How Do I Get Started Blogging for Profit as a Complete Novice?

Every blogger has to start somewhere. That’s why there is no shame in asking any question when it comes to blogging. Today’s question is one that I don’t often see; How do I get started blogging for profit as a complete novice?

I know that this is a topic on many people’s minds, so I am going to take some time out today to give you a step-by-step process of starting a blog that is profitable.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here.

1. Decide on Your Blogging Topic

The first step you need to take when you start blogging is to decide what you want to blog about. This is much more complicated than many people think.

A lot of new bloggers start in one niche and realize they don’t have as much to say about the topic as they originally thought. The trick is to find a topic that you are an expert on and that you love writing and talking about every day.

Once you have an idea of your topic, try to come up with some blog posts under that blog topic.  I recommend coming up with 4 to 6 categories and 4 to 6 posts per category. Aim for a list of around 24.

If you need help coming up with blog post ideas, check out my post, “How to Come Up with Great Blog Post Ideas for Beginners.”

If you are struggling to come up with blog posts ideas for your topic, chances are, this topic won’t make a good blogging topic for you. Maybe the topic is too narrow. If that’s the case you may need to broaden your topic or shift your focus entirely.

The trick is to come up with something you can’t stop talking about and won’t get burned out on. If you are in into blogging to make a profit, you will need to talk about your topic a lot. Otherwise, your flame will burn out pretty fast and you won’t succeed.

2. Niche Down as Much as Possible

You don’t have to niche down when you first start your blog. However, the earlier you can find your niche, the faster you can hone in on your target audience and market to them.

For example, there are tens of thousands of personal finance bloggers. It would be difficult for you to make an impression with that much competition. However, if you blog about personal finance for retirees or personal finance for millennials, you are going to narrow your scope and appeal to a more dedicated following.

Think about it like this. This week you blog about how Roth IRA withdrawals can affect your taxes this week and next week you blog about starting your first savings with your summer job. The retirees or those who are likely to withdraw their retirement early aren’t likely to want to read about how to start a savings account.

When you narrow a niche, you will have a more dedicated audience that returns to your blog week-after-week to read your content. They are more likely to build a relationship with your brand and, as a result, more likely to buy anything your promote.

Therefore, niching down means your blog will be more profitable.

However, when you start out, you may not know what you want to focus on. It may take writing several blog posts on a topic before you find out which topics readers are the most interested in. That’s okay when you start out but try to narrow your niche as quickly as possible to capitalize on it.

3. Choose a Name That’s Available

Once you know your topic (and maybe niche), it’s time to choose a name. I don’t recommend a very targeted name for new bloggers. You need a little wiggle room in case things don’t work out with your niche and you need to shift your niche.

As you write blog posts, you may discover that your target audience isn’t who you believed they would be or that a topic isn’t as popular as you thought it would be.

For example, this blog is simply my name. It is my brand. I originally intended to use this blog as a professional portfolio for my freelance writing business. I started blogging about blogging tips and started getting an awesome response.

I shifted my focus away from freelance writing and towards blogging. This gives me completely different options for earning an income. I can write ebooks, create courses, use affiliate marketing, and earn passive income, which is important to me.

Fortunately, choosing my name as my brand works for both, so the transition was nearly effortless. This is something you should consider when you choose a name.

Also, make sure the domain is unregistered and that you can sign up for all of the most popular social media account using that name. This is important for connecting with your audience and branding. I am truly lucky that my blog’s domain became available shortly before I started my blog (it was taken when I first checked).

Have a few alternatives in mind just in case your preferred domain is taken. Simple works best because it is easiest to remember and easier to market. Don’t overcomplicate it or overthink it. Just get out there and do it.

4. Start Building Your Brand

It takes a while to build your brand, so don’t worry if you have no idea where to start. Branding is what makes the difference between your web address and a legitimate business. You need to think in terms of your brand when it comes to every business decision you make.

To start building a brand, you need to decide which colors and filters are right for branding your images. Then you need to create a logo. If you are unsure of how to create your own logo, you can create a basic logo in Canva or Google Drawings if you want a transparent background or scalable vector image format.

If you don’t want to dry to DIY your own, hire a designer to do it for you. In all honesty, you get what you pay for, but in a pinch, check out freelance graphic designers on Fiverr. Some of the designers on Fiverr are pretty good and definitely affordable. It’s also a business expense so you can use it as a business deduction when you file your taxes.

When you begin adding images to your blog, keep your blog’s theme and brand in mind. If you are unsure of what it means to brand your images, check out this post on the topic.

5. Sign Up for Web Hosting

Signing up with your web hosting service involves committing to your business. It is deductible as a business expense, but if you sign up for a contract, you will be stuck with that company until your plan expires.

Most web hosting services require a commitment of a year or more. They also often offer lower prices for longer terms, so you will pay less per month on average with a three-year plan than an annual plan. However, the renewal rates are much higher once that original term ends.

I decided to go with HostGator in 2016 and have had no problems with their service. I have had a few issues on my end, but support was available online via chat 24/7 or by phone to help me sort it out.

I chose HostGator because I wanted to pay on a monthly basis and their service is very highly rated. I haven’t been disappointed and highly recommend them to every blogger I know. They still have low priced annual and extended term rates that are comparable to competitors like BlueHost.

However, what really separates HostGator from the rest is the monthly payment option and their very low renewal rates. I have no plans to change my hosting service in the future.

6. Install WordPress

I fell in love with WordPress. Prior to WordPress I had build websites using HTML and blogged via the Blogger platform (Blogger aka Blogspot). I checked out WordPress because there were a lot of job opportunities for writers who knew how to use WordPress.

I signed up for a free WordPress.com account and was hooked. However, until I decided to start a self-hosted WordPress.org I didn’t understand the full capabilities of the platform. I am still learning something new every day, but my fondness for the platform has only grown with time.

There are other site builders out there, but WordPress is by far the best and most widely used and respected. If corporations like Amazon run on WordPress, you know that it has to be good.

To install WordPress, HostGator offers a one-click installation. After clicking the “Install” button, WordPress will be installed on your domain and you will be able to set up a username and password for your blog. (Note: never use the username “Admin”).

After that, you simply need to go to enter your domain in your web browser and enter your domain name followed by “/wp-admin/” and enter your username and password and you are ready to go.

7. Choose a Theme

The most touted and love themes for WordPress are on the Genesis framework. In full disclosure, my blog doesn’t run on Genesis. Instead, I chose a ThemeGrill theme called “Flash.”

It’s a free (with paid option) theme with a lot of customization options. It’s almost as customizable as a premium theme and so far has performed well. I have had no problems with SEO and have found that I can do almost anything I need to do by adding plugins.

No theme is going to be completely perfect. I have had a few small issues with plugins not working correctly, but you will have that with nearly any theme.

I can recommend Flash because I have used it on multiple blogs successfully with awesome results. However, if you want to use a Genesis child theme, that is an awesome option. Don’t be afraid to try out something new and find what works best for you.

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8. Create Content

Now that you have an operational blog, it’s time to write content for it. If you have never written a blog post, be sure to read my post “How to Start Writing Blog Posts that People Will Actually Read.”

Blog writing style is unique to any other form of writing. It is used exclusively for online publications that are read by an audience that is on the go. The majority of my blog’s audience read my blog via a smartphone. Only 31% of my audience uses a laptop or desktop.

This trend is expected to continue, so it’s important to become familiar with blog writing. If you fail to write content that your audience can read and skim through, your blog will fail.

9. Start an Email List

One of the most lucrative things you can do for your blog is to start an email list from day one. I originally started with MailChimp for my email marketing service. It was an okay email platform, but it lacked a lot of the features that I needed to grow my blog.

At the time I switched from MailChimp, they did not offer automation for free. This was essential to start offering an opt-in freebie and limited the number of subscribers I could gain. I knew that this wasn’t going to work for my blog.

I did my research and switched to MailerLite. Not only do they allow you to send unlimited emails to up to 1,000 subscribers on the free plan, the free plan includes loads of features.  That means my automation is free and that I can create all of the email forms and landing pages that I need.

If you go past that 1,000 subscriber limit, their plans are super affordable. I highly recommend that you check it out for your own blog.

10. Sign Up for Affiliate Programs in Your Niche

Now that you have your email forms set up, all you lack is signing up for the right affiliate programs for your niche. These programs vary greatly by niche, so I recommend that you do loads of research on high paying affiliate programs in your niche.

Shareasale is a great option for many bloggers. It is the first program from which I generated income on this blog. They have a wide variety of merchants, so you will find something for nearly any niche you can imagine on this platform.

My favorite affiliate on Shareasale is Tailwind. Not only do I receive compensation for the referral, but I also receive a portion of the sales that are generated from the individuals that sign up using my link. They also run awesome promotions and are a product I stand by and use myself.

Another great option is to check out the companies in your niche that you love and use their products. You may be surprised to find that many of the services and products you use every day have affiliate programs. Some of these programs are quite lucrative, so it is definitely worth exploring.

Blogging For Profit Is Within Your Grasp

Now that you know how to get started blogging for profit, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use. Start your blog today and you will be on your way to turning a profit in no time.

If you liked this post, be sure to share it on social media. This really helps get the word out and I definitely appreciate it.

Best of luck!