So, you’re thinking about starting a blog in 2024. Maybe you’ve heard people talk about how you can make money online, and now you’re wondering if it’s really possible. I’m here to tell you that it is—and to prove it, I’ll share exactly how I made $4000 in my first three months of blogging. Whether you’re completely new or have dabbled in blogging before, this guide will walk you through the steps to set up a successful blog and start making real money.
Let’s dive in!
1. Why Blogging in 2024 Is Still a Great Way to Make Money
You might be thinking, “Isn’t blogging dead in 2024?” Nope! Blogging is still very much alive and kicking. In fact, it’s one of the most accessible ways to earn money online, especially if you have a passion for sharing your knowledge or creativity.
Blogging has evolved over the years, but that’s a good thing. In 2024, there are more tools, platforms, and opportunities than ever before. And the best part? You don’t need a massive following to start making money. When I first started my blog, I didn’t have a huge audience. But by leveraging smart strategies, I was able to earn $4000 in just three months.
2. Picking Your Niche: The First Step to Success
Before you even think about making money, you need to pick a niche. Your niche is the specific topic or area that your blog will focus on. A common mistake I see new bloggers make is trying to write about too many things. In the beginning, it’s essential to focus on one or two topics that you’re passionate about and that have the potential to make money.
Here’s how I chose my niche:
- What are you passionate about? If you’re not passionate about your blog’s topic, you’ll burn out quickly. For me, I picked a niche related to online marketing and blogging tips because I genuinely enjoy those subjects.
- Is there an audience? You don’t want to pick a topic that no one cares about. I did some research using tools like Google Trends and Ubersuggest to find topics that were trending and had a decent search volume.
- Can you monetize it? Some niches are easier to monetize than others. I knew online marketing had several affiliate programs and opportunities for sponsorships. It’s crucial to think about how you’ll make money from your blog before you dive in.
Ready to find your perfect niche? Check out this free guide to niche selection to get started.
3. Setting Up Your Blog: What You Need to Get Started
Now that you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to set up your blog. This part can feel overwhelming, but trust me, it’s easier than you think. Here’s a simple step-by-step breakdown of what I did:
1. Choose a Platform
Most bloggers either go with WordPress.org or Wix. Personally, I chose WordPress because it’s customizable and has tons of plugins. You’ll also need hosting, which is where your blog lives online. I recommend Bluehost because they offer affordable plans and it’s super easy to integrate with WordPress.
2. Pick a Domain Name
Your domain name is your blog’s address (like www.myawesomeblog.com). Keep it simple, memorable, and related to your niche. I bought mine through Bluehost, which offers competitive pricing.
3. Install a Theme
Your theme determines what your blog looks like. There are tons of free and premium themes out there, but I went with Astra because it’s lightweight, fast, and customizable. A fast website is important because slow load times can turn readers off.
Once you’ve got your blog set up, it’s time for the fun part—creating content!
4. Creating Content That Attracts Readers
Content is the backbone of your blog. Without it, you won’t have anything to attract visitors, and without visitors, you won’t make money. When I started blogging, I knew I needed to create content that not only helped my readers but also had the potential to rank on search engines like Google.
Here’s how I approached content creation:
- Solve Problems: The key to successful blog posts is answering questions and solving problems. For example, one of my first posts was about “How to Start a Blog with No Experience.” This is a common question, and my post offered actionable advice.
- Keyword Research: If you want people to find your blog through search engines, you need to do keyword research. I use Ubersuggest to find keywords that people are searching for. Once I had my keywords, I made sure to include them naturally in my blog posts.
- Create Pillar Content: One thing that helped me early on was creating “pillar content.” These are longer, in-depth blog posts (like this one) that cover a topic thoroughly. Pillar content helps you establish authority in your niche and attracts more readers.
To help you with your content strategy, I recommend checking out Jasper, an AI-powered content writing tool that speeds up the writing process.
5. How I Made $4000 in 3 Months: My Monetization Strategy
Now, let’s get to the part you’ve been waiting for—how I made $4000 in my first three months of blogging. The answer? Multiple income streams.
Here’s the exact strategy I used:
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing was my biggest income source in the beginning. Basically, I earned a commission for promoting products I used and loved. For example, whenever I recommended Bluehost as a hosting provider or ConvertKit for email marketing, I included affiliate links in my blog posts. If someone signed up through my link, I earned a commission.
The key to successful affiliate marketing is transparency. I only promoted products I actually used, which built trust with my readers.
2. Sponsored Content
After my blog started getting some traffic, I was approached by brands that wanted to work with me. Sponsored posts are a great way to earn money, especially if you’re just starting out. I recommend reaching out to companies that align with your niche and offering to write a review or feature their product in exchange for a fee.
3. Digital Products
One of the smartest moves I made early on was creating a digital product—in my case, a simple eBook on blogging tips. Digital products are amazing because you create them once and can sell them over and over again. I used Canva to design my eBook, and I sold it through Gumroad, which made the process super easy.
6. Growing Your Blog Audience: Traffic Strategies That Work
Making money from your blog is great, but it won’t happen unless people are actually visiting your site. Here’s how I grew my audience in those crucial first three months:
1. Pinterest
Pinterest is often overlooked, but it’s a goldmine for traffic. I used Tailwind to schedule my pins and join group boards in my niche. Pinterest works like a search engine, so by creating visually appealing pins and linking them to my blog, I was able to drive a lot of traffic in a short time.
2. Facebook Groups
As I mentioned earlier, Facebook Groups are another fantastic way to get your blog in front of the right audience. I joined several groups related to blogging, marketing, and online business, and I consistently shared valuable content. This not only helped me establish authority but also brought in readers who were genuinely interested in my posts.
3. Email Marketing
From day one, I knew I needed to build an email list. This is one of the most valuable assets a blogger can have. I used ConvertKit to manage my list, to encourage people to subscribe. Once they were on my list, I could send them blog updates, promotions, and affiliate offers directly.
7. Scaling Your Blog: What’s Next?
1. Diversify Income Streams
While affiliate marketing was a significant chunk of my initial income, I knew I couldn’t rely on just one source. Diversification was key to ensuring long-term success. In addition to offering freelance writing services, I began exploring other ways to make money, including:
- Sponsored Webinars: As my blog grew, I was invited to co-host webinars with brands in exchange for sponsorship fees. These brands wanted to tap into my audience, and it was a win-win because I could offer valuable content to my readers while earning money.
- Online Courses: I created a simple online course based on some of my most popular blog content. Using platforms like Teachable, I was able to package my knowledge into bite-sized lessons that people could purchase. The best part about online courses is that, once they’re created, they can be sold over and over again, generating passive income.
By adding multiple income streams, I ensured that my blog would continue to generate revenue even if one method didn’t perform as well in a given month.
2. Invest in Tools
As I began scaling my blog, I quickly realized that the right tools could save me hours of work each week. Here are a few more tools that I’ve found essential as my blog has grown:
- SEO Tools: Optimizing my blog for search engines was a must if I wanted consistent, long-term traffic. I invested in SEMrush and Ahrefs to help me perform keyword research, track rankings, and identify opportunities to improve my SEO.
- Project Management: Managing a blog isn’t just about writing—it’s about staying organized. I use Trello to manage my content calendar, track progress on different blog projects, and collaborate with freelancers when necessary.
- Automation: Automation tools like Zapier allowed me to automate repetitive tasks, such as moving leads from one system to another or automatically posting new blog articles to social media. This helped me save time and focus on what mattered most—creating valuable content.
3. Networking
In the blogging world, relationships are everything. After those initial three months of blogging, I started actively networking with other bloggers, influencers, and industry experts. Here’s how networking helped me scale:
- Guest Posting: By writing guest posts on popular blogs within my niche, I was able to tap into new audiences and build backlinks, which helped my site’s SEO. I reached out to bloggers with a similar audience and offered high-quality content in exchange for a link back to my site.
- Podcast Interviews: I started appearing as a guest on podcasts related to online business and blogging. Podcast interviews not only helped build my authority but also brought a surge of traffic to my blog whenever an episode aired.
- Collaborations: I also began collaborating with other bloggers on joint ventures, such as co-hosted webinars, giveaways, and cross-promotions. These collaborations helped expand my reach and strengthened my relationships within the blogging community.
8. Avoiding Common Blogging Mistakes
I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t learned from a few mistakes along the way. Here are some common blogging mistakes that new bloggers often make, and how to avoid them:
1. Chasing Quick Wins
When you first start blogging, it’s tempting to chase trends or try tactics that promise quick traffic spikes. While these can work in the short term, they rarely lead to long-term success. I focused on building a solid foundation by creating evergreen content that would continue to bring traffic months and even years later. Sure, it took time, but the payoff was worth it.
2. Not Building an Email List from Day One
One of my biggest regrets was not building an email list sooner. Your email list is the only audience you truly “own”—you’re not at the mercy of algorithms or platform changes. I highly recommend starting your list from day one, even if it’s just a small opt-in incentive like a free PDF. Tools like ConvertKit make it easy to get started, and trust me, your future self will thank you.
3. Focusing on Perfection Over Progress
When I first launched my blog, I spent way too much time obsessing over tiny design details or re-writing the same blog post 10 times. Here’s the thing: done is better than perfect. Your blog will never be perfect, and that’s okay. Focus on publishing consistently and improving over time. You can always tweak things later.
9. Tracking Your Success: How to Measure What’s Working
As you build and grow your blog, it’s important to know which efforts are driving success. Tracking your blog’s performance helps you double down on what’s working and pivot away from what’s not. Here are the key metrics I focus on:
1. Traffic Sources
One of the first things I track is where my traffic is coming from. I use Google Analytics and Plausible to break down my traffic sources. Whether it’s Pinterest, Facebook, email marketing, or organic search, knowing which channels are delivering results helps me allocate my time and energy effectively.
2. Affiliate Conversions
Since affiliate marketing is one of my main income streams, I track how my affiliate links are performing. Most affiliate programs provide detailed reports on clicks, conversions, and commissions earned. I monitor these metrics regularly to see which products and posts are bringing in the most revenue. If a particular affiliate program isn’t performing, I’ll either update my strategy or replace it with a better fit.
3. Email Subscriber Growth
Growing my email list is a priority, so I track how many new subscribers I’m getting each week. ConvertKit provides detailed analytics, so I can see which lead magnets and opt-in forms are driving the most sign-ups. If a form isn’t converting well, I’ll experiment with different copy, design, or placement to boost performance.
4. Content Performance
Not all blog posts are created equal. I regularly review which pieces of content are getting the most views, shares, and engagement. Posts that perform well often get updated and repurposed into other formats, like eBooks, infographics, or videos. Conversely, underperforming posts get a refresh to improve their rankings and relevance.
10. Final Thoughts: How to Build a Sustainable, Money-Making Blog
Building a blog that makes money takes time, effort, and a lot of patience, but it’s absolutely possible. If you take anything away from this guide, let it be this: consistency is key.
I didn’t make $4000 in my first three months by getting lucky. I followed a plan, put in the work, and diversified my income streams. Whether you’re focusing on affiliate marketing, creating digital products, or landing sponsored deals, remember that blogging success doesn’t happen overnight. Keep showing up, keep experimenting, and most importantly—keep learning.
If you’re serious about starting a blog in 2024, the best thing you can do is get started today. Whether it’s picking a niche, creating your first piece of content, or building an email list, take action. Every step forward is progress.
And remember, I’m here to help! If you’re looking for the tools I mentioned in this guide, check out my recommended resources below to kickstart your blogging journey: