How To Start a Weight Loss Blog in 2024 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Diving into the weight loss blogging world can be both fulfilling and profitable.

By sharing your personal journey, expertise, and tried-and-true strategies, you not only inspire countless individuals on their health quests but can also carve out a significant income stream.

Here at Authority Hacker, we’ve helped more than 15,000 students build their own blogs, with many finding success in the weight loss arena.

We’ve also made a lot of money from our own blogs – check out just a few of the affiliate commissions we’ve earned over the years.

This 11-step guide will teach you how to launch a weight loss blog that resonates, educates, and earns money.  

Why Start a Weight Loss Blog

There are many great reasons to start a weight loss blog.

For starters, you can share your weight loss guidance and inspire others by starting a blog. You’ll get to share valuable tips, exercise programs, and food recipes you tried and found effective.

By helping your readers lose weight and keep it off, you’ll also create a loyal community sharing your story with others.

Money is another compelling reason to start weight loss blogging — our affiliate marketing statistics show that the average health & fitness blogger makes $7,194 per month. You can achieve such earnings by promoting affiliate products and courses you believe in, adding display ads to your website, and selling weight loss products.

You can then attend events to network and gain insight into the latest weight loss research, which you can share with your audience.

Examples of Successful Weight Loss Blogs

Before building your own weight loss blog, it’d be good to check out what a successful weight loss blog looks like and learn from it.

Here are some examples of weight loss bloggers who documented and monetized their remarkable personal journey:

So Very Blessed

On So Very Blessed, founder Becky anchors her weight loss in her faith, clean living, and gradually substituting junk food with healthy alternatives.

Visit the site

Fit Father Project

The Fit Father Project was created by Dr. Anthony Balduzzi to help men stay healthy by losing fat and building muscle.

Visit the site

The Healthy Foodie

The Healthy Foodie blog was created by Sonia, a mother of two who’s all about cooking wholesome foods for her family. She replaced her unhealthy habits with an active lifestyle and nutritious meals.

Visit the site

How To Start a Weight Loss Blog in 11 Steps

Kick-start your weight loss blog by following our easy step-by-step guide:

1 Narrow Down Your Weight Loss Niche

Although weight loss is already a sub-category of health & wellness, you can further narrow your focus by writing about a specific aspect of weight loss.

This “niching down” approach builds trust with your readers and makes it easier to attract a loyal following.

For instance, if I’m looking for vegetarian weight loss recipes, I’m more likely to trust a blog that only covers vegetarian recipes over one that also posts about exercise methods and non-vegetarian foods.

Here are a few weight loss sub-niche ideas to inspire you:

• Low-Calorie Recipes: Nutrient-dense recipes suitable for volume eating to curb hunger
• Weight Loss for Specific Groups: Share weight loss tips that apply to a specific demographic, such as mothers, college students, or seniors
• Alternative Diets: Highlight how different weight loss diets lower caloric intake in the long term
• Fat Loss Exercise Programs: Best techniques to burn fat based on the latest research
• Weight Loss Trends: Dissect the research behind the latest weight loss news
• Wellness: Tie in factors such as sleep, stress, and emotional management with changes in weight

Watch our video for more tips on choosing the ideal niche:

Your experience and expertise certainly matter — if you have a lot of knowledge about a particular weight loss sub-niche, you’ll be able to produce better content and have an advantage over bloggers who don’t have that knowledge.

However, while expertise matters, You must also consider whether your sub-niche gets sufficient traffic. No matter how helpful your content is, you won’t get many readers if your topic is so obscure that no one is interested.

A good indicator of a sub-niche with high traffic is that it already has blogs thriving in it.

Here’s a quick guide to show you how to find topics and blogs in your sub-niche:

Create a list of blogs in your chosen sub-niche. Use a blog aggregator like Feedspot. You can also find similar blogs by Googling a few blog post ideas or running a successful blog through the “Organic Competitors” section on Ahrefs.

Analyze the traffic levels. Sign up for a free trial for SE Ranking and go to SEO Tools > Competitive Research. Enter your favorite weight loss blogs to learn how much organic traffic they get.

Use Google Trends to compare sub-niches. Put the sub-niches you’re interested in into Google Trends to compare their popularity over time.

If you’re unsure which sub-niche is the best, think about it for a few more days. But don’t over-analyze and get stuck in this phase. If you’ve already found one that sounds interesting and passes the niche qualification test, let’s move on to the next step.

2 Choose a Blogging Platform

With your weight loss sub-niche selected, it’s time to choose a platform for your blog posts.

A blogging platform is an online service that enables you to manage, publish, and share your content online.

Casual weight loss writers prefer easy-to-use social blogging platforms like Medium and Blogger. However, these free platforms have a few substantial downsides.

• They’re hard to monetize and won’t make you much money.
• You can’t customize the design and functionality.
• You surrender control over your published content.

These are some formidable drawbacks to put up with. If you want to avoid them — and make some real money with your blog — the smart option is to build a custom website.

Here are the main advantages of launching your own blog:

• You have complete control over the content and website design.
• You can easily make money by leveraging affiliate programs and display ads.
• No one can take your website down.
• You can employ search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to drive traffic to your content.
• You can build an email list to have an alternative source of traffic and protection from Google algorithm updates.

You’ll have to spend $30 to $50 per year for web hosting and the domain and spend a few days setting up your weight loss blog.

But in return, you’ll create an asset that you could sell for big bucks down the line.

We’ve sold multiple blogs for mid-six figures, and if you’d like to do the same, I recommend building your website using the self-hosted WordPress.org — not to be confused with Wordpress.com.

The software is free and supports thousands of themes and plugins that let you fine-tune how your website functions.

While WordPress.org is our top recommendation, you can browse our list of the best blogging platforms to see the alternatives.

3 Choose Your Domain Name

Now that you have a blogging platform ready, it’s time to pick a domain name for your new weight loss blog.

You can think of the domain name as the web address for your blog. It consists of two parts: your website name and a domain name extension like .com.

A good domain name is one of the most critical aspects of your website, as it defines what you do in the weight loss niche. It makes you stand out from your competition on search results — a  unique and memorable name sticks in readers’ minds and is easier to advertise.

Here are six tips to make sure you nail the domain name on your first try:

• Use a .com domain: .com is the “default” domain, and its familiarity solidifies instant trust with your target audience.
• Keep it short: Use 1–3 simple words for the name.
• Make it catchy: A name that rhymes is fun to say and easy to remember.
• Imply your sub-niche: The name should instantly connote your website’s topic. For example, if you talk about keto, call it ketogized.com.
• Don’t use a trademarked name: Don’t use a trademarked name under any circumstances — check using the trademark search tool.
• Think long-term: If you plan to expand to other topics, pick a name with a broad niche appeal.

Having trouble coming up with an available name? Try using Brandsnap — an AI-driven domain creator that caters to your style and checks availability.

If you found a name you love but a .com domain isn’t available, you can use one of our favorite .com alternatives.

Once you’ve selected the domain, it’s time to buy it. On Namecheap, you can get one for around $10 per year.

4 Buy Web Hosting

Now that you’ve acquired your domain, it’s time to find the right web hosting provider.

A web host is a service provider that provides the necessary infrastructure to run and maintain your website.

Bluehost is one of the most popular options because it’s cheap. But we recommend SiteGround as the superior pick — it’s faster and more reliable.

Note: The hosting rebill for SiteGround gets more expensive after the first-year discount.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to launch your website using SiteGround:

Step 1: Open SiteGround’s WordPress hosting page.

Step 2: Choose the StartUp plan. Don’t be dissuaded by the low price — it has all the features you’ll need for your first year as a weight loss blogger.

Step 3: Select “I already have a Domain” and enter your domain. If you haven’t bought one using Namecheap, you can buy one now by clicking “Register a new Domain.”

Step 4: Fill in your account, client, and payment information.

Step 5: Select the subscription period — their annual plan will give you the best deal.

Step 6: Select which extra services you want, though you don’t need any for a new blog.

Step 7: Point your domain to SiteGround. If you’re using a Namecheap domain, follow this guide. If you’re having trouble, Contact SiteGround’s support team.

And just like that, you’re ready to start building the framework of your weight loss blog!

5 Choose a Theme for Your Weight Loss Blog

Now that you’ve paid for web hosting, you’ll want to ensure your website is eye-catching. We can do that by installing a WordPress theme.

A WordPress theme is like a blueprint for your website; it’s a collection of files that define your website’s overall look and feel. The theme gives you a base layout that you can tailor to fit your weight loss niche.

I recommend a free theme with a premium upgrade option. 

Choosing a barebones theme without an upgrade option will limit your growth. They lack regular updates, customizability, and customer support.  – all necessary to grow your blog

My top three recommendations are Astra, Kadence, and GeneratePress — these “freemium” themes are fast, plugin-friendly, and have many pre-designed templates.

With the theme selected, here’s how you can install it on your blog:

Step 1: Go to the WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: On the left sidebar, select Appearance > Themes.

Step 3: Click “Add New.”

Step 4: Search for your theme and click “Activate.”

And that’s it! Your theme is ready for a coat of paint to make it uniquely yours.

6 Decide on Design & Branding

Before you dive into the deep end of web design, pick a couple of core elements first. By sticking to a few self-imposed rules, you’ll arm yourself with the tools you need to make a great website.

Picking a color palette you love is a critical step, as it sets the tone for your blog and helps differentiate your brand from other weight loss blogs.

Consider your sub-niche when choosing your color scheme. If you’re talking about healthy food options, opt for greens. Likewise, an aerobics website might favor a yellow-and-orange palette.

The best part is you don’t need to be versed in color theory to get it right. Coolors is an automatic palette generator that lets you fine-tune the results to get them on-brand.

Following the color palette is your logo. A good logo should be instantly recognizable and imply that your blog is about losing weight.

Like the color palette, designing a logo is easier than you might think. You can use Canva to find a logo template that matches your theme.

You can then personalize the individual elements of the logo to align it perfectly with your brand.

7 Create Essential Pages

Before you can start writing about weight loss, the last thing to do is create a few basic web pages. These are must-haves for any website, so include all of them.

Homepage

Your homepage is the place to introduce your brand. It should include your logo, a navigation menu, and a couple of your best articles.

About Page

Use this page to tell readers why you started the blog. If you’re on a weight loss journey, you can share photos and videos of your changing body if you’re comfortable with it.

Contact Page

Share personal contact information to give readers and potential business partners an easy way to contact you.

Include your email, a contact form, phone number, and links to social media accounts.

Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions Pages

These legal pages outline website usage and what data will be collected from users. Don’t type these out manually; you can generate them using PrivacyPolicies.com.

To create these pages, log in to your WordPress dashboard, open the “Pages” menu, and click “Add New.”

8 Start Creating Content

With all of that prep work out of the way, you can finally shift your focus to writing blog posts!

But before you start writing, you’ll need a coherent strategy for choosing topics. Randomly sharing your diet plan, favorite recipes, and other weight loss tips won’t produce results.

I recommend creating keyword-focused content to ensure your articles reach the target audience.

You can achieve this by identifying words and phrases your potential readers search for. Then, you write helpful articles about those keywords.

This is a proven method of driving organic traffic to your website. If you don’t use keywords to guide your strategy, you’ll write a lot of content that no one reads.

However, you can’t just pick the most popular keywords and start writing. Well-established websites will outrank you and take all the traffic.

A good content strategy for a new blog prioritizes low-competition keywords that still get decent monthly search volume. That way, you won’t have to compete with top weight loss sites for readers, and your blog posts will still drive solid traffic.

We recommend the Ahrefs Keyword Explorer tool for finding low-competition keywords in your niche. You can generate new topic ideas in seconds by typing in a base keyword.

For example, after typing in “weight loss for women over 50,” Ahrefs Keyword Explorer identified the following keywords:

Keyword	Search Volume	Keyword Difficulty
best weight loss diet for women over 50	150	23
weight loss supplements for women over 50	30	29
best weight loss programs for women over 50	40	19
calorie requirements for weight loss for women over 50	10	0

These keywords provide an excellent basis for article titles. Here are a few titles I brainstormed based on these keywords:

• “The Best Weight Loss Programs for Women Over 50”
• “Top 5 Weight Loss Supplements for Women Over 50”
• “Recommended Calorie Intake for Women Over 50”

Once you come up with 10 article titles, it’s time to write some content.

Here are seven tips on writing great SEO-optimized blog posts:

• Keep it concise and informative. You’ll get the most traffic by making your content easy to read and filled with valuable information.
• Understand the search intent. What information is the reader looking for? Look up the keyword you’re writing about and skim through a few articles to understand what the reader wants.
• Highlight weight loss success stories. Include real-life success stories in your content. Readers often find motivation and inspiration in the experiences of others who have achieved their weight loss goals. Be sure to get permission to share these stories and use photos if available.
• Incorporate expert opinions. Reach out to nutritionists, fitness trainers, and medical professionals for quotes or guest posts. This not only boosts your credibility but also can improve your search rankings through expert validation of your content.
• Integrate interactive elements. Tools like calorie calculators, BMI checkers, or interactive meal planners can significantly enhance user engagement and increase the time spent on your site.
• Create a content calendar. Plan your content in advance, focusing on different aspects of weight loss. Seasonal topics (like summer fitness tips, holiday eating strategies) can attract timely interest.
• Link to your other articles. If you’re talking about calorie cutting and have an article that lists common calorie-dense foods, point your readers to it.
• Add original images. Original images will improve the quality of your posts. For example, if you write about a recipe, share photos of the cooking process.  
• Share your personal experience. Whether you’ve gone through a weight loss journey, have professional credentials, or merely know a lot about weight loss, share what you’ve learned. Your readers will appreciate the personal insights, and Google will like that you’re not simply rehashing what other blogs have written.

If you leave this section with one tip, let it be this: prioritize writing genuinely helpful content. Your audience will appreciate the value of your advice, and they’ll keep coming back to you for guidance.

9 Optimize for YMYL & E-E-A-T

Many weight loss topics are YMYL, and you need to consider that when choosing keywords.

Here are some examples of YMYL and non-YMYL keywords:

YMYL:

• Best weight loss diets for hypertension
• Weight loss supplements for obesity
• Safe weight loss strategies for diabetics

Non-YMYL:

• Calorie counting tips
• Workout routines for beginners
• Homemade snacks for busy lifestyles

If you write about YMYL keywords, there are some extra steps you need to take when writing your content to ensure you rank:

• Only publish thoroughly researched, evidence-based content with no room for speculation.
• When you make a claim, back it up by citing Google Scholar, the CDC, NHS, and other reputable sources.
• Get medical professionals to review or write your content. List them as an author or reviewer.

Whether you cover YMYL content or avoid it, you should also optimize your blog for E-E-A-T, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust. These are metrics Google uses to evaluate the trustworthiness of a website or piece of content.

Watch our video about E-E-A-T to learn more:

If you’re considering ignoring these tips, here’s a taste of what could happen:

Google’s 2018 Medic update affected health websites that didn’t have authors with proper medical credentials or promoted alternative health topics.

Two prominent examples are DrAxe.com and WellnessMama.com — they lost over 90% of their traffic overnight.

10 Promote Your Weight Loss Blog

Although your blog will slowly garner viewership from search results, promoting it through other channels can only help.

Here are a few strategic ways to expand your reach:

• Get friends and family involved: Invite anyone interested in getting leaner and healthier to work out and cook with you. Track their progress, take photos, and ask them to share their secret on your blog.
• Collaborate with local gyms or health centers. Form partnerships with local gyms, yoga studios, and health centers to promote your blog. You could provide content for their newsletters in exchange for them promoting your blog.
• Publish a weight loss podcast. Start a podcast where you discuss weight loss topics, interview experts, and share success stories. Podcasts can reach a different audience segment and are highly shareable.
• Attend local obesity conferences and events: Participate in weight loss-related events to meet like-minded individuals — and don’t forget to share your blog with them.
• Get active in online communities: Reddit and weight loss forums are great places to share your most valuable tips. For best results, use your real name and add a link to your blog in your bio.
• Build an email subscription list: Incentivize your audience to subscribe to your email newsletter and regularly send weight loss tips from your latest articles.

Make sure you have something unique to share and use that as an excuse to mention your blog to your new friends.

11 Monetize Your Weight Loss Blog

It’s finally time to earn some money from your hard work.

Here are three of the best monetization tactics for a weight loss blog:

Affiliate Marketing

Promote your favorite food, supplements, fitness equipment, weight loss classes and programs, and anything else used to shed fat. You earn money when someone uses your link to open the affiliate site and makes a successful purchase.

Why It’s Great: Your readers will find quality products that actually work, and you’ll get a small kickback.

Get Started: Read our guide on how to start affiliate marketing and check our list of weight loss affiliate programs.

Display Ads

Display ads are graphic ads you set up on your website and profit whenever a reader views or clicks on one.

Why It’s Great: You’ll get money at no additional cost to the reader, and you’re in control of the types of ads you’ll push on your website.

Get Started: Join an ad network – we recommend Ezoic for new blogs. You can also find sponsors in the weight loss niche who want to display ads on your site.

Selling Your Own Products

Selling a custom product line directly to your readers is the most profitable income stream a blog owner can have.

You’re in the perfect niche to sell your products — write an ebook or create a course about losing weight, become an online personal trainer, or start a product line of supplements.

Why It’s Great: You’ll create a valuable product that helps people and exchange it for a healthy margin.

Get Started: Determine what type of readership your site attracts and create a fitting product. A great way to start is by testing various affiliate products and creating your own version of whatever sells the best.

Sponsored Content

If you have a substantial readership, weight loss companies may want to pay for a piece of sponsored content that promotes their products.

Why It’s Great: You can promote products you genuinely like, and get paid upfront to do so. No worrying about whether you’ll earn enough affiliate commissions to make it worth your while.

Get Started: Create a “Work With Us” page that shares information about your audience, including the number of monthly visitors to your blog, social follower counts, and general demographics. Explain the types of sponsored content you offer and lay out any concrete guidelines for collaboration. This page from SitePoint is a great example.

Coaching

If you have expertise in a particular area of weight loss — such as nutrition or fitness — you can offer 1-on-1 coaching services to people who want to learn from you.

Why It’s Great: If you have a strong connection with your audience, you can charge a substantial amount of money for your time.

Get Started: Create a framework for your coaching service. Determine what kind of advice you’ll offer and how you’ll structure your clients’ routines to ensure they get value out of the relationship. Once you’ve done that, create a page advertising your service and promote it on your blog posts and social media channels.

Summing Up

Wrapping up your journey into the world of weight loss blogging, it’s evident that the potential for both personal fulfillment and financial gain is immense.

By sharing your insights, experiences, and strategies, you’re not only guiding countless individuals on their health journeys but also carving out a lucrative niche for yourself.

However, as comprehensive as this guide is, it doesn’t even scratch the surface of everything there is to know about building a successful blog.

That’s why we’ve crafted a free training based on our 10+ years of building profitable websites.

In this training, you’ll learn seven game-changing secrets that can boost your blog’s success rate by a whopping 83%.

If you’re genuinely committed to turning your weight loss blog into a thriving online hub, this training is your next pivotal step.

Join the free training now.