how to start a lifestyle blog

How to Start a Lifestyle Blog 

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How to Start a Lifestyle Blog

So you wanna start a lifestyle blog?

Maybe you’re tired of the 9–5. Maybe you just want a place to share your love of travel, food, wellness, or everything all at once. Or maybe you’ve been stalking The Blonde Abroad and thinking, “Wait… people make money doing this?”

Yeah. They do. And you can too. But here is the main point — it’s not always as glamorous as it looks on Instagram. You are not going to sip lattes in Paris and wake up with 100,000 followers the very next day.

But you can build something real. Something that pays your bills, builds your brand, and makes people actually care about what you have to say.

Here’s how to start a lifestyle blog in 2025 — from zero to branded empire (with a healthy dose of reality).

So what Is a Lifestyle Blog Anyway?

Let’s clear something up real quick.

A lifestyle blog is not just a diary.

It’s not “Dear Internet, here’s what I ate today and why I love candles.”

Nope. A lifestyle blog is content centered around your life — but with value for the reader.

Think: tips, ideas, how-tos, product reviews, lists, visuals, affiliate links, and story-driven posts in a niche (or mix of niches) like…

  • Travel

  • Food and cooking

  • Beauty

  • Wellness

  • Fitness

  • Home decor

  • Fashion

  • Finances (yes, lifestyle money blogs are a thing)

  • Productivity / personal development

The key? You’re the face. The voice. The brand.

People don’t follow lifestyle blogs just for the info — they follow you.

Step 1: Choose Your Niche (Even If It’s “You”)

This is where most people get stuck.

They want to blog about everything. And while that’s fine in theory, it’s also a surefire way to confuse both readers and Google.

Let’s look at The Blonde Abroad. Kiersten started her blog around travel — solo female travel, to be exact.

Now she covers luxury stays, tours, photography tips, and even blogging advice. But it all grew from that one focused angle.

So here’s the deal: you don’t need a perfect niche. But you do need a starting point.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I talk about nonstop with friends?

  • What part of my life do people always ask me for advice on?

  • What could I write about for the next year without wanting to scream?

Start there.

Step 2: Choose a Blog Name That’s Actually Brandable

Don’t overthink this part… but also don’t half-ass it.

Your blog name = your brand name.

It should be:

  • Memorable

  • Easy to spell and say

  • Not too limiting (avoid names like “TravelWithAnna2025”)

  • Available as a domain and social handles

Some quick inspiration:

  • The Blonde Abroad

  • Cupcakes and Cashmere

  • The Skinny Confidential

  • A Beautiful Mess

  • Love and Lemons

These are lifestyle blogs. And every one of them sounds like a brand.

Pro tip? Don’t be afraid to use your name. “By [Your Name]” is clean and timeless.

Step 3: Set Up the Blog (The Not-So-Fun Part)

Alright, time to get your hands a little dirty. Here’s the simplified 2025 setup process:

1. Get Hosting + Domain

Go with something reliable like:

  • SiteGround (great support)

  • Bluehost (beginner-friendly)

  • Cloudways (faster if you care about speed)

Domain? Buy it through your host or from Namecheap.

2. Install WordPress

Still the best CMS for blogging. Period.

Avoid Wix, Squarespace, or Blogger if you’re serious about growth and SEO.

3. Pick a Theme

Start with something clean:

  • Kadence Theme (lightweight)

  • Astra (customizable)

  • Hello Elementor + Elementor plugin (for drag-and-drop ease)

Choose design > perfection. Get it up. Tweak later.

Step 4: Design the Essentials

Before you post a single blog, make sure your site has:

  • Homepage with a quick intro and latest posts

  • About page (make it personal — people want to know YOU)

  • Contact page (for brand collabs, duh)

  • Categories (break up your content clearly)

  • Simple menu (don’t overload it)

And mobile-friendly design. Like, seriously. Most of your readers are on their phones.

Step 5: Write Your First 5 Blog Posts

Skip the “Welcome to My Blog” fluff.

Instead, write posts that:

  • Solve problems

  • Share tips

  • Inspire or educate

  • Can rank on Google

Some post ideas:

  • 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Solo Traveling

  • My Weekly Skincare Routine (That Actually Works)

  • Budget-Friendly Home Decor Hacks You’ll Love

  • A Day in My Life (With Real Photos)

  • What I Eat in a Day (and Why I Stopped Calorie Counting)

Be honest. Be you. And don’t try to sound like a magazine.

Step 6: Start Promoting (a.k.a. Be Loud)

No one’s gonna just “find” your blog.

You need to:

  • Share your posts on Pinterest (create pins!)

  • Post on Instagram Stories and TikToks

  • Join blogging Facebook groups and comment

  • Answer questions on Reddit or Quora (drop links subtly)

  • Start building an email list (use ConvertKit or Beehiiv)

Consistency > perfection. Post weekly. Talk about your blog often. Be shameless.

Step 7: Monetize Like a Boss

Let’s talk money.

Here are the most common ways lifestyle bloggers actually make income:

1. Affiliate Marketing

Promote products you use and love, and get paid per sale.

  • Amazon Associates

  • RewardStyle / LTK

  • ShareASale

  • Travelpayouts (for travel bloggers)

2. Sponsored Posts

Brands pay you to feature them. Rates range from $50 to $5,000 per post depending on your traffic and following.

3. Digital Products

Think:

  • Ebooks

  • Presets

  • Guides

  • Courses

The Blonde Abroad sells photography presets and travel guides. That’s passive money.

4. Ad Revenue

Add display ads with Mediavine or Raptive once you hit good traffic (25K+ sessions/month).

5. Coaching or Services

If you’re into fitness, mindset, travel planning, etc — offer 1:1 coaching.

Real-Life Example: The Blonde Abroad

Kiersten’s story is the poster child for lifestyle blog success.

She quit her job in finance to travel the world and document it. Her blog grew from travel tips into a brand that now includes:

  • Tours and retreats

  • Instagram sponsorships

  • Digital products

  • A massive Pinterest following

  • Affiliate partnerships

  • Google traffic domination

But here’s the kicker — it took years. Not weeks.

She started small, stayed consistent, and built a trustworthy blog. That’s the blueprint.

What You’ll Need (Tools & Gear)

Here’s your lifestyle blog starter pack:

  • Laptop (duh)

  • Canva (for blog graphics and pins)

  • Grammarly (for editing your posts)

  • Google Docs (drafts, always)

  • Ubersuggest or Ahrefs (SEO tools)

  • Lightroom (if you’re editing lifestyle photos)

  • Notion or Trello (for planning content)

Optional but game-changing? A decent camera or iPhone and a ring light for content.

What to Expect in the First 6 Months

  • Slow growth

  • Crickets on your posts

  • Random hits from Pinterest or Google

  • Mild identity crisis around “why am I even doing this?”

But if you keep showing up, promoting, writing, and learning, you’ll start to see:

  • Comments from real people

  • Email signups

  • Traffic spikes

  • Brands reaching out

The secret? Treat your blog like a business from day one.

Final Thoughts (Keep It Real)

You don’t need to be perfect.

You don’t need to have a fancy camera or a travel budget or 10 years of experience in design.

You just need to start. Pick a niche. Write posts that help people. Show your personality. Share your story. Be loud about it.

And keep going.

Because maybe one day, someone else will look at your blog — just like you’re looking at The Blonde Abroad — and think, “Damn, I want to do what she’s doing.”

And they’ll Google how to start a lifestyle blog. And maybe your post will show up first.

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