If you’ve ever thought about starting your own blog, you might want to share your story or passions. Perhaps you’re considering it to build a stream of passive income. Let me be the one to tell you: you can absolutely do this. I started just like you. No fancy setup, no tech degree, just a phone, a laptop, and the urge to figure it out. Now I’m slowly building traffic. I am learning the ropes of affiliate marketing. I’m showing up consistently. It’s all starting to come together. 🙌🏽
And if you’re serious about turning your blog into a money-making machine, I have to put you on to something that gave me a solid foundation:
👉🏽 Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing this course is a game-changer.
Let’s talk about it.
📝 Why I Decided to Start My Blog
I started my blog because I wanted to create something of my own. I aimed to grow it into a brand. It was not just a side hustle, but a business. I had extensive knowledge from running online stores. I also gained experience from creating digital products. Trying all kinds of side gigs added to my skill. I knew I could help others do the same.
But there was one problem…
I didn’t really know how to monetize a blog.
I was getting some views from Pinterest, my Instagram was popping sometimes, but the affiliate income? Crickets. That’s when I found a course that has been popular for a while in the blogging world. It’s called Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner.
💻 What Is Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing?
Let’s keep it real. There are a LOT of courses out there. They promise to teach you how to “make money online.” Most of them sound good, but don’t deliver.
This one? It breaks it down in a way that even a beginner can understand.
Michelle (the course creator) made over $50,000 a month from affiliate marketing on her blog without sounding spammy or salesy. And she teaches you exactly how she did it step by step.
Here’s what you’ll learn inside:
How to build trust with your audience (so people actually want to buy through your links) The right way to reveal your affiliate relationships (without scaring people off) How to find quality affiliate programs in your niche How to get clicks that convert Strategies for using Pinterest + SEO to drive traffic to your blog
And it’s self-paced so you can do it on your own time.
💡 Why Blogging is Still One of the Smartest Hustles in 2025
People think blogging is dead no ma’am. Blogs are still one of the top ways people find information online. If you know how to add value and solve problems, you can grow your blog into a legit income stream.
Here’s why I love blogging:
You’re in control of your content 💻 You can earn money while you sleep through affiliate links and digital products 💸 It opens the door to brand partnerships, email list building, and more 🚪
But it starts with setting up your blog the right way.
💻 How to Start Your Blog Today (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need to be a tech genius. If I can do it, you can too. Here’s how to start your blog today:
1. Choose Your Niche
Ask yourself:
What do you enjoy talking about? What can you help people with? What type of products or services could you promote?
Some hot blog niches right now:
Fashion & lifestyle Digital products & business Beauty & skincare Side hustles & passive income (👀 my lane!) Mom life, faith, fitness the list goes on.
2. Get Hosting with Bluehost
This is where your blog will live. Bluehost is beginner-friendly and super affordable. Plus, you can get a free domain with your plan.
I personally recommend Bluehost for beginners because:
It’s affordable (as low as $2.95/month) Easy WordPress install Great support
👉🏽 Start your blog with Bluehost here
3. Install WordPress
Once you sign up for Bluehost, you can install WordPress with one click. It’s what I use and what most blogs run on.
4. Pick a Simple Theme + Start Writing
You don’t need to overthink this part. Just get started! You can change your theme or rebrand later. Focus on writing blog posts that:
Help someone Solve a problem Include valuable links and resources (like affiliate links 💎)
📚 Why I Recommend Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
After taking the course, I finally understood why people weren’t clicking my links or why my traffic wasn’t converting. The course helped me:
Understand what affiliate marketing really is Set up my blog for long-term growth Learn how to use my story to connect with readers Know what programs to apply for (and which ones to skip)
I’m not making thousands yet, but I’m laying the foundation the right way. And if you’re serious about learning affiliate marketing, I highly recommend this course.
👉🏽 Take a look at the course here
💬 Final Thoughts: Start Today, Learn as You Go
Blogging changed how I looked at making money online. It’s not always fast money, but it’s real, sustainable income if you stay consistent.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your blog, take this as your sign.
Start with Bluehost.
Take the Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course.
Stay consistent and watch it grow.
You got this!