can download for free soon. :)
Thank you again for the compliment. I have received your email as well and will reply shortly.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi there Angela! I’ve read a handful of your blogposts now. You have such a nice writing style, it makes it easy to read ? I am only starting my blog, after I tried 3 years ago, but got the most massive writers block?! So this year I’m trying again. Thank you for allllll your secrets, because it makes me feel like I can concere the world!
My blog will be a vegan foodblog, with mostly recipes and snippets (or maybe novels) about why everyone should be vegan, ahum. I’d love to follow a foodphotography course and I probably will do that soon, so I can provide those as a service! I’d love to make my living out of that.
Thanks thanks again for all the knowledge, I wish you a mega super happy 2019 ? and I’ll be reading more of your posts for sure!
Hello Jillian!
Thank you so much! I try to write in a conversation style so that it’s more fun and casual for my readers. It makes me super happy to know that you love it. :)
Oh hon! Writer’s block happens to everyone. Trust me… it’s totally normal. I have a post that will help you.
https://www.straycurls.com/overcome-creative-blocks/
You can definitely conquer the world. Just believe in yourself and work hard. A vegan blog sounds super, super awesome! :D And yes, you should definitely take that course.
Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year!
Angela
This post is a great help for me. Apart from helping me know how to go about setting up a successful blog,it has given me the confidence I need. Thanks
Hello Babalola,
That’s super! Go out there and make that blog happen!
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela..!! Thank you so much for these amazing tips.. I so needed them for my blog.. and thanks for the great motivation..!
Great work.. ?
Hey Sonali,
Super stoked that you loved these tips! :D Wising you all the best with your Blog! :D
Love,
Angela
Hey Angela,
I’m new to your blog and “35 Things to do with your Blank Notebook” is my favorite blog of yours. I love your writing and seek inspiration from you to start my own blog. I find it difficult to come up with ideas on what to write and therefore, haven’t gathered courage to start blogging. Your tips on how to decide what to write would be a great help!
Hey Namita,
Thank you so much! To decide on what to write, you need to understand 2 things. One, it should be something that people actually want to learn about. And two, it should be something that you are passionate about. Once you find that niche, stick to it and start a blog! You can also start a blog, and start writing about different things. This will also help you discover what you’re good at and what you love to write about. :D
Hope that helps!
Angela
Hi,
I love your writing style, it’s so engaging! Also, your drawings are simply FANTASTIC! I wish I had this talent!
I’ve started a blog not a long time ago and I’m learning something new every day. It’s such a fascinating journey. If you could please have a look and tell me if it looks super amateur (just honestly, I won’t get offended) that would be a great help. Thanks a million! ?
Hey Nikki!
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! :) Drawing isn’t hard at all! It just takes time and a little practice. Here’s my link to Skillshare: https://skl.sh/2IdAnuC
You will get 2 free months of Premium Membership and you can cancel your membership as soon as you 60 days are over so you don’t get charged. I watched a lot of tutorials and learned how to become a better Illustrator.
You just need a graphic tablet and you have to draw at least 1 hour every day. :) That’s about it!
I love your blog. It’s cute and definitely unique! :D But might I suggest just one thing? Stick to one niche. I noticed that you blog about being a mummy and being a blogger. Either have 2 blogs, or ditch 1 topic and blog about 1.
Both niches are good for making money. But you have to stick to one. Otherwise you could be driving away a lot of people by blogging about 2.
This is my two cents. Otherwise, its perfect! :)
Lots of love,
Angela
Angela, you really know what you are talking about! :) I like your style and your art. :)
I read a lot of blog posts about how to start a blog, how to monetize it and stuff… But I find this one the most helpful! I really appreciate your honesty on the topic. Thanks for these amazing tips.
I blog about healthy lifestyle and sometimes travel. :) I would be glad if you could check out my blog. :)
Love,
Suzie
Hey Suzie,
Thank you again! You are such a delight.
Yes, I honestly believe that the way to build a successful blog is to provide tons of value. I love taking apart things and organizing them in little itty bitty pieces so that’s its laid out nicely for people to see. Partly the reason why I became an Illustrator.
I saw your Blog, thanks to your email and it’s gorgeous now! I’m so happy that you took my advice and started leaning more towards a vegan lifestyle. This is such a popular topic so there is no chance of failing! It’s something that so many people (including myself) are trying to learn and implement. :)
Love it. Love your Blog and wishing you tons of success!
Angela
Thank you, Angela, I really appreciate it. :)
I am so happy that you are interested in veganism. What would you like to read about on my blog? :)
Thank you again for your kind words and support!
Suzie
Hey Suzie,
I am currently enjoying the recipes on your Blog. Although I do eat meat, I enjoy vegetarian dishes and I’m a huge sucker for curries and rice. I also love the idea of pancakes and pies without eggs. :D It’s amazing!
I’d love to see your top 10 list of skin care products that are completely vegan and animal cruelty-free. Because this is by far the biggest change I want the world to implement. Testing products on animals should be banned! Completely.
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi Angela,
I am so happy that you like my recipes. I will have an amazing curry kale recipe for you soon. :)
What is your favourite dish? I wonder if I can make it in a vegan version. :)
Thank you for the idea, I am planning to make a beauty product list, but I recently moved to the UK and didn’t find my favourites yet. And yes, I agree with you, I don’t want to feel beautiful if that requires suffering of an animal…
Take care,
Suzie
Hey Suzie,
Yes I do! :D And I can’t wait for your Kale Curry Recipe. I love prawn curry and I wish that there was a vegan substitute. It’s made with coconut milk, turmeric, chili powder, vinegar and a few other Indian spices.
I love Bodyshop Products because they are against animal testing. And I will continue to support them.
Lots of love and wishes,
Angela
Hi dear Angela,
good news, I uploaded the kale curry recipe: https://suzinspire.com/easy-chickpea-curry-on-a-budget-vegangf/ I hope you will like it. :)
I never tried Bodyshop products, but I heard about them. Should I give them a chance? :)
It is so great that there are brands, who are cruelty-free!
Greetings,
Suzie
Hey Suzie!
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe. Can’t wait to try it! :D
I totally think you should try BodyShop and InnisFree. They’re both amazing brands. And they smell really good too. Both are cruelty free and vegan. <3
Lots of love,
Angela
I love this! Such a phenomenal post with TONS of actionable information. Thank you so much for sharing! <3
Hey Jandra,
Thank you so much for your kind words. And it’s no problem at all! :)
Super glad I can help!
Angela
i love your arts
Thank you so much Kavindya!
I love your blog.Its so perfectly written.Can you please help me with something….what is a plug-in and why is it important?
Hey Kee,
Thank you so much. Here is a really good article that will help you understand what a Plugin is:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/plugin/
Warm regards,
Angela
I am a new blogger and I’ve been struggling lately but this post gave me the motivation to continue. This has been very helpful and inspirational. There is hope for me *yay* Thank you so much! :)
Hey Dee,
Thank you so much! You are so sweet. Of course there’s hope. If you truly want to become a successful blogger and never quit, it’s totally possible!
Wishing you all the best Dee,
Angela
Hey Angela, lovely post.
My blog is about 4 months old. Actively working on just for few weeks. I’m must say that I’m doing almost everything I should as a beginner.
I have a recipe blog. As a writer how do you think I should be able to resolve problems on my blog post ?
Hey Shrilatha,
I took a peek at your Blog. And don’t worry. You’re doing a good job. I think you’re talking about Traffic? This takes time. At least 3-6 months of continuous writing before your Blog takes off traffic wise. Build an email list.
That should help. :) And here’s a post that should help you build traffic.
https://www.straycurls.com/double-blog-traffic/
Don’t worry. It will pick up soon.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey thank you so much Angela, so good to hear that you had a look at my blog. Appreciate the time taken.
With regards to traffic building will see your post on that.
Thank you once again
Shrilatha
Thank you so much Shrilatha. Hope you love it!
I’m running a blog since 2 years really don’t know about that I earn through a blog i just share my experience and about new trends thanks for this article it’s really helpful for those people who still don’t know how to earn
Thank you so much Liza. It is possible to earn money blogging, but you have to be patient and keep trying different monetization techniques till you find one that actually works for your Blog! :)
Hi! I found your blog in PINTEREST!!! lol, and i love it sooooo much, i have a website for my design services but i want to start a travel/lifestyle blog and merge everything together. I’m so scared and feel old to start now (28 years old) but you make me feel so much better. Thank you so much, i’ll definetely be coming back for every post you make. Also, i’m from argentina, so i don’t know if i should make my blog in spanish or english (because english is international but most of my followers speak spanish, do you have any advice on this?
Hey Carolina,
I think its best you keep two different websites for each. Don’t merge them. People who are coming to see your travel related posts won’t be able to understand your design services post. Unless of course you keep two email lists and segment your list well.
Ask yourself who your buyers are. If you want a whole lot of buyers, then keeping your Blog Spanish might alienate everyone else. This is a decision only you can make. And those who speak spanish can use a Google Translate plugin to read everything in Spanish. :) Or maybe you could get a plugin that does that.
I wish you all the best!
Angela
*stands up clapping hard* this post is AMAZING cause you are AMAZING i enjoyed the content the humor AND OMG YOUR CHARACTERS I WANT THEM IN MY LIFE your blog is the type of blog i would love to revisit over and over, gonna make myself coffee and read all your articles. Thank you so much you made me smile alot today although i was overwhelmed and i hope your day will be full of smiles
*curtsies while waving a Japanese fan*
Why… thank you love. :D I am so thrilled and happy to have a Super Fan like you.
I hope you loved all the articles, if you have suggestions for more posts you’d like to see in the future, please do leave me a message. :D
Wishing you all the best with your Blog,
Angela
Hey Angela!
Truely truely love this blog post of yours! It has helped me gain a lot of knowledge about blogging since I am planning to begin with my own. I am a travel blogger with a Banglore based company named Budgetwayfarers currently and it’s almost been an year since I have been working for them… Now I wish to start my own blog. I was genuinely looking out for some great content like yours.
Totally in love with your doodled pictures. Since I am still a student and haven’t started earning yet and all the pocket money I get is spent on travelling here and there in Mumbai. I am skeptical about will I be able to fund my blog?
Should the blog be monetized as you commence with it or one should wait for a couple of months and then monetize it? Also can you tell me about how to use Google AdWords? I have heard that you cannot monetize your blog untill it’s 6 months old on Google AdWords, is that true?
Love from Mumbai ?
Regards
Nimisha Modi
Hey Nimisha,
Thank you so much for your kind words. That’s amazing that you already have experience maintaining a website. A travel Blog is difficult to monetize in the beginning, but with time it gets easier.
If your monetization strategy is only ads, then wait at least 6 months till you gain an audience. It isn’t difficult to maintain a blog even with pocket money. A blog with 2-3 posts and tons of ads will drive people away. Build a loyal audience first who keeps coming back for more. Then focus on monetizing.
No one I know has had a good experience with Google Ads. Aim for 25k sessions and apply straight to Mediavine. You get paid more and it’s worth it because they show relevant ads to your audience.
I know a Beauty Blogger who used Google Ads and her traffic fell because it started showing ads that were not at all relevant to the audience. It ended up looking like spam. It’s not worth the money and the hassle.
In the beginning, focus on Affiliate Marketing. That really helps! And you’ll make a decent income (enough to pay for your Blog’s maintenance)
I wish you the best!
Angela
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how
you presented it. Too cool!
Thank you so much love! That’s my aim with this Blog – Entertainment and Education! Super thrilled I am able to do both with my platform! :D
Starting a blog is definitely worth it. :) I make most of my living with my Blog now. It takes a while to get here but the journey is beautiful.
Loads of love,
Angela
Thats an epic content.
Starting by first writing a business plan is actaully the first to making blogging a business.
A Business Plan really helped put things into perspective for me too! :D
Hi Angela, I wanna ask, right now I’m trying to write a post about something that I’ve experienced in and want to solve people’s problem that related to it, because it’s something that I passionate about is it alright to have almost 500 words just for an opening or is it too much?
Most of my introductions are over 500 words Usy. And that’s totally okay. :D
Go right ahead and write a long, heartfelt introduction. It just makes your blog posts better!
Love,
Angela
Hello,
Wow, I’m so happy I came across this blog! I just recently got introduced to the blogging world and affiliate marketing when I started to research working from home jobs. I also just joined Wealthy Affiliate.com and it is an amazing community where you learn how to start a blog and monetize it.
I am having trouble with picking a niche:( I am a single Mom if 2 kids and I work 2 jobs (waitress and nanny), and all I’m passionate about is Jesus and my kids. I don’t have time to really find my true interests in life due to the heavy load of having to work 24/7 to provide.
I want to start a Christian parenting blog, but not sure if that’s a great niche or one that I can monetize. I also had an idea of a Christian lifestyle blog, that would focus on Christian parenting, dating and self improvement. Do you feel this is a profitable niche? Also I am a prepper for the end times but definitely not a hard core one (I only stock food and supplies as the Lord has guided me to).
I’ve had many bloggers who are extremely successful, tell me that the prepping niche would be way better to monetize, but I’m not sure I would be passionate about that topic at all. I thoroughly enjoyed your post on blogging and how to get started! I love the way your website is set up and your style of content and writing. I would be very grateful for any advice you would have or help to offer. Thank you so much, God Bless!
Hey Randi,
I totally understand the work-load. It can be tough. If you can spare about 1-2 hours every single day for your Blog, I’m sure you will get somewhere!
Christian Lifestyle Blogs do very, very well. Christian Parenting too. But please pick one. Don’t blog about everything. Define your target audience before starting your Blog and understand that it can be done! If you already know others in the same niche that are successful, what are you afraid of?
Just go for it sweetie!
Hugs,
Angela
Hey angela this is amazing i didn’t likw to read much long blogs but you keep me stuck with. You write in a very easy language. I’m thinking i should start blogging which i love to do i was searching for some help on pinterest to start a blog and then i found you you’re sooo good at this i love you blog and i wish somedah i’ll be like you. ??
Thank you so much Areeba! I wish you all the best with your new Blog! :D
thanks you for this wonderful article this is my blog
That’s wonderful Charles! I wish you all the best with your Blog!
Thank you
You are most welcome!
Warm regards,
Angela
You’re awesome Angela!
I m in love with your blog and your emails. I read all of them. A true fan here?
I love your illustrations Angela, tried at my blog as well I wish I couldb be a professional illustrator some day like you.
Keep up the great work!
Hey Shweta!
Thank you so much. You are so kind. <3 You can be an Illustrator as long as you love to draw. If you have Adobe Illustrator, I highly suggest you check out my course. It will help you learn how you can make illustrations like mine:
https://maryangela.teachable.com/p/illustrator-extraordinaire
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi Angela!
This post is so educational and jam packed with great info! I also enjoy your illustrations so much, they add a unique flair to everything you do! I was wondering if you had any specific tips with regard to niche… I have been wanting to start a blog/website of my own for some time now, but every time I put the effort in and plan it I end up with such a variety of ideas, themes and concepts that I just don’t know where to begin.
I’m a graphic designer by trade and would love to incorporate some design and illustration products into my site as well as write about creativity and design, but my design style varies so much from project to project, even when I illustrate, each time I use a different style so I’m afraid that if I include all this my products won’t work on the site together… When it comes to the blog section I also get scatterbrained because I don’t want to focus solely on design (you know trying to leave work at work sometimes) and I love writing about relationships, lifestyle, self improvement, motivation, travel…and many more. I would love to incorporate all my passions into one site but I’m not sure if it will work… and I barely have the courage to start one site not to mention different ones for the different topics…
So yeah, I’m a little confused but really excited to hopefully get something off the ground this time!
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Hey Clara,
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. As for choosing your niche, you have to blog about a few things in the beginning to know for sure where your passions lie. You can slowly narrow down your niche with time. But choose a profitable niche. Don’t just blog about what you’re passionate about. It takes a while, but you’ll definitely find your niche.
I hope this helps! It is impossible to blog about everything and make it profitable so ditch that idea completely.
Warm regards,
Angela
Lovely article, as always, Angela. You keep talking about using affiliates and original products, and I keep feeling frightened and wonder if I could pull out something like that. I will try tho and I hope for the best. Thank you for these great pieces of advice and tips & tricks.
Hey Cristina,
Okay, so the thing is, you will never know until you give it a shot. What have you really got to lose? And even if one fails, try again and again until you succeed. My first eBook was a flop and I’ve had multiple pieces of clipart/wallpapers make zero sales but that did not deter me from trying and trying again. :D
Just push through the failures girl! You can do it! :D
Kisses and hugs,
Angela
I’ve been thinking of starting a blog for single mothers… I write a lot just as a release for myself. I write about things that I learn and or encounter as a single mother and entrepreneur. I want to share my content in hopes of inspiring other single mothers and letting them know they CAN achieve anything they want. I’m doing it out of passion but I would like it to be a good source of income as well (hello I’m a single mother)
Hey Portia,
First of all, hats off to you for being a single mom and rocking it! :) I feel that you will become successful faster because you have already identified your niche and it’s a good one! You’re passionate about it too and you identify with it as well.
I wish you all the best with your Blog and Business!
Warm regards,
Angela
Hi, I’m a student and I want to start a blog, I’ve already written some posts and made some designs(I haven’t launched my blog yet but have almost everything done). But I think people won’t like my blog because it has too much of everything since I’m still at school I’ve made beauty, school organization, and zero waste posts but they just seem empty to me, I don’t like my own posts! I put so much effort into them (I’ve been working in this for 5 months now ) and I still feel like if I hadn’t done anything. Money isn’t a problem, my own dad has a blog so they wouldn’t make a fuss out of it. I’m passionate about this, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to do this but I just look at my work and compare it to the others and it looks terrible.
If you read until here, thank you, it helps a lot.
Hey Mary,
First of all, it’s completely normal to feel this way. When I first started my blog, my posts looked rubbish to me. It’s normal. But here’s the thing, we cannot get better unless we get out a few crap pieces first. :)
It’s the same with pencil sketching. When I first started, I’d compare my pieces to others and feel let down. But nobody starts perfect. Everyone has to start somewhere. It’s this growth that you must embrace.
So, don’t be hard on yourself. Work towards your goals. Write, write and write. Don’t compare yourself to others. But compare yourself to your older self. This will help you understand how much you’ve grown. :)
I hope this helps!
Angela
Hi Angela! I love your blog and illustrations! I started a blog less than a year back but haven’t quite got it off the ground yet. I’ve been reading your posts and they are fantastically informative and intriguing! I’m inspired to polish my content after reading yours! My blog is http://www.positivebraindump.com and I also dream to make an income from it one day like you! I’m also a fellow Indian ? keep up the awesome work and thank you for inspiring me!
Hey Sumaiya,
That’s wonderful that you’ve started a blog! Sometimes it takes a while to grow. Don’t give up just yet. There is a saying – if you start something new, wait for at least 3 years before giving up completely.
If you see absolutely no results, then yes, you can decide to move to something else.
I feel you’ve narrowed down your niche pretty thoroughly. Once this happens, it will take 3-6 months to start earning money. Hang in there! Don’t give up just yet!
Lots of love,
Angela
A really informative post for a blogger. A very useful post for a person who is already a blogger.
Thank you for sharing this kind of post.
So glad you liked it Maria. And yes, once you start a blog, there is so much to learn!
Great resource. Thanks for sharing this article. Keep up the great work!
You are most welcome Rubel! :)
hi angela, i have read a couple of blogs similar to your niche, but yours have so much magic and depth compared. i find this super helpful!. i started a blog last year/year before i wasn’t consistent and stoped mid last year. i really want to fire up and more, and that’s why i found your blog. i think i relate more with you because i am an illustrator and want to create an illustrative blog. i think i am having problems coming up with a niche or i am a bit confused. please any advice on it will be great.
here is the link to my site: https://kirkira.com/blog/.
thank you
warm regards
Heya!
Thank you so much for your kind words. It truly gives me wings.
Being consistent is so very important. Sometimes, even I struggle with that.
I think when I look at your Blog, I am confused because I don’t know what it’s about. You need to identify your target audience. Once you do that, narrowing down your niche will become easier. Try reading this post:
https://www.straycurls.com/target-audience/
I hope this helps!
Angela
Your blog is so great and it is very relatable. I love how you put things down in a simple and fun way
Ah, that was the main aim for my blog! To make it super fun and easy to understand.
Rainbows and butterflies,
Angela
Hi Angela,
I enjoyed reading your article, those are some great tips for starting a blog in 2020. Thank you for sharing and good luck for the upcoming articles.
Best Wishes
Abhijit C.
You are most welcome Abhijit!
You and your work always stood by the expectations and has a meaningful contribution to the success of the company. We value your presence and are proud of you.
Thank you Ankita!
Thanks Great Article! Looks like you have covered everything here on how to start a blog and make money online. I am currently looking into email marketing and the information here has really helped me.
Hey there!
If you’re looking for more information related to email marketing, here’s a post that will help:
https://www.straycurls.com/how-email-marketing-helps-me-make-600-each-month-consistently/
Lots of love,
Ang
I am also from India, Your website is really funny. I like your comic style.
Thank you Abishek!
This comic style just Wooooww, keep going
by the way i’m from algeria.
Thanks Evie!
Hugs from India,
Ang
Hi Angela, I want to start my own blog but I don’t know what to choose. I’m 18. My parents don’t want me to have my own card/deposit. So I only save my money in my piggy bank. My pocket money is less than 2 dollars (I’m Indonesian, and with $2 I still can have 2 meals and 2 bottles of water wich more than enough for a day at school). My mom only gives me pocket money whenever I’m going to school. Now that it’s quarantine days, my school is closed. So no school = no money. Making my own blog using the .org one is pretty expensive to me when I convert those dollars to my idr. So, I don’t have enough money to be self hosted and I don’t have the tools (e-money) to pay for it.
Besides,I’m still a newbie.
So what do you think wich is good for me
Should I use the self hosted one or use the free one then become self hosted when i’m ready?
Can I get some money when I’m using the free one?
And what do you suggest me to do / what are your advices when I’m using the free one
I’m looking forward for your reply
Hello Usy,
I understand how hard it must be. I was a college student too. You can definitely start a blog on a free Platform like Blogger. You can only make money on Blogger if people click on your Ads as far as I know.
Once you’re an Adult, you can definitely move to a paid hosting platform.
I hope this helps! Stay safe and strong!
Lots of love,
Angela
I love your blog and your illustrations are very cute. I recently started my blog and you’ve definitely helped a bunch. Thanks so much.
You are most welcome Lolita! So glad you loved it.
Hey Angela,
Very insightful post about starting a blog. This will surely help those who are in search of a detailed guide about how to start a blog. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Biswajit
No problem, Biswajit! :)
Very valuable info for aspiring bloggers. know how hard it is to believe in yourself and start something.
Thanks Vados! :) It’s hard in the beginning, but with time… things always get easier.
Hi Angela. I started a blog 2 years ago but quit because I wasn’t able to blog consistently. Now I have started a blog again and have found your blog information really helpful.
Hey Rohmah,
That’s wonderful! And yes, blogging consistently is something even I struggle with! But I’ve written a post that you will absolutely love! Here it is:
https://www.straycurls.com/blog-consistently/
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll be more than happy to help!
Kisses,
Ang
Do you use Divi for your site? I tried using Divi and it was incredibly complicated to us and it slowed down my new site as well :o!
Hey Fiona,
I prefer having more flexibility and adding code where I feel necessary. So I’m currently using Avada:
https://1.envato.market/kGXML
Try this, it’s faster and definitely may suit you more. Besides, it does wonders for SEO because it allows Google to crawl your website easily.
Warm regards,
Angela
Wow! What a helpful post! I am so glad I came across this helpful post. I am just a beginner blogger and honestly its overwhelming the amount of information out there to us beginners. Thank you for this post!
So happy that you found this post helpful Nick! Always here to serve you.
Hi Angela. Do you think it is okay to start with a free theme on wordpress and write my first 5-7 posts before I buy a paid theme? I’m not sure how consistent I will be and that is what is stopping me from investing that much. Is it easy to switch from a free to a paid theme like divi for instance?
Hey Carishma,
It’s totally faesible, yes. You can easily switch to a paid theme even 1 year after using a free theme.
Rainbows,
Ang
Hey Angela,
I found your blog on Pinterest and it’s very helpful!
I want to start a blog about photography because I should grab my camera more often and having a blog will help me get inspired. Also, I’d like to keep my English up-to-date by using it more frequently. Those reasons are good enough to start a blog and making money off of it would be a nice litlle extra. Although I’m not entirely sure what I could sell.
However, I’m concerned about the time I can put in my blog. I’m a teacher and this blog would be a hobby on the side. I can spend weekends and some evenings writing and promoting my blog, but that would be it. I could write one post a week. Is that enough?
I’d love to hear from you!
p.s. my website is under contruction. It still says ‘sample page’… But it will be up within the next two weeks or so!
Hey Lieke,
You can most definitely do that! Promotion does matter, but writing 1 good post a week is more than enough! You can always batch-write your posts so that you can free up time to build an email list and promote during the weekdays. :)
Let me know when it’s up! I’d love to see it in full swing. :)
Lots of love,
Ang
Hey Angela, thank you for such an insightful and detailed article. I am eager and excited to start my blog now. I already have one on blogspot but would like to migrate it to wordpress. If you have an article on it, would love to read it. Also, just wanted to know is it necessary to buy elegant themes initially? How about the wordpress themes? Are they pretty enough and could i start with them initially?
Thank you and looking forward to reading more of your posts :-)
Hey Bhavna,
I don’t have a post on switching from Blogspot to WordPress (I don’t do many technical posts), but here’s one that will help:
https://www.wpsuperstars.net/blogspot-to-wordpress/
As for choosing a theme, how about the one I currently have? It’s so pretty and has multiple layouts! It’s a WordPress theme as well!:
https://1.envato.market/kGXML
Hope this helps!
Angela
Hey Angela,
Thank you for the link. I’ll go through it. Yeah, your theme looks pretty! Will try it once I can migrate to wordpress.
Much love,
Bhavna
No problem Bhavna. :)
Hugs,
Angela
Hi Angela. I love your blog. Its something I look up to. Being a doctor I was completely unaware of how blogging works and all its requirements and minute details. But ever since the pandemic broke out a lot of friends started enquiring me regarding health related problems, which motivated me to start a blog which focus on women’s health related problems like menstruation,mental health, pregnancy, etc.. I must thank you as ever since I started researching on how to get into this journey I have learned a ton from your blog specially this post. And yeah I keep coming back still because I have a lot to learn, trying to pick up something new every time( my blog is just few weeks old).So far I have enjoyed doing this as medicine and writing both are my passion. Do tell me what do you think about the niche I have chosen, if it’s ok or I need to niche down.
Thanks a lot!! For being my guide! Stay safe!
https://thehealthybella.com/
Hey Mousumi,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Blogging can be really overwhelming and confusing in the beginning. There’s no way around this except researching. So, keep aside 1-2 hours a day for researching. Taking eCourses and reading eBooks speeds up the process tremendously!
The idea behind your blog is amazing. I always wanted to start a Women’s health Blog, but I don’t have the credentials, so it would be unwise.
The niche is perfect. I see you’re aiming for reproductive health, so you’ve already narrowed down your niche nicely. You’re in the right track. Keep going. :)
Let me know if you ever have any questions and I’ll be more than happy to help!
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi,
Thank you soo much for such an amazing content it has helped me cleared many doubts regarding blogging, but am confuse regarding one thing maybe you could help me out in that and that is choosing a niche. I have an idea of starting a blog on reinventing myself which will include the things that is on my bucket list and the things that I thought I would do to bring in changes in me. The blog will take the reader on that journey with me. I don’t know how to go about choosing a niche or else am I missing something.
So yeah I’m confused! But I really want to start a blog on this idea.
So any thoughts would be appreciated.
Hey Zoya,
First of all, thank you so much for your kind words. It’s very, very difficult to start a blog on your journey and expect people to follow you. A better idea would be to do this on Instagram or Twitter. But creating a blog to do this, is hard. People won’t pay money to read about your journey. You need to focus on them. Solve their problems.
Read this post: https://www.straycurls.com/profitable-blog-niche/
It will help you decide what niche to choose.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions.
Angela
Thanks for responding ? really sweet of you.. With work + studies it’s hectic but I do manage 1 hour everyday almost, it has become like a hobby for me. Taking off slow and steady!! Your emails were really helpful and informative, definitely looking forward to taking some of your courses when I have more time, thanks again!
I’m super glad that you’re dedicating time to this. It’s a lot of fun, isn’t it? :) When your blogging income slowly surpasses a target, you can consider quitting your job or taking fewer hours to pursue blogging completely. :) Take it slow and steady. It’s the best way to grow.
Love your blog again. You go, girl!
Warm regards,
Angela
Hey Angela,
Thank you so much for your help, it really did improve my blog as well :)
But do you have any websites that might help for blogging?
Hey Linda,
No problem! What kind of help are you looking for? Because this blog is filled with blog posts that are specifically tailored to help bloggers grow their blog. :)
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela,
I was thinking of something to write reviews for books and all that. Do you know any, because I’m having a hard time finding some.
Hey Linda,
You can create a Website that writes reviews for books, no doubt. But making money from it is really hard because Goodreads already exists. It’s the ultimate library for reviews on books.
I suggest you try looking for another niche.
Warm regards,
Angela
Wow, great article explaining exactly how to write post on your blog. I started blogging around 5 months ago but most of my post are only around 1k words. I will try creating longer and more detailed articles thanks for the tips. Besides that the plugins are also a good choice and i will try some of them. Thanks for the great info.
In your niche, long posts tend to outperform shorter posts. So, I do agree with you. Write longer posts! :)
All the best!
Ang
Hi Angela! First of all I wanted to thank you for publishing such a clear and helpful articles, all your advices have helped much more than what I was expecting , and that is the reason why I wanted to ask you, why on the programs and resources you use to manage your blog you are not including Google Business tools besides Google Analytics, I mean do you have another option and if that so, why?
Thank you.
Hey Paula,
You’re most welcome. Other than using Google for Analytics and my Google Email, I don’t really use any other Google Business Tools. What specific purpose are you looking to use a tool for? Maybe I can help you. :)
Lots of love,
Angela
This is a detailed blog on blogging in which all the concepts are explained very well. I was looking for a blog like that. Thank you so much for giving us such excellent information.
You’re most welcome Monal, happy to help!
Hi Angela!
I loved your post once again. Makes me wanna quit my job and start blogging (you know, I can’t do that)
Lots of love ❤
Hey Punam,
A lot of things are unimaginable, but unless you believe in yourself, you cannot make something work. I wouldn’t suggest that you quit your job to start blogging. But start a blog on the side if you really want to. And once it starts making at least $1K, you can consider leaving your job. :)
That’s how most freelancers start.
Lots of love,
Angela
Your blog is so great and it is very relatable.
Thank you Victoria. :)
Really great article You explained everything. Thank you for this great information and I will share your post my personal social media network. Can I share your post?
No worries, you can share it on any social media. :)
Hey! Angela. I’m Jay, I just started out my blogging journey. I found your blog just 2 days ago and I must say you’re doing a great job out there. I bookmarked your blog and refer to my friends too. Please check my website and suggest me something. I’m eagerly waiting for your replay.
Cheers,
Jay ?
Hello Jayaprakash,
Thank you for your kind words. I see you’ve only written 1 post. It’s very difficult for me to analyze your blog when you don’t have content. You have to grow your blog a bit and only then you will understand where you need to tweak and improve.
Warm regards,
Angela
Hey Angela,
This article was very helpful. Really great and informative.
Thanks for sharing
You’re very welcome Vijay! :)
Hi your blog is very useful for how to write money making blog. thanks for sharing
You’re most welcome Manas. :)
This article really very useful and informative, thanks for sharing information
You’re welcome Sourav.
I have reas your blogs and emails over and over again. And I think I’m gonna take your advice and start a blog of my own. Just a little query, which might sound silly. For hosting I’m choosing bluehost and there’s two sites, bluehost.in and bluehost.com are both of these the same? Can I go with the bluehost.in? Is there any difference or changes?
Hello Archita,
Thank you so much! Your question is a legitimate concern. If you’re setting up your website in English, then you will get at least 40-50% of your readers from the US. This means that if you purchase Bluehost.in, your website will be slow to them because the server is situated in India. Purchase bluehost.com if you want to attract US readers and make it super fast for them.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey Angela!
Thank you for keep sending emails to me, even now I know how you do it. Hehehehe. Your blog is very detail and elaborate even though at first I’m lost in some of your words but apparently, you elaborate it again at the end of your post makes me understand what are you saying at the beginning of the post.
I did have a two-step backward last year since after I read one of your blog posts, I got scared that maybe I will not make any changes from my blog so I stop. But, I saw your other email again. I got me here today. I hope I will last much further than last year at least.
I do have a question about defining my niche. Before I read this blog post I know what my niche would be but, after reading this post I having doubt about the consistency of the post later while my backup niche fit in with what you describe in this blog post but, I’m not yet an expert at it because I’m too still learning it. So, what should I do? follow my first niche or backup niche?
And also, I want to change my email address in your subscription, how I do it without giving you two of my emails and you send me to double?
Thank you Aya, you are very kind. :) I’m glad you find my posts useful.
I cannot help you with deciding on a niche. This is your decision to make. Doesn’t matter if you’re learning or are an expert. You blog about what you know and as you learn, you keep sharing information. That’s how I did it.
I wasn’t an expert in Pinterest or affiliate marketing, I learned it very slowly and kept spreading the word.
I hope this helps.
To update your email, go to the bottom of any of my newsletters and click on “Update my profile” link and you should be able to change your email.
The motivation at the end made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ?? i absolutely adore your blog.
Aww, thank you Jiya, you’re most welcome!
Hi Angela, this is my first time here. Do you really draw all the images you used here? That’s amazing. Not only that, the effort and time you put into creating this blog post are extraordinary! I love your detailed guide here. It helps a lot and has inspired me that I can do it too. Cheers, Shawn
Hey Shawn,
Yes, I do. I am an Illustrator and Blogger. I do love making people laugh so the illustrations help with that bit. :)
Thanks a ton, so glad you loved it!
Ang
Thank you so much for your content! Now I’m motivated to create my own blog.
I have a question about themes: I intend to sell digital products. Should I choose a specific theme that mentions “ecommerce” or that option – Send Owl – I’ve already seen you mention does it?
One thing I’m sure about all this Blog thing is that it can be very confusing, but I’m learning…
Again thank you so much!
Sendowl does everything for you, you don’t even have to buy a theme with WooCommerce – those are for physical products mostly because you need to handle shipping and what not.
Angela, I am in love with your blog.This post is so detailed yet easy to understand. Your illustrations are so amazing.Each and every day I find myself fangirling over your blog. Great work
Ah thank you, Michelle, you are too kind! :)
very nice website i read this very day and its article is very amazing and outstanding which are very helpful for me thank you so much
You’re most welcome! :)
Hi Angela,
I totally agree with you when it comes to Convertkit. I just published my blog http://www.inspirationchest.com last month and I was looking for an email marketing tool. I have used Mailchimp in the past for another website and it was a bit too much for me as a beginner. However, I saw somewhere that they do not allow affiliate marketing. I want to do this in the future so I looked for another solution. Convertkit came to my rescue and I am in love.
You mentioned the paid plan but I just wanted to let others know that Convertkit offers a lot on its free plan. As a beginner blogger, you do not need to pay anything. You can insert your forms into your website and catch those email addresses for your first subscribers. You can add free downloads to attract these subscribers e-books, cheatsheets etc… You can create email newsletters, basically formatting them the way you wish to so that they match your brand and the look and feel of your website. These are two things that work really well and are very simple to implement with Convertkit. I am using them as a beginner. I will probably migrate to a paid plan once I get more subscribers.
Hope this is helpful.
Hello Jane,
I think the Free plan was introduced quite recently and I’ve been on their paid plan for over 3 years. So, I’m definitely going to take a look at that. :) I’m so happy they introduced the free plan. It was something that a lot of people had been asking them to do. Yes, once you cross 1K subscribers, you can probably shift!
So good to hear from you again! Let me know if you ever have any questions, always happy to help!
Angela
Hi Angela,
Excellent post. Lots of food for thought and action!
I totally agree with you when it comes to Convertkit. I just published my blog https//:www.inspirationchest.com last month and I was looking for an email marketing tool. I have used Mailchimp in the past for another website and it was a bit too much for me as a beginner. However, I saw somewhere that they do not allow affiliate marketing. I want to do this in the future so I looked for another solution. Convertkit came to my rescue and I am in love.
You mentioned the paid plan but I just wanted to let others know that Convertkit offers a lot on its free plan. As a beginner blogger, you may want to be careful with the finances. With Convertkit you can create and insert your forms into your website and catch those email addresses for your first subscribers. You can also add free downloads to attract these subscribers eg. e-books, cheatsheets etc…
You can create email newsletters, basically formatting them the way you wish to so that they match your brand and the look and feel of your website. Then send them to all your subscribers or a subgroup.
These are two features that are really helpful for beginners, work really well and are very simple to implement with Convertkit. I am using them as a beginner. I will probably migrate to a paid plan once I get more subscribers so I can use all their features. They are really good and have a great support community.
Just a little add on that I hope will help other beginners like me.
Hey Jane,
Thanks for mentioning it! I took a look at the free plan and modified my most latest post to include links to the free plan! It DOES look amazing.
Lots of love,
Angela
Hey,
I had been thinking of starting a blog for long and was finally able to do it in February 2021! My blog is still new and I am trying my best to monetise it. Came across your website as it shares the word ‘stray’ and god I must say I loved it! You have provided a very detailed insight into blogging and will surely try to implement the same! Do check out my website http://www.thestraysoul.com and let me know!
Hey Manuja!
Congratulations on starting a blog! But right now, it’s best to blog for at least 6-9 months before you start monetising it. Also, it’s really best to stick to one niche otherwise monetising such a blog is going to be really hard. I did check out your blog but it’s difficult for me to see who your target audience is. You have to be very focussed and target only 1 type of audience.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be more than happy to help!
Angela
I always wanted to earn from my blog and what I learn if you get good traffic and great ranking people will mail you and paid you to post their article on your website
That does happen Alison, but if you’re getting good traffic, then you wouldn’t want to post anyone’s articles. You’ll have to be really picky about who you choose.
Hi Angela!
It’s great to see a fellow Indian Blogger doing so good in this field. I also have a 6 month old blog http://www.kokumber.com and I was thinking to start monetizing it, however I’m not getting much traffic right now!
I’d definitely try implementing your strategies and see how it works! Thanks!
Hey Mayurakshi,
You can start monetizing via affiliate marketing and services almost immediately. I’ve written a post here that might help you with this: https://www.straycurls.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-money-blogging/
I wish you all the best!
Angela
Angela, I am in love with your blog.This post is so detailed yet easy to understand. Your illustrations are so amazing. Each and every day I find myself fangirling over your blog. Great work
Thank you so much Samantha, you are too kind. Are you planning on starting a blog soon?
Didn’t think but now planning to start my own blog after your blog which is commendable!
I’m happy that you’ve decided to start a blog Samantha! :)
Whenever I read your articles, I like it very much, you keep writing articles like this. How can I start my first blog with little money?
Hey Shailender,
Bluehost is having a huge sale right now. Check it out, it’s only Rs.199 a month instead of Rs.299!
I hope this helps!
Warm regards,
Angela
This seems like a very thorough article. The title says “… in 2021” – but you wrote this in 2018 and things change quickly in the online world. Have you updated everything in this article for 2021?g
Hello Rob,
The article has been updated for 2021 but I cannot change the URL due to SEO reasons. I keep updating the article each year. :) Hope this answers your question!
Warm regards,
Angela
i read this very day and its article is very amazing and outstanding which are very helpful for me thank you so much
You’re most welcome Neha!
Hello, I am in love with your blog.
If you do not mind can you take a look at my website https://adofo.co/
also, what do you think about revealing myself as a Muslim.I am afraid that readers will reject me or hate me for being muslim..should I hide myself or not?
Thank you in advance
Hey Nada,
I already replied to your email, but I do hope you find the strength and courage to be proud of your religion and your culture. =) Some of my sweet business friends are Muslim and they don’t find it difficult to showcase that on their blogs. Check out http://www.shemeansblogging.com and http://www.selmasheriff.com
Be proud of who you are!
Lots of love,
Angela
Hi Angela I just looooove the topic here. I am an aspiring blogger who keeps on putting this blogging idea off for many years. I wanted to pursue a genre in young people (in college or just starting out for a job) who are struggling with how to begin their journey and what to prepare in life (because I did too!!). I’m in the field of medical science and I wanna use my nursing education. The topics I wanna share are more of health, money, and productivity, Do you think this is a bit broad or narrowed? Should I just focus on 1 topic for young people? Maybe everyone is on that same topic that I won’t have anything to give anymore? Can you kindly give me some advice? thank you so much :)
much love!
Yes Aries, you can do that. I think you can either go for health or money or productivity. Not all 3. You can aim to talk about topics for younger people yes, but it’s a little harder when you spread out so much. Narrow down some more.
Oh wow thank you so much Angela. Yeah I’ve been thinking a lot of it lately thanks for the advice. I always come back to this blog because you are so much helpful explaining in details. :) Cheers to the year 2022!
Hello Aries,
Thank you so much! You’re most welcome. =) Have a great 2022 too!
Thank you so much, Angela! I have fallen in love with your blog as I’ve recently begun a blog on the same topic. Your blog is so rich and beautifully illustrated and I always look forward to your emails, which are equally as rich! You are a goldmine and a gem in the blogging industry and I’m definitely taking much of your advice as I help solopreneurs with content creation.
Thanks for all you do!
Hey Demetria,
You’re very welcome and I’m glad you’ve started your own blog. I know it will be a huge success.
Wishing you nothing but the best,
Angela
Hi Angela,
Thank you for the unbelievably clear explanation of all the important topics. I want to do this exactly like you said: approach it like a business from day 1. I have taken everything in this post and cut it into smaller and smaller chunks until I had a list of clear and concrete actions. Now it’s a matter of executing them in the right order and just doing it.
I have very different topics in mind for my future blog, but all your advice will surely be relevant!
People always told me that I have too much of an opinion on stuff and I’m interested in a lot of topics, so why I didn’t start blogging earlier remains a mystery to me!
Anyway, I’m going to study more and prepare myself in the best way possible with your advice and then I’m going to create a GREAT blog!
Thanks again!
Hey Max,
You are most welcome. Yes, your blog should be treated as a business, and breaking goals into little chunks is just the way to go!
I wish you all the best with your blog!
Best regards,
Ang
Wow this post is so helpful! I love reading your posts, they’re always full of valuable information!
You’re very welcome Aydela. =)
I’ve been following your blog for a while and I love the illustrations. As for my blog, I’m working towards being a resource for travel around Kenya. It’s a work in progress but it feeds my heart and gives me joy. I hope to monetize it.
Thank you Sarah. Your blog is very beautiful. I would recommend getting rid of posts that aren’t related to travel though. And focusing heavily on low-competition keywords. You’ll do just fine. =)
Lots of love,
Angela
I thinking of Starting website yes or not?
Is webstories have a good amount of traffic or not?
Please reply to this comment soon
Thanks
Starting a website is entirely your decision. I cannot make that for you. I don’t use Webstories personally. I only focus on Organic Search.
I do agree to solve one problem at a time. Yeah to increase the CTR, your title should be enticing. Although I am bit confused on the length of the article, whether it should be lengthy or should be short.
It really depends on the article.
For my drawing articles, sometimes 500 words is more than enough especially if there are so many images. But for tutorial and how-to posts, the sky is the limit. Try to cover the topic in detail. Focus more on quality than length.
Just be thorough.
Appreciate, You have rightly highlighted ” Do not start an online blog with the sole intention of making money !! ”
Exactly a person should only go blogging with there passion so that you can produce more content.
Yep, I agree completely!
Love it! Tons of ideas for starting my new blog!
(Tricky part is keeping it going and not getting distracted haha!)
I’m glad you got some great ideas Tamara, it is undoubtedly hard to stick to a plan and be consistent – but that’s the challenge. =)
i do agree amazing
You’re welcome.
Thanks for this Amazing Content. Currently i am Also running Two websites in Hindi and English language. I am working consistently.
You’re most welcome, I wish you all the best for your 2 blogs.
If you start an online blog with the sole intention of making money !! you might run out when the going gets tough,One should only go into blogging with passion which will enable you produce more content and continue when the going gets tough. Love your content
I completely agree – glad you feel the same!
Angela, what are your thoughts on deleting blog posts? What way should I go about it? In the past, I was undecided about my niche, and now that I have chosen one, I don’t know what to do with blog posts that are completely irrelevant to it. Should I delete them? Because there’s no way of rewriting them. The content is just too different.
But the thing is that some of my irrelevant content that I will no longer post about in the future brings me traffic through Pinterest so I’m a bit lost on what to do.
Hey Nicole,
There were 2 reasons I used to do it – one is that I wanted to look like an expert on a single topic, it’s easier when all blog posts follow a common theme and aim for a particular goal in a certain niche – your followers will see it as Brand consistency and remember you more easily for that 1 thing. Another was to be in Google’s good books.
However, if you are aiming for a more lifestyle approach and those posts are bringing you good ad income, you might want to keep it. =) Unless it’s seriously bothering you – don’t delete it. That’s my take.
Hello Angela!
My name is Fei and I come from Greece.
I really really loved your post. So detailed and easy understanding.
I wanted too for some years to create my blog and eventually make some money from it but didn’ t cause of lack of information and faith in me I suppose. You gave me some tools to try it and see what happens. Thank you for that!
I must say also that I love your illustrations. I studied graphic design and illustrator is my favourite (i actually first saw this post ”How to Become an Illustrator without a Degree” and then jumped in for the blog).
Can’t wait for your next posts.
Hey Fei,
Thank you so much. I’m so glad that you now have the courage to pursue blogging – it’s definitely hard in the beginning because it’s sort of like a ghost town and you’ll feel like nobody is reading your posts. But continue blogging and I promise you will see so much growth!
Please let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll be more than happy to help!
Great post here, it teaches me how i started my blog. In fact it is as easy as anything.. Thanks buddy…
You are most welcome. =)
Very detailed blog post. Thank you.
You’re most welcome. =)