It’s kind of amazing just how much blogging has exploded over the last several years. Over an incredibly short period of time, it’s gone from something that was mostly the domain of a few select people to the kind of thing that just about anyone with a passion and an internet connection can do. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every blog is created equal and there’s a big difference between someone’s personal website that they set up for a bit of fun and a blog that actually has the potential to grow into something more. The truth is that if you want to turn your blog into a legitimate career then that is genuinely possible, but it requires a lot of hard work and a strong understanding of what you’re actually doing. With that in mind, here are some things that you can do in order to take your website from blog to business.
Embrace new technologies
One of the things that you have to understand about running any kind of blog is that you’re always going to be dependent on technology. Even if your blog has little to nothing to do with technology, you’re still working on the internet and the way that you engage with readers and potential customers is always going to be deeply dependent on technology overall. Because of that, you need to be willing to embrace new technology as it appears. From things like being able to verify the identity of customers to most effectively connect with them online in the first place, technology is going to be your bread and butter. Of course, if you’re not the most tech savvy person in the world, that’s okay, a company like Jumio guarantees a secure customer experience and there’s plenty of information online on how to go about using technology in your blog. If you try and hide from the tech developments all around you, you’re never going to be able to make the most of your blog.
Know who your readers are
It would be wonderful if your blog was so amazing that it captured the attention of the entire world and every single person on the planet just had to read everything you ever posted. But let’s be honest, that’s just not going to happen. The truth is that most blogs have a very specific audience depending on the subject of the blog itself. Whether it’s a lifestyle blog, an automotive one, or any other kind of blog, you blogs subject matter is going to attract different kinds of readers, which means that you have to be able to cater to them effectively. This means that everything from your writing style to the aesthetics of your blog has to be as appealing as possible to your core demographic. Of course, you’re never going to be able to adjust your blog in that way unless you properly understand who your demographic is.
Understand reader engagement
If you want to make a living from your blog, then you need to understand that you need more than just to have readers who enjoy the things you write and leave it at that. You need to be able to encourage much more dynamic engagement with your content. You need to create the kinds of posts that people will want to share and that will gain traction in the way that a lot of viral media does. Not only that but you need to understand how things like calls to action function. That way, from affiliate links to your own merchandise, you’re going to be able to much more effectively encourage your readers to engage directly with things related to your blog and your content. Sure, great content is always the key to a great blog, but knowing how to encourage readers to engage with that content is just as important.
Now, none of this is to say that there is anything wrong with a blog that purely exists to be for fun and not to earn a living. After all, not every pastime that you have needs to be a potential business venture and being able to talk passionately online about something that you really care about is one of the best creative outlets there is. Don’t feel like you have to try and force your blog to become a business. It should be something that occurs naturally over time. If you try and force it then you could well end up taking all of the joy that you previously got out of your blog, and throwing it out of the window.
What are your thoughts? Please share in the comments below. I really would love to know.
Until next time, shine amongst the stars!
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I tend to get into a rhthym and sometimes go too long before checking in on my engagement
Embrace new technologies…yeah..I am resistant to change. I try …but I am stressed. Like my IG account and Pinterest for example. I don’t get to maximize them.
❤ Thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts!
If you are going to be successful, knowing who your audience is so very important. I know I need to take what I know and pitch to the desires and aspirations of the people who read my blog. That would help make money more than anything else.
❤ Thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts!