Beginner’s Guide To Starting a Lifestyle Blog
Starting a lifestyle blog sounds like an exciting idea, but it can be hard to figure out how to begin.
There are many different ways you could go about starting your own lifestyled blog.
You could start for fun and then try monetizing later on once you’ve built up an audience or you could dive right in with the intent of making money from day one.
This article will walk through all of the steps involved in creating your very first lifestyle blog, including choosing a niche, deciding what type of content to focus on, writing great content that will inspire people to keep coming back, and much more!
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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
What Is a Lifestyle Blog?
A lifestyle blog is a type of content creation that typically focuses on personal style, beauty, health, fitness, recipes, travel, and much more.
The best part about starting your own lifestyle blog is that it doesn’t have to be extremely difficult or expensive.
All you need to get started is a computer with an internet connection and a few hours of your day (to write posts, take pictures, edit pictures, etc).
Setting up your blog is actually pretty easy if you know what you’re doing.
Lucky for you, I’ve written this guide with the intention of helping YOU get started creating a lifestyled blog from scratch!
Is Lifestyle Blogging Right for You?
Before you get started, you should think about how much time and effort you are willing to put into creating content for your blog.
Like any other type of platform, a lifestyled blog requires regular writing and updating in order to keep your readers engaged.
If you aren’t expecting anything out of starting your own blog except maybe a creative outlet, then you should go for it!
On the other hand, if you are expecting a ton of money on your blog right out of the gate, then this might not be your best option just yet.
It’s important that you have the right expectations before deciding whether or not it is something that you want to do for a living.
A few things that you need to know about starting a lifestyle blog:

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It’s not free!
If you want your website to look beautiful and professional, then you need to invest in some type of web hosting and theme.
Think about how much you would charge someone for your time if they wanted you to build them a brick-and-mortar store with all the bells and whistles.
You would probably charge at least a few thousand dollars (if not much more) for the keys to your newly built store, right?
Well, it’s no different when it comes to building an online business.
It will take time!
Remember that you are completely in control of how quickly your blog grows and what it becomes.
The best bloggers are the ones that consistently create quality content for their readers to enjoy, so make sure you set aside some time each day to work on your blog.
It depends on what niche you choose!
We’ve seen lifestyle blogs come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s important to remember that not all niches are created equal.
In other words, some options will be much more profitable than others so you should do your research to cover yourself!
Not all niches will be profitable.
If you choose something too specific, there probably won’t be enough people searching for it online in order to make a substantial amount of money.
That being said, if you want to create a lifestyled blog that is more than just a hobby and what you would want to do full-time, then you should consider a niche that has enough interest but not too much that your competition will be too hard.
A few profitable niches:
Fashion and style
Food and cooking
Parenting
Home decor and design
Travel and adventure.
Do you see a trend in the type of niche that is profitable?
It’s one that focuses on visual content like fashion, food, parenting, home decor, and travel!
If you don’t think that you would be able to create top-notch pictures and videos for your blog (or if you simply don’t want to do it), then you will need to pay someone else to do it for you.
Fortunately, there are plenty of website design companies out there that will be more than happy to help out for a reasonable price.
You can visit sites like Fiverr to get affordable and quality content.
Lifestyle Blog Niche Ideas
Before you get started, you should have a plan in place regarding what type of content your blog will be centered around.
It’s okay if it changes over time – even the best bloggers have evolved their style and content from the early beginning!
A few types of popular lifestyle blogging include:
Fashion
A fashion lifestyle blog would focus on the latest trends in fashion, beauty tips, and the best places to find cute clothes at affordable prices.
This type of blog would probably be read and shared the most by women, but you could also branch out into men’s fashion as well.
If you love fashion and enjoy writing about it, this could be a perfect niche for you!
Get inspiration from these popular fashion bloggers:
Color Me Courtney is by the fun and quirky Courtney Quinn
Atlantic-Pacific which is run by fashionista Blair Edie
Kaite One is the brainchild of stylish Katie Giorgadze
Home Decor
A home decor blog focuses on all things design!
This is perfect if you love everything from jewelry displays to DIY projects for the home.
Not only will you be able to help your readers get inspired, but you could also make connections with advertisers that sell home decor products.
If you are the type of person that has a killer IKEA hack for every room in your house, then this is definitely one to consider!

Get inspiration from these popular home decor blogs:
Coco Kelly was started by designer Cassandra LaValle
Hunted Interior is the brainchild of the talented Kristen Jackson
Old Brand New is run by blogger and design expert Dabito
Food & Recipes
This type of lifestyle blogging could bring in serious money because people are constantly looking for new recipes to try!
If this is your niche of choice, then you should seriously consider becoming an expert in the kitchen.
Not only will it make people more interested in what you have to say, but it could really help with brand partnerships once the blog gains some traction.
Similar to fashion bloggers who can partner with brands like Nordstrom and Top Shop, food bloggers can work with companies like KitchenAid and Betty Crocker to create unique recipes.
Get inspiration from these popular food & recipe style bloggers:
Minimalist Baker shares plat based recipes and run by blogger Dana Shultz
Damn Delicious has delicious recipes for every occasion and was founded by Chungah Rhee

Finance
This niche is perfect if you’re looking to share how to save and make money with your audience.
It’s also helpful if you enjoy writing about personal finance, investing, taxes, and anything else related to making money online!
Many people are interested in this type of lifestyle blogging because it can be difficult to talk about finances.
It’s a sensitive topic for many people, so it can be helpful to have a blog full of tips and resources!
Get inspiration from these popular finance blogs:
Making Sense of Cents is run by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner who shares everything related to personal finance.
Broke Millennial is a great resource for newbies and veterans alike who want to up their finance game, it is run by Erin Lowry.
Beauty & Tutorials
This niche is all about sharing your favorite products and experimenting with new ones!
If you’re obsessed with beauty products or sharing makeup tips, this could be a great fit for you.
Like fashion blogs, this can be very successful if you are up-to-date on the latest trends.
You could share your thoughts on what’s new at stores like Sephora or Ulta, and get paid to try out new products by sharing beauty tips.
Get inspiration from these popular beauty blogs:
LisaEldridge.com is founded by the fabulous Lisa Eldridge
The Beauty Department has tons of beauty inspiration for any occasion!
These are just a handful of the many types of blogs you can start.
You may find that there’s not much competition in your chosen field, or that it’s too saturated.
Just remember that if it doesn’t work out, you can always start a new blog!

How To Start Your Blog and Make Money
Once you have chosen your blog’s niche, it’s time to focus on starting the actual blog!
This means coming up with a catchy name, finding the perfect URL (domain), hosting the site, and getting ready to start writing.
Choosing your lifestyle blog name
A great way to come up with ideas for your new blog’s name is to brainstorm a list of topics that are important to you.
For example, if you choose to focus on food and recipes, list out words that are associated with these posts.
These words could be “dinner,” “baking,” or anything else that is relevant!
This list of words will help you come up with blog names that are perfect for your site.
Make sure that your name is recognizable and your potential audience will automatically understand what the blog is about!
Remember clear is better than clever.
Once you’ve decided on your blog’s name, it’s time to choose your hosting plan.

Choosing a hosting plan for your blog
A hosting plan is necessary to have a fully functional blog. It is where your blog is stored so people can read it.
This part of starting a lifestyle blog may seem complicated if this is your first time blogging.
Luckily, there are tons of great places to find affordable hosting plans.
For newbie bloggers we recommend Bluehost.
They’re very beginner-friendly and they offer dedicated WordPress hosting plans as well as a free domain name.
They are also super affordable and have a special $2.75/month deal on all new hosting plans!
For bloggers who are ready to invest a little more, we suggest WPEngines hosting plan.
They offer high-performance hosting that’s perfect for serious bloggers.
The cost is a bit higher at $22.50/month for the basic plan but it’s worth it for the power of the site.
Another company that we highly recommend is Siteground.
They have a variety of hosting plans that have high customer satisfaction rates.
We suggest purchasing their GrowBig plan which starts at $6.69/month and is a great option for bloggers who are ready to scale up their blog!
Once you’ve chosen the right plan for you, follow their instructions carefully to set up your site.
For more details on how to set up your Bluehost account and other tips, you can check out this ultimate guide to amateur blogging.
Deciding on a domain
A domain is the web address that links back to your website.
You can find these on any site and they should be .com, .net, or .org to keep things simple!
It’s very important that you purchase your domain from a reputable company so your site isn’t hacked.
When it comes to blogging, safety is key!
For beginners, we recommend BlueHost as they not only offer hosting but you can get your domain name for free, using the link here!

It is a good idea to also choose a domain name that’s the same as your blog name.
That is why it is important to check if your blog name is available for your website and social media accounts before you get attached.
Once you’ve picked your blog’s name and purchase your domain, it’s time to set up your site!
Setting up your blog theme
A great way to personalize your blog without being a professional graphic designer is to purchase a pre-made theme.
Your theme will be the look of your blog so you want to make sure you get something that is visually appealing and easy to navigate!
A great place to choose your blog theme is with WPEngine’s Studio Press which has a ton of WordPress templates that are user-friendly and customizable.
Once you’ve chosen your design, it’s time to make the finishing touches!
Add a logo and branding to your blog
One of the most important parts of your blog is its branding.
Your logo will be the first thing that people see when they land on your site so it’s important to have a great-looking image!
You can create a professional logo for free using Canva.
Canva is an online graphic design tool with thousands of free images, icons, and fonts that you can use to create the perfect logo for your blog.
If you’re looking to invest a little more into your brand we suggest checking out 99 Designs, where you can design your own logos with professional graphic designers at affordable prices starting at $99!
When designing your logo it is important to remember the following:
1. Fonts should be the same across all the social media accounts and your blog
2. Use a color scheme that works well with your branding!
3. Keep it simple!
4. Make sure to use a high-resolution image so it looks sharp on retina screens!
5. Get creative, you don’t need to hire someone to design a logo!
Once you’ve created your logo, you can use it to further customize your site!

Create Pinterest Pins for your blog posts
Pinterest is one of the top social media websites for bloggers and it’s super simple to create pin images!
You can use Canva or Adobe Spark to make these images quickly.
We suggest using a photo from your post, adding unique text, and uploading it to your article so it can be pinned and saved by your readers.
A few other things to do in order to attract more readers to your pins are:
1. Try to vary up what you pin regularly so your followers are engaged!
3. Use eye-catching titles for all of your pins!
4. Pin about five times a day to keep your blog moving in the Pinterest ranks!
5. Add pictures that are relevant to your blog posts!
Once you finish creating your pins, you can integrate them into your blog by adding Pinterest Widget to your site!
You can free plugins like Social Warfare to make pinning from your blog post easy for your readers.
Adding other blog features
Once you’ve chosen your blog theme it’s time to add some cool features to your website!
Icons and widgets are great ways to personalize your site and give visitors easy access to links such as social media accounts, email lists, or even affiliate links.
A few other things to consider are:
1. Make sure you add social share buttons to your blog posts! You can use Social Warfare for this plugin.
2. Keep your widgets up to date with any new features or changes on associated sites!
3. Don’t over-clutter your site with too many plugins because this will slow down your website.
Once you’ve added these features, it’s time to start writing posts for your blog that will attract followers!

Writing for Your Lifestyled Blog
Creating content for your blog is the most important part of blogging!
The more content you add, the more likely it is that you will attract readers and gain traffic to your site.
Here are a few things to consider when writing about different topics:
1. What can YOU bring to the table?
2. Try to create content that has your unique take on the subject.
3. What are your readers looking for?
4. Ask questions, this will encourage engagement on the site!
5. Don’t try to copy other bloggers’ work, plagiarism will get you banned by Google and it’s just not cool!
Once you have chosen an idea for a blog post, make sure you use the proper keywords in your article!
Adding keywords to your blog posts
Keywords are an important part of any blog post because they help people find your site when searching for topics on Google.
When writing your blog posts, try to use the main keywords at the beginning of your article.
Including these keywords in your articles will also help you rank better for certain topics on Google!
But you don’t want to overdo it when using one keyword because this can trigger a red flag from Google and get your site banned.
Find the right keywords
In order to find the right keywords, you will need to do some research.
There are many keyword research tools that you can use including Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.
These tools will allow you to look up the most popular keywords associated with your topic so it’s important that you choose different keywords for each blog post!
We personally use KeySearch as our main keyword tool as it is easy to use and generates great results!
In order to use KeySearch you simply type a few words you would use to search for that topic.
For example, if you wanted to write a blog post about purple shoes, you might type in words like “best purple heels”, “affordable purple shoes”, or “popular purple shoes”.

Once you’ve typed your keywords into the search bar, KeySearch will give you results for those keywords and give you other similar phrases!
They will then show you information such as the volume which tells you how many times these keywords are being searched per month, as well as the score, which tells you how easy or hard it is to rank for this keyword.
The higher the score, the harder it is to get on the first page of Google.
So if you are a new lifestyled blog, it is best to target keywords that are scored 30 or less.
But the key is to find a keyword that is a low score but with a high search volume.
We know this may seem overwhelming, don’t worry!
With enough practice, you will get the hang of it and become an expert.
Types of Blog Posts
There are many different types of blog posts that you can write for your lifestyled blog.
Some examples include:
How-tos
To write a how-to article, the first step is to create a list of information that you would like to share.
Once you have your list, organize it into an easy-to-read article with bullet points and short paragraphs.
While writing this type of blog post, try being as clear and concise as possible!
A few examples of this type of article are how to take care of your hair, how to change the oil in your car, or how to make french toast.

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Product Reviews
For a product review, you will want to include a list of information about the product.
You may also want to include a list of benefits and why someone would need or want this product!
Before writing your review, do some research on the product so you have an understanding of what it is and how it works.
Then, break down each feature of the product and explain each benefit!
This type of article is great for reviewing affiliate marketing products. If you do a great job, it can lead to a lot of sales.
Listicle articles
Listicle posts are a great way to get readers engaged with your blog!
A few examples are: “10 Amazing Travel Hacks”, “5 Ways to Organize Your House”, “10 Must-Have Beauty Products for Summer”.
Each item should be concise so that people can read the whole list with a better understanding of your content that has answered their questions.
These types of articles will not only keep the reader interested, but they will also encourage them to come back for more!
DIY articles
This type of blog post will require you to share a list of supplies needed, followed by an explanation on how to put the item together.
For DIY articles, explain each step in detail with illustrations or videos to go along with it!
When writing this type of blog post, be sure that your steps are easy to follow and simple for anyone to recreate.
Round-ups
A round-up blog post will require you to list several different things in one place!
To write a round-up article, start by choosing your topic.
You can choose something broad like “5 Stores for Perfect Workout Clothes” or something specific like “5 Stores to find the Perfect Tights”.
Once you have your topic chosen, it’s time to list out items that fit into your topic.
It is important that you include images for each item with links to go to the stores’ websites!

Writing an engaging blog post
Once you have decided on the type of post you would like to write, you’re ready to start!
When writing a blog post, always keep your audience in mind.
Think of topics that they will care about and be willing to share with their friends.
Be sure to write short paragraphs and include bullet points for easier reading.
Include images or videos when it makes sense.
Finally, ALWAYS proofread your post!
Spelling and grammar errors can leave a bad impression on readers.
If you don’t have the time to proofread, hire someone on Fiverr to do it for you!
Marketing Your Blog Posts
Now that you’ve created your blog post, you’re ready to share it with the world!
There are many different outlets that you can share your content on.
Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram are great places to start!
Creating an account on these sites will allow you to link back to your blog so the more views you get there, the more viewers will come to your site!
Another great place you can promote your blog posts is on subreddits.
A subreddit is a forum of sorts where people of similar interests gather.
People will often post about their favorite topics on these subreddits asking for advice or feedback on something they created!
Searching and sharing on the subreddits about your topic may provide you with more viewers and comments on your blog posts!
Finally, you can promote your blog post by emailing your friends and subscribers with the link to your post!
They may share it on social media or come to your blog for more information.

Monetizing Your Blog Posts
Once you have created unique and engaging blog posts, you may want to start monetizing your blog!
There are many different ways to earn money from your blog, here are a few you can do to start making money as a beginner:
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is when you place links to websites with products that are relevant to your audience and article.
For example, if your blog is about running.
You may want to place product links on running shoes or watches that go along with your article!
The more purchases you get, the more money you make!
Be sure to check out this article for more information about how you can maximize your earnings as an affiliate marketer.
Paid posts
If you want to create sponsored blog posts, do some research on popular brands in your industry.
Be sure to check out the brand’s social media and website for information on how you can contact them!
Once you have found a company that is interested, create an agreement.
Make an outline of what your post will be about and how long it needs to be before sending it over to the company for approval.
If you are just starting out you may not get paid but they may offer free items in exchange for a post.
This can be a great way to get free products to review on your blog and allow you to have experience working with brands.

Display ads
Banner advertisements are the perfect way to make money from your blog.
Many websites, including Google Adsense, use banner ads as a way to earn revenue for their site!
Ads will appear on the side of your website or above your blog posts.
Once you have found an advertisement network to place ads on your site, try placing them within your blog posts!
However, to earn the most money, you’ll have to have lots of traffic coming to your site.
With these quick tips, you’re ready to start promoting your blog posts and making money online!
Key Takeaways
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already making money on your blog, here are the key takeaways to starting a lifestyle blog:
- Create unique and engaging content that will keep readers talking
- Promote your content on social media, subreddits, forums, and email subscribers
- Monetize your blog by becoming an affiliate marketer, doing paid posts, or displaying ads
Now that you know how to start a lifestyle blog and make money, you’re ready to go out there and start your journey!
Just make sure to have fun with it and write about what you love.
It’s important to remember that not all of these strategies will work for every blogger so be creative and figure out what works best for you!
So what are you waiting for?
Get out there and own your space on the internet as a lifestyle blogger!
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