Blogging is one of the most popular online business models. It can be a great way to share your knowledge and expertise with the world, and it can also be a great way to make money.
But is blogging right for you? In this article we will discuss some of the reasons that blogging is such an incredible business model, and we will also discuss some of the things that you need to know if you want to get started.
So, if you’re thinking about starting a blog, read on!
Is blogging right for you?
It depends on the person. However, if you really enjoy writing and have a lot of knowledge about a subject, it could be a great way to make money.
I used to spend a lot of free time on Facebook and message boards sharing my thoughts on issues. Eventually, I figured out that one specific message board I was a part of was probably making well-over six-figures from all of the traffic and posting.
Additionally, I love studying and learning about various subjects related to science, business, marketing, and more. With all of that in mind, blogging has so many more advantages that I personally really love.
Here’s a list of important benefits that you can have if you start a career in blogging.
You can make a great income by blogging
As I mentioned before, blogging can be an incredible way to make money. In fact, many bloggers are able to make a full-time income from their blogging business. That is, after some considerable time and effort.
However, how many people spend 4-8 years in a university, paying a school to get a degree? I’m not degrading traditional schooling, but it isn’t for everyone.
Imagine if, instead of spending 4-8 years in school, you spent 4-8 years working on a blog 16-20 hours per week? There’s little doubt in my mind that you could make an amazing blog, if not several in that time. Each capable of making $5-10k per month. Some blogs make more and others make less. However, the only limit for what you can make is what you place on yourself.
It’s not a guarantee, because there are too many variables, such as your work ethic, knowledge, and abilities. However, I bet it would work for most if they put in the effort and did it consistently.
You can work from anywhere in the world as a blogger
One of the best things about blogging is that you can do it from nearly anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and a laptop.
Obviously we all have our own ideas of where we want to live. What we consider a vacation or paradise. You also may need to relocate to care for a loved one, or just to be with your soulmate.
If you have a successful blog, it makes money every day and every night. You can make money in your sleep, which is an amazing feeling.
Additionally, you won’t have to worry about commuting and everything that goes along with that: Traffic, pollution, gas money, and wasting your time!
You can take your blog with you wherever you go and never have to worry about finding a job in that location. That’s the true beauty of blogging!
Flexible schedule
This is one factor that appeals to me so much. I love being able to work when I want. I stay up late working and I get up late. If I need or want a change in my work schedule, I am the boss.
Do you need to take extended time off?
Just recently, my grandpa died and my brother was unable to attend the funeral because he couldn’t get off from work. That’s terrible.
Blogging will still be there whether you just finished writing 100 new blogs or haven’t written for a month.
The blogging world is waiting for you when you’re ready.
Low overhead
How much would it cost to start your own business? Let’s say you wanted to become a dentist. Not only would you have to go to school for 8 years after high school, get pretty good grades, and likely take out some massive student loans, that isn’t all.
Starting a dental practice could easily cost you $350,000-550,000!
What about if you just wanted to start a subway franchise? You pay $15,000 in franchise fees and then on top of that, you add in between “$116,000 to $263,000” to start a Subway.
With blogging, you have super low overhead and you don’t have to manage any employees if you don’t want to. The cost for starting a blog is $15-20 for the domain and then as low as $3.99/mo through some sites such as Siteground.
Even go as far as including your laptop, cell phone, and high speed internet (all business expenses) and your yearly costs are still only about $3,000-4,000, and could be less year over year.
You are providing value
Everyone has questions. Most of us use Google nearly every day to answer questions and help us solve problems.
When you start a blog, you are creating a massive resource that people can turn to for information and answers.
How do you make money by blogging?
This is a great question and one that many people don’t understand.
There are three main ways to make money from your blog. They are:
- Affiliate
- Banner advertisements
- Selling a course or product
This doesn’t happen overnight. You have to build your blog, but when the time is right, you can make profit from all of these sources.
I recommend you not start out doing much monetizing of your blog. Meaning, for the first 3-6 months, you are going to focus on creating content and learning more about building a successful blogging business.
For this reason, it is usually best to start your blog when you are still working. You shouldn’t quit your job until your blogging business can sustain you.
How do you make money as an affiliate?
Affiliates promote other people’s products or services on their own blog or website.
They get a commission for every sale they generate. For example, if someone clicks on an affiliate link and buys that product as a result of clicking on your link, you get a commission.
This is usually the first method for making money with your blog, but it should always remain a staple for continuing to make money. Affiliate commissions are some of the best ways to make money on your blog.
Here’s some simple math. Let’s say you get 500 visitors in a month to an article. 2% of them decide to buy from an affiliate link for a product that is worth $1000.
Let’s also assume that you get a 15% commission on that sale. You’d make $1500 for those sales.
How do you make money from banner advertisements?
Banner advertisements are placed on your blog by businesses who want to promote their product or service to your readers.
They will pay you a certain amount for every 1000 impressions (views) of their ad. For example, if they pay $5.00 per 1000 views and your banner gets 5000 views, they will pay you $25.
The amount of money you make per 1000 views can vary, but it is often higher than the example shown above. It often gets higher as you get more traffic and your website’s visitor demographic is better understood by the advertisers.
How do you make money by selling a course or product?
This is the last phase method for making money from your blog, usually. At this point, your blog is probably making money from affiliate links and banner ads.
However, because you have a successful blog with a lot of content, you are positioned as an expert in your niche. You can now create and sell products that are related to that niche.
You can also sell courses.
Conclusion – Blogging can be a great way to make a living
Now that you understand the benefits of blogging and how to make money doing it, I feel that I should warn you. This is not something that will take off overnight. It takes time, dedication, and a lot of hard work.
Blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a real business that can make you a lot of money if done correctly. It can also offer you a ton of flexibility and freedom.
I hope this has helped answer some questions for you and given you some insight into blogging as a business. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
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