Think back to those 12–15 years in school, plus four more in college — dreaming of the day you’d finally earn your own money. That’s 16–19 years spent hoping for a paycheck.
Blogging is similar. I’ve been at it for six years, and I know firsthand the grind to make that first $100.
My first $149? An affiliate commission — after THREE years! Most folks think the cash starts flowing the moment they hit ‘publish.’ Not true.
I started blogging in 2016, failed twice, and spent countless hours learning and working, all while clinging to the dream of a full-time income. It took me six years…
Now, you might be wondering how long it takes to make your first $100.
Let’s dive in…
The first step is finding a profitable niche — a specific topic that helps readers solve a problem or make a decision. Think about your past struggles or the skills you can teach beginners.
But before putting your idea into action, you need a blog.
As a beginner, you want the cheapest and simplest way to get started…
OR, You can TRY trending AI tools like 10Web.io to set up your blog in minutes. (Learn more about 10Web.io)
Once your blog is set up, you are ready to put your blog idea/niche into action.
Here’s how to create content that people will genuinely value:
- Become the go-to ‘How-To’ expert: Share your skills and knowledge by writing step-by-step guides within your niche.
- Offer insightful reviews: Provide honest, detailed reviews of products or services you’ve used, helping others make informed decisions.
- Stay ahead of the curve: Share the latest industry trends and opportunities, positioning yourself as an informed resource.
- Build a community: Offer personalized help, advice, or even a valuable freebie to nurture trust and loyalty.
Share your content on the following platforms…
- X
- Medium
This helps drive some initial traffic…
Once you have traffic, you can Display Adsense ads or use affiliate marketing to monetize your traffic.
Here are some helpful resources…
- Quick Guide To Start Affiliate Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing for Beginners: A complete guide to beginners
- How much traffic you need to make $1000 from AdSense
Here is a take…
To make your first $100, you don’t need to write hundreds of articles, you just need 10 -20 high-quality content that solves a problem that is high in demand.
Instead of writing random content, you can choose a trendy product or service, and write 15 -20 articles about that product or service. And share your articles on social media platforms.
If you have a $30 product with a 33% affiliate commission, you need 10 sales to make your first $100.
Similarly, if you have a $100 product with 20% affiliate share, you need 5 sales to make your first $100.
If you drive enough traffic, you can also use AdSense to make $100. You need 10,000 visitors a month with $10 RPM to make your first $100.
Tips from my 6 years of blogging Venture
- Be Realistic: Set achievable goals to avoid burnout.
- Be patient: Building an audience and seeing results takes time.
- Be consistent: Publish regularly to keep readers engaged.
- Find joy in the journey: Blogging should be enjoyable, not just a means to an end.
- Focus on quality, not quantity: Deliver well-written, valuable content.
- Enhance your writing with AI tools: Try platforms like Frase.io for SEO optimization and content inspiration.
- Develop a daily writing habit: Practice makes progress.
- Seek alternative traffic sources: Don’t depend solely on Google.
- Prioritize email list growth: Build direct connections with your readers.
- Invest in your blog: Treat it like a business, not just a hobby.
- Write with purpose: Address topics that people are actively searching for.
- Stay flexible: Adapt to changes in the blogging landscape.
That’s it!
I’m convinced that if you choose a niche, consistently create 2–3 valuable pieces of content weekly, promote them on social media, and utilize effective monetization strategies, you can earn your first $100 much faster than three years.
By following the methods I outline in this post, you could potentially reach that goal in less than two months!
