Look, I don’t want to feel like I’m bragging, but I’ve been blogging since 2014. 2014! A lot has happened within the industry since then, and an industry I thought I was entering pretty late into at that time, too. Turns out I was probably a part of its infancy because now I’d say it’s much more difficult to make it as a paid blogger and/or content creator.
I’ve had many people reach out over the years wanting to know how to start a blog, and for the most part, it requires consistency and a passion for writing. If you’ve not got either and you’re just looking to make money, then it’s unlikely to go anywhere.
With that being said, I’ve put together a few tips that I found useful for building my blog as a business, and now, with over ten years of existence, what the landscape of blogging and content creation looks like for those who are just joining the fold.
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*1. You’re going to need to post multiple times a week to begin with
As of writing this, I currently have 2,165 published posts. If we average every blog post I’ve written to 500 words (some blog posts are more, others are less), then that means I’ve written at least 1,082,500 words.
That’s only through my blogging, too. I couldn’t fathom how many words I’ve written over the years as a freelance writer. Now I’m not saying you need to write as many words as I have, as chances are, you might find much success writing a lot less. However, posting blogs multiple times a week is essential. I simply cannot manage a blog every day or every other day at the moment with everything else that’s going on.
However, I do have one blog a week that goes out on UpYourVlog, one that goes out every week on my other site Tilly&Rouge. I also have another blog launching this month, MoneyandBusinessExpert, just to make my work life even busier than it already is.
But that’s what you need to be successful. The ultimate goal for me is having three sites, all incredibly popular when it comes to traffic, that are creating passive incomes through guest posts and sponsored collaborations.
2. Don’t worry too much about niches, but having one is helpful
Having a niche for your blog or content creation is certainly helpful when it comes to standing out from the crowd or creating a gap in the market that might be underserved or underutilised.
For me, though, niches were boxing me in. For this blog, which is my main one, it started as a lifestyle blog and remains that way. That umbrella of lifestyle encompasses pretty much everything about my life, whether it’s motherhood, business and money, or home and interiors.
If you can find a niche for yourself, then great, but don’t feel the need to worry about it too much when you’re starting.
3. YOU need to reach out to brands and agencies
When I started, I was very quickly surprised by how many brands wanted to work with me, despite having very few followers or blog posts live at the time. While it’s a little harder to get free stuff nowadays without good performance metrics, it’s still possible, as every business is ultimately looking for all types of promotional content.
It’s also worth knowing that, at the time of writing this blog, micro influencers and bloggers are proving to be more popular. Brands and agencies are looking for smaller content creators with more engaged audiences.
While I only have 7,000 people following me on IG, my engagement currently reaches nearly 39,000. It’s no longer about the number of followers or likes on a post but how much engagement you’re getting through comments, shares, and saves, too.
But the most important thing you need to remember is that those opportunities are simply not going to land in your lap to begin with, or even several years down the line. You need to get your blog or content out there for the brands and agencies to see. Pitching to these individuals enables them to see who you are and hopefully use you for an upcoming campaign or an opportunity in the future.
4. Connect with other bloggers and content creators
Connecting with other bloggers and content creators is a great way to meet people and to expand the opportunities that might come your way through the help of others in the industry.
I’m part of several platforms like GetBlogged and Facebook Groups that connect bloggers together, as well as with brands and agencies. Its these platforms and networks that are great for speaking to others who are in the industry, whether it’s help on sorting out a problem with your hosting or knowing any helpful tricks and tips for boosting engagement.
5. You’ll need to sacrifice a lot of evenings and weekends
Lastly, you’ll need to be able to sacrifice a lot of your spare time in order to dedicate yourself to content creation. That means lots of weekends and evenings during most of my twenties were spent content-creating. While I missed out on some opportunities to go out and enjoy my twenties, I had a motivation to work hard so that I could ultimately enjoy living life as I get older. My dream is to retire early enough so I can enjoy it, and that’s what a lot of the sacrifice was for.
To find success as a blogger or content creator in this digital landscape, you want to focus on creating content that’s engaging and that your target audience is going to enjoy. At the moment, the popular trends for social media are short videos that hook the interest in the first few seconds. Be aware of the changing trends of social media, which seem to happen more frequently of late. Ultimately, you have to have the passion to be a content creator or blogger, and persistence is key.
Are you a content creator or blogger? What have you found useful when it comes to finding success?
