Blogging Tips For Making Your First $100

Blogging Tips for Making Your First $100 Online (Without Losing Your Mind)

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Alright, let’s be real — everyone online is flexing 6-figure screenshots and “passive income” claims, but you’re here just trying to figure out how the hell to make your first $100 from blogging.

Respect.

Because that first $100? It’s the hardest.

After that, things do get easier. But getting there? That’s the uphill climb nobody talks about honestly.

So in this post, I’m breaking it down real talk — how I’d go from $0 to $100 with zero fancy gear, no team, and no guru BS.

If I had to start over today with just a laptop, Google Docs, and a half-decent internet connection… here’s the actual game plan.

First: Drop the Dream of “Easy Money”

Let’s just kill the fantasy upfront.

Blogging is not fast money.
It’s not passive in the beginning.
And you’re not gonna get paid just for writing “Top 10 Tools” posts unless they solve something for someone.

But the good news?

You don’t need a huge audience or 100 posts.

You just need a strategic content plan and a way to monetize early.

Step 1: Pick a Niche Where People Spend

No shade to hobbies like stamp collecting or vintage VHS tapes — but if nobody’s searching for it or spending money on it, your blog won’t make squat.

Here’s what works better:

Pain-based niches (weight loss, debt, anxiety, skincare issues)
Passion-driven niches (fitness, productivity, making money, travel)
Urgent needs (freelancing, side hustles, tech help, parenting)

Pick ONE.

Don’t try to cover 12 things on one blog. You’ll confuse both Google and your reader.

Step 2: Write 5 Posts That Actually Help Someone (Not Just Rank)

Forget AI content. Forget 2000 words of keyword-stuffed fluff.

Your first 5 blog posts should aim to:

Solve a real problem
Be stupidly practical

Include links to things that can earn you money (affiliate, freebie, or your service)

Examples:

“How I Found 3 Freelance Clients Without Cold Emailing”
“The $0 Tool I Used to Fix My Sleep Schedule (and Focus Better)”
“How to Meal Prep for One Without Wasting Food or Time”

Each of these can rank, can be shared, and can convert.

You don’t need traffic in the thousands.

You need content that connects.

Step 3: Add ONE Affiliate Link Per Post (But Make It Fit)

Don’t go overboard with 20 affiliate links from day one. It screams desperation.

Instead:

Recommend a tool you’ve used
Or a free trial to something helpful
Or even a product from Amazon that fixes the reader’s pain

Example:

If you’re writing about freelancing, and you use Notion to track clients — drop a Notion template link with your affiliate/referral code.

Done right, that one link could start trickling in clicks.

Important:

Always use proper disclosures. Don’t play shady.

Step 4: Add a Freebie or Lead Magnet (Even a Simple One)

If someone lands on your post, loves it, but leaves and never comes back — you just lost the sale.

Even if you’re not selling anything right now, capturing emails is gold.

You can offer:

A simple checklist (Google Docs or Canva works)
A mini email course
A “copy-paste” resource (like blog post templates or keyword banks)

Tools like MailerLite or ConvertKit (free plans!) make this stupid easy.

Bonus: once you get 20–50 people on your list, you can literally ask them what they’d pay for.

Step 5: Use Pinterest or Reddit for Free Traffic

If you’re sitting around waiting for SEO to kick in, you’re gonna be waiting for weeks or months.

Instead, get scrappy.

Pinterest:

Design 3–4 pins per post (Canva is your friend)
Focus on problem-solving titles
Link them straight to your blog or freebie

Pinterest still drives traffic to new blogs if you’re consistent.

Reddit:

Find 2–3 subreddits in your niche
Answer real questions
Drop your blog link ONLY when it’s relevant and genuinely helpful
Don’t be spammy, or you’ll get banned

These two platforms brought me my first 1,000 blog visits — before Google even knew I existed.

Step 6: Offer a Mini Paid Product (Even $7 Works)

This one’s optional, but if you wanna speed up your first $100 — offer something tiny for sale.

Ideas:

$5 notion template
$7 ebook or checklist bundle
$9 mini-course or 3-day challenge
$10 guide with swipe files

You can host this on Gumroad, Podia, or even a Google Drive folder + payment link.

Keep it super simple.

One problem. One solution. Instant access.

You only need 10 people to buy your $10 thing to hit $100.

That’s not a fantasy. That’s doable.

What I’d Avoid as a Beginner (Mistakes That Delay That $100)

❌ Obsessing over SEO tools and KD scores

❌ Paying for traffic before testing your funnel

❌ Waiting until you have “enough” posts to monetize

❌ Writing about 15 topics with no clear niche

❌ Spending months building a site instead of writing

Your first $100 doesn’t require a perfect site.

It requires a functional blog + helpful content + something worth clicking/buying.

Here’s What a Simple $100 Blogging Funnel Could Look Like:

Blog Post Title: How I Got My First Freelance Gig (With Zero Experience)
In the Post: Actual steps + screenshots
Affiliate Link: Fiverr or Upwork signup
Freebie: “My Cold DM Script for Clients” — opt-in
Tripwire offer: $7 Notion Freelance Tracker
Promotion: 3 Pinterest pins + 1 Reddit comment

You don’t need ads, SEO mastery, or 1,000 followers.

You need strategy and realness.

Final Tips From Someone Who Actually Made That First $100

Don’t fake it. People can smell BS.
Write like you talk. SEO robots aren’t reading your posts — people are.
Test fast. One blog post can change your momentum.
Monetize early. Even if no one clicks, you’re building that muscle.
Stay consistent for 30–60 days. Momentum isn’t built in one weekend.

TL;DR: How to Make Your First $100 Blogging (Without Going Nuts)

Pick a problem-based niche
Write 5 helpful posts, each with 1 affiliate link
Offer a simple freebie to capture emails
Promote your stuff for free using Pinterest and Reddit
Create a low-cost offer (under $10) if you can
Focus on value and connection, not perfection

You won’t get rich overnight.

But that first $100 is proof that this blogging thing? It works.

And once you crack it — there’s no going back.