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Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

Last Updated: August 3, 2017 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 127 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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Check out this list of 8 useful tips for beginner bloggers. This is a great list!Last month, I published my post on How To Start a Blog – Tips for a Beginner. Don’t get the titles confused, they are extremely similar because I lack any creativity. My other post was mainly about how to get going with your blog, and what companies to use to use to actually create your blog (domain, hosting, WordPress, etc.). But what about after you already create your blog and want to get going? What tips should beginner bloggers know about?

I haven’t been blogging for a very long time, and this August will be two years. I’m not sure if that’s a long or short time in blog-land, but I’ll take it. I have definitely made a ton of mistakes (maybe I should make a post about all of the blog mistakes that I made) and I have learned a lot.

EDIT July, 2016: I recommend checking out my online course for bloggers, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. I earn over $50,000 a month through affiliate marketing and I share my exact strategy and tips in this very informative online course. If you’re a blogger (even if you’re a new blogger!), then you NEED this course.

Lately I have been receiving many e-mails asking for blog tips. I’m going to guess that a lot of it is because many think that they will get rich blogging, but I’ll save that for a whale post in the future. I will definitely say that I am not an expert, and that I still don’t understand everything.

Luckily, I blog for me and I’m fine with making mistakes. Today, I will attempt to share with you my tips, and hopefully no one laughs since obviously I’m not the most professional blogger. Just trying to keep it real and be honest with everyone!

This will be a multiple series post, so look out for a Part 2 sometime in the near future. Today’s post will mainly be about the basic of having a blog, and some mistakes that might bother me. In Part 2, look forward to reading about how to choose the direction of your blog and more of a post about any wisdom that I have gained in the past 1.5 years, such as with the potential conflict of making money with your blog.

Some are against it, and some are for it. All depends on your direction and will be further explained in the future.

If you are interested in starting a blog, I created an easy-to-use tutorial that will help you start a blog of your own for cheap, starting at only $3.49 per month (this low price is through my link only) for blog hosting. In addition to the low pricing, you will receive a free blog domain (a $15 value) through my Bluehost link if you purchase at least 12 months of blog hosting. FYI, you want/need to be self-hosted if your website is used for freelancing purposes or if you want to make money blogging. 

 

Be Yourself

When starting your blog, be yourself! Don’t try to pretend you’re someone else. I love reading real blogs where I can tell who the writer is just by reading what they have written. No one wants to read bland, boring posts, inject all of your personality in them! Have fun with it and determine why you really want to blog.

 

Have an About page

Something that I am currently working on is improving my About page. I personally mainly enjoy reading blogs that have a fun or interesting personal view. Corporate blogs and blah blah blah don’t really interest me as much (nothing wrong with them, everyone enjoys different things). I like to read about the author and see where he or she is coming from. Having an About page lets me learn more about you, all in one easy page. You can include a picture, a bio about yourself, and possibly links to other posts that will describe you and your life even further.

 

Reply to Comments

Something that I always put major effort towards is always making sure to reply to comments. Sometimes the comments are just a “thanks,” but I honestly enjoy knowing that an author has actually read the comment that I have left. I LOVE when I leave a comment on a blog that contains a question, and the writer will answer it. I almost always go back to blogs that I comment on to see what was written back. Interacting with readers is always important.

 

Get Rid of the Captcha

Captcha, oh captcha. I go nuts when I try leaving a comment and I see this. For some reason I can never get it on the first try. I’m fine with the “tests” right before you leave a comment that ask for what “1+1” is, but when it says to decipher what “32097 dfg fdgjh3 4” and it’s super blurry and all of the letters seem to go in different directions? Sometimes I feel like I’m trying forever and have given up on leaving a comment before.

 

Make it Easy to Subscribe

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to a website and they have made it literally impossible for me to subscribe. Either none of the links work, or there are no links altogether. No links for e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Subscribing, etc? AHHHH. Please make it easier for readers to subscribe! We want to be able to find you more easily in the future.

Related: How To Start A Blog

 

Make Friends

One of the best things that I love about blogging is the awesome community that it brings. I have made many friends through my blog, and a lot of you I talk to nearly every single day. I really cannot say enough about making blogger friends. Reach out by commenting on blogs, interacting on Facebook, tweeting on Twitter and so on. Of course be yourself, and don’t force a relationship to happen! That’s just awkward 😛

 

Link Your Twitter to Your Posts

A lot of the time I like to tweet posts that I really enjoy. I’ve been to a couple of blogs where when you click on the tweet button, the person’s twitter handle does not automatically show up. Fix this! Make it easier for people to show you recognition. This is something that I didn’t do for a long time, until a couple of other bloggers told me that I was making life too difficult for them (joking of course).

 

Have Fun!

Yes, different people start a blog for different reasons. But if you do decide to start one, have fun with it! I feel that the best blogs out there are by writers who are having fun with it. I enjoy having a blog, and it has turned into a great hobby, but also a side hustle machine.

What blogging tips do you have for beginners? What do you wish you knew?

 

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127 Comments
Filed Under: Blog, Extra Income Tagged With: Blog, Extra Money

About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. myfijourney says

    March 26, 2013 at 4:36 am

    I feel pretty good. I'm doing all of those points listed above.

    I have really enjoyed interacting with other bloggers through comments. I've gotten a lot of great ideas for posts from comments and have been able to up my investment game as well.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm

      Yes I actually get a lot of great post ideas through comments as well.

      Reply
  2. The Norwegian Girl says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:12 am

    I´ve only been blogging for a couple of months,but I think I´ve done pretty good on all of these. Hurray!
    I especially agree on reply to comments. it`s how you start to communicate with others! I always reply to the comments I get, and I think people like it.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      Replying to comments is always awesome!

      Reply
  3. DC@Young Adult Money says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:13 am

    Make friends has been the biggest factor in my blogging "success." It also motivates you to keep writing day after day when you know there are certain people who will visit (and comment!) just about every day.
    My recent post 4 Ways to Make Money if You Need it ASAP

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      Yes I agree. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Iain says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:13 am

    I completely agree with you about the captcha I hate them. There have been many times when I have just left when I saw one.

    A quick tip: a headline that is eye catching will make a world of good.

    For example, what cats can teach you about love.

    Maybe not the best example but you get the idea.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:18 pm

      I agree!

      Reply
  5. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:13 am

    Get rid of the captcha, lol. I totally agree. I also hate when I have to log in to wordpress to comment.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:19 pm

      UGh I hate that too! I'm horrible at remembering passwords.

      Reply
  6. Victor Tribunsky says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:20 am

    Probably, I am not a beginner blogger, but I have read you tips with interest. Thank you.
    My recent post Your Majesty, I Am Not Agree About Mezquita de Cordoba

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:19 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Sara says

    March 26, 2013 at 6:41 am

    My tip would be not to get caught up in the numbers. Yes you want people to follow your blog but building a readership can take time. Sure you can do giveaways and sponsor other blogs to get your name out there, but that doesn't guarantee you interactive readers. I would go back to the point you made about responding to blog comments. Treat your current readers well. Respond to them, get to know them and in time you will grow.
    My recent post Rewind – My 2012 Easter Pinterest Pins

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      I agree! So many people get caught up with the numbers and go crazy with it. I would rather have active readers than just inflated numbers.

      Reply
  8. plantingourpennies says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:04 am

    Say something new! We try to make sure that our posts add something to the conversation and aren't something that's been written 1000x before.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      Yes something new is good! I don't find reading the same PF posts about saving money (with no personality or personal experiences injected in) to be interesting. I like to read about how an author succeeded (or failed) and what they do!

      Reply
  9. FrugalRules says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Great tips Michelle! I for one would like to read a mistakes post to see what you have learned from them as I think they can be invaluable teaching tools. Anyway, Oh how I hate Captcha! I understand the point of it, but come on…it's like a completely different language that you have to get down and if you get it wrong it'll sometimes erase your comment. That said, a lot of your tips lead back to getting out there and networking and getting to know people…all of which are very important!
    My recent post Festival of Frugality #381: It’s Spring Edition!

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:21 pm

      Haha the mistakes post would be miles long and people would probably be ashamed to know me!

      Reply
      • TabithaGirl says

        August 31, 2016 at 10:26 pm

        Lol. You could break the mistakes post down into chapters…I would read them. It would be like watch TV bloopers. And I absolutely HATE those blurry captchas!

        Reply
  10. Rachel says

    March 26, 2013 at 7:16 am

    I agree with all of this. The captcha is SO annoying- that's my #1 blogging pet peeve!
    My recent post Statement Blazers

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:21 pm

      Yup same here!

      Reply
  11. leslie beslie says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:27 am

    My advice for beginner's is to 1) Have something to say 2) Have a personality (and don't be afraid to show it) 3) Find your niche.

    My first blog ran from 2000-2005; I shared with my boyfriend at the time. It was very much a personal blog about random stuff and nothing in particular but our niche was two personalities providing opinions on the same thing. Blogging was a much smaller community then and not taken seriously. I used Blogger (when it was it's own entity) but LiveJournal was still "the thing" to use. Social Media didn't exist (not even MySpace). We had a decent amount of readers considering and I made two really good friends out of it. Even when our posts were mere ramblings, we both kept our individual personalities which (hopefully) made for more interesting reads.

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:23 pm

      These are all great tips Leslie. Finding your niche is something to definitely think about. I'm glad I can just write about whatever and don't feel the need to be stuck in one niche.

      Reply
  12. @SavvyFinLatina says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:38 am

    Only one tip to add: switch to self host from the beginning. It's super easy. Oh, and I love reading personal stories. I hate reading impersonal blog posts.
    My recent post I’m Tired of Apartment Living

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:24 pm

      Yes do switch to self hosting!

      Reply
    • Jaimie McCallum says

      May 3, 2016 at 1:14 am

      OK I’m confused, what’s the difference between self hosting and using Bluehost?

      Reply
      • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

        May 3, 2016 at 10:09 am

        They are the same thing.

        Reply
  13. Chloe Moon says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:53 am

    These are such great tips!! I've also noticed commenting real responses to other people's blog posts are a great way for other people to see your a dedicated blogger, instead of those comments like "Love it!".
    My recent post The Liebster Award…The Ultimate "About Me" Post

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:24 pm

      Yes I agree Chloe 🙂

      Reply
  14. @girlmeetsdebt says

    March 26, 2013 at 9:02 am

    Great basic tips Michelle! I couldn't agree more with Have Fun with it. Blogging takes up so much of my free time that it wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't fun!

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      You are right! It takes up a lot of time, so I'm glad I try to only have fun with it.

      Reply
  15. Mr. Bonner says

    March 26, 2013 at 9:48 am

    This post couldn't be more timely for me. I just got started a couple weeks ago and will be putting some of these into practice tonight. Thanks for the great info and I can't wait for Part 2!
    My recent post Bonner family income taxes

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      Hopefully Part 2 doesn't take too long to crank out 🙂

      Reply
  16. Alan@escapingmydebt says

    March 26, 2013 at 10:03 am

    These are some good tips. I am new so I appreciate the advice. I think I have been following all of these to this point.
    My recent post Payday Loans, Avoid the Downward Spiral

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      Welcome Alan.

      Reply
  17. Debt RoundUp says

    March 26, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Ah, the twitter handle once irritates me to no end. It is super easy to link it and add it to the post button. I hate having to look for it. You should also look into using an URL shortener like bit.ly so you can track which links are getting clicked. That is usually also easy to setup in most wordpress plugins.
    My recent post When You Can’t Pay Them All – Deciding Which Bills to Pay First

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      I know it does bother me also. I will have to look into the URL shortener, thanks!

      Reply
  18. therandompath says

    March 26, 2013 at 10:26 am

    Great tips Michelle! And yes, captcha is soooooo annoying! I never get it right the first time 🙂 And yes, responding to comments is important!
    My recent post 3 Month Check-In: 2013 Goals

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Glad you agree 🙂

      Reply
  19. Nick @ AYoungPro.com says

    March 26, 2013 at 11:14 am

    Thank you Michelle for the great tips. As a new blogger I find them extremely helpful. I know there are several things on this list that I can do to improve my blog. Improving my About page has definitely been on my list of things to do! Keep 'em coming! 🙂

    Reply
    • MakingSenseofCents says

      March 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks Nick!

      Reply
  20. Jon says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Great post! Just before I read this, I figured out that all my social media buttons on my blog weren't working. How embarrassing! Guess that explains why there have been lots of clicks on those buttons but nobody following or liking. Thanks for all the great tips!
    My recent post Why I Quit Being A “Professional” Photographer

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 26, 2013 at 5:43 pm

      That's good that you fixed it Jon 🙂
      My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

      Reply
  21. MakingSenseofCents says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    I know exactly what you mean! I usually just pass up the posts in my RSS that do that.

    Reply
  22. MakingSenseofCents says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    Haha glad you changed your "via!"

    Reply
  23. MakingSenseofCents says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Yup that is something I hate also!

    Reply
  24. MakingSenseofCents says

    March 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Agreed 🙂

    Reply
  25. Karyn S says

    March 26, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Know what you want to blog about, too. If it’s various topics, then it’s more of a Twitter thing in my opinion.

    Reply
  26. Shaun Hoobler says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    This is perfect for me actually, because I'm just started out as a blogger and I'm after all the useful tips that I can get. Much appreciated!
    My recent post homestagingsuccess.com

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 26, 2013 at 5:44 pm

      Welcome!
      My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

      Reply
  27. funancials says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    I've really enjoyed the introduction to blogging posts. Inspiring others to begin blogging is one of the best things you can do (imo).
    My recent post What’s The Best Cash Rewards Credit Card Right Now?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 26, 2013 at 10:34 pm

      Thanks!
      My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

      Reply
  28. Brittany says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    Thanks for the tips! I just started my blog about a week ago – need to find a bit more time to work on some of these things..but I definitely be bookmarking this page for next week when I am finally done uni!
    My recent post Happiness

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 26, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      Good luck with your blog! Hope it goes great 🙂
      My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

      Reply
  29. andiperullo says

    March 26, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    Great tips!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 26, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      Thanks!
      My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

      Reply
  30. Michelle says

    March 26, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Thanks Justin! There are of course still PLENTY of things for me to learn.
    My recent post Tips For Beginner Bloggers Part 1 – The Basics

    Reply
  31. Tina says

    March 27, 2013 at 6:38 am

    This is such a great article and all the comments are so helpful to us "rookies." Everyday I try to tackle something new on site that is 2 weeks old. I have to work on a subcribers button now. Just figured out how to reply to the comments 🙂 Thanks for the help Michelle!

    Reply
  32. Jefferson @ SDR says

    March 27, 2013 at 7:32 am

    Excellent tips for a beginner, Michelle… Engaging others and being a part of the blogging community is certainly a big part of it.. There is no way that you will keep going past the first couple months without the support and encouragement of others.
    My recent post Open House; Definite Dos and Tragic Don’ts

    Reply
  33. AverageJoe says

    March 27, 2013 at 9:08 am

    Great tips. I also don't like the corporate blah blah blah blogs. I think people hear that our site is from two money pros and think we're one of those….that's why every post we try to reaffirm our humanity.

    I find that new bloggers worry too much about stats, too. Jump in and join the community! Stats will follow…..
    My recent post How Colors Affect Your Investment Decisions

    Reply
  34. Sofia R. says

    March 27, 2013 at 10:30 am

    These are great tips. I can definitely apply them to my work. Thanks!!!

    Reply
  35. My Money Design says

    March 27, 2013 at 11:26 am

    What a good topic for a series! As a beginner, I'd say the best thing to do is get into a rhythm. DON'T spend every waking minute writing, commenting, replying, etc. You'll burn out. Just put an hour or so away each day and stick to that. Remember that this is all supposed to be fun!

    Reply
  36. Jake @ iHeartBudgets says

    March 27, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    Nice list. I would say making friends is huge. The internet can feel lonely when you're writing a bunch of stuff, and it feels like you're talking at a wall. When you make some friends, and they show up at your measly site (yes, all blogs start out "measly"), it's a great joy, and motivation to keep going.

    Also, don't be a jerk. 🙂
    My recent post Best Place To Put Your Tax Return Money

    Reply
  37. brickbybrickinvesting2012 says

    March 27, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    If I could punch "Captcha" in the face I would do it twice! Great tips, I wish I had stumbled upon a post like this early on in my blogging career, it would have made things MUCH easier.

    Reply
  38. @TheHeavyPurse says

    March 27, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    Great tips, Michelle. It makes me feel a lot better knowing other dislike Catpcha too. I find them so hard to read and thought it was just me. I've actually left blogs because I was unable to comment. They made it so difficult. I understand the annoyance of SPAM, but yikes! I was guilty of not having my twitter account linked to my social buttons. 🙂 Commenting is huge to me. I haven't been blogging for very long, so I very clearly remember the days of no one commenting and no visitors and how I bummed I was. Now that I'm starting to get regular visitors and comments, I want to make sure they know that I'm not only reading their comments, but I truly appreciate them taking the time to share their thoughts with me.
    My recent post 3 Money Myths Parents Need to Stop Believing

    Reply
  39. live,love, and debt free says

    March 28, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    I really like this blog post you have. I started blogging about my personal finance and progress after I read loads of books of finance and saving. I happened to search personal finance one day and found one blog and through them all these other amazing blogs from different people writing
    about their own personal debt issues and how people were commenting. I decided to create my own blog and document my highs and lows of it all. I love the comments and support via twitter each time I post.

    Reply
  40. Family Fandango says

    April 9, 2013 at 7:19 am

    I completely agree with your comment about “being yourself” on your blog. A few times I’ve caught myself censoring my words. Then I think, my friends won’t know it’s me talking if I try to sound “formal” or different! I say do it for the fun, and if the money follows that’s great — just don’t make it your primary reason for blogging.

    Reply
  41. Jaclyn says

    July 7, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Hey Michelle, I’m so confused about the advertising. I was having trouble figuring out how to use Google AdSense, so I started looking in the help section and here’s what I found – “AdSense, Yahoo, Chitika, TextLinkAds, and other third-party advertising is not allowed here at WordPress.com. If you would like to run ads on your blog, this support doc explains a few options that may work for you.” Do you know if that’s because I’m not self-hosted yet?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      July 7, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      I don’t think free WordPress allows for advertising on their blogs. Self-hosted is the way to go!

      Reply
  42. Mel @ Trailing After God says

    September 21, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    I’ve been doing this since 2011, maybe earlier when yahoo had geocities 🙂 I do okay, I get a decent amount of likes from Facebook but I’m not getting the comments. I ask questions at the end. I’ve probably read every “how to” on blogging etc that I can. I think my site is simple, it’s not cluttered. I would like to earn income on my site but that’s been hit and miss. I’d love to make good money, as we are likely moving to Haiti as missionaries and we’re going to have a lot of money to raise. It would be AWESOME if I could bring in a decent income for the orphanage we are going to. Maybe I’m a terrible writer. I just don’t know. Hard not to get down. Money isn’t the reason I started a blog but it would be a nice bonus.

    Reply
  43. Mel @ Trailing After God says

    September 21, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    My big long comment disappeared 🙁 So I apologize if you see some of this twice. I’ve been at this for years now, back when yahoo had geocities. I got serious about blogging the end of 2010. Yet, bringing any income in has been hit and miss. I’ve tried to keep the blog clean and uncluttered. I’ve probably read every “how to” on blogging out there. I do okay getting Facebook likes but the comments just don’t come. I ask questions at the end but not always comments. I would really like to bring in an income. While I didn’t start my site with that intent, it would be a nice bonus. Especially since we are looking at moving to Haiti as missionaries. If I could bring in funds to help us get there AND support the orphanage we will be going to, that would be AWESOME! But what am I doing wrong? Maybe I’m a bad writer… I just don’t know.

    Reply
  44. Steve says

    November 4, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    Thanks for the tips Michelle! Been a regular lurker around here since I started my blog months ago and I’ve been trying to get better at commenting rather than lurking 🙂

    Reply
  45. Reece Pater says

    May 25, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Michelle,

    I really enjoy reading your blog. Great information and I especially enjoy your transparency with your extra income 🙂 How did you initially build up your readers when you started your blog? I have recently started one myself that I am committing to building for the next 3 years. I would very much appreciate some critical feedback from yourself regarding content and how the blog flows. http://the-simple-life.org/
    Keep it up 🙂

    Reply
  46. debt debs says

    July 13, 2014 at 11:19 am

    I also don’t like it when people’s twitter handles don’t show up when you tweet from their page. I think a lot of people are not aware of this because they never tweet pages. I wrote a post about this in May to try to help people know how to configure this in wordpress.com or self hosted wordpress.

    Reply
  47. Rebecca Goyette says

    August 12, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    My mother and I love the idea of having our own blog, but I am confused as how to start one. What are good things to blog about? What exactly do I need to do every month to make it successful? I guess I just don’t know what all there is involved in it. Could you please email me with some useful tips on getting started?

    My mom is a sweepstakes fanatic and thinks it would be awesome to have a blog that contained just product reviews and giveaways. What would your opinion of a blog like that be? Do you think it would be a good hit?

    My email is rahkonen23@gmail.com I would appreciate your advice or anyone elses. I love reading your articles, but I’m still a little lost! But keep posting, because it really is helping those of us that need a sort of “dumby guide to blogging”!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      August 12, 2014 at 1:17 pm

      Hey Rebecca!

      Thank you for your comment. I actually have an article that will be published tomorrow that will go through each step in actually creating your blog, so I recommend that you check it out. I made it very easy with a step by step process.

      In regards to what to write about, that is all up to you. There are tons of different niches out there: personal finance, investing, mommy blogs, lifestyle, travel, DIY, home, food, and more. I think a sweepstakes blog would be great!

      Reply
  48. Joseph Hogue says

    November 15, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    Making it two years is an inspiration for someone like myself just getting started…and from what I’ve seen, makes you a senior citizen in blogging years.

    Love the personal writing style. I think its the biggest thing I need to work on. Coming from corporate finance and investing, I’ve always written for corporations and brokerage that wanted an impersonal style.

    Thanks for the advice. Interested in seeing how your traffic has grown over those two years. A steady increase or fits of big jumps?

    Reply
    • Altiveda says

      December 30, 2018 at 4:46 am

      Joseph, I’m currently in accounting and I’m having that urge to backspace everything and type We instead of I or things like sir/ma’am. It’s quite a habit.

      Reply
  49. Channing says

    January 21, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    I’ve just started blogging about a week ago and I’m really enjoying it, although I’m having trouble directing traffic to my blog, I’ve found your blog posts to be really helpful. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      January 21, 2015 at 5:00 pm

      Welcome 🙂

      Reply
      • Nancy Nasr says

        July 25, 2018 at 5:56 pm

        Hi Michelle, will you recommend to use an existed shopify business account as a blog as well? or to start a completely new blog in another platform? Thank you. Nancy.

        Reply
    • Rafael Guzman says

      August 16, 2018 at 1:27 am

      How’s your blog going? I want to make money off affiliate marketing and that’s how I found this blog. Any advice would help before I dedicate time into making a blog.

      Reply
    • Ronald says

      September 26, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Thanks for the tips. I see these as a reminder!

      Reply
  50. Meena says

    March 28, 2015 at 7:35 am

    Thank you for this article. I did what you said and just added a subscribe page. I also added a RSS feed.
    I would love to make some money with my blog.
    I am a Navy wife and have relocated to GA and currently have no job.

    I LOVE my blogging web site and am hopeful to gain an income with it.
    I am on Pinterest to show my baked goods, but it doesn’t seem that many people come to my site.
    Do you have any other tips that may be helpful?

    Thanks,
    M.

    Reply
  51. Chrissi Penney says

    June 16, 2015 at 11:28 am

    Hi!! 🙂
    I stumbled upon your spot through a million links. I’m very pleased to have found you!
    I’m LOVING your posts! I’m looking to gather up as many bits of knowledge as I can for my site. I’m hoping to monetize it…I have a long way to go 🙂
    I’ll be reading your posts all day <3
    THANK YOU! 🙂

    Reply
  52. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

    August 25, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    You can blog about whatever you want to 🙂 If you are interested in starting a blog, I recommend testing out different topics.

    Reply
  53. Elle says

    October 11, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I love your blog! I am also looking into using my blog as a side hustle. I just moved to the U.S. and I think it would be a great opportunity. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  54. Stephanie May says

    October 13, 2015 at 12:03 am

    Thank you so much for your tips. You are an inspiration! I just started my blog this past month and have a lot to learn. I am glad you are here sharing your information.

    My latest post: https://paychecktofreedomblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/taking-the-leap/

    Reply
    • Jess says

      January 8, 2017 at 3:05 pm

      Hi there, Stephanie,

      Just coming across this comment and was interested in viewing your blog, but when clicking on the link it says that it is a protected blog and you must have a WordPress account to view it. I’m curious as to how you can get new subscribers if everyone has to get an account to view it? That would discourage me from pursuing that particular blog. Is there a different way to view it?

      Reply
      • Stephanie May says

        January 8, 2017 at 5:53 pm

        Thank you for letting me know my link is not working. My blog is here: https://www.paychecktofreedom.com. I would love if you checked it out!

        Reply
        • Cindy says

          February 20, 2017 at 2:15 pm

          “This site can’t provide a secure connection

          http://www.paychecktofreedom.com uses an unsupported protocol.”

          Reply
        • Brooke says

          September 30, 2017 at 5:21 am

          I’m interested in reading your blog, but the site isn’t active now.

          Reply
  55. Haile Clark says

    January 2, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    How long after you started your blog did you start making money? Did you immediately reach out to affiliate links and things like that? What were some of the challenges you had to over come at first?

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      January 2, 2016 at 11:35 pm

      I believe it took me around 6 months to make my first $100. However, I didn’t start my blog ever thinking that I was going to make money. I started it just as a way to document my journey. I think that if I would have tried making money earlier, than it definitely would have been possible.

      Reply
  56. Karrah Bailey says

    January 3, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    Hey! Great post! Would you mind if you had the time, to take a look at my blog? It is my first shot at one and I want to see if you had any tips on how I can improve it or something I should take off all together. Thanks! My site is mommywithatwist.com 🙂

    Reply
  57. Chelsey says

    February 18, 2016 at 4:57 am

    Great post! I am extremely new to blogging (less than 2 months!) The biggest problem I’m facing is getting people interested in what I’m blogging about, which is using plants and real food as medicine… Any pointers for really getting people excited about your content?

    Reply
  58. Mina Mariel Nicoli says

    February 18, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Hello Michelle,

    I have a blog, but I barely ever use it and don’t go in for months at a time. I tend to write fiction (short stories, poetry, novels), but do not really know how to write a blog. I have not the faintest clue what to write about pertaining to the real world. My question is one of content – what kinds of things do people write about in blogs? How do I know what will be interesting to readers? How do I come up with topics? I don’t want my whole personal life online for the whole world to see, especially considering that it’s not merely MY life that would go up if I were to do so, but the lives of my household. That feels like a violation of their privacy, and I don’t want to overstep in such a manner. I am not a published author yet, although I am on the way, but because I am so inexperienced, I cannot put myself in an advice-giving role anywhere. I am a college student and am not an expert in any one thing. I feel that although I love to write, I have nothing to say that would fit into a blog. Any advice in this regard would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you in advance for anything you might have to say to me in response to this comment!

    Mina Mariel Nicoli

    Reply
  59. Jennifer says

    March 1, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    How do you actually get people to see your blog and start following you? I am really interested in starting a blog but I do not want to spend a lot of money starting a blog and not be able to even get anyone following me and get stuck wasting money.

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      March 1, 2016 at 1:07 pm

      There are many ways. I recommend scrolling to the featured question in this blog post of mine – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2016/02/january-online-income-report.html

      Reply
  60. Maria Lynn Paz says

    March 30, 2016 at 11:27 am

    Thanks so much for the tips! I’m just getting my blog started up this week! We’ve been using a wordpress.com site and I want to switch to bluehost now to get a proper domain name, etc. Do you have a post about switching platforms? How do I inform my few subscribers?

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      March 30, 2016 at 11:53 am

      You can still follow some of the steps in here and create a Bluehost account, then contact Bluehost and ask for their tutorial. It’s a fairly easy switch – http://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2014/08/how-to-start-a-wordpress-blog-on-bluehost.html

      Reply
      • Maria Lynn Paz says

        March 30, 2016 at 12:32 pm

        Thank you so much! Excited to get everything up and running! Love all your tutorials and tips! Very helpful!
        – Tiny Paz Life

        Reply
  61. Becca says

    April 21, 2016 at 11:57 am

    Hey!
    I’ve just recently started on a blog, I haven’t launched it yet because I’m a perfectionist and have trouble accepting anything if I don’t think it’s flawless. Anyways, I love reading your posts, you always make me feel so much better about actually starting a blog!

    I’ve always wanted to be a writer and never thought it could be this easy(ish). My goal is to become a full-time blogger, that’s my dream. If you have any tips on how and when to make that leap and launch my blog, I’d really appreciate it!!

    Thanks, Becca 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      April 21, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      Scroll to the Featured Question in this post – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2016/04/march-blog-income-report-72196.html 🙂

      Reply
  62. Jaimie McCallum says

    May 3, 2016 at 1:19 am

    First time blogger here, fresh first blog posted this evening…and now I’m sitting here going…”subscribe button, hmmm where do you get a subscribe button?” Who do I call? How do I do that? I signed up through email to subscribe to Making sense of cents. I followed the advice, bought the bluehost and used WP. So…help??

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      May 3, 2016 at 10:10 am

      I recommend Convertkit for your email subscription – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/convertkit

      Reply
      • bobbi says

        May 28, 2016 at 10:39 am

        So the subscribe button is how you get paid? By people subscribing to your blogs? Sorry I’m new and want to start blogging

        Reply
        • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

          May 28, 2016 at 11:31 am

          No, I don’t make any money when someone subscribes to my blog. Please let me know where you see that above in this blog post so that I can fix it.

          You can learn how to make money with a blog here – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2016/03/how-to-make-money-with-a-blog.html. I also have a free blogging course that you may want to check out – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2016/05/how-to-start-a-blog-free-email-course.html

          Reply
  63. Rosie says

    May 4, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    I work for a newspaper part-time and so I write regularly, and I have started a blog a couple of times, but then I get bogged down and stop especially if I feel like no one is reading it or I feel like I am getting too personal, or what do I do that anyone would want to read feeling. I know that is negative nelly thinking, but . . . help.

    Reply
  64. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

    July 5, 2016 at 10:12 am

    Thanks! Also, if you’re interest, my affiliate marketing online course for bloggers launches tomorrow 🙂 http://www.makingsenseofcents.com/waitlist

    Reply
  65. Trine says

    September 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    Michelle,

    I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for the many tips. I have been blogging for a few years on and off, but recently decided to start a new blog on wordpress from scratch. Being used to blogger I am figuring out my direction along with the technical side a bit slower than expected, but I am getting there. Thanks for having this resourceas a helpful guide.

    Best
    Trine

    Reply
  66. Jane says

    September 30, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    You created this post over 3 years ago, but it’s still so relevant! I just started my blog this month, and I swear I’ve been referencing your posts so frequently that whenever I open a new tab and type in “m”, Google knows where I’m trying to go. Thank you for building such an amazing resource for new bloggers everywhere! I’ve been a lurking reader up until now, but I guess it’s time for me to start poking my head around the blogosphere. Your story is a huge inspiration to me, and your posts so fun to read 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      October 1, 2016 at 12:15 am

      Aww thanks so much! 🙂

      Reply
  67. Chrissy says

    January 25, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    Hi there,

    I love reading your blog and have just started my own parenting blog. I’m stumped as to what theme I should use for my WordPress blog. I don’t have much money to spend but I feel that the free WordPress themes won’t make my blog look professional enough. I’m also not very tech savvy. I know I’m asking a lot. I’m very serious about making my blog at least my part-time job. Thank you for your time!

    Reply
  68. Ebony Diaz says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Hi Michelle,

    I already have a website, do I have to start a new one to create a blog that will make money? I used Wix to set it and paid for five years. I am truly inspired by your articles, I found you through Heather and Alyssa. I bought a used RV for my birthday and I am having it renovated so I can get on the road!

    Reply
  69. Devyn says

    November 8, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    I finally took the leap into blogging and I’m really happy about the direction everything is going. It called Go Mode Club (www.gomodeclub.com) and its for Collegiate Entrepreneurs who want to take action. You’ve been super helpful already and hopefully we can chat sometime about blogging.

    Reply
  70. Karen says

    November 16, 2017 at 1:01 pm

    I just heard your episode on Side Hustle Nation, and I’m really inspired! I’ve been throwing an idea around for a blog for sometime, and I’m really going to do it this time (link coming later, once domain name is purchased). Anyway, I really like this post because I appreciate practical tips on how to actually *write* a blog. Can you give us some more info on what WordPress plugins you use? For example, in this article, you talked about comments. Do you have a preferred comment plugin? Also, what about a social media share/follow plugin. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      November 16, 2017 at 2:23 pm

      I prefer no comment plugin. Just use what WordPress gives you 🙂

      Reply
  71. Steve says

    December 4, 2017 at 10:06 pm

    When you set up a blog, does that mean that all comments that readers make authomatically get posted? What if they are inappropriate for your site?

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      December 5, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Nope, you can switch the setting to approving them as well.

      Reply
  72. Becca says

    December 12, 2017 at 11:54 am

    Hello!!

    I am thinking about starting a blog alongside my fiance and I was wondering if you need to have social media accounts that are for the blog or link it to one or both of our social media accounts? I don’t think I have time to create and keep up with a social media account with our lives at this point but my personal account doesn’t necessarily go with the theme of our blog.

    Also, For when people subscribe to your blog what email is sent to them/how do you set this up? I am confused on how to handle subscribers.

    Thanks for your help!!!!

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      December 12, 2017 at 8:31 pm

      I would recommend having social media accounts. It doesn’t have to be difficult, though – you can automate a lot until you have the time.

      I handle my email subscribers through Convertkit.

      Reply
  73. Ram says

    December 14, 2017 at 1:24 am

    This post is a good direction for me. I am a web developer and I prefer sticking to coding but knowing how to work all the back end computer stuff makes it easier for me. Its just hard for me to commit to blogging. So when I saw that it’s okay to make mistakes in blogs then thats when I realized I should just go for it since my personality is pretty insane.
    So I will be blogging about real estate (Im a project manager for real estate websites) and stock investing (since I check the stocks every single day). Thanks for the motivation!

    Reply
  74. Mommy Jhy | www.myfavoritelists.com says

    February 25, 2018 at 12:29 am

    I am a new blogger and I struggle with blogging consistently. Any ideas, please?

    Reply
  75. Rafael Guzman says

    August 16, 2018 at 1:29 am

    How’s it coming along now? Did you stop blogging?

    Reply
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My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.

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