If you are looking to start a thriving blog this year, you should begin by treating your blog as you would any other business. We can help you do just that. Read our 5 tips to start a successful blog!
You need to implement ideas that can move the needle forward in your blogging business and get rid of outdated strategies that won’t help you reach your goals.
Starting a blog is NOT easy – which is why not everyone is a blogger – BUT it is easier than you think! Not sure about it? Read our previous post to help you decide if blogging is worth it for you.
There are a myriad of blogging resources at our disposal today including the 5 tips for a successful blog we are sharing below.
Follow this helpful advice to get started on your blogging journey the right way. Let’s dive in!
Tip # 1 – Start your Blog NOW
If you’re still deciding on your blog topic, domain name or content strategies, you should limit the time you research blog creation. Start by setting some deadlines.
The research phase before you start your blog is crucial, but you don’t want to spend months or even years before you decide if blogging is for you.
The only way to really figure out if blogging is a good fit is to get started!
One of the most important things you can do is decide on the essentials you absolutely need to get started and publish your blog.
Don’t wait until you know everything there is to know about blogging because you will never hit “publish.” Instead, focus on researching and learning the basics and learn the rest as you go.
Remember, your blog posts are not permanent.
Of course, it is best to do things right from the beginning. However, can always edit, optimize and improve past blog posts as you move forward on your blogging journey.
You will never be 100% ready to start a blog. Don’t let perfection deter you from starting.
TIP # 2- Choose a Profitable Niche
By choosing a niche that has potential for profitability, you are making it easier to monetize your blog and increase your chances of success in the future.
Yes, there is competition, but the latest blogging stats also show there is demand.
Choosing your blog niche and topic is not just about making money, of course.
If making money is the only driving force behind your blog, you could run into issues when it comes to content creation (if you are the blog content creator). You can only create so much content about a topic you have no interest in before you burn out.
If you’re the main writer and creator behind your blog, choose a niche and topic that:
- You’re passionate about – you can talk about your blog topics for hours with friends and family
- Other people find value in – there is enough demand to drive daily traffic to your site because you’re providing valuable information to your readers.
Tip # 3 – Opt for a Self-hosted Blog.
This year, as well as in the past, self-hosting blogs continue to give you more options in terms of control and monetization. You can read more about self-hosted sites. Learn the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com so you can choose the right option for you.
Tip # 4 – Treat your Blog as a Successful Business – even if it isn’t (yet)
In order to have a successful blog, you need to treat it as an actual business. When you first start out, don’t focus on the current earnings because chances are you won’t be making much money – if anything – right off the bat. Instead, set your sights on the potential of your blog to keep you motivated.
These are some things you need to do in order to treat your blog as a business:
- Define your blogging goals by answering these questions:
- Why are you blogging?
- What is the purpose of your blog?
- Who does your blog help?
- Where would you like your blog to be in 1, 3 or 5 years?
- Have plans and strategies in place to help you reach your blogging goals.
- Define ways to measure your success.You have to be able to track your progress and / or know when to tweak your strategies.
- Set up dedicated hours for writing, posting, maintaining and promoting your blog content. This can be tricky to do if you have a full time job or other life commitments, but it’s essential that you carve out some time each week to dedicate to your blog.
Tip # 5 – Stick to your Blogging Commitment
When you decide to publish a blog, you’re making a commitment to yourself and to your audience.
There is the possibility that your blog content could go viral right away, but most likely, it won’t be a linear path straight to success.
Your blog could be off to a slow start.
There could be ups and downs and you need to be ready for them.
You could run into issues or feel unmotivated. You might even want to quit.
It’s important that you don’t give up at the first sign of failure. If things don’t go your way, learn from your mistakes, adjust your strategies and keep moving forward.
Don’t be one of the many people who give up on blogging too soon!
It can take a long time to build up an audience, traffic and reputation on your blog.
Final Thoughts on 5 Tips to Start a Successful Blog
To recap, if you want to run a profitable blog you need to apply the 5 tips to start a successful blog we shared above and focus on:
- Decisiveness
- Good judgment
- Commitment
If you have other tips in mind, please share them in the comments!
Tell me, why did you start your blog?