The Best Blogging Resources for Beginners to Start Making Money Online

When you start a blog, you can go about it two ways.

Either you blog for fun, as a hobby.

Or you blog with the intention to create it into a business that makes you money.

If you’re blogging with the intention to make money from it, you need to be VERY strategic.

Having the right tools is absolutely essential if you plan to ever make money blogging.

But the truth is, there are so many blogging resources out there.

Which ones are actually essential to your blogging success and which ones are mere hypes?

In this guide I’ll cover the best, most essential resources to help you kick-start a successful blog, save time, and earn money faster.

These are the tools that have helped me SO much in transforming my tiny, unknown mom blog and creating it into an asset that brings me thousands of dollars in passive income.

But before diving in, I want to briefly share with you my blogging journey.

MY BLOGGING JOURNEY

Before diving into blogging, I worked as a freelance writer.

As a stay-at-home mom, freelancing was the perfect fit for me.

It offered flexibility, allowed me to work with amazing companies, and the pay was pretty great too.

Over time, I built a solid portfolio and gained valuable experience.

If freelancing sounds like something you’re interested in, I’ve written a detailed post on becoming a successful freelancer — you can check it out here.

Despite thriving as a freelancer, I always dreamt of creating something of my own.

I wanted an asset that could generate passive income—money earned without being tied to my time.

My obsession with passive income began after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

This book completely shifted my mindset about building wealth.

The core message of the book emphasizes the importance of creating income streams that work for you, not the other way around.

While freelancing was fantastic, I couldn’t shake off the desire to explore passive income opportunities.

That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of blogging.

STARTING MY BLOG

Initially, I was extremely skeptical.

What was blogging, really?

How do you start a profitable blog, and how in the world do you make money from it? I had so many concerns.

At the time, I thought blogging was all about sharing your personal life for fame and money. This idea made me uncomfortable.

I’m a private person, and the thought of putting my family, especially my kids, on the internet was unsettling.

Plus, as an introvert, the idea of “putting myself out there” terrified me. I also worried about what my friends and family would think.

Would they laugh at me? Judge my writing? Think I was foolish? These thoughts held me back for an entire year.

During this period of hesitation, I immersed myself in learning about blogging.

I studied successful bloggers and discovered something game-changing: many of them focused on specific topics—like health and fitness, personal finance, parenting tips—without sharing too much of their personal lives.

Their blogs were centered on their niche, not their identities.

This realization gave me hope that I could start an anonymous blog.

Reading blog income reports was the final push I needed.

I saw ordinary people, with average writing skills, earning anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 per month.

Some were even making $100,000+ per month!

If they could do it, why couldn’t I?

So, I started my blog anonymously and told no one except my husband.

Blogging anonymously was liberating.

It allowed me to write freely without worrying about judgment.

It also gave me space to make blogging mistakes and learn without pressure. Looking back, the only regret I have is not starting sooner.

WHY SHOULD YOU START A BLOG

Starting a blog is incredibly rewarding. Here’s why:

Flexibility: You can work from anywhere and set your own hours.
Creative Outlet: Share your passions, document memories, or connect with a community.
Skill Development: Blogging hones valuable skills like writing, marketing, and design.
Income Potential: There’s no limit to how much you can earn. Many bloggers start small but grow to make thousands per month.

Unlike traditional jobs, blogging lets you work in your pajamas and around your kids’ schedules.

Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or build a full-time business, blogging is an excellent choice.

When I started, my goal was modest: make an extra $100 to $200 per month.

I never imagined my small, anonymous blog would eventually bring in thousands per month in passive income. Blogging truly changed my life.

START YOUR BLOG TODAY

Don’t waste time like I did, contemplating whether or not to start a blog.

If you’re even slightly curious, take the leap today!

The process is simple and doesn’t require any tech skills (I’m proof of that).

You can have your blog up and running in just 15 minutes.

Here’s how to get started:

Choose a Platform and Hosting: I recommend Bluehost for new bloggers. It’s affordable, reliable, and beginner-friendly with easy WordPress installation.
Pick Your Blog Name: Don’t stress over the perfect name. With Bluehost, you can start your blog and decide on a domain name later by selecting the “I’ll create my domain name later” option. This lets you focus on building content without getting stuck on the name.
Start Writing: Once your blog is set up, start creating valuable content and learning how to grow your traffic.

For step-by-step guidance, sign up for my FREE 5-day email course for beginners. I’ll show you exactly how to:

Set up your blog
Grow your audience
Start earning money—all without tech skills or writing experience

Take the first step towards financial freedom today. Your future self will thank you!

BEST BLOGGING RESOURCES

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission for qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Bluehost: Reliable and Affordable Hosting

Ok so once you’ve decided you’re starting a blog, the first thing you need to get is hosting.

In simple terms, hosting is where your blog “lives” on the internet.

You also need a domain name (what your blog will be called such as sweetnsourtoddlers.com)

You also need a content management system (CMS).

Now you can choose to start a blog for free on websites such as on wordpress.com

However, if you want to start a money making blog, starting a blog for free is the worst idea ever.

YOU WILL NEVER MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR BLOG IF YOU START IT FOR FREE.

I had to say that in all caps because I really wish someone had told me that when I was starting my blog.

You need to be self-hosted if you want to start a money making blog.

Which hosting provider do I recommend?

One of the best, most affordable hosting providers that you will ever find is Bluehost.

What is Bluehost?

Bluehost is a web hosting service known for being beginner-friendly, reliable, and affordable. It’s one of the most popular hosting platforms among new bloggers and is even recommended by WordPress.

Why You Need It:
Web hosting is absolutely crucial because it’s essentially where your blog “lives” online.

A stable, secure hosting platform like Bluehost ensures your blog is available to readers around the clock, loads quickly, and provides a solid foundation for growth.

Here’s why Bluehost is ideal:

It’s incredibly affordable at just $1.99/month (it can’t get cheaper than that!)
You get a free domain name, saving you the cost of registering it separately.
With one-click installation, you can easily set up WordPress.org for free
It includes a free SSL certificate, ensuring your site’s security.
You’ll also have 24/7 support available.

So basically with Bluehost, you’ll get hosting, a domain name, a content management system, and an SSL certificate for less than $2/month!

If that’s not crazy affordable I don’t know what is.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
With Bluehost, you can get a professional blog up and running with a domain and the essential tools needed to look credible.

Sign up for Bluehost here to get a special discount and start your blog for as low as $1.99 a month!

2. 17th Avenue: Stylish, Customizable Themes

Ok so you’ve got Bluehost to get your blog started.

Now you need a theme for your website. You have the option to get a free theme or buy a theme.

I knew when I started my blog that I wanted it to look super professional.

If you’re serious about starting a money making blog, you NEED to make it look good.

If you know how to design a website from scratch thats great!

But if you’re like me and have the tech knowledge of an 8 year old, you need to outsource the job to someone else.

So you have two options.

You can choose to hire a website developer who gets the job done for you.

Fiverr has some really talented website developers who will set up a custom made WordPress website from scratch for you in return for a fee.

The other option is to buy a pre-made theme.

It’s very affordable and ideal for people with little technical knowledge.

There is literally no learning curve involved.

Once you’ve bought your theme and installed it, boom. You are set.

You have simple, drag and drop features to make your blog look exactly the way you want and its simple enough that someone with no tech knowledge can easily do.

Which theme do I recommend you get?

If you are looking for a blog design that is professional, minimal, chic and gorgeous, I’d tell you that 17th Avenue themes are the best.

What is 17th Avenue?
17th Avenue is a popular provider of premium WordPress themes that are perfect for bloggers who want a chic, professional look without hiring a designer.

17th Avenue is particularly known for its gorgeous, feminine and professional looking website themes.

For a one-time payment, you can get a beautiful website that is easy to customize and instantly makes you gain authority with your readers.

Why You Need It:
A well-designed theme makes your blog look professional and inviting.

It enhances user experience, which can improve your site’s SEO and make readers more likely to stick around.

A professional, clean design also builds credibility, which is key when you’re recommending products or services.

When I started my blog, I wanted a theme that looked feminine, professional and clean.

I came across 17th Avenue themes and fell in love with them.

These themes are SO DARN PRETTY – just check them out here!!

I ended up getting the Mia theme by 17th Avenue and love it to this day.

Mia by 17th Avenue is one of their more expensive themes. But I knew that it was an investment that would be worth it. And it totally was!

Their other themes such as Harper, Willow and Margot are equally beautiful but also super affordable.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
A visually appealing and easy-to-navigate blog can encourage readers to explore more posts, sign up for your email list, and trust your recommendations.

Since these themes are customizable, you can create a unique look that fits your brand and style without needing coding skills.

Check out 17th Avenue themes here for a professional, beautiful blog design that stands out!

3. Tailwind: Pinterest Scheduling for Massive Traffic

When I was a new blogger, I thought that the only way to get traffic was through Google.

But ranking on Google is pretty hard, and now with the recent Google updates, getting a spot on page 1 of Google has become next to impossible.

So how do you drive traffic to your site without having to pay crazy amounts of money in ads?

PINTEREST.

Pinterest is a gold mine when it comes to free, organic traffic.

1 single, beautifully designed pin on Pinterest can drive traffic to your blog for months and even years.

I have pins that I created years ago and they still bring me consistent traffic to this day.

The thing is, Pinterest is a lot of work.

Creating beautiful pins, optimising the pins for Pinterest SEO and scheduling the pins to different boards can take up a lot of your time.

Plus recent Pinterest algorithm updates show that Pinterest values fresh pins.

But spending every day on Pinterest uploading pins is not feasible or smart and it will take time away from other important tasks like writing blog posts (the heart of your blog).

So what is the solution?

TAILWIND.

What is Tailwind?

Tailwind is a powerful tool that lets you schedule Pinterest pins in advance, automating your pinning strategy for consistent traffic growth.

Why You Need It:
Pinterest acts as a search engine, and with Tailwind, you can create a steady flow of traffic to your blog by pinning consistently, even when you’re busy.

Tailwind will let you upload pins in bulk and schedule them out at optimal times for your audience to see.

This is going to save you so much time!

One of my favourite Tailwind features is Tailwind Communities.

Tailwind Communities (formerly known as Tribes) are groups within the Tailwind platform where bloggers, small business owners, and content creators can share and discover each other’s content.

When you join a community relevant to your niche, you can share your pins, which other members can then repin. In return, you help promote their content too.

For me, Tailwind Communities have been invaluable for increasing engagement on my pins.

By sharing pins within these groups, I’ve seen my content reach more people, leading to higher visibility and better interaction on my posts.

This in turn has seriously boosted my blog traffic.

I really wish I had known about Tailwind in the earlier years of my blogging journey.

It is such a time saver and has played a huge role in helping me get conssitent traffic to my site.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
The more traffic you bring to your blog, the more readers you’ll have to click on affiliate links, sign up for your email list, and purchase any products you recommend.

By generating consistent traffic, Tailwind helps turn your blog into a monetizable asset.

Get started with Tailwind here and make your pinning strategy easier than ever!

4. MailerLite: Essential Email Marketing

I did not understand what “email marketing” meant when I was a new blogger.

Once I understood what it actually meant, I didn’t think I needed to think too much about it as someone who had just started her blog.

After all, I had other important stuff to worry about like writing blog posts and focusing on marketing my content to drive traffic to my site. Who has time for writing emails?

I started using email marketing much later on in my blogging journey and I really wish I had started sooner.

So let’s break it down.

What is email marketing and why should you focus on it even if your blog is brand new?

Email marketing is a way to reach and connect with your audience by sending emails directly to their inbox.

For bloggers, it’s like having a private channel to keep in touch with readers, share helpful content, and even promote products or services.

Even if you’re just starting a blog, focusing on email marketing is important because:

You Own Your List: Unlike social media, where algorithms change, your email list is yours, so you have direct access to your readers.
Building Trust Early: By sending valuable content to your subscribers, you start building a relationship with them, which helps them trust you and return to your blog.
Boosts Earnings: Emails can be a powerful way to make money by recommending products or services that benefit your audience.

Starting early with email marketing helps you grow your list over time and creates a loyal group of followers who look forward to your content!

Which email provider should you choose?

Choosing the right email marketing provider can be overwhelming, especially with so many options out there.

For me, I wanted something that checked two main boxes: affordability (a free plan to start with, since many providers can be pricey) and simplicity (I’m not at all tech-savvy, so I needed something easy to use).

Mailerlite turned out to be the perfect fit—it offers an excellent free plan and a user-friendly platform that made getting started a breeze.

Now, as my email list has grown, I’ve upgraded to their paid plan, and it’s been well worth it.

Using MailerLite has helped me create a genuine connection with my audience, which has been key for my blog’s growth.

Here’s how it works for me: I create a free digital download (like a guide or checklist) that I send to my subscribers as a welcome gift.

After that, I continue to send helpful, relevant emails that provide insights and tips related to that freebie.

Over time, these emails help build trust and rapport with my readers.

Once I’ve established that relationship, I recommend products or services that would genuinely benefit them.

These might be my own digital products or products I’m an affiliate for.

All the emails are pre-written, so they go out automatically, allowing me to make money on autopilot.

This approach has allowed me to generate passive income through affiliate products and my own offerings, all while nurturing my relationship with my readers.

MailerLite has truly been a game-changer for growing my blog and income.

Try MailerLite for free here to start growing your email list today!

5. Fiverr: Affordable Freelance Help

Okay so blogging is a lot of work. And you might be getting overwhelmed with having to learn new skills and keep up with all the things that need to get done to start and run a successful blog.

First you need to start your blog. Then you need to design it. After that you need to write amazing content and finally, you need to promote that content and drive traffic to your site.

A fast and efficient way to get success with your blog is to outsource the tasks that you are struggling with to freelancers.

Maybe you need a logo for your website?

Maybe you want a custom made beautiful website?

Maybe you want a freelancer to write your first 20 blog posts for you so can start promoting those blog posts and quickly making money from them?

Whatever task you need help with, Fiverr has expert freelancers to meet every need.

What is Fiverr?
Fiverr is a freelance marketplace where you can find experts for various tasks, like graphic design, SEO, content writing, and more.

Why You Need It:
Fiverr allows you to delegate specific tasks to professionals at a low cost, so you can focus on content creation and growth.

For example, if you need a custom logo, a quick website tweak, or some SEO assistance, you can find freelancers to help.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
By investing in tasks that improve your blog’s functionality or visibility, you can optimize your site and grow your audience more quickly.

Plus, working with skilled professionals on Fiverr can help you create high-quality content that converts.

Get started with Fiverr here to start getting expert help for your blog!

7. Legal Bundle for Bloggers

What is it?

The Legal Bundle for Bloggers by A Self Guru is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly solution for bloggers who want to protect their websites and online businesses.

Created by Amira from A Self Guru, a lawyer and blogger, this bundle includes essential legal templates specifically designed for bloggers.

It provides peace of mind by covering crucial legal bases, like privacy policies, disclaimers, and terms and conditions.

What’s Included:

Privacy Policy Template – Essential for protecting user data and complying with privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.
Disclaimer Template – Protects you from liability, covering affiliate disclosures, medical disclaimers, and more.
Terms and Conditions Template – Outlines user expectations, helping to avoid legal disputes.

Why You Need It:

Here is the deal.

Every day, hundreds—even thousands—of blogs and online businesses face lawsuits because they lack the proper legal documents on their website or the necessary contracts to safeguard their business.

Compliance with legal requirements is critical for your blog’s success, and having clear legal documents can save you from costly mistakes down the road.

How It Helps Your Blog:
These templates are easy to use and customize, saving you time and money. They offer protection and credibility, helping you focus on growing your blog with confidence.

Explore the Legal Bundle by A Self Guru here and give your blog the professional protection it needs.

8. Grammarly: Perfect Your Writing

What is Grammarly?
Grammarly is an online tool that checks grammar, punctuation, and style, ensuring your writing is polished and error-free.

Why You Need It:
Quality writing is essential for building credibility and ensuring readers take you seriously. Grammarly helps you edit quickly, making your content easier to read and understand.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
By publishing clear, professional content, you can build trust with your audience, leading to higher engagement rates, more social shares, and potentially more affiliate sales.

Try Grammarly for free her e to make your writing shine!

9. ShortPixel: Essential Image Optimizatio n

What is ShortPixel?
ShortPixel is an image optimization tool that compresses your blog images, helping your site load faster without sacrificing image quality.

Why You Need It:
Fast-loading pages provide a better user experience, improve your SEO ranking, and reduce bounce rates. Since large image files can slow down your site, ShortPixel helps by optimizing images to be as light as possible.

How It’ll Help You Make Money:
A faster site keeps readers engaged, leading to longer page views and increased chances of affiliate sales or ad revenue. Plus, site speed directly impacts your SEO, helping you rank higher on Google and reach a larger audience.

Get started with ShortPixel here to improve your site’s performance!

And that’s it.

That wraps up this post on the top blogging tools you need in order to start a money making blog.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the tools you need to get?

Start small. Start with one thing.

Analyze where you are on your blogging journey.

Are you thinking of starting a blog but haven’t yet taken the plunge? Start with creating a blog on Bluehost in under 15 minutes.

Do you have a blog but it looks tacky and you don’t know how to make it look professional? Check out 17th Avenue themes.

Have you started a blog, made it look great and have amazing content but are struggling get any decent amount of traffic to your blog? Get started with Tailwind to explode your Pinterest traffic.

Do you have all the above but want to monetize your blog by building meaningful connections with your readers, recommend products to them and make money in your sleep? Get started for free with Mailerlite.

Are you overwhelmed with everything you have to do on your blog and you don’t have the time or expertise to execute the things that have to get done on your blog? Find a freelancer on Fiverr who can get it done for you.

By analyzing where you are on your blogging journey, you can better understand what tools will help your blog grow.

Conclusion:
Investing in the right tools from the beginning can save time, improve your blog’s performance, and help you generate income more quickly.

From hosting to design, marketing, and analytics, these resources will set you up for success and help turn your blog into a profitable venture.