This is a collaborative post.
According to Vuelio’s 2019 UK Bloggers Survey, more bloggers than ever before (51%) now earn the majority of their income through blogging, as opposed to a full-time job . This is in stark contrast to the situation ten years ago, when I first set up my blog. Back then, blogging was something we did because we were passionate about something – be it cooking, travelling or something else altogether – and we wanted to share that passion with others by writing about it.
I never dreamt my blog would one day become my full-time job, but being as I am now very lucky to count myself among those 51% of bloggers who are now earning most of their money through their blogs, I thought it might be useful for aspiring bloggers if I was to share some of the top tips I’ve picked up along the way. After all, if you’re dreaming of becoming a successful blogger one day, lockdown presents the perfect opportunity to grow your blog.
So, here are seven things you’ll need to do if you want to start a successful blog.
How to Grow Your Blog in 2020
Create merchandise
Creating merchandise that your followers can buy to support your blog is a great way to raise brand awareness and encourage people to check out your blog.
It’s not going to get you tens of thousands of followers overnight, but it will help you to build up a loyal following who have a good understanding of what your brand stands for. Plus, if you’re willing to run a social media giveaway with some of your merchandise, you might find that you’re able to boost your following and blog traffic even further.
My brother gave me a branded mug and notepad for Christmas one year and although I managed to fill the notepad in the space of just a few weeks, the mug has been tremendously, enabling me to gain a creative edge over many other bloggers who’ve not yet explored the realm of merchandising.
Understand your target audience and talk to them
Being able to understand your target audience is key to running any successful business and blogging is no different. Who are your target audience? How old are they? What are their likes and dislikes? Where can you find them? The more you know about the people you’re aiming to reach, the more you’ll be able to target your content towards them.
If you’re struggling to define your target audience, take a step back and have a think about who your content would appeal to. If you can’t answer this question, maybe it’s time you had another think about your niche and the kind of topics you’re focusing on.
Offer valuable content
Content is king. It’s a time-old saying, but it’s still truer than ever today. No matter what you’re writing or what kind of content you’re creating, you should make it your mission to always offer valuable content that truly benefits your readers, making them want to come back again and again. Your posts should help people in one way or another, which is why it’s a good idea to answer frequently asked questions or share your expertise on a subject.
Once you’ve chosen a blog post topic, a great way to find out what people might want to know about it is to search for your chosen keywords on Google. If they are popular enough, you’ll probably find that Google will show you 3-5 frequently asked questions about that particular topic. If you include these in your post (ideally as sub-headings), your articles will begin to rank higher on Google.
Be consistent
Consistency in posting can help to show followers and brands that you’re serious about blogging and that you don’t intend on going anywhere anytime soon. You don’t need to post every single day, as this could water down the quality of your content. However, you should aim to develop a consistent posting schedule that you can commit to, and stick to it.
Some bloggers post daily, some post 2-4 times per week, while others post much less frequently. It often depends on your niche and how much time you’re able to commit to writing and creating new content.
The same principle can be applied to social media too. If you want to be a top Instagram travel influencer or you plan on championing Pinterest with perfect food pics, you’ll need to be consistent with your posting schedule.
Make your blog look professional
There are several ways you can make your blog look more professional. Perhaps you can invest in a striking website design that stands out from the other generic templates everyone else uses.
A purchased domain name can also make a big difference, especially if you’re looking to work with brands. Many brands won’t work with blogs that are still hosted by the likes of Blogger, Wix or WordPress as these blogs don’t have a domain authority (DA) score of their own. Take my advice and buy your domain name as early on as possible in your blogging journey, as it takes time to build a strong DA score and you might need to rely on this (at least to some extent) if you want to become a professional blogger.
Social media is a powerful tool, so use it to promote yourself. Post snippets of your day-to-day life and provide a range of unique content in order to build a following.
Invest in your blogging team
Building a team around your blog could be one of the best decisions you ever make. While some bloggers tend to outsource their content or invite contributors to write posts, but if you can afford it, putting together a strong team and building a relationship with them can be far more fruitful.
You’ll probably notice a big difference when you build relationships with people and work with them again and again, rather than hiring freelancers each time you need work. While it involves more of an investment, it can also enable you to reach more worthwhile rewards. I’m not quite at this stage yet, but it is something I’m hoping to work towards in the future.
Are you ready to take the steps required to grow your blog in 2020? Follow these simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to running a successful blog!
This is a collaborative post.