Blogging is something that many people start as a hobby. It can be a way to have a form of an online journal, especially if you have something important to document, such as a journey into motherhood. However, you can definitely make money from a blog if you want to do something from home to earn an income. What you can earn can vary, but there is big potential if your writing is something that really resonates with a lot of people. It will take dedication and time, and you do need to have a passion for it, as you won’t be earning anything straight away. But if you want to give it a go, here are some tips to help you to get started.
Creating your blog
When it comes to creating your blog, there are a number of things to consider. For example, some blogging platforms don’t actually allow you to make money, unless you are self-hosted. There are free platforms, but really, being self-hosted or building a website of your own is the best step. Then you will get your own website URL and email, making it look much more professional.
Blog niche
Having a generic blog or one that you simply want to use to document family life can be fine and work well. However, it can make a difference to how much you are able to earn if you choose more of a specific blog niche. For example, if you are a keen gardener, then you will get traffic from people specifically looking for gardening tips and advice, which can help them to keep coming back and for them to follow your blog. This can help your traffic, as well as for how long people stay on your website; all good metrics that brands looking to work with bloggers will look at.
Sole trader or business
Many bloggers will register as a self-employed sole trader when they start to earn money from their blog. However, if you’re keen to take things to the next level, looking to sell products through your blog or the money starts to roll in, then you may consider registering the blog as a business as it can be more tax efficient. Seeking advice from a business accountant can be a good idea, so you get to know the ins and the outs of it all. But when the money starts to come in, ignorance isn’t an excuse for not declaring what you’re earning or not paying the tax that is owed.
Social media channels
In order to get traffic to your blog, which will help brands want to work with you, getting social is a must. This can involve visiting other blogs and leaving comments, as well as sharing other content on your social channels. Having your own social channels connected to your blog can make a big difference, as you can share your own content from there, it will help you to grow a following, and help to increase your website traffic.
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