Over 31.7 million blogs are in the US, and more start every day. Have you wondered how bloggers turn hobbies into big businesses? As someone who went from a restaurant job to owning seven-figure online businesses, I’m often asked what the secret is. The answer might surprise you.
This guide will show you what I’ve learned over ten years about blogging as a business. If you’re new or want to grow your blog, you’ll learn how to start a blog, get readers, and make money. But first, here’s a question to get you thinking differently about blogging:
Ready to see how regular people make big money with their blogs? Let’s start exploring blogging as a business.
Find a Way to Monetize Your Blog
If you’re looking to make money blogging, start with the money part first. A solid monetization strategy comes before your first blog post. It sets HOW you publish content and grow long term. There are many ways to monetize your blog, based on the type you choose.
Selling Books or eBooks
Selling books or eBooks can be a great way to monetize your blog. Take James Clear for example. He wrote Atomic Habits to monetize his blog and made it to the New York Times bestsellers list.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing lets you earn a commission selling partner products. It can grow into a steady, passive income stream. For example, Bases Loaded Softball reviews gear. Then they include an Amazon link in their posts. They earn if a reader buys the gear from the link.
Digital Products like Online Courses
Digital products (like online courses) are perfect for bloggers to turn a profit. They let expert bloggers monetize their knowledge. CopyHackers.com now sells digital products effectively.
Choose a Niche and Define Your Audience
Picking a niche is key for a blog’s success. The internet is full of info, so choose a narrow, deep topic. This decision helps you always have new ideas for content. It also shapes your blog’s name. Make sure your niche fits the audience you want to attract and your money-making plan for the blog.
Conduct Competitor Research
Studying your competition can set you apart. It’s a chance to see what’s missing and find your unique voice. Knowing what works for others can guide you toward the right strategies to stand out.
Identify Your Target Audience
It’s vital to know who you’re writing for. Think about your ideal reader’s details like age, job, and what they like to do. This insight helps you shape your blog to meet their needs. It helps fine-tune what you say and how you say it.
Finding an underserved perspective is what makes a blog successful. Through niche selection, competitive research, and knowing your audience, you’re getting closer to success.
Blogging Business Essentials
Before you start your blog, laying a strong foundation is key. This means choosing the best blog setup and content management system. You can go for a self-hosted or hosted platform like WordPress, Shopify, Blogger, or Ghost. These platforms come with many plugins and apps. They can boost your site’s speed, back up your work, help with marketing, and make tasks easier.
Creating an editorial calendar is also vital for bloggers. This calendar helps you plan when to publish and how to organize your topics. With it, you can keep a steady stream of great blog posts for your readers. That way, your content meets their needs and fits your content strategy.
| Essential Blogging Tasks | Description |
|---|---|
| Blog Setup | Choose a hosting platform and content management system that suits your needs and goals. |
| Plugin and App Integration | Leverage the ecosystem of your blogging platform to optimize performance, automate tasks, and simplify marketing efforts. |
| Editorial Calendar | Plan your publishing schedule and organize your content ideas to maintain a consistent, high-quality blog. |
| Content Creation | Develop valuable, informative, and engaging blog content that resonates with your target audience. |
| Search Engine Optimization | Optimize your blog posts and website for search engines to improve discoverability and drive organic traffic. |
With these blogging practices in place, you’re well on your way. You’re setting up a blog that will not only meet your readers’ needs but also help your business grow.
Select a Blogging Platform and Template
Choosing a blogging platform is key for your success. You need one that’s easy to use and doesn’t need deep tech skills. It should also grow with your blog. Luckily, there are many good options available. They each have unique features and benefits.
WordPress is a leading platform, running over 40% of websites. It offers great customization and growth potential. You can choose between WordPress.com for a simpler start, or WordPress.org for more control. Both have many plugins and themes to make your blog better.
Looking for something simple and complete? Consider Shopify or Blogger. These platforms are easy to start with. They also include tools for SEO, email marketing, and selling products.
If you prefer a clean, modern writing experience, try Ghost. It’s great for focusing just on writing. Ghost also supports making money by offering memberships and newsletters.
Make sure the platform you pick matches your needs. Think about how easy it is to use, how much you can customize, the available tools, and support. With the right choice, you’re on your way to a great blog.
| Blogging Platform | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com |
|
Free plan and paid plans starting from $9/month |
| WordPress.org |
|
Requires hosting and domain purchase, often starts at $5/month |
| Shopify |
|
Plans start from $16/month |
| Blogger |
|
Free with option to use a custom domain |
| Ghost |
|
Free self-hosted and paid plans starting from $11/month |
To find the best platform for your blog, carefully consider what each one offers. This way, you can meet your blogging goals and achieve long-term success.
Pick a Domain Name and Branding Elements
Choosing a domain name and branding is key for your blog’s online start. The domain name is your blog’s home address online. It’s the first thing people see. So, it represents your blog’s message and brand.
Start by picking a name that’s catchy, easy to spell, and fits your blog’s topic. Don’t go for your personal name, unless it’s a personal blog. Look for a name that’s creative and resonates with your audience. This way, your blog will stand out.
Consider Trademarking Your Blog Name
After finding the perfect domain, think about trademarking it. This offers legal protection for your blog’s name. It’s useful if you’re going to sell products or partner with others.
Trademarking is a bit complex, but there’s help online. Having a trademark keeps your blog name safe. It makes sure your blog’s name is unique online.
| Considerations for Domain Name Selection | Advantages of Trademarking Your Blog Name |
|---|---|
|
|
Choosing your domain name wisely and trademarking it can help your blog succeed. These steps make your blog stand out and create a strong foundation. They prepare your blog for a successful future online.
Plan Your Content Strategy
For bloggers, creating a consistent content plan is key to online success. You must decide what to post, how often, and how to share it. An editorial calendar helps you keep it all organized.
Create an Editorial Calendar
An editorial calendar lays out your content planning. It includes when to research, write, and post. This way, you keep a steady flow of new and interesting content for your readers.
Follow these steps to make your editorial calendar:
- Find chances to reuse content. For example, change a blog post into a video.
- Include various content types like posts, tutorials, and reviews to keep readers interested.
- Stick to your deadlines. It’s crucial for reader trust.
- Stay flexible. Your plan can change to grab new chances or react to trends.
With an editorial calendar, you can organize your content strategy better. This approach promises regular and high-quality content for your followers.
| Content Type | Frequency | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Blog Post | Weekly | Every Tuesday |
| Video Tutorial | Bi-Weekly | Every other Friday |
| Product Review | Monthly | Last Friday of the month |
Optimize Your Blog for Search Engines
As a blogger, boosting your site’s traffic through search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial. Use keywords in your posts that are about your products or services. This helps draw more visitors from online searches.
It takes time for posts to show up high in searches. But with regular creation of top-notch SEO-optimized content, your rankings can improve on Google. Use on-page SEO by finding the best keywords with keyword research tools, then tweak your content.
Conduct Thorough Keyword Research
The basis of good search engine optimization is picking the right keywords. Spend time on keyword research to find what people are searching for. That way, you can write content that appeals to readers and search engines alike.
- Utilize tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find keywords for your niche with lots of searches but low competition.
- Look at what keywords your competitors use in their top content. Then, aim to make even better, more optimized content.
- Don’t forget about long-tail keywords. They have less rivalry, making it easier to rank for them quickly.
Optimize Your Content for Search
After picking your target keywords, it’s time to optimize your blog content for search engines. Place keywords naturally in your text and focus on key on-page SEO aspects:
- Title tags and meta descriptions – Make sure your titles and meta descriptions feature your keywords.
- Header tags (H1, H2, H3) – Use important keywords in your headings to better guide search engines.
- Image alt text – Use alt text with your images that includes keywords, helping them get found in searches.
- Internal and external links – Link to related pages on your site and trusted external sources to boost your content’s search engine optimization.
By using these strategies, you’ll greatly enhance your blog’s search visibility. This, in turn, will drive more organic traffic to your site.
Build an Email List from Day One
Starting as a blogger, focus on building your email list right away. An email list is your direct connection to your biggest fans. It lets you send updates, share exclusive content, and showcase your offers. Adding email sign up forms and other tools on your blog can steadily grow your list over time.
Email marketing offers a fantastic return of $42 for every $1 spent. It’s found that 50-60% of your new subscribers come from efforts to grow your list. Having sign-up bonuses can convince about 25-50% of these new fans to join.
Adding pop-up forms to your site can boost subscribers by 10-30%. Well-placed call-to-actions (CTAs) can catch the eye of 15-20% new subscribers. Great landing pages can bring in 50% more, and social media is good for another 15%.
Running viral contests aids in a 35% increase in subscribers. The conversion rate for emails leading to a landing page is over 7%, much better than general ecommerce. Email marketing success stories often report a return of $42 for every dollar spent.
Personalizing your CTAs can increase sign-ups by 42%. In fact, sending targeted emails leads to 58% of revenue. Looking ahead, with billions of emails expected daily by 2022, starting your list early will help your blog stand out.
Starting right? Check out these tips for building your list, strategies for growth, and why an email list is so important. Early list building is a key to your long-term success.
| Tactic | Estimated Subscriber Increase |
|---|---|
| Pop-up forms | 10-30% |
| Website/landing page CTAs | 15-20% |
| High-converting landing pages | 50% |
| Social media promotion | 15% |
| Viral contests | 35% |
Leverage Social Media for Traffic
Today, social media is vital for driving traffic to your blog. It’s about sharing your content wisely and interacting with your audience. This not only increases your blog’s exposure but also encourages readers to keep coming back.
Engage with Your Audience
Creating an active online community is crucial for your blog to succeed. Answering comments and posing interesting questions are great steps. Always try to connect with your followers in a real way. This kind of interaction improves your understanding of what your audience wants. Ultimately, it allows you to offer more valuable content.
You have many platforms, from Facebook to Twitter and Instagram, to reach your audience. Use hashtags, connect with influencers, and join discussions to grow your community.
Social media isn’t just for sharing content. It also means building relationships and a community around your blog. By consistently providing value and interacting with your audience, you become a reputable source within your area. This helps draw genuine traffic to your blog.
Always keep an eye on your social media performance using tools like Google Analytics. This approach helps fine-tune your strategy. It lets you make smart decisions that enhance your blog’s influence and engagement.
Explore Influencer Collaborations
Working with influencers can seriously boost your blog’s visits and trust. You can do this through guest posts, creating content together, or helping each other with spreading the. Look for influencers whose fans would like your blog too. This way, you reach new people and make your blog more trusted.
When working with influencers, think about what each type could offer your blog:
- Micro-influencers might have a smaller but very interested group of fans, talking about specific topics.
- Macro-influencers reach more people, with thousands to hundreds of thousands following them, famous for what they know or their exciting posts.
- Mega-influencers stand out with millions of fans and big-name status.
Pick influencers based on how well their fans match your readers. Also, consider how much their fans interact with their content. Knowing what social media they use most helps, too.
| Influencer Type | Audience Size | Engagement Rates | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro-influencers | 1,000 – 100,000 followers | High (7-16% engagement) | Niche-specific campaigns, building brand awareness |
| Macro-influencers | 100,000 – 1,000,000 followers | Moderate (3-6% engagement) | Broader reach, driving website traffic and conversions |
| Mega-influencers | 1,000,000+ followers | Low (1-3% engagement) | Boosting brand visibility and credibility |
No matter the size of the influencer, approach collaborations wisely. Think about money, what you’ll give them, and if you could work together for a while. This way, you pick the best influencers to help your blog grow and meet more of your audience.
Analyze Your Blog’s Performance
It’s key to check your blog analytics often. This helps you know what’s going well and what isn’t. It guides you to give your readers what they like the most. By keeping an eye on important metrics, you can learn what to do with your content and marketing. This makes your decisions smarter and more likely to succeed.
Track Key Metrics
There are a few important things to watch about your blog:
- Website traffic – the total number of visitors to your blog
- Bounce rate – the percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page
- Time on page – the average amount of time visitors spend on each page
- Email subscriber growth – the increase in your email list over time
- Social media engagement – the number of shares, likes, and comments on your posts
| Metric | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Backlinks | The number of other websites that link to your blog | Crucial for search engine ranking |
| Average Time on Page | The average amount of time visitors spend on each page | Indicates visitor engagement and reading behavior |
| Overall Traffic | The total number of visitors to your blog | Demonstrates the success of your blog |
| Comments | The number of comments on your blog posts | Reflects reader engagement and interest |
| Click-through Rate | The percentage of visitors who click on your calls-to-action | Measures the effectiveness of your marketing efforts |
Watching these key performance indicators gives you deeper insights. It helps you understand what’s working and what’s not. With this information, you can tweak your strategy to be more effective.
Blogging Tools and Resources
Starting a blog can lead you down many paths. Building the right tools and resources is key. There are apps for getting things done, software for creating, and tools for sharing your blog widely. Let’s dive into some top picks to make your work easier, your content better, and your results stronger.
Productivity and Writing Tools
Good time management and clear writing are vital for bloggers. Grammarly catches language mistakes, while the Hemingway App makes writing clearer. For teamwork, Asana organizes projects and Google Docs helps write together.
Content Creation and Design
Canva is outstanding for beautiful blog images and social media posts. It’s simple to use with lots of templates. To find what’s hot and see how your content fares, try BuzzSumo and Semrush. They provide insights and analysis.
SEO and Analytics
Getting your blog to show up in search results is essential. Yoast SEO helps with your WordPress site, and Google Analytics offers deep insights. These tools let you know who’s visiting, how they find you, and what they like.
Promotion and Audience Building
To make your blog a hit, growing your audience is crucial. Buffer and Revive Old Post support sharing on social media, even when you’re busy. For emails, ConvertKit and SendSpark help you keep in touch with your readers.
It’s all about what fits your goals and how you like to work. The right mix of tools can speed up your tasks, polish your content, and improve your blog’s success.
| Tool | Purpose | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | Grammar and spelling checker | Identifies and corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors |
| Hemingway App | Readability and writing enhancement | Analyzes text for readability, identifies passive voice, and suggests improvements |
| Canva | Visual content creation | Provides a user-friendly platform for designing images, graphics, and social media posts |
| Yoast SEO | WordPress SEO optimization | Helps optimize content for search engines, including meta tags, keywords, and readability |
| Google Analytics | Website analytics and performance tracking | Offers comprehensive data on website traffic, user behavior, and content performance |
Turn Your Blog into a Full-Time Business
For bloggers with a strong following, turning your blog into a full-time job is a thrilling idea. You improve by adding more ways to make money, boost your content, and get help with some tasks. This way, you treat your blog as a real business. With smart money-making plans, regular posts, and loyal readers, your blog might soon be all you need for work, trading a 9-to-5 for more freedom and fun.
Focus on making money without always working, like through selling products, ad earnings, and affiliate deals. Grow your content and use SEO to get more visitors. As your blog gets bigger, think about hiring help for things like design, videos, and social media. This can free you up to grow your business more.
Thinking like a business owner is key to making your blog your main gig. Treat it like a business, set clear goals, and keep track of what matters most. Always look for ways to do better and be more effective. With hard work, imagination, and knowing your audience well, your blog can turn into a successful career. It can bring you the freedom and financial security you’re after.