Blog Archives – Katherine McLee https://katherinemclee.com/tag/blog/ How To Make Real Money Online Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:48:26 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/katherinemclee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-sdffdg.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Blog Archives – Katherine McLee https://katherinemclee.com/tag/blog/ 32 32 148049789 What Semrush Is and How Bloggers Use It for Keyword Research https://katherinemclee.com/what-semrush-is/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-semrush-is https://katherinemclee.com/what-semrush-is/#respond Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:52:45 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=16923 In this post we are going to go into what Semrush is and how bloggers use it for keyword research. If you’ve spent any time looking into blogging or SEO/keyword research, you will have no doubt come across Semrush at some point. It’s one of those tools that gets mentioned everywhere. In blog posts, YouTube videos, and by the people who seem to know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to growing traffic lol. But if you’ve never used it yourself, it can feel a bit confusing like any new tool. As in, what does it actually do? And more importantly, how are bloggers actually using it when it comes to keyword research? In this post, I’m going to break it down in a really simple way even if you’re a beginner, so you can understand what Semrush is, what it’s used for, and how it fits into blogging… without all the technical jargon. What Is Semrush? Semrush is a well-known and trusted SEO and keyword research tool that shows you what people are actually searching for on Google. This includes metrics such as how popular those searches are, and how competitive they are to rank for. But, more importantly, it’s the difference between creating content that might work… and content that actually has a chance to get seen. Before using a tool like this, it’s very easy to just write whatever feels like a good idea and hope people find it. Sometimes that works… most of the time though, it doesn’t. Semrush changes that. Instead of guessing, you can literally see exactly what people are searching for. This includes how many people are searching for that term, and how difficult it would be for your content to rank. So you’re not just putting content out and hoping for the best, you’re putting out content by making decisions based on what’s already working. I’ve got a full post on keyword research if you want to understand that side of things properly first. You can read that here. The reason for needing Semrush at its core, is really simple: It helps you stop guessing and start creating content that actually gets seen. If you want to see how this works in real time, you can try Semrush here: 👉 Semrush What Does Semrush Actually Do? Semrush has a lot of features, but for blogging and keyword research, you don’t need to overcomplicate it. Most bloggers are using it for a few key things. First, it helps you find keywords; the actual phrases people type into Google. This could be anything from “how to start a blog” to “best email marketing tools for beginners”. It also shows you how many people are searching for that keyword and how competitive it is, which helps you decide whether it’s worth targeting or not. Another big feature is competitor insights. You can see what other blogs are ranking for, which can give you ideas for your own content or highlight opportunities you might not have thought of. And finally, it can help with content ideas in general. Instead of staring at a blank page wondering what to write next, you can use it to find topics people are already interested in. Why Do Bloggers Use Semrush? One of the biggest challenges with blogging is knowing what to write about. It’s very easy to come up with ideas that sound good, but if no one is actually searching for them, they’re unlikely to bring in traffic. The same can be said if people are searching for your chosen search terms, but there are so many others writing the same sort of thing that ranking becomes really difficult. This is where tools like Semrush come in. It’s literally what it was designed to solve. Instead of guessing, you can base your content around real search data. That means you’re creating posts that people are already looking for, which gives your content a much better chance of being found. It can also help you avoid overly competitive topics and focus on keywords that are more realistic to rank for, especially when your blog is still growing. For bloggers, it takes away a lot of the guesswork and makes their content planning feel much more intentional and pointful. How Bloggers Use Semrush for Keyword Research Most bloggers don’t use Semrush in a complicated way. They use it to take an idea and turn it into something people are actually searching for. Usually it starts with a broad topic idea that then gets narrowed down. You might know you want to write about a topic such as Pinterest, affiliate marketing, or starting a blog, but you’re not sure what angle to actually take, or what people are actually typing into Google. Instead of guessing, Semrush shows you real search data (all the bits you need to know before creating the content). You can find related keywords on whichever topic you choose. You can then see exactly how people are searching for that topic. This is the biggest thing that will change if/how your content gets found. You can also find more specific phrases that are often easier to rank for. This could be things that you may never have even thought of. What this then means is that you can stick to the topic you want to write about, just in a way that people are actually searching for and are therefore a lot more likely to find.  Once you have done that you can then also look at key metrics for those terms. This is things like search volume (how many people are searching for that term) and keyword difficulty (how competitive it is) to decide whether it’s worth focusing on and writing content for. Once you’ve chosen a keyword, you then build your content/post around it and naturally include related terms throughout your content. It’s not about making things overly complicated or getting everything perfect. It’s about replacing your own guesswork with a solid/reliable direction, so you can create content people are already looking for. The whole point is for your content to get found afterall! What This Might Look Like in Practice Let’s say (as an example) that you want to write a post about making money online. Without keyword research, you might just go with a broad title like “how to make money online”. In theory this sounds good but ideally it could be better (from a searchable point of view). With a tool like Semrush, you will find more specific searches. Things like: While they feel and seem very similar, these are the types of phrases people are actually typing into Google. This in turn then makes them much more useful for building your content around. People will only find the content they are actively searching for. Semrush vs Simpler Keyword Tools There are a lot of keyword research tools out there, and some of the simpler ones can be a good starting point if you’re just getting used to SEO. Tools like Keysearch are often seen as more beginner-friendly and more affordable, but they also tend to offer more limited data. It really is one of those things that you get what you pay for, so it depends how far into your blogging journey you are as to which tool is best for you. Semrush, on the other hand, gives you a much (much) deeper level of insight. You’re not just seeing basic keyword ideas etc, you’re getting really detailed data that helps you make more informed decisions about what to write, what to prioritise, and where your best opportunities are. That’s why many bloggers either move to Semrush as they grow, or choose to start with it from the beginning so they have access to everything in one place. Who Is Semrush Best For? Semrush is ideal for bloggers who want to grow their traffic faster and stop guessing what to post next.  It’s not really aimed at brand new bloggers so if you are really new into your blogging journey you can absolutely go for a more basic keyword research tool such as KeySearch.  If you’re past the stage of being a new blogger and you are already posting consistently and want to start seeing real results from your blog, this is where a tool like Semrush can make a huge difference for you. While you can blog without it, using Semrush gives you a clear advantage. It helps you to make smarter content decisions, save time, and build traffic much more efficiently as your blog grows. We all know the phrase “Work smarter not harder” and this is basically what Semrush helps with. Is Semrush Worth It for Bloggers? Honestly? Yes.  That is if you’re at the point where you want to grow your blog properly and not just guess your way through it. Like any tool, it’s most useful when you’re actively creating content and applying what you learn from it to enhance and refine that content. Semrush is one of those tools that’s recommended everywhere for a reason. It gives you real insight into what people are searching for, what’s already working, and where your content actually has a chance to rank and be seen/found. If you’re actually serious about increasing your traffic, finding better keywords, and creating content that performs, it can make a huge difference. That said, whether it feels “worth it” for you will come down to how you use it. It’s the kind of tool that pays off when you’re actively creating content and actually applying what you’re learning, not just letting it sit there unused of course. If you’re ready to take your keyword research a bit more seriously, this is where you can try Semrush: 👉 Click here to try Semrush How It Fits Into Your Overall Blogging Strategy Keyword research is just one part of blogging, but it’s one of the things that makes everything else so much easier and more worthwhile. As I mentioned earlier in this post, the way it usually works is pretty simple. You start with what people are already searching for, create content around that, and over time that content brings in traffic. Then that traffic can turn into email signups, affiliate clicks, and then in turn, income. Without that step, you’re basically just guessing and hoping your posts get found. Some might, others won’t. And writing content that never gets seen is not how we go about running a successful blog. That’s where Semrush comes in. It doesn’t change what you’re doing, it just makes the whole process a lot clearer for you from the get go. You can actually see what people are searching for, what’s worth focusing on, and where your content has a real chance of ranking, which makes it so much easier to create posts that actually get found. FAQs About Semrush for Bloggers What is Semrush used for in blogging? Semrush is mainly used for SEO and keyword research. It helps bloggers find what people are searching for, understand competition, and plan content that has a better chance of getting traffic. Is Semrush beginner-friendly? Semrush can feel a bit overwhelming at first because it has a lot of features. However, many bloggers start by using just the keyword research tools, which are fairly straightforward once you get used to them. Do you need Semrush to start a blog? No, you don’t need Semrush to start a blog. Many bloggers begin without it and add tools later. It’s simply something that can help guide your content strategy as your blog grows. Is Semrush worth it for bloggers? Semrush is worth it for bloggers who want more insight into keywords, competition, and content opportunities. It can help you make more informed decisions and grow your traffic faster. What’s the difference between Semrush and other tools? Semrush generally offers more in-depth data and features compared to many other tools. Some alternatives may be simpler or cheaper, but Semrush is designed for more detailed...

The post What Semrush Is and How Bloggers Use It for Keyword Research appeared first on Katherine McLee.

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In this post we are going to go into what Semrush is and how bloggers use it for keyword research.

If you’ve spent any time looking into blogging or SEO/keyword research, you will have no doubt come across Semrush at some point.

It’s one of those tools that gets mentioned everywhere. In blog posts, YouTube videos, and by the people who seem to know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to growing traffic lol.

But if you’ve never used it yourself, it can feel a bit confusing like any new tool. As in, what does it actually do? And more importantly, how are bloggers actually using it when it comes to keyword research?

In this post, I’m going to break it down in a really simple way even if you’re a beginner, so you can understand what Semrush is, what it’s used for, and how it fits into blogging… without all the technical jargon.

What Semrush Is and How Bloggers Use It for Keyword Research freen digital image showing SEO. Text overlay says "semrush keywords explained"

What Is Semrush?

Semrush is a well-known and trusted SEO and keyword research tool that shows you what people are actually searching for on Google. This includes metrics such as how popular those searches are, and how competitive they are to rank for.

But, more importantly, it’s the difference between creating content that might work… and content that actually has a chance to get seen.

Before using a tool like this, it’s very easy to just write whatever feels like a good idea and hope people find it. Sometimes that works… most of the time though, it doesn’t.

Semrush changes that.

Instead of guessing, you can literally see exactly what people are searching for. This includes how many people are searching for that term, and how difficult it would be for your content to rank. So you’re not just putting content out and hoping for the best, you’re putting out content by making decisions based on what’s already working.

I’ve got a full post on keyword research if you want to understand that side of things properly first. You can read that here.

The reason for needing Semrush at its core, is really simple:

It helps you stop guessing and start creating content that actually gets seen.

If you want to see how this works in real time, you can try Semrush here:

👉 Semrush

What Does Semrush Actually Do?

Semrush has a lot of features, but for blogging and keyword research, you don’t need to overcomplicate it. Most bloggers are using it for a few key things.

First, it helps you find keywords; the actual phrases people type into Google. This could be anything from “how to start a blog” to “best email marketing tools for beginners”.

It also shows you how many people are searching for that keyword and how competitive it is, which helps you decide whether it’s worth targeting or not.

Another big feature is competitor insights. You can see what other blogs are ranking for, which can give you ideas for your own content or highlight opportunities you might not have thought of.

And finally, it can help with content ideas in general. Instead of staring at a blank page wondering what to write next, you can use it to find topics people are already interested in.

Why Do Bloggers Use Semrush?

One of the biggest challenges with blogging is knowing what to write about.

It’s very easy to come up with ideas that sound good, but if no one is actually searching for them, they’re unlikely to bring in traffic.

The same can be said if people are searching for your chosen search terms, but there are so many others writing the same sort of thing that ranking becomes really difficult.

This is where tools like Semrush come in.

It’s literally what it was designed to solve.

Instead of guessing, you can base your content around real search data. That means you’re creating posts that people are already looking for, which gives your content a much better chance of being found.

It can also help you avoid overly competitive topics and focus on keywords that are more realistic to rank for, especially when your blog is still growing.

For bloggers, it takes away a lot of the guesswork and makes their content planning feel much more intentional and pointful.

How Bloggers Use Semrush for Keyword Research

Most bloggers don’t use Semrush in a complicated way. They use it to take an idea and turn it into something people are actually searching for.

Usually it starts with a broad topic idea that then gets narrowed down.

You might know you want to write about a topic such as Pinterest, affiliate marketing, or starting a blog, but you’re not sure what angle to actually take, or what people are actually typing into Google.

Instead of guessing, Semrush shows you real search data (all the bits you need to know before creating the content).

You can find related keywords on whichever topic you choose.

You can then see exactly how people are searching for that topic. This is the biggest thing that will change if/how your content gets found. You can also find more specific phrases that are often easier to rank for. This could be things that you may never have even thought of.

What this then means is that you can stick to the topic you want to write about, just in a way that people are actually searching for and are therefore a lot more likely to find. 

Once you have done that you can then also look at key metrics for those terms. This is things like search volume (how many people are searching for that term) and keyword difficulty (how competitive it is) to decide whether it’s worth focusing on and writing content for.

Once you’ve chosen a keyword, you then build your content/post around it and naturally include related terms throughout your content.

It’s not about making things overly complicated or getting everything perfect. It’s about replacing your own guesswork with a solid/reliable direction, so you can create content people are already looking for. The whole point is for your content to get found afterall!

What This Might Look Like in Practice

Let’s say (as an example) that you want to write a post about making money online.

Without keyword research, you might just go with a broad title like “how to make money online”.

In theory this sounds good but ideally it could be better (from a searchable point of view).

With a tool like Semrush, you will find more specific searches. Things like:

  • “how to make money online for beginners”
  • “ways to make money online from home”
  • “how to make money online with no experience”

While they feel and seem very similar, these are the types of phrases people are actually typing into Google. This in turn then makes them much more useful for building your content around.

People will only find the content they are actively searching for.

Semrush vs Simpler Keyword Tools

There are a lot of keyword research tools out there, and some of the simpler ones can be a good starting point if you’re just getting used to SEO.

Tools like Keysearch are often seen as more beginner-friendly and more affordable, but they also tend to offer more limited data.

It really is one of those things that you get what you pay for, so it depends how far into your blogging journey you are as to which tool is best for you.

Semrush, on the other hand, gives you a much (much) deeper level of insight. You’re not just seeing basic keyword ideas etc, you’re getting really detailed data that helps you make more informed decisions about what to write, what to prioritise, and where your best opportunities are.

That’s why many bloggers either move to Semrush as they grow, or choose to start with it from the beginning so they have access to everything in one place.

yellow keyword image with magnifying glass semword keyword research tool

Who Is Semrush Best For?

Semrush is ideal for bloggers who want to grow their traffic faster and stop guessing what to post next. 

It’s not really aimed at brand new bloggers so if you are really new into your blogging journey you can absolutely go for a more basic keyword research tool such as KeySearch

If you’re past the stage of being a new blogger and you are already posting consistently and want to start seeing real results from your blog, this is where a tool like Semrush can make a huge difference for you.

While you can blog without it, using Semrush gives you a clear advantage. It helps you to make smarter content decisions, save time, and build traffic much more efficiently as your blog grows.

We all know the phrase “Work smarter not harder” and this is basically what Semrush helps with.

Is Semrush Worth It for Bloggers?

Honestly? Yes. 

That is if you’re at the point where you want to grow your blog properly and not just guess your way through it.

Like any tool, it’s most useful when you’re actively creating content and applying what you learn from it to enhance and refine that content.

Semrush is one of those tools that’s recommended everywhere for a reason.

It gives you real insight into what people are searching for, what’s already working, and where your content actually has a chance to rank and be seen/found.

If you’re actually serious about increasing your traffic, finding better keywords, and creating content that performs, it can make a huge difference.

That said, whether it feels “worth it” for you will come down to how you use it. It’s the kind of tool that pays off when you’re actively creating content and actually applying what you’re learning, not just letting it sit there unused of course.

If you’re ready to take your keyword research a bit more seriously, this is where you can try Semrush:

👉 Click here to try Semrush

How It Fits Into Your Overall Blogging Strategy

Keyword research is just one part of blogging, but it’s one of the things that makes everything else so much easier and more worthwhile.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, the way it usually works is pretty simple. You start with what people are already searching for, create content around that, and over time that content brings in traffic. Then that traffic can turn into email signups, affiliate clicks, and then in turn, income.

Without that step, you’re basically just guessing and hoping your posts get found. Some might, others won’t. And writing content that never gets seen is not how we go about running a successful blog.

That’s where Semrush comes in. It doesn’t change what you’re doing, it just makes the whole process a lot clearer for you from the get go. You can actually see what people are searching for, what’s worth focusing on, and where your content has a real chance of ranking, which makes it so much easier to create posts that actually get found.

FAQs About Semrush for Bloggers

What is Semrush used for in blogging?


Semrush is mainly used for SEO and keyword research. It helps bloggers find what people are searching for, understand competition, and plan content that has a better chance of getting traffic.

Is Semrush beginner-friendly?


Semrush can feel a bit overwhelming at first because it has a lot of features. However, many bloggers start by using just the keyword research tools, which are fairly straightforward once you get used to them.

Do you need Semrush to start a blog?


No, you don’t need Semrush to start a blog. Many bloggers begin without it and add tools later. It’s simply something that can help guide your content strategy as your blog grows.

Is Semrush worth it for bloggers?

Semrush is worth it for bloggers who want more insight into keywords, competition, and content opportunities. It can help you make more informed decisions and grow your traffic faster.

What’s the difference between Semrush and other tools?


Semrush generally offers more in-depth data and features compared to many other tools. Some alternatives may be simpler or cheaper, but Semrush is designed for more detailed research and long-term growth.

Final Thoughts on What Semrush Is and How Bloggers Use It for Keyword Research

Semrush is one of those tools that can look and feel a little overwhelming at first, but when you break it down, it’s really just there to show you what people are actually searching for and how to create content around that in a way that gives you the best chance of being found which is the key to a successful blog.

The difference with Semrush is, it does that in a much more detailed and strategic way than more basic tools. This is where it really starts to make a difference to your blogging game and is where bloggers really uplevel their strategy.

For most bloggers, it’s not about using every single feature that Semrush has to offer, or worrying about getting everything perfect. It’s about using it as a guideline to make smarter decisions such as choosing better keywords, spotting opportunities, and creating content that’s far more likely to bring in traffic to their blog.

And honestly, that’s where the real value is. Instead of guessing what might work, you’re working with actual data, which makes the whole process feel a lot more intentional, and usually a lot more effective too.

Speak soon,

Katherine

📌 Pin for later 📌

green SEO digital layout with text saying "the SEO tool bloggers use to find blog post ideas"

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Is HostGator Good for Blogging? Honest Review for Beginners (2026) https://katherinemclee.com/hostgator-for-blogging/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hostgator-for-blogging https://katherinemclee.com/hostgator-for-blogging/#respond Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:23:09 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=16460 This post is all about answering the question; Is HostGator Good for Blogging? A Beginner-Friendly Hosting Review. Starting a blog is exciting… but also a little overwhelming when you realise how many decisions you need to make before you even publish your first post lol. There are the options of both a hosted (free) and self hosted (paid) blog. Self hosted is the one you need if you are serious about your blog or want to really ever make money from it. Assuming then that you have chosen a self hosted blog, one of the very first decisions you will need to make is who to go with to host your blog. Finding a hosting provider is easy, finding a good one that suits your needs is trickier.  Spending some time to do some research to find one that suits your needs is so important, as it really can make the biggest difference to your website.  I saw a lot of names being promoted, but when I dove deeper I found they never were quite what I was looking for. In the end, I chose HostGator, and it’s the hosting I still use for all my blogs today. In this post, I’ll explain exactly why I chose HostGator, what you will like about it, and why it’s a great option if you’re starting a blog for the first time. Quick Answer: Is HostGator Good for Blogging? Yes. Especially for beginners who want an easy, affordable way to start a blog without technical overwhelm. What Is Web Hosting (and Why You Need It) Quickly before getting into why I chose HostGator specifically for my blog (and why I recommend it to all new bloggers), it helps to understand what hosting actually is and why it’s needed. When you have a blog or website, all of the files that make up that site need somewhere to live online for people to be able to get to it and see it. That’s where your web hosting comes in. Your hosting provider stores your website files online and makes them accessible so people can visit your site at any time! Without hosting, your blog simply wouldn’t exist online. Well the website would exist, but no one would be able to see it lol. This is why choosing a decent and reliable hosting provider is one of the first and most important steps when starting your own blog. Why I Chose HostGator for My Blog I knew from the very start (over a decade ago now lol) that I didn’t want any of my blogs to be hosted (so a free blog). I knew I wanted them to be self-hosted as it meant that I owned my website which is so important. It also made it look more professional, gave more earning options (a lot more, you can read about the reasons why someone may want a free blog, here), and just overall meant I knew I was taking it seriously, for very little cost. When you are first researching hosting companies for your blog, there are so many options available and it is so easy to feel overwhelmed. Some are super cheap, some costt a huge amount more, some have more options and features, some include domain names etc etc.  For more information on domain names, hosting and the differences, you can find that post here! I decided (and what I would recommend anyone reading this to do) to make a list of what I knew I wanted/needed, and find one that fit the bill. This included things like price, how simple it was to use, having full 24/7 chat support, the speed and capabilities for my site(s), how easy it was to upgrade when needed (spoiler alert, this was super simple lol), and how well reviewed/trusted the company and brand was as a whole. HostGator stood out because it ticked every box I needed, especially as a beginner. This included how beginner-friendly it seemed compared to some of the other options. Is it THE cheapest on the market? Nope. Is it still super affordable while not losing anything by going for a more “budget” plan? Absolutely. I didn’t want something overly technical or complicated to set up. Fun fact, I still wouldn’t now! I wanted something that would allow me to get my blog online really fast, without needing a lot of technical knowledge or learning too much jargon to get up and live. HostGator offered exactly what I needed, so I went with them and haven’t looked back! The setup process was really straightforward too. WordPress installation was really simple, and it felt like a good balance between affordability and reliability for someone just starting out. It worked out well! Let’s break down some of the points just mentioned… 1. It’s Very Beginner Friendly One of the biggest reasons I chose HostGator was how easy it is to get started as a beginner. I wanted it to be clean and simple. I did not want to faff about feeling overwhelmed and then giving up as a result, lol. When you’re new to blogging, the technical side can feel really intimidating. With HostGator, the whole process of setting up your hosting and installing WordPress is designed to be simple. That’s why it’s so perfect for anyone new to hosting their own blog/website. You don’t need to understand coding or complicated server settings. You can of course learn this as you go to help with little tips and tricks, but it’s not necessary. Nearly all of the setup can be done with just a few clicks. This makes it much less stressful when you’re starting your first blog and worrying about getting set up with hosting. 2. Affordable for New Bloggers Another big factor for me was cost. As I’m sure it is for you! I knew I wanted decent, fast, reliable hosting, but I didn’t want to pay a lot for it. Especially in the beginning when I was getting used to having even one blog. When you’re starting a blog, you don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of money upfront while you’re still figuring everything out. A beginner plan to give you everything you need/want is all you need initially. HostGator offers a range of plans to suit your needs and what you want for your website. They offer advanced/multi plans but also offer plans that are very affordable for beginners. If you’re just starting out, this makes it one of the easiest ways to launch a blog without overcomplicating things. You can get started for less than $5/month, which makes it one of the lowest-risk ways to start a blog. 3. Reliable Hosting Your hosting provider plays a huge role in how reliable and stable your website is on the internet. They are basically what keeps you live and available for people to read. Ideally you want a host that keeps your website online and running smoothly for as much time as possible. At all times. This means your readers should be able to access your content whenever they choose to visit, no matter what time of day or night. This is especially important across different time zones as your readers willl most likely be from all around the world and could be trying to get onto your site at completely different times of day. One of the huge reasons I’ve stayed with HostGator is that I’ve found them really reliable. Of course issues happen from time to time, but on the whole my blogs just work lol. This means I’m not sitting there worrying about whether the site is going to be down or glitching every time I load it up, or worse, whether it’s behaving/loading when someone else tries to read my content. As you can imagine, a working blog is a big deal when you’re blogging lol. You want to be able to spend your time creating new content, not trying to figure out why your website suddenly isn’t loading or behaving properly. 4. Easy WordPress Integration A lot of bloggers (I’d say the majority) use WordPress (wordpress.org not the free version wordpress.com as that goes back to hosted rather than the self hosted we are talking about), it’s important to choose a hosting provider that works well with it. One thing I love about HostGator that I mentioned earlier is how simple it is to install WordPress. It takes just a few clicks, which is why it’s always a simple recommendation for bloggers. Especially anyone who doesn’t like a technical or complicated set up like me lol. You can get everything set up really quickly and then jump straight into the fun parts like designing your blog, writing your first posts, and actually building your site and making it look exactly the way you have envisioned it, instead of getting completely stuck in an overly complicated setup. 5. 24/7 Live Chat Support If you are a new blogger, or even just less confident in the world of self hosted websites, having 24/7 live chat support is hugely important. We have all had issues where the site has crashed, only getting blank scenes, site is failing to load etc. Being able to contact your hosting company at any time of day, for them to be friendly, helpful, and get you back up and running really quickly is not to be taken for granted.  Having used HostGator for multiple sites for over 10 years, I can confirm their live support is not something I would want to be without, even now lol. How to Get Started with HostGator .If you want a beginner-friendly way to start your blog, HostGator is one of the easiest options to get set up with. To start with, you just need to choose your hosting plan from their options available. These do change at times but there are always multiple options available so you can choose the ones that fit your needs the best. You can then register your chosen domain name, and install WordPress. They do offer domains too if you wanted to keep it all together, and there may well be an offer on to get a bundle with your domain name and hosting for a bundle price! Once that’s all done, you can log into your own WordPress dashboard and start building your site! Then the fun can begin lol. From there, it’s just a case of designing your blog, creating your first posts, and gradually turning it into the website you want it to be. 👉 You can check out HostGator and see their current plans here. FAQs About HostGator Hosting Is HostGator good for beginner bloggers? It is. And that’s actually one of the main reasons so many new bloggers start with it. HostGator is designed to be really beginner-friendly. This means the whole setup process is nice and simple. WordPress can be installed really quickly, and you don’t need any tech experience to get your new blog online. When you’re starting a blog – especially for the first time – the last thing you want is complicated hosting or confusing dashboards lol. HostGator keeps it all straightforward so you can focus on building your blog and creating content instead of trying to figure out any technical settings. Also remember that any issues you do have, they have their 24/7 live chat support to help. Do you need technical knowledge to use HostGator? As mentioned and for similar reasons above, the answer is no, not at all. You don’t need coding skills, any web development experience, or anything like that to get started. Of course you will see things you don’t understand, but the process is designed so that you can click what you need as those bits are all clearly marked. You don’t have to understand all the technical bits, unless you want to learn about them down the line. Most of the setup is all step-by-step, and things like installing WordPress only takes a few clicks. ...

The post Is HostGator Good for Blogging? Honest Review for Beginners (2026) appeared first on Katherine McLee.

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This post is all about answering the question; Is HostGator Good for Blogging? A Beginner-Friendly Hosting Review.

Starting a blog is exciting… but also a little overwhelming when you realise how many decisions you need to make before you even publish your first post lol.

There are the options of both a hosted (free) and self hosted (paid) blog. Self hosted is the one you need if you are serious about your blog or want to really ever make money from it.

Assuming then that you have chosen a self hosted blog, one of the very first decisions you will need to make is who to go with to host your blog.

Finding a hosting provider is easy, finding a good one that suits your needs is trickier. 

Spending some time to do some research to find one that suits your needs is so important, as it really can make the biggest difference to your website. 

I saw a lot of names being promoted, but when I dove deeper I found they never were quite what I was looking for.

In the end, I chose HostGator, and it’s the hosting I still use for all my blogs today.

In this post, I’ll explain exactly why I chose HostGator, what you will like about it, and why it’s a great option if you’re starting a blog for the first time.

Quick Answer: Is HostGator Good for Blogging?


Yes. Especially for beginners who want an easy, affordable way to start a blog without technical overwhelm.

What Is Web Hosting (and Why You Need It)

Quickly before getting into why I chose HostGator specifically for my blog (and why I recommend it to all new bloggers), it helps to understand what hosting actually is and why it’s needed.

When you have a blog or website, all of the files that make up that site need somewhere to live online for people to be able to get to it and see it. That’s where your web hosting comes in.

Your hosting provider stores your website files online and makes them accessible so people can visit your site at any time!

Without hosting, your blog simply wouldn’t exist online.

Well the website would exist, but no one would be able to see it lol.

This is why choosing a decent and reliable hosting provider is one of the first and most important steps when starting your own blog.

Why I Chose HostGator for My Blog

I knew from the very start (over a decade ago now lol) that I didn’t want any of my blogs to be hosted (so a free blog). I knew I wanted them to be self-hosted as it meant that I owned my website which is so important. It also made it look more professional, gave more earning options (a lot more, you can read about the reasons why someone may want a free blog, here), and just overall meant I knew I was taking it seriously, for very little cost.

When you are first researching hosting companies for your blog, there are so many options available and it is so easy to feel overwhelmed. Some are super cheap, some costt a huge amount more, some have more options and features, some include domain names etc etc. 

For more information on domain names, hosting and the differences, you can find that post here!

I decided (and what I would recommend anyone reading this to do) to make a list of what I knew I wanted/needed, and find one that fit the bill.

hostgator web hosting low price get started blue banner

This included things like price, how simple it was to use, having full 24/7 chat support, the speed and capabilities for my site(s), how easy it was to upgrade when needed (spoiler alert, this was super simple lol), and how well reviewed/trusted the company and brand was as a whole.

HostGator stood out because it ticked every box I needed, especially as a beginner.

This included how beginner-friendly it seemed compared to some of the other options.

Is it THE cheapest on the market? Nope.

Is it still super affordable while not losing anything by going for a more “budget” plan? Absolutely.

I didn’t want something overly technical or complicated to set up. Fun fact, I still wouldn’t now! I wanted something that would allow me to get my blog online really fast, without needing a lot of technical knowledge or learning too much jargon to get up and live.

HostGator offered exactly what I needed, so I went with them and haven’t looked back!

The setup process was really straightforward too. WordPress installation was really simple, and it felt like a good balance between affordability and reliability for someone just starting out. It worked out well!

Let’s break down some of the points just mentioned…

1. It’s Very Beginner Friendly

One of the biggest reasons I chose HostGator was how easy it is to get started as a beginner.

I wanted it to be clean and simple. I did not want to faff about feeling overwhelmed and then giving up as a result, lol.

When you’re new to blogging, the technical side can feel really intimidating.

With HostGator, the whole process of setting up your hosting and installing WordPress is designed to be simple. That’s why it’s so perfect for anyone new to hosting their own blog/website.

You don’t need to understand coding or complicated server settings. You can of course learn this as you go to help with little tips and tricks, but it’s not necessary. Nearly all of the setup can be done with just a few clicks. This makes it much less stressful when you’re starting your first blog and worrying about getting set up with hosting.

2. Affordable for New Bloggers

Another big factor for me was cost. As I’m sure it is for you!

I knew I wanted decent, fast, reliable hosting, but I didn’t want to pay a lot for it. Especially in the beginning when I was getting used to having even one blog.

When you’re starting a blog, you don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of money upfront while you’re still figuring everything out. A beginner plan to give you everything you need/want is all you need initially.

HostGator offers a range of plans to suit your needs and what you want for your website. They offer advanced/multi plans but also offer plans that are very affordable for beginners.

If you’re just starting out, this makes it one of the easiest ways to launch a blog without overcomplicating things.

You can get started for less than $5/month, which makes it one of the lowest-risk ways to start a blog.

dark hostgator hosting banner with astronaut gator

3. Reliable Hosting

Your hosting provider plays a huge role in how reliable and stable your website is on the internet. They are basically what keeps you live and available for people to read.

Ideally you want a host that keeps your website online and running smoothly for as much time as possible. At all times. This means your readers should be able to access your content whenever they choose to visit, no matter what time of day or night. This is especially important across different time zones as your readers willl most likely be from all around the world and could be trying to get onto your site at completely different times of day.

One of the huge reasons I’ve stayed with HostGator is that I’ve found them really reliable. Of course issues happen from time to time, but on the whole my blogs just work lol. This means I’m not sitting there worrying about whether the site is going to be down or glitching every time I load it up, or worse, whether it’s behaving/loading when someone else tries to read my content.

As you can imagine, a working blog is a big deal when you’re blogging lol. You want to be able to spend your time creating new content, not trying to figure out why your website suddenly isn’t loading or behaving properly.

4. Easy WordPress Integration

A lot of bloggers (I’d say the majority) use WordPress (wordpress.org not the free version wordpress.com as that goes back to hosted rather than the self hosted we are talking about), it’s important to choose a hosting provider that works well with it.

One thing I love about HostGator that I mentioned earlier is how simple it is to install WordPress. It takes just a few clicks, which is why it’s always a simple recommendation for bloggers. Especially anyone who doesn’t like a technical or complicated set up like me lol.

You can get everything set up really quickly and then jump straight into the fun parts like designing your blog, writing your first posts, and actually building your site and making it look exactly the way you have envisioned it, instead of getting completely stuck in an overly complicated setup.

5. 24/7 Live Chat Support

If you are a new blogger, or even just less confident in the world of self hosted websites, having 24/7 live chat support is hugely important.

We have all had issues where the site has crashed, only getting blank scenes, site is failing to load etc. Being able to contact your hosting company at any time of day, for them to be friendly, helpful, and get you back up and running really quickly is not to be taken for granted. 

Having used HostGator for multiple sites for over 10 years, I can confirm their live support is not something I would want to be without, even now lol.

How to Get Started with HostGator

.If you want a beginner-friendly way to start your blog, HostGator is one of the easiest options to get set up with.

To start with, you just need to choose your hosting plan from their options available. These do change at times but there are always multiple options available so you can choose the ones that fit your needs the best. You can then register your chosen domain name, and install WordPress.

They do offer domains too if you wanted to keep it all together, and there may well be an offer on to get a bundle with your domain name and hosting for a bundle price!

hostgator hosting free domain with some plans

Once that’s all done, you can log into your own WordPress dashboard and start building your site! Then the fun can begin lol.

From there, it’s just a case of designing your blog, creating your first posts, and gradually turning it into the website you want it to be.

👉 You can check out HostGator and see their current plans here.

FAQs About HostGator Hosting

Is HostGator good for beginner bloggers?

It is. And that’s actually one of the main reasons so many new bloggers start with it. HostGator is designed to be really beginner-friendly. This means the whole setup process is nice and simple. WordPress can be installed really quickly, and you don’t need any tech experience to get your new blog online.

When you’re starting a blog – especially for the first time – the last thing you want is complicated hosting or confusing dashboards lol. HostGator keeps it all straightforward so you can focus on building your blog and creating content instead of trying to figure out any technical settings.

Also remember that any issues you do have, they have their 24/7 live chat support to help.

Do you need technical knowledge to use HostGator?

As mentioned and for similar reasons above, the answer is no, not at all. You don’t need coding skills, any web development experience, or anything like that to get started. Of course you will see things you don’t understand, but the process is designed so that you can click what you need as those bits are all clearly marked. You don’t have to understand all the technical bits, unless you want to learn about them down the line.

Most of the setup is all step-by-step, and things like installing WordPress only takes a few clicks. 

For beginners (or anyone who doesn’t want hassle), that simplicity makes a huge difference.

What happens if your blog grows later? Can you upgrade?

Yep! And this is something a lot of beginners worry about but there’s no need.

If (and when) your blog starts really growing and you need more resources, you can upgrade your hosting plan. It means you’re not locked into one option forever. You can start with a beginner-friendly budget plan and move to a bigger plan later when your site gets more traffic or you want to run multiple websites. There’s different options depending on your needs.

I can confirm from upgrading plans myself a while back that it’s as simple as choosing your new plan and clicking to upgrade lol.

It’s one of the reasons many bloggers feel comfortable starting with HostGator. You can start with the plan that you need initially, and then once your blog grows, you can then upgrade to a more advanced plan. This saves you having to guess how big of a plan you will need from the get go. It also saves paying for a bigger plan when you are first starting out.

Can you have more than one website on HostGator?

Yes you can but it depends on the plan you choose for your blog. Some plans do allow you to host multiple websites under the same account. This can be really useful if you ever decide to start a second blog or launch another website later on but most people start with just one website and focus on building that first before branching out. But the option is there for if you ever wanted it.

Not all plans allow this, but as mentioned earlier, you can easily upgrade to a multi-site plan if and when you need this. No point in paying for a multi-site plan initially with only one site. Start at the level you need and then you can always upgrade.

Is hosting expensive when starting a blog?

While there is of course a cost to having a plan to host your blog, it’s really not expensive at all.

Prices do vary depending on what you need and how many sites you are wanting hosted etc. But HostGator are one of the most affordable I found that had all the bits I needed and wanted.

Currently their plans start at less than $5 a month for the most basic hosting to give an idea of just how affordable I mean lol.

You will need to factor in a domain name as that will of course need to be purchased, but it’s always worth checking if HostGator have any current offers to get your chosen domain name for a reduced price with one of their hosting plans.

For another place to get domain names, you can also look at GoDaddy.

It’s one of those costs that if you are a blogger, you need to pay for. But it’s also what allows your blog to exist on the internet in the first place lol.

dark hostgator hosting banner with astronaut gator

Final Thoughts on Is HostGator Good for Blogging?

The short answer is yes, especially if you’re just getting started.

Choosing a hosting provider is one of the first (and most important) steps when starting a blog, and it can feel like a big decision.

From my own experience, HostGator has been a reliable, beginner-friendly option that offers a great balance of ease, affordability, and performance. It’s also grown with me as my blogs have grown, without any issues or complicated upgrades.

👉 If you’re ready to start your blog, HostGator is one of the simplest ways to get set up quickly.

👉 You can check out their plans here → HostGator Plans.

Speak soon!

Katherine

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For Bloggers, Social Media Is the Brand Experience https://katherinemclee.com/bloggers-social-media-brand-experience/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bloggers-social-media-brand-experience https://katherinemclee.com/bloggers-social-media-brand-experience/#respond Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:30:00 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=15697 Photo via Adobe Stock Most readers don’t experience a blog the way its author does. They don’t land on the homepage, browse categories, or admire the archive. They encounter a post through a social feed, a shared link, or a preview image paired with a sentence or two of context. That moment — not the blog itself — is where first impressions form. For bloggers, social media isn’t a side channel. It’s the primary way readers encounter, interpret, and remember your work. The Short Version For bloggers, a unified brand voice and visual identity on social media determine whether posts feel recognizable or forgettable. When social previews, captions, and visuals align with the tone of the writing itself, readers are more likely to click, return, and trust the work behind the link. Why Social Media Shapes How Blogs Are Perceived When a blog post is shared on social media, it’s compressed. A long argument becomes a headline. A nuanced idea becomes a caption. The design of a full page becomes a single image or frame. That compression is unavoidable, but how it’s handled makes a difference. If social posts feel disconnected from the blog’s tone or visual style, readers experience friction. If they feel like a natural extension of the writing, recognition builds. Over time, readers don’t just remember individual posts — they recognize the blog behind them. The Hidden Cost of Inconsistent Sharing Many bloggers write with clarity and intention, then promote content quickly and inconsistently. One post gets a thoughtful caption, another gets a rushed summary. One graphic matches the blog’s tone, another feels generic. None of this breaks anything immediately. But over time, it weakens association. Readers may enjoy individual posts without ever forming a clear sense of the blog as a whole. Tools Bloggers Use to Stay Consistent on Social Consistency on social media isn’t about posting more. It’s about posting coherently. These tools help bloggers manage distribution and promotion without fragmenting their voice or visual identity. These tools don’t define tone or style, but they reduce the friction that often leads to inconsistent sharing. How Bloggers Turn Posts Into Social Media Touchpoints For bloggers, social media isn’t about creating new ideas. It’s about reshaping existing ones so they travel well. Adobe Express supports that process by helping bloggers translate long-form writing into recognizable social moments. Social Media Moment for Bloggers How Adobe Express Is Used Why It Supports Brand Recognition Announcing a new post Creating on-brand social graphics for blog launches Helps readers visually associate the post with the blog immediately Re-promoting evergreen content Scheduling social posts in advance Allows older posts to be resurfaced intentionally instead of relying on one-time shares Highlighting key ideas Designing Instagram Stories that summarize posts Turns long articles into digestible previews that drive clicks back to the blog Sharing posts on Facebook Formatting Facebook visuals that stay on-brand Keeps promotional visuals consistent even when platform formats differ In this workflow, social media doesn’t compete with blogging. It reinforces it. A Simple Pre-Share Checklist for Bloggers Before sharing a post anywhere, ask: If the answer is yes, the post is doing branding work — not just promotion. FAQ: Bloggers and Social Media Branding Do bloggers really need to think about branding on social media?Yes, because social media is often the first version of your blog that someone encounters. Readers form expectations about your writing based on how it’s presented and described in feeds, long before they ever scroll through the full article. What if my writing style is informal or personal?That can absolutely be part of your brand. Consistency doesn’t mean sounding polished; it means sounding like yourself in a recognizable way across posts, captions, and visuals. How do bloggers stay consistent without posting constantly?Consistency comes from tone and presentation, not frequency. A blogger who posts thoughtfully and repeats the same voice and visual cues will feel more cohesive than one who posts daily with no throughline. Is it okay to reuse the same visuals or messaging when resharing posts?Yes, and it’s often helpful. Reuse reinforces recognition, especially for readers who may not have seen the original post the first time. For bloggers, social media isn’t an accessory. It’s the surface layer of the brand. When voice and visuals stay aligned from post to preview, readers form recognition naturally. That recognition is what turns scattered clicks into a lasting audience. Guest post written and provided by Archer Ferrara on behalf of Adobe. 📌 Pin for later 📌

The post For Bloggers, Social Media Is the Brand Experience appeared first on Katherine McLee.

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Photo via Adobe Stock

Most readers don’t experience a blog the way its author does. They don’t land on the homepage, browse categories, or admire the archive. They encounter a post through a social feed, a shared link, or a preview image paired with a sentence or two of context.

That moment — not the blog itself — is where first impressions form. For bloggers, social media isn’t a side channel. It’s the primary way readers encounter, interpret, and remember your work.

The Short Version

For bloggers, a unified brand voice and visual identity on social media determine whether posts feel recognizable or forgettable. When social previews, captions, and visuals align with the tone of the writing itself, readers are more likely to click, return, and trust the work behind the link.

Why Social Media Shapes How Blogs Are Perceived

When a blog post is shared on social media, it’s compressed. A long argument becomes a headline. A nuanced idea becomes a caption. The design of a full page becomes a single image or frame. That compression is unavoidable, but how it’s handled makes a difference.

If social posts feel disconnected from the blog’s tone or visual style, readers experience friction. If they feel like a natural extension of the writing, recognition builds. Over time, readers don’t just remember individual posts — they recognize the blog behind them.

The Hidden Cost of Inconsistent Sharing

Many bloggers write with clarity and intention, then promote content quickly and inconsistently. One post gets a thoughtful caption, another gets a rushed summary. One graphic matches the blog’s tone, another feels generic.

None of this breaks anything immediately. But over time, it weakens association. Readers may enjoy individual posts without ever forming a clear sense of the blog as a whole.

Tools Bloggers Use to Stay Consistent on Social

Consistency on social media isn’t about posting more. It’s about posting coherently. These tools help bloggers manage distribution and promotion without fragmenting their voice or visual identity.

  • Hootsuite – Helps plan and space social shares so promotion feels intentional rather than sporadic.
  • Mailchimp – Supports cross-promotion between newsletters and social posts, reinforcing the same voice in both places.
  • Instagram – Acts as a primary discovery and relationship channel where consistent visuals and captions reinforce a blog’s identity over time.
  • Bitly – Keeps shared links clean and trackable without cluttering captions or breaking visual flow.

These tools don’t define tone or style, but they reduce the friction that often leads to inconsistent sharing.

How Bloggers Turn Posts Into Social Media Touchpoints

For bloggers, social media isn’t about creating new ideas. It’s about reshaping existing ones so they travel well. Adobe Express supports that process by helping bloggers translate long-form writing into recognizable social moments.

Social Media Moment for BloggersHow Adobe Express Is UsedWhy It Supports Brand Recognition
Announcing a new postCreating on-brand social graphics for blog launchesHelps readers visually associate the post with the blog immediately
Re-promoting evergreen contentScheduling social posts in advanceAllows older posts to be resurfaced intentionally instead of relying on one-time shares
Highlighting key ideasDesigning Instagram Stories that summarize postsTurns long articles into digestible previews that drive clicks back to the blog
Sharing posts on FacebookFormatting Facebook visuals that stay on-brandKeeps promotional visuals consistent even when platform formats differ

In this workflow, social media doesn’t compete with blogging. It reinforces it.

A Simple Pre-Share Checklist for Bloggers

Before sharing a post anywhere, ask:

  1. Would this caption sound natural if it appeared inside the blog post?
  2. Do the visuals feel like they belong to the same world as the writing?
  3. Would a returning reader recognize this as “ours” without seeing the name?

If the answer is yes, the post is doing branding work — not just promotion.

FAQ: Bloggers and Social Media Branding

Do bloggers really need to think about branding on social media?
Yes, because social media is often the first version of your blog that someone encounters. Readers form expectations about your writing based on how it’s presented and described in feeds, long before they ever scroll through the full article.

What if my writing style is informal or personal?
That can absolutely be part of your brand. Consistency doesn’t mean sounding polished; it means sounding like yourself in a recognizable way across posts, captions, and visuals.

How do bloggers stay consistent without posting constantly?
Consistency comes from tone and presentation, not frequency. A blogger who posts thoughtfully and repeats the same voice and visual cues will feel more cohesive than one who posts daily with no throughline.

Is it okay to reuse the same visuals or messaging when resharing posts?
Yes, and it’s often helpful. Reuse reinforces recognition, especially for readers who may not have seen the original post the first time.

For bloggers, social media isn’t an accessory. It’s the surface layer of the brand. When voice and visuals stay aligned from post to preview, readers form recognition naturally. That recognition is what turns scattered clicks into a lasting audience.

Guest post written and provided by Archer Ferrara on behalf of Adobe.

📌 Pin for later 📌

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Top 5 Tools You Need as a New Blogger https://katherinemclee.com/tools-you-need-as-a-new-blogger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tools-you-need-as-a-new-blogger https://katherinemclee.com/tools-you-need-as-a-new-blogger/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:53:58 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=14474 In this post we are going to go over the top 5 tools you need as a new blogger! Why the Right Tools Matter in 2025 As with starting any new business/side hustle, getting it properly set up from the start can make a world of a difference!  It’s always easier after the fact to know what you should have done. But I’m hoping I can save you from that extra level of trial and error, by sharing the top must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025, and beyond! As with any side hustle/business, the right tools are what help you grow, save you time, and help you make money. I wasted SO much time in the beginning trying to do everything manually or using the wrong tools lol. Once I found the ones that actually worked, everything started clicking into place. These are tools I love/use to this day and are the I wish I had from the beginning as they would have helped so much. A lot of these are super low cost or have free options to be able to have a go first and you can then upgrade if/when you feel ready to! If you’re serious about growing your blog (not just writing for fun/as a hobby, but you are actually building something profitable), then having the right tools in your kit is honestly non-negotiable. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re just starting out. Or even if you’ve been at it a while but feel stuck as that happens to more people than you realise – we have honestly all been there! There are SO many options out there, and it’s hard to know what’s worth investing your time, money, and energy into. That’s exactly why I’ve put together this post for you. These are my favourite, can’t-blog-without-them tools that have made blogging SO much easier, more enjoyable, and more profitable. Whether you’re trying to grow your audience, increase your income, or just enjoy the behind-the-scenes side of bloggging more, these tools are my top recommendations for 2025 and beyond.  Let’s get into these must-have blogging tools, because when you’re using the right tools, everything gets sooo much easier! 1. HostGator: Reliable & Affordable Hosting If you’re just getting started with your blog, the first thing you need is a domain name and hosting!  HostGator is what I personally use and recommend. I’ve used it across multiple blogs for years and I still love it! It’s affordable, super reliable, and beginner-friendly which is exactly what you need when you are setting everything up. It has 24/7 live chat which is a life saver when you accidentally crash your blog and are presented with an error screen at 1am lol – we have all been there!  They get you back up and running so fast no matter what timezone you are in. Highly, highly recommended. They nearly always have offers on for cheap domains or super low cost hosting etc so worth checking out. I’ve been with them for years from the very start of my blogging journey and have no plans to change any time soon! ➡️ Get Hosting with HostGator Here  Quick note before you carry on! I have a free download for you! Grab these FREE content prompts and get a peek behind the scenes of my blogging system! 2. MailerLite: My Preferred Email Marketing Platform If I could go back to day one, I would immediately sign up with MailerLite.  They have a completely free plan you can use until you outgrow it so no extra start up costs which we love! Email marketing is one of the most powerful things you can do in your blogging business. And MailerLite makes it so simple! Even if you’ve never written a newsletter in your life! Having your own email list is so valuable. I think most bloggers (myself included) put off starting one though at the beginning as we think we don’t need one, we think it’s complicated or will cost a lot. Nope, nope and nope! Your email list is your direct contact for people who have shown they are interested in your content/what you are offering. This is such a powerful marketing tool! If you don’t want to create a freebie to offer people in exchange for their email initially, you can put on a little form or pop up that lets people just sign up to your newsletter and then you can email them tips and tricks, offers or even ask questions.  Don’t be worrying that people won’t sign up, you will be surprised! Another good reason to sign up early is that you can get used to sending emails (or even just creating pop ups, forms and emails) even before you get an audience. That way it’s not overwhelmingly new when you do grow (and you will), and you can happily send those newsletters! Why I love Mailerlite specifically (and why it’s a great choice for everyone): It’s one of the platforms I’ve stuck with long-term. I’ve stuck with it because MailerLite does exactly what I need it to, without overwhelming me with complexity or too many options/features which is not my idea of fun lol. ➡️ Start With MailerLite Free and start building your list the right way. 3. Keysearch: Keyword Research Made Simple Keywords are so so important. In my early days of blogging I didn’t take much notice of them in all honesty. I thought I could get things ranking without them (?!). It didn’t take me long to realise that you REALLY do need to focus on keywords and keyword research but the amazing news is that it is a lot simpler than it sounds, makes a huge difference to your posts and tools like KeySearch make it SO easy. SEO really doesn’t have to be scary. Keysearch is one of the easiest tools to use that I’ve found, especially as a beginner. They have a free plan where you get 5 free searches a day and this will give you a really good idea of how to use it, and just how helpful it is. Then if you upgrade to their paid plan like I did, it’s super affordable and gives you so many searches, not just for keywords but also for search terms, inspiration, competition levels, search and how hard it is to rank! If you want to grow your blog traffic without relying entirely on Pinterest or social media (which is never a good idea as social media especially can be so temperamental lol), this is a must have.. I’ve tried a few keyword tools over my time blogging, but Keysearch stands out for beginners and for anyone wanting to grow their blog. It’s incredibly easy to understand and use (same cannot be said for all lol) but is still powerful enough to show you traffic-driving keywords that you otherwise may never have thought of. Here’s what I love about KeySearch: Without it, I wasted hours writing posts that never ranked lol. But the IDEAS it gave as much as the keywords/difficulty itself was absolutely worth it and made blogging and content creation SO much easier. ➡️ Try Keysearch Here for Free! BONUS: If you’re really serious about making money with your blog and feel you need even more features, I would recommend SEMrush! SEMrush is one of the ultimate platforms when it comes to SEO and Keywords. It’s used by pros all across the world and comes with a free trial so you can test it before committing which is amazing. It does quite a lot more than KeySearch so you only need this if you are already good with keyword research and want to take your blog to the next level. It’s pricier, but definitely worth it if you’re ready to take your blog to serious heights! ➡️ Try SEMrush here! 4. Legal Pages Bundle: Blog Legally from Day One Legal pages. Ahhh legal pages.  These are one of the aspects of having a blog that most people (in the early days) think they don’t need, or think they can use a free template and that will suffice… Literally, we all did lol. But here’s the truth… legal pages are not something you can skip over or half-ass.  You really must protect your blog and yourself on a legal level. This is especially important if you are/want to be an affiliate for companies or run ads etc! I bought This Legal Bundle early on (as soon as I realised that free legal pages don’t do/cover anything) and have zero regrets.  One off purchase. A lot cheaper in a bundle. Live in 15 mins. Ideal! The Starter Bundle includes all the pages you need; a privacy policy, terms and conditions page and disclaimer page. All tailored specifically to your country/self/blog, and all created by a real lawyer. You buy the bundle of templates, edit the parts/remove the parts that you don’t need, and can get them live in around 15 mins. Super easy. Super quick and fully covered. It’s really easy to do too. you get step-by-step instructions, fill-in-the spaces/edit the clearly marked sections, and make them live.  It’s one of the best investments you can make for your peace of mind (and your blog’s future).  You will also find that when looking to become an affiliate for certain companies/brands, they will ask/want to see your legal pages to make sure you’re legit. If you want to protect yourself and your blog, have peace of mind and look professional to brands and companies, a Lawyer-written legal pages bundle is a non-negotiable. ➡️ Get The Legal Bundle Here! Protect your blog in half an hour or less! 5. A High-Quality Blogging Course Finding a blogging course that ACTUALLY teaches you how to grow a blog and make money blogging is harder than it sounds. Having taken a few in the early stages of blogging, I found that as much as some were okay, a lot were full of fluff or not overly actionable. And it can cost a lot to take multiple courses that don’t offer much real life value back. There is one that I recommend though, as it is no-fluff, easy to follow, SO MUCH INFORMATION (in the best way), easy to digest and implement, and really notice a true difference with… and it’s Perfecting Blogging. I have a full review/breakdown of the course right here in my full course review! Anyone who has been around for any length of time knows how much I love this course lol. It’s one of the only courses I recommend as I find a lot of courses really hard to follow, too simple, or not engaging enough.  Perfecting Blogging is the opposite. It’s amazing, especially for newer bloggers or anyone wanting a boost/to change up their strategies a bit. Updates for the course are free too. This means you can get new/updated modules for life with no extra cost. (Can you see why I love it yet lol.) Grab Perfecting Blogging Here And here’s the really exciting part! The course creator Sophia (who earns 7+ figures from blogging AND products) is now adding free bonus modules on how to grow a physical product business. All in the same course! She’s going deep into how she turned her planner business into a multi-million dollar part of her brand. And if you already own the course? You get the updates for free. ➡️ Check Out the Blogging Course Here Those are my top 5 must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025 (and beyond), but I wanted to add in two other tools I use daily. You can use these two completely for free, but they can make SUCH a difference and make your blogging liffe so much easier. Bonus Tools: The 2 Free Tools Every Blogger Should Be Using! While the five tools above are my absolute go-tos for blogging, I couldn’t stop there without sharing two completely free tools...

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In this post we are going to go over the top 5 tools you need as a new blogger!

Why the Right Tools Matter in 2025

As with starting any new business/side hustle, getting it properly set up from the start can make a world of a difference! 

It’s always easier after the fact to know what you should have done. But I’m hoping I can save you from that extra level of trial and error, by sharing the top must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025, and beyond!

As with any side hustle/business, the right tools are what help you grow, save you time, and help you make money.

I wasted SO much time in the beginning trying to do everything manually or using the wrong tools lol. Once I found the ones that actually worked, everything started clicking into place.

These are tools I love/use to this day and are the I wish I had from the beginning as they would have helped so much.

A lot of these are super low cost or have free options to be able to have a go first and you can then upgrade if/when you feel ready to!

If you’re serious about growing your blog (not just writing for fun/as a hobby, but you are actually building something profitable), then having the right tools in your kit is honestly non-negotiable.

I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re just starting out. Or even if you’ve been at it a while but feel stuck as that happens to more people than you realise – we have honestly all been there!

There are SO many options out there, and it’s hard to know what’s worth investing your time, money, and energy into. That’s exactly why I’ve put together this post for you. These are my favourite, can’t-blog-without-them tools that have made blogging SO much easier, more enjoyable, and more profitable.

Whether you’re trying to grow your audience, increase your income, or just enjoy the behind-the-scenes side of bloggging more, these tools are my top recommendations for 2025 and beyond. 

Let’s get into these must-have blogging tools, because when you’re using the right tools, everything gets sooo much easier!

1. HostGator: Reliable & Affordable Hosting

If you’re just getting started with your blog, the first thing you need is a domain name and hosting!  HostGator is what I personally use and recommend. I’ve used it across multiple blogs for years and I still love it!

It’s affordable, super reliable, and beginner-friendly which is exactly what you need when you are setting everything up.

It has 24/7 live chat which is a life saver when you accidentally crash your blog and are presented with an error screen at 1am lol – we have all been there! 

They get you back up and running so fast no matter what timezone you are in. Highly, highly recommended.

They nearly always have offers on for cheap domains or super low cost hosting etc so worth checking out. I’ve been with them for years from the very start of my blogging journey and have no plans to change any time soon!

➡ Get Hosting with HostGator Here 

Quick note before you carry on! I have a free download for you! Grab these FREE content prompts and get a peek behind the scenes of my blogging system!

free content prompt ebook download katherine mclee

2. MailerLite: My Preferred Email Marketing Platform

If I could go back to day one, I would immediately sign up with MailerLite. 

They have a completely free plan you can use until you outgrow it so no extra start up costs which we love!

Email marketing is one of the most powerful things you can do in your blogging business. And MailerLite makes it so simple!

Even if you’ve never written a newsletter in your life!

Having your own email list is so valuable. I think most bloggers (myself included) put off starting one though at the beginning as we think we don’t need one, we think it’s complicated or will cost a lot. Nope, nope and nope!

Your email list is your direct contact for people who have shown they are interested in your content/what you are offering. This is such a powerful marketing tool!

If you don’t want to create a freebie to offer people in exchange for their email initially, you can put on a little form or pop up that lets people just sign up to your newsletter and then you can email them tips and tricks, offers or even ask questions. 

Don’t be worrying that people won’t sign up, you will be surprised!

Another good reason to sign up early is that you can get used to sending emails (or even just creating pop ups, forms and emails) even before you get an audience. That way it’s not overwhelmingly new when you do grow (and you will), and you can happily send those newsletters!

Why I love Mailerlite specifically (and why it’s a great choice for everyone):

  • Their free plan is amazing. I used their free plan for a good while before upgrading! You can have up to 1,000 subscribers on the free plan, and you still get access to automations. (Automations being when a sequence of emails goes out after someone meets a certain criteria).
  • You can set up pop-ups, landing pages, welcome automations, and product funnels without needing a tech degree. Quick and simple to customize!
  • It’s clean and really easy to use. It has drag-and-drop editors, email flows, forms etc. You do get more with a paid plan, but once you get used to the free plan, it doesn’t take long to set those things up and get them how you like them!
  • You can easily build funnels for freebies, tripwires, and digital products. There’s so much you can do, even on the free plan. This makes it ideal for anyone wanting to get into email marketing.
  • I’ve used it for both regular newsletters, for automated sequences, pop ups, landing pages, embedded forms etc etc and love it! You will notice any email you get from me says “Mailerlite” at the bottom of it!

It’s one of the platforms I’ve stuck with long-term. I’ve stuck with it because MailerLite does exactly what I need it to, without overwhelming me with complexity or too many options/features which is not my idea of fun lol.

➡ Start With MailerLite Free and start building your list the right way.

3. Keysearch: Keyword Research Made Simple

Keywords are so so important. In my early days of blogging I didn’t take much notice of them in all honesty. I thought I could get things ranking without them (?!). It didn’t take me long to realise that you REALLY do need to focus on keywords and keyword research but the amazing news is that it is a lot simpler than it sounds, makes a huge difference to your posts and tools like KeySearch make it SO easy.

SEO really doesn’t have to be scary. Keysearch is one of the easiest tools to use that I’ve found, especially as a beginner. They have a free plan where you get 5 free searches a day and this will give you a really good idea of how to use it, and just how helpful it is.

Then if you upgrade to their paid plan like I did, it’s super affordable and gives you so many searches, not just for keywords but also for search terms, inspiration, competition levels, search and how hard it is to rank!

If you want to grow your blog traffic without relying entirely on Pinterest or social media (which is never a good idea as social media especially can be so temperamental lol), this is a must have..

I’ve tried a few keyword tools over my time blogging, but Keysearch stands out for beginners and for anyone wanting to grow their blog. It’s incredibly easy to understand and use (same cannot be said for all lol) but is still powerful enough to show you traffic-driving keywords that you otherwise may never have thought of.

Here’s what I love about KeySearch:

  • You can find low-competition keywords which are perfect for new blogs
  • It gives you a full breakdown of keyword difficulty, volume, and competitor analysis – even colour coded to make it easier
  • The Content Assistant helps you write posts with the right SEO terms built-in
  • It’s SO affordable even once upgraded from the free plan

Without it, I wasted hours writing posts that never ranked lol. But the IDEAS it gave as much as the keywords/difficulty itself was absolutely worth it and made blogging and content creation SO much easier.

➡ Try Keysearch Here for Free!

BONUS: If you’re really serious about making money with your blog and feel you need even more features, I would recommend SEMrush! SEMrush is one of the ultimate platforms when it comes to SEO and Keywords. It’s used by pros all across the world and comes with a free trial so you can test it before committing which is amazing.

It does quite a lot more than KeySearch so you only need this if you are already good with keyword research and want to take your blog to the next level. It’s pricier, but definitely worth it if you’re ready to take your blog to serious heights!

➡ Try SEMrush here!

4. Legal Pages Bundle: Blog Legally from Day One

Legal pages. Ahhh legal pages. 

These are one of the aspects of having a blog that most people (in the early days) think they don’t need, or think they can use a free template and that will suffice…

Literally, we all did lol.

But here’s the truth… legal pages are not something you can skip over or half-ass. 

You really must protect your blog and yourself on a legal level. This is especially important if you are/want to be an affiliate for companies or run ads etc!

I bought This Legal Bundle early on (as soon as I realised that free legal pages don’t do/cover anything) and have zero regrets

One off purchase. A lot cheaper in a bundle. Live in 15 mins. Ideal!

The Starter Bundle includes all the pages you need; a privacy policy, terms and conditions page and disclaimer page. All tailored specifically to your country/self/blog, and all created by a real lawyer.

You buy the bundle of templates, edit the parts/remove the parts that you don’t need, and can get them live in around 15 mins. Super easy. Super quick and fully covered.

It’s really easy to do too. you get step-by-step instructions, fill-in-the spaces/edit the clearly marked sections, and make them live. 

It’s one of the best investments you can make for your peace of mind (and your blog’s future). 

You will also find that when looking to become an affiliate for certain companies/brands, they will ask/want to see your legal pages to make sure you’re legit.

If you want to protect yourself and your blog, have peace of mind and look professional to brands and companies, a Lawyer-written legal pages bundle is a non-negotiable.

➡ Get The Legal Bundle Here! Protect your blog in half an hour or less!

5. A High-Quality Blogging Course

Finding a blogging course that ACTUALLY teaches you how to grow a blog and make money blogging is harder than it sounds.

Having taken a few in the early stages of blogging, I found that as much as some were okay, a lot were full of fluff or not overly actionable.

And it can cost a lot to take multiple courses that don’t offer much real life value back.

There is one that I recommend though, as it is no-fluff, easy to follow, SO MUCH INFORMATION (in the best way), easy to digest and implement, and really notice a true difference with… and it’s Perfecting Blogging.

I have a full review/breakdown of the course right here in my full course review!

Anyone who has been around for any length of time knows how much I love this course lol. It’s one of the only courses I recommend as I find a lot of courses really hard to follow, too simple, or not engaging enough. 

Perfecting Blogging is the opposite. It’s amazing, especially for newer bloggers or anyone wanting a boost/to change up their strategies a bit.

Updates for the course are free too. This means you can get new/updated modules for life with no extra cost.

(Can you see why I love it yet lol.)

Grab Perfecting Blogging Here

And here’s the really exciting part! The course creator Sophia (who earns 7+ figures from blogging AND products) is now adding free bonus modules on how to grow a physical product business. All in the same course!

She’s going deep into how she turned her planner business into a multi-million dollar part of her brand. And if you already own the course? You get the updates for free.

➡ Check Out the Blogging Course Here

Those are my top 5 must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025 (and beyond), but I wanted to add in two other tools I use daily. You can use these two completely for free, but they can make SUCH a difference and make your blogging liffe so much easier.

Bonus Tools: The 2 Free Tools Every Blogger Should Be Using!

While the five tools above are my absolute go-tos for blogging, I couldn’t stop there without sharing two completely free tools that have helped me grow and saved so much time overall!

6. Pinterest – For Free Blog Traffic From Day 1

I started using Pinterest after the hype I heard about it for marketing your blog/blog posts in Perfecting Blogging. Once you get the hang of it (and accept their temperamental algorithm changes), it’s an amazing way to get free traffic to your website or blog.

Pinterest was always known as a place for recipes, crafts and wedding dress inspo. And while it’s still incredible for exactly that, it really is so much more. 

The beauty of Pinterest is that it’s a visual seach engine – not a social media.   

And on top of that, it’s one of the most powerful search engines out there for bloggers!

That means the content you pin today can keep bringing in traffic for months or even years from now.

The other good thing with Pinterest is that you can get clicks through to your website instantly! As soon as you upload a pin, it goes into the Pinterest engine and can be seen/saved/clicked through there and then.

Just a quick note; as with everything, it does take time for Pinterest to understand what your account is about. It uses your pins, titles, descriptions, boards, profile etc to work out what your content is about and who to show it to. Because of this, it does take a few months of consistent pinning of fresh pins for Pinterest to really start pushing out your pins. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that people CAN see and click through your pins as soon as they go up.

For a lot more in depth information on Pinterest pins, fresh pins, strategies, etc so you can ride the Pinterest wave instead of spending years of trial and error, you can get this Pinterest Course here!

I’ve had posts go from zero to literally hundreds of visits thanks to ONE pin doing well!

If you’re a blogger or content creator and you’re not using Pinterest yet, take this as your sign to start. 

7. Canva – The Best (and Easiest) Image Creation Tool

Canva (even the free plan) is the best way to create images for your blog, header images, logos, pins for Pinterest and so much more.

It’s really easy to use, has so many templates, photos, backgrounds, videos and elements you can use.

Canva makes it really easy to create social media images as much as custom blog photos and elements! 

If you find you want some more freedom in terms of the elements you have access to you can upgrade to the Pro plan, but there’s really no need at all until you want to!

Canva is one of those tools I honestly didn’t know I needed until I got it lol.

When you start to grow your Email List you can also use their eBook and other templates to use as email freebies. Not only that but you can use it to create product mock-ups for Etsy or any other products you may want to show!

You don’t need to be experienced in graphic design to use it either! Everything is drag and drop and super simple to get the hang of with a little practice!

It’s perfect for bloggers (or anyone) who wants their content to look polished without spending hours in Photoshop.

Conclusion

Honestly, you don’t need a huge amount of tools to make a success of your blog. Don’t buy into the hype that you need to spend thousands to make money blogging!

A few good ones (like the ones I mentioned above) will make all the difference on their own!

I think like so many new bloggers, when I first started blogging I was completely overloaded with information as to what tools to get/use. I ended up using/trying/buying SO many (not a good strategy lol) but these are the few that ACTUALLY work and are genuinely helpful. 

Blogging (for an income) is a long game, so having the tools to help ease up, quicken up and streamline that process is truly the most valuable thing.

You don’t need all of the above at once either! 

Sign up to the ones you need initially (such as Hostgator, Legal Pages and the Blogging Course) and add in Mailerlite and Keysearch/SemRush down the line!

Got questions? Drop me a comment or come and find me on Pinterest! 😀

Speak soon!

Katherine McLee signature black and white

📌 Pin for later 📌

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Can You Make Money Online Without Any Investment? https://katherinemclee.com/make-money-online-without-investment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=make-money-online-without-investment https://katherinemclee.com/make-money-online-without-investment/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:56:31 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=13671 In this post we are going to go over if you can make money online but without any investment. If you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to make money online without spending a penny upfront, then You’re definitely not alone. The answer is – quite simply – yes! Of course there are many ways that require a bit of investment upfront, but if you have 0 budget, there are still options for you. You can absolutely start earning online without any upfront investment or costs at all. There are free platforms, free tools, free resources and strategies out there that let you grow your income from nothing. And in this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how it’s possible and ways to start. The beauty of making money online is that there are SO many options and ways you can go about it. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just want to try out a side hustle/idea before committing to anything long-term, you’ll see that low-budget/no-budget ways to make money are totally doable!  For a full list of ways you can make $100 in a day, have a look at this post here! So if you’ve ever been thinking, “Do I really have to invest money to start making money?” – This post is for you! Making Money Online for Free To answer the main question,: yes, you can absolutely make money online without investing any money upfront! You just need to go about it slightly differently! Instead of spending money, you’ll be focused on just trading your time, and putting in effort. Of course you would need to invest time and effort if you were putting money in too, but maybe in differing amounts. One thing to be aware of is that free methods can often take longer to gain traction. They are however a perfect option if you’re just starting out, testing the waters in a particular area, or have little to no budget. A couple of things to remember: Success might not come overnight (it rarely does, despite what you see online lol), but it absolutely can (and will) come with consistency. Especially when you stay focused, keep learning and pivot as and when required. Best Ways to Make Money Online Without Investment The amazing thing about making money online  is that there are honestly SO many ways you can go about it. Whatever your skills are (either the ones you already have or want to learn), you can find an income idea that suits you.  Here are some ideas of ways you can make money for free online: Start a Blog on a Free Platform Platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger let you have a blog for free. You won’t have full control (like you would with a self-hosted blog such as one on wordpress.org), but it’s a really good way to practice content creation (to see if you like it lol), grow an audience, and even add your own affiliate links. Just double check the rules of whichever platform you choose. If you need more information on setting up a free blog, I have a full breakdown here! Affiliate Marketing Affiliate marketing is one of the best free income methods you can get. You can start with platforms such as Amazon Associates, or marketplaces such as Impact or ShareASale. Some you will need to apply for, and some have minimum requirements to meet but you can choose the brands/programs that suit you and your chosen products the best. You can then promote links through Pinterest, YouTube, or your free blog!  I have a full guide to starting and building up your income with affiliate marketing here! Sell Digital Products Digital products can be an amazing way to make money online. There may be a teeny investment with this one but I will explain that in a second! With selling digital products, you can sell ebooks, templates, courses, content or printables.  The fastest way to sell digital products is to buy products with PLR/MRR where you buy products, rebrand them to your liking and then sell them on for 100% profit.  I’ve recently started adding printable bundles to my Etsy shop (listed below). These are perfect if you’re just getting started and want something ready-made to sell or use! Bundles such as this one give you a huge amount of ebooks, images and reels to edit/rebrand and sell as you please. You can also get super affordable single products such as this planner which again is completely free to edit and sell as your own. These sorts of products give you ready-made products, they just do require that little investment initially. Once purchased once you can re-sell as many times as you like though! You can 100% create your own products for free with a free Canva account though if that’s not in your budget! It will take more effort and take longer but is 100% free to do. You can then sell via your blog, gumroad, Etsy, or Shopify.  If you’re really serious about it and want to use Shopify but can’t make your budget stretch, if you use THIS LINK HERE it will give you a free trial AND 3 months at just £1/$1 each!). Freelance Your Skills If you already have skills in areas such as writing, graphic design, social media management, or data entry, you’re in the amazing position in that you can start earning online right away! No matter if you can write, edit, design, or manage tasks, there’s a market for you! Sites like Fiverr or Upwork are completely free to join and allow you to earn an income through skills you already have, no upfront investment needed at all. This means you can create a free profile and then offer your services in whichever area your skills are in. If you can offer services people need at a competitive price, build up your reviews and credibility, then there’s a lot of money to be made! Start a YouTube Channel When it comes to making money on YouTube, long-form content wins hands down over short-form content. YouTube itself is an amazing way to grow your audience and you can then monetize through ads, affiliate links, or sponsorships as your channel grows. You can use your current phone or camera and use a free editing software to start off creating videos. You can start off with videos that need less editing such as tutorials, product reviews or lifestyle vlogs. If you want to get into a niche topic, try and keep your videos around this so that you’re attracting the right audience from the start. YouTube itself will (in 99% of cases), take a good amount of time to grow and get monetized with. BUT, the sooner you start, the sooner you can hit the criteria required and get yourself/your channel monetized! Online Surveys Online surveys is probably the “simplest” way to make money online for free but it can take a long time to get any reward back. Websites like Swagbucks (for everyone) or OnePoll (if you’re in the UK) pay you for taking short surveys. It’s a great way to make money if you’re happy to keep checking back and doing surveys when they pop up, to get your account up to the payment threshold the quickest. While online surveys are not a long-term income model, they are a free way to get started and build up some cash on the side – completely for free! Want 50 ready-to-use content prompts to help you grow online faster?Grab your FREE copy of 50 Content Power Prompts here, and get the option of a bonus toolkit for just £11 (60% off RRP)! Skills That Can Help You Succeed (For Free!) Let me first say, especially for things such as online surveys, you can get started without any skills or experience!  For some of the other options you can either use or learn skills that will help.  You certainly don’t need a degree or expensive software in the beginning (or ever if that’s what works for you)! What you do need is to learn just a few key skills to help yourself get started.   You can learn all of these basics for free through blogs, YouTube, and your own experience/practice. Here’s a quick list of skills you can use/learn to get started: Of course if you do have a little budget and/or little to no time, the quickest way (by far) to learn the sorts of online skills that will actually make you money is a reputable and decent online course such as these ones by Sophia Lee! Don’t worry about mastering everything at once! Actually don’t worry about mastering any at all just now lol. Just choose one or two areas to get stronger in and build from there. Start with the ones you either are best at initially, or the ones you want to learn/that fit your chosen business options the best. Common Mistakes to Avoid  When trying to make money online without spending money, there are a few common traps people fall into. They are all completely natural but also totally avoidable! Here are some of the most common ones:  How to Scale Your Earnings Over Time Starting to make money online for free doesn’t mean you have to stay small forever. You can absolutely grow your income with time (and down the line, money). Here’s a few examples how you can grow your business: Conclusion So the question was, can you make money online without any investment? Absolutely! If you are aiming for a big income you can absolutely get there. The monetary investment can come when you have the income coming in from those free channels. If you’re willing to trade (some of) your time, learn as you go, pivot when needed and stay consistent when others give up… you’re already ahead of most people. You don’t need to spend a single penny to get started! To start you just need to choose a method, commit to learning skills, putting in the time, showing up when needed, and take that first step. Success starts small… but it grows! If you found this helpful, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts below! P.S. Need more beginner-friendly tools to start making money online?Check out my full Tools & Resources page for my favourite platforms, bundles, and other resources that helped me grow my blog – all in one place! For information on making money with Pinterest without a blog, have a look at this info here! Speak soon! 📌 Pin for later 📌

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In this post we are going to go over if you can make money online but without any investment.

If you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to make money online without spending a penny upfront, then You’re definitely not alone. The answer is – quite simply – yes!

Of course there are many ways that require a bit of investment upfront, but if you have 0 budget, there are still options for you.

You can absolutely start earning online without any upfront investment or costs at all. There are free platforms, free tools, free resources and strategies out there that let you grow your income from nothing. And in this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how it’s possible and ways to start.

The beauty of making money online is that there are SO many options and ways you can go about it.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or just want to try out a side hustle/idea before committing to anything long-term, you’ll see that low-budget/no-budget ways to make money are totally doable

For a full list of ways you can make $100 in a day, have a look at this post here!

So if you’ve ever been thinking, “Do I really have to invest money to start making money?” – This post is for you!

Making Money Online for Free

To answer the main question,: yes, you can absolutely make money online without investing any money upfront! You just need to go about it slightly differently! Instead of spending money, you’ll be focused on just trading your time, and putting in effort. Of course you would need to invest time and effort if you were putting money in too, but maybe in differing amounts.

One thing to be aware of is that free methods can often take longer to gain traction. They are however a perfect option if you’re just starting out, testing the waters in a particular area, or have little to no budget.

A couple of things to remember:

  • You’ll most likely start small before you build up to your bigger months. This is also true if you were investing money!
  • You will of course (as with anything) need to be consistent. Consistency and growth is key!
  • You’ll grow faster if you treat it like a business. This includes right from the start, even when it’s not making too much income yet.

Success might not come overnight (it rarely does, despite what you see online lol), but it absolutely can (and will) come with consistency. Especially when you stay focused, keep learning and pivot as and when required.

Best Ways to Make Money Online Without Investment

The amazing thing about making money online  is that there are honestly SO many ways you can go about it. Whatever your skills are (either the ones you already have or want to learn), you can find an income idea that suits you. 

Here are some ideas of ways you can make money for free online:

Start a Blog on a Free Platform

Platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger let you have a blog for free. You won’t have full control (like you would with a self-hosted blog such as one on wordpress.org), but it’s a really good way to practice content creation (to see if you like it lol), grow an audience, and even add your own affiliate links. Just double check the rules of whichever platform you choose.

If you need more information on setting up a free blog, I have a full breakdown here!

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the best free income methods you can get. You can start with platforms such as Amazon Associates, or marketplaces such as Impact or ShareASale. Some you will need to apply for, and some have minimum requirements to meet but you can choose the brands/programs that suit you and your chosen products the best. You can then promote links through Pinterest, YouTube, or your free blog! 

I have a full guide to starting and building up your income with affiliate marketing here!

Sell Digital Products

Digital products can be an amazing way to make money online. There may be a teeny investment with this one but I will explain that in a second!

With selling digital products, you can sell ebooks, templates, courses, content or printables. 

The fastest way to sell digital products is to buy products with PLR/MRR where you buy products, rebrand them to your liking and then sell them on for 100% profit. 

I’ve recently started adding printable bundles to my Etsy shop (listed below). These are perfect if you’re just getting started and want something ready-made to sell or use!

Bundles such as this one give you a huge amount of ebooks, images and reels to edit/rebrand and sell as you please.

You can also get super affordable single products such as this planner which again is completely free to edit and sell as your own.

These sorts of products give you ready-made products, they just do require that little investment initially. Once purchased once you can re-sell as many times as you like though!

You can 100% create your own products for free with a free Canva account though if that’s not in your budget! It will take more effort and take longer but is 100% free to do.

You can then sell via your blog, gumroad, Etsy, or Shopify

If you’re really serious about it and want to use Shopify but can’t make your budget stretch, if you use THIS LINK HERE it will give you a free trial AND 3 months at just £1/$1 each!).

Freelance Your Skills

If you already have skills in areas such as writing, graphic design, social media management, or data entry, you’re in the amazing position in that you can start earning online right away!

No matter if you can write, edit, design, or manage tasks, there’s a market for you! Sites like Fiverr or Upwork are completely free to join and allow you to earn an income through skills you already have, no upfront investment needed at all.

This means you can create a free profile and then offer your services in whichever area your skills are in.

If you can offer services people need at a competitive price, build up your reviews and credibility, then there’s a lot of money to be made!

Start a YouTube Channel

When it comes to making money on YouTube, long-form content wins hands down over short-form content. YouTube itself is an amazing way to grow your audience and you can then monetize through ads, affiliate links, or sponsorships as your channel grows.

You can use your current phone or camera and use a free editing software to start off creating videos.

You can start off with videos that need less editing such as tutorials, product reviews or lifestyle vlogs. If you want to get into a niche topic, try and keep your videos around this so that you’re attracting the right audience from the start.

YouTube itself will (in 99% of cases), take a good amount of time to grow and get monetized with. BUT, the sooner you start, the sooner you can hit the criteria required and get yourself/your channel monetized!

Online Surveys

Online surveys is probably the “simplest” way to make money online for free but it can take a long time to get any reward back. Websites like Swagbucks (for everyone) or OnePoll (if you’re in the UK) pay you for taking short surveys.

It’s a great way to make money if you’re happy to keep checking back and doing surveys when they pop up, to get your account up to the payment threshold the quickest.

While online surveys are not a long-term income model, they are a free way to get started and build up some cash on the side – completely for free!

Want 50 ready-to-use content prompts to help you grow online faster?
Grab your FREE copy of 50 Content Power Prompts here, and get the option of a bonus toolkit for just £11 (60% off RRP)!

Free Download Sidebar Image Content Prompts ebook download

Skills That Can Help You Succeed (For Free!)

Let me first say, especially for things such as online surveys, you can get started without any skills or experience! 

For some of the other options you can either use or learn skills that will help. 

You certainly don’t need a degree or expensive software in the beginning (or ever if that’s what works for you)!

What you do need is to learn just a few key skills to help yourself get started.  

You can learn all of these basics for free through blogs, YouTube, and your own experience/practice.

Here’s a quick list of skills you can use/learn to get started:

  • Writing & Communication: Helps you with blogging, freelancing, and social content.
  • Basic SEO Knowledge: Not as scary as it sounds! SEO helps you get found on search engines like Google, YouTube, Etsy and Pinterest.
  • Design Skills: Use can use completely free tools such as Canva to create graphics, pins, or even products and their covers if the PLR products aren’t for you.
  • Social Media Strategy: Understanding how platforms work means better content and more clicks. Being a user is a good step, but understanding marketing and the algorithms makes a huge difference.
  • Time Management: This is especially important when you’re building something from scratch around your day job or other responsibilities. Don’t panic if you have time blindness (hello lol), as you can have short bursts of focused time, use timers and fit in tasks where you can.

Of course if you do have a little budget and/or little to no time, the quickest way (by far) to learn the sorts of online skills that will actually make you money is a reputable and decent online course such as these ones by Sophia Lee!

Don’t worry about mastering everything at once! Actually don’t worry about mastering any at all just now lol. Just choose one or two areas to get stronger in and build from there. Start with the ones you either are best at initially, or the ones you want to learn/that fit your chosen business options the best.

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

When trying to make money online without spending money, there are a few common traps people fall into. They are all completely natural but also totally avoidable! Here are some of the most common ones: 

  • Expecting instant results: Chances are, you won’t become rich overnight. Could happen! Not likely lol. Slow, steady growth is powerful and is where it’s at.
  • Spreading yourself too thin: Focus on 1–2 strategies and go all in on those. It can be SO tempting to try 10 things all at once (we have all been there lol) but focusing on one or two things will get you a lot further, a lot faster.
  • Not treating it like a business: Consistency, well thought out systems, and showing up for yourself and as your business are the key ways to turn your ideas from a hobby into your side income.
  • Giving up too soon: This is the biggest one. Most people quit right before things start to take off so never see success. You will see success if you refuse to quit.

How to Scale Your Earnings Over Time

Starting to make money online for free doesn’t mean you have to stay small forever. You can absolutely grow your income with time (and down the line, money). Here’s a few examples how you can grow your business:

  • Reinvest your earnings: Once you are making money, uou can then use some of that money you have made to upgrade your tools (a personalised domain, hosting, or e-commerce platform for full control, for example).
  • Create systems: Batch-create content, reuse what works, and build habits that make content creation easier! This is the biggest game changer that lets you run things automatically and free up time to then work and grow other aspects of your business.
  • Build an email list: Building an email list is so important and is something anyone with any sort of online presence (big or small) should have. You can use free tools like MailerLite (which has a fabulous free plan) to start getting subscribers and promoting your content/products through emails! You can try Mailerlite here!
  • Double down on what’s working: If you’re seeing sales or traffic from a certain platform, do more of that! If a style of pin is working, do more of those. If an editing style is working, do more of that! You get the idea lol. Your analytics and stats will tell you what’s working, and what to focus more on.

Conclusion

So the question was, can you make money online without any investment?

Absolutely!

If you are aiming for a big income you can absolutely get there. The monetary investment can come when you have the income coming in from those free channels.

If you’re willing to trade (some of) your time, learn as you go, pivot when needed and stay consistent when others give up… you’re already ahead of most people. You don’t need to spend a single penny to get started! To start you just need to choose a method, commit to learning skills, putting in the time, showing up when needed, and take that first step.

Success starts small… but it grows!

If you found this helpful, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts below!

P.S. Need more beginner-friendly tools to start making money online?
Check out my full Tools & Resources page for my favourite platforms, bundles, and other resources that helped me grow my blog – all in one place!

For information on making money with Pinterest without a blog, have a look at this info here!

Speak soon!

Katherine McLee signature black and white

📌 Pin for later 📌

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How To Make $100 In a Day: 47 Fun and Practical Ideas https://katherinemclee.com/how-to-make-100-in-a-day-47-fun-and-practical-ideas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-make-100-in-a-day-47-fun-and-practical-ideas https://katherinemclee.com/how-to-make-100-in-a-day-47-fun-and-practical-ideas/#comments Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:50:39 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=12025 In this post, we’re diving into 47 fun, easy, and realistic ways to make $100 a day online or offline. No matter whether you’re looking for quick cash, long-term income, or a creative side hustle you’ll actually enjoy! Making extra money isn’t always instant, but it’s 100% possible if you stick with it! The trick is finding side hustles or money-making ideas that you actually enjoy and want to keep doing. When you focus on the ideas/methods that interest you, you’ll find that the journey becomes way more fun and rewarding! With the tips I’m about to share with you below, you could start making extra cash fast – even $100 or more, in a single day! If something doesn’t work out, don’t worry or panic – it’s normal! It just means that specific option maybe wasn’t the right fit for you. Go through the other options and move on to the next idea that sparks your interest. Stay consistent, keep experimenting, and you’ll eventually find the perfect side hustle to hit your $100-a-day (or more) goal. Let’s get into the top ways to make some extra money! This post is long, and everyone’s in a different situation.Here’s a quick overview so you can scroll to the ideas that suit you best: In this post you’ll find:• Fast online methods• Freelance + service options• Local offline ideas• Selling items you already own• Platforms to get started• Tips to choose the best method for you Fastest Ways to Make Money 1. Earn Money by Taking Surveys Taking surveys online is one of the easiest ways to earn extra cash from your laptop or phone. Many brands and companies are keen to gather consumer feedback to improve their products and services Sometimes it’s literally just for general information from the public. This means they are often willing to pay for your opinions. Platforms such as Swagbucks, SurveyJunkie, and OnePoll (UK) offer paid surveys, ranging from quick polls to longer, more in-depth questionnaires. Each survey will offer a different monetary amount and will all add up the payout threshold. This allows you to earn money or rewards like gift cards, completely at your own pace. While the pay amount for each survey might not look like much, consistently completing surveys can add up over time. It’s an easy way to make some money while killing some time! This makes it a great option for anyone looking to supplement their income in their spare time.  Plus, there’s no specialized skill or qualifications required – just your honest input! You can of course join multiple survey sites to maximize your earnings with this side hustle. 2. Secret/Mystery Shopper Becoming a secret shopper, or mystery shopper, is a great way to earn some extra cash. You basically get to shop, dine out, or try services as an anonymous customer. Then you get paid to share your honest feedback regarding your experience or any specific things you’ve been asked to check out. It’s like being on a secret mission to evaluate businesses and help them improve. If you enjoy shopping and have a good eye for detail, this could be the perfect side hustle for you. Where you can do this will vary from country to country so check out local mystery shopping platforms near you if this option interests you! 3. Review Websites and Apps If you are open minded and you enjoy trying out new websites and apps, you can literally get paid to share your feedback!  Platforms such as UserTesting and PlaytestCloud pay users to test websites and apps and provide honest opinions on how usable and functional they are! Usually these tests take around 10-20 minutes and can pay anywhere from $5 to $60, depending on complexity and requirements. This side hustle is perfect for anyone already enjoying games/websites and apps, requires no special skills, and can be done from home in your spare time. Plus, if you’re consistent, you can earn a decent stream of extra income just by sharing your thoughts on apps, games and websites! Want 50 ready-to-use content prompts to help you grow online faster?Grab your FREE copy of 50 Content Power Prompts here! 4. Make Money Doing Short Tasks / Micro Jobs If you want a super quick way to earn money online, micro jobs are a great option! Platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk, Clickworker, and even Fiverr’s “quick gigs” section pay users for small, simple tasks! These are things such as data entry, AI training, transcription, surveys, website testing, and loads more. Many of these tasks take just a few minutes to complete and don’t require special skills which is amazing as it makes them accessible to almost anyone! While each task might only pay you a small amount, they can add up quickly! This is especially true if you dedicate time to completing multiple tasks daily. Some platforms also offer higher-paying jobs as you gain experience, allowing you to boost your earnings over time. Which is another win-win! 5. Participate in Research Studies Participating in research studies can be a simple way to make some extra cash while helping scientific studies and brands enhance their knowledge.  Many universities, medical institutions, brands and market research companies pay individuals to take part in studies. These can range from medical trials to focus groups or surveys.  The amount you get paid will vary based on the type of study and the time commitment involved. Some will pay their participants as much as $50 to $200 per session.  You can find opportunities by checking local university websites, clinical research facilities, brand websites or online platforms that offer the studies near you. Companies are constantly seeking participants for focus groups for fresh insights and information. You usually don’t need any special qualifications to get involved as they are looking for a range of participants. Always make sure it’s through a reputable source and always read the study requirements carefully and ensure it’s something you’re comfortable with before committing! 6. Become a Virtual Friend in Your Free Time This is one for anyone who is more of a “people” person. If you enjoy chatting with new people and offering some companionship or friendship, becoming a virtual friend can be a fun and fulfilling way to make money. Websites suuch as RentAFriend, Papa, and Fiverr allow you to connect with people who are looking for someone to talk to, play games with, or even offer advice. Some even look for a friend to accompany them to events etc! There’s no romantic aspect – just friendly conversations and support. You set your own hours and rates, making it a flexible side hustle that fits into your free time and your schedule. Some virtual friends make hundreds of dollars a month simply by being a kind and engaging presence for others online! 7. Data Entry Jobs Data entry jobs are a simple way to earn $100 in a day. It’s perfect for beginners as you only need basic computer skills! The tasks often involve typing and organizing data, making it accessible for anyone who wants to do it. While the hourly pay isn’t as high as some other options, it’s flexible and can be done remotely on your own schedule which is a huge bonus. You can improve your chances of making an income with data entry by learning through  online tutorials and courses. To find work in this area you can look for opportunities on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or research companies looking for this work directly. 8. Transcribe Audio Recordings If you’re a fast (and accurate) typist with really good listening skills, audio transcription could be an excellent way for you to generate some additional income. (This one isn’t great for anyone like me who is fast, but not always accurate lol). This side hustle involves listening to audio recordings and converting them into written documents. This makes it a valuable service across many industries, such as legal, medical, and general business. The beauty of audio transcription work is that it’s really flexible which allows you to choose your own hours and work from virtually anywhere! With consistent practice and good attention to detail, you can refine your skills and turn this opportunity into a reliable income stream where you can work up to make that $100 in a day! Sell What You Already Have 9. Sell/Return Unused Items from Your Home I think we are all guilty of buying things we really didn’t need or thought we wanted but never ended up using/wearing. I know I am! Instead of letting those purchases sit gathering dust, (if they are recent purchases) you can return them to the store for a refund! This is a really quick and easy way to get some money back. Make sure to always keep your receipts and return items within the store’s return policy period if they don’t fit/aren’t useful or aren’t what you wanted or expected.  If returns are not an option due to closed return windows ect, consider selling the items online or through consignment shops if you have any local to you. Does this sound like something you are interested in? If so, start by decluttering and getting rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year. If it isn’t used/useful or doesn’t bring you joy – you can sell it! You of course may not get the full retail price, but it’s a good way to recoup some of your money rather than it sitting in your home costing you 100% of the money spent! 10. Sell Your Used Books Selling used books is a fantastic option if you’ve got old books lying about and are looking to make that $100 in a day! You can use platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace, and it’s then easy to connect with buyers who are looking to buy good-quality, second-hand books at a good price. If you don’t have many used books at home, you can find cheap books from garage sales or thrift stores! If you focus on popular genres such as textbooks, rare editions, or trending novels, you can really increase your profit margins as people are always looking for good deals on those sorts of books. This option is effective for both decluttering and making money online. 11. Sell Unused Gift Cards Selling unused gift cards is an easy (and quick) way to declutter your home and make some quick cash! Every single year, millions of dollars in gift cards go unused! Which is a scary statistic! Different countries/areas have different companies that will buy gift cards back or offer other credits, so look for a credible one in your area! Cards from popular retailers like Amazon or Walmart are in high demand and often fetch great rates! Of course you may not get the full value of the card back, but it’s still better than the entire card being wasted! 12. Flipping Items If you love finding a good deal, flipping items could be the perfect side hustle for you. The trick here is to find and buy items at bargain prices that you can resell for a profit. You can find items at flea markets, garage sales, boot sales, thrift shops, or even online marketplaces such as eBay!  With some creativity and a little know-how, this can turn into a lucrative side hustle option. The key here is to do a bit of research and focus on items that people are actively looking for. This could be vintage decor, niche pieces, or unique collectibles for some examples. Easy Side Hustles 13. Deliver Food Delivering food can be an incredibly easy and flexible way to make extra cash.  Especially if you’re looking for a side hustle that fits around your schedule. Whether you’re delivering pizzas, burgers or groceries, platforms such as Uber Eats, Just Eat, DoorDash or Deliveroo make it super simple to get started. You can work as much or as little as you like, depending on your...

The post How To Make $100 In a Day: 47 Fun and Practical Ideas appeared first on Katherine McLee.

]]>

In this post, we’re diving into 47 fun, easy, and realistic ways to make $100 a day online or offline. No matter whether you’re looking for quick cash, long-term income, or a creative side hustle you’ll actually enjoy!

Making extra money isn’t always instant, but it’s 100% possible if you stick with it!

The trick is finding side hustles or money-making ideas that you actually enjoy and want to keep doing.

When you focus on the ideas/methods that interest you, you’ll find that the journey becomes way more fun and rewarding!

With the tips I’m about to share with you below, you could start making extra cash fast – even $100 or more, in a single day!

If something doesn’t work out, don’t worry or panic – it’s normal! It just means that specific option maybe wasn’t the right fit for you. Go through the other options and move on to the next idea that sparks your interest.

Stay consistent, keep experimenting, and you’ll eventually find the perfect side hustle to hit your $100-a-day (or more) goal.

Let’s get into the top ways to make some extra money!

how to make $100 or £100 in a day red backgroubd with womans hand holding lots of cash money

This post is long, and everyone’s in a different situation.
Here’s a quick overview so you can scroll to the ideas that suit you best:

In this post you’ll find:
• Fast online methods
• Freelance + service options
• Local offline ideas
• Selling items you already own
• Platforms to get started
• Tips to choose the best method for you

Fastest Ways to Make Money

1. Earn Money by Taking Surveys

Taking surveys online is one of the easiest ways to earn extra cash from your laptop or phone.

Many brands and companies are keen to gather consumer feedback to improve their products and services Sometimes it’s literally just for general information from the public. This means they are often willing to pay for your opinions.

Platforms such as Swagbucks, SurveyJunkie, and OnePoll (UK) offer paid surveys, ranging from quick polls to longer, more in-depth questionnaires. Each survey will offer a different monetary amount and will all add up the payout threshold.

This allows you to earn money or rewards like gift cards, completely at your own pace.

While the pay amount for each survey might not look like much, consistently completing surveys can add up over time. It’s an easy way to make some money while killing some time!

This makes it a great option for anyone looking to supplement their income in their spare time. 

Plus, there’s no specialized skill or qualifications required – just your honest input!

You can of course join multiple survey sites to maximize your earnings with this side hustle.

2. Secret/Mystery Shopper

Becoming a secret shopper, or mystery shopper, is a great way to earn some extra cash.

You basically get to shop, dine out, or try services as an anonymous customer. Then you get paid to share your honest feedback regarding your experience or any specific things you’ve been asked to check out.

It’s like being on a secret mission to evaluate businesses and help them improve.

If you enjoy shopping and have a good eye for detail, this could be the perfect side hustle for you.

Where you can do this will vary from country to country so check out local mystery shopping platforms near you if this option interests you!

3. Review Websites and Apps

If you are open minded and you enjoy trying out new websites and apps, you can literally get paid to share your feedback! 

Platforms such as UserTesting and PlaytestCloud pay users to test websites and apps and provide honest opinions on how usable and functional they are!

Usually these tests take around 10-20 minutes and can pay anywhere from $5 to $60, depending on complexity and requirements.

This side hustle is perfect for anyone already enjoying games/websites and apps, requires no special skills, and can be done from home in your spare time.

Plus, if you’re consistent, you can earn a decent stream of extra income just by sharing your thoughts on apps, games and websites!

Want 50 ready-to-use content prompts to help you grow online faster?
Grab your FREE copy of 50 Content Power Prompts here!

Free Download Sidebar Image Content Prompts ebook download

4. Make Money Doing Short Tasks / Micro Jobs

If you want a super quick way to earn money online, micro jobs are a great option!

Platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk, Clickworker, and even Fiverr’s “quick gigs” section pay users for small, simple tasks! These are things such as data entry, AI training, transcription, surveys, website testing, and loads more.

Many of these tasks take just a few minutes to complete and don’t require special skills which is amazing as it makes them accessible to almost anyone!

While each task might only pay you a small amount, they can add up quickly! This is especially true if you dedicate time to completing multiple tasks daily. Some platforms also offer higher-paying jobs as you gain experience, allowing you to boost your earnings over time. Which is another win-win!

5. Participate in Research Studies

Participating in research studies can be a simple way to make some extra cash while helping scientific studies and brands enhance their knowledge. 

Many universities, medical institutions, brands and market research companies pay individuals to take part in studies. These can range from medical trials to focus groups or surveys. 

The amount you get paid will vary based on the type of study and the time commitment involved. Some will pay their participants as much as $50 to $200 per session. 

You can find opportunities by checking local university websites, clinical research facilities, brand websites or online platforms that offer the studies near you.

Companies are constantly seeking participants for focus groups for fresh insights and information. You usually don’t need any special qualifications to get involved as they are looking for a range of participants.

Always make sure it’s through a reputable source and always read the study requirements carefully and ensure it’s something you’re comfortable with before committing!

6. Become a Virtual Friend in Your Free Time

This is one for anyone who is more of a “people” person.

If you enjoy chatting with new people and offering some companionship or friendship, becoming a virtual friend can be a fun and fulfilling way to make money.

Websites suuch as RentAFriend, Papa, and Fiverr allow you to connect with people who are looking for someone to talk to, play games with, or even offer advice. Some even look for a friend to accompany them to events etc!

There’s no romantic aspect – just friendly conversations and support. You set your own hours and rates, making it a flexible side hustle that fits into your free time and your schedule.

Some virtual friends make hundreds of dollars a month simply by being a kind and engaging presence for others online!

7. Data Entry Jobs

Data entry jobs are a simple way to earn $100 in a day.

It’s perfect for beginners as you only need basic computer skills!

The tasks often involve typing and organizing data, making it accessible for anyone who wants to do it. While the hourly pay isn’t as high as some other options, it’s flexible and can be done remotely on your own schedule which is a huge bonus.

You can improve your chances of making an income with data entry by learning through  online tutorials and courses. To find work in this area you can look for opportunities on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or research companies looking for this work directly.

8. Transcribe Audio Recordings

If you’re a fast (and accurate) typist with really good listening skills, audio transcription could be an excellent way for you to generate some additional income.

(This one isn’t great for anyone like me who is fast, but not always accurate lol).

This side hustle involves listening to audio recordings and converting them into written documents. This makes it a valuable service across many industries, such as legal, medical, and general business.

The beauty of audio transcription work is that it’s really flexible which allows you to choose your own hours and work from virtually anywhere!

With consistent practice and good attention to detail, you can refine your skills and turn this opportunity into a reliable income stream where you can work up to make that $100 in a day!


Sell What You Already Have

9. Sell/Return Unused Items from Your Home

I think we are all guilty of buying things we really didn’t need or thought we wanted but never ended up using/wearing. I know I am!

Instead of letting those purchases sit gathering dust, (if they are recent purchases) you can return them to the store for a refund!

This is a really quick and easy way to get some money back.

Make sure to always keep your receipts and return items within the store’s return policy period if they don’t fit/aren’t useful or aren’t what you wanted or expected. 

If returns are not an option due to closed return windows ect, consider selling the items online or through consignment shops if you have any local to you.

Does this sound like something you are interested in? If so, start by decluttering and getting rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year. If it isn’t used/useful or doesn’t bring you joy – you can sell it!

You of course may not get the full retail price, but it’s a good way to recoup some of your money rather than it sitting in your home costing you 100% of the money spent!

10. Sell Your Used Books

Selling used books is a fantastic option if you’ve got old books lying about and are looking to make that $100 in a day!

You can use platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace, and it’s then easy to connect with buyers who are looking to buy good-quality, second-hand books at a good price.

If you don’t have many used books at home, you can find cheap books from garage sales or thrift stores! If you focus on popular genres such as textbooks, rare editions, or trending novels, you can really increase your profit margins as people are always looking for good deals on those sorts of books.

This option is effective for both decluttering and making money online.

11. Sell Unused Gift Cards

Selling unused gift cards is an easy (and quick) way to declutter your home and make some quick cash!

Every single year, millions of dollars in gift cards go unused! Which is a scary statistic!

Different countries/areas have different companies that will buy gift cards back or offer other credits, so look for a credible one in your area!

Cards from popular retailers like Amazon or Walmart are in high demand and often fetch great rates!

Of course you may not get the full value of the card back, but it’s still better than the entire card being wasted!

12. Flipping Items

If you love finding a good deal, flipping items could be the perfect side hustle for you.

The trick here is to find and buy items at bargain prices that you can resell for a profit.

You can find items at flea markets, garage sales, boot sales, thrift shops, or even online marketplaces such as eBay

With some creativity and a little know-how, this can turn into a lucrative side hustle option.

The key here is to do a bit of research and focus on items that people are actively looking for. This could be vintage decor, niche pieces, or unique collectibles for some examples.

Easy Side Hustles

13. Deliver Food

Delivering food can be an incredibly easy and flexible way to make extra cash. 

Especially if you’re looking for a side hustle that fits around your schedule.

Whether you’re delivering pizzas, burgers or groceries, platforms such as Uber Eats, Just Eat, DoorDash or Deliveroo make it super simple to get started. You can work as much or as little as you like, depending on your monetary/work wants and your availability.

The best part for this income option is that you can sometimes earn tips on top of your delivery fee, boosting your income even more!

With this type of work you don’t need any special qualifications – just a reliable vehicle, a phone, and a willingness to work.

Some people even opt to deliver without a car. They may opt for riding a motorbike, push bike, or walking.

It’s an easy way to turn your free time into cash while helping others get what they need!

14. Become a Pet Sitter

Pet sitting is an ideal side hustle for animal lovers because it allows you to spend quality time with animals, all while earning money.

Whether you’re walking dogs, feeding cats, or providing companionship to pets while their owners are away, it can be a fulfilling experience for anyone who loves animals!

The beauty of pet sitting is that you can choose the hours that fit your schedule. This could be shorter, one off jobs, to regular recurring jobs.

Platforms such as Rover make it easy to connect with pet owners in need of trustworthy care for their precious pets.

This side hustle option often pays well, with pet sitters often earning $20-$40 per visit depending on the services and care required. 

For animal lovers, it’s a win-win: doing what you love while making extra income!

15. Start a Pressure-Washing Business

If you prefer a more hands-on and outdoorsy side hustle, starting a pressure-washing business is a fairly low-cost, high-profit way to make money!

You will always find people who need driveways, sidewalks, decks, and buildings cleaned. This makes demand steady year-round!

With just a pressure washer and basic supplies, you can start small and scale up as you like. Plus jobs can pay $100+ per hour when you get good at it. This means you can quickly earn a good income, without needing too many jobs booked in. Perfect for those who want flexibility, independence, and great earning potential!

Of course just remember to get insurance!


Passive Income

16. Cashback Apps

Cashback apps make it really easy to earn rewards or money back on your everyday purchases!

By using apps like Rakuten or Upside, you can receive a percentage of what you spend as cash or redeemable points.

It’s as simple as shopping through the app’s platform or uploading receipts from your regular purchases to the app.

You still shop at your standard places, you just go to the website via the app or upload the receipts!

The more you use these apps and take advantage of special offers, the faster your savings can add up.

Regular users/shoppers often reach $100 within a few months, making cashback apps a hassle-free way to stretch your spending and earn a little extra on the side.

While you may not make $100 in a day, over time you can be rewarded with fairly regular cashback payments or gift cards.

17. Earn Money from Cash Back Offers

If you love shopping, why not get paid for it? Cashback platforms like Rakuten make it really easy to earn money on purchases you’re already making.

The process is really simple too! You create an account for free, shop at your normal/favorite places but via their site, and you then earn a percentage back in cash or as rewards!

Rakuten often has special promotions and bonuses, meaning you can speed up your earnings too. It’s an amazing way to make an income without any extra effort! 

While you may not make $100 a day, using platforms such as Rakuten can certainly add up over time, for little to no extra effort.

18. Rent Out Your Stuff

A simple way to make some money is to rent out things you aren’t using that other people are looking to rent.

If you own a parking space but don’t have a car, consider renting it out to those who would happily pay to use it.

This can be really profitable in busy inner city/urban areas where parking is not only expensive, but hard to come by!  It won’t take long to find someone who’s willing to pay for the spot! 

You could also consider renting out garage space, large tools/machinery or other items that people may be looking for but aren’t wanting to buy.. 

You can advertise in online adverts or in neighborhood groups online.

19. Rent Out Your Car

Have you got an extra car that’s not getting much use? 

This could be a second vehicle or your main vehicle that you aren’t using currently.

Instead of letting it sit unused, consider renting it out through platforms such as HyreCar. These platforms make it easy to legally rent out your vehicle, whether you’re away or just don’t use it daily.

To start, check if your car meets the service’s requirements and you need to ensure your insurance covers car rentals.

Renting out your car through the right channels is an excellent way to turn an unused asset into steady, passive income!

20. Rent Out an Extra Room on Airbnb

If you have a spare room in your home, renting it out could be a fantastic way to bring in extra income. 

This could be a room, an attic conversion or a renovated basement/living space!

Platforms like Airbnb make it simple to advertise and list your space, whether it’s just for weekends, holidays, or for full-time.

Hosting not only lets you earn money but also gives you the chance to meet people from all over the world.

You’ll have full control over your availability, pricing, and house rules. This allows you to tailor the experience to fit your lifestyle.

It’s a flexible and rewarding side hustle for anyone with a little extra space!

Always make sure you use reputable platforms!

Loving these ideas? Get this FREE 50 Power Prompts for Content Creation eBookto keep your momentum going – plus get an exclusive bonus toolkit for just £11!

Free Download Sidebar Image Content Prompts ebook download

21. Buy and Sell Domains

Buying and selling domains (also known as domain flipping) is an excellent side hustle because it offers high-profit potential with minimal upfront investment.

You can purchase domain names for as little as $10–$50 and resell them for significantly higher prices. Sometimes in the thousands!

It’s flexible, allowing you to work from anywhere which is ideal for those looking to fit their income in around their daily schedule.

High-value domains, especially those with a .com extension, tend to attract the highest offers. 

This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it does seem to go that way. 

Platforms such as GoDaddy Auctions and Flippa make it super easy to buy and sell domains.

With patience and a bit of strategy mixed with market insight, domain flipping can generate fairly substantial returns, making it both a profitable and engaging side hustle!

With the right effort, a successful domain flipping business has the potential to generate six-figure incomes annually.

22. Invest in The Stock Market

Investing can be a great way to make money if you are happy to be in it for the long game. It offers incredible potential for long-term growth if you stick with it.

Platforms such as Trading 212 (if you’re in the UK) are perfect for beginners because they are user-friendly, reliable, and provide a range of tools to help you get started. 

Trading 212 is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) so is a great one to start with and if you want some free shares to get started, click this link here.

With features like commission-free trading and helpful , beginner friendly resources, you can start building up your portfolio with minimal upfront costs.

Just remember that investing is a long-term game. While you can see daily profits if markets perform well, the real power of investing lies in compounding over months and even years.

Trading 212 and similar platforms make it easy to diversify your investments, whether you’re interested in stocks, ETFs, or fractional shares. 

The beauty of Trading 212 itself is that they offer a virtual account to practice without any risk!

If you are located outside of the UK you will need to find a platform where you are. Make sure they are highly reviewed and regulated by a Financial Body just as Trading 212 is!


Online Businesses

23. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you earn a commission by promoting other companies’ products. 

The commission you receive will vary from brand to brand but there is a lot of money to be made!

For me, I focus on partnering with brands I trust—companies whose products I use and love. It’s so much easier (and way more fun) to share things you know your audience will genuinely find valuable.

The best part? Affiliate marketing has massive potential.

Many successful bloggers use it as a key income stream, with some earning six figures or more just by funding a way that works for them.

It’s all about being authentic and strategic!

If you want a step-by-step breakdown, start with my post: Affiliate Marketing for Beginners. It shows you exactly how to make your first $1,000 even if you’re starting from 0.

24. Start Your Own Blog

Here’s one that’s close to home for me!

If you’re looking for a creative and long-term way to make money, starting a blog is a brilliant option!

Blogs can generate income through ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, digital products, and more. The best part? You can build a blog around any topic you’re passionate about. No matter whether it’s travel, fitness, parenting, or even niche hobbies.

While blogging takes time to gain traction, once your content is out there it can work for you 24/7. This then can bring in passive income over time. 

And trust me, those little wins – like your first affiliate sale, makes all the effort so worth it!

For answers to the most commonly asked blogging-related questions, have a look at this post here!

If Pinterest feels easier than setting up a full blog, this post shows you how to earn by using pinterest with no need for your own blog if you would prefer that route.

25. Start a YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel is an amazing way to earn income while sharing your passions with an audience from all over the world!

Whether you’re into tutorials, reviews, or lifestyle content, YouTube offers limitless creative freedom and several ways to monetize your channel and your brand.

Once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can join the YouTube Partner Program to earn ad revenue from your videos. Beyond ads, there are many other income opportunities through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products or services.

One of the best aspects of YouTube is its potential for passive income. A single video can continue to generate views – and money – for years to come. 

Building a successful channel requires dedication and consistency, but it’s highly flexible – you set your own schedule and style!

Many creators now earn full-time incomes, with some making six or even seven figures annually. YouTube isn’t just a side hustle. It’s an amazing platform for personal expression, financial growth, and creating a lasting impact on your own channel on the internet.

26. Start a Podcast

Starting a podcast is a great side hustle because it offers you a creative outlet alongwith the opportunity to build a personal brand.

You only need minimal equipment to start. This includes things like a microphone and editing software. With these you can start producing episodes on topics you’re passionate about right away! Whether it’s storytelling, education, or niche interests, you will find an audience who enjoys listening to you.

Podcasts generate income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, merchandise, and listener donations, making them a versatile way to earn.

While you can’t expect to make money instantly, sticking with it and being consistent is the best way to grow your brand and your audience, which in turn will grow your income! 

Platforms such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts make it easy to distribute your content and grow yourself an audience. While it will take time to gain traction, consistent, high-quality content can lead to long-term passive income and even open doors to other opportunities!

It’s a flexible, scalable side hustle option that fits well around daily life.

27. Create an Online Course

This is a fun one for anyone who has knowledge to share!

If you’re an expert in something, no matter whether it’s blogging, cooking, productivity hacks, or even niche hobbies – you can turn that knowledge into an online course!

(I am using the term “expert” but truly all you need is lesser-known information on your chosen topic!)

Platforms such as Teachable and Thinkific make it super easy to create and sell courses to people from all over the world.

Online courses are becoiming more and more popular as people are realising that investing a little money to save a lot of time is SO worth it!

I rave about this Blogging Course for exactly that reason. The amount of time this information provided me – all in one place – makes it such a good investment.

One of the best parts of this income option is that once your course is live, it becomes a source of passive income.

Of course it takes time upfront to script, plan and record, but after that, you can earn money over and over. 

The only things to really focus on then are any updates that may need adding, and marketing your course to those who would be looking to obtain the information you are sharing!

28. Publish a Book or eBook

Publishing your own book or eBook (especially via platforms like Amazon KDP) can be a great way to earn money!

As with any business model, it requires a thoughtful strategy, planning, writing, and marketing.

You can use tools to help you create planners, notebooks or colouring books, then have them published via Amazon KDP!

Once your eBook is live, it can generate passive revenue with minimal additional effort! This is down to the fact that you create them once, but can sell multiple times over as Amazon does the publishing/printing and shipping for you!

You can also sell digital downloads of the books on platforms such as Shopify or Etsy! This can include books you have written yourself, or books you have bought with PLR which are done-for-you books that you can sell as your own!

29. Sell PLR Done-for-you Products

Selling PLR (Private Label Rights) done-for-you products (just as the picture above) is a fantastic way to make money. This is because it’s a low-effort, high-reward business model/way to create an income!

You buy ready-made content such as courses, eBooks, downloads, templates, or graphics, and you then rebrand them and sell them as your own.

Here’s an example of done-for-you products you can re-brand and re-sell as your own!

There’s no need to spend hours creating products from scratch!

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to offer digital products without the worry or hassle of making them.

You can then sell them on platforms such as Etsy and Shopify!

If you need more info on Shopify or their free trial, check that out here!

Plus, digital products have no inventory or shipping costs. This means your profit margins are huge. The only cost needed is the one you paid for the item initially. Once set up, it’s a passive income stream that keeps bringing in sales even while you sleep! 

30. Sell Items on Etsy

No matter if you love making handmade crafts, designing printables, or selling PLR/done-for-you products, selling on Etsy is a great way to make money!

Etsy is an online market place which means it already has its own customer base. 

Whether you sell jewelry, home decor, digital downloads, or custom gifts, you can start as small as you like and can grow your shop over time.

Plus, with Etsy handling all purchases and payments, plus giving you built-in exposure to a ready-made audience, it’s easier than ever to reach customers worldwide!

Another popular option when it comes to selling items on Etsy is to use a platform such as Printify and you can sell Print-On-Demand products. This could be mugs, t-shirts, stickers, or anything else that appeals to you!

With Print-On-Demand you design your items in Printify, connect it to your Etsy store, and then whhen people order, the order goes directly through Printify so you don’t have to hold any stock/inventory and no worry about having to ship items out yourself!

Using Printify lets you design items you like, it lets the customer buy whichever variation you have advised is available, and you don’t have to do anything else other than collect the profit!

Definitely a good option!

31. Sell Items on Amazon

Do you have stuff lying around the house? Or maybe you’ve got an eye for finding bargains? Selling items on Amazon can be a fast and profitable way to make extra cash.

Whether it’s books, gadgets, or other products, Amazon makes it easy to list and sell to millions of potential buyers. You don’t need a full-blown business to start – just some products and a bit of time to get your listings set up.

Plus, with Amazon handling the tricky, fiddly stuff like shipping through FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), you can just focus on finding great items to sell!

Some sellers have made hundreds in their first month, so if you’ve got an eye for products, this could be a great side hustle for you!


High-Income Skills

32. Freelancing Your Skill Set

Freelance work is another fantastic way to earn extra money.

If you have specific skills, freelancing from home can be a great way to earn extra money.

You can easily sign up to websites such as Fiverr and Upwork. These platforms connect freelancers with clients who need specific skills such as proofreading, web design, writing, photography or social media management.

After setting up your profile and services, you can start taking on freelance jobs that fit into your schedule. 

Most often anyone can sign up to offer freelance platforms like the ones mentioned above.

However, be aware that some platforms may have application processes or require you to prove your skills before accepting you in. Once you’re approved, you can then start offering your services and set your own rates!

33. Sell Services on Fiverr

If you have an online service to offer, you can do so on Fiverr!

Fiverr is one of the easiest ways to start making yourself money online by offering your skills as paid services.

No matter whether your skill is in writing content or emails, graphic design, video editing, voiceovers, or social media management (just as a few examples – the list is endless), you will find that someone will be looking for those specific services.

People often start by creating simple, quick jobs at an appealing low price to attract your first few customers and then as your completed jobs, experience and positive reviews go up, you can then increase your rates and complexity of jobs!

Fiverr handles all of the marketing and brings clients to you through keywords, so you don’t have to spend time searching for work. Of course you can promote your services if you’d like though!

34. Become a Virtual Assistant

If you’re organized and good at multitasking, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) is a fantastic way to make money online!

Business owners, bloggers, influencers and entrepreneurs are always looking for help with the daily tasks that take time away from them creating content/products! These tasks could be things like email management, social media scheduling, data entry, help with Pinterest and customer support.

You can sign up and start on websites like Fiverr or Upwork, and you set your own rates based on your experience!

As for how much you can make, many new VAs earn between $15-$50 per hour, and as you gain clients and experience, it can turn into a full-time income. Plus, you get the freedom to work from anywhere!

35. Email Marketing Manager

Email marketing is one of the most powerful ways businesses connect with their audience. A lot will say that their email list is one of the most important and valuable things that they have! Because of this, they are willing to pay for experts who can help write and schedule engaging emails that drive sales or clicks!

As an Email Marketing Manager, you’ll create newsletters, automated sequences, and promotional campaigns to help brands connect more with their audience, and help drive clicks and sales back to whatever their business needs.

If you are looking to grow your email list or need ideas how to grow someone elses – grab this free cheatsheet on Lead Magnets for email growth!

Many businesses (especially e-commerce stores and bloggers) need this service, and you can charge per project or on a retainer basis – making this a great way to build a steady income online that suits you as well as the blogger/brand!

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, totally beginner friendly and affordable email marketing platform, MailerLite is a really good choice! It’s the platform I use and I can highly recommend it!

It’s beginner-friendly (super easy to work with and use), it’s got loads of automation features, and offers a free plan without any upfront or ongoing costs.

No matter whether you’re running your own campaigns for yourself, wanting to practice with email software or using it for clients, MailerLite is a really great tool to help maximize results while keeping things streamlined and simple!

mailerlite logo to promote the email marketing tool

36. SEO Specialist

This is a bit of a niche option to make $100 in a day, but if you’re good with keywords and analytics, offering SEO services is a great way to generate an income.

Businesses and bloggers need help ranking higher on Google as their whole business relies on having an audience, and many will pay well for services like keyword research and site optimization.

You can start with free online courses, and even beginners can charge $50 to $100 per project. With SEO in high demand, this side hustle has serious growth potential!

If you’re familiar with how Google works and love looking into keywords and the back-end analytics, becoming an SEO specialist is a fantastic way to make some money.

You don’t need a fancy degree or qualification to get started. There are plenty of free and paid resources/courses online to help you build your SEO skills.

As an SEO specialist, you could offer services such as keyword research, on-page optimization, and backlink building.

Rates will vary depending on your own experience and skill set, but even beginners can charge $50 to $100 per project.

The good thing about skills like this is that once you’ve got a few success stories behind you, your earning potential can skyrocket.

SEO is an always-in-demand skill that businesses and brands are constantly looking for, making it a great side hustle that can turn into a full career if you choose!

37. Social Media Manager

With the rise of influencers and online brands, many need help staying active on social media so they can focus on content! That’s where a Social Media Manager comes in!

Whether it’s help in creating engaging posts, scheduling content, responding to comments or other tasks to help grow their audience/followers, this role is perfect if you love spending time online and know how to keep an audience engaged and growing!

Depending on your skills/experience and the brands and content crerators you choose to work with, you’ll find people willing to pay hundreds or even thousands per month! 

It can be a lot of work but super enjoyable if you’re on social media anyway!

38. Facebook Ads Manager

Becoming a Facebook Ads Manager can be a really good way to make $100 in a day because brands and businesses are always looking for skilled people to help them get more leads and in turn, more sales!

With millions of people and businesses relying on Facebook ads, there’s always a huge demand for ad managers who can create, optimize, and scale campaigns for those businesses.

Plus, you don’t need a degree or any specific qualifications to get started. All you need is the right training/skills and some experience.

Once you really master it, you can charge hundreds or even thousands per month per client, making it a super effective and flexible side hustle or even full-time business!

39. Offer Video Editing Services

Video editing services can be an amazing way to make $100 in a day.

The popularity of platforms like YouTube and TikTok has heightened the demand for talented video editors, making it one of the best opportunities out there.

Every vlog, cinematic montage, or viral short video starts as raw video footage. It’s the editor who transforms it into something captivating and impactful!

And here’s the best part: you don’t need years of experience to get started!

You can pick up video editing skills in just 3 to 6 months with free or affordable online resources. YouTube tutorials are a great place to begin.

Once you’ve honed your craft, the earning potential is amazing.

Rates can vary depending on the type of videos you work on, but with dedication this could turn into a lucrative and creative career or side hustle.

40. Become a Content Re-purposer

If someone is creating content, chances are they are looking for ways to get more eyes on their work without constantly creating new content from scratch! That’s where content re-purposers come in.

Here are a couple of examples of the jobs you may get as as a content re-purposer: you might turn blog posts into social media graphics, you might change podcasts into blog posts, or break down/edit long form YouTube videos into short-form videos for platforms such as TikTok or Instagram!

It’s a high-demand skill that saves creators SO much time while also helping them grow their audience across multiple platforms.

If you enjoy organizing and editing content in streamlined, engaging ways, this could be the ideal side hustle for you!

41. Graphic Designer

If you’ve got a good eye, are creative, if you love designing logos, social media graphics, or website images, becoming a freelance graphic designer is a fantastic way to make extra money!

There are always people needing graphics and images created! With platforms like Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop, you can create unique logos, banners and visuals – without the need for a big budget. 

Whether you sell custom designs, take on specific custom client projects, or even offer templates on Etsy or Shopify, designing graphics for brands and content creators can be a really fun way to earn if you’re good at it!


Specialised Services

42. Bookkeeping

If numbers, organization and attention to detail are your thing, bookkeeping could be the perfect way for you to earn some extra cash.

With businesses of all sizes needing help managing their finances, bookkeepers are always in demand.

You don’t need a formal accounting degree to get started either. There are plenty of online courses to teach you the basics!

Once you know how to track expenses, balance accounts, and generate financial reports, you can then offer your services to small business owners, freelancers, and even entrepreneurs. 

It’s a really flexible job you can do remotely and part-time, making it ideal for fitting around your daily life and other commitments. Experienced bookkeepers can earn $25 to $50 per hour, making it a profitable and reliable side hustle.

Plus as a bonus, it’s a skill that you can keep improving on, and that only gets more valuable with time!

43. Become a Translator

If you’re fluent in more than one language, you can absolutely put your skills to good use and try out becoming a translator!

It’s such a rewarding job where you get to help people communicate across different languages. You could be translating anything from important documents and audio recordings to books or creative writing!

If you have the skills, translating is an amazing way to use your talent while earning money.

Plus, you can often do this work from the comfort of your home or on a flexible schedule, making it a fantastic option if you’re looking for freedom in your career!

44. Teaching English Online

Teaching English as a second language online is a helpful and growing side hustle opportunity. It’s especially perfect for those looking for flexibility and more meaningful work!

Whether you choose to teach online or in person, this income option is incredibly versatile and flexible, making it again perfect for anyone wanting their income to fit seamlessly around family commitments and/or other responsibilities.

While you don’t necessarily need a degree, having a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification is essential to be accepted for most positions and in turn maximize your earning potential.

Platforms like VIPKID, Qkids, and Cambly connect you with learners worldwide and offer decent pay, often up to $22 per hour or more depending on your experience and which platform you choose.

If you enjoy helping others and want to work from anywhere, this could be the perfect income stream for you!

45. Start a Consulting Business

This is a side hustle/business idea for those who have a more specialised skill set!

If you have expertise in a particular field you could start your own consulting business. No matter whether your skills and expertise are in marketing, business strategies, or even personal development, you can use your knowledge and make it into a profitable business!

People (including brands and companies) are always looking for expert guidance to help them solve and overcome problems and achieve their goals.

You can start off small by offering one-on-one coaching or consulting calls so you get comfortable and in the swing of things. After that you can then scale up by offering services such as group sessions, digital courses, or even mentorship programs.

You of course set your own rates, choose clients to work with that you enjoy, and build a business that fits into your current daily lifestyle.

A consulting business is an amazing way to make $100 in a day, and in time you can easily scale it up to a full time income stream!


Creative Income

46. Photography

Photography can be an amazing way to make money! Whether your niche is portraits, product photography, or even selling stock images online, there are loads of opportunities to turn your photo skills into an income.

You can start small with just a camera or even a smartphone, build a portfolio, and grow your client base over time.

You can take courses and become more qualified as you become more experienced too. This in turn will reflect in the prices you then charge.

Plus, with social media and the internet in general, marketing your work has never been easier. You can sell stock images to stock image websites, or sell prints via Etsy or Shopify!

If you have a good eye for detail and are creative, photography can be a super flexible, and profitable side hustle to start. 

With time and effort it won’t be long before you’re up to making $100 in a day!

47. Personal Stylist

Becoming a personal stylist is a fantastic way to make money while helping people look and feel their best!

Whether you’re styling people for their everyday style, special events, or even professional photoshoots, there’s always a demand for expert fashion advice.

The beauty of this venture is that you can work in-person, online, or a mix of the two! You can offer virtual styling sessions, wardrobe ideas, or even personal shopping services if you prefer to see things in person.

Due to the internet and specifically Social Media, building a personal brand and attracting clients is easier  than ever!

If you love fashion and have an amazing eye for style, this could be the fun, flexible, and rewarding side hustle for you!

You made it to the end! That deserves congrats in itself! That also already tells me you’re serious about changing your life. These 47 ideas aren’t just “quick cash hacks”… they can be real stepping stones to something so much bigger.

Whether your first $100 comes in tomorrow or in two weeks, it’s coming – if you stick with it. The key? Start. Start today. Take messy action. And keep showing up for the life you know you’re meant to have.

If you want to see the exact toools that help me grow my blog, income, and online presence every single day…
👉 Check out my full blogging + money-making tools – it’s everything I love and actually use or recommend for anyone just starting out!

Quick FAQ Section For Further Info

Q: What is the fastest way to make $100 a day?

A: It truly depends on your skills and what you enjoy doing really. Having said that, some of the fastest methods include freelance work, selling digital products, affiliate marketing, or offering services through platforms like Fiverr. These can be the quickest in terms of cash in your pocket or comission in your account. Some people even make $100+ a day flipping items or through print-on-demand if that’s what takes your fancy!

Q: Can you really make $100 a day online?

A: Absolutely! So many people do it daily! It takes effort, learning, and testing different ideas of course, but with consistency, making $100 a day (or more!) from home is totally achievable. A lot of the methods I talk about in this post are beginner-friendly and scalable over time. Some may take more learning but then you will have a solid skill set behind you too!

Q: How do I start a side hustle with no money?
A: You don’t need to invest upfront to start earning. I have a full post breakdown on why you DON’T need to invest money to make money online – check that out here! Options like affiliate marketing, offering digital services, starting a blog, or using platforms like Pinterest or TikTok can be started with little to no cost. They just require your time, effort, and creativity!

Q: What about taxes?

A: I’m not an expert so you will need to do your own research for this one. This will vary depending on what country you are in. If you’re in the UK for example, when you start making money it’s worth reading the official HMRC guidance on becoming a sole trader so you understand how taxes work and avoid surprises later lol. For US readers, the IRS has a clear Gig Economy Tax Center that explains what counts as taxable income and what doesn’t.

As you can see from all the options above, there are so many ways that you can make $100 in a day! Some will take more time than others but with time, determination and learning skills where needed, you can see how easily it can be done!

Which of these options to make $100 in a day appeals to you the most?

Do you already do any of the options I listed here?

Let me know in the comments!

Speak soon!

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How To Make Money With Affiliate Marketing https://katherinemclee.com/how-to-make-money-with-affiliate-marketing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-make-money-with-affiliate-marketing https://katherinemclee.com/how-to-make-money-with-affiliate-marketing/#comments Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:37:36 +0000 http://katherinemclee.com/?p=614 There are many ways to make money with Affiliate Marketing. Blogs and YouTube are two of the most popular ways. The most important thing - if you are wanting to make an income as opposed to a little cash here and there - is having a large audience who trust what you say.

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This post is going to break down exactly what Affiliate Marketing is and how to make money from it.

Affiliate marketing has quickly become one of the most popular ways to generate passive income online. With good reason!

The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you can make money whether you are looking to start a side hustle, or wanting to start a full-time online business, affiliate marketing can fit in and generate income for you!

The beauty of affiliate marketing is that you don’t need to create your own products or manage stock/inventory. Instead, you promote other people’s products/services and you then earn a commission for every sale made through your unique referral links.

You recommend products you already love, to people who you know are interested in the sorts of products you’re talking about. If they choose to buy them through your link, you get paid – Affiliate Marketing.

Let’s get into how to make money with affiliate marketing!

how to make money with affiliate marketing katherine mclee blog

Before we get into how to make money with affiliate marketing, we first need to go over what affiliate marketing actually is!

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is often made out to sound complicated but the process is actually very simple.

Affiliate Marketing is when you promote someone else’s product, and when someone buys that product through your unique link, you earn a commission. That’s it. 

You may initially be wondering why brands would choose to pay you to promote their products. Fair question! 

If you think about how much money brands spend on advertising or any other potentially expensive way of promoting or marketing their products, paying someone a commission on a product that has already been sold, makes a lot of sense.

This is why so many companies offer an affiliate program now. It’s a win-win for all involved!

Being able to make money with Affiliate Marketing is one of the most amazing aspects of having an online business or just making some money online.

It doesn’t matter your niche, your platform, audience size or how you promote it, if you have a way to reach people who trust you, you can make money.

Because most companies have affiliate programs, you can find something you love and want to promote, no matter if it feels a little obscure to you.

Where Can You Promote Affiliate Links?

You can promote your affiliate links pretty much anywhere!

Some companies do have rules of where you aren’t allowed to post. For example, Amazon affiliate links are not allowed to be promoted in private Facebook groups. So it’s important to check out your links to confirm you are following the rules of the brand, but the whole point of being an affiliate is to promote your links (and in turn, the brand’s products), so anywhere public you are generally safe with!

Be aware where you can and can’t link to your affiliate links directly. Often platforms such as Pinterest don’t let you link straight to affiliate links. Your pins need to link to a website such as your blog or a landing page which can then have further information on, before linking to your specific affiliate link.

The plus side of having a blog or landing page for your links is that you can share more information, explain more plus points and in some situations you can also collect email addresses too to be able to send out more information on that particular product or service. 

Remember to always have a visible disclaimer advising of affiliate links. 

*Important note* – you must ALWAYS disclose when links are affiliate links. 

Each country is different so please do your own research and find out how is best to do this, but often you need a note on each post there is affiliate links in, advising of this.

There are many ways to promote your links to make money with Affiliate Marketing. Blogs and YouTube are two of the most popular ways. The most important thing – if you are wanting to make an income as opposed to a little cash here and there – is having an audience who trust in you and your knowledge. 

Links that link out to specific products or services that are relevant to whichever topic you are speaking about will usually perform the best.

One example would be if you had a cooking blog/YouTube channel, you may link to the exact stand mixer or cookware set you use/that you love.

Another example would be if you take an online course you loved and truly feel others can get value from, you can share it with your audience. 

A third example would be if you were a YouTuber, you can link to the camera, microphone and lighting set up that you use.

The nice thing about examples like the above examples is that it’s easy to naturally promote, as you are using and loving the products/digital products anyway! 

What Sorts of Products Can You Promote?

Anything! Everything! Whatever your heart desires!

Okay maybe not literally anything… but close!

Of course it’s dependent on if the product/brand you are looking at even has an affiliate program that’s suitable for you and your audience. 

You can choose from a huge range of products and brands, and can of course promote multiple products. Some products will work a lot better than others for you. It will depend on how big your audience is, how well they know and trust you, what your content is about and your overall niche.

For example, if you have a blog about tropical fish and you’re trying to promote binoculars – no matter how much you love them – it will be hard going.

On the other hand if your blog was about garden birds and you happen to have a pair of binoculars you absolutely love and they are from Amazon or a website that offers an affiliate program – bingo! 

Nearly all companies have an affiliate program now, no matter the type of product. If you want to make money with Affiliate Marketing, there will be products and programs out there for you.

There are also websites such as Impact and Clickbank which have a marketplace for a large range of products and companies you can have unique affiliate links with.

Examples of the types of products you could promote:

  • Physical products
  • E-Books
  • Online Courses
  • Services (online or in person service like tutoring)
  • Subscription websites
  • The list goes on…

The important thing is to find things you use/love, that are relevant and useful to your readers! 

Do You Need a Blog or YouTube channel?

Not necessarily! What you do need is an audience of some form.

Blogs (especially if you have an email list), and YouTube are often the most popular ways to promote your affiliate links as you can explain all the good (and bad) points about that certain product. You don’t NEED to have either of these if you don’t want to, though of course, you can promote via any other social media that you prefer.

It’s important to check the rules of whichever platform you choose to promote on as some don’t allow direct affiliate links, such as Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.

In these situations you will need to place your links on a middle website, be it a blog, a Stan Store, Link Tree or anything else along those lines! You then link that website to your Socials, and your affiliate links can then be found from there.

This is why having a website with blog posts relating back to those affiliate products can be so beneficial. Not only can you post a lot more information and photos about the products you are promoting, but from your own website you can also place your affiliate links in directly! 

If you aren’t sure which platform to start on or want a place to promote your blog posts, Pinterest is an amazing place to start. Pinterest itself is a search engine as opposed to a social media, meaning people are often on Pinterest to search for things.

Linking your Pinterest pins back to blog posts containing your affiliate links can bring in money for a long time to come!

How to Make Money Through Your Email List

Email lists are so underrated!

It’s something I would recommend anyone with a blog, or who wants to get into affiliate marketing, should have.

I won’t go into landing pages and funnels in this post, but more just explain how your email list can work so well in terms of affiliate marketing.

To answer the first question…

What Is An Email List? 

An email list is a list of email addresses that you’ve collected by people entering their email address in exchange for goods or services (often for free).

You build your email list by having something to offer your readers for free.

This could be a checklist, an e-book, a planner, a few pages of a book etc and people who are interested in your offer will give you their email address in return for your specific freebie.

The key is to offer something of true value. 

When people see there is something of value being offered for free, on a topic that is of interest to them, they are likely to pop their email address in to get that freebie. They get their freebie and you then have their email address added to your email list.

They get their freebie, you get their email – win win!

All the email addresses you get from people are held on your list.

This is how you can get in touch with people who are interested in whichever niche that initial freebie was in. As a blogger, your email list helps you stay connected with your readers by sending them newsletters, updates, or blog post notifications. It enables direct and simple communication, and helps to build trust over time, ensuring that your audience doesn’t miss out on any valuable content or key information!

There are many different tools for capturing email addresses and sending out emails to your list.

The one I currently use and really enjoy using is Mailerlite.

You can sign up to MailerLite for FREE here!

While I have upgraded to a paid plan, the free plan lets you do everything you need initially, and you can then upgrade as your list grows!

In affiliate marketing, an email list becomes an even more valuable asset.

Building and nurturing your email list is essential to creating an engaged audience that enjoys hearing from you. You want your readers to trust that you are always coming at them with trustworthy information. This way they are more likely to listen to your recommendations, leading to potential sales and income.

One of the best things about having an email list is that you own it.

You may have a large Instagram following but if Instagram disappeared or your account got banned for whatever reason, all those followers are gone. 

The email list is something you own yourself so will always have.

Email is such a good way to keep in touch with your readers. Not only have they trusted you enough to give you their email, but by doing so (to get that amazing freebie you created), you already know that they are interested in the kinds of things you have to say and the information you have to offer. 

This makes your email readers your target audience. Not in the sense that you will push sales onto them of course – no one likes a spammer!

But if you think about the types of products your readers will be interested in if they already enjoy and are interested in the content you are producing… they may very well benefit from the amazing products you have found and are using! 

 

Do You Need a Large Following To Make Money With Affiliate Marketing?

This is a tricky question to answer.

How long is a piece of string?

From experience, it’s absolutely possible to make money with a small following as we all start off with a small number of readers/viewers. As your following grows, it does become easier (numbers wise).

The only thing to keep in mind with a small audience especially is that sometimes brands do have an application process for you to become an affiliate with them and they then can ask how many followers/pageviews etc you get. This is also for the brand to confirm that your content is a good fit for their products, and vice versa.

If you get rejected or told you don’t have enough followers at this moment, don’t worry, there are so many more brands out there!

Making money with affiliate marketing is doable with even a small audience though.

Another scenario to consider is that you may have a smaller following but with readers more likely to buy the sorts of products you are promoting. This is more likely in a slightly more obscure or less common niche.

For example if you have a blog about Cooking. In theory nearly everyone could be interested and sign up to your email list so you may have a huge number of people on your list which is amazing! Your conversion rate may be a lot lower though, but with a huge following it shouldn’t matter much.

On the flip side, if  you had a blog about Lawnmowers, you will have a much smaller group of people interested in getting on your email list for more info. The plus side is that you can be sure that most (if not all) of those people are truly interested in Lawnmowers and so would be more likely to grab any deals or recommendations you were offering!

You may have 1000 people in your email list (Lawnmower related for example), and find that an average of 10% clicks your links = 100 people.

On the flip side you may have 10,000 people in your list (Cooking related) but only 1% click through – again, 100 people.

This is exactly the same amount of people clicking but with a following ten times smaller! 

Obviously the larger the following you have the higher the chance that people will click on those links and buy the things you are promoting.

As a general rule for audience size, the larger the better, BUT it also comes down to quality over quantity. What I mean by quality in terms of your audience is purely in the sense that 100 people who are truly interested in the things you are talking about is so much better than 1,000 people that have just given you their email address/followed you just for the numbers. 

This is often why you will find that you sometimes get emails through from people checking who is reading their emails.

Professional bloggers and affiliate marketers will often remove email addresses of people who don’t read/open their emails, as this then narrows their list down to the people who are truly interested and keen to stay following that blog/person/brand.

How Much Money Can You Make from Affiliate Marketing?

Another piece of string question! 

To keep it real, the answer here is literally… as much as you want.

The sky’s the limit!

 

When it comes to wanting to make money with affiliate marketing, you should put no limits on yourself or your earning potential. At all!

Each affiliate program is different, some offer as low as 1% commission, some offer up to 80% and all the ranges in between. 

Some offer one off affiliate payments, others offer it on a monthly basis if your readers sign up to a subscription service and each month they stay subscribed, you get a commission. 

Examples of these that I am an affiliate for are:

One Off Payments

Amazon Associates

Perfecting Blogging Blogging Course 

Recurring Payments

KeySearch Keyword Research Tool

ElevenLabs AI Voice Over Tool

As mentioned earlier, some affiliate marketing programs require you to have a certain amount of followers/page views a month to be considered. Others (like Amazon), let you sign up straight away!

Amazon itself requires you to make 3 affiliate sales in 180 days for your account to stay active. If you go past this and haven’t made the 3 sales your affiliate account will be deactivated but you can always reapply when you are ready!

If you have your eye on one that you need a certain number of monthly pageviews for, use this as a goal to work towards and you’ll be signing up with them in no time.

You aren’t limited to just one (or 3 or 10) affiliate marketing companies/programs. You can sign up for as many as you want.

If there is another product you find you are loving and using a lot, why not share it too? 

Never put all your eggs in one basket! If you want to really make money with Affiliate Marketing, definitely have a few different channels of income in terms of different programs.

Of course don’t go overboard with the promotion of products! Mix it up with recommendations of things you aren’t an affiliate of, but in the grand scheme of things, you can promote anything you like.

Whether you choose to promote 99p notebooks, £400 cameras or £3,000 online courses – there is a commission to be made.

You choose what’s right for you and your readers and what you’re comfortable with. You can always work up as you go on!

 

Other Ways To Make Money Online Through Your Blog

Affiliate Marketing is without a doubt one of the best ways to make money from your blog (or whichever platform you choose). 

There are other ways to make money online though if you are looking for more income streams, don’t feel affiliate marketing is quite right for you or just to see some other options of avenues you can go down to make money.

If you are wanting more information on getting started with affiliate marketing, you can have a read of these posts here:

For more information on Affiliate Marketing you can check out these posts:

Affiliate Marketing for Beginners: How to Make Your First $1,000

The Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners (That Actually Convert!)

If you would like to have a look into some other ways to make money, have a read of these posts here:

How To Make $100 In a Day: 47 Fun and Practical Ideas

25 Ways To Make $600 Quickly

7 Ways to Make Money From Your Blog

Affiliate Marketing is single handedly one of the best ways to make an income online – use it to your advantage and everyone wins!

Speak soon!

Katherine

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Perfecting Blogging Review: Best Course for New Bloggers? https://katherinemclee.com/perfecting-blogging-course-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=perfecting-blogging-course-review https://katherinemclee.com/perfecting-blogging-course-review/#comments Sat, 28 Sep 2024 21:56:00 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=7331 This post is an in-depth and honest review of the online blogging course Perfecting Blogging by Sophia Lee. Whether you have been blogging for 5 years or 5 minutes, there’s a high chance you’ve heard about this blogging course. There’s a lot of hype around it and honestly I can see why! But we will cover all points in this blog post. If you’ve been thinking about whether it’s worth investing in for you, this post should help you decide!  I purchased and completed the course a while back so I’m able to give a full and honest review for you! This course is aimed at newer bloggers but it absolutely has its place for more experienced bloggers too.  This review will help you make an informed decision as to who this blogging course is for and how it could benefit you. Let’s get into the review of Perfecting Blogging! The Importance of Online Courses When I first started blogging many moons ago I didn’t purchase any course as I didn’t see the point. I figured I could work it out myself for free. I have discovered that this is honestly not a good idea. And there’s a few reasons why! Firstly you will never find all the information from online courses, online for free. You may find quite a lot, but chances are the key pieces of information you need to really help, may still elude you! (This is what I found out!) Secondly, our time is precious. What I also discovered is that I could spend hours upon hours researching and trying to source answers to some questions, whereas if I’d bought the course sooner (on whichever topic I was needing at the time), I’d have gotten access to the answer straight away! Courses help you learn all the “secrets” from those highly experienced in their field.  If you’re blogging as a hobby and have no intention of wanting to really grow your blog or ever make money from it then you may not feel the need to invest in an online course. Completely understandable! Online courses are an amazing tool for hobbies – in anything – as they provide you tricks and insights you just don’t get for free. Where online courses become (in my opinion) crucial, is when you have chosen to take blogging (or any other activity/venture) seriously.  Blogging especially has one of the lowest startup/overhead costs of any business. That doesn’t mean free, but it can be kept low. Setting yourself up for success, and saving SO much time by taking courses is always the best idea. Since I started taking online courses a few years back, I now love them. Anything I want real, fast, effective information on, I buy a course. One thing to be aware of is that there’s now an abundance of online courses out there. Some may not be great or what you’re looking for. Reviews and word of mouth recommendations are important to save yourself money and time! Now onto the review… Perfecting Blogging Course Overview This course had been on my radar for quite a while before purchasing, but my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to grab it and see what all the fuss was about. Let’s get into the ins and outs of this course. I will share my own personal opinion on the course itself, along with what’s included, price and who it’s really for! Firstly, what I love about Perfecting Blogging in particular over other online courses I’ve taken based around blogging is that this course covers everything you need to start/enhance your blogging journey.  Of course if you are looking for a course specifically to learn about one specific aspect of blogging such as Backlinks then this specific course may not be the fit for you.  On the other hand if you want amazing, in-depth information on all aspects of blogging you need to grow your own successful blog, I would highly recommend Perfecting Blogging.  I love the fact it goes over all areas of growing and enhancing your blog, in super simple to understand video and text modules. There are multiple downloads included, along with all videos, all text information, and you have lifetime access. Some courses offer limited access times or no free updates, but Sophia gives you lifetime access so you can go back over parts as often/as many times as you like! All updates are also free/included in the one-off course price! This means you have automatic, full access to the newest updates at no additional cost. Recently there has been another large update with extra information added, completely for free for those who have purchased the course, and of course is all included for anyone looking to buy the course themselves also.  What Content Is Included In Perfecting Blogging? As of me writing this, there are 9 Modules, each with their own lessons/information in. Within these 9 modules are 61 checkable items. This includes all lessons, downloads, information etc. As you can see from that number alone, you get a lot of information on a lot of different topics for your one-off price!  The main modules of Perfecting Blogging (as of Oct 2025) are: Within these modules you will find all the lessons, downloads, printables and text information on various topics. These include topics such as: Choosing a niche Blog/Website Aesthetic Blog Themes Graphics Branding Content Planning Blog Post Writing Structuring Blog Posts Keywords Affiliate Marketing Ads Plugins Motivation Making An Income And many more topics, many of which are across multiple lessons! Once you have purchased the course, you also get access to her exclusive blogging group! There is information within the course contents as to how to find/join this. The group is an amazing community of people sharing ideas and asking questions which can be invaluable to anyone wanting to take their blogging journey seriously.  What Is NOT Covered In Perfecting Blogging? This course is perfect for any new blogger and anyone wanting to really grow their blog, but I just want to highlight a few things that aren’t in the course for full transparency! As mentioned, the course is being updated often (free of charge once you’ve purchased the course), but as of when I completed the course, there are a few topics not mentioned, or not mentioned about much. These include: Affiliate Marketing There is some information on affiliate marketing but not so much on disclaimers or any real in-depth information. If your main goal with this course is to actually start earning online, my post on how to make your first $1,000 with affiliate marketing breaks down the exact steps you can use to get started. Legal Pages You must must must make sure you’re blogging legally. Unless you are getting your “main 3” pages drawn up by your own lawyer, the most cost effective way to cover yourself and your blog is to buy a template bundle for all 3 pages (Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions), that was written by a lawyer and that you adapt for your own blog and circumstances.  This Starter Legal Bundle offers exactly those, specifically for bloggers, and is the bundle I still use now. These are super easy to buy, modify and publish on your blog. I feel this is an important topic that should have been mentioned more! Pinterest and Email Marketing Both topics are touched on but not extensively. This can be easily rectified by grabbing Perfecting Email and Perfecting Pinterest though! Anything Overly Technical This wasn’t a surprise for me as I knew in advance that that wasn’t the point of this course. If you are looking for highly technical information or more info on SEO, sitemaps or Google Sandbox etc, you won’t find it here. Not yet anyway! Other than those, Perfecting Blogging is an insanely high value course which is SO easy to understand, even for the newest blogger. It covers so many topics that you most likely have questions on with straight-to-the-point, concise information.  With free information on YouTube and online, it can take hours listening or reading to find the one snippet of information or answer to one question. With this course, everything is answered so clearly and without any fluff added in at all. All information and lessons are purely the information you need for your blog. How Much Is The Perfecting Blogging Course? At the time of writing this, the price of Perfecting Blogging is $257. Now I know what you’re thinking! If you are new to online courses you will instantly be thinking that $257 for a course sounds like a lot of money for a course.  If you are more experienced with blogging or online courses you will know how amazing that price is! To me, no cost is “too much”, if it’s going to gain you the results you are looking for! Think about how much that will make you back in the longrun! Quick note – depending on which country you are in there may be a tax to pay ontop of that base price. If you have looked into high value online courses before, you can instantly see that a lot of courses are $500+. To the point I was actually pleasantly surprised that the BSL Perfecting Blogging course was so much less! No real business is free, and for the amount of value you get from this one course alone, it’s 1000% worth it. You can buy Perfecting Blogging alone for $249, or as part of one of the bundles. Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest and is currently $427 ($514 value!). They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email which is currently $699 ($793 value!). What Other Courses Are Available From BySophiaLee? Perfecting Blogging is the main course that covers all things blogging, but there are other courses on BySophiaLee. The next two courses are: Perfecting Pinterest is perfect for anyone needing to up their Pinterest skills and engagement. Perfecting Email is all about email marketing! If you need the extra help/guidance when it comes to growing an email list and email marketing, this course is for you. Lastly there’s the NEW mini course: Perfecting Social Media which is just $89! This course will be going up in price soon as it’s getting upgraded into a full size course to match the other amazing courses. Perfecting Social Media is perfect for anyone looking for a little extra guidance in growing an online following. Alongside these 4 courses, Sophia also offers bundles at a discounted rate. If you are interested in more than one of the courses, one of these bundles would be the most cost effective option for you! As mentioned above; Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest. They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email. Does Perfecting Blogging Offer An Affiliate Program? Absolutely!  As mentioned in the module list above, there is information as to how you can become an affiliate for the course. This means that if you love it, you can also promote it and earn a commission back.  The commission rate is 40% with a 60 day cookie tracking period! This means that if anyone clicks on your specific link and buys the course within 60 days, you will receive 40% of the cost back in commission. Affiliate programs are fairly common throughout blogging/online courses from experience, but not all have as good percentages or tracking periods.  Plus if a course isn’t good, why would you want to promote it anyway lol. Perfecting Blogging is the best of both worlds as it’s an amazing, high value course with an amazing affiliate program! Who Is This Course Not For? As with anything, nothing is ever “one size fits all”.  As I mentioned earlier, I want to be completely transparent as...

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This post is an in-depth and honest review of the online blogging course Perfecting Blogging by Sophia Lee.

Whether you have been blogging for 5 years or 5 minutes, there’s a high chance you’ve heard about this blogging course.

There’s a lot of hype around it and honestly I can see why! But we will cover all points in this blog post.

If you’ve been thinking about whether it’s worth investing in for you, this post should help you decide! 

I purchased and completed the course a while back so I’m able to give a full and honest review for you!

This course is aimed at newer bloggers but it absolutely has its place for more experienced bloggers too. 

This review will help you make an informed decision as to who this blogging course is for and how it could benefit you.

Let’s get into the review of Perfecting Blogging!

The Importance of Online Courses

When I first started blogging many moons ago I didn’t purchase any course as I didn’t see the point. I figured I could work it out myself for free.

I have discovered that this is honestly not a good idea. And there’s a few reasons why!

Firstly you will never find all the information from online courses, online for free. You may find quite a lot, but chances are the key pieces of information you need to really help, may still elude you! (This is what I found out!)

Secondly, our time is precious. What I also discovered is that I could spend hours upon hours researching and trying to source answers to some questions, whereas if I’d bought the course sooner (on whichever topic I was needing at the time), I’d have gotten access to the answer straight away!

Courses help you learn all the “secrets” from those highly experienced in their field. 

If you’re blogging as a hobby and have no intention of wanting to really grow your blog or ever make money from it then you may not feel the need to invest in an online course. Completely understandable!

Online courses are an amazing tool for hobbies – in anything – as they provide you tricks and insights you just don’t get for free.

Where online courses become (in my opinion) crucial, is when you have chosen to take blogging (or any other activity/venture) seriously. 

Blogging especially has one of the lowest startup/overhead costs of any business. That doesn’t mean free, but it can be kept low.

Setting yourself up for success, and saving SO much time by taking courses is always the best idea.

Since I started taking online courses a few years back, I now love them. Anything I want real, fast, effective information on, I buy a course.

One thing to be aware of is that there’s now an abundance of online courses out there. Some may not be great or what you’re looking for. Reviews and word of mouth recommendations are important to save yourself money and time!

Now onto the review…

Perfecting Blogging Course Overview

This course had been on my radar for quite a while before purchasing, but my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to grab it and see what all the fuss was about.

Let’s get into the ins and outs of this course. I will share my own personal opinion on the course itself, along with what’s included, price and who it’s really for!

Firstly, what I love about Perfecting Blogging in particular over other online courses I’ve taken based around blogging is that this course covers everything you need to start/enhance your blogging journey. 

Of course if you are looking for a course specifically to learn about one specific aspect of blogging such as Backlinks then this specific course may not be the fit for you. 

On the other hand if you want amazing, in-depth information on all aspects of blogging you need to grow your own successful blog, I would highly recommend Perfecting Blogging. 

I love the fact it goes over all areas of growing and enhancing your blog, in super simple to understand video and text modules.

There are multiple downloads included, along with all videos, all text information, and you have lifetime access. Some courses offer limited access times or no free updates, but Sophia gives you lifetime access so you can go back over parts as often/as many times as you like!

All updates are also free/included in the one-off course price! This means you have automatic, full access to the newest updates at no additional cost.

Recently there has been another large update with extra information added, completely for free for those who have purchased the course, and of course is all included for anyone looking to buy the course themselves also. 

What Content Is Included In Perfecting Blogging?

As of me writing this, there are 9 Modules, each with their own lessons/information in.

Within these 9 modules are 61 checkable items. This includes all lessons, downloads, information etc.

As you can see from that number alone, you get a lot of information on a lot of different topics for your one-off price! 

The main modules of Perfecting Blogging (as of Oct 2025) are:

  • Welcome to the Perfecting Blogging Course!
  • Blogging Strategy
  • Building a Professional Site
  • Creating Content
  • Crafting a Blog Post
  • Earning Income
  • The Dailee
  • Affiliates
  • Worksheets + Printables
  • BONUS SECTION!

Within these modules you will find all the lessons, downloads, printables and text information on various topics.

These include topics such as:

Choosing a niche

Blog/Website Aesthetic

Blog Themes

Graphics

Branding

Content Planning

Blog Post Writing

Structuring Blog Posts

Keywords

Affiliate Marketing

Ads

Plugins

Motivation

Making An Income

And many more topics, many of which are across multiple lessons!

Once you have purchased the course, you also get access to her exclusive blogging group! There is information within the course contents as to how to find/join this.

The group is an amazing community of people sharing ideas and asking questions which can be invaluable to anyone wanting to take their blogging journey seriously. 

What Is NOT Covered In Perfecting Blogging?

This course is perfect for any new blogger and anyone wanting to really grow their blog, but I just want to highlight a few things that aren’t in the course for full transparency!

As mentioned, the course is being updated often (free of charge once you’ve purchased the course), but as of when I completed the course, there are a few topics not mentioned, or not mentioned about much. These include:

Affiliate Marketing

There is some information on affiliate marketing but not so much on disclaimers or any real in-depth information.

If your main goal with this course is to actually start earning online, my post on how to make your first $1,000 with affiliate marketing breaks down the exact steps you can use to get started.

Legal Pages

You must must must make sure you’re blogging legally.

Unless you are getting your “main 3” pages drawn up by your own lawyer, the most cost effective way to cover yourself and your blog is to buy a template bundle for all 3 pages (Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions), that was written by a lawyer and that you adapt for your own blog and circumstances. 

This Starter Legal Bundle offers exactly those, specifically for bloggers, and is the bundle I still use now.

These are super easy to buy, modify and publish on your blog.

I feel this is an important topic that should have been mentioned more!

Pinterest and Email Marketing

Both topics are touched on but not extensively. This can be easily rectified by grabbing Perfecting Email and Perfecting Pinterest though!

Anything Overly Technical

This wasn’t a surprise for me as I knew in advance that that wasn’t the point of this course. If you are looking for highly technical information or more info on SEO, sitemaps or Google Sandbox etc, you won’t find it here. Not yet anyway!

Other than those, Perfecting Blogging is an insanely high value course which is SO easy to understand, even for the newest blogger. It covers so many topics that you most likely have questions on with straight-to-the-point, concise information. 

With free information on YouTube and online, it can take hours listening or reading to find the one snippet of information or answer to one question.

With this course, everything is answered so clearly and without any fluff added in at all. All information and lessons are purely the information you need for your blog.

How Much Is The Perfecting Blogging Course?

At the time of writing this, the price of Perfecting Blogging is $257.

Now I know what you’re thinking! If you are new to online courses you will instantly be thinking that $257 for a course sounds like a lot of money for a course. 

If you are more experienced with blogging or online courses you will know how amazing that price is!

To me, no cost is “too much”, if it’s going to gain you the results you are looking for!

Think about how much that will make you back in the longrun!

Quick note – depending on which country you are in there may be a tax to pay ontop of that base price.

If you have looked into high value online courses before, you can instantly see that a lot of courses are $500+. To the point I was actually pleasantly surprised that the BSL Perfecting Blogging course was so much less!

No real business is free, and for the amount of value you get from this one course alone, it’s 1000% worth it.

You can buy Perfecting Blogging alone for $249, or as part of one of the bundles.

Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest and is currently $427 ($514 value!).

They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email which is currently $699 ($793 value!).

What Other Courses Are Available From BySophiaLee?

Perfecting Blogging is the main course that covers all things blogging, but there are other courses on BySophiaLee.

The next two courses are:

Perfecting Pinterest is perfect for anyone needing to up their Pinterest skills and engagement.

Perfecting Email is all about email marketing! If you need the extra help/guidance when it comes to growing an email list and email marketing, this course is for you.

Lastly there’s the NEW mini course: Perfecting Social Media which is just $89!

This course will be going up in price soon as it’s getting upgraded into a full size course to match the other amazing courses.

Perfecting Social Media is perfect for anyone looking for a little extra guidance in growing an online following.

Alongside these 4 courses, Sophia also offers bundles at a discounted rate.

If you are interested in more than one of the courses, one of these bundles would be the most cost effective option for you!

As mentioned above;

Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest.

They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email.

Does Perfecting Blogging Offer An Affiliate Program?

Absolutely! 

As mentioned in the module list above, there is information as to how you can become an affiliate for the course.

This means that if you love it, you can also promote it and earn a commission back. 

The commission rate is 40% with a 60 day cookie tracking period!

This means that if anyone clicks on your specific link and buys the course within 60 days, you will receive 40% of the cost back in commission.

Affiliate programs are fairly common throughout blogging/online courses from experience, but not all have as good percentages or tracking periods. 

Plus if a course isn’t good, why would you want to promote it anyway lol.

Perfecting Blogging is the best of both worlds as it’s an amazing, high value course with an amazing affiliate program!

Who Is This Course Not For?

As with anything, nothing is ever “one size fits all”. 

As I mentioned earlier, I want to be completely transparent as to whether it’s worth the money to help you make the most informed decision. 

There are a few people this course isn’t for!

If you have over 10,000 monthly visitors a month and are already making a decent income each month, this course may not add much value to you.

This course isn’t for you if you are expecting instant results or aren’t keen to put the work in – although that’s true of any aspect of blogging or any online course!

If you are wanting in-depth information on SEO, or specific information on anything more technical such as sitemaps, this isn’t the course for you. 

There is hardly any mention of Email Marketing but this does make sense with there being a full, in depth course available. 

Who This Course Absolutely IS For

If you are a brand new blogger, or a blogger who already has a blog but is looking for more information, support and guidance, and you are looking for an in-depth course on how to write blog posts along with so many more tips and tricks on Keywords, Images, and other important aspects of blogging, then this Perfecting Blogging Course is the best course for you. 

Sophia herself states “These courses are best for someone who is a new blogger or is looking to turn their blog into a business that makes them money. They are basically my dream courses I wish I would have been able to take when I started getting serious about blogging. If I would have known all of this information, my blog would have grown even faster and I would have made money sooner.

P.S. If you are an experienced blogger and already incorporate keyword research, you may not need the bundle that includes Perfecting Blogging.”

This is the first course I recommend to all new bloggers and to anyone wanting to take their blog seriously and turn it into a serious venture. 

If you are wanting more professional information on blogging and how to blog properly, you will get a lot out of this course. 

If you feel you know a lot of the free information out there and are looking for the next level of information then this course is for you!

Even Google emphasizes that user-first content and search intent matter more than hacks or keyword stuffing, so getting it right is important.

Quick summary of the main key points of Perfecting Blogging:

  • The course is a mixture of video and text sections
  • You get free updates and get lifetime access to the course
  • You can go entirely at your own pace due to the lifetime access
  • Keyword research, on-page SEO, writing blog posts and titles, blog post templates, a branding kit template and more are all included in Perfecting Blogging
  • Perfecting Blogging is PERFECT if you are new to blogging or needing further help/information to really get your blog off the ground. My regret is that I didn’t do it earlier!
  • Perfecting Blogging doesn’t cover things like off-page SEO or sitemaps
  • You can request access to the affiliate program for Perfecting Blogging once you have purchased the course
  • Once you have purchased the course you can get access into the Perfecting Blogging Facebook Group for no extra cost
  • If you are also interested in more than one of the courses, you can buy them together in a bundle for the best value to save money

Taking Perfecting Blogging has really deepened my understanding of a lot of the different aspects of blogging. For new bloggers it’s the ultimate guide to cover all bases and save you SO much time trying to find all the information for free, even if that was possible.

If anyone ever asks for my top recommendation for a course for new bloggers, I recommend this one. 

The advice is so easy to implement and incorporate. You will feel more knowledgeable after every module!

If you’re ready to grow faster and want the top tools to use, these are the exact tools I use to run my blog and online income!

Please come back and let me know how much it helped you understand more about the blogging world and your own personal thoughts on it!

Remember, blogging is a dynamic and diverse business. Always be open to learning, experimenting, and adapting your strategies along the way! 

With the right information and action, you will find exactly what works for you, your blog and your audience.

Good luck on your blogging adventure!

If you’re looking for the list of top tools I recommend to new bloggers (including this course!), have a look at this post here!

Disclaimer: This course review is based on my own personal opinion after purchasing and completing the course. Results may vary depending on individual efforts and commitment of course! While nothing is guaranteed, setting yourself up for success with a high value course such as this one certainly sets you in good standings for it.

Speak soon!

Katherine McLee signature black and white

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Using AI for Blogging: A Simple Guide https://katherinemclee.com/using-ai-for-blogging-a-simple-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=using-ai-for-blogging-a-simple-guide https://katherinemclee.com/using-ai-for-blogging-a-simple-guide/#comments Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:30:00 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=11032 In this post we will be going over using AI for blogging and the ways it can enhance your content. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage just now and while many avoid it, it can be a powerful tool for bloggers when used correctly. I want to preface this by reminding everyone reading this that you shouldn’t be using AI to WRITE full blog posts or content, but as a tool it can be incredibly helpful. AI, when used correctly, can be a game-changer for bloggers. It can help to streamline the content creation process, improve SEO, and spark more ideas and inspiration. By integrating AI thoughtfully and carefully into your blogging, you can maintain the authenticity of your own personal voice and vibe while leveraging technology to enhance your content and content creation process. Let’s now get into how to use AI for blogging for maximum effect. How to Use AI for Blogging There are a few different ways you can use AI for blogging. Here’s a quick list of a few of the most common benefits of using AI for your blog:  Content Inspiration: AI can generate topic ideas based on current trends and audience preferences, helping you stay relevant and keep your content fresh. Improved SEO: AI tools can analyse search trends, suggest relevant keywords, and provide insights on optimising your content for better search engine rankings. Quality Improvement: AI-powered grammar and readability tools can help refine your writing, ensuring your content is clear, error-free, and engaging. Consistency: AI can help maintain a consistent posting schedule, ensuring that your blog remains active and up-to-date. Audience Insights: AI can analyse audience behaviour and feedback, providing valuable data on what types of content resonate most with your readers. Data-Driven Decisions: AI can provide detailed analytics and reports, helping you make informed decisions based on real data rather than intuition. Inspiration Boost: AI can suggest new angles and perspectives on topics, sparking creativity and helping you overcome writer’s block. Scalability: As your blog grows, AI can help manage the increased workload by automating tasks and providing scalable options and solutions to suit you and your blog. Trend Analysis: AI can keep you updated on the latest trends in your industry, helping you create timely and relevant content. Improved Accessibility: AI tools can assist in creating more accessible content, such as by suggesting alternative text for images or ensuring your content meets readability standards. How Can You Implement AI Into Your Blogging? Sparking Ideas and Inspiration Even the most creative minds can hit a block when it comes to blogging and content ideas! AI can serve as an amazing source of inspiration when you’re struggling to come up with new topics or different angles. By analysing popular content and trending topics, AI can suggest fresh ideas that resonate with your target audience. Additionally, AI tools can help you identify keyword ideas, allowing you to create unique content that stands out. By utilising AI as a blogger, you can save time, get loads of new ideas for keywords, help your SEO and content creation, and maintain a consistent posting schedule, all while staying informed and inspired! Once you have your keyword ideas you can then input into your Keyword Research Tool to narrow down on exactly what you are going to write about! For more information on Keywords, this post goes more in depth but in an easy to understand way! Research Assistance AI tools can gather information really quickly from various sources. This can provide a comprehensive overview of literally any topic you’re interested in! This saves you the time and effort of manually sifting through a lot of different articles. While your own research and fact checking is important (AI doesn’t always get things right!), it can certainly help speed things up in the earlier stages of content creation! For lengthy articles or information, AI can help to generate a summary for you. This allows you to quickly understand the main points without having to read everything in detail.  Streamlining the Content Creation Process One of the most time-consuming aspects of blogging (I’m sure you’ll agree) is the research and pre-planning of your post before even writing the post itself! AI can assist you in giving you information on a particular topic quickly and in an easy to understand fashion.  Quick tip: If you ever don’t understand something AI has said, or something from the internet, ask AI to reword it in a more broken down/simplified way and this should help! Once you’ve written your content, AI can help you to refine it by checking for grammar and how easy it is to read for your audience! It can check that  your writing is clear and error-free. AI can also suggest improvements to make your content more compelling and easier to understand but be aware to really double check all suggestions as it’s not always as natural sounding as it should be! Enhancing SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is so important for any blogger wanting to increase their visibility and reach a bigger audience!  AI can analyse current trends, keywords, and search algorithms to provide insights on the best strategies for optimising your content. With AI tools, you can track the performance of your posts to make data-driven decisions! AI can also provide insights on how to optimise your blog content for better search engine rankings, helping you attract even more readers. Improving Readability and Engagement AI tools can also help you to refine your writing to make it more engaging and accessible to more people. Tools like grammar checkers, readability analysers, and tone detectors can help you fine-tune your content to ensure it’s easy to read and resonates with your audience! It’s really important you don’t let the AI content take over your personal voice in your blog! Using AI to help improve readability isn’t about solely using AI, it is just a tool that can help if you aren’t sure a certain point or sentence doesn’t quite make sense etc. Common Questions About Using AI for Blogging Can AI Replace Human Writers? Is AI-Generated Content SEO-Friendly? How Accurate is AI in Understanding Context? Is Using AI for Blogging Expensive? More Questions People Have About Using AI for Blogging In addition to the commonly asked questions previously discussed, here are some more inquiries people might have about using AI for blogging, along with concise answers: How Can AI Help With Keyword Research? Can AI-generated Content Rank Well on Google? While AI can certainly help assist, Google especially is after HUMAN content where it helps other people. If it’s AI written fully, Google will know and won’t show your content. This can also harm your blog’s credibility. Is AI Ethical To Use in Content Creation? What Are The Limitations of Using AI For blogging? Concerns About Using AI to Help With Blogging While AI does offer many benefits for bloggers, there are several concerns and potential drawbacks that you may have.  Understanding these concerns can help you to make informed decisions about integrating AI into your blogging/content creation! While AI has loads of benefits, it’s important to use it ethically. As mentioned earlier, relying too heavily on AI for content creation can lead to a loss of your personal touch and authenticity.  Always ensure that your voice remains at the forefront of your blog. Use AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for your creativity and expertise as YOU are what your readers want to read and know. Benefits of Using AI Voice Overs for Blog Posts Adding AI voice overs into your blog posts and blog content can have numerous advantages It can enhance the accessibility, engagement, and reach of your content. While it won’t be for everyone, for some niches voice overs can work SO well. Whether you want a section of your post or the whole post available as an audio option, the option is there! You can of course use your own voice to record voice overs if you’re comfortable with this. The other option is to use an AI voice over tool such as ElevenLabs. Often AI tools work on a character basis.  This means you type in/copy text in of what you would like to be read out, generate the speech (you choose the voice you would like too) and then download it as an audio file! Super simple!  If you’re needing less than 10,000 characters per month then it’s free too! They have paid plans at really affordable prices too. For example the first paid plan is only $5 a month for up to 30,000 characters! There are 3 further plan options if you need them too. For all of the plans you get to use any of the 29 different voices they have available to you. I’ve included a snippet of a few of the voices as an example of how different they sound and how you can choose whichever suits your content the best! ElevenLabs is also an amazing way to do video voice overs for your blog, for YouTube, TikTok or any other platform where you are sharing your video content. You can easily add this voice clip into a video editing software or even Canva to easily add voice overs to video clips! I hope this has been helpful in clarifying a few points regarding using AI for blogging. I also hope it has alleviated any concerns you may have had about using AI to help you in creating content but without either feeling “icky” about using it, or without being penalised by Google. As you can see from the voice over software above, there are some amazing ways to utilise AI for your blog or for other forms of content creation! Do you use AI for your blog? Have you ever tried voice overs for blog or video content? Let me know in the comments below! Speak soon! 📌 Pin for later 📌

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In this post we will be going over using AI for blogging and the ways it can enhance your content.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage just now and while many avoid it, it can be a powerful tool for bloggers when used correctly.

I want to preface this by reminding everyone reading this that you shouldn’t be using AI to WRITE full blog posts or content, but as a tool it can be incredibly helpful.

AI, when used correctly, can be a game-changer for bloggers.

It can help to streamline the content creation process, improve SEO, and spark more ideas and inspiration.

By integrating AI thoughtfully and carefully into your blogging, you can maintain the authenticity of your own personal voice and vibe while leveraging technology to enhance your content and content creation process.

Let’s now get into how to use AI for blogging for maximum effect.


58 - Using AI For Blogging


How to Use AI for Blogging

There are a few different ways you can use AI for blogging.

Here’s a quick list of a few of the most common benefits of using AI for your blog: 

Content Inspiration: AI can generate topic ideas based on current trends and audience preferences, helping you stay relevant and keep your content fresh.

Improved SEO: AI tools can analyse search trends, suggest relevant keywords, and provide insights on optimising your content for better search engine rankings.

Quality Improvement: AI-powered grammar and readability tools can help refine your writing, ensuring your content is clear, error-free, and engaging.

Consistency: AI can help maintain a consistent posting schedule, ensuring that your blog remains active and up-to-date.

Audience Insights: AI can analyse audience behaviour and feedback, providing valuable data on what types of content resonate most with your readers.

Data-Driven Decisions: AI can provide detailed analytics and reports, helping you make informed decisions based on real data rather than intuition.

Inspiration Boost: AI can suggest new angles and perspectives on topics, sparking creativity and helping you overcome writer’s block.

Scalability: As your blog grows, AI can help manage the increased workload by automating tasks and providing scalable options and solutions to suit you and your blog.

Trend Analysis: AI can keep you updated on the latest trends in your industry, helping you create timely and relevant content.

Improved Accessibility: AI tools can assist in creating more accessible content, such as by suggesting alternative text for images or ensuring your content meets readability standards.

How Can You Implement AI Into Your Blogging?

Sparking Ideas and Inspiration

Even the most creative minds can hit a block when it comes to blogging and content ideas! AI can serve as an amazing source of inspiration when you’re struggling to come up with new topics or different angles.

By analysing popular content and trending topics, AI can suggest fresh ideas that resonate with your target audience. Additionally, AI tools can help you identify keyword ideas, allowing you to create unique content that stands out.

By utilising AI as a blogger, you can save time, get loads of new ideas for keywords, help your SEO and content creation, and maintain a consistent posting schedule, all while staying informed and inspired!

Once you have your keyword ideas you can then input into your Keyword Research Tool to narrow down on exactly what you are going to write about!

For more information on Keywords, this post goes more in depth but in an easy to understand way!

Research Assistance

AI tools can gather information really quickly from various sources. This can provide a comprehensive overview of literally any topic you’re interested in!

This saves you the time and effort of manually sifting through a lot of different articles. While your own research and fact checking is important (AI doesn’t always get things right!), it can certainly help speed things up in the earlier stages of content creation!

For lengthy articles or information, AI can help to generate a summary for you. This allows you to quickly understand the main points without having to read everything in detail. 

Streamlining the Content Creation Process

One of the most time-consuming aspects of blogging (I’m sure you’ll agree) is the research and pre-planning of your post before even writing the post itself!

AI can assist you in giving you information on a particular topic quickly and in an easy to understand fashion. 

Quick tip: If you ever don’t understand something AI has said, or something from the internet, ask AI to reword it in a more broken down/simplified way and this should help!

Once you’ve written your content, AI can help you to refine it by checking for grammar and how easy it is to read for your audience! It can check that  your writing is clear and error-free. AI can also suggest improvements to make your content more compelling and easier to understand but be aware to really double check all suggestions as it’s not always as natural sounding as it should be!

Enhancing SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is so important for any blogger wanting to increase their visibility and reach a bigger audience! 

AI can analyse current trends, keywords, and search algorithms to provide insights on the best strategies for optimising your content. With AI tools, you can track the performance of your posts to make data-driven decisions!

AI can also provide insights on how to optimise your blog content for better search engine rankings, helping you attract even more readers.

Improving Readability and Engagement

AI tools can also help you to refine your writing to make it more engaging and accessible to more people.

Tools like grammar checkers, readability analysers, and tone detectors can help you fine-tune your content to ensure it’s easy to read and resonates with your audience!

It’s really important you don’t let the AI content take over your personal voice in your blog! Using AI to help improve readability isn’t about solely using AI, it is just a tool that can help if you aren’t sure a certain point or sentence doesn’t quite make sense etc.

Common Questions About Using AI for Blogging

Can AI Replace Human Writers?

  • AI can assist with drafting and generating ideas, but human writers like you and I are essential for creativity, personal touch, and nuanced understanding of topics! AI may have the facts (most of the time), but you will only get that human touch from an actual human.
  • AI tools can produce relevant content, but they lack the depth, emotion, and unique perspective that human writers bring and add to their content. Human writers excel at connecting with their readers on a personal level, which is crucial for maintaining a loyal audience!

Is AI-Generated Content SEO-Friendly?

  • Yes, AI can help optimise content for SEO, but human oversight is necessary to ensure the content is accurate, high quality and aligns with your brand voice. 
  • AI tools like Yoast SEO and Keysearch use algorithms to analyse content and provide recommendations for optimising keywords, meta descriptions, and readability. However, human review ensures that the content remains engaging and accurate.

How Accurate is AI in Understanding Context?

  • While AI has significantly improved in understanding context, it still requires human review to ensure accuracy and relevance!
  • While AI tools like GPT-4 are trained on huge amounts of data and can understand context to a certain degree, they can often still struggle with highly specialised topics or certain specific questions. This is why it’s so important for a real human to edit and refine any AI info/text to ensure it is contextually correct and  comes across like it’s been written by a human.

Is Using AI for Blogging Expensive?

  • There are both free and paid AI tools available. The cost depends on the tool’s capabilities and your specific needs.
  • Free tools like Chat GPT or Grammarly offer basic writing assistance, while premium versions provide advanced features like style and tone suggestions. Similarly, platforms like Keysearch offer various subscription plans based on the level of service required.

More Questions People Have About Using AI for Blogging

In addition to the commonly asked questions previously discussed, here are some more inquiries people might have about using AI for blogging, along with concise answers:

How Can AI Help With Keyword Research?

  • AI tools like Keysearch, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz use algorithms to analyse search data and suggest relevant keywords you can use in your content. They can identify high-traffic keywords, low-competition keywords, long-tail keywords, and keyword difficulty. All of these can help bloggers optimise their content for search engines!

Can AI-generated Content Rank Well on Google?

  • It can. AI-generated content can rank well if it is high-quality, informative, and optimised for SEO. As with the points above, human editing is necessary though to ensure the content is factual, human sounding and aligns with Google’s guidelines for valuable content. This is especially true after Google’s Helpful Content Update.

While AI can certainly help assist, Google especially is after HUMAN content where it helps other people. If it’s AI written fully, Google will know and won’t show your content. This can also harm your blog’s credibility.

Is AI Ethical To Use in Content Creation?

  • This is a tricky one as it can be a point of personal opinion. For most, the ethical use of AI in content creation highly depends on transparency and originality! If you use AI as an aid but keep the content your own, you’re all good! As a blogger you should disclose the use of AI tools where necessary and ensure that the content is original and not plagiarised/copy and pasted. It’s essential to use AI as a supplement to human creativity rather than a replacement!

What Are The Limitations of Using AI For blogging?

  • While AI can assist with many aspects of blogging, it has limitations, such as:
    • Creativity: AI may lack that creative flair and personal touch that a human writer can add/bring.
    • Context Understanding: AI tools can struggle with understanding complex or specific questions, and on occasion gets “facts” wrong too.
    • Dependency: Over-reliance on AI tools can lead to a lack of skill growth in writing and content creation. It will also go against getting found via search engines! Use AI as a tool, not as the backbone of your blog writing!

Concerns About Using AI to Help With Blogging

While AI does offer many benefits for bloggers, there are several concerns and potential drawbacks that you may have. 

Understanding these concerns can help you to make informed decisions about integrating AI into your blogging/content creation!

While AI has loads of benefits, it’s important to use it ethically. As mentioned earlier, relying too heavily on AI for content creation can lead to a loss of your personal touch and authenticity. 

Always ensure that your voice remains at the forefront of your blog. Use AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for your creativity and expertise as YOU are what your readers want to read and know.

Benefits of Using AI Voice Overs for Blog Posts

Adding AI voice overs into your blog posts and blog content can have numerous advantages It can enhance the accessibility, engagement, and reach of your content.

While it won’t be for everyone, for some niches voice overs can work SO well.

Whether you want a section of your post or the whole post available as an audio option, the option is there!


You can of course use your own voice to record voice overs if you’re comfortable with this.

The other option is to use an AI voice over tool such as ElevenLabs.

Often AI tools work on a character basis. 

This means you type in/copy text in of what you would like to be read out, generate the speech (you choose the voice you would like too) and then download it as an audio file! Super simple! 

If you’re needing less than 10,000 characters per month then it’s free too!

They have paid plans at really affordable prices too. For example the first paid plan is only $5 a month for up to 30,000 characters!

There are 3 further plan options if you need them too.

For all of the plans you get to use any of the 29 different voices they have available to you.

I’ve included a snippet of a few of the voices as an example of how different they sound and how you can choose whichever suits your content the best!

ElevenLabs is also an amazing way to do video voice overs for your blog, for YouTube, TikTok or any other platform where you are sharing your video content.


You can easily add this voice clip into a video editing software or even Canva to easily add voice overs to video clips!

I hope this has been helpful in clarifying a few points regarding using AI for blogging. I also hope it has alleviated any concerns you may have had about using AI to help you in creating content but without either feeling “icky” about using it, or without being penalised by Google.

As you can see from the voice over software above, there are some amazing ways to utilise AI for your blog or for other forms of content creation!

Do you use AI for your blog?

Have you ever tried voice overs for blog or video content?

Let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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7 Profitable Blogging Strategies to Make Money Online https://katherinemclee.com/7-ways-you-can-make-money-from-your-blog/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-ways-you-can-make-money-from-your-blog https://katherinemclee.com/7-ways-you-can-make-money-from-your-blog/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:13:13 +0000 https://katherinemclee.com/?p=1295 In this post we are going to go over the top 7 ways to make money from your blog! Making money from your very own website is so exciting, especially knowing the earning potential is completely limitless. But what are the popular ways to be able to actually make money? The niche you are in will of course have some sway over which monetisation options are best for you. The good thing is that there are multiple ways to monetise your blog so there’s definitely something for everyone! While there are of course no income guarantees, you should be able to find at least a few options from the list below that suit you and the way you want to make money from your blog.  Let’s get into the top 7 ways to make money blogging. There’s such a range in the ways you can truly make money from your blog. The beauty in having your own blog is that you can choose whichever strategy and whichever monetisation strategy that suits you. Do you only have to pick one of the options below to make money from your blog? Nope! You can absolutely choose one, a few, or even all the ways listed below. Choose the combination that’s right for you and your blog, and that suits you as to how you want to make an income. Remember there are many more ways not listed also! This post is just to touch on the top 7 ways, but there are many more! The first two on the list I truly believe anyone can implement for you to make money from your blog.  They are also (in my opinion) the easiest to get started with. These are Advertising and Affiliate Marketing. Advertising This is probably the most widely known way to make money blogging.  Adding adverts to your blog can help you to make money passively from your blog. Where Do You Find Adverts For A New Blog? As a new blog you are best signing up for Google Adsense where you can place Google Adverts on your blog.  Google Adsense has a very low threshold as to what’s required to get into their program, so it’s perfect for newbies and people with lower pageviews. You can absolutely stay with Adsense if it suits you so it isn’t only for new bloggers! It’s just the one I would recommend for newer bloggers. With Adsense Google provides the adverts for you. You can choose where the adverts are placed on your site or you can even let Google choose. Google will automatically place them where they feel they will perform the best so you don’t have to do anything, but they don’t always end up where you may have placed them yourself.  Experiment and see which performs the best and which is better aesthetically for your blog and your readers. How Much Can You Get Paid With Adverts? The amount you get paid from advertising can vary dramatically.  It depends on which adverts are showing, where they are placed on your website, how many views your site gets and how many people click onto them. The amount you will get from adverts will go up and down with the seasons too!  Adding adverts to your website is probably one of the simplest of these 7 ways to make money from your blog mentioned here. Personally I would never purely rely on advertising as an income due to the fluctuations mentioned above so I would always choose at least another one from the other options to compliment it. Once you grow a larger following and have more pageviews/sessions you can request to join other advertising companies. With a larger amount of monthly pageviews, you will be able to apply for higher paying advertising. So that’s always something to look forward to as your blog grows! Some people don’t like the look of having adverts on their blog which is personal preference. I’m happy to have adverts on mine as I’m happy seeing adverts on other people’s! Affiliate Marketing This is, hands down, one of my favourite ways you can make money from a blog. The earning potential is limitless, and is more based on your own efforts, rather than the advertising rates set by an external company. It is a term used all over the Internet, but is often portrayed as more complicated than it actually is. It’s one of the ways you can potentially make a lot of money in a short amount of time… BUT Be aware that as with everything, seeing real results will most likely take time and effort. The bigger the audience and the more they trust and respect your opinions and recommendations, the more you will make.  I have a full post explaining Affiliate Marketing in more detail here! As a quick run down though… What Is Affiliate Marketing?  Affiliate Marketing is when you get a commission from selling someone else’s products or services.  How does it work? To start with affiliate marketing, you start by joining an affiliate program with a company or a network that offers these programs. This could be directly with the company such as Amazon, or through an affiliate marketplace such as Clickbank. The company then provides you with your own unique link that tracks any clicks through and any sales. You can then share this link on your blog, social media, or other platforms, recommending the product or service to your readers. Whenever someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission, which is a percentage of the sale! This percentage will vary company to company and even product to product. Essentially, you’re getting paid for helping a company sell its products by using your platform to reach more people. It’s basically a win-win! Be careful not to promote any bad products though as the last thing  you want as an affiliate marketer is a bad reputation! Promoting products you use and love is the ideal here as you can openly talk about how much you enjoy them and how they can also benefit others. Most companies have affiliate programs now! If there’s a product or service you already love and want to share with your readers, you can check directly with that company’s website and see if they have an affiliate program you can join. Here’s an example and one anyone with a self hosted blog can do – Share Your Hosting! If you love your hosting company, see if they have an affiliate pgrogram (nearly all of them do), and then talk about them and why you like them! This means no matter what niche your blog – there will absolutely be affiliate programs you can join. If you love your hosting provider – recommend them!  You already use and love them, so share them with your readers.  How Much Can You Make With Affiliate Marketing? The amount you make depends on the company’s commission rate, how big your audience is, and how much your audience trusts you. One of the best parts of affiliate marketing is that you can sign up to as many affiliate programs as you like.  Imagine how much money you can make just by sharing products you already love with your audience. Sponsored Posts Sponsored Posts are an awesome way to get some extra income from your blog. This involves working with brands, where they will pay you to talk about a product/service, sometimes as part of a post, sometimes as the main focus of your post. The brand will pay you to talk about/advertise their product and will most likely then give you an affiliate link to get a commission from all sales made through that blog post also.  When agreeing to do a sponsored post/paid review, make sure the company has not said you HAVE to say only positive things about their product. All reviews should always be completely honest! The larger your audience, the more you will get paid by the company, as the more people the post will reach. Getting asked to do a sponsored post is not something to expect straight away. Give it time, build up your own brand, website and audience and the sponsored posts should start to follow! Do your research to work out how much you should be charging per sponsored post too!  Don’t let yourself be undercharged due to worrying you aren’t good enough. You are. That’s why they asked you. Selling Your Own Digital Products If you are a new blogger, this one will most likely sound scarier than the rest. It doesn’t have to! There are loads of ways to create and sell digital products so if you are interested in going down this route then absolutely do. If you’re unsure just now, have a read and maybe keep this in mind as a potential for the future if you don’t feel ready just yet. This money making option has a few parts to it, but as an overview, you create your own digital products and sell these through your blog or through a site linked to your blog. This could be through sites such as Shopify or Etsy. For a more indepth look at Shopify and who it can benfit the most, check out this post here! There are many different types when it comes to digital products. The types of digital products you can create and sell are things like: One of the great things about digital products is that you only have to create them once but can sell them over and over! Once they are created, your job is then just to promote and share with your audience why they will benefit from your products. If you’ve made a high quality product, this should be fairly simple! Obviously if they need updated/refreshed then do this, but on the whole once created, you can then profit from them over and over again. The overheads for these sorts of products are also very low, which means the profit margin here is very high. This is because as much as you have spent your time creating a product, an unlimited amount of people can then purchase it from you. If you are a newer blogger or new to your niche and don’t feel you could create a full online course yet, you could try for printables!  The beauty in selling digital products is that there really is something for everyone, and they will all be unique to you. Selling Physical Products For some niches, this option can work amazingly well. Say for example your blog was about crochet or healthy dog treats. You could absolutely sell physical products relating to either of those topics. The overheads and time needed can be a lot higher, but that’s not to say it’s a bad option at all. If you love to crochet and are crocheting all the time anyway, why not sell it too!  Making products to order can save you ending up with a large amount of inventory, but puts a little more pressure on you to get the products out in the timescale advertised. You can set up your own online store again through platforms such as Shopify or Etsy. This income stream won’t suit all website niches.  But that’s the beauty in choosing the best ways for you to make money from your blog. It’s all personalised to you. Selling Your Own Services Selling online services is an amazing option if you can offer a service to a person or group of people. This could be one-on-one phone calls (for example a coaching call in your specific niche), personalised video tutorials, online consultations or VA services. You don’t have to talk on the phone to sell a service online either as there are so many options so you can do it as a purely online service if this is what suits you better! If you are knowledgeable about a specific topic but don’t have a large...

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In this post we are going to go over the top 7 ways to make money from your blog!

Making money from your very own website is so exciting, especially knowing the earning potential is completely limitless. But what are the popular ways to be able to actually make money?

The niche you are in will of course have some sway over which monetisation options are best for you. The good thing is that there are multiple ways to monetise your blog so there’s definitely something for everyone!

While there are of course no income guarantees, you should be able to find at least a few options from the list below that suit you and the way you want to make money from your blog. 

Let’s get into the top 7 ways to make money blogging.

There’s such a range in the ways you can truly make money from your blog.

The beauty in having your own blog is that you can choose whichever strategy and whichever monetisation strategy that suits you.

Do you only have to pick one of the options below to make money from your blog? Nope! You can absolutely choose one, a few, or even all the ways listed below.

Choose the combination that’s right for you and your blog, and that suits you as to how you want to make an income.

Remember there are many more ways not listed also! This post is just to touch on the top 7 ways, but there are many more!

The first two on the list I truly believe anyone can implement for you to make money from your blog. 

They are also (in my opinion) the easiest to get started with.

These are Advertising and Affiliate Marketing.

Advertising

This is probably the most widely known way to make money blogging. 

Adding adverts to your blog can help you to make money passively from your blog.

Where Do You Find Adverts For A New Blog?

As a new blog you are best signing up for Google Adsense where you can place Google Adverts on your blog. 

Google Adsense has a very low threshold as to what’s required to get into their program, so it’s perfect for newbies and people with lower pageviews.

You can absolutely stay with Adsense if it suits you so it isn’t only for new bloggers! It’s just the one I would recommend for newer bloggers.

With Adsense Google provides the adverts for you. You can choose where the adverts are placed on your site or you can even let Google choose. Google will automatically place them where they feel they will perform the best so you don’t have to do anything, but they don’t always end up where you may have placed them yourself. 

Experiment and see which performs the best and which is better aesthetically for your blog and your readers.

hostgator banner with astronaut gator

How Much Can You Get Paid With Adverts?

The amount you get paid from advertising can vary dramatically. 

It depends on which adverts are showing, where they are placed on your website, how many views your site gets and how many people click onto them.

The amount you will get from adverts will go up and down with the seasons too! 

Adding adverts to your website is probably one of the simplest of these 7 ways to make money from your blog mentioned here. Personally I would never purely rely on advertising as an income due to the fluctuations mentioned above so I would always choose at least another one from the other options to compliment it.

Once you grow a larger following and have more pageviews/sessions you can request to join other advertising companies.

With a larger amount of monthly pageviews, you will be able to apply for higher paying advertising. So that’s always something to look forward to as your blog grows!

Some people don’t like the look of having adverts on their blog which is personal preference. I’m happy to have adverts on mine as I’m happy seeing adverts on other people’s!

Affiliate Marketing

This is, hands down, one of my favourite ways you can make money from a blog.

The earning potential is limitless, and is more based on your own efforts, rather than the advertising rates set by an external company.

It is a term used all over the Internet, but is often portrayed as more complicated than it actually is.

It’s one of the ways you can potentially make a lot of money in a short amount of time…

BUT

Be aware that as with everything, seeing real results will most likely take time and effort.

The bigger the audience and the more they trust and respect your opinions and recommendations, the more you will make. 

I have a full post explaining Affiliate Marketing in more detail here!

As a quick run down though…

What Is Affiliate Marketing? 

Affiliate Marketing is when you get a commission from selling someone else’s products or services. 

How does it work?

To start with affiliate marketing, you start by joining an affiliate program with a company or a network that offers these programs. This could be directly with the company such as Amazon, or through an affiliate marketplace such as Clickbank.

The company then provides you with your own unique link that tracks any clicks through and any sales.

You can then share this link on your blog, social media, or other platforms, recommending the product or service to your readers.

Whenever someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission, which is a percentage of the sale!

This percentage will vary company to company and even product to product.

Essentially, you’re getting paid for helping a company sell its products by using your platform to reach more people.

It’s basically a win-win!

Be careful not to promote any bad products though as the last thing  you want as an affiliate marketer is a bad reputation!

Promoting products you use and love is the ideal here as you can openly talk about how much you enjoy them and how they can also benefit others.

Most companies have affiliate programs now!

If there’s a product or service you already love and want to share with your readers, you can check directly with that company’s website and see if they have an affiliate program you can join.

Here’s an example and one anyone with a self hosted blog can do – Share Your Hosting!

If you love your hosting company, see if they have an affiliate pgrogram (nearly all of them do), and then talk about them and why you like them!

This means no matter what niche your blog – there will absolutely be affiliate programs you can join.

If you love your hosting provider – recommend them! 

You already use and love them, so share them with your readers.

 How Much Can You Make With Affiliate Marketing?

The amount you make depends on the company’s commission rate, how big your audience is, and how much your audience trusts you.

One of the best parts of affiliate marketing is that you can sign up to as many affiliate programs as you like. 

Imagine how much money you can make just by sharing products you already love with your audience.

Sponsored Posts

Sponsored Posts are an awesome way to get some extra income from your blog.

This involves working with brands, where they will pay you to talk about a product/service, sometimes as part of a post, sometimes as the main focus of your post.

The brand will pay you to talk about/advertise their product and will most likely then give you an affiliate link to get a commission from all sales made through that blog post also. 

When agreeing to do a sponsored post/paid review, make sure the company has not said you HAVE to say only positive things about their product. All reviews should always be completely honest!

The larger your audience, the more you will get paid by the company, as the more people the post will reach.

Getting asked to do a sponsored post is not something to expect straight away.

Give it time, build up your own brand, website and audience and the sponsored posts should start to follow!

Do your research to work out how much you should be charging per sponsored post too! 

Don’t let yourself be undercharged due to worrying you aren’t good enough.

You are. That’s why they asked you.

Selling Your Own Digital Products

If you are a new blogger, this one will most likely sound scarier than the rest. It doesn’t have to!

There are loads of ways to create and sell digital products so if you are interested in going down this route then absolutely do.

If you’re unsure just now, have a read and maybe keep this in mind as a potential for the future if you don’t feel ready just yet.

This money making option has a few parts to it, but as an overview, you create your own digital products and sell these through your blog or through a site linked to your blog.

This could be through sites such as Shopify or Etsy.

For a more indepth look at Shopify and who it can benfit the most, check out this post here!

There are many different types when it comes to digital products. The types of digital products you can create and sell are things like:

  • E-Books
  • Courses
  • Planners
  • Subscription Websites
  • Worksheets
  • Checklists
  • Other Printables

One of the great things about digital products is that you only have to create them once but can sell them over and over!

Once they are created, your job is then just to promote and share with your audience why they will benefit from your products. If you’ve made a high quality product, this should be fairly simple!

Obviously if they need updated/refreshed then do this, but on the whole once created, you can then profit from them over and over again.

The overheads for these sorts of products are also very low, which means the profit margin here is very high.

shopify ad showing a black background with the words "this free trial can change your life" and a woman with a plant in the foreground

This is because as much as you have spent your time creating a product, an unlimited amount of people can then purchase it from you.

If you are a newer blogger or new to your niche and don’t feel you could create a full online course yet, you could try for printables! 

The beauty in selling digital products is that there really is something for everyone, and they will all be unique to you.

Selling Physical Products

For some niches, this option can work amazingly well.

Say for example your blog was about crochet or healthy dog treats. You could absolutely sell physical products relating to either of those topics.

The overheads and time needed can be a lot higher, but that’s not to say it’s a bad option at all.

If you love to crochet and are crocheting all the time anyway, why not sell it too! 

Making products to order can save you ending up with a large amount of inventory, but puts a little more pressure on you to get the products out in the timescale advertised.

You can set up your own online store again through platforms such as Shopify or Etsy.

This income stream won’t suit all website niches. 

But that’s the beauty in choosing the best ways for you to make money from your blog. It’s all personalised to you.

Selling Your Own Services

Selling online services is an amazing option if you can offer a service to a person or group of people.

This could be one-on-one phone calls (for example a coaching call in your specific niche), personalised video tutorials, online consultations or VA services.

You don’t have to talk on the phone to sell a service online either as there are so many options so you can do it as a purely online service if this is what suits you better!

If you are knowledgeable about a specific topic but don’t have a large audience to be able to fully utilise the above other money making options, this is a great way to make money.

You can promote your services on your blog, on social media or on platforms such as Fiverr.

As with the above points, some niches will do better with this than others. 

If you are knowledgeable on a certain topic, you can absolutely consider sharing your knowledge and advice in the form of a paid service.

This is also one of the “quicker” ways to make actual money from your blog – along with selling digital products – as you will get paid for your services there and then. This is unlike money from adverts or affiliate links where you have to hit payout thresholds and then often only get paid the month after again. 

I wrote a whole post explaining what to expect from making money from your blog if you are looking for more information on the topic!

Click here to check that post out!

The last of the 7 ways to make money from your blog is…

Freelance Writing

Like above, if you love writing about a specific topic or topics and don’t have a large audience of your own yet, you can offer your services as a Freelance Writer.

This is where people hire you to write a specific blog post but for THEIR website, not yours.

Freelance writing is different to offering a guest post for another blog.

With a guest post you will still write content for another blog but will include your own information/links back to your own blog.

The bonus about this is that often you can link that post back to yourself/your own website which will also get your blog more exposure, growing your own audience.

With freelance writing/content creation, you provide a blog post you have been paid for, but purely for the other’s site.

If you have a lot of knowledge in a certain area, or if you are amazing at research/understanding and can learn and then craft a helpful and understandable post for different topics, you may want to look into this!

There is also no limit as to how many people you can write for, so time is your only limitation.

With freelance writing it’s often a good idea to reach out to blogs/companies you would like to write for. Unless you offer your writing services on a platform such as Fiverr, bloggers may never know you offer this as a service.

So that’s it!

Those are my top 7 ways to make money from your blog. 

There are many other ways but those are the most popular and simplest – especially when first starting out.

If you are looking for 47 more ways to make money online – not just on your blog – then you can check out this post here!

Some are trickier to learn/implement than others, but all can be very profitable. Whether used alone or combining a few options and having multiple streams of income (always recommended!).

One last thing to note is to not undervalue your time and services!!! 

When starting out it can be very tempting to agree to any amount people offer you. And there’s nothing wrong with this in the early days while you’re building up your blog and experience. As you grow, take some time to really figure out your cost and go with this number. Your time is valuable, and only you can decide how much you want to charge. No matter if it’ a coaching call, written content, personalised placed adverts or selling digital products. Work out what numbers suit you and go with these!

I really hope you enjoyed this explanation of the top 7 ways to make money blogging.

Which of these are jumping out at you as the best options for you and your blog?

Have you already started implementing some of the options above?

Which are your favourites? 

Let me know in the comments!

Speak soon!

Katherine McLee signature black and white

📌 Pin for later 📌

7 ways to make money from your blog - 7 most popular ways to make money from your blog - shows coins/money in a jar

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