Full answer
Pick a niche before choosing a platform. A focused blog (personal finance for freelancers, plant-based cooking for athletes) builds audience faster than a general one. Ask: what can I write about consistently for two years, and is there search demand for it?
WordPress.org (self-hosted) powers 43% of the web and remains the most flexible choice. A domain from Namecheap or Porkbun costs $10–$15/year; shared hosting from SiteGround or Cloudways costs $20–$35/month. Many hosts offer one-click WordPress installation.
For a more modern, faster option, Ghost ($9/month hosted or self-hosted free) is cleaner than WordPress and built for writers. Substack is free and handles email newsletters natively, though you own less of your audience infrastructure.
SEO drives sustainable blog traffic. Use a free tool like Google Search Console and Ahrefs Webmaster Tools from day one. Write posts targeting specific search queries (e.g., "best budget espresso machine under $200") rather than broad topics, and aim for at least 1,000 words with clear structure.