How to Start a Profitable Blog in 7 Easy Steps

Are you thinking of launching a profitable blog but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve tried before, but it didn’t quite go as planned.

Don’t worry. You’re not alone!

Whether it’s to share your thoughts on the latest trends or to document your journey as an entrepreneur, it’s easier than you think.

In this post, I’m going to show you how to start a profitable blog in 7 easy steps.

So, let’s get started! 

Why Should You Start a Blog?

Blogging has exploded in popularity in recent years. In fact, according to EarthWeb, there are now over 600 million active blogs on the internet.

WordPress has 455 million active blog installations.

But, what’s behind this trend?

There are many reasons:

• People want to share their thoughts and ideas with the world.
• Businesses want to build their brands and reach new customers. 
• Individuals want to establish themselves as experts in their field.

And as for me:

1) Choose a Profitable Topic and Niche for your Blog

A profitable topic is a topic that will generate money from your blog in the long run. 

I’m sure you already know this one. But if you don’t, there are the things you need to have figured out first before typing away. 

• What are you going to blog about?
• Who is your target audience?
• Why are you blogging?

You can pick one or two topics to write about, but for most blogs, choosing a niche is the best way to start. 

Choosing a niche can help you attract a more targeted audience (which we’ll discuss later) and make your blog more successful.

So, here’s how to choose a topic, identify your target audience, and uncover your WHYs for your blog so that you can hit the ground running (and write) as soon as possible!

What are you going to blog about?

Consider your passion and interests

To answer our GENERAL question, you need to consider your passion and interests.

• What are you passionate about?
• What do you like to spend your free time doing?

You probably have plenty of ideas. Open Google Docs or get your pen-and-notebook (if you’re old school) and list them down.

The last thing you want is to feel like you’re struggling to develop new content ideas. So, find a topic you’re passionate about. It’ll be much easier to keep your blog going. 

Do a quick Google search on your topic.

One of the best ways to come up with ideas for your blog is to do a quick Google search.

• What are people talking about?
• What topics are popular in your niche?

Of course, simply writing about what people are searching for isn’t enough to guarantee success. After all, there’s a lot of competition out there, and you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. But if you can find a way to produce quality content on popular topics, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful blog or website.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Simply type your topic into the search bar and hit enter to get started.
2. Then take a look at the results and see if anything catches your eye.
3. You can also try adding some keywords to your search to help you narrow down the results. For example, if you’re looking for ideas on how to save money, you could try searching for “saving money tips.”

Once you’ve found a few potential topics, it’s time to start doing some research.

See what others are saying about the topic, and try to come up with your own unique angle. If you can provide fresh insight or valuable information on a popular topic, you’ll be sure to attract the attention of readers.

Use SEMRush for Topic Research

If you’re stuck, you can use keyword research tools like SEMRush Topic Research to find out what people are searching for.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to SEMRush Topic Research
2. Enter a topic, and hit content ideas.

This tool will generate tons of keywords and show you how many people are searching for that term every month.  Another option you can use is Ahrefs.

If you can write about something that’s both popular and on the rise, you’re likely to reach a large number of readers. And if you can tap into something that people are truly passionate about, you may just find your next viral hit.

Who is your target audience?

Now that you have a general idea of what you want to write about, it’s time to think about who you want to write for.

• Who is your target audience?
• What kind of tone are you going to use?
• Are you writing for other bloggers in your industry or for people outside of it?

The better you can define your target reader, the easier it will be for you to connect with them through your writing.

If you still don’t know who your audience is, try creating your perfect blog persona in 5 minutes or less with our FREE worksheet. 

Why are you blogging?

Determine your Blog’s Purpose

Before anything else, you really need to determine your purpose for blogging.

• Why do you want to blog?
• What do you hope to achieve through blogging?

In some cases, the goal is simply:

• to attract attention to a personal website
• to share one’s thoughts on a particular subject

However, a blog can be an incredibly valuable marketing tool for businesses. A well-written blog can help to:

• generate leads
• drive conversions
• educate users about your product

Of course, in order to be effective, your blog must have a clear purpose. Once you know what you hope to achieve with your blog, you can start creating content to help you reach your goals.

Once you’ve answered your WHYs, it will be easier for you to set up your blog’s goals.

Set up your Blog’s Goal

As a new blogger, it’s important to have a clear goal for your blog. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself struggling to come up with topics to write about, and your blog will quickly become stale. So, take some time to sit down and think about what you hope to achieve with your blog.

Your SMART goals might be:

• Publish eight 1000-word blog posts every month.
• Increase blog traffic to 1000 page views in 3 months.
• Drive a 20% increase in Newsletter signups in 3 months.
• Monetize the blog with ads after 6 months of launching it. 

Your goals should also be realistic and aligned with your overall objectives.

Finally, you should set a timeframe for achieving your goals so that you can stay on track.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your goals are SMART and that you have a clear plan for achieving them.

Write your vision-mission statement

After you’ve determined your purpose and goals, it’s time to write your vision-mission statement.

Keep it short, sweet, and to the point.

And make sure that it aligns with your purpose and goals.

For example,

My vision and mission in this blog is: 

Now that you know why you’re blogging and what you hope to achieve through it, setting up your actual blog will be a breeze.

So go ahead, and let’s jump into the next step.

2) Setup and Design your Blog

Now comes the exciting part! 

Setting up a blog starts with getting a domain name and your hosting. 

Choose your domain name

Choosing a domain name is an important step in starting your blog. Your domain name will be the address of your blog, so it’s important to choose one that is easy to remember and that represents your blog’s topic or niche.

For example, if you’re blogging about fashion, you might choose a domain name like www.fashionista.com.

If you’re blogging about food, you might choose a domain name like pinchofyum.com. Or you can use your name like my blog, maysanpedro.com, and create a brand out of it.

You can purchase a domain name from a domain registrar such as Namecheap or GoDaddy.

But if you want to get your domain for FREE, then keep reading!

Register for Web Hosting in Hostinger

Once you have chosen a domain name, you’ll need to register for a web hosting account. Web hosting is the service that will store your blog’s files and make them available online.

There are many different web hosting providers to choose from, but I will recommend Hostinger.

How to register in Hostinger and get a free domain name

1. Go to hostinger.com and select the pricing plan that you want to register for.

2. Create an account or you can sign in with Facebook or Google.

3. Fill out your personal information on the next page and select your payment method.

Are you ready to start your blog? Get started at $2.49/mo (Up to 80% off 4-year web hosting plans + free domain, SSL & DDoS protection)

Design your blog by installing WordPress and choosing a theme.

WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website or blog from scratch, or to improve an existing website. It is estimated that WordPress powers 30% of the internet, which means that one in every three websites uses it.

Why should you use WordPress?

There are many reasons why you should use WordPress, but these are some of the most important ones:

• WordPress is free and open source. This means that you can use it for any purpose, including commercial sites, without having to pay anything.
• It is easy to use. Even if you have never used a CMS before, you will be able to create a website with WordPress without any problems.
• It is very versatile. You can use it to create any kind of website with a pack of powerful WordPress plugins, from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce site.

Although they are both WordPress, there is a big difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.

For example, if you want to use a custom theme or plugin, you will need to upgrade to the premium version of WordPress.com.

In this guide, we’ll be using WordPress.org since it’s supported by Hostinger.

Now that we have chosen our blogging platform, let’s set up your account and select a theme for your website. After following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to creating a beautiful website that is sure to draw visitors.

So let’s get started!

How to Install WordPress in Hostinger

1. Log in to your Hostinger account;

2. Navigate to the hPanel and click the “Website” section.

3. Select a platform. Choose WordPress.

4. Enter the admin email address and password. Take note of this information, you’ll need them when logging in to your WP  dashboard. 

5. Choose the layout you click or you may click “Skip I don’t need a Template.”

6. Choose a domain from the drop-down menu or use an existing domain, if you already have one.

7. Check the information and then hit “Finish Setup.” It may take a few seconds to set up your WordPress site.

8. Time to edit your site. Click “Edit your Website.” And you’ll be prompted to your WP dashboard. (If you need to log-in, use the admin email and password details you saved a while ago) 

What is a WordPress theme, and why do you need one?

A theme includes template files, stylesheets, images, and JavaScript files.

Themes are optional, but they can vastly improve the look and feel of a WordPress site. If you’re starting a new WordPress site or considering redesigning your current site, it’s worth finding a theme you love.

There are thousands of WordPress themes available for free and for purchase. You can find themes on the WP Theme Directory, third-party marketplaces like ThemeForest, or from theme developers’ websites.

What are you waiting for? Start your blog for just $2.49/mo with Hostinger!

How to Install a WordPress theme

1. In your WordPress admin panel, go to Appearance > Themes;

2. On the top of the page, click on the Add New button;

3. Select a theme from the WordPress Theme Directory, or upload a theme zip file;

4. Click on the Install button;

5. Activate the installed theme.

Arrange website navigation by adding menus and widgets

Having menus on your blog site is important to help visitors move around easily. Adding menus can also group similar pages and posts to make your site more organized.

How to Create menus in WordPress

1. In your WordPress admin panel, go to Appearance > Menus;
2. Select the create a new menu link;
3. Enter a name for your new menu in the Menu Name box;
4. Check the boxes next to the pages that you want to include in your menu;
5. Click on the Add to Menu button;
6. Drag and drop the items to rearrange them in the order you want them to appear in your menu;
7. When you are finished, click on the Save Menu button.

How to Add a Widget to your Website

1. In your WordPress admin panel, go to Appearance > Widgets;
2. Drag and drop the widget into the desired location on your website;
3. Configure the widget settings as desired;
4. Click on the Save button.

3) Write your FIRST Blog Post

It’s time to write your FIRST blog post.

But before you start typing, there’s one important step you need to take: brainstorming for content ideas.

The pressure is on you to make your first blog post great. After all, first impressions matter, and you want your blog to make a good one. Fortunately, with a little planning and brainstorming, you can come up with content ideas that are sure to please your readers.

This one should be easy-as-a-pie since you already did some topic research beforehand. Remember that initial step of finding your topic and profitable blog niche? 

This step is almost the same. 

Whenever you feel stuck, you can always check this guide and brainstorm for your next blog post.

Brainstorm for content ideas

1. Start with a list. 

One of the simplest ways to generate ideas for your first blog post is to make a list of potential topics. Take inventory of what you know. What are you an expert in? What topics do you have a lot of knowledge about? 

This one is related to what you did in the beginnning.

Not to mention, writing about topics that you’re already familiar with will make the writing process a lot easier.

This can be helpful because it allows you to see all of your ideas in one place. Once you have a list of potential topics, you can start narrowing them down by considering which ones would be the most interesting or useful to your readers. 

2. Do some research and digging

If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, try doing some research.

• Browse social media platforms
• Talk to friends and family members
• Check Quora or Reddit to see what’s trending
• Look at popular blog posts in your niche

Remember that it’s important to be selective with your chosen sources. Make sure they’re credible before using them as inspiration for your own content.

• Browse Social Media Platforms. Social media is a great place to look for inspiration. You can see what people are talking about and get an idea of the kind of content that is popular in your niche. Simply choose a platform and look at the most popular subjects to get started. For example, you can click on the “Trends” tab on Twitter to see what’s currently being discussed. You can also try searching for hashtags related to your topic. This can help you find posts and articles that are specifically about the things you’re interested in.
• Talk to friends and family members. Talk to friends and family members. Another way to generate ideas is to talk to the people in your life. Ask them what they’re interested in or what they would like to learn more about. You might be surprised by the kinds of things they come up with. And, if nothing else, it’s a good way to get some feedback on potential ideas.
• Check Quora or Reddit. Look for popular questions that people are asking about your topic, and see if you can provide a helpful answer. Check for common themes and questions that come up over and over. People are interested in and would likely want to read about these topics. This can be a great way to come up with blog post ideas that are both relevant and useful to your readers.
• Look at popular blog posts in your niche. See if there’s anything you can add to the conversation. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Build on what’s already popular and add your spin. Once you have a good list of ideas, start narrowing them down by considering things like:
  • Who is your target audience?
  • What would be most useful or interesting to them?
  • What kind of tone do you want to set with your first post?

3. Get personal. 

One of the best ways to connect with your readers is by sharing personal stories or experiences. Readers can relate to relatable and down-to-earth content, so don’t be afraid to get personal in your writing.

Just be sure not to overshare; privacy is important too!

4. Brainstorm with someone else. 

If you’re really struggling to come up with ideas, try brainstorming with someone else. Another person’s perspective can offer some much-needed clarity and help jumpstart the creative process.

Brainstorming sessions also promote healthy discussion and debate, which can lead to even better ideas than either of you would’ve come up with on your own. Plus, it’s always more fun to brainstorm with someone else!

5. Look for inspiration outside yourself!

When all else fails…look for inspiration outside yourself!

Sometimes the best way to find creative content ideas is simply by looking for inspiration outside of yourself.

When you feel stumped creatively, try taking a walk, listening to music, or browsing through art galleries for ideas.

You can also try reading books or watching movies that tackle similar themes or topics. There’s no shame in looking to others for inspiration; just make sure not to plagiarize their work! 

Find a gap in the market

Another best way to generate ideas is to find the gap in the market. Not only will it help you tickle your mind, but it will also make your blog stand out from the crowd.

Look for topics that aren’t being talked about enough or that are being talked about but could be covered in more depth.

This will help you attract readers who are looking for something specific. And it’ll give you a chance to be the go-to source for information on that topic.

Once you have a few ideas, it’s time to start fleshing them out.

Outline and write your post

Begin outlining your post.

Write down all the main points you want to cover and flesh out each point with more detail. This will help you stay on track when writing, and ensure your post covers everything it needs.

Finally, add a catchy headline and an eye-catching featured image. These will help draw readers in and make them want to read your post.

Use Headline Analyzer to check your title. 

And that’s it!

You’re ready to start writing your first blog post.

Just remember to take your time, and don’t be afraid to brainstorm and experiment with different ideas until you find one that works for you.

Finally, don’t forget to edit your post after writing. Run it on Grammarly or ProWriting Aid to check for grammar mistakes and hard-to-read sentences. 

When everything is perfect, then, it’s ready for publishing!

Kudos! I am so proud of you for reaching this far!

Get started today with Hostinger, and you could be blogging in no time!

Publish Your Blog Post on WordPress

1. In your WordPress admin panel, go to Posts > Add New;

2. Enter a title and content for your post;

3. To add an image or other media file, click on the Add Media button;

4. Choose whether you want your post to be published immediately, or scheduled for later;

5. When you are finished, click on the Publish button.

*But I strongly suggest doing the next step BEFORE publishing your post. 

4) Optimize your Post for SEO

Another important step that you shouldn’t miss is optimizing your post. After all,  you want people to find your content when they search for it on Google.

Optimize your Post with Rank Math

Use Rank Math Plugin to optimize your post. It will help you with things like adding the right keyword, description, and title tags.

What’s good about Rank Math is, you can start it for FREE. And the freemium is already packed with many features that you can use to optimize your post.

How to Install Rank Math

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard
2. Click on Plugins -> Add New
3. Search for Rank Math in the Search Bar
4. *You can download it here if you can’t find Rank Math from your WP Plugin Directory.
5. Install and Activate the Plugin

How to Optimize your Blog Post using Rank Math Plugin

Now comes the tweaking part: optimizing your post.

First, you need to edit your post and go to Rank Math Section.

Click on the Title & Meta tab and fill in the following:

• Title: Write a catchy title that accurately describes your blog post. Include your focus keyword if possible.
• Slug: This is the URL of your blog post. Keep it short and sweet.
• Meta Description: Write a short description of your blog post. This is what will appear on Google when people search for your content.
• Focus Keyword: This is the keyword you want your blog post to rank for on Google. Choose wisely!

After you’re done with the Title & Meta tab, move on to the Social tab.

Here, you can add a Twitter title and description, as well as a Facebook title, description, and image.

It’s important to fill these out because it helps your blog post look good when it’s shared on social media.

Rank Math will give you a score on how well you’ve optimized your post. The goal is to get a 100% score, but don’t sweat it if you don’t. When you hit 85-90, then you’re good to go!

Rank Math will also give you scores on internal and external links you have on your post. 

• Internal links are links pointing to other pages or posts on your website.
• External links are links pointing to other websites.

Both are important, but we’ll focus on external linking for this guide.

Why?

Because external linking is one of the easiest ways to show Google that your website is credible.

How?

Google crawls the web, and when it sees that you’re linking to high-quality websites, it tells Google that your website must be high-quality too! So make sure to include a couple of external links in your blog post.

Optimize your Images using ShortPixel

Images can make or break your blog post.

Make sure to compress your images before you upload them to your website. I use ShortPixel, and it’s helped me optimize my images without losing quality.

It’s a plugin that you can install for free and will help you compress all the images on your website.

How to Install ShortPixel

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard
2. Click on Plugins -> Add New
3. Search for ShortPixel in the Search Bar. *You can download it here if you can’t find ShortPixel from your WP Plugin Directory.
4. Install and Activate the Plugin
5. Once it’s installed, go to your Settings -> ShortPixel to configure the plugin.

I recommend choosing lossy compression and letting ShortPixel compress all the images on your website automatically.

That’s it! You’re now ready to publish your blog post. Congratulations!

5) Grow and Drive Traffic to your Blog

Now that you have your blog set up and running, it’s time to start driving traffic to it.

Without traffic, your blog is just a hobby. In order to make it a successful business, you need people to read your content and buy your products or services.

There are a number of ways to grow and drive traffic to your blog. Below are some of the most effective:

Content Marketing

Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your blog.

It is all about creating and sharing helpful, relevant, and engaging content that attracts and retains your target audience.

Now you understand why identifying your ideal blog persona in Step 1 is crucial. When you do, this step is just a matter of crafting content that appeals to them.

There are many different types of content you can create, but some of the most popular include:

• Long-form posts – These are the bread and butter of most blogs. They are typically 800 words + articles that provide in-depth information on a specific topic.
• Infographics – People love visuals, which is why infographics are so popular. They are a great way to communicate complex information in a simple and easy-to-understand format.
• Videos – Videos are another great form of content that can help drive your blog traffic. People love watching videos; they are a great way to add personality to your blog.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Another effective way to drive traffic to your blog is through search engine optimization or SEO.

SEO is the process of optimizing your website and its content so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

By ranking higher in SERPs, you’ll get more traffic to your blog and improve the quality of that traffic.

Some of the best ways to improve your SEO (which we already did a while ago) include optimizing your titles and meta descriptions, using relevant keywords throughout your content, and creating backlinks.

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Social media marketing, or SMM, is another great way to grow and drive traffic to your blog.

SMM involves promoting your blog and its content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Not only will this help you get more traffic to your blog, but it will also help you build relationships with your target audience and grow your brand.

CoSchedule is one of my best-recommended tools for all your SMM.

Paid Advertising

Paid advertising is another effective way to drive traffic to your blog.

You can place paid advertising ads on search engines, social media platforms, and other websites.

When someone clicks on your ad, they’ll be taken directly to your blog. Paid advertising is a great way to get quick and targeted traffic to your blog.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is another powerful way to grow and drive traffic to your blog.

With email marketing, you can build a list of subscribers who have opted in to receive emails from you.

Then, you can send them regular emails featuring your latest blog posts, products, or services.

Email marketing is a great way to keep your audience engaged and drive traffic back to your blog.

These are just a few of the many ways you can grow and drive traffic to your blog. By using these methods, you’ll be well on your way to making your blog a successful business.

You can use ConvertKit for your newsletter and capture emails.

Guest Posting

Guest posting is a great way to build relationships with other bloggers in your industry and grow your blog traffic.

When you guest post, you write an article for another person’s blog. In return, they allow you to include a link back to your own website or blog.

This is a great way to get exposure to a new audience and drive traffic back to your blog.

Ready to start your blog? Get a free domain, SSL & DDoS protection when you sign up with Hostinger.

6) Monetize your Blog

As a blogger, you want to ensure that your blog brings in enough money to sustain itself.

Trust me.

I know how difficult it can be to keep a blog afloat financially. You pour your heart and soul into every post, but sometimes it feels like you’re not getting anything back in return.

But the good news is that you can stream a passive income from your blog if you do it right. After all, your blog is like a business. You can even make money blogging in 3 months!

BUT, in order to achieve this, you’ll need to pick the right monetization strategies for your blog.

Luckily, there are a few key ways to monetize your blog and start earning an income.

Here are some tips on how to make money blogging:

Advertisements

One of the most common ways to monetize a blog is through advertisements. You can work with advertising networks or directly with brands to place ads on your site. AdSense will place relevant ads on your site, and you’ll earn money based on clicks or impressions.

Affiliate marketing

If you’re talking about products or services on your blog, you can sign up for affiliate programs to earn commission on sales. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission from the sale.

Sponsored posts

You can also work with brands to create sponsored content, where you’re paid to write a post about a specific product or service. This is a great way to monetize if you have a large following and high engagement rates.

Sell your own products

If you have your own products or services to sell, you can use your blog as a platform to promote and sell them. This could be anything from an eBook to a physical product.

Offer consulting services

If you’re an expert in your field, you can offer consulting services through your blog. This is a great way to monetize your blog if you have a niche audience.

These are just some of the ways that you can monetize your blog. Experiment with different methods and see what works best for you and your audience.

7) Evaluate and Tweak your Efforts Over Time

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. It takes time and effort to grow a successful blog.

Be patient and keep working at it; you will eventually see the fruits of your labor.

Over time, you will learn what works and what doesn’t work for your blog, tweaking your approach as you go along. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. The more you tinker, the better your blog will become.

As you continue to grow your blog, always keep an eye on your analytics. See what posts are getting the most traffic and engagement. Use that information to fine-tune your content strategy.

Keep an eye on your blog analytics

There are a few different ways to track your blog’s analytics. Google Analytics is a popular option. You can also use tools like Jetpack and MonsterInsights.

Once you have analytics set up, take a look at your most popular posts and pages. See what topics are getting the most traction. Write more content on those topics.

You should also pay attention to your blog’s bounce rate. This is the percentage of people who leave after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate could indicate that your content is not relevant to your audience or that your site is difficult to navigate.

If you see a high bounce rate, try improving your site’s design and making your content more targeted to your audience.

Work on User-Experience

User experience (UX) is how easy and enjoyable your site is to use. A good UX will keep people coming back to your site.

There are a few things you can do to improve your site’s UX:

• Make sure your site is designed well and easy to navigate
• Use clear and concise language
• Optimize your site for mobile
• Make sure your site loads quickly

Focus on EAT: expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.

If you want people to take your blog seriously, you need to show that you’re an expert on your topic. Write detailed, well-researched posts. Cite your sources. Use images, infographics, and videos to break up your text and add visual interest.

Finally, work on building trust with your readers. Be transparent about who you are and what your blog is about. Disclose any relationships with brands or products you mention on your site. Be open and honest with your audience.

These are just a few things you can do to improve your blog. Keep working at it and always be willing to experiment.

Eventually, with enough hard work, you will be able to turn your blog into a thriving business. But it all starts with taking that first step and starting a blog.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start blogging for as low as $2.49/mo!

FAQs: How to Start a Profitable Blog

These are just a few questions you might have as you start your blogging journey. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this section, we’ll answer all of your burning questions about starting a blog.

Conclusion

By following these 7 simple steps, you can create a profitable blog that will make money and provide value to your readers. These are tried and tested methods that have worked for many people, so there’s no reason why they won’t work for you.

Remember to be patient, and consistent, and never give up on your dreams. If you do all of these things, then there’s no doubt that you will achieve success.

We hope this article has helped answer some of your questions about starting a blog.

For more information, be sure to check out our resources page for bloggers. There you’ll find links to helpful tools you need to know about starting and running a successful blog.