Whether you’ve already started a blog or not, I can tell you one thing for sure: you want to make money. We all do. We need it to survive. What’s so cool about today is that we can do it pretty much anywhere with the internet. My personal preference is to make money from my blog. In this post, I will explain step by step how to create a profitable blog in 2020. How to increase your visibility, make blogging fun and of course how to make money from your blog.
Reading: How to create a profitable blog in 2018
Making money from your blog sometimes seems like a far-fetched idea . There are billions of blogs out there. There are so many things to write about and set up. But in reality, it doesn’t have to feel that overwhelming. I remember when I first started my blog in 2012. I first created a niche blog focused on deals of the day in Dallas. It felt good, but it was soulless. It had nothing to do with me and it didn’t make me happy.
Then I created Helene in Between (my current blog). The blog didn’t have a clear direction, but I loved working on it. Fast forward to now. I still don’t believe in blog niches, but I do believe in a focused blog. I write about blogging and social media, as well as my travels and life abroad. It’s not so narrow that I get bored, but it’s not so wide that I want to throw in the towel with so much to do.
Today I can say that I’ve not only achieved my blogging goals fulfill and make money from my passion but live my dream. I’ve moved abroad, work from all over the world and enjoy it. I’m an average person. I’m neither famous nor a genius. We all have our strengths. We can all find our passions, fine-tune them, and create a blog and life we want. Don’t underestimate your potential. We are all unique and we all have resources that we can and should share. No matter what you want to focus on.
This guide aims to give you everything you need to start blogging profitably this year. Whether you’re starting from scratch and not even sure where to find a logo, or you’ve been at it for a while and are ready to make money and see more traffic. It’s easy to create a blog you love and a blog you can benefit from. Here’s how.
Since this post is very in-depth, I’ve made a handy quick jump to the section so you can look up exactly where you need to go.
Step 1. What do you want to be known for?Step 2. How to decide what to blog aboutStep 3. Start a BlogStep 4. Click PublishStep 5. Drive Traffic to Your BlogStep 6. Create an Opt InStep 7. Make Money BloggingStep 8. Learn a Skill
No matter what blogging stage you are in, I encourage you to read this guide in its entirety. I’ve broken down the best ways to ensure your blog is on a stable path and helping you make money. Yes, even from the start!
Step One: What do you want to be known for?
I think in order to make money blogging you need to figure out what you want to be known for for. Well, that doesn’t mean you have to choose a niche. Of course, if you are passionate about a certain topic, you should definitely give it a try. But if you’re like me and have different interests and topics to write about, you can still benefit from your blog.
So many times we’re told that we need to choose a niche and when if we do that, we can take advantage of it and grow our blogs. I am here to tell you that is not the case. I believe focusing on interesting, relevant, and valuable content is key to a successful blog.
Rather than finding a niche, think about what you’re going to focus on . Answer this question: what do you want to be known for? Maybe you like to talk about delicious recipes with southern flair. Maybe you will help bloggers create beautiful graphics. Or you are a traveler exploring destinations off the beaten track. Don’t worry if you are a combination. The key here is to focus on your passions. There is no way to have a profitable, money-making blog if your focus is just trying to make money. People will see through this.
Basically, we want to write the type of content that people crave. That is: reminds us that we matter, gives us hope or confidence in the bigger picture, explains or tells a story, shows your authenticity, arouses our emotions, surprises us (in a good or bad way), confirms our assumptions, takes us on a journey, challenges our way of thinking, entertains us, shows us successes and/or failures and/or gives us a unique perspective. Despite all of this, realize that your message will resonate with someone. It’s important to make it public.
Step Two: How to decide what to blog about
Did you know exactly what you wanted to be growing up? What’s up at school? For me I had no idea.I was always jealous of those who knew they wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, a mother, etc. I wasn’t so sure. The same goes for blogging. Most people don’t know what topic to choose.
Deciding what to blog about can be one of the hardest parts. But if you KNOW you want to start a blog, my advice is: JUST DO IT. Just start. If you don’t start now, why wait later? Clicking “Publish” on a post now won’t shake the world, but it won’t (most likely) offend or hurt anyone either. So many people tell me, “I’m so scared!”
It can be scary to click publish, but it’s not a time like now.
When it comes to this going to create a blog I suggest doing a bit of brainstorming. Write down some things you love and then start putting pen to paper. Or fingers on the keyboard.
Do you have to have a niche blog? My answer is of course no. But let’s take a look at someone else: hunting foxes. This is just a wonderful blog that writes about everything and follows their passion. You earn 5 figures a month. How? They write well and focus on a Pinterest strategy (more on that later, keep reading!).
Profitable Blog Topics:
How to save money when… e.g. B. Shopping, buying a home, renting/buying a car, saving for college, on Sephora
Tips for curing…hiccups, blog design, writer’s block, ugly photos, burnt dinner
Sun find… the perfect prom dress, the best makeup for your face shape, the best friendsgiving recipe
20 websites you should visit if you want to be a better… chef, blogger, web designer, photographer, tennis player
How to make money on…ebay, flea markets, Etsy
How to stop…procrastinating, overeating, being afraid
How to start …exercise, eat healthy, work for a magazine
What does it all mean? Pick a few things that are close to your heart and write with concentration. Remember, it’s okay if this changes! The beauty of blogging is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. There’s this myth that for great SEO (search engine optimization is how search engines like Google find your blog) you have to blog about a tiny thing. For example, how to properly clean your toothbrush. Can you imagine writing about cleaning a toothbrush every day? No. And it’s just not true. I write about a variety of things and I still rank FIRST in many search engines for certain terms.
I have posts on this blog about how I broke my ankle huh I did what I built a successful blog and a trip to Copenhagen over the weekend. Did I mention that I have high domain authority? This means I rank high for the “keywords” I use on Google. I’ve changed what I write about, my direction, and more over the years. But I (try) to write quality posts that my readers will benefit from.
So bottom line: relax and let’s start this blog! If you already have a blog, skip to point five.
Step Three: Start a Blog
To be clear, you CAN start a blog on a budget. But please, please set it up right the first time so you don’t have any stress later. There is a (tiny) bit of grunt work to start a blog. But I’ll walk you through it. I guarantee if I can do it, so can you.
Set up hosting and domain names
I’ve been to all the major platforms: Blogger, Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress. I wish I would just stick with WordPress forever. This is coming from someone who was a full-time professional blogger who was once on Blogger. WordPress does everything and then some. If you want a detailed pro/con list of why you should choose WordPress or any other platform, read this post.
Next, you need hosting. Hosting is the service that allows your website to be viewed and ensures that it can handle the traffic. I did tons of research before making a decision (if you know me, you know that I always exaggerate my research). And I found the best hosting provider with Siteground. The main reasons? Reliability, support and ease of use. Siteground works and they are there for you when you need them. Which can be very important when you encounter problems with your blog. They also offer an easy-to-use installer and free transfer. Here’s how to seamlessly transition your blog.
Create a profitable blog with Siteground today.
Once you click Siteground, follow these steps :
- Click on “Web Hosting”, the first option you see on the left. Click Learn More.
- Choose a plan. I suggest starting with “StartUp” (first option on the left). Click Get Started.
- Next, register your domain OR select that you already have a domain. Here you enter your “www.yourblgonamehere.com”. What I LOVE about Siteground is that you can create a new domain right from the program. Click Continue.
- Enter your contact and payment information.I suggest using the privacy and website monitoring services. This is to protect your privacy. But of course they are optional.
- Install WordPress. You can have Siteground set it up for you too! Or see my detailed description here.
Choose a theme
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The theme of your blog gives it the look and feel you want and allows you to structure your blog as you see fit. If you are not a programmer I suggest having a theme. A theme has two parts: the frame (think of it as the frame of a house) and the sub-theme (think of it as paint and landscaping). . The framework forms the bones or foundation of your blog. I use and recommend Genesis. This is what I use for myself and that’s because it’s the best choice and works with a lot of my favorite child themes.
What your child theme</ Concerned, this is what you can think about the blog design. There are many options out there. I recommend Restored 316 and the options on Creative Market. One brand I've really loved lately for budget (under $50 think) designs is Code + Coconut. Simple and pretty themes that work with Genesis too. It will take time to choose this, but know that you can change it at any time. If you're feeling particularly stumped with any of the above, you can always ask for help. I use a company called WP Help to manage my blog and install my themes.
You may notice that some blogs add things like opt-in boxes, social sharing buttons, and more have. These are plugins that they install on their blog (many are free) to further customize the look and feel of the blog. If you want to know what I use, check out this post on my favorite tools and plugins. I describe everything I use and how I use it.
Choose a logo
If you’re looking for a logo, you can use tools like Canva or Photoshop to design it yourself. If, like me, you’re not great at design, there are a few tools that can really help you. I love the designs in Creative Market. You just search for a logo you like and can even find designers who can customize it.
I wanted a bit more detail for my logo but when I was looking for a designer I found that it was insanely expensive. Then I discovered 99 Designs. Y’all, this is a game changer! If you need some design (even a website) I highly recommend this. Here’s how it works: Specify what you’re looking for. Then you’ll hear from dozens of professional designers and narrow down your favorites and what you like on your site. Then you pick your 3 best designers and they compete to create the best graphic for you. You pay a price. It’s a lot cheaper than hiring someone, and you have literally dozens of options. I’m obsessed!
Step Four: Click Publish
One of the most common questions I get asked is when should I start posting to my blog? My answer? Yesterday. There is no right time. The sea will not part, you will not receive a magic sign. Many people are afraid to share. It can be scary to reveal more of yourself online. That’s what a blog is, isn’t it? But to be successful, you just have to do it.
Yes, I suggest having an “About Me” page, a “Contact Us” page and maybe a page dedicated to your interests is or intends to write about it, but it is not necessary if you click publish for the first time. Just standing out there is enough. As you start writing you will learn what works for you and this will help you to structure your other pages and your blog itself.
Remember that your blog My blog has gone through a number of major changes over the years: name change, about a dozen different blog designs, writing, direction, etc. I find that as you grow, your blog will grow with you and write. The important step is to find your ideal reader. Who should read your blog? You MUST map this. And it’s important to think about it at every step. You can’t improve your blog, make money from blogging, or increase traffic without a solid understanding of your ideal follower.
To me, my blog is a mix of things , but my reader is clear: She is a woman between 20 and 40 who wants to live a meaningful life through experiences and goals. Tailoring your work to a specific audience is one of the best things you can do for your blog. If you try to write to everyone, you end up writing to no one. So sit down and find out who your ideal reader really is, and then you will find your community.
Writing great content will not only get you found online, it will build trust with readers . When you inspire trust in your audience, they will be more likely to stay, share your blog, and buy from you too.
Step Five: Drive traffic to your blog
How do you drive traffic to your blog? There are only two things you need to really grow traffic and create a money-making blog: killer content and a community. I’ll go deep into what that means for both. My blog gets 250,000 page views every month. Here’s how.
First and foremost, write great content. It sounds simple, but it isn’t. To build an enthusiastic audience that keeps coming back, you need to write wonderful content. You must write something valuable. This can mean very different things to different people. You might talk about your infertility problems. Many women out there can relate to the same feelings of hopelessness. Or you write something funny about shopping in a foreign country. People will connect with it or it will make them laugh. If you’re a social media expert, learn how to easily grow your Facebook page. All of this adds value and provides inspiration. I like to call this “essential content“.
You want to write content that will make people say, wow, I want to read this blog again.
And then they do. They subscribe to your newsletter or follow you on social media. Now you’ve started building a community. This community is the one that will keep coming back. But beyond that, they will share your content and most likely BUY from you! Think of a blog you love. why are you following him Now apply that to yourself. You need to create and nurture a community and build it with consistent, great content. That doesn’t mean you have to post daily. I post about 2 times a week and I’m happy with that (and get about 250,000 views a month on my blog). You have to do what works for you.
Honestly, you can’t have one without the other. When you have a community, you don’t want to upset them with less than subpar content. When you have great content that encourages your community to spread the word and keep coming back for more. If you can do both, you’ll be on your way to continuously increasing traffic and making money.
Now, of course, social media plays an important role in this community and increases traffic . For this, I suggest being on all platforms, but focusing your efforts on one or two where you see the greatest potential. For example, I see most traffic (personal) from Pinterest and Instagram. Therefore, I mainly focus on these two social media platforms. I share regularly on Instagram and Pinterest and am always learning how to improve my skills on both.
Here are some of my best social media posts:
Instagram:
How I doubled my Instagram followers in 5 months
How to create an Instagram theme (and why you should do it)
Why Instagram is the #1 Social Media Tool for Your Blog or Business
My Favorite Hashtags to Gain Likes and Grow Your Instagram Organically
Facebook:
75 Facebook Groups for Bloggers and Entrepreneurs
Why Your Facebook Reach Is Low
Why you need a Facebook Page for your blog
Twitter:
Best time to post on Twitter
Pinterest:
How to go viral on Pinterest
Using Pinterest Analytics
Step 6: Create an opt-in
Okay, you write great stuff and build your community. You start gaining traffic. But wait, how can you keep them close?! Better yet, how to make money? You must create an opt-in. This free signup ensures they stay with you and hopefully buy from you in the future. When you create a newsletter or email list for your blog, you have the opportunity to choose exactly the kind of people you want to visit again and again.
Let’s say you write, for example contributing to your delicious healthy recipes. You create an opt-in for a free meal calendar. Eventually, you will sell your recipe eBook. Since you created the giveaway, you already have people on your email list who are your target audience and would be very interested in buying from you.
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Believe me when I say my email list for the first time, I was at 0. Within 5 months I reached 5,000 newsletter subscribers and was making about $1,500 a month – just from my email list! Your newsletter is your direct connection to your audience. By building an email list, you will turn casual readers into buyers and lifelong fans of your blog.
Many people are concerned about how often they should send out a newsletter (aka when they don’t have time) or not sure what to send people. There is no set of rules when it comes to creating an opt-in. You don’t have to send something every time you post, every week, or even every month.Personally, I only send out my newsletter when I want to share something important (like a big life change), something valuable (like an offer or sale of a product I use that they might want to use), or when I’m promoting my own products or host a webinar. Honestly, I could share my newsletter every three months or so.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to create a newsletter for your blog. I recommend using Convertkit as it’s a no-fuss, easy-to-setup platform built by bloggers for bloggers. I’ve used MailChimp in the past (it’s free for up to 2,000 subscribers), but Convertkit is just so much more intuitive and helps me make more money because I can easily segment my list. I also think it’s easier to create the freebie and link it to my blog via Convertkit.
Here is the process:
1. Write a post about a topic that is close to your heart.
2. Create a “giveaway” that people can sign up for that is related to the post. Example: an e-book, checklist or PDF guide. You can create this directly from your computer.
3. When they “subscribe” they automatically send them an email with their giveaway. I do this seamlessly in Convertkit by creating a form that will automatically send you the download.
4. That’s it!! Email your list only when you feel like it.
If you’re building an email list, don’t worry about getting multiple welcome emails or signups receive. Just start and you will learn over time. The important step is to just start with it, and over time you’ll see which posts work when you create a subscription.
Step Seven: Make money blogging
Let’s get something straight If you’ve just moved to this step, you can’t make money blogging without the above points. You need to know who you’re blogging for, why, create great content, and have a community. That must be in place before you can make any money. They are all related and reflect whether or not you start monetizing your blog.
For me there are many ways to make money blogging. But in reality there are 4 key ways to create income for a blogger. These are: advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored opportunities, products (digital and physical), and online education. I want to take a quick look at them and how you can use them for your blog.
Advertisements
The ads in the sidebar, top, middle, and bottom of a blog are advertisements . These can come from places like a network like Google Adsense. How ad networks work: You get paid per view and click on the ads. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t cost around $1 per click and 20 cents per view. It’s a lot lower than that. But it still adds up. The key here: the more views, the more money you will make. Back when blogs came into existence, bloggers could make a full-time income just from ads. Not the case anymore. If you’re not getting millions of views every month, you’ll need other strategies to make a full-time income.
How to get successful with advertising on your blog: The more page views, the more likely you are to get Increase your advertising revenue.
Affiliate Marketing
One of my favorite ways to monetize a blog is through affiliate marketing. Here’s how it works: You share about products, services, and everything you already love on your blog. With affiliate links, you link to the product and earn a small commission if your readers click and buy. I love sharing the products that help me grow my blog. And I make sure to only share products that work for me. For example, I’m a big fan of Hootsuite, a social media scheduling tool. If I blog about it (e.g. this post on scheduling blog posts like a boss) I know I’ll get a small commission if other people click and buy. It’s already something I use and love, and my readers can trust me to only share about products I recommend.
I also suggest creating posts related to the product or how you use it. If you show your audience why it’s important or how it’s being used, they’re more likely to buy it. Again, this reflects creating a community and sharing valuable content.
How to achieve success with affiliate marketing on your blog: Only share products and services that you love. Write posts that are directly related to the product and take it a step further by sending an email to your list to encourage them to buy the product.
Sponsored Opportunities
Sponsored Posts are those where the payment comes from either a company or a third party who pays you a flat fee to promote their product, service, event or place as you like it name in your contribution. For example, earlier this year I worked with Visit Britain to write about my experiences in Manchester and Liverpool. I was paid to write about my honest opinion. I’ve also worked with companies like Pollinate Media and Collective Bias that help you connect with companies that want to work with influencers.
If you want to see how to work with companies, check out How to make money from sponsored posts. OR, if you’re a travel blogger, check out the complete guide to landing sponsored trips. No matter what stage you are in, you can get sponsored blog posts or social media shares.
How to Succeed with Sponsored Opportunities on Your Blog: Only include things that your readers would love. Write the post in your normal blogging voice and deliver it on time. Don’t be afraid to negotiate and reach out.
Products or Services
As far as products go, you can sell anything! From an eBook, course, coffee mug, t-shirt, one-on-one coaching, you name it. Most of the time these products require some legwork i.e. you need to set it up, create the payment system, provide the product or online education and promote it. But at the same time, there are more ways for you to make money. Instead of getting a portion of the profits, you get the entire profits.
If you can provide value, be it a service or a product, you can sell something from your blog. The key is understanding what your audience needs and how you are uniquely qualified to deliver it to them. Suppose you are a graphic designer. You often write about how to create simple graphics. You’ll start a course on how to design your blog from scratch. You can sell the course through Teachable (or really any platform where you can sell courses or books) and promote the course on your blog, newsletter, and social media.
A place I for sale Recommending your digital products or courses is SamCart. I use this to accept payments for my eBook, Lightroom presets and my online course. It’s easy to use and makes selling your stuff easy. You can visit my shop here.
If you’re selling a physical product, Etsy is a great place to do so, or you can have your own storefront with Shopify.
Like you Find success with products or services on your blog: Understand who you are selling to and WHY they need it. Create an action plan and stick to it!
No matter what area you want to focus on, it’s a good idea to have more than one iron in the fire. I personally generate income from all of the above and it ensures I have an income stream no matter what. Even if you’re a beginner blogger, you can still make an income, especially if you have a solid understanding of your reader, a newsletter, and some social media. Don’t forget to analyze your results. This applies to your entire blog. Keep track of your stats so you can see where you can improve and what topics people are drawn to.
Step Eight: Learn a Skill
I am firmly believes that the best way to grow is to stay learning. I always take an online class, read a book or blog, or listen to a podcast to learn what works for me online. Improving your skills will not only help you improve them, but also help you make money.
Remember what I said above about concentrating some efforts on social media? Learning a new skill and improving your social media, SEO, writing development, keyword research, etc. is a great way to keep growing. I’ve taken courses on webinars, email marketing, SEO, business, Facebook ads, and more. Do your research to make sure the offer, course, or book is legitimate. Then do it. Make sure you take responsibility along the way.
If you made it to the end of this post… congratulations! I know that was a slob. But I wanted to fully cover the best way to monetize your blog no matter where you are. The best way to create a profitable blog is when you are passionate about what you do and share valuable content with your readers.
Now that I’ve given you all these strategies, go we go one step further! I have my most downloaded eBook: 14 Days to a Better Blog. You’ll learn simple strategies that will change the game for your blog.
Here are some posts you may find helpful:
Top 7 Ways to Boost Blog Traffic (0-250,000 page views per month)
How I Made $15,000 Last Month While Traveling Full Time
The Ultimate Guide to Blog Traffic (How I Consistently Increase Each Month generate 200,000 page views)
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