Want to Start a Blog? Here’s the Brutally Honest Guide (That Nobody Else Will Give You)

Let’s face it. Everyone and their neighbor’s cat seems to be starting a blog these days. “Passive income,” they say. “Monetize your passion,” they chant. But what no one tells you is how the hell to actually do it — and more importantly, what traps to avoid.

Welcome to the unfiltered, step-by-step guide to buying a domain, choosing hosting, adding ads, and making real money from your blog — written not by some Silicon Valley guru, but by someone who knows what it’s like to build something meaningful from scratch.

💡 Step 1: Buying Your Domain — Your Blog’s Identity

This is your blog’s digital birth certificate. Pick a name that:

• Reflects your blog’s niche or voice
• Is easy to spell and easy to remember
• Ends in .com (or .in for Indian audiences), unless you’re launching the next underground cyber cult

🔥 Where to buy a domain:

• Namecheap.com
• GoDaddy.com
• Google Domains

💸 Cost: ₹800 – ₹1200/year on average

Nishani Tip: Don’t fall for “cheap domain for ₹99” traps unless you read the renewal cost. That ₹99 turns into ₹1,999/year next year faster than your crush stops replying.

⚙️ Step 2: Web Hosting — The Brains Behind Your Blog

Think of hosting as your blog’s rented apartment on the internet. Without it, your blog is just a name floating in a void.

🥇 Top Hosting Services:

Nishani Warning: Free hosting = zero control + zero performance + 100% regret. Always choose paid hosting if you’re serious.

🛠️ Step 3: Build Your Blog (Without Coding)

Use WordPress. Period.

• Free, open-source, and used by 43% of the internet
• Thousands of themes and plugins
• One-click install on most hosting platforms

Choose a theme that:

• Loads fast (speed matters for Google and impatient readers)
• Is mobile-friendly (more than 80% of users are on mobile)
• Supports ads (more on that later)

💸 Step 4: Monetization — Show Me the Money

Alright, let’s talk ads, cash, and monetizing your blog. You don’t need 1 lakh followers to make your first rupee. Here’s how the real ones do it:

🧲 A. Google AdSense (The Classic)

• Apply once your blog has 5–10 well-written posts
• Needs original content, privacy policy, and decent design
• Payouts start after earning $100 (₹8,300 approx.)

💼 B. Affiliate Marketing (Your Secret Weapon)

• Join affiliate programs like:
  • Amazon Associates (India too!)
  • Flipkart Affiliate
  • ShareASale / Impact / Cuelinks
• You earn commissions when readers buy through your links

🧠 C. Sell Your Own Stuff

• eBooks, courses, templates, digital products
• Or even chai mugs with your blog name — be creative!

Nishani Nugget: Most newbie bloggers make peanuts from ads. The real money? Comes from selling your own brand, ideas, and products.

⚠️ Things No One Will Tell You (But I Will)

1. You won’t make money in the first week. Or maybe even the first month. Patience is your biggest profit multiplier.
2. Write like a human, not a robot. AI tools are cool, but people follow voices they trust.
3. Your blog won’t grow unless you promote it. Use Instagram, Twitter (X?), Pinterest, LinkedIn — wherever your readers hang out.
4. Consistency beats talent. One blog post a week for a year = 52 opportunities. Most people quit at 5.

🚀 Final Thought: Don’t Just Blog. Build a Digital Asset.

Your blog isn’t just a side hustle. Done right, it becomes:

• A portfolio of your thoughts
• A source of income
• A tool for impact

And maybe one day, it’ll be the reason you say goodbye to your 9-to-5 for good.

So… stop scrolling. Start writing.

✍️ By Nishanth Muraleedharan (Nishani)
💻 Founder, Handlooom.com |
🧵 Ecopreneur | Blogger | Blockchain-for-Handloom Pioneer
☕ If this helped, Buy me a chai

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