Blogging is said to be one of the best side hustles because it’s relatively easy, and if you put in the time and effort, you can make some decent money. While it’s true that blogging can be an excellent side hustle, it can also be so much more.
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Side hustles are for minor interests
When you consider taking on new projects as side hustles, you probably look at things you don’t really want to do all the time. For instance, you might want to invest in a few stocks, but not trade full-time. Or, you might take an evening gig as a DoorDash driver, but you’d never let it become your day job. This makes sense because you really need to be passionate about something to turn it into a full-time source of income. Otherwise, you’ll be more likely to quit when things get tough.
The truth is that side hustles are only ideal for opportunities you’re slightly interested in. They’re not ideal for your passions. Side hustles are typically quick ways to make cash, but they don’t offer any long-term growth potential. For example, you won’t generate higher and higher profits by delivering food.
On the other hand, if you start a side hustle you happen to be passionate about, you’ll probably end up doing it full-time. If you’re passionate about something that can be turned into a blog, there’s a good chance it will become a full-time stream of income.
If you’re passionate about the topic of your blog, it deserves to become a main source of income, not a side hustle. Many people have turned their blog into a source of full-time income, and here’s how you can do the same.
Know where the money is for bloggers
As a blogger, you’ll have several options for earning money, and not all of them will work for you. For example, if you aren’t an influencer with a large social media following, you probably won’t get sponsors on YouTube. This is why you need to know how bloggers make money so you can identify which opportunities will be profitable for you.
Generally speaking, here are the most common ways people generate income from blogs:
- Sales from organic and PPC traffic
- Sponsorships on social media channels
- Paid membership areas
- Ad revenue from display ads
- Ad revenue from partnerships
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsored posts
You might use all of these methods to make your blog profitable, or just a couple. It depends on your niche, your market, and the size of your budget. For instance, it won’t cost you anything to display ads on your website, but it will cost money to run PPC ads to drive traffic to your blog.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most profitable methods to generate income from blogging, but it takes a lot of hard work, time, and effort to source good products and get your content to rank in the search engines. Still, this is one of the main ways bloggers get paid for their work.
Passion will keep you in business
Although passion alone won’t guarantee success, it will keep you in the game even when things get hard. There will be times when you’ll need to rely on your passion to get you through tough times and setbacks. If you’re not passionate about your blog, you’ll be tempted to bail and give up too soon. Make sure you have a high level of passion for your niche and don’t let setbacks derail your focus.
If you don’t have a high level of passion, find a way to amp it up because when things get tough, you’ll need the motivation to resolve complex issues. Only on the other side of that will you find success.
Work on your blog every single day
Set aside time each day to work on your blog, whether it’s writing a simple post or perfecting the design. If you’re pressed for time, try to dedicate at least 15 minutes to your blog each day – even if all you do is come up with title ideas or work on your marketing plan. The more time you put in now, the sooner you’ll be successful.
When you feel like you’ll never catch up to other bloggers because you can’t produce content en masse, it’s tempting to not write at all, but writing just one blog post each week will give you 52 posts in a year’s time.
Don’t compare yourself to the highest paid bloggers
You’ve probably seen some blogs take off like wildfire, and there are bloggers who earn anywhere from $125,000 to $1M per month. Looking at what these people have accomplished can be inspiring, but inspiration won’t get you results. You need a plan, a good marketing strategy, and plenty of action.
If you’re going to look at high-earning bloggers, instead of comparing yourself to them or making their income your goal, focus on learning from them. Forget about how much money they make each month and look at what they’re doing to get results. Try to reverse engineer their success, not in terms of sales, but how they initially acquired and grew their audience, and how they keep them around.
Don’t start a blog with the intention of keeping it a side hustle
Last, but not least, if you start a blog, don’t hold the intention of keeping a side hustle because you won’t make much money that way. Most people never turn their side hustles into a decent source of income because they’re pursued as a quick fix to get money fast. A blog is a long-term strategy for making money and it deserves to be a main project.
Your blog will probably begin as a side project, but build it with the intention that it will one day be your main focus. When you do this, you’ll see the bigger picture and will have no problem investing the time and money it takes to build a successful money-making blog.
Developing Your Unique Voice and Brand
To stand out in the crowded blogosphere, you need to develop a unique voice and brand identity. This isn’t just about having a catchy logo or a pretty website design. It’s about finding your authentic voice and consistently delivering content that resonates with your target audience.
Start by identifying who your ideal readers are and what they’re looking for. Then, craft a writing style that speaks directly to them. Are they looking for professional advice? Humorous takes on industry trends? Personal stories and insights? Your unique voice should shine through in every post you write.
Remember, your brand is more than just your blog – it’s the total experience your readers have when they interact with your content, whether it’s on your website, social media, or email newsletter. Consistency across all these platforms will help build a strong, recognizable brand that keeps readers coming back for more.
Master SEO for sustainable growth
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for attracting organic traffic to your blog. While it might seem daunting at first, mastering the basics of SEO can significantly boost your blog’s visibility and growth.
Start by researching keywords related to your niche. Use these keywords naturally in your content, including in titles, headings, and throughout your posts. But remember, your primary goal should always be to provide value to your readers – don’t sacrifice quality content for the sake of keyword stuffing.
Focus on creating in-depth, high-quality content that answers your readers’ questions and solves their problems. Google loves this type of content and is more likely to rank it higher in search results. Also, pay attention to your site’s technical SEO, including page load speed and mobile-friendliness, as these factors impact your search rankings.
Building backlinks from reputable sources in your niche can also boost your SEO. Consider guest posting on other blogs or collaborating with fellow bloggers to increase your visibility and improve your search rankings.
Build and nurture your email list
While social media followers can be fickle and algorithms can change, your email list is an asset you own and control. It’s one of the most effective ways to build a loyal audience and turn casual readers into devoted fans.
Start building your email list from day one. Offer a compelling lead magnet – a free resource that provides value to your readers in exchange for their email addresses. This could be an ebook, a checklist, a mini-course, or anything else your audience would find useful.
Once you have subscribers, nurture them with regular, valuable content. Share your latest blog posts, offer exclusive tips or insights, and occasionally promote your products or services. Remember, the key is to provide more value than you ask for in return. This approach will help you build trust with your audience and create a sustainable source of traffic and income for your blog.
Final words
Blogging has the potential to be much more than a side hustle. With passion, consistency, and strategic planning, you can turn your blog into a full-time source of income. Remember, success in blogging doesn’t happen overnight. It requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to adapt to changes in your industry and audience preferences. Stay committed to your goals, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
