For many people, blogging is a hobby, but for a growing number of aspiring writers and Internet influencers, blogging has become a bonafide career choice. The truth is that it’s not easy to make money out of blogging, but if you make the right calls, you could find yourself in a very enviable position. If you’re considering becoming a full-time blogger, here are some top tips to help you succeed.
Finding revenue streams
When you have a hobby, you don’t rely on it to provide you with an income. If you choose to start blogging as a means of making money, you’ll need to identify ways your blog can generate revenue. Do you want to feature other bloggers or advertise products? Are you keen to link up with companies and include sponsored posts or are you looking to bring in readers using social media or SEO? It’s important to have plans in place before you take the plunge. It’s very common to struggle to make money in the early stages, but if you’re prepared, you should find life easier. Network, make friends and have a look at what successful bloggers are doing to make money.
Setting up a workspace
There’s an assumption that bloggers work on kitchen tables and coffee shop bars, but the reality is that these environments are not conducive to work. It’s hard to focus when you can’t get comfortable, or there’s a constant murmur in the background. If you’re serious about blogging, create an office or a creative space at home or think about renting a desk nearby. It’s really important to be organised when you’re a blogger, and if you find yourself swamped by papers, letters and invoices, it may be worth considering buying a professional virtual address. This way, you can have any mail forwarded to your inbox, so you have instant access to everything you need and a clutter-free desk.
Establishing a presence
Blogging is all about connecting with an audience, and ideally, you want to gain as many fans, followers and friends as possible. Think carefully about the content you publish. What kinds of subjects do you want to cover? Who are you trying to interact with? How are you going to advertise your site and encourage more people to read your posts? It’s really useful to link your blog to your social media profiles and to make it easy for people to jump between platforms. Linking up with other bloggers can also increase readership.
Learning on the go
Producing a successful blog is about catering for your audience and producing content that people want to read. Learn from your experiences and listen to your followers. Which kinds of posts do people respond to? Which subjects fall flat? How do readers prefer to interact with others? What suggestions do they have to make it easier to share comments or ideas about future posts?
Are you thinking about becoming a blogger? Are you hoping to use your creative talents to make money? If you’re on the cusp of giving it a go, hopefully, you’ll find this information useful. Good luck!