How to Start a Blog Side Hustle with $0 Budget
Build Your Blogging Empire Using Only Free Tools
So, you want to start a blog and make money—but you don’t want to spend a dime?
Good news: You absolutely can.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to launch a profitable blog side hustle with a $0 budget, using free tools like ChatGPT, Blogger, and Canva.
π§ Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche
Choose a topic you enjoy—but also one people search for and spend money on.
π Use this free ChatGPT prompt to help:
“Give me 10 blog niche ideas that are profitable, beginner-friendly, and popular in 2024.”
π‘ Hot ideas: AI tools, personal finance, digital marketing, side hustles, parenting tips, etc.
π Step 2: Set Up Your Free Blog
Use Blogger.com — a completely free platform by Google.
You don’t need to pay for hosting or domains to get started.
✔ Choose a clean, mobile-friendly template
✔ Customize your header, about page, and categories
Bonus: You can even connect a custom domain later, but it’s not necessary for launch.
π¨ Step 3: Design Graphics with Canva (Free Version)
Visuals matter! Use Canva to create:
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Pinterest pins
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Blog headers
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Instagram stories
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Infographics
Start with free templates and brand your blog without spending a cent.
✍️ Step 4: Use Free ChatGPT (GPT 3.5) to Write Posts
Writing content can be the hardest part—but ChatGPT makes it easier (and free!).
Try this prompt:
“Write a 1000-word blog post on [topic] that is beginner-friendly, SEO-optimized, and engaging.”
π Don’t forget to edit and add personal touches—Google loves original voices.
π Step 5: Do Basic SEO (for Free)
Even without paid SEO tools, you can still optimize your posts.
✔ Use free tools like Ubersuggest or AnswerThePublic for keyword research
✔ Add keywords to your title, meta description, and within the blog content
✔ Add alt text to images and use internal linking
π’ Step 6: Share Your Content on Pinterest & Instagram
You don’t need ads to get traffic.
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Pinterest is free and powerful for blog traffic
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Post consistently, use relevant keywords, and link back to your blog
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Use ChatGPT to generate pin descriptions and Canva to design them
π° Step 7: Monetize Without Spending a Penny
Once you have a few posts and traffic coming in, try these free monetization options:
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Google AdSense – Place ads on your blog (works with Blogger!)
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Affiliate Marketing – Recommend products you love and earn commission
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Sell Digital Products – Use Gumroad or Payhip (free to start)
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Email Marketing – Use MailerLite or ConvertKit’s free plans
π Bonus: Repurpose One Post into Many
Maximize every piece of content:
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Turn your blog post into a Pinterest pin
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Create a carousel for Instagram
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Record it as a short podcast or YouTube video
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Summarize it in your newsletter
Use free ChatGPT prompts to help with this process!
π You Don’t Need Money, You Need Strategy
Starting a blog with $0 is totally possible if you’re willing to learn, stay consistent, and use free tools wisely.
Blogging can go from a side hustle to a full-time income—but the first step is starting smart (and cheap).
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