Learning how to start a successful blog can be a lifechanging experience. I had always dreamed of starting a blog one day, but I had no idea where to start. Once I finally got hooked up with the right people and right resources, this dream became much more achievable! If you are wanting to create a blog but don’t know where to start – keep reading! If you have already started a blog but want to know how to monetize it – keep reading!
(This post contains affiliate links that I may earn a commission on.)
Deciding On a Blog Niche
The first thing you will need to do is decide on a niche. The opportunities are endless when it comes to deciding on a niche. You can do lifestyle, fashion, exercise, fitness, food, art, DIY, woodworking, sewing, cooking, homeschooling, gardening, and so much more. The main key to having a successful blog is being passionate about what you are blogging about.
If you are having trouble narrowing down your niche, that’s okay! I have always been passionate about a lot of different things, and so I chose to basically just blog about whatever I am doing.
Find a Successful Blogger to Learn From
The best thing I ever did to jumpstart my blog journey was finding a successful blogger to learn from. There are so many courses out there that claim to help you set up your website and start a successful blog. I wasted a few dollars and a lot of time trying to find a course that worked for me. When I finally found Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boone’s “Create Your Dream Blog” course my blog finally came together.
I knew I could trust her because there was evidence that she knew what she was doing. She was already running an extremely successful blog and had been for years! Also, the price of her course was hard to beat. It wasn’t a large investment and based on her experience it was something I was willing to risk.
Create Your Dream Blog
In Lisa Bass’s “Create Your Dream Blog” course, she walks you through setting up your website, creating blog posts, email marketing, social media, affiliate marketing, and so much more! It was truly a game changer for me! If it weren’t for me taking a leap of faith and purchasing her course, I wouldn’t have a blog today. So, if you are on the fence about purchasing a course, just take my blog as evidence that this course is worth the money!
Treat Your Blog Like a Business
Treating your blog like a business is another key aspect to creating a successful blog. It is recommended that you create two blog posts a week. Having a good planner will help with this process.
Take the time each month to sit down and plan out your posts for that month. Using a planner and creating lists had been the best way for me to not feel overwhelmed. However, I will be the first to admit that I have not always kept the two posts a week rule. During my blogging journey I have had two kids and also held a full-time job. Because of this I have taken a few long breaks from blogging, and I can definitely tell the difference in how much revenue I earned during those time.
It is important to not get burned out. Oftentimes we blog about hobbies we are most passionate about, as we should. However, if the task of blogging takes away the joy of the hobby, it is important to take a step back. Come up with a way to make blogging feel less daunting so that you can still enjoy your hobby! This is where making lists, planning, and being organized came into play for me.
Promote Your Blog with Social Media
After getting your blog set up, learning how to plan out your posts, and creating your posts, now it is time to drive traffic to your blog. This can be done through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and Email. In the “Create Your Dream Blog” course, Lisa Bass walks you through setting up a lot of these promotional outlets. She also has a course specifically for YouTube that can be purchased separately or bundled with the “Create Your Dream Blog” course.
Pinterest has become the main outlet I use for promoting my blog. On Pinterest, you have access to an audience of over 500 million people. It is recommended that you create about 10 Pinterest pins for every blog post you make. It can take a while for a pin to gain traction, but once it does it is like a ripple effect.
Monetize Your Blog with Affiliate Links and Ads
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing will be your first opportunity to monetize your blog. Amazon is one of the best affiliate marketing platforms to get started with. Almost anything can be found on Amazon, and you can earn a commission on that product. Simply link the product to Amazon and when a clicks on your link and makes an Amazon purchase within 24 hours, you will earn a commission. The person doesn’t even have to buy the specific product that was linked. Any product purchased within 24 hours of clicking your affiliate link will result in a commission!
Ads
When you are ready to start making real money with your blog, you will want to join an ad program. I highly recommend Journey by Mediavine! Journey is a great starting point for monetizing your blog. Their minimum monthly pageview requirement is only 10,000 which helps you get started sooner. I applied when my monthly pageviews where about 9,000, and I got in. I have heard of people getting accepted with lower pageviews than that, so it never hurts to apply sooner!
You Can Do It!
Don’t get discouraged, you can do it! It may seem overwhelming at times, but it will all be worth it in the end! Even if you already have a full time or part time job, just spending a few hours a week working on your blog will make a big difference. Keep in mind – having a successful blog is absolutely a realistic goal!
As a mom of two little ones, this is what my blog work looks like most days:
For extra encouragement on how to find your niche, stay on track, and build your following, download my free “How to Start a Successful Blog” guide HERE!
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