Anyone can start a blog that makes money on the side. With the right planning, it isn’t all that hard. If you can manage your expectations and looking at it as a way to make some extra money to help with the current rise in cost of living. It’s also beneficial to stick to areas you enjoy creating content on. You may find yourself enjoying and profiting from the process at the same time.

Here are a few quick pointers on how start the process and monetize your blog;

Ideas to start – Brainstorm on topics you enjoy researching or learning about.

Website – Create your own wordpress site. (Wix, Shopify works as well)

Share on social media platforms – Pick multiple platforms outside of your wordpress website, enough you can handle. (3- 5 is a good start)

Create your content – Involve/engage readers in your blog by using “you” and “I” and asking questions for them to consider. Encourage replies to your questions. Engagement is key. If you are struggling to come up with content consider voicing your ideas and transcribing the audio, which can be the basis of your blog.

Include an audio file (mp3) – Create an audio file from the final draft. This can significantly increase your follower count as one can consume your blog passively, in the car, on a run, etc.

Post consistently – GOOD content is KING. Pick a rate you can follow, twice per week, once per week, bi weekly, etc. Pick something and stick to it, be sure it is relevant content – BAD content is counter productive.

Keep it personal – Make the content personal to you, not generic. The reader will better connect if it comes from a personal experience.

BUILD an audience before monetizing. Then ASK your audience.

Blogging is an excellent monetization channel if you take the time to create an audience. You’ll grow a following through blog articles, email newsletters, comment participation, and social media platforms. Through interaction, blogging draws others into your life. Consider your favourite bloggers/content creators. You may feel as if you know them on some level. The personal connection is essential. When you have an audience, market research becomes much easier. Pose a question at the end of one of your blog pieces, which could receive hundreds of comments. These remarks will TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR WORK. Your target audience will suggest what they require and are willing to pay for.

 

Monetize your blog – From the feedback you get you can use one or more of the following methods to monetize your content.

Sell Physical Products – Publish great content, service your client’s needs, and direct them to an Amazon sales page or another sales page that addresses their needs.

Make Money With Advertisements – Sell advertising space. Anyone can put an ad on their blog by using GOOGLE ADS. However, you can make good money from private sales of ad placements on your site. If you build a high-traffic blog, you can make a good income selling ad spots on your website. Simply add their banner and keep doing what you were doing: write about what you are passionate about or your expertise.

Because money should not be the driving motive in the beginning, monetizing is the final stage in developing a profitable blog. Build significant content, relationships, and a community, and your audience will point you in the correct way by expressing their requirements. Fulfilling those requirements is how you can make money blogging.

Affiliate Marketing – Use your presence to market things for others. Affiliate marketing is the simplest way to accomplish this. This is when you promote other people’s items on your blog in exchange for a commission on each transaction that can be tracked back to your blog. Find an affiliate network or program that you HONESTLY like. Create material that incorporates links from your affiliate program.

Influencer Marketing/Sponsored Content – As your blog grows in popularity, you can begin to advertise yourself, and you may find yourself becoming an influencer. An influencer is someone who works with a brand to promote their products or services to their target demographic. Most people think of social media influencers, but you can also establish a following as a blogger and turn it into a revenue stream. This is usually accomplished through sponsored material.

Sell Your Business – If you are self-employed or run a small business, the simplest solution on this list is to create a blog that allows you to sell your main business. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Write your posts, then close with a plug for your other content? Not quite. Readers aren’t going to a blog to be marketed to; if you write your blogs like sales sites, they will be turned off.

What do your readers want to know? They have a question that they would like a blog to answer. The role of a company blog is to provide that information while also creating trust with the reader. For instance, if you own a bakery, you could write a blog about the health advantages of cinnamon. Those that found it useful and memorable may purchase products you sell with cinnamon as you would be top of mind.

Final thoughts and where you can find more information 

Creating a blog is an opportunity to supplement your income. Just like anything else, do your research, do the proper planning, and be consistent. Manage your expectations to suit your abilities, objectives, financial situation, and free time. There are many resources online to help you get your blog started. Here are a few to look at:

From Entrepreneur.com: https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/8-ways-to-monetize-your-blog-and-make-money-online/293808

When To Start Monetizing Your Blog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1I_Z_dPyp0

 

When done properly, a blog has enormous potential for growth and profit. Who knows, while it might help balance the current higher cost of living, it could also be the start to a new career.