So, you want to make money from blogging? We all do. But the problem is, not everyone knows how to go about it. When I first started blogging, I didn’t have a clue about how to monetize it. And I wasn’t sure if making money from blogging was even possible. However, as the years progressed, I came across many bloggers making a full-time income from their blogs. So, what’s the secret? In this article, we will look at the following;
- How to set up your blog for success
- Different ways to make money from blogging
- Common questions answered
How to set up your blog for success
1. Identify your niche
How do you pick a niche for your blog? Some blogs have a wide range of topics – from fashion and lifestyle to entertainment, business and health. I wouldn’t advise you to try blogging about so many different things, because it will be difficult to keep up with content creation unless you have a team of contributors.
A better option might be to narrow down your focus into something that you really love. It can still be broad – like a men’s fashion blog, for example. But it’s not as vague as “everything” or “fashion in general.”
You can even go deeper by choosing one form of men’s fashion, e.g., shoes or workwear. You don’t even have to be an expert in it – just share information with your readers. The more you learn, the more you can share!
One important thing is to make sure that you love whatever topic you’re blogging about. It should be a topic that excites you, that you enjoy reading and talking about. You should want to wake up every day, eager to get to your computer.
If you’re not passionate about your topic, it will feel like hard work to you, so you may not be motivated to carry on to the point where your blog becomes profitable.
2. Know your target audience
Once you have identified your niche, then it is time to look for your target readers. Who are they? What are their age groups? Interests? Income bracket? What hobbies do they enjoy? What kind of jobs do they do? Find out where they hang out online and engage with them. Take note of the words and phrases they use when communicating.
Knowing who your target readers are will help you decide how to write or present your content. You can click here for 10 ways to truly know your target audience.
3. Set up your blog
You can set up your blog quickly and easily without spending too much money. A WordPress website will be enough for most bloggers who are just starting out. Some other popular platforms include Blogger, Squarespace, and Wix.
Your first step should be to buy a domain name and hosting from sites like Namecheap, Bluehost, or Siteground. You can Install WordPress with one click, and voila! You have a functional website.
Customize your website by installing a theme and editing the basic features to suit your needs. There are many free themes on the internet, but it’s usually better to go for a premium theme.
Add some plugins for extra functionality, and you’re good to go!
4. Create quality content
Quality content is the key to making money from your blog. Make sure that you post content that is informative or entertaining. Your content should provide value to your readers so that they will want to come back for more.
Try to include images, videos, and other forms of content that will make your blog more interesting. The more interesting your blog is, the more likely people will be to share it with their friends.
Also, be sure to create new posts regularly so that you can keep your readers coming back for more.
5. Optimize your blog for search
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the best way to get a constant stream of organic traffic to your blog. Your website needs to be optimized for search engines so that you can get more traffic from Google, Yahoo, and other search engines.
You can do SEO by building backlinks, optimizing for specific keywords, improving your page load speed, etc. With good SEO, you won’t even need to pay for ads!
Read this article to learn more about SEO.
When you take the steps above, you’ll have a blog that is primed and ready to make you money.
10 Different ways to monetize your blog
1. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to make money from your blog. You can earn money by promoting other people’s products or services on your blog. When your readers buy affiliate products through your link, you get paid a commission. It’s important that you promote products that you use and trust, so that you don’t mislead your audience. An audience that trusts your recommendations will stick around for years.
2. Display ads
If you get a lot of traffic to your blog, you can make money with display ads. The most common way is to set up Google AdSense, but other ad networks can also pay you for putting up display ads on your blog. Display ads can pay you a small amount every time someone views an ad on your blog or clicks on an ad. As long as you get lots of daily traffic, you can earn passive income from display advertising.
3. Sponsored posts
Sponsored posts are another good way to make money from blogging. Brands can pay you to write in detail about their product or service.You can reach out to brands to ask for this partnership. Even if you don’t have a large audience, you can still make money from sponsored posts. Just show that your audience is very niche and very engaged.
4. Premium content
Another way to make money from blogging is by creating premium content. This is special content that you make available to only paid members. Premium content is usually in-depth, containing information that is very valuable to your readers. A great way to entice readers to pay for your premium content is by giving them a sneak peek of the content and encouraging them to pay to read the rest.
5. Sell your services
Your blog can be an excellent platform for you to promote yourself and your services. As long as your skills are in demand, there will always be people who want to work with you. There are so many services you can offer, including coaching and consulting services, graphic design, photography, web design, event planning, etc. If you want to sell services, you have to build your brand. Your brand will show that you are not just another blog with random posts. You are unique and have something to offer to the world, which makes it easier for people to buy from you.
6. Sell online courses and other digital products
If you’re an expert on a specific topic, you can make money by selling digital products. Digital products can come in different forms, such as ebooks, online courses, checklists, templates, workbooks, and even memberships.
You can set up simple systems for selling your digital products so that that you can make passive income on autopilot. If you sell online courses and other digital products, it’s also important to direct your website visitors to join your email list, so that you can nurture your relationship with them and increase your sales.
7. Sell physical products from an online store
If you have a physical product to sell, you can set up an eCommerce store and promote it with your blog.
The key to selling physical products is to use high-quality photos and clear descriptions. A well-written product description can also make people want to buy the item without seeing it first. You can create a discount code or coupon for your customers to use to get more value from the product.
If you are selling a physical product, make sure it is of high quality. Package your products nicely before sending them to your customers so that they’ll be delighted to keep buying from you.
8. Paid directory
You can make money blogging by adding a paid directory to your blog. Your directory should be for a specific niche, e.g., businesses in an area, directory of hairstylists, freelance writers, job agencies etc. If you get steady traffic and activity, you can charge people money to be listed on your directory. This is another easy way to add to your revenue stream.
9. Redirect your traffic to other channels
You can make money from blogging by redirecting your traffic to other channels that are profitable for you. For instance, your major platform could be your YouTube channel, podcast, or Instagram page. You can easily get more followers or subscribers by directing your blog visitors to follow you on these other platforms. You can even incentivize by offering them a freebie or discount when they follow you elsewhere.
10. Sell your blog
Another way to make money from blogging is to build your blog and sell it. There are many websites where you can list your blog for sale, such as Flippa and BlogsForSale. A well-monetized blog can sell for thousands of dollars. Even if you aren’t making a lot of money, you can still sell your blog for a good amount if you get tons of organic traffic.
You can use the money you make from selling your blog to start new blogs or even buy them.
Common questions answered about making money from blogging
What is the best way to make money from blogging?
The best way to make money from blogging is to create a blog that is relevant to your niche, have an audience that will visit your blog, and have a product or service that you can offer. You can also monetize your blog through ads, affiliate marketing, and other methods discussed above.
How do I get more traffic to my blog?
The key is to make your blog more visible. You can do this by making sure your content is high-quality, adding social media sharing buttons on your blog, and commenting on other blogs.
You should also utilize social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to distribute your content to their audience to generate more traffic. Also, focus on backlink building and other SEO techniques.
Do personal blogs make money?
Personal blogs can make money, especially when the blog is well-known in its niche. You can make money with a personal blog by getting advertisements, selling your own products, and generating revenue from subscriptions. You can also sell ad space on your blog and receive payment for posting sponsored content.
How can I use affiliate marketing to make money from blogging?
Many people make money from blogging by joining affiliate marketing programs. Affiliate programs make it easier to find products and get paid for promoting them. You can use your blog for affiliate marketing by writing reviews, comparisons, round-up posts, helpful guides, etc, and inserting your affiliate links in them. When people buy through your link, you earn affiliate income.
How much should I charge for my blog posts?
There is no average or standard amount of money to charge for blog posts. Blog posts are written for different purposes, with different audiences, and from different angles.
How much you make on your blog is up to you. It could be anything from $10 to $500 or more. If you are new, I recommend starting out with a low price point and using ads or affiliate marketing to monetize instead.
Is it better to sell products or create content on my blog?
Selling products allows you to profit from your blog without spending a lot of time and effort. The content you create on your blog can also help generate sales for your products and services. Do both if you can. But if you have to choose, focus on what you’re best at.
When does a blogger really start earning?
There is no standard answer to this question. If you start a blog as a hobby, you may not see any income for quite some time. However, if your blog becomes popular and your readership grows, you might be able to earn enough to cover their bills and more.
It will also depend on your blogging goals. Some bloggers are content to grow their blog’s traffic with a steady income from advertising. Other bloggers are willing to invest in an online business in order to make a significant profit and support themselves and their families.