If you’ve ever tried to make money online and felt stuck, you’re not alone. Over the past few years, I’ve started multiple blogs, each one a new attempt to earn some side income. And honestly? I failed… a lot.
But here’s the thing: every failure taught me something important, and eventually, I earned my first $4.75 from blogging. It might sound small, but it was proof that the process works—and I want to show you exactly how I got there.
In this post, I’m sharing my journey step by step: what worked, what didn’t, and the real strategies I used to earn that first small win. Think of it as learning alongside me—so you can take action without falling into the same traps I did.
My Failed Attempts
So, what went wrong with all those blogs?
1. Lack of passion
I learned that passion and transparency matter more than I realized. Writing about random topics I didn’t care about made it almost impossible to stay motivated or build trust with readers. You have to choose something you’re passionate about or have real knowledge of — it will make everything so much easier.
2. Giving up too early
In one attempt, I finally chose a niche I cared about in real life and actually have knowledge about, and did proper keyword research. Traffic started to grow. But I quit too soon, right before the effort could pay off.
3. Mindset issues
The biggest lesson from every failed blog attempt? Failure is never wasted. Each time I “failed,” I was actually building skills like keyword research, writing, and promotion — skills that are incredibly valuable in today’s digital age.
When I shifted my mindset from “I’m failing” to “I’m learning,” things finally started to change. It was like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after years of trying.
What Changed / My Breakthrough
After so many false starts, I realized the key wasn’t just hard work. It was strategy + passion + consistency.
Here’s what I finally did differently:
- Keyword Research: I stopped guessing what people wanted to read and started targeting low-competition searches like “how to make money as a teen” or “how to make money in one hour.”
- Transparency: Instead of faking big income claims, I decided to be honest about my numbers — even if it was just $4.75. Readers appreciate honesty more than hype.
- Consistency: I committed to writing research-based posts consistently. Each post was another chance to learn and get traffic.
Once I combined passion with strategy, I finally started seeing results.
How I Made $4.75 Blogging: Step by Step
After all the failures, seeing my first earnings was cool. I remember refreshing my Amazon affiliate dashboard and spotting $4.75 it was actualy more tbh i think around 10 dollars, It wasn’t a huge amount, but i was so shocked. After years of blogging, that tiny number felt like a life-changing moment.
Here’s exactly what led to that first small win:
1. Chose a Low-Competition Keyword
I used simple keyword research tools to find topics people were searching for but that weren’t too competitive. Examples I targeted:
- How to make money in one hour
- How to make money as a teen
- How to make coffee brews
It wasn’t perfect or super technical at first, but learning this process helped me build resilience and knowledge about keyword research that paid off later.
2. Wrote a Research-Based, Honest Post
I created a post that was helpful, detailed, and transparent. I didn’t promise overnight riches. Instead, I shared practical ways people could make small amounts quickly — freelance microtasks, surveys, small gigs. or just topics i was passionate about on my other blog that actually got me paid.
Key combination:
- Research on what actually works
- My personal insights and experience
- Clear formatting with examples
3. Added a Personal Touch
I shared my own numbers — yes, that $4.75. Showing this tiny success made the post relatable and trustworthy.
Proof: I even kept a screenshot from my Amazon affiliate account showing the $4.75. tbh it was actually a bit more But as Small as it was, seeing it made the effort feel real. After years of blogging without results, this tiny win motivated me to keep going.
4. Published and Promoted Lightly
Once the post was live, I shared it on:
- Reddit communities about making money online
- Pinterest boards for beginners
- Small social media groups about side hustles
Even a little promotion brought in my first readers. It proved that small, consistent actions can start momentum.
5. Earned Through Affiliate Links
The $4.75 came from a combination of affiliate clicks on the tools I mentioned. It wasn’t much, but it was real proof that the strategy worked — and it could be scaled with more posts, topics, I was actually interested about in real life.
Key Lessons
Making $4.75 might not sound life-changing, but here’s why it mattered:
- Small Wins Matter – Every dollar proves that progress is possible.
- Failure is Part of the Process – Every blog that didn’t work taught me skills I could use later. I wasn’t failing I was learning.
- Transparency Builds Trust Showing real numbers makes your journey relatable.
- Consistency and Passion Are Key – Pick a niche you care about and stick with it. Over time, traffic and trust will grow.
Next Steps
This is just the beginning. From here, I plan to:
- Publish more keyword-focused, research-based posts
- Share every win and failure openly
- Keep documenting my growth step by step
- Post my results with different methods, highlighting what works and what doesn’t
Want to try these strategies yourself? I put together a simple, step-by-step guide to starting your own blog, finding low-competition keywords, and publishing posts that actually get traffic. You can check it out here and follow along with my journey.
This way, you can learn from both my successes and mistakes — and start building your own online income alongside me. As i continue here with my journey.