These days, there are seemingly endless opportunities when it comes to making money online. Whether it be selling goods through an eCommerce store or setting up an affiliate marketing business, we are living in a world of digital possibilities.
But one opportunity that is often overlooked is blogging.
Unfortunately, there are many people out there who will be quick to tell you that blogging is dead, or that it is simply no longer a viable option for making money online. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth!
There are still millions of people who are out there making a full-time living from blogging, and the good news is that anyone can join them. On top of this, a successful blog can not only be monetized and generate income, but it can also give you a platform to promote your own brand and develop your personal influence.
With this in mind, I have created this guide to give you a better understanding of what it takes to become a successful blogger, how you can get started in this industry, and what you can expect to achieve if you are willing to put the work in.
What Is a Blogger?
So, what does it mean to be a blogger? Well, to put it simply, a blogger is someone who creates and shares content through a website, usually with the goal of either educating their audience or making money.
At its core, blogging consists of creating written articles that are posted online and typically include images or videos to accompany the posts. The topics discussed can range from fashion and lifestyle to finance and technology – essentially, anything that you are knowledgeable or passionate about can be made into a blog.
And trust me, you will be surprised just how niche you can get. There are bloggers out there who focus on topics as specific as succulent care all the way to LEGO building for adults.
So, if you have an enthusiasm for a certain subject or hobby, blogging could be the perfect way to combine your passion and knowledge with potential financial rewards.
The Responsibilities of a Blogger
For those of you who are still on the fence, I want to give you an idea of what is blogging all about and the kind of day-to-day responsibilities you can expect to encounter.
Writing Content
Unsurprisingly, the majority of a blogger’s time will be spent writing content. This can range from creating detailed guides and tutorials to producing engaging interviews and opinion pieces.
You need to be able to craft content that is compelling, informative, and engaging in order to capture and maintain the attention of your readers.
It is also important to remember that you can’t just stick to one type of content or style, as this will get boring for both you and your readers. You need to be able to switch it up and always keep things fresh, with the goal of continuously providing value to your readers.
SEO and Keyword Research
On top of writing content, a successful blogger will also need to be able to optimize their posts for search engine optimization. This involves researching keywords and phrases that are related to the topic of your post, as well as strategically placing them throughout the text.
By doing this, you can help your content rank higher in search engine results, which means more people will be able to find your blog and read your posts.
These days, SEO is an entire career field in itself and there are many specialist tools available to help you with this process. However, if you want to get started without needing too much technical knowledge, there are some free resources and tutorials that can help you get to grips with the basics.
Managing Your Website
While you don’t need to be an expert coder, successful bloggers also need to have some understanding and basic knowledge of how websites work. This includes being able to install plugins, update themes, and troubleshoot any potential issues that arise.
You also need to be able to keep track of your website analytics and performance, as this is key to understanding how people are interacting with your content and where you can improve. The vast majority of blogs are built on WordPress, so if you have some familiarity with that platform, you’re already ahead of the game.
Promoting Your Content
It is important to remember that having an audience is key to success as a blogger. You can have the best content in the world, but if no one is seeing it, then it won’t make any difference.
This means that you will need to dedicate some time to promoting your posts on social media and other channels. You need to be able to build a presence and engage with potential readers so that you can drive more people to your website.
Additionally, it’s also a good idea to start building relationships with other bloggers and influencers in your niche, as this can help you amplify your reach and get more eyes on your content.
Monetization
Finally, once you have built up a steady readership and have some regular visitors coming to your site, the next step is to look into monetization options. There are a variety of ways to make money from your blog, and I will share some of my favorites later on in this guide.
What Can You Do With a Blog?
Other than the financial rewards, there are many other benefits that come with becoming a blogger. So, if you are wondering what to do with a blog, here are just a few of the potential advantages:
- Personal branding (thought leadership) – You can use your blog to establish yourself as an authority in your industry and build a strong personal brand. This can prove immensely valuable both professionally and personally. For example, a strong brand can help you land speaking engagements or secure consulting work, as well as boost your career prospects.
- Connecting with like-minded people and building a community – A blog is also a great platform for connecting with like-minded people and developing meaningful relationships. Through your blog, you can create a vibrant community of readers who are passionate about the same topics as you. This can be incredibly rewarding, as it brings together people from all kinds of backgrounds that would otherwise not have the opportunity to connect with each other.
- Sharing your story – Since you are writing from your own perspective and sharing your thoughts and experiences, you can use a blog as a platform to tell your story. This can be incredibly liberating, as it allows you to express yourself freely without the need to conform to anyone else’s standards.
- Showcasing a portfolio of your work – A blog can also be used as a portfolio of your work. You can showcase your writing, videos, podcasts, and other content in one place, making it easier for potential clients to quickly assess your skills and experience.
- Marketing your business – If you have a business or product to sell, a blog can be an invaluable marketing tool. Blogs provide a great platform for sharing information about your business and building relationships with potential customers.
Ways to Monetize a Blog
Once you have built up a readership and established yourself as an authority in your niche, the next step is to start looking into monetization options. In general, the more traffic you generate, the more money you’ll make. However, there are a few ways to make some healthy returns with a smaller readership, as long as you know how to be creative.
Affiliate Links
Affiliate marketing is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make money from your blog. You can use affiliate links in your posts and other content to promote products and services that you recommend, and if someone clicks on the link and makes a purchase, you can earn a commission.
The great thing about affiliate marketing is that you can promote any product or service – from books and clothes to software and SaaS applications. All you need to do is find products that are relevant to your readers and add the corresponding affiliate links to your blog posts.
Sell Products
If you have a product or service to sell, then your blog can be a great tool for generating leads and building relationships with potential customers. You can use your blog to showcase the products and services you offer, and then link to a sales page where people can make a purchase.
Many people create a blog first and then think of a product to sell second. Personally, I prefer this approach as it allows you to get a better understanding of your audience and create content that is tailored to their needs. Once you know what they are interested in, you can then create a product or service to fill that need.
Sponsorship and Advertising
If you have a large enough readership, you can also look into sponsorship opportunities. Many companies are willing to pay for sponsored content and banner ads on your blog. This is a great way to make money without having to create any additional products or services.
Finally, you can also look into other forms of advertising, such as Google Adsense or Ezoic. These services allow you to place ads on your blog and then get paid for every time someone clicks on them. In this case, monetizing your blog is as simple as switching on a few lines of code.
Coaching and Consulting
Once you have established yourself as an authority in your niche, many people will want to know more about what you do and how you do it. This is where coaching and consulting can come in handy. You can use your blog as a platform to promote your services and offer one-on-one coaching or consulting sessions for people who want to take things further.
In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to monetize a blog with low traffic. All you need is a few dedicated followers who are willing to pay for your advice, and you can make some serious money.
How to Get Started as a Blogger
Are you ready to start your very own blog? Let’s take a look at the steps you need to take in order to get up and running.
Choose your Niche
The first step is to decide what your blog will be about. Make sure you pick a niche that you are passionate about and one that you feel you can write about with confidence. If you are struggling with ideas, try and think about a topic that people would come to you for advice about. Are there any hobbies or interests that you have a lot of knowledge about?
Once you’ve settled on your niche, the next step is to come up with an original and memorable name for your blog. Try to come up with something that will make it stand out from the crowd.
Purchase Domain and Hosting
Once you have a name for your blog, it’s time to purchase a domain (the website address) and hosting. This will enable people to find your blog online. Most hosting companies have easy-to-use website builders that you can use to create your blog, and some even come with one-click WordPress installs, so you don’t need to be a tech whiz to get started.
SEO and Keyword Research
Search engine optimization (SEO) will help ensure that your blog content appears in search engine results. To do this, you should research popular keywords related to your niche and incorporate them into your blog posts. This will help you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), which will in turn lead to more organic traffic.
There are plenty of keyword research tools out there, both paid and free, that can help you with this. You should also optimize your blog posts for social media sharing – make sure they have catchy titles and include images.
Start Writing
Now you have your keywords and SEO in place, it’s time to start writing content. You should aim to create high-quality, valuable content that will attract your readers and keep them coming back for more.
If you can come up with a unique voice or perspective, then that’s even better. The blogging world is extremely competitive, so if you want to stand out from the crowd you need to make sure your content is original and interesting.
The good news is that you don’t need to be the best writer in the world in order to make your blog work. These days there are plenty of tools out there that can help you refine and polish your content, such as Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, and ProWritingAid.
Create an Editorial Calendar
Consistency is key when it comes to blogging. With this in mind, you should create an editorial calendar so you know exactly what content you need to produce and when. This will help ensure you stay on track and don’t get overwhelmed.
Some sources also believe that regularity can help with SEO, so it’s always a good idea to stick to a consistent publishing schedule.
Promote Your Blog
Now that you’ve created your blog and started writing content, it’s time to start promoting it. Unfortunately, it takes a while for Google to index and rank your content, which means you could be waiting months before you start to see the fruits of your labor.
In the meantime, you should be actively promoting your blog through social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc), email marketing, and guest blogging. While this may seem like a lot of extra work, it will be worth it in the long run as you start to attract more readers and followers.
Monetize Your Blog
Last but not least, it’s time to start monetizing your blog. Depending on your niche and the amount of traffic you generate, there are plenty of ways to monetize your blog (as mentioned earlier).
However, before you start switching on ads and offering affiliate links on each of your posts, it’s important that you consider the user experience and make sure it isn’t compromised. After all, your readers are the most important part of running a blog, and if you make it too obvious that you’re trying to make money they may stop visiting your site.
For example, a site that is littered with ads is likely to turn off many of your readers, and if you bombard them with affiliate links they may become suspicious that you are trying to sell them something.
If possible, try to find the right balance between monetization and providing valuable content to your readers. This way, you’ll be able to make money from your blog without alienating your audience.
In Conclusion
Blogging can be a great way to share your insights, continue learning, and even make some money. However, it’s important to remember that it takes time and dedication to build up a successful blog.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you will have a strong foundation for creating your own blog. It may not happen overnight, but with the right attitude and consistency, you can start building an audience and maybe even make a full-time income from it one day. Just remember to keep it original and engaging, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful blogger. Good luck!