When you are trying to figure out how to make money blogging and gain more exposure online at the same time, writing for other websites may be an excellent option. For example, guest bloggers can earn between $50 and $300 per post.
Also, try selling freelance services if you want to learn how to make money blogging without any investment. Due to the lack of inventory, starting a service-based business is more cost-effective than starting a product-based business.
But in this article, we will primarily focus on earning money through your own blog.
Keep reading, and learn how to make money blogging for yourself.
A Guide to Making Money from Blogging
Blogging has virtually unlimited potential. It is not only monthly revenue that bloggers can earn. Many blogs are for sale on marketplaces such as Flippa, at prices that can reach six figures.
A lot of people take up blogging as a side hustle in hopes that one day they will be able to quit their jobs. Although it varies from blogger to blogger how long it takes to generate substantial income.
Sadly, not every blogger is able to make millions of dollars through their website. There are two factors that determine the potential income from your blog:
Your niche: How much do people spend on products in your industry? Bloggers make money in a wide range of niches, from business software to pet accessories. However, not all niches are good. For example, the software industry can provide lucrative commissions because many companies pay recurring commissions. There are small amounts that bloggers can earn each month after the customer made a purchase.
The monetization strategy: It is common for companies to pay bloggers for advertising placements on their websites. In exchange for a fee, lend them unused space on website pages. However, in order to stay true to their core values, new bloggers must avoid some methods of monetizing their blogs. A good example would be not being paid to post content that you don’t agree with. In turn, this can have an impact on earnings potential.
Making money blogging doesn’t require any professional experience. Through trial and error, you can build your digital marketing skills by taking control of your website.
Display advertising is the fastest way to monetize a blog. Renting space on your blog to Google AdSense does not require specialized skills, but you will be paid for every 1,000 visitors that see the advert.
How to Make $1,000 Blogging
High-earning blogs share one thing in common: a close relationship with their audience. The more visitors to your blog and trust in your recommendations, the more likely you are to make money blogging.
If you want to make your first $1.000 online, blogging is a great way to do it. Choose a profitable niche, build an email list, and recommend affiliate products. By recommending products, you can make thousands of dollars per month.
The following steps will enable you to make money with your blog within a short period of time if you commit to following all the recommendations in this article.
As a result, the first $1,000 you make through blogging will probably prove to be one of the most challenging financial gains of your lifetime.
The fact that you can make $1,000 flipping hamburgers is without a doubt the easier option.
However, once you reach the $1,000 mark, the possibilities are endless.
Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced blogger, here are the exact steps you need to follow to earn $1,000 by blogging.
Step 1: Decide What Niche You Want to Blog About
One of the biggest mental roadblocks that we see is that people believe they need to come up with something totally original that has yet to be researched.
It is also possible to believe that the only thing you can write about is something you are fervently passionate about. Despite the fact that the internet is a very large place, we can assure you that there is room for everyone.
Is there anything you should write about?
You should treat every decision you make on your blog as a business decision if you are interested in making money from it. It is important to use some common sense when it comes to selecting a niche for your blog. The following points should be taken into consideration:
- You should write about something that interests you. If you do not enjoy the process, you will eventually tire out and lose interest.
- It is important to find something that other people are interested in as well. If you choose to write about Himalayan basket weaving for men, you are unlikely to gain many readers, and you will have difficulty earning a living. If you are looking for something that combines your interests with other people’s interests, try to find something that combines them both.
- The topic you choose does not require you to be an expert in the field. In order to write an effective article, you should have a little more knowledge about your topic than your readers.
Step 2: Create Your Blog (If You Don’t Already Have One)
It is obvious that in order to earn money from a blog, you must first have a blog. Alternatively, if you already have your blog set up, you may skip this step.
In the event you have not yet begun your blog, I would like to first commend you for doing your research. The truth is that eventually, you are going to need to stop researching and begin executing. This step is intended to accomplish that objective.
WordPress may be familiar to you, but you may not fully understand what it is.
It is important to consider WordPress as the foundation for your blog. Content management systems (CMS) are among the easiest to use (and most powerful) in the world. The WordPress platform is what allows ordinary people, like you and me, to build and maintain a website without having to be web developers.
For you to get started with WordPress, you do not need any programming knowledge.
When it comes to starting your blog, there are two basic options: “Self-Hosted” on WordPress or “Free WordPress.”
If you are interested in making money through your blog, self-hosted WordPress is the best option.
It is true that you will have to pay for your own web hosting out of pocket, but going this route gives you much more flexibility when it comes to the design, usability, and monetization of the site.
Additionally, hosting is very affordable, especially if you take advantage of our coupon code with HostGator (use code ######### at checkout). As long as you have the right hosting plan, you shouldn’t have to pay much more than a few dollars a month for it.
The Difference Between WordPress.Com and WordPress.Org
Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, there are a number of key differences.
You do not have much flexibility with the free version of WordPress in terms of making changes to your site. Moreover, WordPress actually owns your website if you use the free version (meaning that technically, your site does not belong to you at all). WordPress’ free version even makes your website link appear unprofessional; instead of a .com, your site will appear as “yourwebsite.wordpress.com”.
It is impossible for me to think of even one successful blogger (in terms of income) who uses the free version of WordPress.
It is recommended that you self-host your blog if you intend to make money blogging.
Step 3: Develop Helpful Content
By this point, you should have identified a niche that you are comfortable writing about, and you should have set up a blog to share your content.
It is now time for you to write some epic blog posts once you have established your blog.
You should be strategic when it comes to the type of content you write and the way you write it if you are hoping to earn income from your blog.
The following framework can and should be used for planning out your content, at least to get started. We are primarily interested in getting you into the habit of writing articles that you are confident your readers will find interesting. Writing for an audience of zero is not a good use of your time.
- Find leaders in your field
- Find out what the most popular content is on their website
- Consider what is working for others when creating a list of post ideas
- Put your own spin on content and speak your own language
- Repetition is the key
It’s as simple as that.
The effectiveness of this strategy can be attributed to several factors.
It is because the leaders in whichever niche you are blogging about are already making money. It is likely to be a significant amount.
In our opinion, they have cracked the code, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to emulate them.
Having said that, be cool. Be careful not to copy them verbatim.
How to Find Topics to Write About
It is also possible to come up with blog post ideas by finding out what people are already searching for. If the goal is to write content that people want to read, then finding out what they are looking for is another method. By implementing this strategy, you will be able to build free organic traffic from Google.
- You can search Pinterest for phrases related to your niche and see what results you receive
- Check out the “related searches” on Google after searching for a common phrase or problem
- Make use of a free keyword suggestion tool such as UberSuggest
One of the common misconceptions bloggers have about SEO is that you have to purchase complicated and expensive keyword research tools. This is not the case, however. In order to find keywords for your articles, you can use completely free SEO tools. Moreover, these keywords should be ones that will actually help your blog rank highly on search engines.
If you are familiar with what people want to read, you will never run out of topics to write about.
Publish Content That Is Purposeful
You should always have a purpose in mind when creating content:
- Affiliate marketing as a means of making money
- Getting people to subscribe to your email list
- Increasing the number of Facebook followers
- Establishing your authority
It is important to remember that when you write anything. You should clearly state what action you would like your reader to take, and, if required, you should ask them to do it.
Practicing Makes Perfect
The process of determining what type of content to create requires practice. Most likely, you will write a number of articles that you later delete, and that is perfectly acceptable.
As you practice, write more articles, and get to know your audience over time, you will become more adept at creating high-quality content that users will enjoy.
The Best Way to Structure Your Blog Posts So That They Are Read By Your Readers
Whenever you write, it is most important that you do not use walls of text.
A blog post can be quickly ruined by using massive walls of text.
It is important to note that the way we were taught to write in school is not the way you wish to write on your blog. Using large paragraphs, pages, and pages of solid text, etc. is not going to entice readers to stay on your website for an extended period of time.
Therefore, there should be no long paragraphs. However, what about the structure? Are your blog posts written in the same manner as essays?
Both yes and no.
Again, the key here is to break up your articles into bite-sized chunks. You can use the following template:
- The title should be catchy and entice the reader to read the book
- A brief introduction, nothing fancy
- The first item on the list or main pointer (H2 Header)
- A paragraph or two discussing the above point
- To make the article more engaging, include a picture, chart, etc.
- The second main point or item on the list (H2 header)
- A paragraph or two discussing the above point
- Are there any other pictures? The choice is yours!
- (Repeat all of the above for as many sections as necessary)
- A concluding headline that ties everything together
- Provide a brief summary of how the above items explain, help, or describe X
- The call to action (such as sharing, commenting, subscribing, etc.)
You should write enough posts to fill the homepage of your theme (so that it does not appear empty). We will proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Decide Which Social Media Network You Want To Own
In the case of new websites, ranking high on Google does not happen overnight, however, Pinterest may be your secret weapon. When you are a new blogger, it is the best way to get your name out there.
The Best Way to Dominate Pinterest and Grow Your Traffic
For most new bloggers, the best way to get your first significant stream of consistent traffic is to focus exclusively, 100% on Pinterest. Your time would be best spent doing this at this point in your blog’s development.
If you wish to gain a step-by-step guide on growing your Pinterest traffic, we highly recommend checking out ” CREATE AND GO’S COURSE, PINTEREST TRAFFIC AVALANCHE “.
Establish a business account and set up Rich Pins
It is important that you do not build up your Pinterest profile for your website using a personal account.
Having a business account will give you access to Pinterest Analytics, as well as the ability to create “Rich Pins.” It’s also possible to pay Pinterest to promote your pins, but that’s not required.
With rich pins, you can add a bold link title to the description of your pin, making it stand out a bit more. It is very easy to get rich pins (and they are free, don’t worry). There is only one thing you need to do to confirm your website with Pinterest.
Make A “Best Of” Board
Following the creation of your business account, you will need to create your “Best Of” board.
Using this board, you will only be able to store pins that connect to the content on your own website. This is not the appropriate place for pinning other people’s work. It is possible (and advisable) to create a number of other boards in order to accomplish this.
You should keep in mind that other users will be looking for this board as part of their decision as to whether or not they wish to follow you. They will want to know what type of content you contribute to Pinterest by checking out this board. Be sure to include a large number of keywords in your board description to facilitate the search process for your users.
In a perfect world, you would like this board to contain at least 50 pins. Creating multiple pins for each blog post is advisable if there are not that many pieces of content.
Each Blog Post Should Be Pinned Multiple Times
The importance of this can be attributed to a number of factors.
As a first step, it is always advisable to conduct A/B tests. Even if you write the best blog post in the world, if I am not enticed to click on your pin, you have already lost your opportunity.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different image backgrounds, different calls to action (CTAs), and even different keywords in your description.
Additionally, if you make multiple pins, you will be able to accumulate your total pin count on your Best Of board more easily. You should have a decent portfolio of pins when you apply for group boards since you will be expected to share some of them with the board.
The average number of pins I make for an article is two or three. However, there are instances in which we make as many as ten pins for an article if we believe it is a good one that deserves to be seen.
Make Your Pins Stand Out by Branding Them
Honestly, we think we could have done a much better job with this when we were first creating our blog pins. We simply had no idea what we were doing.
If you wish to be recognized on the platform, it is imperative that you have a solid branding strategy.
Many people use Canva or Photoshop to create their pins. It is up to you to determine what works best for you.
Become A Member of Group Boards
Pinterest’s real power lies in this area. In case you are unaware, the number of Pinterest followers you have does not matter much…it all depends on the level of engagement between your followers and you.
This can be accomplished through group boards.
Group boards are boards from someone else’s profile to which others have been granted access. Consequently, when you join a group board, you are given access to someone else’s followers for free.
Although group boards are no longer as effective as they once were, they may still prove useful when it comes to reaching a larger audience and bringing more traffic to your website, especially if you have fewer than 1,000 followers.
What is the process for joining these group boards?
In order to join a board, you should first create a list of the boards that you would like to join. The best way to do this is to look at what group boards some of the top accounts in your niche are contributing to. Alternatively, you may search for group boards related to different topics at PinGroupie.com.
The time you spend on every group board with a large following is not worth it. A tool such as Tailwind will provide you with information about the quality score and engagement of each board. Don’t waste your time contributing to a board where there is a significant amount of activity among pinners, but very little engagement among followers.
It is important to note that each group board administrator will have a different process for applying to their board. Some prefer that you send them an email, while others would like you to send a direct message, others wish to receive comments, and others do not provide any instructions at all.
In the case of a mass group board application, there are a lot of details to keep track of, so we recommend using a spreadsheet. As soon as you have finished creating your spreadsheet, you can get to work and begin contacting each of these individuals.
You may not hear back after a long time, and you will most likely never be added to their boards. It is just the way things are, and that is fine. Understand that rejection is just a part of the process. Cast your net wide and don’t be discouraged by rejection.
You can use the following outreach template to conduct outreach. However, you should keep in mind that board members receive a lot of requests like this. You will have a greater chance of being added if you personalize and unique your email (and if you can offer them something in return, bonus points for you).
Hello _________,
I was hoping to talk to you so we could see if you would be alright with adding me as a contributor to your ___________ ( link to the board, they may have several, and this makes it easier for them ) group boards.
I regularly talk about __________, ___________, and __________ on our website, and believe our content would be both intriguing and valuable to your readers. Furthermore, we enjoy promoting and highlighting other members of the community so that everyone can benefit.
My Pinterest profile: ____________
My Pinterest email: __________
Thanks a lot,
[Your Name]
Put Your Pinning on Autopilot
It is not possible for you to spend all of your time on Pinterest when you are busy building your blog or website.
The use of a Pinterest scheduling tool can be helpful in this situation.
There is software available that takes care of all the pins (as well as finding other people’s stuff to pin) for you, so you don’t need to manually pin all your pins to your group boards. This is an awesome feature.
We have used a number of different programs, but Tailwind has proven to be our favorite by far.
One of the best features of Tailwind is its ability to show you which group boards are performing best for you. By using this information, you are able to concentrate on what is working and eliminate what is not.
Additionally, Tailwind offers a feature similar to Pinterest group boards called tribes. You can think of a tribe as a group of like-minded bloggers within your niche. Each member of the Tribe adds content to the Tribe and pins content from other members.
It is not necessary to purchase the paid version if you are not yet ready to do so. Tailwind offers a free trial, but if you want to grow your traffic, you will eventually need to make the investment. We consider it to be one of the best investments we made for our blog early in its development.
Applicants Who Have Not Heard Back from Group Boards Should Reapply
The fact that you were rejected the first time does not mean you should give up. Your spreadsheet should be reviewed at least every few months for the following reasons:
- It is possible that the board owner missed your direct message, email, etc.
- There may have been a problem with your profile back then, but it has improved significantly since then.
- It is possible that they simply forgot to include you.
It does not matter what might have happened the first time around, make sure you contact them again. There is no risk involved.
Make sure you do not use the exact same script and be courteous and polite at all times.
Step 5: Get Your Blog Monetized
I am sure that you were wondering when we would return to how to actually make money from your blog.
There is a simple truth about blogging: most bloggers do not make any money from their blogs.
The reason for this is that they skip straight to the “making money” steps without undertaking all of the necessary foundational work. Eventually, they give up when they do the blog monetization stuff and do not see any income.
How realistic is it to earn a living through blogging? Certainly realistic.
Is it easy to do? That is definitely not the case!
Conclusion
Making money from blogging requires patience. In light of what we have already said, the first $1,000 you earn on the internet is likely to be among the hardest money you ever earn. However, once you have overcome that hurdle, your income is virtually limitless. An initial investment of $1,000 leads to $2000, then $5000, then $10000, then $25000, then $80000+. There have been numerous instances in which this has occurred.