Blogging is not dead. But the way it works has changed significantly since 2020. Pure AI-generated content without expertise doesn’t rank. Generic “top 10” articles don’t convert. What works now: blogs with a clear expert angle, genuine personal experience, and content that can’t be replicated by a prompt.
Niche Selection (Most Important Decision)
Choose based on 3 criteria: you have genuine knowledge or experience, advertisers pay well in this space (use Google Keyword Planner to check), and you can write 100+ unique articles. Best niches for 2025: personal finance, home improvement, pets, food (specific diets), parenting, outdoor recreation subcategories, specific health conditions.
Technical Setup
WordPress.org + Bluehost hosting: $2.95/month to start. Kadence, GeneratePress, or Astra theme: free or $49/year. Yoast SEO or Rank Math: free. Google Analytics: free. Total monthly cost: $3โ$10. Start writing, not fiddling with tools.
Content Strategy
Write 3 types of posts: “Best [product] for [use case]” (converts to affiliate commissions), “How to [do specific thing]” (ranks for informational searches, builds trust), and “Vs. / Compared” posts (buyer-intent traffic, very high conversion). Publish 2โ4 times per week for the first 6 months.
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