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When I started blogging, I had no idea of the potential revenue streams I could tap into. I blogged as a way to share my thoughts and express my feelings. But blogs can be much more than that… New blogs have the potential of earning revenue through affiliate marketing and ad sense. And it does not stop there. Income can be boosted with services and products. At the heart of it, blogging brings opportunities to meet new people and grow in skills and knowledge, all while potentially earning money. Best of all, c logging offers flexibility to dive into your interests at your time and around your schedule. This way you can make time to travel, dive into your hobbies, and spend time with friends and loved ones. The Structure of a Blog According to Google, a blog is a regularly updated website made up of written content (paraphrased). Successful blogs focus on a niche or topic that is responsive to their community needs and wonderings. For example, during the pandemic fitness blogs, shifted from gym-based workouts to home workouts. Responsive. Blogs listen to readers and engage in productive conversation. This is how it is regularly updated. In 2020 we learned to shift and adjust. Blogging offers a community of people to support what is needed now. Evergreen content is regularly updated to fit the needs of the community. Think about a blog as a diary. It is a central place to add entries. In the blogging world, we call the entries a post. A post refers to an individual entry that is published in a blog or website. It is usually composed of written content. Images and videos enhance the content by providing additional ways to process the information. In this post you will notice that I placed a featured image at the top to support the topic. You can choose to add pictures and videos throughout your post to enhance it. Post structures can focus on answering “how-to” questions and “what is?” Take, for example, DIY blogs. These blogs focus on guiding the reader to create fun and exciting additions to their homes. They answer questions such as the required tools and approximate start and end time. So far, we’ve covered what is a blog and posts. Now let’s talk about the reasons to start a blog. Reasons to Start A Blog Flexible schedule. There are a ton of hobbies and interests that require your time and attention: Kids. Spouse. Travel. Kettlebells. With blogging, time is on your side . At any point, you can write an article or talk about topics that you want to discuss. As a blogger, you decide when to write a post or publish it on the site. I recommend you publish at least once a week . You can blog anytime you want and wherever you are. What is important is that you have a passion for sharing your story or writing about your interests. Since blogging adjusts to your schedule, you have more time to share with family, pets, and interests. Source of additional income. Blogging is also famous for its money-making opportunities. This is why it is considered an additional source of income for many people around the globe. In addition to affiliate marketing and ad revenue, some companies pay cash or send products to bloggers in exchange for a mention or post. You can start to make money on day one. Small blogs can work with affiliates and begin to promote services and products. Feeds my curiosity with online metrics . Online metrics are ways to measure your blog’s impact. This includes your daily or monthly pageviews, bounce rate, website ranking, search engine optimization (SEO) score, and social shares. Social shares measure how many people clicked on your blog and then shared it on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media platforms. The more shares, the better! Virtual community . Another great advantage of having a blog is growing your network through virtual communities. When you have a blog, you can easily connect with your fellow bloggers and even brands worldwide. You will learn more about blogging and develop new skills as a content creator. I like joining communities on Facebook groups and masterminds. They help me share ideas, get input, and listen to others. Blogging is like any hobby- it takes time to develop and grow. Blogging takes time and can be difficult, especially at the beginning when you make the decision to blog. Yet, blogging can bring you joy and accomplishment through earning an income. Today, I will be answering some common questions about blogging so that you can get started; these include: What is a blog? Do bloggers get paid? While there is no guarantee, it’s worth a try. Do Bloggers Get Paid? Yes, bloggers are paid for their work. According to Glassdoor, bloggers in the United States, on average, earn $30,000 per year. However, this is not a set price. Some bloggers make more or less than others. Make Money with Ads There are many ways you can earn money from a blog. Monetization can come from running ads on your post and site. I prefer to add three ads to my posts at the beginning, middle, and end. You can add a banner image or text links to point readers to a product or service at the top of your post. This helps with your post’s readability since it is out of the way and allows readers to focus on your work. Blogging ads such as Google’s AdSense is a way to monetize your blog. Each month Google AdSense calculates your previous month’s meaning and pays the user revenue per mile per 1000 impressions. This is determined by the total number of clicks and cost per click and is then divided by the total number of page views. Ads are based on blog traffic. The more traffic, the better the ad. You want ads that resonate with your reader and that support their readership. Your reader counts on you to provide information on products and services that can help them. Affiliate marketing Affiliate marketing is a flat rate or a certain percentage per click or impression awarded to the blogger based on lead or sale. This can be done by providing readers information on the product or service, and if the reader clicks the link, buys, or signs up, the blogger receives a percentage of the proceeds. As a blogger, you have control over which products and services are recommended through your blog. The most popular affiliate partnership is Amazon. When a reader clicks on a link to a product you are sharing, you earn a commission from the sale. Always disclose affiliate links in your blogs with a disclaimer. I like to inform readers about how the affiliate link supports my business and how they can opt to buy the product or service without my link. Partnerships More and more businesses realize the power of partnerships with online influencers, such as bloggers, and that means more opportunities to earn money. It is estimated that companies who blog receive 55% more visitors to their website than those who do not have a blog (source: themeisle.com ). Companies and big businesses reach out to bloggers to form partnerships. This means having a sponsored post, embedding an ad, and overall promoting the service and product. Physical Products and Services A blog is a platform where recommendations can be made to readers. A physical product can be a book or a tool. This could be a guide on recording and launching a Podcast. Services such as virtual assistants, writing, graphic design, coaching, and others are ways to increase revenue. This can be a consultation on promoting your brand through Pinterest. Services can extend to long-term gains with workshops, and group facilitation, which can be done in person or online. From Readers to Clients As a business owner, you can interact with your audience and learn what is most important to your reader with ongoing communication. You can learn about what social media network they prefer and which topics are more relevant ( and to who ). Through communication, you build your knowledge of services and products that would most benefit readers. You offer solutions to your reader and convert them from readers to clients. You can start with affiliate marketing on day one and grow your business to offer products and services. Your Blog Matters Honor your curiosity in making a profit, web hosting, and marketing by keeping a record of your thoughts. This may mean writing them on a piece of paper, electronic notes, online journal, Blogging Calendar, Blogging agenda. Above all, remember… Your blog matters Now is the time that your blog matters most! People are on their computers more, and you may be the only person who inspires them. You are providing value through your content and engagement. Taking this on right now is hard, I know! The lockdown has made for an increase in distractions with virtual learning and crowded spaces. The distinction between work and home has blurred the line between relaxation and diligence. Managing your personal schedule with distractions and others around you has made for an exhaustive burst of restlessness, overwhelm, and loss-of-self. So… why wait? Starting a blog can be difficult. But all bloggers begin at the same point. Yes, 2021 is a unique year, and it may be the point at which you have reached the step to start a blog. Think about your motivator. Your blog can be your outlet for ideas and community. It offers the flexibility of time and community. Share your domain below and write a short description of your blog. I’d love to hear from you .