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If you are passionate about writing, you can create a blog on what you love in a few steps. Besides, blogging is an excellent marketing tool too, which you can monetize to be your source of income. Pretty neat, huh?
If you want your blog to be profitable and fruitful (who doesn’t want more money!?), you should start on the right path. Here are some essential things you need to know before starting a blog.
Blogging Requires Time and Effort
You should understand why you want to start blogging before you start. If you are only after money, then this might not make the best choice. Although there are many ways of making money online, it is among the harder ones.
To grow your audience on a blog takes a lot of time and hard work. Once you have grown your audience only then will your blog be profitable.
A Blog Is Not 100% Free
Although platforms such as Tumbler and Medium are free and easy to use, you have no control, and there are many limitations.
If you want your blog to be well designed, have a unique web address, ample storage space, and are planning to monetize it, then you need to purchase some hosting space.
To start, you should buy a domain name and hosting space. This isn’t expensive but can be a monthly expense.
Niche Identification
For your blog to be unique, select a topic you are passionate about, narrow it down to a niche, and then decide your target audience. Now use your blog to answer their questions.
Content is King
Although quantity is necessary to grow and maintain your traffic, concentrate more on quality than quantity. The only way to engage and turn visitors into your audience is by offering value through quality information.
Be Social
Sadly, writing an excellent post is not enough to get people reading it. Besides, search engines will not find your blog when it is new anyway. In order to drive traffic to your blog, make sure you are proactive.
The best way is to promote your posts is through social media networks like Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube marketing channels. Just don’t overdo it or you may be thought of as a spammer.
And always share others work more than your own.
Be Authentic
To build trust with your readers, be real and genuine. People are interested in interacting with people they know.
Being yourself is your best bet!
Understand SEO
Some platforms have SEO tools or plugins that can help you out.
A blog can be started by anyone, but not everyone can maintain it. It takes time and dedication to come up with unique content not to mention maintaining all of the maintenance tasks.
Don’t give up, though! It can be quite rewarding if you stick to it.
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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This is some down to earth advise, and it is appreciated. I have been thinking about starting a blog.
I have people always say they’re thinking about it but many don’t know what it entails. So, I figured a bit of honesty will help those who are on the fence. I’m glad it was useful to you!
I’ve always love to write, and I have thought about starting my own blog. My niche would be in the lines of fitness and nutrition for the busy mom. Perhaps with my youngest daughter starts school, I may give it a shot.
When your daughter starts school that would be the perfect time to start a blog. I started working from home when I was pregnant with my youngest. You should try it!
Smart tips here Krystle. Being social is a difference maker; open up your mouth, build your friend network by chatting and being generous, and make blogging easier and easier. Make friends by talking and serving, and you position yourself to be super successful.
You are very right – being social helps a lot!
I have been wanting to start a blog for awhile. I am just not sure I would be to good at it haha
I’m sure you could start a blog if you wanted to. Honestly, if you know how to read and write you can do it!
This is some great advice, thank you so much for sharing! Blogging is definitely not for everyone and it takes a lot of work. Investing money into it will make it much better, as most things. I don’t feel like I am social (or interesting) enough to do it myself.
Blogging doesn’t have to be a personal thing. A lot of people write about certain things like vacuuming or something very specific. You can write about anything.