How to Turn Your Blog Into a Successful Business

Photo from Stock That Rocks

These days, it seems like everyone is trying to start their own blog. We look at our favorite bloggers and see them traveling the world, wearing designer clothes, going to photoshoots, and always snapping photos of their brunch for their Instagram grid. Who wouldn’t want to live this kind of life?

In reality, though, any advanced blogger would tell you that their lives aren’t necessarily all butterflies and rainbows. What you don’t see is that behind scenes, they’re spending countless hours creating engaging content that we as readers enjoy.

In the past few years, blogging has really taken the world by storm. 81% of US online consumers trust information and advice from blogs, and nearly 23% of total internet usage time is devoted to social networks or blogs. These statistics show that blogging has changed the digital landscape, and is here to stay!

While there are over 75 million blogs on WordPress alone, a very small percentage of bloggers actually consider blogging to be their full-time profession. It’s easy to start a blog–but it’s not so easy to stick with it and turn it into a business. Success doesn’t come immediately, and the famous bloggers you see today didn’t start out with 500k Instagram followers. They would tell you that the road to success takes time, persistence, drive, and a good work ethic.

So what’s the recipe for turning your blog into a money-making business? Keep reading to find out.

First Things First…How Much Can Bloggers Make?

One of the biggest questions that people often ask is, “how much do bloggers really make?”

Unfortunately, there isn’t one cut-and-dry answer. The term ‘blogger’ is pretty general and doesn’t take into account many factors like how much time someone spends on their blog, the amount of content they create, and the type of content they create.

By understanding the different ways bloggers make their money, you can see why their income can vary so much. 

Depending on the blogger’s level of commitment and expertise, they can utilize each of these methods to make money. However, keep in mind that using each of these methods to their full capability is a full-time gig that often requires leaving your day job!

Now, you might be thinking, “This is great and all, but can we talk numbers?” To put it in perspective, of bloggers trying to make money, some earn less than a few dollars a day while others are rumored to be earning 6-figure salaries.

So what sets apart those who blog as a hobby and those who have turned their blog into an empire? Here are some tips for turning your blog into a business:

Know Your Niche

This might sound like a simple step, but it’s incredibly important. Just like any other business, if you don’t define your niche and target audience, you will never be able to be profitable and sustainable.

Your blogging niche is simply the topic of your blog. Sure, you can blog about anything and everything that comes to mind, but successful blogs tend to hone in on one specific topic and do it well. Rather than producing content that’s scattered and all over the place, successful bloggers focus on one topic and become experts at it, which helps them to establish credibility with their audience.

Something to also keep in mind is that your blogging niche should be something you’re passionate about. Don’t choose something just because it’s trendy or you think it will make you money, because if you don’t have a passion for it, you’ll run out of steam over time. Instead, by choosing to create content around topics you have a genuine interest in, you’ll be more likely to put in the time and effort it takes to turn it into something great.

When you know your niche, you’ll be better able to communicate what you bring to the table, which is a huge factor in blogging success!

Have a Vision & Invest in Your Education

Next up, successful bloggers are goal-oriented and they have a vision for where they see themselves in the future. Rather than creating and posting content aimlessly, they have a strategy. They know who they want to reach and what types of content their audience enjoys.

Without a vision for the future, it’s hard to advance and make improvements. The blogging world is always changing, so bloggers should always try to be one step ahead of the game.

For example, it used to be the trend to post on your blog every single day. However, by doing so, many bloggers were sacrificing the quality of each individual post. Now, the trend is moving toward creating high-quality, engaging content, even if this means the frequency of your posts goes down. According to ChloeDigital, the length of the average blog post is up 19% from last year, coming in at around 1,050 words long.

There are plenty of resources out there that can help bloggers meet their goals and turn their passion into a business, like online classes, webinars, and Facebook groups. It’s important for bloggers to take what they do seriously and invest in their education, so they can stay in-the-know about all things related to the blogging industry!

Have a Strong Visual Identity

Our world is more visual than ever. So, if you want to become recognized as a blogger, it’s important to brand yourself visually. How do you edit your photos? What are your brand colors? Do you have a logo? What’s the overall look and feel of your blog? All of these factors are important to consider.

Readers judge your blog within the first few seconds of landing on your site or social media channels. Before they even read your content, they begin to form a perception of you. So, when designing the layout of your blog, make sure it’s clean, easy to navigate, and on-brand for you. While it might be tempting to choose a complicated layout with a ton of bells and whistles, remember that it’s best to go the simple route.

The same goes for social media. It’s no secret that social media is a huge traffic driver for blogs, and it provides a way for bloggers to connect with their audience in real-time. While it might be tempting to share anything and everything, if you are really serious and want to make this your business, you should be very careful about what you post.

The biggest question to ask yourself before posting anything online is if the content is on-brand for you. Consistency is key when trying to build a brand because it will eventually lead to brand recognition and allow you to build a loyal following. Always stay true to your brand so you can create a cohesive, appealing visual identity!

Build a Marketing Plan

One of the biggest mistakes that bloggers often make is spending large amounts of time creating content, but dedicating very little time to promoting it. However, knowing how to market your content is so important–this is what will help you to reach new audiences and extend the life of the content you’ve worked so hard on creating.

A marketing plan is essential to the success of any business. Think of it as your roadmap to revenue, growth, and longevity. It will force you to sit down and strategize for the future–including how you’ll work through problems, find effective solutions, and set yourself up for success. Plus, it will help you to get a better understanding of yourself and the audience you’re trying to reach.

The perfect marketing plan is easy to comprehend and put into action, and sets challenging, yet realistic goals. It’s also important to note that your marketing plan should be flexible–as you learn from experience, you’ll most likely need to make adjustments later on.

So what does a marketing plan look like for a blogger? Here are some components that your plan should include:

Your marketing plan shouldn’t be any old boring document–it’s your plan for success! So, take the time to put one together for your blog so you can strategize for the future and work toward meeting your goals.

Create a Business Entity

As a blogger, it’s important to decide on and form a business entity. This way, you can file taxes correctly and avoid trouble with the IRS later. While taking the step and turning your blog into a business might seem scary, it’s simpler than you might think.

There are plenty of resources out there that can help you to make an informed decision that will benefit you and your business. So, do your research and explore the pros and cons associated with all of the different options available to you. If you’re unsure of what business entity is best for you, it’s always a good idea to consult with an accountant who can point you in the right direction.

Grow Your Team Strategically

Blogging is hard work, and if you’re looking to turn it into a business, you’ll most likely need to work with a team!

As you evolve as a content creator, you’ll begin working on larger projects. Your creativity will be needed to head up these projects, which can make it hard to stay on top of other details like the backend of your site, editing photos, and reaching out for collaboration opportunities. In order to keep growing, you will need to add members to your team.

When growing your team, it’s important to do so strategically. Start by analyzing your strengths and weaknesses and the areas of your business that you could use the most help with.

For example, if your strength is not the visual aspects of your blog, consider hiring a photographer or designer that understands who you are as a brand and can help you with your visual identity. Hiring independent contractors may be the way to go initially, so you can get the help you need and grow your business.

Know Your Numbers

Every good business owner knows their numbers. If you don’t measure your success, you won’t know how to improve!

For bloggers, it’s so important to stay on top of all of your blog stats. How many site visitors do you have? How long do they stay on your site? What are your most popular pages? How do your visitors engage with your content? Google Analytics is an amazing tool that can tell you all of this information and more.

Not only does checking your analytics inform you of what’s working for you and what’s not, but it also provides you with important information that you’ll share with those you want to work with. For example, when reaching out for partnerships and collaborations, this is all information that you would want to include in your media kit!

Monetize Your Content While Keeping Readers’ Trust

While monetization can definitely be a perk of blogging, remember that it shouldn’t be your main motivator. If you have a money-hungry mindset, you have the potential to lose the trust of your audience. However, if you stay true to you and what your blog stands for, you can make recommendations that your audience will appreciate.

While many brands offer outrageous amounts of money to bloggers to promote their products and services, you should never take a deal that you don’t stand behind 100%. The sacrifice is too great, and your reputation is much more important than making quick money. So, search for ways to monetize without compromising the relationship you have with your audience. Your hard work and patience will pay off!

Have an Exit Strategy

While monetization can definitely be a perk of blogging, remember that it shouldn’t be your main motivator. If you have a money-hungry mindset, you have the potential to lose the trust of your audience. However, if you stay true to you and what your blog stands for, you can make recommendations that your audience will appreciate.

While many brands offer outrageous amounts of money to bloggers to promote their products and services, you should never take a deal that you don’t stand behind 100%. The sacrifice is too great, and your reputation is much more important than making quick money. So, search for ways to monetize without compromising the relationship you have with your audience. Your hard work and patience will pay off!

There are a few different exit strategies to consider, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what works for you and your business. So, consider your goals–if you want to walk away with just money, selling your business to the open market might be a good choice. Or, maybe your goal is to capitalize on your blog’s influence and create a product you are passionate about that you can sell to your community.

Whatever you end up choosing when it comes to an exit strategy, just remember that no one can make this decision but you. After all, you’re the boss!

Want to learn how to turn your blog into a money-making business? Send us an email at hireus@bloguettes.com to learn about our consulting services!