Blogging has been a practice for a long time, but its recently gained some steam online as people tried to figure out some ways to make money during the quarantine days of the early pandemic. However, some people still see blogging as useless or not as great as it’s made out to be. Starting a blog is something that some don’t consider valuable.
However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Blogging is a great way to not only share your passions with others, but to also start your own business and make some money on the side.
Is blogging for you?
Firstly, you should ask yourself if you’d be happy blogging. As a practice, blogging can be great, but it’s certainly not for everyone. When I started my blog, I knew that I would enjoy it. I’ve always been an avid writer and I wanted to share my passion of being an author with others.
Still, it’s not something that everyone enjoys doing. When you start a blog, you really need to be aware of the amount of work that goes into it. You’re going to have to be writing very often and you have to make sure that you put the most effort into each post so that your readers take your blog seriously. You may find yourself writing every day.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I like writing?
- Am I willing to write about my passions all the time?
- Is this something I want to do long term?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then you’re probably the right fit for blogging!
What do I blog about?
Blogs are usually centered around something or someone. My blog, for instance, is more about me and my journey as an author and my personal preferences. It’s more like a way for me to give more personalized opinions and thoughts to my followers and readers. It’s also a way for me to promote my books and my name as an author.
One of the most important things about blogging is that you need to know what you want to talk about. You need to have a niche: Something specific you want to focus on. If you’re a huge fan of Marvel movies, then you’ll probably find yourself blogging about Marvel movies. But you need to stick to writing about this topic.
Think about all the things you like to do. If you travel often, consider a travel blog. If you love to cook, then a food blog is perfect. If you’re a personal trainer, then maybe a fitness blog works the best for you. Whatever it is, write about something you’re passionate about.
Can I make money?
Sure you can! In fact, many people actually live off of blogging as a job. However, it’s not that easy. Blogs take a lot of work and use up a lot of time. When you’re first starting out, you’ll probably find yourself writing for free. Over time, you will start to see money however.
There are many ways bloggers make money. One of the most popular and most accessible ways is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is when you can make a commission every time someone uses one of your links to buy something or sign up for something. It’s a great way to earn passive income.
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Do I need to pay to get started?
Not necessarily! You see, there are many ways you can start blogging for free. However, you should probably consider at least investing in a domain. The best way to showcase yourself as a serious blog and as a professional one is to have a personalized domain. It’s much nicer and much easier, and there are plenty of places you can buy a domain at.
I personally always recommend Namecheap. It’s one of the best platforms to get a domain at and it’s super easy to use. They also offer great deals every now and then. If you want a good, discounted domain, Namecheap is your best bet.
You also need to get a hosting service and a platform to actually start your blog professionally. WordPress with Bluehost is the most popular combination for bloggers. Although WordPress isn’t as easy to learn at first, it’s much more customizable and versatile in comparison to other website services out there.
Your blog is a business
Believe it or not, many people who start blogs and fail probably never thought about it this way. If you’re blogging consistently and trying to get people to read your posts, you need to treat it like it’s serious. Psychologically, if you view your blog as a business and something that matters to you, you’ll be much more encouraged to actually write and do the work.
Blogs are not simply like social media. They require lots of work, and because of that, they should be treated with a higher position in your mind.
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Should I start a blog now or is it too late?
It’s never too late to start blogging! If you can start one, get on it right away. There will always be people looking for things to read about and looking for opinions they agree with. There will always be readers and the market for blogging is only increasing.
If you want to start a blog but feel like nobody wants to read what you have to say, stop thinking like that immediately. The only thing that stands between you and a successful blog is this hesitancy and self-doubt. Don’t doubt yourself. There will be readers who are interested in what you have to say. You just need to have the work ethic and dedication to starting your blog in 2022.
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Let us know what you think in the comments below. Remember to keep all discussions polite and respectful.
Zainah Yousef is a writer for The DZSH Group. She is also the author of “The Fallen Age Saga.” Her areas of focus are on psychology, politics, public security, and war. She is also a frequent contributor in articles on video games and entertainment news.
