How to Start Blogging and Earn Money: The first thing you need to start making money is to have an idea and the name of your blog. Think about the topics you would like to write about frequently.
After that, sign up for the Basic plan with Hostingspell. Even if you’re not on a budget, this is pretty much a steal at just ₹ 500 per year.
And with this, you will have your own blog domain. Hurrah!
The following steps will have you installing WordPress (it’s a one-click install with Hostingspell) and then finally writing and publishing your first blog post.
Once you’ve published a few posts and started to drive some traffic, you can work on monetizing your blog to earn your first money.
To do this, you will need to sign up for a Google AdSense and Amazon Associates account to earn money through ads and affiliate marketing, respectively. You can also sell your own products and services after generating a lot of traffic to your site.
That was the basics. Let’s get into the details now.
How to Start Blogging and Earn Money
Step 1: discover your blog niche
The first thing on the agenda is deciding what your blog is going to be about. Whether you want to talk about marketing, CBD, veganism, or just random life stories, find out.
Remember, your idea doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but you do need a unique voice.
Here are two tips for deciding on a blog niche:
Choose something you enjoy
I know this sounds like a cliché, but there’s no point blogging about it if you don’t like the topic.
Never start blogging about something you don’t like; it will show up in your writing and your readers will know it. Also, you won’t be able to consistently produce top-notch content to build your audience and then monetize it.
Make a list of things that make you naturally curious and that you enjoy learning about. Or think about what your friends and family turn to when they seek advice.
Find out if a potential niche has readers
The only way you can make money from your blog is if you have enough visitors to the site.
Let’s say you’ve already discovered your blog niche and want to write about arts and crafts. You make a smart decision to dig deeper and develop a blog dedicated exclusively to paper art or scrapbooking. While you enjoy writing on both topics, you prefer to focus primarily on one.
But how do you choose between the two options?
Answer: do a quick Google search.
As you can see, there are many more results related to art on paper than there are scrapbooks. Therefore, it makes more sense to write about art on paper, which is what the public is looking for.
I’d also like to add that it’s best to avoid broad or generic topics. Don’t be afraid to be specific whenever you have an interest.
For example, if you want to create a food blog, don’t use words like “food.” Instead, use “barbecue” or “vegan.”
Do you understand my point?
Step 2: Give your blog a name
Once an idea is in place, you must work on naming your blog.
Does the name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta sound familiar to you? Thought like this.
But I bet Lady Gaga does.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is Lady Gaga’s real name. He decided to go for a more catchy, memorable alternative that aligns better with his music.
That is the power of the correct name.
Choosing a blog name is both exciting and overwhelming. After all, this will be your brand and it will determine how people will remember you.
Don’t overthink it and don’t give your blog a random or offensive name.
Consider the following questions when deciding on a name:
- Does it reflect what your blog will be about? Would your target audience like it?
- Is the name easy to say and spell?
- Is it short and concise?
I chose my own name as my Company Name (blog.techsv.in) You could do what I did or think of something completely different. Whatever name you come up with, make sure it’s available as website domains.
You can use Hostingspell domain name checker for this purpose. Type each potential name in the search bar and click Check Availability to find out.
I recommend opting for a .com whenever possible. But they can be expensive, I know.
If they take all the good .coms, don’t worry. Think about the keywords in your main URL.
If your target was talkCBDtome.com but someone else came first, try talkCBDto.me for something cheaper and just as easy to remember. Do not buy an available domain at this time. I have something up my sleeve to help you get it for free.
Step 3: Sign up with a web host like Hostingspell
You must register with a web host to publish your blog, along with a registered domain name that will serve as your blog address.
I recommend Hostingspell as it is without a doubt one of the best web hosting companies to guarantee excellent service.
You’re welcome.
Register the domain name you came up with without having to pay anything extra. Just make sure the drop-down is set to .com before you click Next.
Following this, you need to sign in using your Google account. You can also manually enter your personal credentials.
Then sign up for the basic plan. You can always update later, but since you’re just starting a blog, it’s best to stick with the Basic plan.
Finally, enter your payment information, read the terms and conditions, and hit submit.
This is the point where you will have your blog!
Complete all the remaining instructions to set up your account and then proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Install WordPress CMS
You have your web host, then you need a blogging software. I rely on WordPress to run all of my blogs as it is easy to use, feature rich, and free. Also, you can install thousands of free plugins to make your blog more functional and customize it however you want.
After registering with Hostingspell, you will have a hosting account. Log in by filling in your credentials and then click Install WordPress.
Then select DIY (FREE) and hit Install, followed by Verify Domain. Lastly, acknowledge the WordPress terms of service and finish your installation.
Ta-Da! You now have a fully functional WordPress blog ready to go.
Step 5: Design your WordPress blog
To design a blog, you need to select an attractive and affordable WordPress theme.
Why do you need this? Well, after signing up for WordPress, your blog will look like this:
Not exactly what you would call elegant and cozy, is it? The appearance of your website can help drive more website traffic, which, in turn, will allow you to earn more money.
Fortunately, WordPress has thousands upon thousands of themes for you to choose from. I’ve even summarized some of the best. Here’s how you can select a WordPress theme:
- Login to your WordPress account.
- Click Appearance in the sidebar menu of your dashboard.
- In the drop-down options, select Themes.
- Go to Add New, located at the top of the screen, to get access to thousands of stylish WordPress themes. You can also click Feature Filter to filter your search and see the options that best suit your tastes.
You should choose a theme that suits your personal style, but at the same time, it should also be in sync with your blog niche.
- Preview the theme to see what it will look like.
- If you like the preview of a specific theme, click Install and then Activate.
With a nice new theme, your website will get a much needed update that will make it look attractive to visitors.
Step 6: Think of cool blog topics
If you want to be successful blogging, you need to keep doing your best to drive more website traffic or encourage more email subscriptions. The best way to do this is through what you are already doing in your blog posts: offering your readers interesting content.
But what if you’ve already exhausted your best ideas in previous blog posts?
My advice is to make a list of the questions you get frequently. Trust me, in just 30 minutes, you’ll be able to find a ton of potential new blogging topics. Your priority should be to look at things from your reader’s point of view.
You can also focus on higher-level questions. The following five are the ones I suggest you ask yourself to keep on your readers’ minds.
Suppose you want to start a parenting blog for stay-at-home moms. Let’s go over those five questions with that example in mind:
Q1) What could be an interesting or interesting topic of conversation for your readers?
For stay-at-home moms, topics related to sleep training, family activities, and inexpensive meal ideas can be a good starting point. Q2) What are your reader’s weaknesses and challenges?
Common household challenges for stay-at-home mothers could be meal planning, understanding developmental milestones, etc.
Q3) What are the character traits of your readers?
Moms are often patient and caring and appreciate a sense of humor about the hard work of raising children.
Q4) What niche topics would appeal to your readers the most? A child’s mental, physical, and emotional development could be effective talking points for homemakers.
Q5) What topics would your readers hate about the niche?
Stay-at-home mothers don’t like being put down by others. So you could blog about how society views them and their impact.
Similarly, you can use the questions above to brainstorm according to your niche. While you’re at it, don’t forget to come up with a catchy headline that will instantly make the reader click through to your blog.
Step 7: Optimize your blogs for SEO
Search engine optimization or SEO is a crucial step in making money through blogging. Here, you will optimize your website to rank higher in search engines for specific keywords and phrases.
If you’ve been following me for a long time, you may already know that SEO is my asset.
In WordPress, you can optimize your content and blog by downloading a plugin called Yoast SEO.
Go to the Plugins menu and click Add New. Search for Yoast SEO in the search bar and then install the plugin.
Don’t forget to activate it to complete the installation process.
You will see that this plugin will give you all kinds of improvement tips and suggestions based on the keyword you select to help you optimize your content. I would recommend incorporating as many suggestions as possible to improve SEO and readability of the content.
Step 8: Sign up for Google AdSense
Setting up ads is the best way to monetize your blog. But you have to be smart about it.
The biggest mistake people make is bombarding their sites with flashing ads. Avoid this at all costs.
Instead, focus on using targeted ads that engage your customers without disturbing them. To start making money from ads, you need a Google AdSense account. Go to the AdSense page and click Sign up now. If you don’t have an existing Google account, you need to set up a new one. If you already have a Google account, just log in.
Complete all relevant information before submitting your application. The AdSense team reviews all the apps and if all goes well, you will be in!
Then follow the steps below to set up your account:
- Go to your AdSense dashboard and click My Ads> New Ad Unit.
- Select your ad size and ad type. Once you’re done, select Save and get the code.
- You will get a code snippet that you then need to copy and paste between the tags on your page. This is what it will look like.
- Once you’ve pasted the code, your ad will be active. Your AdSense dashboard will have all the information about your income, so check it regularly.
While you can use as many ads as you like, I’d recommend starting with just one, maybe two at the most, to get an idea of how your audience responds to them.
If you see a higher bounce rate on your dashboard, you should consider repositioning your current ads for better results.
How to make money blogging FAQs
How to Start Blogging and Earn Money
Yes, there are a variety of ways to make money from blogging; such as posting advertisements, posting of paid associations, including affiliate links, etc.
What is the first step to creating a successful blog?
The first step in creating a successful blog is choosing a specific topic for your blog. Do market research and see what other blogs already exist; You don’t want your blog to cover an area that is already dense with similar blogs. Also, try to choose a topic that has natural links to money-making blogging techniques, such as an association, sponsored posts, or affiliate links.
How much do successful bloggers make?
As of 2020, successful bloggers can earn up to 7 figures per year. But those are just the top bloggers in popular and successful industries like marketing or parenting.
How long can I wait for my blog to start making money?
Your blog can generate income in as little as six months from when you start it.
How To Make Money Blogging Conclusion
There is a difference between simply having a blog and monetizing a blog. For this transition to be successful, you will need to take a more proactive and focused approach.
You got this!
Just stay focused and constantly work to keep improving your blog and building trust between you and your audience. And follow my steps above to get things started on the right track.
Remember to stick with what works and you will have a successful formula.
Have you already tried blogging? Tell me about your experience.
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