You might be wondering, should I start a blog? Or perhaps you want to but you don’t know how to start a blog.
Starting a blog and an online business is so easy nowadays.
There are so many free resources on how to make money online. And there are infinite ways to make money online.
I started my blog in December 2019. And now 2 years later I’m earning a full-time income!
PS- I know 2 years sounds like a long time. But it seriously flew by!
Also, starting a blog is much easier than opening a physical store.
Here’s how to start a blog and sell your special sauce:
- How to make money online
- Find your unique voice (special sauce)
- How I started a blog
- What I would do if I had to start over
Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you purchase through affiliate links below. No additional cost to you.
1. How to make money online
You’ll have to decide how you want to make money online before you start a blog and online business.
As mentioned above, there are infinite ways to make money online.
Here are the most common ways to make money online:
- Affiliate marketing
- Digital/physical products
- Google Adsense
- 1:1 consulting
- Sponsorships
- Online courses
Affiliate marketing
Talk about products you love. Promote those products using affiliate links. Earn a commission when someone purchases through your affiliate links.
I personally love affiliate marketing. I create content and talk about products that I already use and love.
It’s very passive in that you do the work upfront. Then you earn a commission as people click and buy.
So you are earning money even when you aren’t working.
Digital/physical products
People love printables, info products, templates, eBooks, etc. So you can create a digital product and sell it online.
I have an Etsy shop with printables and an eBook on switching cats to a raw diet.
This is another passive route. I spent time up front to create the products and listings. And aside from answering a few messages, I don’t have to do anything else.
In 2023, I added physical print-on-demand products to my Etsy shop.
Use my referral link to start on Etsy. We’ll both get 40 free listings! So you can start 100% for free rather than paying $0.20 per listing.
Google Adsense
There are other ad networks. But the most common and beginner network is Google Adsense.
The ads that you see on my YouTube videos are through Google Adsense.
I personally don’t use Google Adsense for my blog. But you certainly can!
1:1 consulting
Some people like to hire a professional for 1:1 consulting to help them solve their problems.
Others in my industry (pet nutrition) offer 1:1 consulting for diet auditing, recipe formulation, etc.
I don’t do 1:1 consulting. I prefer more passive income streams.
You are trading your time for money with 1:1 consulting.
And I feel that I can help more people around the world if I focus on passive income streams.
Sponsorships
A company likes what you represent online, and they want to attract your community.
So the company will offer to pay you to create content and/or represent their brand.
This is typically a fixed rate. And the sponsor will have to approve your content.
I don’t do sponsorships at this time. I like to have full control of my content and remain objective.
If you want to focus on sponsorships, maybe Instagram or TikTok would be better than a blog.
I feel that owning a blog and starting a YouTube channel is more sustainable though.
Online courses
Online learning is skyrocketing right now. And it will only continue to grow.
An online course could be in video and/or text format. Most students like to have both options.
Some people prefer to pay for the convenience of having everything all in one place. And most courses also come with 1:1 support.
I created 3 courses, but they are all free.
2. Find your unique voice (special sauce)
A lot of people talk about defining your target audience and honing in on your niche.
But I think a better approach is considering yourself your target audience and niche.
This is how I’m leaning into my business currently. And honestly, I wish I started this way.
Finding your special sauce
Making money online is all about solving problems.
The beautiful thing about making yourself your target audience is that you solve your own problems!
Find a common ground between:
- Passion
- Skill
- Profit
For example, you may have a skill that you’re passionate about. And it comes very easy to you.
But it wasn’t always easy, right? You’ve probably learned a lot and made some mistakes along the way.
Other people want to know how you do it!
Some questions to ask yourself…
What fills my heart with joy?
What do I do in my free time?
Have I solved unique problems for myself?
Can I teach people how to do it?
Some topic ideas
I rounded up the following ideas based on what’s popular on Pinterest and YouTube.
How to, product reviews, hacks, and DIY are good places to start.
There are way more ideas within each category. But I’m just listing a few to get things going.
But, remember, solve your own problems. Do whatever you want to do!
Gardening
How to: start a garden, keep a garden alive, propagate, and save dying plants.
Product reviews: seed kits, tools, gloves.
Hacks: keep bugs out, make plants grow faster, indoor garden, propagating.
DIY: raised gardens, compost bin, fences.
Makeup
How to: create cat eyes, use lip liner, perfect eyebrows.
Product reviews: eyeliner, lipstick, blush. Natural is growing in popularity!
Hacks: brush functions, Q-tip applications, organization, bobby pins to shape eyeliner.
DIY: lip balm recipes, primer recipe, makeup remover.
Hair
How to: calm frizzy hair, cut hair at home, style hair for events.
Product reviews: brushes, combs, trimmers, shearing blades, headbands.
Hacks: apple cider vinegar rinse, how to trim split ends without losing length, crochet braids, curl hair with socks.
DIY: avocado hair mask, hair ties, easy hairstyles.
Home decor
How to: interior design, clean furniture, upcycle furniture.
Product reviews: paint, furniture, decorations.
Hacks: organization tips, Ikea hacks, make your home look more expensive.
DIY: build furniture on a budget, wall art, farmhouse style.
Food
How to: throw a party, meal prep, eat healthier.
Product reviews: blenders, mixing equipment, baking sheets.
Hacks: ripen avocados, cook perfect bacon, which foods need hot or cold water before boiling, dessert sushi.
DIY: sauces, marinades, chocolate molds, pet food.
Art
How to: landscape, portrait, mix colors, choose the right brushes.
Product reviews: canvas, easel, brushes, paint.
Hacks: how to use brushes effectively, reuse leftover paint, mixing paint, hot glue gun, reuse old crayons.
DIY: pounded flowers, scratch art, tissue paper painting.
Education
How to: study better, stay organized, apply to school.
Product reviews: binders, courses, backpacks, notebooks.
Hacks: college packing, classroom organization, effective ways to study, foods that help retain information.
DIY: math activities, photo name puzzle, assignments sheet, homeschooling studies.
Entertainment
How to: plan parties, entertain guests, stay organized.
Product reviews: decorations, electronics, party bundles.
Hacks: Ikea entertainment center, streaming tips, reading tips, going to the movies.
DIY: party favors and decorations, animation, songs, art.
Fashion
How to: save money on clothes, style outfits, season-wear.
Product reviews: clothes, steamers, bags, accessories.
Hacks: make your clothes look expensive, laundry tips, fix ruined clothes, cold weather.
DIY: knitting, ties, bodysuit, off-the-shoulder tops, alterations, remove stains, fix wrinkles.
Travel
How to: book flights, where to stay, plan trips.
Product reviews: travel bags, hiking shoes, passport wallets.
Hacks: packing, getting deals on trips, finding places to stay, how to save money.
DIY: travel accessories, travel shadowbox, journal, toiletries roll.
Wedding
How to: save money, plan, organize.
Product reviews: party favors, decorations, wedding planners.
Hacks: getting deals, budget planners, getting married out of season, find suppliers that offer more than one service.
DIY: decorations, invitations, centerpieces, “busy bags” for kids, a message in a bottle for best wishes.
Health
How to: stay motivated, meal prep, work out.
Product reviews: supplements, workout equipment, books.
Hacks: eating healthy on a budget, composting, daily routines, how to fall asleep easily, workouts for beginners, meal planning.
DIY: juice recipes, supplements, detox cleanse, how to exercise without equipment.
Design
How to: color theory, create products, organize.
Product reviews: online software, courses, apps.
Hacks: graphic design tricks, Canva shortcuts, how to keep it simple, call to action tips.
DIY: free online tools, packaging and labels, create your logo.
Fitness
How to: get abs (lol), stretch, workout plan.
Product reviews: mats, sneakers, athletic wear.
Hacks: best times to exercise, how food affects exercise, quick morning workout.
DIY: home gym, activewear, heating pad, sandbag, parallettes.
Parenting
How to: plan, get ready for the baby, pamper yourself.
Product reviews: diapers, cups, books, toys.
Hacks: reflection day, morning routine, meal prep, organization, essentials bag.
DIY: diapers, toys, baby food, nursery.
Animals
How to: provide enrichment, keep pets happy, vet visits.
Product reviews: food, toys, furniture, beds.
Hacks: organization, routines, potty training, clean paws after walks.
DIY: beds, toys, shampoo, pet food.
Architecture
How to: learn, get jobs, sketch.
Product reviews: paper, drawing tools, software.
Hacks: design tips, online classes, how to choose the location, choosing the right contractor.
DIY: floor plan, apartment decorating, modern style.
Electronics
How to: organize, save money (people always want to save money), shop efficiently.
Product reviews: phones, TV, PC, wiring, gadgets.
Hacks: organization, reuse an old router, free up space on your phone, boost WiFi.
DIY: electronic clock, old hard drive projects, clap on/off light, create a hologram with your phone.
3. How I started a blog
I started with a self-hosted WordPress blog through Bluehost.
That means I own my website vs the free version of WordPress where I would not own my website. You can’t use affiliate links or ads on a website that you do not own.
I focused on writing articles and ranking in Google search results first. Then every few months I added something new. Pinterest, email newsletter, Etsy store, YouTube, podcast, etc.
It was a bit jumbled, and it took me about 2 years to reach a full-time income. Definitely a great start.
But I wish I found certain programs and invested early on. I would have reached full-time income so much sooner! And I would be earning more money than I am now.
Currently, I have a few websites spread over multiple platforms and software.
- Namecheap to buy domain names. This is how you get yourdomainname.com. If you use my affiliate link you can get a .com domain for just $5.98. And that’s for an entire year!
- Bluehost to connect with WordPress. Bluehost is the most beginner-friendly host service for WordPress. I’ve been using Bluehost since I started in Dec 2019. My main blog (the one you’re reading: caticles.com) is hosted on WordPress through Bluehost.
- Carrd if you prefer a simple one-pager website. My second website jesscaticles.com is hosted on Carrd. I use this website as my social media link in bio. It’s much more simple than this WordPress blog.
- Beehiiv for email marketing. An email list is crucial because it’s the best way to stay in touch with your most engaged community members. I’ve used 3 different services throughout the years. I like Beehiiv the best.
I’ve also invested in a few courses and have found other website options that I’ve included in the section below.
But some people may want to know exactly what I did and how I started. The options above are also the most inexpensive options.
However, in the grand scheme of things I would have opted for the all-in-one course training and website platform that I mention below.
4. What I would do if I had to start over
So in a perfect world we would have enough money to invest in our online business before we start it.
If that’s you and you can/prefer to pay for the convenience of starting off the right way (that will fast-track your success) then this section is for you.
I’ve come across new courses that have sparked even more creativity in me and have helped me get organized and focused.
Up until now, I’ve been piecing it together learning from YouTube University and personal experience as I go.
But I know if I started with the roadmap below, I’d be making way more money than I am now. And I would have gotten there much faster.
Now, I’m not saying that these courses are get-rich-quick schemes. Making money online and building a true community in an ethical way takes time.
But having a proper roadmap to help you get clear and learn from others that have done it already can really help speed up that process and make it easier for you.
How I would start (over)
WAIM Unlimited. An all-in-one business roadmap full of courses, monthly coaching calls, templates, workbooks, AND the course platform Teachery (that I’m using for my new and super cute hubs like my Help Desk).
This would absolutely be my first choice if I was starting all over. I went through their library of courses to note down which ones I want to take first. I built a list of 10 total courses! 10!
The best part is you pay a monthly fee until the program is paid off and then you never pay again.
But you still get access to their backlog of content, new courses, monthly coaching calls, templates, and all the other goodies that they continue to add. PLUS Teachery for free for LIFE!
Most website platforms require a monthly or yearly plan FOREVER. But when you join WAIM Unlimited you get Teachery for free for life.
You can check out some free resources of theirs to get a feel for their values and teaching style.
Two of my favorites:
1. Why you should focus on enough instead of more – I really love this approach. I think about this whenever I’m creating products and YouTube videos.
Of course, I value quality. However, sometimes we get stuck on being perfect. Nothing is ever perfect.
And if we keep stalling until everything is perfect, nothing will ever get done. So I just remind myself “done is better than perfect” – launch first, tweak later.
2. 13 marketing ideas for business owners who don’t love marketing – I’ve personally used 5 of these ideas for my business. And I’m working on implementing the others. This is great for people (like me) that don’t like being on social media.
I’m starting to feel burnt out from creating multiple pieces of content every day for so many different platforms.
But WAIM’s approach provides a lot of relief in the idea that you don’t need social media to get your content out there (aka help people).
If you’re ready to start an online business, have no idea where to start, but you know you want to buy 1 thing that helps you with everything join WAIM Unlimited.
Open enrollment is only in the Spring and Fall. But if you use this special link, you can enroll at any time.
And if you join through my affiliate link you’ll get exclusive access to my Sell Your Special Sauce Hub!
This hub will be available in May 2023 and will include a behind-the-scenes look at how I do everything in my business.
How I create:
- YouTube videos and how I got into the partner program in 8 months
- Blog posts and how I rank on the first page of Google
- Affiliate content plus the best networks to join
- Hubs just like this so you can take full advantage of Teachery
Plus my favorite courses in WAIM if you’re not sure where to start.
And monthly updates on what’s working and what’s not working in my business so we can learn and grow together.
Final thoughts on starting a blog
Starting a blog (aka online business) is a fun way to be creative and make money from your passions!
The new way of online business is simple: solve problems that you have and help other people do it.
There are a lot of different tools and software to choose from.
But if I was starting all over again I’d invest in WAIM Unlimited because it’s a roadmap to get started AND a website.
Plus you’ll get bonus behind the scenes from me if you use my affiliate link!
