Wondering how to start a lifestyle blog? In this guide, you’ll see the steps you need to become a lifestyle blogger, as well as 50 lifestyle blog names you can use for inspiration and 15 different ways to monetize your new blog.
Before we dive into the process of starting a blog, let’s define what a lifestyle blog means exactly.
What is a Lifestyle Blog?
A lifestyle blog is a type of blog that focuses on the author’s personal interests, experiences, and daily life, often covering a wide range of topics such as fashion, beauty, travel, health, home decor, and more.
Unlike niche-specific blogs that concentrate on a single subject, lifestyle blogs are characterized by their diversity and the ability to capture the essence of an individual’s or a group’s lifestyle.
Key Features of Lifestyle Blogs
Personal Voice
Lifestyle blogs are known for their personal and relatable tone. Bloggers often share their personal experiences, opinions, and insights, creating a sense of connection with their readers.
Diverse Content
Lifestyle blogs cover a broad spectrum of topics, allowing bloggers to share their interests and expertise in various areas. This diversity attracts a wide audience with varied preferences.
Visual Appeal
Visual elements, such as high-quality images and multimedia content, are integral to lifestyle blogs. Bloggers use visuals to enhance the storytelling experience and create an aesthetically pleasing environment for their readers.
Everyday Life
Lifestyle blogs often incorporate elements of the author’s day-to-day life. This could include snapshots of daily routines, personal achievements, challenges, and reflections, adding a personal touch to the content.
Inspiration and Aspiration
Many lifestyle blogs aim to inspire and motivate their readers. Bloggers often share aspirational content, whether it’s about fashion trends, travel destinations, or wellness routines, encouraging their audience to adopt positive lifestyle changes.
Community Engagement
Lifestyle bloggers often foster a sense of community among their readers. They encourage comments, feedback, and social media interactions to create a dialogue and connect with their audience.
Adaptability
Lifestyle blogs can evolve and adapt to changing trends and the blogger’s interests. This flexibility allows for continual growth and exploration of new topics.
Examples of Lifestyle Blog Topics
- Fashion and Style: Outfit ideas, fashion trends, clothing hauls, and style inspiration.
- Travel: Destination guides, travel diaries, and tips for exploring new places.
- Wellness: Health and fitness routines, mental health discussions, and self-care tips.
- Home Decor: Interior design inspiration, DIY projects, and organization tips.
- Beauty: Makeup tutorials, product reviews, and skincare routines.
- Food and Recipes: Culinary adventures, cooking tips, and recipe sharing.
- Personal Development: Goal-setting strategies, book reviews, and reflections on personal growth.
Overall, a lifestyle blog serves as a platform for individuals to express themselves, share their interests, and build a community around a diverse range of lifestyle topics. Now let’s see how to start a lifestyle blog.
How to Start a Lifestyle Blog
Step 1: Define Your Niche and Audience
Before diving into the world of lifestyle blogging, it’s crucial to identify your niche and target audience.
What aspects of lifestyle are you most passionate about? Whether it’s travel, fashion, wellness, or a combination of these, carving out a niche will help you attract a dedicated audience with similar interests.
Step 2: Choose a Blogging Platform
Selecting the right platform is a fundamental decision when starting a lifestyle blog. WordPress, in particular, is widely preferred for its flexibility, customization options, and a vast array of plugins that enhance functionality. That’s what I’m using for all my websites and what I highly recommend.
It’s totally free and you can set up a WordPress blog with any hosting provider you pick (more on that in the next steps).
Step 3: Pick a Unique Lifestyle Blog Name
Your domain name is your blog’s address on the internet. Choose a name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember.
Consider using your own name or a creative combination of words related to your niche. Ensure the domain is available and register it through a domain registrar (we’ll do that in one of the next steps).
Here’s a list of creative lifestyle blog name ideas to use for inspiration:
50 Lifestyle Blog Names
- BlissfulBlend
- UrbanVibeDiaries
- LifeCanvasChronicles
- SerenityStyles
- WanderWisdomHub
- ChicHavenChronicle
- RadiantRoutines
- VogueVentures
- TranquilTrinkets
- NomadNestNotes
- SartorialSerenade
- GourmetGlobeGleam
- EnchantingEssence
- HarmonyHabitats
- WhimsicalWellnessWays
- HomesteadHarbor
- CuratedCanvasCoast
- EtherealElegance
- BoldlyBlissful
- TheSoulfulSojourn
- VividVoyages
- EvergreenElegance
- BlissfulBoutiqueBlog
- InfiniteInsights
- UrbanUtopiaUnveiled
- ZenithZest
- TheGlowingGazette
- HarmonyHavenHub
- EtherealEpicure
- SartorialSplendor
- BeyondTheBoulevard
- CoastalChicChronicles
- RadiantRendezvous
- UpliftedUtopia
- WanderlustWhims
- TheTranquilTrail
- PolishedPursuits
- NomadicNectar
- BlissfulBungalow
- TimelessTales
- SavoringSunsets
- TheSoulfulStylist
- CaptivatingCanvas
- DelightfulDrift
- BlossomBoutique
- TheEpicureanEdge
- ChicSerenitySpot
- OasisOdyssey
- TheGentleJourney
- WhimsyWellnessWave
Feel free to mix and match words or modify these suggestions to create a blog name that resonates with your personal style and the focus of your lifestyle blog.
Step 4: Set Up Hosting
If you opt for a self-hosted WordPress blog (which is what you need if you want full control over your blog and to be able to monetize it in multiple ways), you’ll need a hosting provider.
A hosting provider is a company or service that offers the infrastructure and resources needed to store and make websites accessible on the internet. When you create a blog or any other type of website, you need a place to store the files, images, and other content that make up your site. Hosting providers offer servers and other necessary technologies to store these files and make them available to users when they visit your website.
For this step, choose a reliable host that aligns with your budget and technical requirements. A popular one is SiteGround.
You can head to SiteGround now and get started with the The StartUp plan, which is great for beginners and it’s affordable. At any next stage of your online business, you can upgrade.
Once you sign up, you’ll be asked to type the domain name that you already picked. Choose the option to register it as a new domain name, assuming you are creating a brand new lifestyle blog.
You can pick any domain extension you want (such as .com, .net, .org), but the most popular is the .com version so just go ahead and choose that if it’s available.
Complete your order. Domain registration has to be paid too but that’s the fee for 1 whole year and it’s between $10-$20.
Once you’ve made the payment and filled in your details, you can install WordPress and make your lifestyle blog live.
When your account is created and you log in the first time, you’ll see the option to ‘Set Up Site’. Click the button and choose ‘Start New Website’ on the next page.
Select ‘WordPress’, choose your email address and password for your WordPress account, and hit ‘Continue’.
The next page can be skipped and after that, your installation will be completed.
You’ll be able to view and access your new WordPress site directly from SiteGround.
Save your account information as you’ll need it. Then you can move onto the next step of this guide on how to start a lifestyle blog.
Step 5: Customize Your Blog Design
WordPress offers a variety of themes to choose from. Inside your WordPress dashboard, head to Appearance > Themes, and you’ll see thousands of free themes you can install right away.
Once you do, you can customize it, design your homepage, publish other important pages (such as About, Contact, Blog) and add them to the menu.
You can also use a design tool like Creative Fabrica to create visuals for your blog.
Step 6: Create Engaging Content
Content is the lifeblood of any successful blog. Find out what topics your audience wants to learn about and cover these in future blog posts.
Create content regularly (at least 1 article a week) and make it highly valuable.
Here are some lifestyle content ideas:
Fashion and Style: Outfit of the day (OOTD) posts; Fashion trends and style guides; Wardrobe essentials and capsule collections
Travel: Travel diaries and destination guides; Packing tips and travel essentials; Budget-friendly travel ideas
Wellness and Health: Fitness routines and workout guides; Healthy recipes and meal planning; Mental health discussions and self-care tips
Beauty: Makeup tutorials and product reviews; Skincare routines and beauty hacks; Haircare tips and trends
Home Decor: Interior design inspiration; DIY home decor projects; Organization tips and home tours
Food and Recipes: Culinary adventures and foodie experiences; Recipe sharing and cooking tips; Restaurant reviews and recommendations
Personal Development: Goal-setting strategies and productivity tips; Book reviews and reading recommendations; Reflections on personal growth and self-improvement
Relationships: Dating and relationship advice; Family and parenting experiences; Friendship and social dynamics
Entertainment: Movie and TV show reviews; Music and concert experiences; Event coverage and entertainment news
Hobbies and Interests: DIY and crafting projects; Gardening tips and plant care; Photography and creative pursuits
Tech and Gadgets: Gadget reviews and tech recommendations; Apps and software suggestions; How-to guides for tech-related topics
Financial Wellness: Budgeting tips and money-saving strategies; Investment and financial planning discussions; Side hustle ideas and entrepreneurship insights
Ethical Living: Sustainable living practices; Eco-friendly product reviews; Tips for reducing environmental impact
Event and Lifestyle Experiences: Attending festivals, conferences, and events; Reviewing local hotspots and experiences; Sharing personal anecdotes and adventures
Inspiration and Motivation: Positive affirmations and motivational posts; Success stories and lessons learned; Interviews with inspiring individuals
Read also: How Debbie Went from $68K in Debt to Earning $22K/Month with a Home Decor Blog in 2 Years
Step 7: Implement SEO Strategies
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for increasing your blog’s visibility on search engines.
Research keywords relevant to your niche and incorporate them naturally into your content. Optimize your blog posts, images, and meta descriptions for better search engine rankings.
Here are some resources on SEO:
- SEO for Bloggers: How to Rank Higher on Google
- 10 SEO Practices for Bloggers to Boost Your Rankings
- 8 Ways to Improve Your SEO Strategy
- Schema Markup for SEO: What is It and How to Use It
- 7 SEO Fixes You Can Do for Better Search Engine Ranking
Step 8: Build a Social Media Presence
The next step in the process of how to start a lifestyle blog is to get on socials and build your presence there.
Promote your blog and connect with your audience through social media platforms. Share your content, engage with your followers, and participate in relevant conversations.
Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter are particularly effective for lifestyle bloggers. Choose the one that works best for you and start building your following there.
To create beautiful graphics, use Canva.
The platform I recommend is Pinterest. I have a masterclass called Pinterest Boost that teaches you how to drive traffic from Pinterest to your blog. You’ll learn how to create an easy pinning strategy, and it goes together with 35 Canva Pin Templates. Check it out here.
Step 9: Monetize Your Blog
If your goal is to turn your lifestyle blog into a source of income, explore various monetization strategies.
Here are 15 effective ways to monetize your lifestyle blog:
1. Sponsored Content
- Partner with brands for sponsored blog posts or social media content.
- Negotiate compensation for featuring products, services, or experiences that align with your blog’s niche.
- Read: How to Write a Sponsored Blog Post: 8 Tips for Bloggers
2. Affiliate Marketing
- Join affiliate programs related to your niche and promote products or services with unique affiliate links.
- Earn a commission for every sale or action generated through your affiliate links.
3. Ad Revenue
- Display advertisements on your blog using ad networks like Google AdSense.
- Optimize ad placements for better visibility without compromising the user experience.
Read: How to Earn $1000/Month from Your Blog with Ads
4. Sell Digital Products
- Create and sell digital products such as e-books, printables, or online courses.
- Share your expertise and unique insights with your audience.
5. Offer Online Workshops or Webinars
- Host online workshops or webinars on topics relevant to your blog.
- Charge a fee for participation or offer premium content to subscribers.
6. Membership or Subscription Services
- Introduce a membership or subscription model for premium content.
- Provide exclusive access, early releases, or special perks to paying subscribers.
7. Freelance Services
- Once you’ve learned how to start a lifestyle blog that makes money, you can leverage your platform as a portfolio to attract freelance opportunities.
- Offer services such as consulting, writing, photography, or social media management.
8. Sell Physical Products
- Create and sell merchandise related to your blog’s brand.
- This could include apparel, accessories, or any other tangible goods.
9. Collaborate with Brands for Events
- Collaborate with brands for sponsored events or workshops.
- Host meet-ups, workshops, or experiences with brands for a fee.
10. Consulting Services
- Offer consulting services based on your expertise.
- This could include lifestyle coaching, blogging advice, or niche-specific consultations.
11. Create a Shop Section
- Sell curated or custom products directly on your blog.
- This could include items related to your lifestyle niche, such as home decor, fashion accessories, or beauty products.
12. Host Sponsored Giveaways
- Partner with brands to host giveaways on your blog or social media.
- Increase engagement and visibility while providing value to your audience.
13. Advertise Local Businesses
- Offer advertising space to local businesses or services relevant to your audience.
- Charge a fee for featuring them on your blog.
14. Write Sponsored Reviews
- Get paid for writing reviews of products, services, or experiences.
- Maintain transparency with your audience about sponsored content.
Read also: How I Earned $128,386 from Blog Sponsorships Alone in The Last 4 Years
15. Crowdfunding or Donations
- Set up a crowdfunding platform or accept donations from your audience.
- Offer exclusive content or perks to contributors.
Remember to disclose any sponsored content transparently and maintain the trust of your audience. Diversifying your income streams can provide stability and long-term sustainability for your lifestyle blog. Experiment with different strategies to make money blogging and tailor your approach based on your audience and niche.
Now that you know how to start a lifestyle blog and make money from it, here are some more things to keep in mind.
How to Start a Lifestyle Blog: FAQ
How do I choose a niche for my lifestyle blog?
Select a niche that aligns with your passions and interests. Consider the topics that genuinely excite you and think about what you can consistently create content about.
Your niche could be a specific aspect of lifestyle such as travel, fashion, or wellness, or a combination that reflects your unique perspective.
What blogging platform should I use, and do I need to be tech-savvy to start a blog?
Popular blogging platforms include WordPress, Blogger, and Medium. WordPress is widely preferred for its flexibility and customization options.
You don’t need to be highly tech-savvy, as these platforms offer user-friendly interfaces. Many hosting providers also provide one-click installations, making the setup process accessible for beginners.
How do I come up with a catchy and unique blog name?
Brainstorm words or phrases related to your niche and personal style. Consider using your own name or creating a combination of words that reflects your brand.
Ensure the name is easy to remember, relevant to your content, and reflects your personality.
Do I need to be a professional photographer to start a lifestyle blog?
While having high-quality images can enhance your blog’s visual appeal, you don’t need to be a professional photographer. Practice and experimentation with photography can improve your skills over time.
Utilize natural light, learn basic composition techniques, and consider investing in a good camera or smartphone with a quality camera.
How often should I post on my lifestyle blog?
Consistency is key, but the frequency depends on your schedule and the quality of your content. Aim for a regular posting schedule, whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Prioritize quality over quantity to ensure each post adds value for your audience.
How can I grow my audience and increase engagement on my lifestyle blog?
Engage with your audience through social media, respond to comments, and participate in relevant online communities. Collaborate with other bloggers and influencers in your niche.
Utilize SEO strategies to improve your blog’s visibility on search engines, and create shareable content that resonates with your audience.
Read also: How to Increase Blog Traffic (& Reach 1 Million Page Views): 12 Powerful Website Traffic Tips
How do I stay inspired and avoid burnout as a lifestyle blogger?
Rotate your content topics to keep things fresh, and listen to your audience’s feedback. Take breaks when needed and don’t feel pressured to constantly create. Remember why you started your blog and focus on the joy of sharing your passions.
What’s the most important advice for someone starting a lifestyle blog?
Be authentic and true to yourself. Share content that genuinely excites you, and connect with your audience on a personal level. Consistency, authenticity, and a passion for your chosen topics will contribute to the long-term success of your lifestyle blog.
After learning how to start a lifestyle blog, you must be eager to take the first steps and get your site out there.
Ready to become a lifestyle blogger?
Come back to this guide during your blogging journey, and check out the other blogging resources I have:
Blog to Biz System– Learn how to start and grow a blog that makes $5,000/month (even if you have no experience and aren’t tech-savvy). This program contains the proven methodology I teach to go from not knowing anything about blogging or having a hobby blog, to turning this into an epic 5-figure business.
Blog Audit– Get a professional audit of your website and blogging strategy + a growth action plan
The Blog Sponsorship Boss– your one-stop shop for anything related to making money with sponsored content as a blogger (from making your site irresistible to brands and joining marketplaces that offer sponsored opportunities, to reaching out to brands yourself, negotiating your rates, and turning this into a regular income).
Blog Income Boost – learn about 7 revenue-boosting things you can do on your blog RIGHT AWAY to get closer to that 5-figure income. This is a workshop for the blogger who’s tired of feeling like nothing is working, waiting months to build a new income stream, not making the most of the amazing platform they’ve created, and not being their own boss yet.
