You started your new blog as a platform to share your hobbies and ideas with the world. You have quite a good number of articles that are the result of your own experiences in life. You have a lot of tips to offer to the rest of the world. You have really unique content in your blog. Suddenly you realized that your blog which you started just as a hobby can actually earn money for you. You will be delighted to hear that it’s true.
Blogs can generate a steady (sometimes extraordinary income) income for you provided they are popular and a lot of people visit your blog on daily basis. The next question arises to you. How to promote your blog? Though you have written quite a handful of good informative articles, the world will not see it until you promote your blog in the right and creative ways.
Make Money Blogging
There are many ways (and the list is growing) to earn from your blog. What I am focusing in this article is how to generate traffic for your blog. Traffic is money in the blogosphere. I suggest you take this sentence literally. Take close look at below methods and strategies (and implement of course) which will help to build steady and growing traffic for your blog. Needless to mention, it takes no time to convert traffic into a steady income.
1. Write articles that solve people’s problems
Always keep in mind that people came to your blog looking or something which actually helps them in solving their issue. Let me fill in the blanks now. The something is nothing but information. Always make sure that you write informative blog articles. You need not be a professional writer or journalist, but your article should provide value for readers. Your goal should be not only to attract readers but to make them loyal visitors.
2. Get serious
You have dreamed to convert your blog into a money-earning source. This is good. Please accept the fact that your dream won’t come true if you don’t put your investment into blogging. What is your investment then? Time. This is the (only) investment you need in your new blogging business. Invest dedicated time for blogging, promotion, and online activities.
3. Stop being boring. Blogging is fun
I know, my previous tip was scary. I did not mean to scare you. I told you to put in serious efforts, not to become a serious person :-) Blogging is fun and full of joy. Enjoy every aspect of it, whether it’s writing your new article or promoting your best post, or any online activity. Spice up your working area with cool accessories. Convert your computer desk into a vibrant workstation. After all, a vibrant atmosphere inspires new and fresh ideas which can convert into blog posts.
4. Understand the basics of CSS, Photoshop, and Dream weaver
Since you decided to become a successful blogger, try learning the basics of CSS and Photoshop. These skills will help you to tweak your blog layouts and build a brand for your blog.
5. It is now time to promote your blog. Start with basics
Always start with Google. Submit your blog to search engines starting with Google. Submit your blog to major search engines. There are a few websites that submit your blog to multiple search engines like Scrubtheweb.
6. Submit your blog to blog directories and carnivals
Yes. This works. Spend time in registering yourself in blog directories and submitting your blog there. You can check BlogCatalog, Technorati, or BlogVille.
7. Leverage the benefits of guest posting
This is one of the overlooked methods in the process of increasing blog traffic. Write articles as a guest blogger in various high-traffic blogs. Your article will be showcased in front of thousands of visitors and at least hundreds of them may be interested in knowing more about you or your other articles. It just takes a click for them to land on your page. Include a link back to your own blog in the resource box.
8. Commenting on other blogs
This method is one of the easiest methods to get backlinks for your blog. However, add genuine, value-adding comments after reading the post. Don’t just add a comment for the sake of adding a comment. In fact, a single good comment can pull good traffic back to your blog.
9. Work smart
There is no substitute for hard work. That’s smart work. Use the Google keyword tool for keyword optimization which helps you for tweaking your articles and article titles. Use Google Analytics to analyze your blog traffic. Be informed that you need not invent everything from scratch. Research online and you will find a matching widget/plug-in for you. Million thanks to those guys who provide wonderful plug-ins.
10. Time to earn money from your blog
You have come a long way now. Your blog has now good traffic and pretty decent daily page views. You can earn money from your blog by displaying advertisements, affiliate marketing, and other many ways. Talk to Google about whether you can incorporate Adsense in your blog. You can also try Adbrite, Bidvertiser, Chitika Emails, and Amazon Affiliates.
11. Consistency is the key
All the above tips will work only when you do them in a consistent manner. I am sure you will. After all, your blog is poised to make your living life.
Guest Author Naveen Kulkarni is a Database Programmer and Information Technology professional with decades of years of experience at PlanetNaveen.com . He also explores web designing and development. You can also share your blogging tips and guest blog here.