It’s easier than you think to start a blog and monetize it. A good blog has the potential to make a passive income with minimal work once successful. Yet, in this world of YouTubers and Twitch streamers, you might think blogging is dead. This simply isn’t the case. And copy remains the largest online medium. Blogging also takes time, dedication, and practice. So, here are some professional tips to get you started with a blog and extra tips for making money with it.
Blogging for Beginners
Blogging is an excellent way to express your feelings, start a movement or inform people of news you feel is worthy. Blogging was also once seen as something of a nerdy thing to do. But now it’s a trendy way to make money, especially in the age of online journalism (Apply Now for Latino Education Scholarship), internet entrepreneurs, and social media influencers. While anyone can blog, there are some things you need to know about before you put a digit to a key.
Start a blog the right way
Over 90% of blogs and eCommerce ventures fail. But you can make sure your new blog gets off to a good start by starting it the right way. First, you need to decide upon the platform you want to use. WordPress is the most widely used. Yet there are others. GoDaddy, Wix, and Squarespace are examples. Each platform is pretty much the same, but some have better features than others. Wix, for example, has many options for social media and eCommerce.
Use the right tools
The first tool you will use is the blog platform you choose. And the interface can take some time to get used to. Most of them are similar to editors like Google Docs. But you’ll also need to use other tools if you want to improve your writing. Tools like Grammarly, which check spelling and grammar. Trello, which helps you keep track of projects. And keyword planning tools are essential if you want to take your blog to a level that is on par with professional writing.
Choose a niche and learn SEO
A niche is a subject in which you will specialize. For instance, blogging about video games is too general because there are so many categories. Also, you can expect a lot of competition. So it would be best if you made it more specific. You’ll most likely have less competition if you blog about “RPGs for consoles that are based on tabletop games.” You will also need to learn the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) to help Google rank your new blog content.
Extra: Most Profitable Blog Niches
You might start a blog about something you think is interesting but find that you don’t like writing about it. The best piece of advice is to blog about something you know a lot about and are interested in. You can use your talents to make money. The following are the most profitable:
- Digital marketing and social media
- Blogging and making money online
- Getting healthy and fit
- Finances and investments for yourself
- Food and recipes
- Personal growth and taking care of oneself
Niche trends come and go. But, as you can see from the list above, some of the most profitable ones are pretty much evergreen. So, they are always in demand. If you do well on one of these, you can make a good amount of extra money while you work part-time or take a college course.
Monetize Your Blog
If your blog gets popular, you may be able to earn profit from it. Of course, this could take some time. But once it’s popular, a blog that can be monetized well and gets a lot of traffic can bring in a lot of extra money. And, if they are really good, a living. But making money is more challenging than filling your blog with sponsored ads or affiliate links that don’t mean anything. Making money takes planning and care. Learn how to use each method, or risk a lower ranking.
Consider paid ads
If a lot of people visit your site, you’re more likely to get buyers who want to purchase something in your niche. For example, let’s say you have a popular blog about games that are only available on Xbox. Then, many interested people are likely to see ads for Xbox titles, accessories, and subscription services. So, businesses will pay you to place relevant ads within your blog content. This could be links, images, or interactive media and sidebar content.
Use Google AdSense
Paid ads can be a good source of income. But it can be hard to source. Google AdSense is a great alternative or supplement. If you have a lot of visitors, this is a good way to make extra money. The good news is that once it’s set up, you don’t have to do anything else. All you need to do on your part is hook up your site to Google AdSense, configure it to fit your blog, and sit back and earn money. Over time, the automated system displays ads relevant to your niche.
Place affiliate links
Affiliate marketing is really common. Basically, you add a provided code to a product, and each successful sale made through your unique ID link earns you a small commission. For example, suppose you continue your Xbox blog. Then you could include video game links for a user to click, purchase, and earn you extra income. But you shouldn’t just put affiliate links everywhere on your site. Instead, try writing niche-relevant material and place links naturally within.
Summary
There is still a large market and part of the web reserved for blogs, despite every other Millennial operating a YouTube channel. But first, you need to learn how to use your chosen platform. Then supplement the quality of your blog with tools for optimizing it. Of course, finding a niche is also critical. Once your blog is somewhat successful, you can make money using standard methods. These include paid ads, Google AdSense, and placing affiliate links.