How to Make Your First $1,000 from Blogging (Even with a Small Audience!)
Let's get real for a second. If you're reading this, you've probably thought: "Can I actually make money from a blog when nobody even knows I exist?"
I'm here to tell you: OMG, YES YOU CAN!
Listen, when I started my blog, I was dreaming of working from my couch in yoga pants, being my own boss, and building something that could give me the financial freedom I desperately wanted.
No fancy office, no tech background, just me and my laptop, trying to figure this whole blogging thing out while scrolling Pinterest for inspiration (and maybe getting distracted by home decor pins... we've all been there!). Maybe you can relate.
hold on one second…
Did you start reading this blog post even though you don’t have a blog yet? If so… I MADE YOU SOMETHING: I created a FREE ( did I mention it’s free?) 6-day email course, which will teach you step-by-step how to set up a blog, install your theme, and make a logo. It will completely kick-start your blogging success.
I made it because I know personally I did a ton of research before finally jumping in and starting my blog, and I want to help you get over the hump and actually into blogging because it can be life changing.
Here is what the FREE email course goes over:
Day 1: How to start a blog from scratch with no experience (& get a free domain name)
Day 2: How to make your blog look ready for readers.
Day 3: How to write killer blog posts & make money from them.
Day 4: Other ways bloggers make money.
Day 5: How to start using social media as a blogger.
Day 6: How to stay motivated & not overwhelmed when it comes to blogging.
How to Start a Profitable Blog From Scratch Email Course
Okay now let’s actually jump into the blog post…
My "Wait, This Actually Works?!" Moment
Let’s talk about Jen for a second. She's one of my Blog Success Starter students—an amazing hard worker who started her blog while working full-time and chasing toddlers around. She had ZERO experience when she started. Zero!
But guess what? Within six months of following the exact steps I teach, she made her first $1,000 through affiliate links and a super simple digital product she created during her kids' naptime.
If she can do it while juggling all that life throws at her, girl... YOU. CAN. TOO.
The Blogger Truth Bomb No One Tells You
Here's what those perfect-hair, perfect-life blogging "gurus" on Instagram won't tell you:
You 👏 Don't 👏 Need 👏 A 👏 Huge 👏 Following 👏 To 👏 Make 👏 Money!
What you need is a strategy that works specifically for us regular women who don't have hours to spend creating content every day or thousands to invest in Facebook ads.
I discovered this the hard way after months of posting beautiful content that earned me exactly $0.00. That frustrated, "is this even worth it?" feeling? Been there! But then I completely changed my approach, and within a year, I went from broke and stressed to quitting my soul-sucking job!
Let me pour you a virtual coffee and show you exactly how. ☕
6 Totally Doable Steps to Make Your First $1,000 (That Work Even If You Have Like 5 Followers)
1. Pick a Niche That Actually Makes Money (Without Selling Your Soul)
Look, you can blog about anything you love, but if you want to turn this into your full-time gig and financial freedom ticket, you need to pick something people are actually searching for help with.
Some niches that are total money-makers for my students:
Personal finance (budgeting for moms, paying off debt as a single woman)
Health & wellness (busy mom fitness, meal prep for beginners)
Family life (homeschooling tips, toddler activities)
Home decor & organization (small space solutions, budget decorating)
Side hustles & work-from-home opportunities (hello, that's us!)
The magic question to ask yourself: What am I already helping my friends with? What do people come to me for advice about? That's your sweet spot!
Inside Blog Success Starter, we have a whole guide that helps you discover exactly where your passions and profit potential overlap. My students say it's like having a lightbulb moment! 💡
2. Start Making Money With Affiliate Links (The Easiest Way to Your First $100!)
Can I let you in on a little secret? Affiliate marketing was how I made my very first dollars online, and it's still one of my favorite strategies to teach my students who are just starting out.
Why? Because you don't need to create anything yourself, handle any customer service, or figure out complicated tech. You just share products you already love and get paid when people buy them!
But here's where most bloggers get it all wrong. They just slap random affiliate links in their posts and wonder why nobody's clicking.
The real magic happens when you create content specifically designed to convert. Let me give you a real example:
For example someone, wrote a post called "The 5 Budget Planners That Helped Me Pay Off $15,000 in Debt" where she genuinely reviewed planners she used. That ONE post could now make her $300-$400 per month with only 100 daily visitors to her blog!
Inside Blog Success Starter, I share my exact "Affiliate Content That Converts" templates and swipe files so you know exactly what to write to make those commissions roll in!
3. Create a Super Simple Digital Product (That People Actually Buy!)
Okay, I know what you're thinking: "I'm not an expert! Who would buy anything from ME?"
Girl, stop that negative talk right now! You don't need to be some guru with a PhD to create something helpful that people will happily pay for.
Some of the BEST-selling first products from my students include:
A $17 "Working Mom Weekly Planner" that brings in $500-700/month
A $27 set of "Instagram Caption Templates for Small Businesses" that sells like hotcakes
A $15 "30-Day Meal Prep Guide for Busy Women" that consistently earns $400/month
What these all have in common:
Super affordable ($7-$27 range)
Can be created in a weekend (even with kids running around!)
Solve ONE specific problem that people desperately want fixed
In Blog Success Starter, we walk through my process step-by-step, so you know exactly what to create, how to package it, and how to sell it without feeling salesy or weird about it!
4. Offer a Service That Uses Your Existing Skills (Hello, Quick Cash!)
Want to hit that $1,000 milestone even faster? Girl, let's leverage the skills you ALREADY have to offer services that people in your niche desperately need!
This is my favorite "quick win" strategy because you literally just need a few clients to start seeing real money in your account.
My students have had amazing success with:
Pinterest management ($300-500 per client)
Virtual assistance for coaches or online entrepreneurs ($20-30/hour)
Content writing for busy business owners ($150-300 per article)
Social media content creation ($250-400 per package)
And guess what? Your blog becomes your portfolio to attract these dream clients! Inside Blog Success Starter, I'll explain how to package your services, find your first clients, and juggle client work with your growing blog (because that work-life balance is crucial, right?).
5. Get People to Actually Find Your Blog (Without Spending Hours on Social Media!)
Let's be real—creating amazing content doesn't matter if nobody sees it!
But here's the thing: you don't need to be glued to Instagram 24/7 or dance on TikTok to get traffic (unless you want to, and then girl, dance away!).
What you need is strategic, targeted traffic from people who are actually looking for what you offer. That's why I teach my students to focus on:
Pinterest marketing (still my #1 traffic source and total game-changer for new bloggers!)
Simple SEO strategies (written in plain English, not tech jargon)
Email list building from day one (because this is where the real money happens!)
In Blog Success Starter, I break down my "Traffic That Converts" system that helps you focus on the platforms that will actually bring you readers who turn into buyers. No more posting into the void!
6. Build Your Email List (Your Secret Money-Making Weapon!)
Can I be super honest with you? Your email list is where the REAL magic happens. It's where casual readers become your biggest fans and buyers!
I made my first $1,000 with a tiny list of just 200 subscribers. It's not about having thousands—it's about connecting with the people who are already there!
The secret is creating an irresistible freebie that solves a specific problem, and then nurturing those subscribers with emails that make them feel like they're getting advice from a trusted friend (that's you!).
Why Most Women Never Actually Make Money From Their Blogs
After teaching hundreds of women how to turn their blogs into businesses, I've noticed one major roadblock that stops most people from reaching that first $1,000 milestone:
They're trying to do ALL THE THINGS at once!
One week they're focused on growing Instagram, the next they're redesigning their website, then they're starting a podcast... and they never give any single strategy enough time to actually work!
Sound familiar? Been there, done that, got the burnout to prove it!
That's exactly why I created Blog Success Starter—to give you a clear, step-by-step roadmap that shows you exactly what to focus on and when, so you can start seeing real results without the overwhelm.
From Stressed & Broke to Building My Dream Life (My Very Real Journey)
Let me get vulnerable with you for a minute. A few years ago, I was in a job that made me cry in my car during lunch breaks. I had student loan debt that kept me up at night, and I was watching other women build businesses online while I wondered, "Why not me?"
My first attempts at blogging were... well, let's just say they weren't exactly bringing in the big bucks! 🙈
I spent months creating "perfect" content that nobody read. I followed all the free advice I could find, but my bank account remained painfully empty.
The turning point came when I stopped trying to do everything perfectly and instead focused intensely on the few strategies that actually make money. Within a year of this shift, I was making enough to quit my job and work from anywhere—including the cozy coffee shops, my couch, and yes, sometimes even from bed in my PJs!
Now I wake up excited every day because I get to help women just like you build businesses that give them the financial freedom and flexibility they deserve.
The exact system I developed during this journey is what I now teach in Blog Success Starter which you can grab for less than $30 if you join ASAP.
Is Blog Success Starter Your Next Step?
This course is specifically designed for women who:
Dream of working from home and being their own boss
Want to create financial freedom through blogging or online business
Are tired of trying random strategies that don't lead to actual income
Can dedicate at least a few hours each week to building their dream
Are looking for a clear roadmap without the tech overwhelm
If you're nodding your head right now, then Blog Success Starter was literally created for YOU.
Ready to Go From Dreaming to Doing?
Blog Success Starter gives you everything you need to turn your blog into a profitable business.
Plus, you'll get access to our private community of amazing women who are on the same journey as you. We celebrate wins together, troubleshoot challenges, and support each other every step of the way!
Join Blog Success Starter Today → Click Here! I’ve marked it down to less than $30 for the next few days so grab it while it’s on sale.
Your journey to making your first $1,000 blogging starts with a single step. Let that step be today.
I'm so excited to see what you create,
Taylor