Start a Blog or Niche Site from Scratch

Step-by-step guidance for beginners who want to build something real (without a tech degree or marketing degree). 🧭

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So… You’re Thinking About Starting a Blog?

You’re not alone—and you’re not late.
Blogging isn’t dead. In fact, niche blogs and content sites are one of the most beginner-friendly, low-cost ways to start earning money online.
No big audience. No fancy camera. No influencer dream needed.

Just a topic you care about, a little consistency, and a plan that doesn’t leave you yelling at your screen.

Let me show you how to get started—the same way I did.

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Wait—What’s a Niche Site?

A niche site is just a blog focused on a specific topic or audience.
Not a personal journal. Not a get-rich-quick scheme. Just a helpful little corner of the internet that answers questions, solves problems, or shares useful info with people who need it.

Examples:

• Budget travel for solo moms
• Meal planning for picky kids
• Productivity tips for neurodivergent adults
• Dog training for apartment dwellers

If someone’s Googling it, you can build a blog around it.

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How Blogs Make Money

You won’t make money by just “posting thoughts.” But if you focus on being helpful and targeted, here’s how income shows up:

• Affiliate Marketing – You recommend products, tools, or services and earn a commission when someone buys.
• Display Ads – Once your traffic grows, you can earn passively from ad networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine.
• Digital Products – Sell ebooks, printables, or templates.
• Services – Freelance writing, consulting, or coaching—if that’s your vibe.

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🛠 How to Start a Blog from Scratch in 5 Simple Steps

Step 1: Pick Your Niche

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be a few steps ahead of someone else. Ask yourself:

• What do people ask me for help with?
• What do I Google a lot?
• What could I write 10 posts about without screaming?

Go for something specific, not “everything lifestyle.”

💡 Sidegig Scout started as a way to help others avoid the same scammy traps I fell into. That’s a niche.

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Step 2: Choose a Blog Name

Don’t overthink it. Pick something short, easy to spell, and available as a .com if you can.

It can be:

• Descriptive (e.g., SidegigScout.com)
• Personal (e.g., WithKris.com)
• Creative (e.g., BudgetNomads.com)

Use a free tool like Namecheckr to see if your name is available across platforms.

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Step 3: Get Hosting + Set Up WordPress

Now it’s time to go from “idea” to “actual website.”

You’ll need:

• A domain name (your blog’s web address)
• A hosting provider (where your blog lives)
• A platform to build your blog (I recommend WordPress—it’s free and beginner-friendly)

🧠 Sound overwhelming? It was for me too—until I found a shortcut.

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🔁 My Shortcut: Wealthy Affiliate

This is where I personally got started, and it’s what I recommend if you want someone to literally walk you through each step with videos.

Wealthy Affiliate teaches you:

• How to choose a niche that actually earns
• How to set up your blog with zero tech stress
• How to write content that attracts the right readers
• How to monetize with affiliate links the right way

You’ll get:

• Step-by-step training
• Your domain + hosting included
• Real support from an active community
• No upsells required to start

🎯 Click here to read my Wealthy Affiliate review

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Step 4: Pick a Clean, Simple Theme

When you first log into WordPress, you’ll choose a theme (design template). Don’t stress—pick something minimal to start. You can always change it later.

Look for:

• Mobile-friendly
• Fast loading
• Easy-to-read fonts

I like GeneratePress, Astra, or the Kadence free theme for beginners.

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Step 5: Write 3–5 Helpful Posts

Start by answering the basic questions your readers are asking. You don’t need to be a “writer”—you just need to be helpful.

Good starter posts:

• “How to [solve problem] for beginners”
• “Top 5 tools for [your niche]”
• “What I wish I knew before [experience]”

✍️ The internet doesn’t need more opinions. It needs more answers.

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⏳ How Long Does It Take to Make Money?

Honestly? It depends. But here’s the real talk:

• Month 1–3: Learning, writing, building
• Month 3–6: Starting to see traffic
• Month 6–12: Monetization becomes possible
• After 12 months: Your site starts to feel like a real business

You’re planting seeds. The more consistent you are, the more your blog can grow into a passive income asset that keeps giving.

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🔧 Tools I Use & Recommend

Here’s what I personally use (or used when I started):

Need	Tool	Notes
Training + Hosting	Wealthy Affiliate	All-in-one starter kit with video lessons
Graphics	Canva	Free for most uses—perfect for blog images
Writing & Editing	Google Docs	Keep it simple
AI Assistant	ChatGPT (that’s me!)	For outlining, idea generation, and editing help

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🧭 Ready to Start Your Blog?

Here’s what to do next:

1. ✅ Sign up for Wealthy Affiliate (free starter account)
2. ✅ Follow the beginner training to launch your site
3. ✅ Write your first post this week—you’ve got this!

And remember: You don’t have to figure this all out alone. I’ll be here (and so will Scout) to walk with you every step of the way.

—Kris
& Scout 🧠