Hi! I’m Brayo, a computer science graduate turned full-time blogger. I started blogging while in college – and looking back, that feels a little wild.
Honestly, if you’d told me a few years ago I’d be doing this, I would have laughed. But one day, I was scrolling the internet and stumbled on an article about a blogger who was making a ton of money – like, way more than I could ever dream of straight out of college. That got me thinking…
You know that feeling, right? When you’re in college, worried about what your life will look like after graduation, maybe a little desperate for a way to start actually making money? Well, without much planning or research, I just decided to start a blog and see what happened. Best impulsive decision of my life.
Sometimes you just have to take that chance, even if you don’t know what you’re doing, otherwise you’ll miss out on big opportunities.
Maybe you can relate to some of this:
- Feeling trapped by your 9-5
- Struggling under the weight of bills
- Wishing you could do what you really want
- Hating the feeling of waking up to an alarm
- Living for the weekends
- Wanting to make more money and work on something that matters
Those were all problems for me, but not anymore. I avoided all of that thanks to blogging. I’ve never even had to sit for a job interview! Life looks completely different now.
I know, I know – this all sounds amazing, but can anyone really do this? Can blogging actually bring in the cash?
Well… yeah! I do it, and there are thousands of others who have made this work. Blogging is one of those careers that will always be relevant, no matter how much tech changes.
The days of needing a fancy degree to get a mediocre job are over. You can build something from scratch with minimal cost and turn it into something huge.
| Bloggers | Estimated Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| Rosemarie Groner | $80,000+ |
| Darren Rowse | $40,000+ |
| Melyssa Griffin | $250,000+ |
| Sarah Titus | $200,000+ |
| Pat Flynn | $200,000+ |
| John Lee Dumas | $200,000+ |
| Jeff Proctor and Ben Huber | $170,000+ |
| Jeff Rose | $140,000+ |
| Michelle Schroeder-Gardner | $120,000+ |
| Alex Nerney and Lauren McManus | $100,000+ |
| Tim Sykes | $1,000,000+ |
Blogging Myths
Myth 1: You need perfect grammar to be a blogger.
Nope! Most readers aren’t grammar police. They want to connect with you. Be clear, be yourself, and don’t sweat the occasional typo. People love authenticity, not fancy vocabulary lessons.
Myth 2: Blogging is gonna break the bank.
Unless you think skipping a couple of coffees a month is a financial crisis, blogging is crazy affordable. A basic setup is super cheap!
Myth 3: You gotta be a tech whiz to blog.
Not even close. Blogging platforms are designed to be user-friendly. You don’t need coding skills to get your ideas online.
Myth 4: It takes AGES to see any results.
Okay, this one has a grain of truth. Building a big audience takes dedication, but it’s NOT a never ending slog. Once you hit your stride, things snowball. Think of it like this: it might take a while to get the first few sparks, but once that fire catches, it spreads fast!
Don’t let these myths scare you off. Blogging is awesome, and YOU can absolutely do it!
Ready to take the plunge? Let’s get started!
Starting a blog is easier than ever. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be online in no time.
1. Pick Your Passion (and a Cool Name)
First things first:
- Your niche: This is your comfy topic zone – health, photography, cooking, personal growth, you name it! If you’re passionate, you can blog about it and make money.
- Your domain name: This is your blog’s web address, like “KathysKitchen.com”. Try to make it catchy and relevant to your topic. You can even use your own name!
Ready to check if your awesome name idea is available? Here’s how:
- Head to Namecheap: https://www.namecheap.com/
- Search for your desired domain name.
- If it’s available, fantastic! Time to move on to the next step. If not, get creative and try out different combinations.
Why Namecheap? It is awesome for beginners – super affordable, fast and user-friendly.
2. Buying Hosting for Your Blog
Step 1: Visit the Namecheap Website
- Open your web browser and go to Namecheap’s website: https://www.namecheap.com/.
- Don’t worry, their website is super easy to navigate, even if you’re new to this!
Step 2: Explore Hosting Options
- Hover your mouse over the “Hosting” tab in the top menu.
- Since you’re likely just starting out, “WordPress Hosting” is the way to go. Click on it!
- You’ll see a few different shared plans like “EasyWP,” “EasyWP Turbo,” etc. Compare the features and prices to find the one that suits you best. Need a bit more storage or faster speeds? Maybe the “EasyWP Turbo” is worth the slight extra cost since you get free SSL.
Step 3: Find Your Perfect Domain Name
- This is the fun part! See that search bar on the hosting page? Type in your awesome blog name idea (for example, “realcoolblog.com”).
- Click “Search” and cross your fingers!
- If your name’s available, awesome! If not, no worries. Try different combinations, get creative, or try a slightly different ending (like “.net” instead of “.com”).
Step 4: Add Your Dream Combo to the Cart
- Found your domain? Select it and choose your desired hosting plan.
- Click that bright green “Add to Cart” button.
- Now click “Confirm Order” to review everything.
Step 5: Create an Account (or Sign In)
- New to Namecheap? Click “Create an Account” and fill out a short form with your basic info.
- Already a Namecheap customer? Just click “Sign In” and enter your details.
Step 6: Complete Your Purchase
- Select your favorite payment method – they accept credit cards, PayPal, and more.
- Enter your billing information carefully.
- Double-check your order summary, and if everything looks good, hit “Pay Now”!
Step 7: Celebrate! You Did It!
- You’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details about your new hosting setup. Keep this email handy – it has important info you might need later.
3. Make Your Blog Look Awesome with a Theme
Think of your blog theme as its outfit. You want it to match your personality and make a good impression, right? Luckily, there are tons of options to choose from!
Freebies galore:
Your blog dashboard has a bunch of free themes to get you started. Browse around and find something that fits your vibe.
Want something fancy?
If you’re looking for a super-polished look with tons of customization, I absolutely love GeneratePress. It’s fast, affordable, and even a newbie can figure it out (trust me, I did!).
Once you’ve got your theme set up, it’s time to…
HIT THE LAUNCH BUTTON!
Yup, you just created your very own blog! 🎉 Time to celebrate! Grab a snack, take a victory lap around the room, then get ready for the fun part – filling your blog with all your awesome ideas!
4. Time for the Fun Part – Let Your Ideas Flow!
Okay, now that your blog’s all set up, it’s time to unleash your awesome thoughts on the world! Write about stuff you love, share your unique perspective, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Oh, and did I mention you can get paid for it too? 😉
FAQ’s
How Do Bloggers Get Paid? (Spoiler: There’s More Than One Way!)
You’ve got this amazing blog, you’re sharing your knowledge and passion… now it’s time for that effort to pay off! The awesome thing about blogging is the variety of ways you can make money. Let’s break it down:
- Ads: Think of those banner ads, pop-ups, or sidebars you see on websites. Bloggers can partner with ad networks that place those ads on their site. You can get paid when people simply see the ad, or when they take the extra step of clicking on it.
- Affiliate Marketing: This is all about recommending products or services you genuinely love and using special links. Let’s say you’re a travel blogger obsessed with a certain brand of luggage – you can share your review and include your affiliate link. If someone clicks your link and buys that awesome suitcase, you earn a commission!
- Selling Your Own Stuff: Are you a whiz at crafts, a master of meal-prepping, or do you have a knack for teaching online? Turn those skills into digital products like e-books, courses, or templates. Your blog becomes the perfect shop window to reach your ideal customers.
- Sponsored Posts: Companies might pay you to write about their products or services in a way that feels natural and authentic to your blog’s voice. It’s important to only partner with brands you truly believe in so your community trusts your recommendations.
- Services: Whether you’re a freelance writer, a skilled web designer, or a virtual business coach, your blog is a fantastic way to attract paying clients. It’s like a portfolio that shows off your expertise and builds trust.
- Memberships: Got seriously valuable content? You could create a membership area on your site where people pay a monthly fee to access exclusive articles, videos, or even a supportive community.
The coolest thing? You don’t have to pick just ONE! Successful bloggers often combine several of these methods, building a diverse income stream that grows along with their audience.
A Few Final Words…
You’ve probably heard me say it a million times, but I can’t help it – blogging changed my life.
It gave me the chance to turn my passion into a career. And honestly, how many people can say they truly love what they do for a living?
The thing is, it doesn’t matter if you’re into cooking, photography, model trains, or studying ancient history… there’s a space for your passion online.
You can build a blog, connect with people who share your interests, and make an incredible living from it.
So here’s my challenge to you: give blogging a real shot. Not just a few weeks, but a full year of dedicated effort. If after that, it’s not for you, that’s totally fine.
But what if, after that year, you’re hooked? What if you’re a part of that awesome group of people who can say, “I get paid to do what I love”? Wouldn’t that be worth finding out?
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