There are so many ways to make money in 2026.

But honestly? One of the most underrated and powerful ways right now is starting a blog.

And not in the slow, outdated way people used to do it.

You can build a profitable blog faster and smarter than ever before — if you do it right.

I loooove blogging! I enjoy it so much, and I would love to help you start, if it’s something you’ve thought about before.

So if I had to start from scratch in 2026, this is exactly what I would do (and what I wish I did sooner).

***This post may contain affiliate links, but It won’t cost you anything extra. You can read the full disclosure here.***

1. Focus on Multiple Income Streams From Day One

This is probably the biggest mistake I see beginners make.

They rely on one income stream.

Usually ads… or sponsored posts.

And while both can make you money, they’re not the best place to start — and they’re definitely not the most stable.

If I was starting again, I would build multiple income streams right from the beginning:

• Affiliate marketing (my top priority)
• Digital products
• Display ads (later, once traffic grows)
• Sponsored posts (as a bonus, not a foundation)

Affiliate marketing is honestly one of the easiest ways to start making money with a blog. You’re already recommending things — you might as well get paid for it.

I would make sure every post naturally includes links to:

• Products I love
• Tools I use
• Digital resources

Then digital products are where things get really exciting!

You create something once — and it can sell over and over again from your blog posts. That’s real passive income.

Ads are great, but they take time.
Sponsored posts are great, but they come with pressure, deadlines, and relying on brands.

Multiple income streams = freedom, stability, and way less stress.

Affiliate marketing is honestly one of the easiest ways to start making money with a blog. You’re already recommending things — you might as well get paid for it.

If you’re not sure how to start, this is the exact free training I would recommend starting with — it’s what teaches you how to turn simple blog posts into INCOME from day one.

2. Invest in Blogging Courses Sooner (It Saves You SO Much Time)

I wasted so much time trying to figure everything out on my own.

Watching random YouTube videos.
Reading blog posts.
Trying free trainings.

And honestly? It was overwhelming.

Some advice worked. Some didn’t. And I stayed stuck way longer than I needed to.

If I could go back, I would invest in a high-quality blogging course early.

Because the right course teaches you:

• How to actually make money (not just “write posts”)
• Affiliate marketing strategies
• How to create digital products
• How to use Pinterest for traffic

It would have saved me:

• Time
• Frustration
• And honestly… a lot of tears

Sometimes the fastest way to grow is to stop trying to figure it all out alone.

If I could go back, I would invest in a high-quality blogging course EARLY.

Especially when it comes to traffic — learning Pinterest properly changed everything for me. This is the course I wish I had started with because it shows you exactly how to get consistent traffic specifically to your blog (without relying on social media) Pinteresting Strategies is the best Pinterest course for blogging.

3. Start Your Email List Immediately (Not Later)

This is the one I still wish I had taken more seriously from the beginning.

Pinterest and social media are amazing for traffic — they really are.

But your email list is where the real connection happens.

It’s where:

• You build trust
• You form a relationship
• You actually sell

These people become your warmest audience.

And I’ve seen it happen so many times — bloggers making thousands of dollars from a single email because they’ve built that trust.

Also… social media is unpredictable.

Algorithms change. Accounts get restricted.

But your email list?

You own it.

If I was starting again, this would be my priority order:

1. Write high-quality blog content
2. Build my email list

Not third. Not later. Immediately.

Once you have traffic coming in, turn those readers into subscribers. I personally use simple email tools and systems that allow me to automate this — and it makes such a difference in actually making money from your blog. Right now I am using a free version of ConvertKit. Once I hit the limit of subscribers I will upgrade to their paid version.

4. Outsource Sooner (You Don’t Have to Do Everything Yourself)

I tried to do everything myself.

Graphics.
Tech.
Emails.
Pinterest.

And let me just say… tech is not my strength 😅

There were actual moments where I felt so overwhelmed I wanted to quit. Like full-on tears, thinking “why is this so hard?”

Looking back, I didn’t need to carry all of that.

Even just a few hours a week of help — a VA, freelancer, or even asking someone you trust — makes such a difference.

For me, when my sister started helping with graphics and tech, it changed everything.

I felt lighter.
I enjoyed blogging again.
And I could finally focus on the things that actually made money.

You don’t have to do it all alone.

5. Create Your Own Digital Product Earlier

Affiliate marketing is amazing.

Ads are great.

But there’s something powerful about having your own product.

Something you:

• Fully own
• Fully control
• Fully profit from

This could be:

• An eBook
• A course
• Printables
• Templates
• Guides

I waited longer than I should have to create my own products.

And now? I see how much faster you can grow when you have something of your own to sell.

It gives you:

• More control over your income
• Higher profit margins
• More freedom to scale

If you want to keep things simple, I created ‘The Profitable Product Blueprint & Canva Crash course‘ a 47-page guide that walks you through how to create and sell your own digital product on Canva — it’s $27 and it comes with resell rights so you can also sell it and keep 100% of the profit. Get it HERE.

6. Choose a Blog Niche You Actually Love

This matters more than people think.

Because blogging isn’t just “write a few posts and you’re done.”

You’re going to be talking about this topic a lot.

So you need to enjoy it.

For me, my blog is more of a lifestyle brand with different categories:

• Making money online
• Freedom + travel
• Faith
• Products I love
• Self-care and routines

Everything I talk about fits under one bigger theme:

A life of freedom for a faith-filled woman.

And I love it. I could talk about these things all day.

You can:

• Have one niche
• Or have a broader niche with subtopics

Both work.

But if you want to stay consistent long-term, you have to actually care about what you’re writing.

7. Write Evergreen Blog Content (This Is Where the Money Is)

If I could give one blogging tip that makes the biggest long-term difference, it’s this:

Focus on evergreen content.

Evergreen content = posts that stay relevant over time.

Not just trends that disappear in a few weeks.

These are the posts that:

• Keep bringing traffic
• Keep making money
• Keep working for you

You do the work once… and it pays you again and again.

Now, trending content can bring quick traffic (which is great), but evergreen content builds long-term income.

If I was starting again, I would do:

• 80% evergreen content
• 20% trending content

That’s where stability comes from.

8. Be Consistent (Even When It Feels Slow)

Blogging is not an overnight success thing.

And I think that’s where a lot of people quit too early.

In the beginning, it can feel slow.

You’re writing posts…
You’re learning…
And it feels like nothing is happening

But behind the scenes, everything is compounding.

Every blog post.
Every pin.
Every email.

It all builds.

If I was starting again, I would keep it simple:

• 1 blog post per week
• Consistent Pinterest posting

That’s it.

Because the bloggers who succeed are not always the most talented.

They’re the ones who didn’t quit.

Final Thoughts: Blogging in 2026 Is Still One of the Best Opportunities

If I was starting from scratch today, I wouldn’t hesitate.

Blogging is still one of the best ways to:

• Build passive income
• Create freedom
• Work from anywhere
• Build something that’s yours

But the key is doing it strategically.

Ready to Start Your Blog the Right Way?

If you’re serious about starting a blog and actually making money from it (not just writing into the void), I’ve put together something for you.

I created a simple, step-by-step checklist that shows you exactly how to:

• Set up your blog
• Start getting traffic
• And make your first income online

✨ Get it here for free!

And if you want to skip the trial-and-error phase and learn exactly how people are making money with blogs right now…

I highly recommend starting with this free training.

This is what breaks down how to use affiliate marketing to turn your blog into income — even if you’re starting from zero.

• Start the free training here: Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing

And when you’re ready to grow your traffic (this is the part most people struggle with), Pinterest is where everything changed for me.

• This is the Pinterest course I recommend: Pinteresting Strategies

You don’t need to do everything at once.

Just start.

Stay consistent.

And give it time — because this can change everything.

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