How Beginner Bloggers Actually Start Making Money
If you’re a beginner blogger wondering when – or if – you’ll ever start making money, you’re not alone. Whether you’ve been blogging for a few weeks or a few years, turning your blog into a source of income might feel like something only the bloggers with a big following get to do.
But the truth is you don’t need thousands of pageviews or a huge amount of content to start earning money. In this episode of the Ultimate Blog Podcast, we’re kicking off a three-part series all about making your first $100 blogging – and we’re busting the myth that you have to “wait” to be profitable.
Beginning Blogger Mindset Shift: Blogging Is a Business from Day One
One of the biggest mindset shifts beginning bloggers need to make is thinking of your blog as a business, not just a hobby. From day one, your blog can be a place that shares value and earns income. If you opened a store, you wouldn’t let customers take things for free just because you’re new. The same logic applies to your blog. You’re building something valuable, and you deserve to be paid for it.
So don’t wait for a certain number of followers or a magic traffic number to “arrive.” Start thinking like a business owner now.
Small Wins Matter
When you’re just starting out, your first blogging paycheck might be tiny – like 32 cents from an Amazon affiliate sale. And that’s okay! That small win proves something important: it’s possible. That one sale shows that someone out there is willing to spend money based on your content.
It’s not about quitting your day job on day one – it’s about proving to yourself that earning income is possible and starting to build that momentum.
How Beginner Bloggers Can Actually Start Making Money
So how do beginner bloggers actually make money? Here are several creative, low-barrier ideas you can implement even if you don’t have a large audience:
- Sell a digital product: Create a simple download (like a checklist or template) and sell it for $10. Sell 10 of them and you’ve got your first $100.
- Offer a service: Are you good at creating Pinterest pins, updating plugins, or writing blog posts? Offer one-off services to other bloggers.
- Host a live workshop: Teach something you’re passionate about on Zoom. Charge $15 per person and invite five people – you’ve made $75!
- Affiliate marketing: Start sharing affiliate links (Amazon is an easy place to start). Even small commissions add up over time.
The point isn’t to create a massive income stream overnight. It’s to take action. Pick one thing, try it, and use what you learn to keep growing.
Don’t Overthink It – Just Start
It’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking every offer or waiting until everything’s perfect. But the only way to build confidence and gain clarity is to do. Whether something you create sells well or falls flat, you’ll walk away with valuable insights about your audience and about yourself as a creator.
And if you do have a small audience, use it as a strength. Ask them for feedback, follow up after they purchase something, and use that data to refine your offers.
Need Help Getting Started?
To help you take action, we’ve created a $5 guide that walks you through five beginner-friendly ways to make money blogging – no massive audience required. It also includes worksheets to help you brainstorm, plan, and implement your ideas quickly.
Grab the guide at: theultimateblogpodcast.com/100
In this episode, we covered:
- Why you should think of your blog as a business from day one
- Why even small income streams matter
- Creative, low-barrier ways to start making money from your blog (even with a small audience)
- A resource we created to help you start making money
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Your First $100: 5 Beginner-Friendly Ways to Monetize Your Blog
- Check out last week’s episode on what bloggers need to know about Pinterest today with Tony Hill!
We hope you loved this episode on how beginning bloggers actually start making money! Please leave us a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode!
