There are two paths you can take as a blogger: you can either keep it strictly as a hobby, or you can monetize it and become a professional content creator. If you choose the latter, then you’re going to need to put in more time and effort, as well as a bit of money for your blogging career to flourish.
In particular, you need to focus on two things. The first is developing crucial skills so that you can make engaging, relevant content for your audience; the second is finding the right tools so that you can create and share said content in the most efficient manner. When combined, these elements can help you become a successful blogger.
To help you get started on blogging or transition from casual/hobbyist to professional, here are some of the skills and tools you need:
An Understanding of Basic SEO
Even without checking internet data and official records from blogging platforms, it’s safe to say that your blog will be up against millions of others. Thus, you need to learn techniques to make your content show up and stand out.
One such technique is search engine optimization or SEO. In essence, it’s a combination of strategies to improve your website’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Keep in mind that a lot of people use search engines to look for things they want or need, whether it’s a step-by-step guide on how to create the “no makeup makeup” look or a list of tips for investing in cryptocurrencies. Through the proper application of SEO practices, your blog can appear higher in SERPs and boost your discoverability. Ultimately, this will increase traffic and make your blog more profitable.
Do note that SEO is a long-term endeavor. You can’t expect your blog to jump to the first few SERPs after only a month of implementing SEO practices on your blog. Ideally, you should hire SEO services Philippines-based and international companies trust to handle your SEO needs. That being said, if you’re a blogging newbie, this can be one of your long-term goals. Your priority should be to have a solid grasp of SEO principles and use this knowledge to roll out high-quality content.
Writing for the Internet
As a blogger, you’re going to be writing a lot. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to be a professional writer or journalist (although some prior training would definitely be helpful). With enough practice, you’ll eventually develop your own unique voice and become better at blogging. What matters more is that you can provide helpful, engaging, and easy-to-consume content for your readers. This is where the above-mentioned SEO principles will come in.
One of the things you should immediately start doing is using an SEO-friendly layout. Shorten your paragraphs so readers don’t get overwhelmed by a wall of text. You should also use heads and subheaders whenever appropriate, so your ideas can be more organized. Finally, use elements like block quotes, infographics, and photos to break up text and add visual appeal.
For these visual elements, make sure to add the necessary alt text or alt descriptions. Doing this will make your blog more user-friendly, particularly for those with visual disabilities. It’s also best to use descriptive file names. If the image shows an image of a sunset at Manila Bay, you should include these words so that the image can be found by search engines.
Last but certainly not least, DO NOT plagiarize content. This is a bad practice that will affect not only your credibility but your SERP rankings as well. In extreme scenarios, your blog may not even be indexed at all.
A CMS and a Domain
One of the most important tools of a blogger is a CMS or content management system. This is a piece of software that lets you manage your website without having to code it yourself. Some of the most popular CMS platforms nowadays include WordPress, Wix, Joomla, and Drupal. For e-commerce, Shopify and WooCommerce are great options.
You should also invest in a domain name and a web hosting service. This way, your blog can establish its own identity that’s not tied to the CMS (i.e., yourblog.com instead of yourblog.wordpress.com). Having a web host also improves your website performance and security, as well as gives you access to more robust technical support and domain-associated email.
A Keyword Planning Tool
If you want to succeed as a blogger, you need to provide content that readers are looking for. For this, a keyword planner is extremely helpful. What this does is show you what keywords are the most frequently used when users make their queries on search engines. You will also get a list of related keywords and phrases, which you can use to plan your content.
You can also set up alerts that will let you know about the latest trending topics that you can also cover on your blog.
Marketing and Networking
Finally, to be a successful blogger, you need to be able to market your website. The good thing is that there are no hard-and-fast rules for marketing. Usually, you’ll end up trying out a handful of tactics that will produce the best results. That said, make sure to familiarize yourself with options like social media, email marketing, and display ad networks.
It’s also important to develop your networking skills. By being part of a community, you’ll be able to learn more helpful techniques from more experienced bloggers; you may even find brands who may want to sponsor your content and partner with you in the future.
One of the best ways to network is to join online groups for bloggers. If there’s an association you can join, consider being a part of it. You should also check out if there are any industry events you can attend. These are perfect venues to get to know people in the “blogosphere” and introduce your blog to peers and potential audiences.
Being a blogger takes a lot of work. In addition, much like any other career, it requires certain skills and tools so you can be good at it and succeed. Keep this list in mind so you can make a thriving career out of blogging.
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