How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 2026

High-revenue niches in 2026

How to validate your niche

1. Check search volume. Use Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account) or Ubersuggest's free tier to verify that people actually search for topics in your niche. You want keywords with at least 1,000 monthly searches.
2. Check competition. Google your target keywords. If the first page is all Forbes, Healthline, and NerdWallet, the competition is extremely high. Look for keywords where smaller blogs rank on page one; those are your opportunities.
3. Check monetization. Search for "[your niche] affiliate programs" to verify that products and services exist for you to promote. Browse ShareASale, Impact, and Amazon Associates to see commission rates.
4. Check your interest. You will write hundreds of articles in this niche. Pick something you can sustain for 1-2 years minimum. Passion helps but is not required; genuine curiosity about the topic is sufficient.

Option 1: Self-hosted WordPress (Recommended)

Cost: $3-$10/month for hosting plus $10-$15/year for a domain name. Total first-year cost: $46-$135.

Why it is the best: WordPress.org (self-hosted) gives you complete control. Install any plugin, use any theme, run any ads, modify any code. It is the industry standard for professional bloggers. Hosting providers like Hostinger ($2.99/month), Bluehost ($2.95/month), and SiteGround ($3.99/month) include one-click WordPress installation, free SSL, and a free domain for the first year.

Best for: Anyone serious about building a blog as a long-term income source.

Option 2: GitHub Pages (Free)

Cost: $0 for hosting. $10-$15/year for a custom domain (optional but recommended).

Why it works: Completely free with no ads, no restrictions, and free custom domain support. Fast loading times. Full control over your code and monetization. The tradeoff is that you need to write HTML or use a static site generator like Jekyll or Hugo. With AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude, you can generate blog post HTML from Markdown content quickly. Read our GitHub Pages guide for step-by-step setup instructions.

Best for: Technical users or anyone willing to use AI to generate HTML. Zero-budget bloggers who want full monetization freedom.

Option 3: WordPress.com Free or Blogger (Free)

Cost: $0.

Tradeoffs: WordPress.com free shows platform ads, uses a subdomain, and restricts plugins. Blogger is fully free with AdSense support and custom domains but has limited design options. Both work for testing whether blogging is right for you before investing money.

Best for: Complete beginners who want to start writing today with zero financial risk.

Essential setup checklist (first day)

1. Register your domain. Choose something short, memorable, and relevant to your niche. Avoid hyphens, numbers, and obscure TLDs. The .com extension is still the most trusted.
2. Install WordPress (or set up your chosen platform). Most hosting providers have one-click installation. The entire process takes 5-10 minutes.
3. Choose a fast, clean theme. Free options: Astra, GeneratePress, Kadence. These are lightweight, SEO-friendly, and highly customizable. Avoid themes with heavy visual effects that slow page loading.
4. Install essential plugins (WordPress only): Yoast SEO or Rank Math (SEO), WP Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache (speed), Wordfence (security), and Google Site Kit (analytics).
5. Create essential pages: About page (builds trust), Contact page (with a simple form), Privacy Policy (legally required for ads), and a Disclaimer page (required for affiliate marketing).
6. Set up Google Search Console. Verify your site ownership and submit your sitemap. This is how Google discovers and indexes your content.
7. Set up Google Analytics (via Site Kit plugin or directly). Track visitors from day one so you have data when you start monetizing.

Free keyword research process

1. Brainstorm seed keywords. List 10-20 broad topics in your niche. For a personal finance blog: "budgeting," "saving money," "investing," "credit cards," "side hustles."
2. Expand with Google suggestions. Type each seed keyword into Google and note the autocomplete suggestions. These are real searches people make. Also check the "People also ask" and "Related searches" sections.
3. Check search volume. Plug your expanded keyword list into Google Keyword Planner (free), Ubersuggest (free limited searches), or Keywords Everywhere (free credits). Prioritize keywords with 500+ monthly searches.
4. Assess competition. For each target keyword, Google it and analyze the first page results. Look for: pages from small blogs (not just major publications), thin content that you can beat, and outdated articles. These are opportunities.
5. Create a content calendar. Organize your keywords into a publishing schedule. Aim for 2-4 articles per week for the first 3 months. Each article targets one primary keyword and 2-3 related secondary keywords.

Content types that drive traffic and revenue

• "How to" guides: Step-by-step tutorials that solve specific problems. High search volume, build authority, and keep readers on site longer. Example: "How to create a budget with the 50/30/20 rule."
• "Best of" listicles: Product comparisons and recommendations. These are the money makers for affiliate marketing. Example: "Best budgeting apps in 2026."
• Product reviews: In-depth reviews of specific products or services. Highly targeted traffic with strong purchase intent. Example: "YNAB review: Is it worth the price?"
• "X vs Y" comparisons: Direct product or service comparisons. Readers searching for these are close to making a purchase decision. Example: "YNAB vs Mint: Which budgeting app is better?"
• Beginner guides: Comprehensive introductions to topics. Attract a broad audience and establish you as an authority. Example: "Investing for beginners: Complete guide."

Blog post structure that works

1. Title (H1): Include your target keyword naturally. Keep it under 60 characters so it displays fully in Google. Make it compelling enough to click on. "7 Free Budgeting Apps That Actually Work in 2026" beats "Budgeting Apps Overview."
2. Introduction (first 100 words): State what the reader will learn and why it matters. Include your target keyword in the first paragraph. Hook them with a specific promise or surprising fact.
3. Table of contents: For posts over 1,000 words, add a linked table of contents. This improves user experience and helps Google generate sitelinks in search results.
4. Subheadings (H2, H3): Break content into scannable sections. Include related keywords in subheadings naturally. Readers scan before they read, so subheadings should convey the key points even on their own.
5. Body content: Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences). Use bullet points and numbered lists for easy scanning. Include specific numbers, examples, and actionable advice. Link to your other articles (internal links) and authoritative external sources.
6. Conclusion: Summarize the key takeaway and include a call to action: subscribe to your newsletter, read a related article, or try a recommended product.

Using AI to write blog posts efficiently

AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can dramatically speed up your writing process. The most effective workflow is:

1. Research your topic using Perplexity AI to gather current facts, statistics, and sources.
2. Create a detailed outline with your target keyword, subheadings, and key points to cover.
3. Have Claude or ChatGPT write the first draft based on your outline and notes.
4. Edit the draft: add your personal experience, verify all facts and numbers, improve the introduction and conclusion, and ensure the tone matches your brand voice.
5. Run the final draft through Grammarly for grammar and readability checks.

This workflow produces a polished 1,500-2,000 word article in about 60-90 minutes, compared to 3-5 hours of writing from scratch. Read our guide to free AI writing tools for detailed tool comparisons.

On-page SEO checklist

• Target keyword in the title, first paragraph, at least one H2, and naturally throughout the content
• Meta description under 160 characters that includes the target keyword and encourages clicks
• URL slug that is short and includes the target keyword (e.g., /best-budgeting-apps-2026)
• Alt text on all images that describes the image and includes relevant keywords where natural
• Internal links to 3-5 other articles on your site using descriptive anchor text
• At least 1-2 external links to authoritative sources (studies, official pages, recognized experts)
• Content length of 1,500-3,000 words for competitive keywords (match or exceed what currently ranks)

Technical SEO basics

• Page speed: Use Google PageSpeed Insights to test your site. Aim for a score above 80 on mobile. Compress images, enable caching, and use a lightweight theme.
• Mobile responsiveness: Google uses mobile-first indexing. Test every page on a phone. All modern WordPress themes are responsive, but always verify.
• HTTPS: All modern hosting includes free SSL certificates. Your site URL should start with https, not http.
• Sitemap: Yoast SEO or Rank Math automatically generates a sitemap. Submit it to Google Search Console.
• Core Web Vitals: Monitor these in Search Console. LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) under 2.5 seconds, FID (First Input Delay) under 100ms, CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) under 0.1.

How affiliate marketing works

You recommend products or services in your blog posts. When a reader clicks your unique affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. The reader pays the same price whether they use your link or not. Your job is to write honest, helpful content that guides readers toward products that genuinely solve their problems.

Best affiliate networks to join

• Amazon Associates: 1-10% commission on virtually any product. Easy approval. Low commissions but massive product selection. Best for product review and comparison content.
• ShareASale: Thousands of merchants across every niche. Commission rates of 5-50% depending on the merchant. Good for physical and digital products.
• Impact: Home to major brand affiliate programs (Shopify, Canva, Jasper, Semrush). Higher commissions than Amazon, typically $50-$200+ per sale for SaaS products.
• Direct programs: Many companies run their own affiliate programs. Search "[product name] affiliate program" to find them. Direct programs often offer the highest commissions because there is no middleman network taking a cut.

Ad network comparison

• Google AdSense: No minimum traffic. Low RPMs ($1-$5 for most niches). Easy to set up. Good as a starting point before you qualify for premium networks.
• Mediavine: Requires 50,000 monthly sessions. RPMs of $15-$40+. Excellent ad optimization and support. The most popular premium network for mid-size blogs.
• Raptive (formerly AdThrive): Requires 100,000 monthly page views. RPMs of $20-$50+. Highest-paying major ad network. Best for established blogs with strong traffic.

Strategy: Start with AdSense from day one. Apply to Mediavine when you hit 50,000 sessions per month. The jump from AdSense to Mediavine typically triples or quadruples your ad revenue overnight.

Digital products with the best margins

• Ebooks and guides ($9-$49): Compile your best blog content into a comprehensive downloadable guide. Add exclusive content, worksheets, and templates. Use Gumroad or Lemonsqueezy for sales and delivery.
• Templates and tools ($5-$99): Budget spreadsheets, social media templates, business plan templates, design assets. These solve specific problems and sell repeatedly.
• Online courses ($49-$499): Record video lessons teaching a skill your audience wants to learn. Host on Teachable (free for 1 course), Gumroad, or your own site. Courses have the highest per-sale revenue.
• Printables ($3-$15): Planners, checklists, wall art, organizational tools. Low effort to create, sell in high volume on Etsy and your own site.

Email list setup (free)

1. Create a free Mailchimp account (free up to 500 contacts) or use Brevo (free, 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts).
2. Create a lead magnet: a free resource (PDF guide, checklist, template, cheat sheet) that visitors get in exchange for their email address. The lead magnet should solve a specific problem your audience has.
3. Add email signup forms to your blog: in the sidebar, at the end of each post, and as a pop-up that appears when a reader has scrolled 50% of the page.
4. Set up an automated welcome email sequence (3-5 emails) that delivers the lead magnet, introduces yourself, and shares your best content.
5. Send a weekly or biweekly newsletter with your latest content, exclusive tips, and relevant product recommendations (affiliate links).

Expected results: A blog converting 2-3% of visitors to email subscribers (which is typical) will build a list of 200-600 subscribers per 10,000 monthly page views. An email list of 1,000+ engaged subscribers can generate $500-$2,000+ per month from product recommendations and affiliate promotions alone.

What to expect month by month

• Months 1-3: Focus entirely on content creation. Publish 30-50 articles targeting long-tail keywords. Income: $0-$50 (early affiliate clicks). Traffic: 100-2,000 monthly page views as articles get indexed.
• Months 4-6: Articles start ranking. Traffic grows noticeably. Apply to more affiliate programs. Start AdSense. Income: $50-$500. Traffic: 2,000-10,000 monthly page views.
• Months 7-9: Older content climbs in rankings. Internal linking boosts authority across the site. Email list grows. Income: $200-$1,500. Traffic: 5,000-30,000 monthly page views.
• Months 10-12: Apply to Mediavine if you hit 50K sessions. Launch first digital product. Affiliate income becomes consistent. Income: $500-$3,000. Traffic: 15,000-50,000 monthly page views.
• Year 2: Compounding effect. Old articles continue generating traffic and income without additional work. New articles rank faster because the site has more authority. Income: $1,000-$10,000+/month for dedicated bloggers. Top performers in profitable niches can reach $10,000-$30,000+ per month.

Mistakes that kill blogs

• Writing without keyword research. Every article should target a specific keyword that people search for. Writing about topics nobody searches for wastes your time regardless of how good the content is.
• Choosing a niche that is too broad. "Lifestyle" is not a niche. "Budget travel for remote workers" is a niche. Specificity lets you build topical authority faster and face less competition.
• Giving up before month 6. Most blogs see negligible traffic in the first 3 months while Google indexes and evaluates the content. The compounding effect kicks in between months 4-8. Quitting before this is the number one reason blogs fail.
• Ignoring site speed. Slow-loading sites rank lower and lose visitors. Compress images, use a lightweight theme, enable caching, and test with PageSpeed Insights regularly.
• Not building an email list from day one. Every visitor who leaves without subscribing is a missed opportunity. Set up email capture before you publish your first post.
• Publishing thin, low-quality content. Ten thorough 2,000-word articles outperform fifty 300-word posts. Google rewards comprehensive, helpful content. Write fewer articles but make each one the best resource available for its target keyword.