Sep 09
25
Using your blog to make money
With the changing work patterns more and more people are turning to ‘Blog Writing’ as a means of earning money and in some case earning a living. However before embarking on a blog writing and earning venture, like with every other new venture, consideration needs to be given to a number of things, such as:
- What are your reasons for blogging?
- What will be the subject of your blog?
- How much time will you be able or prepared to give to blogging?
You’ll need to do some background reading and research, not just in writing the blog but the ever changing Internet technologies. The amount of research will depend on your current skill level. Also be aware any ‘new learning’ that takes places will more than likely become dated very quickly. The pace of change of the Internet technologies is moving along at an incredible rate; ‘what is today may well not be tomorrow’. What! You don’t like change, oh dear, you need to be able to thrive on change because there’s going to be very many changes in your blogging career and the technologies you use. This is all part of your personal growth process.
If you’re in it for the money alone success will not follow. You need to have a passion for your blog diary; something beyond on an instant ‘quick fix’ financial gain is required to make your blog a success. How much money are you going to invest in your blog? The good news is that blogging is a very low cost home run business.
However, a mere interest in your niche is not enough, yes that burning desire is a good start but don’t forget you’ll still encounter the good days and bad days just like you do at your traditional 9 to 5 job. Just because you can write articles, have an understand of Internet technologies and have something interesting to write about it doesn’t mean your blog will be successful. Blog writing is not for everybody!
Don’t forget you’ve packed the 9 to 5 job up for a reason. Why was that? What is your motivation for blogging? Is it the perks or the bloggers lifestyle you’ve heard about, or the thought of helping others, maybe you’ve always wanted to express yourself or you’re a frustrated author or journalist! Whatever the reason you will need to consider the make up of your blog and its content.
- Your visitors will want to see valuable content
- Your content must be original
- Make sure your content will be as good tomorrow as it is today
- Don’t forget you readers they are human beings not computers
- Be transparent, be open and honest with them
- Don’t be afraid to be controversial, express your view
- Write with passion, not for the pound notes
- Write with a view to providing for others not taking from them
When you identify your strategies and structure of your blog, consider how often you’re gong to post and the length of posts. Also do you want to monetize your blog? In other words are you going to include ads on your blog, yes, earn money while you are either working, resting or playing. Monetization is going to involve attracting traffic, more traffic and even more traffic to your blog. So you thought you heard the last of traffic when you finished your 9 to 5 job did you! Why do you want lots of traffic? How do you attract lots of traffic to your blog? Traffic means visitors,visitors means sales and sales means income.
If you’ve given up your 9 to 5 job you’ll need to replace your income, so an income generation strategy will be required. You can you make a decent income with blog writing providing you take it seriously and develop a strategy for writing and income generation. What’s more your income will be automated; now that’s something to think about.
You may not like the idea of ads on your blog; may be because of your experience of visiting websites and blog that were full of ads. If that’s the case you’ll have really consider your strategies because ads is one of the many revenue streams for a blog. There are numerous ways to generate income on your blog, ads is just one of them.
Ads are fine with most blog readers; as you build up a list of loyal readers they’ll continue to return because they like your content not because they like or dislike your ads. The ads will not stop your readers from returning; they’ll only stop readers that you don’t really want.
There’s always the worry of ‘writers block’; it happens to the best of writers, so alternative sources of new material needs to be considered. One such source is from the comments of your own posts. Take note of what your readers are saying and write posts based on them. When you decide on your niche make sure it isn’t too small or specific. A more general niche will allow give you access to more writing material.
Don’t forget as you write your online diary and your readers are learning about your expertise you will be undergoing your own learning and self development. Whatever else happens make sure you enjoy yourself when you’re blogging.
Thank you for reading this post, please let me know what you think and share your experiences. While you’re here please take the time to sign up for the newsletter or alternatively you may prefer to subscribe for regular updates in your favourite reader or by email.
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