Bloggers reported that after just two years of growing traffic and subscribers, they can earn upwards of $100,000 annually. Within the first year, many new bloggers make anywhere from $500-$2,000 per month.
As you can see, you can earn a wide income range as a blogger. But aside from the numbers, remember these important takeaways before you begin:
- You don’t need to be a professional writer to make it work. I used to think that every blog post needed to sound like an experienced writer had written it. Turns out, readers care way more about someone who can speak to them honestly and provide value.
- Diversify your income streams. Some of the most successful bloggers I know use a mix of affiliate links, sponsored posts and selling their own products. More strategies give you more chances to earn.
- Follow tried-and-true strategies from successful bloggers. One thing I noticed early on is that blogging doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The same monetization methods work again and again if you know how to implement them.
For that reason, earning money begins with choosing a strategic blogging niche and spreading the word about your blog. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a profitable niche
Before you dive into writing, you’ll need to select a blog niche. To find my niche, I asked myself three questions, and you should too:
- What are my interests? You’ll be investing a lot of time here, so you’ve got to choose something you care about.
- Who is my audience? Imagine your audience and what they’re searching the web for.
- Which topics are profitable? Passion is a must, but if you’re hoping to earn from it, look for niches that offer income opportunities. For example, a travel blog can feature affiliate links to travel booking websites.
Scale your blog content
Just as you selected a strategic blog niche, you’ll also want to choose strategic topics to write about. The best topics must accomplish two things:
- They address the needs of your target audience and offer them a thoughtful, actionable solution.
- They target keywords with high search volumes—a number that indicates how many people look up a given word or topic during a selected time frame (typically one month). The higher the keyword volume, the more historic interest in that topic. When your articles provide a thorough answer to people’s search queries, the more likely it will organically rank on search engines—which, in turn, will bring people to your site.
Build a reputation as a blogger
Start by expanding your online presence, particularly in the blogosphere. You can reach out to online publications in your niche and pitch ideas for guest posts. Remember to send a link to your blog alongside your pitch as evidence of your experience in the field.
To find guest blogging opportunities, browse your favorite publications to see if they publish content by outside contributors.
Promote and grow your blog
The more people read your blog, the more easily you can earn an income from it. For that reason, growing your website traffic is an important stepping stone for making money from your blog.
Get creative: start a podcast or webinar
Expand your reach even further with different types of creative content formats. Post informative how-to videos on your site and share your insights by starting a podcast or hosting a webinar. The more varieties of content you create to promote yourself as an expert in your field, the more likely people will discover your blog.
Work into affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing essentially means that you make money blogging by promoting other people’s products. This involves adding affiliate links to various products or services within your posts, throughout your site or across your social media accounts. When your site visitors click on those links and make a purchase, you’ll earn a commission from the sale.
Write sponsored content and reviews
As your blog grows, companies may approach you with sponsorship opportunities. The company will compensate you for each post you create that advertises their products to your audience. Often, these gigs come with extra perks, like free products from the company for you to review.