This is an updated guide based on Episode 007 of the Late Night Internet Marketing podcast, where I first introduced the concept of making money through blogging. The fundamentals I covered back in 2009 remain surprisingly relevant, though the tools and tactics have evolved significantly.

Why Blogging Still Works

Blogging equalizes the playing field. You do not need a media agent, a publishing deal, or a trust fund to build an audience. If you consistently create content that helps people, you can build a platform that generates real income. That was true in 2009, and it is even more true in 2026.

The basic formula has never changed: create valuable content, attract an audience, and monetize that audience through methods that serve their needs. What has changed is that the tools for doing all three have become dramatically more accessible.

Choosing Your Topic

You need to write about something that meets two criteria. First, it has to be something you genuinely care about. I have tried blogging about topics that bored me, and I can tell you from experience that it does not work. You will quit before you gain traction.

Second, enough other people have to care about it too. Your topic does not need to appeal to millions, but it does need an audience that is actively searching for information and willing to spend money on solutions. The sweet spot is a topic you are passionate about that also has commercial viability.

Setting Up Your Blog

WordPress remains the dominant blogging platform, and I still recommend the self-hosted version at WordPress.org. Install it on your own domain with a reliable hosting provider. This gives you complete control over your content, your design, and your monetization options.

Choose a domain name that people can remember. If you are building a personal brand blog, something memorable and brandable is more valuable than a keyword-stuffed domain. Your domain name matters far less for SEO than it used to, but it matters enormously for word-of-mouth and direct traffic.

The Content Schedule

Consistency matters more than frequency. Publishing one quality post per week on the same day is better than publishing five posts one week and nothing for the next month. Your readers and the search engines both reward predictability.

Create a content calendar and stick to it. Batch your writing when you can. And remember that your first posts will not be your best work. That is fine. Write, publish, improve, repeat.

Monetization Strategies

Direct monetization:

• Display advertising through networks like Mediavine or Raptive (formerly AdThrive) once you have sufficient traffic
• Sponsored content from brands in your niche
• Premium content or memberships for your most engaged readers
• Digital products like courses, ebooks, and templates

Indirect monetization:

• Affiliate marketing, where you earn commissions recommending products you use and trust
• Using your blog to drive clients to your consulting or service business
• Building authority that leads to speaking engagements, book deals, or partnerships

I believe the most powerful use of a blog is as the foundation of a broader business. Your blog attracts prospects, builds trust, and creates the relationships that ultimately drive revenue across all your income streams.

FTC Disclosure Requirements

If you recommend products and earn commissions, you are required to disclose that relationship. This is not optional. The FTC first issued guidance on endorsements and testimonials back in 2009, and the rules have only gotten stricter since then.

Every post that contains affiliate links needs a clear disclosure statement. Every testimonial needs to reflect realistic expectations. Transparency is not just legally required, it is good business. Readers who trust you buy more over time than readers who feel deceived.

Getting Started Today

Do not overthink this. Pick your topic, register a domain, set up WordPress hosting, and publish your first post. Then publish another one next week. And another one the week after that. The bloggers who succeed are not the ones who planned the most. They are the ones who started and kept going.

Building a blog is one of the lowest-cost, highest-potential ways to start an online business. You can literally be up and running this afternoon. The question is not whether blogging works. The question is whether you will do the work.