Is this really just hype? Or is it possible to make a steady income writing blogs? The truth is, some bloggers make a decent living, while others devote many hours to writing blogs that pay little or nothing.
There are a few way to make money with blogs:
- Use it to advertise your services
- Make money from ads and affiliates
- Charge a fee for subscriptions
Finding Your Perfect Niche
If you’re serious about trying to make a decent income with blogs, you need to do your homework first. Start by brainstorming a few possible niche markets in which you already have expertise. Your writing will need to be passionate as well as informative.
Subscribers Draw in Advertisers
Next, find out how much consumers spend in that particular niche. No matter how passionate you are about your topic, if your niche is so small that you can’t find subscribers, you’re not going to make any money. The key to making money is to develop a subscriber base.
Once you have a topic in mind, search for potential advertisers and affiliate programs. This is where the money is, so take the time to research this fully.
Choose the Right Size and Schedule
Now, how do you go about setting up your blog? You might want to start small, with one small niche. Or you may develop a whole set of related niche markets, which naturally will require more time for research and writing every week.
Determine your schedule. Frequency is the key to making money. If you only update once a week or once a month, you'll definitely be making less than if you update daily, or even several times a day.
Make it easy for readers to subscribe by setting up a feed or allowing them to use their favorite news reader.
Avoid Working for Free
One thing to avoid: Writing blogs for a company or another Web site. While this may be a good way to get your feet wet, you’re not going to make a lot of money this way. In fact, some sites may offer little or no pay. Even if you get paid $25 or $50 a month, you may be expected to write 4 or 5 articles per week. They’re the ones who reap the benefits of subscriptions and advertising, while you spend many hours writing and researching.
Once you’ve started your first blog and it’s doing well, you can branch out and work on related topics, or find another niche. Just remember that you’ll need to devote several hours per week to each blog once it’s up and running, and that you’ll have to keep to your schedule as tightly as possible. If you’re going to be away for more than a day or so, make sure to alert your readers.
 |
