Before I even started my blog, I was obsessed with reading blogger income reports.
You know the ones—where someone casually mentions they made $5,000, $10,000, or even $50,000 in a single month.
They break down their earnings, talk about how they worked from home in pajamas, and claim they were shocked by how much money they made.
Meanwhile, here I am, one month into blogging, having made exactly $0.00.
No overnight success, no magic formula, no “I can’t believe how easy this was!” moment.
But guess what? I’m still here, still blogging, and still determined.
Here’s exactly what I did in my first month—what worked, what didn’t, and why I’m not giving up.
What I Thought Would Happen vs. Reality
Expectation (Thanks to Those Income Reports I Read):
- I’d write a few blog posts, hit publish, and boom—thousands of readers would magically appear.
- Google would immediately rank my blog on the first page.
- Pinterest would send floods of traffic my way.
- I’d make money in my first month (from… something? I wasn’t really sure how).
- Blogging would feel like a fun, creative escape from my day job.
Reality (What Actually Happened):
- Blogging takes way more work than I expected.
- Google doesn’t care about a brand-new blog (yet).
- Pinterest is a long game, not a magic traffic machine.
- Making money requires strategy, not just publishing posts and hoping for the best.
- Blogging felt more like a second full-time job—except unpaid.
And yet… I kept going.
What I Actually Did My First Month (Even Though I Made $0)
Even though I didn’t make money, I focused on building a foundation for future success.
1. Wrote a Bunch of Blog Posts
Since content is key, I focused on writing helpful, SEO-friendly blog posts that my future audience would (hopefully) love. In my first month, I published:
- 10 blog posts (some were great, some… not so much)
- A mix of evergreen content (topics that stay relevant) and seasonal content
- Posts optimized for Pinterest and Google (even if I’m still learning SEO)
2. Set Up My Blog (And Probably Overthought It)
Instead of just focusing on writing, I spent way too much time:
- Tweaking my blog’s theme, fonts, and colors
- Playing around with my logo and branding
- Obsessing over things that don’t actually matter yet
Lesson learned: A pretty blog doesn’t make money. A helpful blog does.
3. Started Learning Pinterest (A.K.A. My New Obsession)
After realizing that Pinterest isn’t just for recipes, I:
- Created a Pinterest business account
- Designed pins using Canva
- Started pinning regularly (even though I had no idea what I was doing)
I have no idea yet if my Pinterest efforts are paying off, but I’ve heard it takes time—so I’m sticking with it.
4. Figured Out (Sort Of?) SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a beast, but I knew I had to start somewhere. I:
- Researched keywords (a.k.a. what people are searching for)
- Tried to write long, in-depth posts (Google loves this!)
- Added alt text to images (for accessibility and SEO)
Did any of this work yet? No clue. But I know it will matter in the long run.
How I Could Have Made Money My First Month (But Didn’t)
Even though I made $0, I now realize that I could have done things differently. If I had to start over, I’d focus more on:
1. Writing Affiliate-Focused Content
Affiliate marketing = earning a commission when someone buys a product through your link. But here’s the thing: you need traffic first.
What I should have done:
- Written blog posts around high-converting affiliate products
- Created gift guides or “best of” lists (people love these!)
- Focused on solving a problem that makes people want to buy
2. Promoting My Blog More
I was a little shy about sharing my blog, but here’s the truth: If you don’t promote your blog, no one will find it. Period.
Why I Didn’t Quit (Even Though I Made $0)
After reading so many blogger success stories, I’ll admit—I felt a little scammed.
Where was my overnight success? Why wasn’t my blog making thousands already? What secret formula was I missing?
But here’s what I had to remind myself:
- Those bloggers making thousands? They ALL started at zero.
- Success takes time. Blogging isn’t an overnight get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a slow grind.
- This is just the beginning. If I quit now, I’ll never know what’s possible.
My Goals for Month Two (Let’s See What Happens!)
Since I clearly nailed the not making money part in Month One, here’s what I’m focusing on next:
- Writing more affiliate-friendly content
- Driving more traffic from Pinterest
- Being consistent with my blog posts
Will I finally make money next month? Who knows! But I’ll keep you posted.
Have you started a blog? Drop a comment and let’s support each other!
