“Is it possible to be a successful blogger?” “Do you actually make money blogging?” “Can anyone be a blogger?” “Can you help me start a blog?” I don’t normally talk “blogging” here on the blog but these are some of the questions I hear on a regular basis. So today I wanted to share some tips to becoming a successful blogger.
My blog started as an idea years before I ever wrote my first post. I love doing fun things with my boys and had always wanted to share them but fear, insecurity, lack of knowledge, etc. kept me from writing my first post. It wasn’t until I was on bed-rest with my 4th baby boy that I realized that my life would forever be that of a mom of boys and I wanted to connect with other moms in my shoes. So, I put aside my insecurities and jumped into the blogging world with both feet. I have made nearly every possible mistake along the way but these are the some of things I have learned that can help you become a successful blogger.
1-Find your passion!
If you can’t picture yourself blogging about a certain topic every day/week/month for the long haul, then you will have a lot harder time being successful. My blog is an extension of my life so the blogging topics are endless. I just wish I had more hours in a day to share them all with you!
2- Produce A LOT of Great Content
It will take a lot of great content to be successful, so keep writing about the things you love and find those things that your audience will engage with. At first it will feel like you are talking to yourself but just keep writing and the people will come.
3-Have Good Quality Images
Make sure you have large, clear images on your site. Also, take some time to learn what types of images do best on different social media channels and take the time to learn some of the basics of photo editing. If you are starting out, PicMonkey is a great photo editing site for the beginner.
4-Ask questions/Hire a Pro
If you are serious about becoming a successful blogger, then you should be prepared to ask a lot of questions and be willing to invest into your new business. When you don’t know how to do something or aren’t sure if you are doing something correctly, ask someone who knows or hire a professional to help you out. It will save you time and money in the long run.
5-Find your “Tribe”
Your blogging tribe is those people who you really click with and who are available to help your blog succeed. My blogging friends are always there for me to run ideas by and help me to stay focused on my blogging goals. I’m so glad that I don’t have to try and figure everything out on my own without help. Most bloggers I have met have been willing and anxious to support each other.
6-Grow your following through Social Media and Email subscribers
When you first start blogging, social media can seem extremely overwhelming. Take one platform and focus on it until you are comfortable and then move on to the next. Don’t try and take them all on at the same time.
7-Put systems in place and stick with them
In order to be successful in pretty much anything you need to get organized. Blogging is no exception. You will need tools in place to help you stay on top of content creation, social media promotion, expenses, sponsored posts, etc. Everyone uses a different system so it is important to find something that works for you. I have an Excel spreadsheet that I track everything in and I use Google Docs to store ideas for posts.
8- Search Engine Optimization
Take the time to learn what the search engines are looking for so that your blog posts will show up when people search. You should research keywords and know how to use them in a post to get the most benefit from Google. This is an area that is constantly changing so be prepared to be continually learning.
9-Put in the time
Blogging is a marathon. You have to be prepared to put in A LOT of work before you will start seeing much growth. It takes time to build up a following and to have enough content on your site that you will appeal to a wide range of people. It will take time so keep that in mind. You can’t just put up a blog with a few ads on it and expect to make a paycheck. But if you commit to your blog and put in the time, the growth will come.
And where can you learn how to set up systems, grow your traffic, implement SEO, etc to accomplish all of your blogging goals? And where can you meet the experts and your blogging tribe that will help you be successful?
10-Attend a Blogging Conference
This was HUGE for me. I attended my first blogging conference about 6 months after starting my blog and it changed everything for me. I was surrounded by smart, savvy entrepreneurs who were running successful blogs and businesses and my eyes were opened to the endless possibilities that a blog could give to me. Plus, these were people who had been in my shoes at one point and could give me a little push in the right direction.
Starting a blog has been one of the most fulfilling things I have done. I love that I get to connect with moms all over the world who are in my shoes and that I get to share ideas to make life at home more fun. So going back to my questions at the top: YES, it is possible to be a successful blogger, YES, you can make money blogging, YES, anyone can become a blogger if you have something to share that you are passionate about, and YES, I am always available to answer questions or share my experiences with you.
