Many people think that blogging is a hobby or a part-time job. They are sure that you can’t make a living out of writing for your website or call it work. However, there are more than 32 million bloggers in the US alone, and the number continues to grow. Some of them use blogs as a way to share thoughts after work, while others begin a new career and make good profits. In this article, we want to discuss the pros and cons of starting a blog, as well as how to make money blogging and what topics to cover.
Blogger
Reasons to become a blogger
Here and there, we hear the stories of successful writers who quit their regular jobs and work from a home office somewhere in Mexico or Bali. Do you want to be like them? Then let’s start with discussing blogging advantages:
- You become an expert in the niche, which over time can result in the author’s courses, publications, and books.
- You are your own boss. You work for yourself, plan the schedule, and don’t have to report to anyone.
- Development of new skills. Bloggers should not only be good at writing but also know the principles of marketing, SEO, design, and web development.
- You gain financial independence. Instead of having a fixed income, you directly influence how much you can earn. Seasoned bloggers make millions of dollars per year!
- Work from any place on earth. Instead of being glued to an office desk, you can write from a beach, hotel room amidst a desert, or your own cozy bedroom wearing a PJ.
Things to keep in mind
On the Internet, you may come across thousands of blogging websites and think that it is a very easy and rewarding job. Especially considering that there are so many free tutorials on how to start a blog and monetize it. In reality, this job is not for everyone, and you should consider all the crucial features before starting this journey. They include:
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You must have strong writing skills
It’s good to be an expert in a certain field, but you won’t be able to engage readers without writing in an interesting manner. Writing skills, like any other proficiency, should be practiced and sharpened every day.
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It requires hard work and patience
Be ready that your blog won’t be a success overnight. It will take time while Google and readers discover and understand its value. Thus, if you need fast results, starting a blog is not the best idea.
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Consistency is crucial
Make a schedule of the upcoming posts and stick to it. Let your readers know when they can expect the next entry, and never let them down.
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You need to be disciplined and organized
When people start working for themselves, they often give way to laziness and forget about schedules. It results in late post submissions and missing important tasks.
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There should be other sources of income
Blogging can’t guarantee you a stable income if you don’t have an army of loyal followers. Your website can always go down or be hacked, and for a while, you’ll be left without earnings. So there should always be a plan B.
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Be adaptable to changes
Google is constantly changing its algorithms, and the leading bloggers dictate new rules. The market is not the same as it was even a few years ago, so a successful writer should always keep an eye on the industry and be able to adapt quickly.
Popular blog topics
Blogging about life or travel is very popular. However, there are many other topics that you can cover. First of all, think of the things that you love and are good at. Then, research the Internet and find out whether the topic is in demand. But if you are still struggling to make a decision, here are a few interesting hints:
- Instructions and guidelines
- Recipes for children
- Interviews
- Politics
- Tech news
- Self-development
- Educational resources
- Healthy nutrition for busy people
- Learning a foreign language
- Cryptocurrency
- How to travel cheap
- Writing
- Building strong relationships
- DIY
- Makeup
When the topic is chosen, you should pick a domain name, hosting provider, and platform to publish. Then, create a content plan and start filling the blog.
Keep in mind that today video is the key format for any blog. Even if your blog is more about articles, feel free to support it with awesome engaging videos.
How much can you earn?
Those who decide to start blogging for money are interested in how much they can earn. Well, the answer is rather foggy because blogging profits depend on your skills, time spent, monetization strategy, and other features. Many bloggers earn around $200 – $2,500 a month during their first years. More experienced bloggers with a good monetization strategy make $3,000 – $10,000 every month. The best bloggers in the niche have seven-figure profits from writing.
Salaries from blogging greatly depend on the way you decide to monetize the website. For example, some hire full-time writers and pay them a fixed salary of around $50,000 – $70,000 per year. Freelance bloggers that write for someone else’s websites make from 10 cents to $1 per word. And those who start their own blogs make money through monetization. For example, ads, sponsored posts, selling products, and affiliate marketing.
Conclusion
Along with the world’s digitalization and the global pandemic came drastic changes in the way we work. Most people are no longer satisfied with 9-to-5 jobs and want to be more flexible. And if you are an expert in a certain field and like writing, starting a blog might be a great option. Especially considering that the future of blogging has never been brighter.
Get familiar with blogging tips and online tutorials, and don’t hesitate to start this amazing journey.