Ever wonder what it would be like to have a work from home job? Working from home has transformed my life, and blogging has been at the heart of that journey. When I first explored ways to make money online, I tried various methods.
Some involved selling products, others focused on freelancing, and there were even ventures into affiliate marketing through different channels other than blogging.
Each approach had its pros and cons, but none felt quite right until I discovered blogging. Starting a blog allowed me to share my enthusiasm for personal finance and knowledge.
I can't tell you how awesome it is that I can voice my ideas and thoughts to my readers and try my best to help boost their personal finances. I am truly grateful and no part of me takes it for granted one bit!
Every morning, I wake up energetic and ready to jump right onto my laptop to get to work. I have never felt that way in any career or job other than blogging.
So I decided to share a little bit about my own personal story with everyone today on how this all came about. I hope it can help you in some way too!
What I did Before I Became A Blogger
A lot of successful bloggers share their blogging stories, but I wanted to start with a little twist this time and tell you about what I did prior to blogging.
Before blogging, I was a professional mover manager, and yes, that is moving furniture! During this time, I was also attending college online in pursuit of my Bachelor's degree in marketing.
By the age of just 20 years old, I was already a manager at the moving company I worked at. It was not that long after when I had a severe ankle injury at work that had taken me out of commission unable to work and make the income I was previous to the injury.
I eventually created a pitch to my bosses about becoming their full-time marketer while I was in recovery, which took me a full year because I needed surgery!
Anyways, this is how it all began in terms of my blogging career. During my time as a marketer, I learned so much from actually experiencing that career firsthand rather than just simply learning about it.
Things started to pick up shortly after.
My Transition To Blogging
Well, after some time as a mover turned marketer to unforeseen circumstances that took place, my mindset really shifted. I started to think that I could have been doing this job all along. The skills were already in me, all I needed was some expirience.
I started to ask myself what else I could be capable of if I put my mind to it. Then, I began researching other ways I could make money online because I became addicted to the concept of working from home on my laptop, as I absolutely loved it!
I started reading all these articles about how people make a living online, and it triggered a thought in me. I asked myself who are the people who write these articles and are providing me with all this knowledge? Do they get paid to do this? Whats their story?
I finally began to read their about pages, I went through their articles, and found that these were all bloggers and that they actually make an income helping people like me! This is where a lightbulb flickered on in my head.
I just thought blogging was the coolest concept I had heard and something I knew I was going to pursue. After endless online research, videos, blog articles, about pages, etc. I finally found a pathway into blogging.
I started this blog and decided I would create it to help others with their personal finance the same way I once needed others to help me with mine. While I was working full time as a marketer, any spare time I had would go right to blogging.
Most people would find it tiring, but I found it exciting, and it energized me when thinking of the potential my blog could have.
My Side Hustle Blog Becomes Full-Time
Well, after I got a taste for blogging, I knew I would never want to do anything else career-wise so I took a chance on myself to pursue it full time and see where it can go. To be honest with you, I was not even afraid to do this because I loved it so much.
I endlessly dedicated my time and attention to my blog, oftentimes spending 10-12 hours a day on it. The time went by fast because I was having so much fun with it (weird how that works, huh? haha).
It was not long until I started to make REAL MONEY with my blog through display ads, affiliate marketing, and my online courses. Even today, it is surreal to me that I am able to make an income from blogging!
Even more so that I can make an income doing something I actually enjoy and have fun with. It truly motivates me to want to guide others to reach this feeling and experience it for themselves.
And I don't just mean through blogging, because I know that is not for everyone. What I mean is the thought of working from home and being your own boss or even starting your very own thing. It is life-changing, and it feels so awesomely rewarding!
How You Can work from home As A Blogger
As I mentioned earlier, I understand blogging is not for everyone. But for those of you who might want to try your hand at it or even just to see if you might like it, I will walk you through the same steps I did if you would like to give it a go
Here is how I first started blogging:
1. Choosing a Profitable Niche To Work from Home
The best blogs often begin with a passion. Start by identifying topics you enjoy discussing. This will make writing easier and more enjoyable, especially from home, where self-motivation is key.
Think about areas where you can provide unique insights or expertise. Your niche could be anything from financial tips for remote workers to lifestyle blogs focused on maintaining a work-life balance.
By combining your interests with market demand, you’ll attract a loyal audience who values your perspective.
After choosing a general topic, use online tools to understand the market better. Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and other platforms can reveal what people are actively searching for and discussing within your niche.
Competitor analysis is another essential step; see what similar bloggers are writing about and what gaps you might fill.
Research is done from home, allowing you to assess the profitability of your blog niche before writing your first post.
As I refined my niche, I found specific topics not only made my blog unique but also attracted more dedicated readership.
For example, instead of broad topics like “working from home,” I focused on specifics for different types of work-from-home professions.
A targeted niche helps establish credibility, foster trust with your audience, and build a community of readers.
Suggested reading: How to Start A Blog & Make Money From It As A Beginner
2. Setting Up Your Blog
WordPress is a popular choice for home-based bloggers because of its flexibility and range of plugins. There is no limits to the flexibily when compared to other website bulding sites. With WordPress, you also own your content, which is huge!
It allows you to customize and monetize your blog easily, even if you’re working with limited technical skills. Consider your options based on how much time and effort you want to put into the setup.
WordPress is often the most versatile, but may take some getting used to. Your blog’s hosting provider will affect its speed, security, and uptime, all of which are critical for a smooth user experience.
A reliable hosting service ensures that your blog loads quickly and doesn’t crash during high-traffic periods. This help you build credibility and retain readers.
There are plenty of different hosting providers out there, but I recommend using Bluehost for hosting because of its excellent support, uptime, and affordability—only $1.99 a month! It is especially ideal for bloggers just starting out and offer everything you need.
Bluehost also integrates well with WordPress, making it easier to build and maintain your blog from home.
Your blog's design is the first thing visitors see, so it needs to look professional. When I began, I spent time exploring different themes to find one that matched my vision for my blog’s style.
Working from home gives you the freedom to tweak and experiment with your design until it feels right.
Make sure your layout is simple, with clear navigation and mobile compatibility. Most importantly, keep readers engaged and encourage them to explore content.
Suggested reading: My First Blog: Get Started & Setup For Success
3. Creating Valuable Content from Your Home Office
Over time, I learned that the most engaging posts are those that address my readers' challenges directly. Think about the common struggles people in your niche might face.
For example, my audience found value in productivity tips for remote work and strategies for balancing work and home life. When you write content that helps others, they’re more likely to return, and trust your insight.
To reach a wider audience, I invested time in learning SEO basics. Things like keyword optimization, internal linking, and structuring content for readability.
I used tools like Yoast SEO to guide me in optimizing each post, making my blog more discoverable. This work is done from home, and it helps you reach people who are actively searching for topics you cover.
One thing I do want to make clear, though, is that your content needs to focus on the readers FIRST before focusing on SEO!
I see too many instances today of bloggers who will create their content for search engines as opposed to actually creating value for their readers.
Not only will your readers find your content less engaging, but even search engines have found out how to identify bloggers intentions. S, long story short, make your content for your readers and to help others.
After all, that is what it should be about to begin with! Effective SEO increases your chances of ranking well on search engines, which in turn drives organic traffic to your site. But, like I said, make sure the readers come first!
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that consistency is crucial. Working from home can sometimes blur the line between work and personal time. Creating a posting schedule was essential for me to stay organized.
I aimed to publish at least once a week. This helped build a loyal readership and showed search engines that my site was regularly updated. Consistency reinforces your presence and shows readers that they can rely on you for new, valuable content.
Suggested reading: 5 Common Blogging Mistakes To Avoid at All Costs
4. Building and Engaging Your Audience from Home
Social media has been a valuable tool in growing my blog’s audience. Platforms like Pinterest and Facebook allow me to reach people who might not find my blog otherwise.
Tailor your approach to each platform; for example, I found Pinterest particularly useful for driving traffic through visually engaging posts.
Consistent social media engagement not only drives traffic but also connects with readers directly, fostering community around your content.
An email list became one of my most effective tools for keeping readers engaged. I offered free resources like work-from-home guides, which encouraged readers to sign up.
Using platforms like ConvertKit, I could send targeted content that resonated with my subscribers. Email lists have become a reliable way to share updates and bring readers back to my blog.
I also find networking with other bloggers is an awesome way to build connections and learn from them. It is shocking to me that when I email high-profile bloggers, they are oftentimes quick to reply.
It just goes to show how much the top bloggers truly care about each one of their loyal readers and those looking to learn from them. Most of the time, they will reply with a very helpful response. This is something I have been doing for years now, even today.
I joined blogging communities online, connecting with others who shared similar goals. These relationships have been instrumental in my blog’s growth and have provided me with support and insights.
If you want to know my personal strategy for growing my blog traffic and how I began reaching my audience through social media, I highly suggest taking my Pinterest Course!
5. Monetizing Your Blog from Home
One of the first monetization methods I tried was affiliate marketing, and it turned out to be highly effective. Choosing relevant affiliate products that provide value to your readers maintains their trust and enhances your blog’s profitability.
Affiliate marketing has become one of my main income sources, and it’s an excellent option for bloggers working from home. Once I gained more expertise in my niche, I began offering digital products like e-books and guides.
Creating resources that addressed my audience’s needs allowed me to earn directly from my blog. Platforms like Impact and Awin can make it easy to sell these products, adding another income stream.
Suggested reading: Is It Possible to get a Work From Home Job With No Experience?
Last Thoughts On Working from Home
Starting my blog was one of the best decisions I made for my work-from-home career. Blogging offers both creative satisfaction and the potential for a reliable income stream.
With a focused niche, consistent posting, and dedication to your audience, you can turn your blog into a sustainable business. Remember, blogging success doesn’t happen overnight—it requires patience, consistent effort, and a genuine desire to provide value.
By following these steps and learning from my experience, you can pursue your dream work from home job.
