The Surprisingly Simple (and Slightly Funny) Way to Start a Blog and Actually Make Money
So, you’ve been toying with the idea of starting a blog dreaming of sipping coffee while your words (and ads) earn you passive income. But every time you try, you end up down a YouTube rabbit hole titled “Do I need to code to blog?” or “How I made $10,000 in my first week blogging!” (Spoiler: they didn’t.)
I’ve been there. My first blog was a glorious disaster wrong theme, zero readers, and a title so bad even Google ignored it. But here’s the truth: starting a blog today is easier than ever, especially with free platforms like Blogger.com. You don’t need to be a tech wizard or a novelist. You just need a plan and a sense of humor.
This guide will walk you step-by-step through how to start, grow, and monetize a blog using Blogger, AdSense, and Adsterra, with some real-world tips that actually work.
🧭 Step 1: Find Your Blog’s Focus (Because “Everything” Is Not a Niche)
Before you start typing away, you need to know what you’ll be blogging about.
Here’s the golden rule:
If you wouldn’t talk about it for free, you probably won’t blog about it consistently.
Ask yourself:
What do people already ask me for advice on?
What topics do I enjoy enough to research for hours (without losing my sanity)?
What problems can I help solve?
Example niches that work:
Food & Recipes: Grandma’s pasta secrets meet TikTok food hacks.
Tech & AI Tools: Honest reviews without sounding like a robot.
Finance for Beginners: Money talk that’s finally in English.
💡 Pro Tip: Use ChatGPT or Google Trends to generate niche ideas and validate demand. For instance, typing “best blog ideas 2025” in ChatGPT gives you hundreds of trending topics within minutes.
🧱 Step 2: Set Up Your Blogger Account
1. Go to Blogger.com and click “Create Your Blog.”
2. Log in using your Google account (or create one).
3. Pick a catchy title and blog URL. (e.g., “The Lazy Cook Diaries” → lazycookdiaries.blogspot.com).
4. Hit “Finish.” Boom — you’re officially a blogger!
Inside your dashboard, you’ll find:
Posts: Where your articles live.
Stats: Your traffic report card.
Earnings: Monetization tools.
Pages, Layout, Theme: Where you design your blog.
🧩 Step 3: Create Trust-Building Pages
If your blog were a business, these are your business cards.
To look professional (and get approved by AdSense), create these pages:
About Me: Tell your story — people follow humans, not faceless websites.
Contact: A simple email form or address works.
Privacy Policy: Required by law if you collect data (use a free generator).
Terms & Conditions / Disclaimer: Crucial for blogs giving health, finance, or tech advice.
Case Study #1:
Jane, a travel blogger from the UK, got her AdSense approval within a week because she added a transparent About page and Privacy Policy. Before that? Two rejections. Transparency wins.
🎨 Step 4: Pick a Theme That Doesn’t Burn Eyes
In Blogger, go to Theme > Customize.
Choose something clean, mobile-friendly, and fast-loading.
Why it matters:
A cluttered site scares readers (and advertisers).
Google ranks user-friendly designs higher.
Want more control? Upload a free Blogger template from sites like Gooyaabitemplates or SoraTemplates.
Theme Type Best For Pros Cons
Minimal Lifestyle, Personal Blogs Fast, elegant, easy to read Fewer design options
Magazine News, Tech, Multi-Topic Professional layout Can feel busy
Grid Photography, Portfolio Visual storytelling Slower load on mobile
⚙️ Step 5: Optimize Your Settings Like a Pro
Inside your Blogger dashboard → Settings, do this:
Add an SEO-friendly title and description (e.g., “Simple Way to Start a Blog That Makes Money”).
Enable HTTPS (safety first).
Set your blog to visible in search results.
Connect to Google Search Console your gateway to organic traffic.
💡 Pro Tip: Add meta descriptions for every post. Think of them as mini ads for your article.
✍️ Step 6: Publish Killer Blog Posts
Now, the fun part writing.
Your posts should:
Have clear, catchy titles (e.g., “7 Mistakes New Bloggers Make on Day One”).
Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and images.
Sound like you’re talking to a friend, not writing an essay.
Case Study #2:
A Nigerian food blogger increased her AdSense CTR by 30% just by rewriting posts in a friendlier, story-based tone. Engagement = earnings.
💰 Step 7: Monetize AdSense vs Adsterra
Once your blog looks legit and has at least 15 quality posts, it’s monetization time.
🧾 Option 1: Google AdSense
The gold standard for beginners.
Steps:
1. Go to Earnings > Sign Up for AdSense.
2. Fill out your details and wait for review.
3. Once approved, add auto-ads or manual ads via Blogger’s layout tools.
Why AdSense Rejects You:
Thin content (<1,000 words posts).
No About or Privacy Policy pages.
Plagiarized or AI-generated content with zero edits.
💸 Option 2: Adsterra
A flexible alternative to AdSense with more ad types (pop-unders, native, banner).
Steps:
1. Register on Adsterra.com.
2. Add your blog and verify ownership (paste the meta tag in your HTML <head>).
3. Choose ad formats and placements.
4. Watch the revenue roll in (slowly at first, then steadily).
Payment Comparison Table:
Platform Min. Payout Payment Methods Best For
AdSense $100 Bank Transfer, Western Union Long-term passive income
Adsterra $5–$100 PayPal, WebMoney, Paxum Global bloggers & small sites
🚀 Step 8: Grow and Track Performance
Don’t just post and pray. Track your analytics using Blogger Stats, Google Analytics, or Adsterra’s dashboard.
Experiment with ad placements, keywords, and content types.
Case Study #3:
A tech blogger tested sidebar vs in-content ads — in-content ads boosted revenue by 42%. Sometimes, placement beats quantity.
🧠 Common Rookie Mistakes to Avoid
Copy-pasting content (Google will ghost you).
Ignoring mobile design.
Skipping basic SEO (titles, meta, links).
Publishing once, then disappearing for months.
Remember: consistency trumps perfection. A simple, active blog beats a beautiful, abandoned one.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Starting a blog isn’t about luck or viral hacks — it’s about showing up, learning, and tweaking as you go. Platforms like Blogger, AdSense, and Adsterra give you everything you need to turn passion into profit — no fancy tech degree required.
If you’ve been waiting for a “perfect time” to start, this is it. Your first post doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to be published.
💬 Your Turn!
Have you started your first blog yet?
Comment below with your niche idea or biggest challenge or better yet.
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