The Quick Sprout blog brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars each month by helping people find answers to their questions.
It didn’t happen overnight—but you can absolutely start a profitable blog today.
There’s real money to be made if you stay consistent and use the proven strategies outlined below.
11 Steps to Starting a Blog in 2025
Making money blogging involves more than just writing for fun. You’ll need a smart approach to SEO, consistent publishing, and a monetization plan. Here’s everything you need to get started:
- Find a blog idea
- Choose the perfect domain name
- Sign up for Hostinger
- Install WordPress
- Pick a WordPress theme
- Install essential plugins
- Set up Google Analytics
- Start your email list
- Pick a blogging cadence
- Grow your audience
- Monetize your blog
Quickstart Guide to Blogging
If you already have a blog name and topic in mind, you can skip ahead and launch your blog today.
Go to Hostinger and grab the Premium plan for just $2.79/month for 12 months with our discount. It’s the best starting point for most bloggers looking for reliable hosting at a low cost.
This plan typically starts at $2.99/month on a 48-month contract, making it a solid long-term investment. You’ll get web hosting, a free domain name, unlimited SSL, beginner-friendly site builder, and professionally designed templates.
The signup process is smooth and beginner-friendly. Hostinger walks you through each step clearly. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Go to Hostinger and choose a web hosting plan.
- Complete your purchase and log into your new account.
- Claim your free domain via the dashboard (or do it later).
- Click Setup and follow the step-by-step wizard.
- Select Create a new website and choose WordPress as your CMS.
- Pick a theme (you can always change it later).
- Choose whether to keep or skip the recommended plugins.
- Finish setup and review your choices. That’s it.
You can now log into your blog and start publishing content right away.
But before we dive into monetization, let’s go step-by-step through the entire blog creation process from scratch so you don’t miss anything critical.
Step 1: Find a Blog Idea
This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting your blog.
Your niche determines what you’ll write about—and ideally what you’ll eventually earn money from. Fortunately, there’s an audience for nearly every topic under the sun.
That said, some niches are more profitable than others. The key is to find a topic that you’re passionate about and that also attracts a decent-sized audience.
To narrow it down, start by answering two big questions:
What are you interested in?
What gets you excited? What’s something you could talk about for hours without getting bored?
Your blog will need consistent content over time, so it’s critical to choose a topic you won’t burn out on.
Here are some idea prompts to help uncover your interests:
- Talents – Are you naturally good at something, like drawing, chess, or writing?
- Expertise – What subjects have you studied or worked in? Think school, certifications, or life experience.
- Career – Your job is often a great content source. Developers, marketers, educators, and creatives all have deep insight into their industries.
- Hobbies – Do you love restoring old cars, exploring new recipes, or playing board games? Hobbies make great niche ideas.
ACTION STEP: List out 10–15 things you’re interested in. Don’t overthink it—just jot down anything that excites you or that you know well.
What are other people interested in?
The second part of choosing a niche is confirming that people are actually searching for it online. Your passion needs to intersect with demand.
For example, writing about your dog is sweet—but won’t attract a large audience. But a blog about dog training tips, dog food reviews, or pet health can bring in tons of readers.
Think about the questions you had when you were first learning about your interest. Those same questions are probably being asked right now by others.
Here are some evergreen blog categories that always perform well:
- Personal finance
- Fitness and health
- Online business and entrepreneurship
- Investing and crypto
- Productivity and time management
- Real estate
- Career advice and job hunting
- Test prep or education
- Freelancing and remote work
Pro tip: Use Google’s Keyword Planner to research real search volume. This can help validate your idea and uncover content opportunities.
ACTION STEP: Look over your interest list and compare it with the popular categories above. Then pick one topic that you can confidently build content around for the next 6–12 months.
Once you’ve selected your topic, it’s time to niche down. A broad topic like “health” or “business” is too competitive. Instead, go specific: “fitness for new dads,” or “side hustles for teachers.”
You can even combine two passions to create a blog with a unique angle—like personal finance for artists or productivity tips for gamers.
Step 2: Find the Perfect Domain Name
Now it’s time to choose a name for your blog. This is where things get fun—but also a little tricky.
- Bad news: A lot of top-tier domain names are already taken. The web has been around for decades, so it’s no surprise.
- Good news: You only need one domain—and we’re going to help you find a great one that fits your blog.
Here are some tips to follow when brainstorming your blog’s domain:
- Keep it short: Aim for 14 characters or fewer. Short domains are easier to remember and faster to type.
- Stick with .com, .org, or .net: These are the most familiar and credible domain extensions.
- Make it easy to spell and pronounce: You don’t want to explain your URL every time someone asks for it.
- Avoid numbers and hyphens: They’re clunky and hard to remember. Skip them unless absolutely necessary.
- Consider using your own name: Great for personal branding and flexible if you’re unsure what niche you’ll stick with long-term.
Once you have some ideas, go to Hostinger to check if your domain is available.
If your domain is already taken, you’ve got a few options:
- Keep brainstorming: Use synonyms, shorten the name, or add a modifier word like “blog,” “hq,” or “tips.”
- Buy an existing domain: Some are available for resale, but they can cost thousands—and negotiating the sale can be a pain.
- Try an AI-powered name generator: Hostinger’s domain page includes a smart name generator you can use for free.
Ideally, you’ll find a solid domain name that’s available for $10 or less through a registrar like Hostinger or Namecheap.
Want to go deeper? Check out our guide on the best domain registrars to help you choose the right provider.
Using Your Personal Name as the Domain
If this is your first blog and you’re not yet committed to a specific topic, using your personal name can be a smart move.
Why? Because switching domains later can be painful. Changing your domain down the road often means starting over with SEO, backlinks, and branding.
For example, if you start with fitnessfordoctors.com and later pivot to blogging about finance for doctors, you’ll need a new domain—and a fresh start.
Personal domains are flexible. You can pivot your blog’s content without needing a new name. Just remove irrelevant posts and begin publishing under your new direction.
That said, personal domains have a couple of downsides to be aware of:
- Scalability: It’s harder to bring on other authors or expand into a team blog under a personal brand.
- Resale value: If you ever want to sell your blog, personal-branded domains are tougher to offload.
Still, those are advanced concerns. If you’re just getting started, using your name as the domain can help you move forward without overthinking it.
ACTION STEP: Pick a domain name that’s available and commit to it.
Make a choice and keep moving. Avoid getting stuck in “paralysis by analysis.” It’s more important to start publishing than to find the absolute perfect domain.
Want more help? Read our full guide on how to buy the right domain name.
Step 3: Sign Up For Hostinger
Every blog needs web hosting—this is the service that stores your website and makes it accessible on the internet.
Choosing a reliable web host is crucial. A good host keeps your site fast, secure, and online. A bad one leads to downtime, slow load speeds, and technical headaches.
We’ve tested dozens of options, and Hostinger is our go-to recommendation for new bloggers. It’s affordable, easy to use, and performs better than many higher-priced competitors.
If you’re not sure which host to use, check out our complete guide to the best WordPress hosting providers.
Here’s what makes Hostinger ideal for beginners:
- Low pricing: As low as $2.79/month with the QuickSprout discount.
- Free domain: Included with most plans.
- One-click WordPress install: No manual setup required.
- Fast performance: Great speed and uptime even on entry-level plans.
- Beginner-friendly dashboard: Easy to navigate, even if this is your first site.
Sign up for the Premium plan to get the best deal. With our discount, it’s only $2.79/month on a 12-month contract. That’s unbeatable for the value.
Another benefit? Hostinger grows with you. You can easily upgrade to higher-tier plans as your traffic grows—no need to switch providers down the line.
And if you’re not satisfied for any reason, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. So there’s no risk to get started.
Step 4: Install WordPress
Every blog needs a content management system (CMS). This is the software you’ll use to write, edit, and publish your blog posts.
We strongly recommend WordPress. It’s the most powerful and flexible blogging platform available—and it’s free.
There are plenty of CMS platforms—like Wix, Squarespace, or Blogger—but none of them offer the same combination of freedom, support, and scalability as WordPress.
Here’s why WordPress is the best choice:
- Free and open-source: You won’t pay to use it, and it’s endlessly customizable.
- Massive plugin and theme ecosystem: You can add just about any feature without coding.
- SEO-friendly: WordPress is built with search engines in mind and supports SEO plugins.
- Scalable: From a small blog to a six-figure site, WordPress grows with you.
Platforms like Medium or LinkedIn can be useful for building authority, but they offer very limited control and almost no monetization options. If you want to build a blog that makes money, WordPress is the way to go.
ACTION STEP: Install WordPress on your hosting account.
Hostinger makes this easy. If you followed the setup wizard during signup, you likely installed WordPress already. If not, go to your Hostinger dashboard and choose the one-click WordPress installation option.
Pro tip: Hostinger’s WordPress plans cost the same as their shared hosting plans but include extras like automatic updates and improved security. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s smart to choose the WordPress plan.
Click here to get started with WordPress hosting on Hostinger.
Step 5: Pick a Fitting WordPress Theme
One of WordPress’s biggest strengths is how easy it is to change how your blog looks—without touching any code.
This is done through “themes”—prebuilt design templates you can install in seconds to give your site a professional look.
Swapping themes won’t affect your blog posts or pages, so you’re free to experiment and update your design as your site grows.
Hostinger offers a wide selection of modern, mobile-optimized WordPress themes to get started. Choose one that reflects your topic and personality, but don’t overthink it—you can change it anytime.
You’ll find thousands of themes on the WordPress Theme Directory, and even more premium themes from third-party developers.
If you want something higher-end, we recommend StudioPress. They offer polished, fast-loading themes that are easy to customize. While most cost around $130, they’re free if you host your site with WP Engine (which includes them in its plans).
For even more variety, check out Themeforest—the largest marketplace of WordPress themes with tens of thousands of options at different price points.
ACTION STEP: Install a WordPress theme.
Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance ? Themes, and click Add New. From here, you can search for free themes or upload a premium one.
If you’ve purchased a theme, upload the .zip file and click Install, then Activate.
From here, you can customize your theme under Appearance ? Customize. You can also switch themes later without losing your content.
Free themes can be a great way to start, especially if you’re bootstrapping your blog. Just be sure to choose a theme that is regularly updated, well-reviewed, and mobile-friendly. Some free themes are poorly coded or outdated, which can hurt your site’s performance and security.
Step 6: Install WordPress Plugins
One of the best parts about WordPress is that you can customize it endlessly using plugins.
Plugins are small software tools that add functionality to your blog—without you needing to write any code. Think of them as apps for your website.
That said, more plugins doesn’t always mean better. In fact, too many plugins can slow down your site, introduce bugs, and even create security risks.
We recommend sticking with 5–10 high-quality plugins when starting out. Choose tools that solve a specific need and are actively maintained by their developers.
ACTION STEP: Install only the most useful plugins that support your goals.
Here are a few must-have plugins for beginners:
- Akismet – Blocks spam comments automatically so you don’t have to.
- Yoast SEO – Helps you optimize each post for search engines with on-page SEO tools.
- Contact Form 7 – Lets readers easily contact you through your website.
- WP Super Cache – Improves site speed by caching pages for faster loading.
- Mailchimp for WordPress – Connects your site to Mailchimp so you can grow an email list (more on this soon).
- WordPress Popular Posts – Displays your most popular blog posts in your sidebar or footer, automatically.
You can install plugins from your WordPress dashboard by going to Plugins ? Add New, then searching for the plugin name, clicking Install, and then Activate.
While it’s tempting to try out every shiny tool, resist the urge. Fewer, well-chosen plugins will make your site run faster and smoother in the long run.
Step 7: Install Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free tool that shows you how people are finding and using your blog. It’s essential for understanding what’s working—and what needs improvement.
With Google Analytics, you can track site traffic, popular pages, user demographics, and much more.
But don’t worry about all of its advanced features right now. The most important thing is just getting it installed so it starts collecting data.
Here are the two biggest reasons to set it up immediately:
- 1. Historical tracking: The sooner you install it, the sooner it starts collecting data you can use later.
- 2. Motivation: Watching your blog get its first visitors is incredibly motivating and keeps you going.
Here’s a simple walkthrough to install it:
Log into Google Analytics
Go to Google Analytics and click Start Measuring.
Log into your Google account or create one if you don’t have one yet.
Create Your Google Analytics Account
Give your account a name (e.g. your blog name) and click Next.
Choose What You Want to Measure
Choose Web when prompted, since you’re setting up a blog.
Fill In the Property Details
Enter your website name, URL, industry, and time zone. Then click Create.
Copy and Paste the Tracking Code Onto Your Site
You’ll receive a JavaScript tracking code. Copy it and paste it into your site header (most WordPress themes let you do this via a “Header” setting or plugin like Insert Headers and Footers).
That’s it! Google will start collecting data about your visitors from this point forward.
Need more help? We’ve written a complete guide on setting up Google Analytics.
Step 8: Set Up Your Email List
If you want to build a profitable blog, you need an email list. It’s one of the most effective marketing tools you’ll ever use—and it’s yours to own.
Your email list lets you stay connected to your readers, promote content, and generate sales on demand. It’s like having a direct line to your most engaged audience.
You can use it to sell products, book clients, launch courses, or drive traffic to new posts. No matter what you plan to monetize later, it all starts with your list.
ACTION STEP: Start collecting email subscribers today.
Even if you’re not sure what you’ll send them yet, the key is to begin capturing emails from day one. That way, you’ll have a list ready when it’s time to grow.
We recommend starting with an email marketing platform like Constant Contact. It’s beginner-friendly, affordable, and integrates easily with WordPress.
You can also check out our guide to the best email marketing tools to compare features.
Start small—a simple opt-in form in your sidebar or below your blog posts is enough to get going. Here’s an example from the Divalicious Recipes blog:
You don’t need a fancy lead magnet at first. Just offer updates, useful tips, or a quick reason why people should subscribe.
Once you grow to a few hundred (or thousand) subscribers, your list becomes a major revenue channel. Many bloggers say email is their #1 source of income.
Step 9: Pick a Blogging Cadence
Blogging isn’t about burning out in a week—it’s a long game. Think of it like a multi-month hike, not a sprint. You need consistency and pacing to win.
The best bloggers stick to a rhythm they can maintain for years. That rhythm is your blogging cadence.
Here are some benchmarks to help you find your pace:
- Minimum: 1 post per week, 2,000+ words. This is the baseline for building real momentum.
- Moderate: 2–3 posts per week. Many bloggers grow faster with this level of effort.
- Advanced: 5–7 posts per week. Usually requires multiple writers or full-time focus.
- Enterprise: 25+ posts per week. This is what big content marketing teams do (think HubSpot or NerdWallet).
Long-form content still performs best in 2025. Google rewards articles that go deep—typically 2,000 to 3,000+ words—especially when they thoroughly answer searcher questions.
But here’s a warning: don’t write for Google at the expense of your readers. Google’s July 2025 Helpful Content Update prioritizes people-first content. Write to help real humans, not to game the algorithm.
Use tools to assist, not replace:
- AI content tools: Use them to brainstorm or draft outlines—but always edit for accuracy and voice. Never blindly copy/paste AI-generated content.
- SEO assistants: Tools like Clearscope or Surfer SEO can guide your keyword use—but a good “content score” doesn’t guarantee quality or ranking.
- Grammar checkers: Grammarly is great for typos, but don’t let it suck the voice out of your writing.
Your most valuable blog posts may not be the ones that target the highest-volume keywords—they’ll be the ones that solve the most specific problems for your audience.
ACTION STEP: Commit to one new blog post per week.
This pace gives you enough room to create quality content while also managing everything else (email, design, research, promotion). It’s also sustainable for the long haul.
A solid routine looks like this:
- Day 1: Research the topic, outline your post, and write the first draft.
- Day 2: Edit your draft, format it in WordPress, add visuals, and publish.
The key is quality. Every post should aim to be better than anything else already ranking for the same topic.
Step 10: Build an Audience
Your blog won’t succeed if nobody reads it. That’s why audience building should be one of your top priorities from day one.
The most realistic and powerful goal to aim for early on is this: 1,000 true fans.
With 1,000 highly engaged readers, you can make a full-time income, leave your job, and build a business around your blog. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely achievable.
ACTION STEP: Start building your audience using consistent, high-quality content and community engagement.
Here are the fundamentals for audience growth:
- Be consistent: Never skip a week. Publish regularly so your audience knows when to expect new content.
- Increase volume when possible: If you can handle it, scale to 2–3 posts per week.
- Push for quality: Google the topic you’re writing about and look at the top 3 results. Then ask, “How can I make mine better?”
- Offer a fresh angle: Avoid repeating what’s already been said. Add your voice, experience, or unique point of view.
- Write like a human: Be conversational. Pretend you’re writing to a close friend or peer.
- Encourage interaction: Use a commenting tool like Disqus to let readers leave feedback.
- Join relevant communities: Be active in Facebook Groups, Reddit, Discord channels, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and niche forums. Help others, share your content only when relevant, and build trust.
- Ask yourself constantly: “How can I make this more helpful for the reader?”
Audience growth is a long game. It usually takes 12–24 months to get real traction. But if you publish consistently and help people solve real problems, you will get there.
Fun stat: 77% of internet users read blogs. You only need a small fraction of them to build a business.
As your blog matures, you’ll want to refine your marketing tactics. We break that down in our post on the 5 Stages of Blog Growth.
Step 11: Monetize Your Blog
Once you’ve built traffic and earned trust with your audience, it’s time to turn your blog into a revenue-generating machine.
There are three core monetization strategies that actually work:
- Info products – Courses, eBooks, webinars, paid communities
- Affiliate marketing – Recommending products and earning a cut of each sale
- Freelancing or consulting – Offering services through your blog as a lead generator
Let’s break each one down:
How Info Products Work
Here’s the basic formula:
- Get traffic to your blog
- Offer a free resource to get people onto your email list
- Send them into a product funnel (like a paid course or webinar)
- Convert 0.5% to 1% of new subscribers into $500–$2,000 product customers
The catch? You need strong copywriting skills and a niche that’s tied to money, status, or relationships—people spend most easily on those three things.
How Affiliate Programs Work
Affiliate marketing is simple: You recommend tools and services your readers need, and earn a commission when they make a purchase through your link.
This works best if you build trust with your audience and only promote products you genuinely believe in. Low-traffic blogs don’t make much from affiliate links, so focus on quality traffic and strong product fit.
Just remember to include a disclosure, like this example from Outside Magazine:
How Freelancing and Consulting Work
If you want to make money quickly, use your blog to attract freelance clients or consulting gigs. It’s the fastest path to income—even if you have very little traffic.
Plenty of bloggers land clients by writing helpful content in their area of expertise. It builds credibility and trust with potential buyers who need your services.
In many cases, this approach helps people earn $3,000–$5,000/month and quit their jobs within a few months. You can always build out more passive income streams later.
What About All Those Other Monetization Methods?
Most other strategies aren’t worth your time early on. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Books: Great for credibility, not so great for revenue. Use them to build your brand.
- Events: High risk, low reward unless you already have a large audience.
- Display ads: Require a ton of traffic to make even a little money. Use only after reaching 50k+ visits/month.
- Speaking gigs: Can build authority, but not reliable unless you’re already well-known.
Bottom line: Focus on proven monetization methods like services, affiliate marketing, and products. Don’t waste time on fringe strategies unless they support your core revenue model.
And above all else—keep going.
LAST ACTION STEP: Stay consistent. Keep writing, keep growing, and keep learning from resources like our full library of blogging guides.