Are you passionate about personal finance and looking for a way to share your knowledge with others? Starting a personal finance blog can be a rewarding and fulfilling way to do just that.
Not only can you establish yourself as an authority in the field, but you can also build a community of like-minded individuals who share your interest in managing money, saving for the future, and building wealth.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to start a successful personal finance blog in 2024.
What is a personal finance blog?
Before we dive into how to start your personal finance blog, we need to understand what it is.
A personal finance blog is a website or online platform that provides information and advice on managing personal finances. These blogs typically cover a wide range of topics, including budgeting, saving, investing, debt management, and retirement planning.
As a personal finance blogger, you might share your own experiences and strategies for achieving success, or offer expert insights and analysis on various financial topics.
Many personal finance blogs also offer tools and resources like calculators and budget templates to help readers achieve their financial goals.
How to start a personal finance blog (Steps to follow)
Starting a finance blog is quite an easy process, but it can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. Follow this step-by-step guide to launch your blog and start sharing your personal finance knowledge with the world.
1) Determine your niche and audience
The first step in starting a personal finance blog is to determine your micro niche and target audience. Think about what specific topics within personal finance you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
Some of the most popular micro niches in personal finance include:
- Debt management.
- Saving.
- Credit repair.
- Financial independence.
Your micro niche can help differentiate your blog from others in the crowded personal finance space.
Also, consider who your target audience will be. Will you be writing for young adults just starting out in their careers, or for retirees planning for their golden years?
Knowing your audience can help guide your content strategy and marketing efforts.
2) Choose a domain name and hosting provider
Once you’ve identified your niche and audience, it’s time to choose a domain name and hosting provider.
Your domain name is your website’s address, and should ideally reflect the topic of your blog. For example, if you’re creating a personal finance blog focused on credit repair, a domain name like CreditGenius.com could be a good option.
Since most of the obvious domain names are likely to be claimed, you should think out of the box for a unique and catchy domain name that will explain what your blog is about while being easy for returning visitors to remember.
To make this process easier, I recommend using a dedicated domain name registration service. NameCheap is one of the most affordable examples, which gives you control over all your domain names in one location.
For hosting, I recommend Bluehost, an affordable hosting service with regular discounts and reliable up-time.
3) Set up your website
After you’ve chosen a domain name and hosting provider, it’s time to set up your website. This typically involves installing a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, which allows you to easily create and publish blog posts.Â
Since Bluehost has a one-click WordPress installer, you should be ready to start building your blog immediately.
For a fast and easy set-up, you can choose a simple WordPress theme like Olsen light or Astra.
However, if you want more control over your personal finance blog’s look and feel, you should use Elementor. To get the best features, I recommend paying for the Pro plan for $59 a year.
This gives allows you the ability to create unique templates for your blog and gives you access to the landing page builder and more than 100 basic and pro widgets.
Install other necessary plugins
While your blog is ready for publishing, you can still enhance its user experience and other functionality with additional plugins.
For instance, you can use an editorial plugin like Strive Calendar to schedule your blogs or an SEO plugin like Rank Math to improve your content’s ranking on search engines.
Other plugins that you may find useful when starting a personal finance blog include:
- Stock Quotes List
- Stock Market Overview
- Cryptocurrency Widgets – Price ticker and coins list
- Crypto converter widget
- Calculator plugins
Create valuable content
With your website set up, it’s time to start creating valuable content. This is where your niche and target audience come into play – your content should be tailored to their specific needs and interests.Â
Here are a few tips to help you with your first blog post:
- Choose a catchy headline: Your headline should grab the reader’s attention and accurately reflect the topic of your post.
- Make it visually appealing: Use images, charts, or infographics to break up the text and make your post more engaging.
- Provide actionable advice: Your post should provide practical tips or strategies that readers can implement in their own lives.
- Include examples: Use real-life examples or case studies to illustrate your points and make your post more relatable.
- Edit and proofread: Before publishing your post, make sure to edit and proofread carefully to ensure it’s free of errors and flows well.
- Engage with your readers: Encourage readers to leave comments or questions on your post, and make sure to respond in a timely and helpful manner.
Outsource personal finance content
To accelerate the growth of your blog, you can outsource personal finance content from other experts. Posting their content alongside yours will give your blog different perspectives and attract a wider audience.
If you’re looking for quality personal finance content, you can hire reputable freelancers from websites like Upwork and Fiverr.
You can also work with content agencies that specialize in personal finance.
Another option is to collaborate with guest writers or experts in the personal finance field who can provide unique perspectives and insights for your blog.Â
Regardless of the approach you choose, be sure to thoroughly vet potential writers or collaborators and clearly communicate your expectations and guidelines to ensure the quality and relevance of the content for your blog.
Examples of personal finance blogs to inspire you
Still not sure where to start or how your personal finance blog should look?
Here are a few successful personal finance blogs you can draw inspiration from.
- Good Financial Cents: This blog is run by Jeff, a certified financial planner. It focuses on all aspects of personal finance.
- Mint Blog: A personal finance software company that also runs a popular blog.
- The simple dollar: This blog focuses on debt management.
- Investopedia,
- NerdWallet, and
- The Balance Money
How to make money with a personal finance blog
It would be ironic to offer financial advice without making any money yourself. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make money blogging as a personal finance blogger:
- Advertising: You can display PPC ads on your site to make money each time your visitors click on them.
- Digital products or courses: You can sell digital products like personal finance e-books on your blog.
- Sponsored content: You can work with finance companies to make content promoting their products on your blog.
- Consulting or coaching services: You can leverage your expertise to offer one-on-one consulting or coaching services to help readers with their personal finances.
- Affiliate marketing: Personal finance industry is ripe with great affiliate programs that you can promote, from credit card companies to personal loan providers.
Should you start a personal finance blog?
While starting a finance blog might sound like a long and strenuous process, it’s quite easy and has many upsides. Apart from sharing your knowledge with the world, you have the chance to monetize your content.
By following the steps in this guide, you can create your personal finance blog and start reaping the benefits.
