If you are wondering how to become a blogger for money, you are not alone. Thousands of people around the world are earning large sums of money by creating highly engaging blog content and you can do that too. All you need is our step-by-step guide to starting a blog. And here it is . . . let’s get going.
Gone are the days when public forums were reserved for media personalities. Today, just about anyone can go out there and share their passions, talent, opinions, and views with the public. Social media platforms serve the same purpose to some extent but blogging came first.
Over the years, blogs have established the reputation of go-to information hubs for millions of people around the world. Whether you need career guidance, parenting advice, relationship tips, or want to learn about anything else – you can find a relevant blog, offering just the information you need. This does not come as a surprise because a quarter of all websites currently on the internet are blogs!
According to The West Program, 77% of internet users read blogs regularly. So, if you are thinking about starting a blog, you are on the right track. The best part is that your blog will not only give you a chance to reach a wide audience but can also bring in lots of money for you. Blogging can be your ticket to turning your passion into a full-time moneymaker.
That being said, while blogging has taken over the internet, it can still be a bit daunting to start a new blog. This is why we have created the ultimate guide to starting a blog. From the initial decisions to marketing efforts, our all-inclusive guide has everything you need to know to become a successful blogger. Dive in to learn how to start a blog and monetize it in no time!
Today, we’re going to cover a simple process for starting a successful blog.
Here are 8 easy steps for starting a blog:
- Choose a niche
- Register a domain
- Choose a content management system (CMS)
- Choose a reputable website host
- Do keyword research for your niche
- Write blog content consistently
- Promote and syndicate your posts
- Monetize your blog with affiliate links and ads
What is a Blog?
Before you can start one of your own, it is essential to understand what a blog entails. The word blog is the shortened term for a weblog. It acts as an online journal or an informational website that is put out on the internet for everyone to read.
Generally, a blog displays information in the reverse chronological order, which means that the latest entries are displayed first. It acts as a platform where the blogger or a group of bloggers share their views or expertise with their audience. A blog promotes reader engagement with the aim to gain a huge following and establish the blogger as a credible and reliable source of information in their niche.
Blogs can be used for personal as well as professional use. Bloggers can use it to tell their story to the world and talk about their passions or expertise. Businesses, on the other hand, either incorporate a blog into their websites to bring in more traffic or utilize it to promote their products and services to bring in more customers. In both cases, blogging can be a lucrative source of generating considerable income.
How to Start a Successful Blog
It is true that all you need to start a blog is an internet connection. However, it is also true that in order to turn your blog into a major success, you need to learn about blogging. You will have to make smart decisions about your blog right from the beginning. From choosing a niche and platform for your blog to identifying the right marketing methods, there’s a lot that you will have to consider.
To make it easier for you, we have split the process of creating and monetizing a blog into three steps. Scroll down to take a look at our guide to blog and learn how to blog like a pro!
Step 1 – Smart Early Decisions
The first thing you need to do is set up your blog. Think of it as space to put your content. Keep in mind that the initial decisions you make about your website will have a long-lasting impact on your blog as well the sum it will earn for you.
Therefore, it is essential to consider your options very carefully before you start a blog. Here are a few crucial decisions that you will have to take right at the beginning.
Choose the Niche of the Blog
It is easy to think that the first thing you need to do is choose the name of your blog. However, in reality, the name can wait. Your first big decision revolves around the niche of your blog. It is important to understand that if you are running a blog, especially a personal blog, you can’t keep jumping from one topic to another.
Your content should be focused on one niche. This will help you build a niche-based audience and will give you a chance to establish yourself as an expert in the field. Furthermore, if the content on your blog comes across as scattered, the audience is likely to get confused. Even if your content is highly engaging and provides great value, you will fail to create a loyal audience base that keeps coming back to your blog.
Apart from that, if you decide to allow ads on your website or look into influencer marketing, you are likely to come across various obstacles since your audience will not be comprised of people from a single niche or industry. If that’s the case, marketers will look for more niche-specific blogs to promote their products or services.
The best way to choose a niche is to go with what you are passionate about. Since blogs are about providing engaging and high-value content regularly, you will spend a lot of time writing new posts. So, it is better to choose a niche in which you are genuinely interested and will enjoy writing about.
Once you have finalized the niche of the blog, you can start thinking about its name. This is another crucial decision because it is going to become the identity of your blog. So, think it through carefully and come up with a unique name that resonates with the personality of your blog.
Purchase a Domain from a Reliable Domain Registrar
The next step is to purchase a domain name for your blog. It is advisable to buy a domain from a reliable and credible domain registrar like Porkbun. Porkbun is a highly-rated company with a fun culture and great customer service. Many of my company’s domains are registered there. Highly recommended.
While you can buy a domain of your choice, I suggest that you purchase a domain from GoDaddy Domain Auction if you’re wanting an aged domain. GoDaddy Domain Auction acts as a marketplace where people can sell as well as purchase domain names. The reason why it is better to consider GoDaddy Domain Auction is that many of the domains offered on this platform already have domain authority.
Domain authority is one of the many metrics that search engines employ to determine the ranking of a website. This means if you purchase a domain name with already developed domain authority, your blog is likely to rank in search engine results, giving you a headstart on our blogging adventures.
Another important factor to consider while purchasing a domain name is the domain extension or TLD. There are multiple kinds of extensions. Since it is an important part of the domain name, the overall cost of the domain will vary depending on the extension you use. Keep in mind that while you can work with other domains, it is best to choose a domain name with a .com extension because it’s the most recognized and it helps your website not be seen as a spam site.
Choose the Ideal Blogging Platform
Choosing the blogging platform entails choosing where you want to build your blog. It won’t be a stretch to say that currently, WordPress is the biggest platform for blogging websites. It is the ideal CMS for your blog. From the almost infinite number of layouts and templates to hundreds of helpful add-ons and plug-ins, WordPress has everything to offer.
Some of the best reasons why you may want to choose WordPress as the CMS for your blog include:
- Flexible and Customizable
CMS WordPress offers an ideal scalable environment for bloggers. It offers an extensive list of themes, modules, plug-ins, and templates, which make it highly customizable.
- SEO-Friendly Platform
WordPress is an SEO-friendly platform. It allows you to optimize your website and adopt good SEO practices. You can use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, use permalinks with keywords, create different categories on your blog to make it more organized, optimize images to bring down the loading time (consider using the Smush plugin), install Google resources, and do so much more!
- Super-Easy to Use
The best part about using WordPress as your CMS is that it is super-easy to use. You can use it like a pro and run a successful blog with little to no technical skills.
- Safety and Stability
WordPress blogs are protected against most cyber threats. You can also install security plug-ins to make your blog safe and secure.
For all these reasons, WordPress should be your top choice of CMS for your blog. It will not only ensure that your blog is attractive and looks aesthetically appealing but it will also make sure that your blog is safe, stable, and easy to maintain.
Choose the Ideal Web Host for Blogging
The accessibility and security of your blog depends on the web host. Haphazardly choosing a web host for your blogs can spell trouble for you in the future. It can lead to high downtime and even security attacks. So, take your time to explore your options and choose a reliable web host for blogging.
One thing that you should keep in mind while choosing a web host for your blog is the amount of bandwidth you want. Most new blogs do not require a lot of bandwidth. However, once your blog grows and you start receiving heavy traffic, you may have to upgrade the bandwidth for your blog. So, make sure the web hosting service you choose doesn’t trap you with a certain bandwidth. As an aspiring blogger, you need to leave room for growth.
BigScoots
If you are looking for an ideal web host for your WordPress blog, BigScoots should be on the top of your list. Whether you are starting out or looking to scale out your blog, BigScoots offers fast and effective solutions to all your hosting troubles. They offer Managed WordPress Hosting. The following four plans that are carefully designed to meet the needs of website and blog owners:
- Starter Plan for $34.95/month
- Professional Plan for $98.95/month
- Business Plan for $248.95/month
- Enterprise Plan
Based on the plan you choose, you can enjoy various features and services. Click here to learn more about BigScoots plans, services, and offers.
Step 2 – Smart and Consistent Blog Content Creation
A step by step guide to blogging is incomplete without talking about the content that you will put on the blog. Once you have set up your blog, it’s time to start creating content. Keep in mind that your content is your biggest advocate. It is what is going to bring in the audience for you and keep them returning to your blog. Let’s take a look at some smart tips to create content that will help you monetize your blog.
Focus on a Niche
The importance of focusing on the niche of your blog while creating content cannot be emphasized enough. Sticking to your niche is essential if you want to create a loyal audience base. When a reader comes to your blog, it’s because they are interested in the topics that you talk about. This will make them return to your blog. However, if you keep mixing things up, you are less likely to hold your audience for long.
Provide Value
This one is no brainer – if the content you put up on your website fails to provide value to the reader, it is useless for your blog. Furthermore, it may cost you readers since going through such content is also a waste of their time. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your blog posts provide value for your readers. The trick is to think from the perspective of your audience and come up with content that they want to read.
Do Your Keyword Research
Keywords are your new best friend. Putting the right keywords can bring in a lot of traffic to your page. One trick that you can employ is to opt for low competition, longtail keywords. Such keywords are crucial for getting organic traffic on your blog. Keep in mind that a lot of people tend to search for longtail keywords. Furthermore, longtail keywords are also more likely to be unique, giving you a competitive edge over your competitors who don’t do keyword research.
Distribute and Syndicate Your Blog Content
Simply publishing excellent long form content won’t get you too far. Sure, you can benefit from Google giving you organic search traffic but you must get your content out there. This is why you should distribute your content via social media and third party content channels. If I could pick one tactic for you to do, it would be to create pins for all of your blog content on Pinterest. Below is the image that we pinned for this blog post.
Step 3 – Monetizing the Blog
Finally, it’s time you state monetizing your blog. There are multiple ways to earn from a blog. As long as you follow the above-mentioned practices and have a strong and stable audience base, you can earn from your blog.
Dive into Affiliate Marketing
The best part about affiliate marketing is that you can jump into it right from the start. But what is affiliate marketing anyway? Well, affiliate marketing refers to earning an income by promoting various products and services offered by other people on your blog. You talk about their products and services and you will make income every time they make a sale through your blog.
Keep in mind that the higher the number of audience on your blog, the higher the chance of someone buying the products or services that you offer. Also, the earlier you start, the more products you will have on your blog.
Affiliate marketing can be extremely beneficial. It is trending in the world of blogging and you can find multiple affiliate programs. For instance, we have affiliate relationships with ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, and BigScoots, all of which help us monetize our blog!
The Right Time to Consider Ad Networks
Ad networks like AdSense and Ezoic work like a miracle when it comes to attracting more readers to your blog. An ad network works as the middleman between advertisers and publishers. However, it is essential to make sure you utilize these powerful at the right time and right manner to gain maximum advantage.
Otherwise, you are just throwing away good money. Keep in mind that it is extremely important to wait until your blog starts getting a certain amount of monthly traffic before you try to monetize with ad networks.
Consider Other Forms of Content
If you are thinking about how to become a blogger for money, maybe it’s time to think outside the box. Along with the standard blogs, you can introduce other forms of content to make some money off your blog. For instance, you can offer e-courses on your blog in the area of your expertise. Whether you offer them for a price or free of cost, e-courses will help you bring in more traffic to your blog. Apart from that, it is the perfect way to increase your credibility in your niche.
We have come to the end of our ultimate step by step guide to starting a blog for money and profit! Remember, making a blog and watching it grow can be a lot of fun. However, you must make smart decisions and be a little patient while working hard, especially in the beginning. Keep uploading and publishing great content and you will have a successful blog (that makes a lot of money) in due time.
Now get to work with your long form blogging efforts with help from our long form content eBook.
This post was proofread by Grammarly Premium.
