How to Start a Blog and Even Make Money Out of It

Nowadays, blogging has transformed drastically from its humble roots. With 70 million posts published each month on WordPress, blogging has proven that it isn’t just about expressing oneself online anymore. It has evolved into a showcase of lifestyle and even into a marketplace. So how do you jump on the bandwagon and start your own blog, and even make some money on the side?

1. Choose your blog type

Are you an avid traveler or a determined homemaker? There are a plethora of niches in the blogging sphere that you can tap into. But first of all, it’s important to align what you are writing about with what you are truly passionate about. Whether it’s fashion or finance, there is always a ready audience out there.

It’s also important to find out which blogs are the most popular and see where your own interests fit in. Some of the most popular blogs online include:

• Fashion
• Food
• Travel
• DIY
• Lifestyle
• Parenting
• Political
• Finance
• Music
• Movies

Once you’ve decided on which niche suits you best, don’t feel limited to just one. Lifestyle bloggers will normally have one or two more related categories to add variety. For example, a DIY blogger may also share her parenting and homemaking experiences which could include food and travel.

2. Set up your site

You’ll first need to identify which blogging platform and content management system you want to go with. Most content management systems are integrated into blogging platforms and tends to the creation and management of digital content.

And depending on your budget, there are numerous free or paid sites you can use for your content. As a beginner, it’s recommended that you choose a platform with a simple user interface. You’ll want a site that requires no coding and is easy to use and update as your blog grows. Here are a few blogging platforms that are direct and uncomplicated for the aspiring blogger:

3. Design your blog

Display your online branding through your website or blog’s visual design. Choose a colorway that both reflects your brand and attracts your target audience. Choosing apt colors for your site is important because it can convey ideas, grab a user’s attention, drive conversions and clicks, and enhance your branding. Overall, your chosen color scheme will represent your brand as an entity and resonate with your audience.

Apart from the visual aspect, it’s also vital to place dedicated pages and space for your information. Ensure that you include an About Us/Me page that is complete with your information and displays your educational and professional background, expertise, hobbies, passion, interests, and achievements. A robust About Us/Me page strengthens your brand and helps your audience trust you as an authority in your field of interest.

Finally, have your contact information ready and links to your social media accounts so it’s easier for your audience to reach out to you.

4. Create and plan content

Choose quality over quantity. Diversify your content with long-form and in-depth articles. Blogs with a good number of articles of 2,000 words or more are more likely to yield better search results. This is because of Google’s update on their version of high-quality content. At the present, it takes into account the expertise, authority, and trustworthiness of the site (E-A-T).

In order to rank higher in search results, you’ll need quality content written within your field of expertise. Not only does it get better results, but you also get high-quality content that can attract your audience to your experience and skill set in the particular field of interest. And of course, you need to be consistent with posting content on your blog for continuous engagement with your target audience. And even with that, you’ll need to let your audience know that you’ve got a new blog post out so announce on your social media links that you’ve got fresh content. Don’t be shy to share related content on your social media accounts as well. This is a great way to interact with fellow bloggers and writers within your niche which can move forward towards collaborations and opportunities in the future.

5. Earn from your blog

After you’ve created your blog and established yourself as an expert in your sphere of interest, you can use it as a platform to hustle. If your blog is a reflection of your writing skills, then it’s practically a free portfolio for clients. Or your blog easily acts as a website for products you can sell online with an eCommerce store membership. But you can earn through your blog, whether it acts as a portfolio for freelance projects or as an online shop.

Another option to make money from your blogging is through affiliate marketing. Through affiliate links on your blog, you can gain commissions every time users click on the link that leads them to the purchase. Amazon is one of the many eCommerce platforms that offer affiliate partnerships or programs to bloggers and writers. If you want to push it further, sponsored content is also another form of monetization of your blog. Brands can pay you to create content or review certain products that may also include affiliate links to their eCommerce website.

Starting a blog can be a rewarding effort that can open doors for you. It’s difficult not to be charmed by the idea of monetizing on your passion and sharing information with like-minded individuals. The best thing to do is start off on the right foot and act on your interests, hobbies, passion – any area of expertise you feel you can offer. And once you get the hang of it, blogging will come naturally, and so will earning from it.